Volunteering...

I am now a part-time volunteer warden at Blacktoft Sands, an RSPB reserve. The highlight of my first day? Probably chatting to a lady who was making her first visit to the reserve, and who had never seen a marsh harrier. As we scanned the reedbeds, the harriers seemed to have taken a break. Then one appeared, in the distance, then another. As we watched, through binoculars, the numbers increased, and a couple of harriers started hunting over the lagoon, in front of the visitor centre: twisting, turning, hovering, before dropping into the reeds. We saw the harriers do a ‘food-pass’: a mid-air manoeuvre with one bird dropping food and the other bird catching it. The harriers are feeding young, which will soon appear. The woman was thrilled to have witnessed such a ‘show’, and said she'll be back.

The end-of month sales surge is in progress, including this shot of Winchester Cathedral...