Not only did we mark the winter solstice this week, as the days gradually get a little bit longer, we also marked the start of our new seasonal ranger Naomi to the Bird Wise team. It’s fantastic to have a full team back out on the north Kent marshes again, so we’ve asked Naomi to introduce herself before she gets … Read More
Birding Basics – Duck ID part 2
Ranger Julie is back with some more expert hints and tips to help you identify different duck species you might spot this time of year on our coasts, even when they are far from view or the weather is making it difficult to spot them clearly. Duck ID: part 2 In part one we looked at the concept of GISSS. … Read More
Sandwiches in Kent
The Sandwich Tern is one of three birds to be named after places in Kent, the others are Kentish Plover and Dartford Warbler. Ranger Julie tells us more about these fascinating birds, and no, unlike gulls they don’t eat sandwiches so your picnic is safe! If you are lucky enough to spot terns then you will witness some of the … Read More
The world of the LBJ
Many of our favourite ducks, geese and waders have left us for now, but never fear, there is still plenty to look at. In this blog, Ranger Julie brings us some of the more frustrating birds to identify, the LBJs. Let’s talk about LBJs. For those of you not in the know this means Little Brown Jobbies. The term encompasses … Read More
Enjoying the great indoors
After five weeks of lockdown in the UK, our Project Manager, Hayley, shares some of the ways we can stay connected with nature during these challenging times. Hi everyone, how are you today? I say today because I understand it can feel like we are on an emotional rollercoaster in these strange times. One day it feels as if we’ve … Read More
Ranger Round Up – Part 2
This week, Ranger Mel gives us a round up of what she got up to over the summer season. When my co-ranger, Julie, left at the end of March to sail around the Scottish Islands, my first thought was……..more office chocolates for me! No, really, I thought …it’s going to be very quiet round these parts, for two reasons: No … Read More
Ranger Round Up – Part 1
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 … Read More
Stop, Look and LISTEN!
In celebration of the RSPB’s birdsong takeover, Hayley talks about the amazing world of birdsong and how we can use it to connect with nature. In our job as Bird Wise rangers, we are often out at times when the birds are difficult to see as the tide is low and they are way out in the distance. People associate … Read More
Nature is good for your health – or is it?
We’ve all seen the headlines telling us that getting outside and spending time with nature is good for our mental and physical health, but our Project Manager Hayley has had a chance to dig a little deeper behind the headlines and issue a few cautionary words….. 1. Risk of bumps and bruises – I’ve lost count of the number of times I … Read More