Browse by tags

We've experienced a range of weather this week on the reserve with cold winds, calm sunny spells, rain & hail. It's confusing for us so imagine how it is for the resident wildlife, nest building, incubating eggs or rearing young. It's been an interesting week again though with the...

Excitement is mounting as the first live broadcast is due from the reserve next Monday evening. The BBC Production Village, on a neighbouring farm, has been completed and all the cables, cameras and associated technical equipment have been set up. Our tractor shed, cleared of reserve equipment, has been...

The penultimate wild sounds challenge has arrived just in time for the bank holiday weekend, with fun and enjoyment for all at Blacktoft Sands with plenty of species to see (and hear of course). It's been a blustery couple of days on the reserve ( as demonstrated by this weeks mystery clips- they...

It’s been a fairly nice couple of weeks with a good deal of sunshine and some really warm days. The warm spell has made a real difference to the appearance of the reserve – it’s getting very green and there are lots of wildflowers in bloom. If you look closely, you may notice that the...

To continue from yesterday's post... During my traineeship, I have had a lot of involvement with Saltholme's social media. I have made a few blog posts here and there and the odd tweet too, but mainly I have been working on the RSPB Saltholme Facebook page. Myself, our assistant warden...

With no let up in the northerly winds, new spring migrants have been thin on the ground this week although there has a few bright moments. The highlight was a spotted flycatcher feeding for much of the day in the shelter of the picnic area. They are getting much rarer these days so it always nice to...

The weather was pretty dour early in the week and the blog was looking a bit lean a couple of days ago but the brighter weather has woken everything up again and the last few days has seen plenty more activity on the reserve. Last weekend saw a huge influx of Swallows and Martins and Swifts in particular...

17 days late to be precise! The first cuckoo was heard at Titchwell on 20 April but there was no sign of cuckooflower, a springtime plant named because it’s flowering time traditionally coincides with the arrival of the first cuckoo and the beginning of spring. It has taken another 17 days before...

The breeding season is well under way, the first ducklings and goslings can be seen diligently following their parents around out on the lagoons across the reserves. The air is filled with Skylarks, Whitethroats, Reed warblers and other small birds defending their territories, flitting around catching...

This chap was left sitting on the bench between the busway and Drayton Lagoon near St Ives. I'm sure his owner would like to be reunited with him. I mentioned his presence to Neil Renwick when I passed the RSPB stand in the car park, so he may now be in protective custody.

Black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa) flee a rising tide. Poole Harbour, Dorset, UK. A long prime lens would have had a lot of fun with these today - although they did afford the less well-endowed a fighting chance as the tide brought them ever closer to the hide. With thanks to Sarah! (From...

Parhelion effect over the Isle of Purbeck from Arne. The possible result of smoke particles in the atmosphere from the nearby Upton Heath fire the same afternoon. 09/06/11.

Male broad-bodied chaser dragonfly. 27/04/11.

The spotted flycatchers have arrived on the reserve, they're very early, we don't normally see them until May!

Part of a party of three birds in summer plumage, taken from the Watch Point hide

This morning we heard our first cuckoo of the year! Also now arrived are sedge warblers, reed warblers and whitethroats. Most of the winter visitors have left now but the Greenland white fronted geese are still here.

Signs of spring are coming thick and fast at Ynys-hir, and earlier this year than previous years. I will update this post as more sightings come in! So far we have: Birds: Chiffchaff - lots and lots of them! Sand martin Wheatear Pied flycatcher - arrived 10 days earlier than last year...

Spring, summer, autumn or winter, they all have something different to offer at Ynys-hir: Winter is the time when Ynys-hir offers you the only chance in Wales and England of seeing Greenland white fronted geese. Pretty barnacle geese are also here along with large flocks of lapwing, and lots of...

The tearoom (and toy museum) at Arne on a beautiful spring day.

A nice stroll along the boardwalk at Fowlmere