Today, is one of several opportunities in the year when I have a real chance to give someone a break from their normal heavy workload. On this occasion, it was to accompany Daphne in her duties as a temporary warden at one of the RSPB reserves near Kirriemuir, so that the usual warden can have a few hours to herself. This is a very demanding job, summer and winter, and it must be very welcome when some of the RSPB local members can provide some relief. The forecast of rain was spot on first thing, but the weather then relented to give a bright spell mid- morning to the early afternoon. The number of visitors was lower than normal but the adverse forecast had obviously had an effect. As the weather tuned very dull, with outbreaks of rain in the afternoon, perhaps they had made a wise choice. The number of bird species was down on what we would normally expect to see at this time of the year, though four different birds of prey were prominent. The usual sightings of other wild life such as otters, deer and squirrels were conspicuously lacking. One remarkable feature was the impact of the prolonged wet weather, and I have never seen the water levels so high. This must have created a somewhat different landscape for both the water and land birds. It was a great pleasure to linger at this island of tranquility and just let the world pass by, but all too soon the light had gone and there was no excuse not to return to the hurly burly of a DG's life.
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