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An interesting day today- we headed down with our marquee to support the Sandy Festival and Carnival at lunch time, but the weather defeated everyone! Just as the carnival procession entered the field, a massive wind and rain storm hit us and after sheltering under the marquee with a group of very wet...

We were really pleased when the raven's fledged from their nest on the hillfort recently. This is the second consecutive year that these impressive birds have bred at The Lodge.Visitors have been seeing the raven family really well as they fly around the hillfort and New Heath areas, 'cronking'...

Although it's been a very wet and dull couple of days following the gorgeous Bank Holiday weather,we've been hearing both the male and female cuckoo's calling from the heathland around the shop.Unlike the males iconic 'cuck -oo' call,females have an unusual bubbling call, that's...

After last year's successful breeding by ravens at The Lodge, we have been eagerly awaiting to see if they would breed here again this year. Today, 3 young ravens have been seen around the hillfort, with their parents noisily and actively watching over them. Excellent news! A pair of hobbies have...

The State of Nature report is published today. I've listened to David attenborough talking about the report on Radio 4 this morning and it has generated a lot of publicity on the media channels. The report is sobering and concluded that nature is in trouble, but the report also shows that wildlife...

As you read this blog, you are already passionate about wildlife and Giving Nature a Home. If you would like to work for the RSPB as a Membership Development Officer and help in our mission to Save Nature by inspiring people to join us as members,please take a look at the available roles you can apply...

After an incredible holiday in Arizona, adding plenty of colourful new birds to my life list, I'm fighting the jet lag and noticing through hazy eyes that spring has erupted while I've been away. It seemed quite strange coming home to see our gloves and winter clothes laying around from the cold...

The daffs are done, the bluebells are blooming - lovely! - it's well worth a visit this weekend. It will be fantastic if the weather stays warm and sunny as forecast, and since trees are late coming into leaf it should be a great opportunity to actually see our woodland birds in full song. We have...

Great day to be at the Lodge if you like swifts, the whole of the reserve seemed to be resonating with their calls, and not just from the speakers on the buildings trying to entice them in to nest! The St Marks flies seem to have had a big hatch today among other insects which has brought in flocks of...

Hi Everybody I am new to birdwatching and have recently joined the RSPB with my Dad. YAY!!!! I am into by bird photography using a compact camera possibly upgrading to a DSLR. Anyway this Saturday we are going to The Lodge in Sandy. I am just wondering what birds will I possibly see at this time of year...

Taken from the hide on 11.3.2012

Taken on Saturday 22.10.2011 from the hide. The birds landed at the pond furthest from the hide at about 12:30.

On the 19th of october i was lucky enough to see the first recorded Fieldfare come and land in the trees just past the car park , there was a couple of red wings included, in this flock of migratory birds . We walked around the wood and saw greenwood pecker , buzzard , wren ,2 jays , numerous greenfinch...

The autumn visible migration season is upon us once more. A time of year that sees me standing stationary at a fixed spot on the new heath, counting all birds passing over. It can be very exciting - not knowing what is going to pass over next, or, it can be extremely dull! My first 'vis-mig'...

Still holding on to summer, hobbies are around the belt of pines on the new heath, along the track to the hillfort from the shop, although they can be in other areas of the reserve as well.A chiff chaff was calling today,unlike most migrants they do start to 'sing' as Autumn arrives and can be...

Hi there, I currently volunteer at Old Moor in South Yorkshire, but in October I'll be moving down south as my partner is starting a new job in Stevenage. I'm hoping to transfer my volunteering to the Lodge! I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on nice places to live in the area,...

There are loads of damselflies and dragonflies on show at The Lodge at the moment. Sunny days are best, though a bit of cloud cover does send them into the flowerbeds to conserve energy.

I put a report plus photos about our trip to The Lodge in the Where to watch wildlife forum, but rather than post all of the photos again here, I decided to put a link to the thread. Our trip to the Lodge

Lovely blue skies today brought the raptors out in force. A pair of buzzards were circling over head this morning and early this afternoon a red kite drifted over towards the plateau. Already a good day but even better when a second red kite loomed over head giving cracking views in really good light...

This is a female common darter on fern. It blends in so well with the background. Taken on the Sandy Heath trail.

This female emperor was hovering while she looked for somewhere to lay her eggs.

The old swimming pool is a fantastic place to watch dragonflies and damselflies (plus moorhens, the fishing crows and even a kingfisher if you've very lucky!)

This beautiful fella was hanging out by the wildlife pond. The Lodge is a really great place to see damselflies and dragonflies through spring, summer and into autumn.

There are loads of insects - hoverflies, butterflies, bees and beetles - in the flowerbeds

The gardens look great right through the year at The Lodge. Here's a view of the back of the 19th century main house