The day began at 7.00 in idyllic sunshine in the churchyard. Tony and Phil had put up nets, which trapped several birds – a woodpigeon, bluetits, a young robin, a thrush – and, with immense professionalism, they gave us a real insight into the business of bird-ringing. Fascinating to see the birds at such close quarters and to see so many details of their plumage.
Thanks to many volunteers, the Common Plot was lined with gazebos when the main part of the day began at 11.00, and it rapidly became a hive of activity, with pond life on display…
regurgitated owl-pellets to examine…
bug-hotels to build…
snail racing to cheer on…
tree-rings to count, seeds to plant, a display by the Durham
Wildlife Trust, and more.
Parties, led by experts, went off to bioblitz the churchyard,
to examine the new bird-boxes and ring the baby birds in them, to make a tour of the allotment ponds.
Meanwhile, presentations were going on in St Margaret’s Centre, and there was a magnificent stall selling woodwork which had been produced there.
The day finished with about thirty-five people gathered at 9.00pm on the Common Plot to hear Clare Rawcliffe (Durham Bat Group) talking expertly and enthusiastically about bats, and then to embark on a walk under her and John Ratcliffe’s guidance into the churchyard with bat detectors, picking up the echo-sounding calls of pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle bats both there and on the allotments.
A truly memorable day. Wonderful to see so many children absolutely absorbed in nature. Wonderful too to see so many people taking part in the day, and enjoying the company of the experts who so generously gave us their time and knowledge.
