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gemfyreToday was pretty much a day of what I initially expected this job would be.
In the morning after breakfast Chris, Yasmin (a volunteer here for a while) and I tidied the shadehouse and made it look pretty damn spiffy.
Then I took my first shorebird tour on my own. At first it seemed we were destined to just see godwits, stints and red-capped plovers. Tattler Rocks had no birds at all! But then we went to Wader Beach and walked quite a way and it was all worth it. A large mixed flock. Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Great Knot, Red Knot, Red-Necked Stint, Greater Sand Plover, Red-Capped Plover... and one Asian Dowitcher in full breeding plumage. :) That little birdy made my day. Ricki had said there wouldn't be any left after the migration but it looks like this guy is staying over this year. I had the opportunity to show everyone this very rare and gorgeous bird and tell the depressing story that this species will possibly be extinct in a few years due to Korea and China's obsession with reclaiming mudflats. I returned from that tour a happy girly.
Then had lunch.
Then Yasmin and I started to clean the mudlab. Anything in the mudlab is great, it's air-conditioned and has a CD player. We chatted and sang and bopped along (and cleaned) until Ricki came along to grab me and show me how to set up the market stall - which I go and do on Saturday (something new and exciting). Ricki got sidetracked a while when guests arrive (Ricki's spiel about the birds is engaging, but time consuming) so I just sat in the office and read more of Phantom. Eventually she showed me the ropes and by then it was pretty much knock off time.
Tomorrow I have a day off. \o/
Mist netting is on tomorrow and cannon netting starts up again on Saturday (so after doing the markets I'll be rushing to the catch). It's all starting to hot up here. At least we're no longer bored!
In the morning after breakfast Chris, Yasmin (a volunteer here for a while) and I tidied the shadehouse and made it look pretty damn spiffy.
Then I took my first shorebird tour on my own. At first it seemed we were destined to just see godwits, stints and red-capped plovers. Tattler Rocks had no birds at all! But then we went to Wader Beach and walked quite a way and it was all worth it. A large mixed flock. Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Great Knot, Red Knot, Red-Necked Stint, Greater Sand Plover, Red-Capped Plover... and one Asian Dowitcher in full breeding plumage. :) That little birdy made my day. Ricki had said there wouldn't be any left after the migration but it looks like this guy is staying over this year. I had the opportunity to show everyone this very rare and gorgeous bird and tell the depressing story that this species will possibly be extinct in a few years due to Korea and China's obsession with reclaiming mudflats. I returned from that tour a happy girly.
Then had lunch.
Then Yasmin and I started to clean the mudlab. Anything in the mudlab is great, it's air-conditioned and has a CD player. We chatted and sang and bopped along (and cleaned) until Ricki came along to grab me and show me how to set up the market stall - which I go and do on Saturday (something new and exciting). Ricki got sidetracked a while when guests arrive (Ricki's spiel about the birds is engaging, but time consuming) so I just sat in the office and read more of Phantom. Eventually she showed me the ropes and by then it was pretty much knock off time.
Tomorrow I have a day off. \o/
Mist netting is on tomorrow and cannon netting starts up again on Saturday (so after doing the markets I'll be rushing to the catch). It's all starting to hot up here. At least we're no longer bored!
