Star letter: Family vitality from nature
We recently spent a day at RSPB Leighton Moss, Lancashire, and I wanted to share what a brilliant experience it was for me and my three children. It was especially memorable for my eldest son, who chose to walk on ahead, keeping to the trails and wanting to explore at his own pace. Armed with notebook and binoculars, he recorded everything he saw – and had the absolute thrill of spotting his very first Bittern. It was a quiet, proud moment for him (and for me).
Meanwhile, my younger two were absolutely spellbound by the Marsh Harriers. Watching them glide and hover over the reeds sparked so many questions and a real sense of wonder in them – the kind of curiosity you can’t get from a screen. Days like this remind me how vital places such as Leighton Moss are. Not just for wildlife, but for families, too.
Anthony Rigby
Listen to the call of the Marsh Harrier
‘There’s something incredibly grounding about stepping away from the noise and pace of modern life and sinking into the stillness of nature’
Digital and delighted
Congratulations on the digital version of The RSPB Magazine. I am 74 this year and have managed to keep up with modern technology and the benefits gained from so many aspects of the digital world. Indeed, digital photography has revolutionised the way we can see the natural world. For instance, to be able use a mobile phone to identify a plant or wildflower from a photograph is like having a complete reference book with me at all times.
I know people still enjoy a printed version of the magazine. But how many of us in the past have accumulated vast piles of magazines that have been printed and delivered at some expense? Even now, I am dictating this letter on my computer to send it by email. So, congratulations on the digital version of the magazine. I look forward to reading it on my tablet.
John Longcroft-Neal
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Memory release
The article about the reintroduction of White-tailed Eagles brought back some happy memories. My husband and I went to Rum for our honeymoon in September 1980. We’d heard that the eaglets were about to be released on the island. On our third day, we headed to the Bullough Mausoleum and saw these magnificent birds. One perched on the ground came up to my waist. We watched the keepers release a bird. It took flight immediately, rapidly becoming a dot in the sky. We felt so privileged to witness such a wonderful event. Several years later, when sailing around the west coast of Scotland, we spotted a White-tailed Eagle flying over Loch Dunvegan, Skye. Our children were as excited as we were.
Marie McDougall
The White-tailed Eagle is the UK’s largest bird of prey. Photo: Les Cater (rspb-images.com)
Seeing with new eyes
Each week, I help out at RSPB Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire. I arrive early to visit Big Hole lagoon in the hope of seeing a Hobby hunting dragonflies. On this occasion, when I returned to the car park having failed to see a Hobby, a female Kestrel landed on a nearby telegraph pole. She seemed to say, “You might well be looking for my flashy little cousins, but I am pretty good-looking myself. ” This Kestrel changed my perspective. Enjoy the beauty that’s right in front of you. Let it come to you.
Tom Spickett
The mixed habitat at RSPB Fairburn Ings make it an ideal spot for some of the UK’s rarest birds. Photo: Alan Coe (rspb-images.com)
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