As the leaves start to change colour and the wintering birds begin arriving on our coast, October marks the start of our winter season and the return of our Seasonal Rangers.  This month Ranger Julie gives us an update on what she has been up to over the summer months.

Over the summer I’ve been working as a wildlife guide on a small ship, the Elizabeth G, taking guests on cruises around the Hebrides. We were treated to some fantastic views of some iconic bird species, including these handsome Gannets I managed to photograph on the cliff edge. 

Ironically, whilst we were searching for White Tailed Seal Eagles around the Sound of Mull near Tobermory, I got a text asking if I was anywhere near the Isle of Sheppey back in Kent. A White Tailed Sea Eagle had been spotted with a positive ID. It turns out that the eagle, named Culver, was part of a reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight, you can read more about this here http://www.roydennis.org/category/sea-eagle/culver/. I did manage to spot four Sea Eagles for our guests so the day ended well for everyone.

Last year I began to collect bird nicknames and regional dialect names. I’ve found some really good ones over the summer break:

• Dartford Warblers were known as French Blackbirds.
• Barn Owls as the Ghost Owl, Moggy or Cherubim.
• Waxwings as Wax Chatterers. Tree Creepers as the Tree Climmer.
• Goosander is a Harle, Gool Duck, Sawyer, Spear Duck or Dun Duck. Spoiled for choice….

It’s great to be back meeting old faces from last season and introducing the Bird Wise project to new ones.  It was especially good to meet up with all the hardy WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) volunteer surveyors on a Sunday morning at Elmley Reserve.  They reported back on wetland birds in the Swale and on the Thames and Medway estuaries.  Heartening news for many birds but sad to hear that Little Terns in the area only raised one chick showing that we need to be Bird Wise all year round to avoid disturbing these vulnerable species as they try to breed. 

The weather has been warm but very wet which has tested our wet weather gear… Especially high tides coupled with tidal surges made some of our sites difficult to access at the start of the month.  Events like these highlight the challenges our wintering birds face as they had very few options available for space to rest during the flooding.  Even more reason why we need to give them plenty of space to feed and rest over the winter. 

We are now looking forward to the arrival of our migrating geese, ducks and other feathered friends.  We are already hearing whistling Wigeon and Teal, chattering Brent Geese and lots of noisy Turnstones.  I wonder if my favourites, the Pintail Ducks will be as late arriving this year as they were last. I will be scanning the skies and the water…

Next month our Ranger Mel will be giving us an update, until then – stay Bird Wise!