Memorable moments with nature: Part 2

Our wardens – like a great many of our British workforce at this time of national (and international) crisis – are working from home, mainly on our laptops. Of course we would much rather be out on the heathlands of Surrey, Hampshire & Berkshire, but this is not possible and so we are having to find new ways of working. Some of us are continuing to experience the great outdoors by consulting, and finding solace in, our favourite books. Here is the first book – followed by a second instalment of wardens’ memorable moments with nature…

Warden Rupert‘s favourite book…

The Hamlyn Children’s Animal World Encyclopaedia in Colour [published in 1967].

Watch Rupert’s delightful video tour of his favourite pages…

Warden Nick’s favourite wildlife experience on the Thames Basin Heaths…

“Ruby-tailed wasps at Lightwater Country Park: One of my favourite things I’ve seen occurred whilst wardening with Flo at Lightwater Country Park. We encountered a huge number of ruby-tailed wasps, and managed to get really close to them and take some wonderful photos just using our phones! It was a really bright sunny day and has taught me to look out for insects – you never know what you might find!

Grey seals at New Quay, West Wales: My second favourite wildlife encounter involved a midnight trip on a boat, lights off! We got to see loads of bioluminescent plankton splashing off the sides of the boat. We reached a local cove and cut the engine. Suddenly four grey seals popped their heads up out of the water. We lowered the front of the boat and held dive lights under the water, getting some spectacular views of the seals swimming around the boat. I’m afraid the only photo I tried taking was absolutely terrible, but the experience was so good I couldn’t be bothered to try and take a good photo!”

Warden Henry‘s favourite wildlife experience on the Thames Basin Heaths…

“Nightjar sighting at Brentmoor Heath: It was late afternoon/evening in July last year when Catherine and I decided to go out for a walk. Now, Catherine, at the time was dog sitting for some people who lived in a house that backed on to Brentmoor Heath. Although a little wary to take the dogs for a walk in a nature reserve with known ground-nesting birds and all sorts of other wildlife sensitive to disturbance, we set out. As we did not know the dogs overly well and could not trust them to stick to the paths we kept them on the lead. We had enjoyed a lovely walk on a warm summers evening and it was starting to get dark so we started to head home.

At this point, it suddenly occurred to me, so I mentioned to Catherine, “Oo we might have a chance at seeing a nightjar at this sort of time”; and almost as soon as the words had left my mouth we heard some churring in the distance! “Wow, that’s a nightjar”, I said to Catherine, so we stopped in our tracks and waited, looking up into the trees in the dying light.

A nightjar – the bird that I had wanted to see since childhood after being amazed by a picture of one on the National Trust notice board in my local woodland – flew across the path in front of us. Not only that but at least two others came out to join it and we got to stand there and watch them flying around above our heads, hunting.

When the light completely faded we wandered back through the common very happy to have been so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. Having the chance to see the elusive birds that we were protecting by keeping the dogs on the path was an amazing experience and provided a great sense of satisfaction.”

Our logo depicts a nightjar flying by the light of the full moon