Visit to RSPB Saltholme 1March 2022

Wendy S said:

I can see that point Bob, mind I think birders should support the RSPB as a conservation group with a large voice

Unfortunately not everyone can afford to support every association/society/wildlifetrust all the time. As you know the NorthEast is bereft of RSPB visitor centre and good quality hide sites which is one of the reasons many people subscribe to their local wildlife trusts instead but are happy to pay the entrance fees to RSPB sites when they get the opportunity to visit them. To be honest I expect that there are lots of people like me who probably pay more or as much  in basic entrance fees in the year when they visit these major sites than they would pay for the cheapest annual subscription. It was £9 to get into Minsmere and they wouldn't give me a paper map of the reserve, claiming they no longer give them out because of the litter problem- though they did give one to a n RSPB member who arrived later in the day

Bob, I think I would would have felt very peeved at that,sounds live a jobsworth making their own rules up. I realise that the NE has a shortage of RSPB reserves, here on the edge of the Dales we are quite a distance from such sites too. We will often go a year without visiting an RSPB reserve but I feel that I should support the Society for its voice in conservation matters. In our area we are a hot spot for raptor persecution and the RSPB are the ones putting boots on the ground in trying to bring these criminals to court along with the police. Like the North East our local Wildlife Trust has a good number of reserves hich encourage people to visit the areas. Like most grandparents we like to encourage our three grandsons to take an interest in wildlife and find our local Wildlife Trust much more encouraging as was the Northumbrian WT when we took them to Low Hauxley,the vols were so good they almost adopted the boys for the afternoon. Back to your point most folk cannot afford to support all the societies and some of our group prefer to put their hard earned cash into something local where they can visit more often

Great set of photos on a beautifully sunny day out. The birds in flight shots are quite stunning.
Many thanks for an insight to a reserve I've never been to.
Trevor

A brilliant set of photos Bob, and looked like a good day out.