1. “After a gap of a few years I rejoined and it was the magic of Loch Garten that did that. On that memorable day in the Spring of 1973 I observed lots of birds that were alien to me in the industrial part of West Yorkshire where I lived, plus Red Squirrels, and to put the icing on the cake watching the Ospreys feeding their chicks. In 1973 there was no closed circuit television, just a pair of very powerful military binoculars, which when you looked through them gave you a bit of a shock because the nest only looked a matter of feet away. This I thought is something I want to support and enjoy for the rest of my life which I have done.”
Bill Tetlow
2. “Luckily, I live near the River Exe, and go to Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham on a regular basis. Spotting a Glossy Ibis on the path to the Viewing Platform a few years ago, was a very special moment.”
Sandra Taylor
3. “My favourite reserve is Pulborough Brooks. There always seems to be something interesting to see throughout the various seasons. I always enjoy seeing the adders which bask in the summer sun and most recently we have had sightings of the majestic White-tailed Eagles which have taken up residence at the reserve.”
Ann Stainsby
‘The Bittern! It just flew over your head, about 10 feet up!’
4. “During a family trip to Minsmere in 1978 we also decided to visit Havergate Island where I saw my first Avocets. I took my daughter Joanne (then six years old) on that trip across to the island by boat. I have attached one of my favourite photos of Joanne (now in her early 50s). I still have that very old scope in the picture, though nowadays I have upgraded to the Swarovski 115mm which has slightly better optics!”
Keith Metcalf
5.“My most magical experience one summer was sitting on a cliff on Ramsey Island off the Pembrokeshire coast watching hundreds of Manx Shearwaters coming back to their burrows at sundown.”
Anne Charvet
6. “A wonderful sunny November afternoon at the Oa, Islay, watching Golden Eagles”
Hilary Jordan
7. “One visit to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that I fondly remember was in June last year. I was concentrating on photographing a Reed Bunting when there was a voice, asking if I’d seen it.
‘What – the Reed Bunting?’
‘No! The Bittern! It just flew over your head, about 10 feet up!’”
John Bennett
8. “Very early on, I read an article in Birds magazine about the RSPB setting up a reserve at Balranald in North Uist. I wrote to Chris Lowe, who had been the summer warden in that first year, asking about visiting the area and he suggested a crofter, Angus MacLellan, who might let a cottage to us. Again, I wrote and quickly received a positive reply suggesting what the rent might be, but at that point (I was only 14) I handed the correspondence over to my parents! Months later, in 1967, after long train, boat and bus journeys, we trudged late at night down the long track to the cottage, lit only by paraffin lamps. In the morning, woken by Curlews calling in the bay outside the house, we discovered what a wonderful location it was.
By chance, we bumped into George and Irene Waterston. He was then Director of RSPB Scotland and had written that article in Birds. They had a trip planned to the island of Pabbay in the Sound of Harris and invited us to join them; it was a day I remember vividly over 50 years later. To confirm it, I dug out my diary for that year. It was 29 August and the entry is headed ‘What a day’ – among the many experiences were my first ever Black-throated Divers and Golden Eagles.
‘It’s a lesson we should all remember, that devoting a bit of time to youngsters can have lasting results’
I have always been grateful to Chris Lowe, the MacLellans, and the Waterstons. Nowadays, they would be called influencers, perhaps. Certainly, they influenced me, and in no small way that holiday, and especially that day, led to a lifetime’s involvement with wildlife conservation. It’s a lesson we should all remember, that devoting a bit of time to youngsters can have lasting results.”
Andrew Henderson
9. “The local group organised a coach to RSPB Lakenheath Fen in glorious sunshine. Walking along the path to a far viewpoint we had stunning views of Hobbies and Bittern in flight. Chatting with other birders in the area near the visitors centre I saw a male Garganey.”
Paul Hobbs
10. “I think the most memorable thing that I remember was the trip to the badger hide on the RSPB nature reserve at Haweswater one evening last September. Seeing four or five Badgers come down to the enclosure scurrying around looking for the nuts that had been placed around beneath the rocks for them was amazing. They came within a few feet of the windows. It was fantastic!”
Mrs G M Cunniff
11. “I think Titchwell Marsh is my favourite. I love the walk down past the lagoons towards the sea wondering what you will see. A recent visit included about 50 Spoonbills in the first lagoon – quite spectacular.”
Brian Robertson
Visit an RSPB nature reserve
Where will your next great wildlife watching moment be? Find your nearest RSPB nature reserve.
