it was an early start on Tuesday morning for me because i wanted to make the most of my time down at spurn. 3 days staying with Sacha at Kilnsea. she is the tern warden for this season, looking after the little tern (sterna albifrons) colony on the lagoons. it was a much needed trip for me, mainly because i hadn't seen her for over 2 months, and also because i have just come of Coquet island, (see my blogs from coquet at www.livinonanisland.blogspot.com)
so i left home at 8 am. but soon got stuck on the A19, after about half an hour i was moving again and on my way. after getting a little bit lost in hull, i finally arrived at the caravan at 11:30. a quick phone call and i was on my way to Sacha's observation hide. the heat was amazing coming off the sand, so i whipped my sandals of and went for a paddle on my way up to the lagoons.
the first day was a bit of a blur to be honest, but i did get to see little terns quite lose up. and some little Egrets that had apparently been noticeable by their absence on teesside whilst i have been of working. i also got a quick view of a sedge warbler on the night as we went for a walk around the canal. there were the usual suspects to be seen, gulls, oystercatcher etc. And i got my 1st pint of beer in 6 months on the night in a pun at Kilnsea (crown and Anchor).
on day 2 (wed) i basically shadowed Sacha, just seeing what she has been up to. basically its up at 5am, walk the 2.4 miles to her hide and the terns, check the electric fences, the eggs and heck for new scrapes. then its a case of settling down to watch the terns and make sure nobody gets into the lagoons. i forgot about the sun though! so when we were ready to head back i was very red! how i missed sunburn :)
If you have read any of my coquet blogs you would have got a taste of what species protection is all about. and its much easier on coquet i can tell you. i didn't have to worry about foxes or dogs! its nice to see that the area is both an SSSI and an SPA. and this should hopefully safeguard what is a beautiful area.
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