It's impossible to know how your day will unfold when you work at an RSPB reserve.
For anyone out there that still thinks it's 'just birds', a little story to illustrate...
We keep highland cattle on Old Moor to graze the grass and prevent vegetation getting too high (which wouldn't be too great for the wetland birds we get here). We call them our four-legged lawnmowers.
Although they are doing a job, they also provide some entertainment for children when they wipe their noses across the glass front of our family hide.
Unfortunatley two nights ago, someone cut the chain locking the gate to our Gypsy Marsh reserve and opened the gate. The three cattle got out, and when two were found, they were at least a mile away having wondered up the Trans Pennine Trail!
The final cow was found at 7.30 in the evening when police reported it by the road near old moor. It took three officers, several staff and a grazier to pursaude what was a rather grumpy and stressed cow back onto the reserve.
We're delighted to have them home, so that they can keep up their good work and chomp for birds and wildlife!