RSPB HQ, The Lodge, Sandy

[astafjevs]

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

Yes I accept flagship isn't the correct word but as a kid when my YOC mag arrived from "The Lodge,Sandy,Beds" it was always a destination that I longed to visit.....maybe my childlike expectations of the place were still in my mind when we visited!

Good point, Ruth.

I won't comment further on the place until I've visited, in my head as well its still a great place

[Little Sparrow]

It sounds and looks a productive day according to your species list and delightful photo's Peter! How lovely to see the Redpolls so closely, the one's I see are normally atop a tree.lol! Good to see the Daffodils too, a sure sign that Spring is springing at long last!

[Dean Driving Instructor]

Felt inspired to report on today's visit to RSPB Sandy, but not without trepidation when I saw this thread

Really, it was a chance to humour my 6 year old's obsession with butterflies (speckled wood today), and go for a walk with my wife...

But, a 15 minute picnic outside their shop next to the car park, adjacent to some feeders, enabled easy prolonged study of chaffinches, greenfinches, goldfinches, great tits and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker (the pair of spotted flycatchers evaded me).

There is a hobbies' nest visible in the conifers to the west of the car park, though I only heard them (I think..)

Five minutes in the hide was enough to see two laughing flypasts from a Green Woodpecker.

Stroll around the pond infront of the Main House included an orange fly past from a nuthatch (not really enough for me to record it as life time first). The RSBP staff say there are also some around the lodge lawn & in the apple tree near the toilet block.

I know this is not exactly an awe inspiring list, but it was [b]fun[/B. How often can you do the stuff of life & easily watch so many different birds?

[PeterB]

Glad you had a good time Dean. I didn't mean to put the place down, my expectation was high as it's the RSPB's home but it's enjoyable, that's the main thing.

[Dean Driving Instructor]

Today me and my son saw the pair of Hobbys and one of their offspring flying around the cluster of pine trees opposite the car park at RSPB Sandy.