Monday 19 September 2011

Sun, Sea and A&E!

Hello all, I can't believe it's been so long since I last wrote a blog update!! I thought it had only been a month or so! So much has happened since my last update, this might be a very long post! So I'll try to stick to the interesting and important things. If you've been following the RSPB Loch Ruthven Blog, then you may know much of this already.

June
Our first brood of Slavonian Grebe chicks hatched out from a nest that we didn't even know existed, and were first seen by one of our volunteers on Sunday 5th. The chicks were right in front of the hide, cuddled up on the adult's back, occasionally poking their heads out from under their parent’s wings, and being fed tiny fish and invertebrates (such as midge larvae) by the other adult! Very cute. In addition to this, I set up traps to catch the midges at the loch, so that we can look at how their population affects the survival of Slavonian Grebe chicks, as well as looking at the fish population in the loch, and gathering data on the weather.

We installed five nest cameras across 2 of the 3 main sedge beds at the east end of the loch, so that we could watch for predators and keep an eye on the grebes. This meant that I had to lug some very heavy batteries halfway around the loch 4 days a week, so that I could change the batteries regularly! Now, these aren't those fancy nest cameras that you see on the likes of Springwatch! No live streaming, no colour picture, no nothing! They are motion-sensor cameras, which take 5 black and white photographs every time the motion sensor is triggered, using an infra-red system at night. Which means that looking through the footage is kind of jerky, and often large portions of the day/night are skipped! However, on very windy days the cameras were triggered much too often, by the vegetation surrounding the nests blowing in the wind! Nightmare! But I managed to get through it :) June also saw the first of my volunteers come to help me out, which made life a bit easier!

We also calculated the results of the first full loch survey that we completed in May (as mentioned in my previous post), and discovered that we had 13 pairs of Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ruthven this year! That's about double last year's population! Woo hoo!! June also saw us completing our second full loch survey of the season - another trek around the entire loch, through freezing cold water, deadly mud, and slippery rocks that cause many a twisted ankle. But thankfully, I didn't have to do this one! Kate and Stuart did this one alone, whilst I carried out several hours of brood watches and sedge bed watches. The results of this survey showed that a few of the birds had moved on, giving us a lower total than the first full loch survey, but it is the peak count of the population that really counts.

In June, I also started going bird ringing most weekends! This involves stringing up a special, very fine net (called a mist net) between two poles. Birds can't often see the net, so they fly into it and get caught. We rescue them, take a few weights and measurements, and put a small metal ring with a unique number carved into it onto the bird’s leg using special pliers. The idea of this is that when you or people elsewhere in the country then catch that same bird again, we will know where it has come from, and can learn all about bird migration, longevity, etc. All very interesting! Plus, it helps me to get better at bird identification!

July
By the beginning of July we had about 3 broods of Slavonian Grebe chicks hatched out, and by the end of the month we had 6! So a great deal of my time was spent at Loch Ruthven, checking up on the chicks, making sure they were being fed regularly, charting their progress towards adulthood, and trying to make sure that not too many got eaten by predators! And I was mostly successful in this! Yay me! :) July saw us completing our third and final full loch survey of the season! Just me and Stuart this time, as Kate was away, but I managed not to fall over in the loch or get stuck in the mud! I did however, get incredibly soaked when attempting to cross a very deep channel, and stupidly left the keys to the van in the other car at the opposite end of the loch - a 4 mile walk away (at least!). Not really what you want when you've been slogging through freezing cold water for the past three hours, trying to count and record all of the birds at the same time as actually keeping upright! So we had to call for backup. On the plus side, I saw my first Hen Harrier ever whilst we were waiting for our ride! On this full loch survey we were specifically looking for Slavonian Grebe chicks, so that we could work out the productivity (number of chicks per breeding pair) of the grebes this year. We counted 8 chicks on the survey, pretty good, since they only had 7 last year, but that’s not the end of the story! In July my first volunteer left me for a paid job in Leicester, but I acquired two new volunteers, one of which left after about a month to volunteer on an RSPB reserve in Norfolk, whilst the other continues to help me out at the loch on a regular basis.

On the first weekend of July, I travelled all the way back down to Hemel, so that I could go to a Foo Fighters concert at the MK Bowl. And I'm so glad that I did!! It cost me quite a bit to travel there and back, as well as the money for the concert tickets, but it was AMAZING!!! Definitely worth the money!! In addition to this, Jason (my boyfriend, for those of you who don't know), came all the way down from his island to come and visit me for about 10 days! Yay!! While he was here we went back to visit our old workplace on the Farne Islands, which was really fun! It was sunny for most of the time that we were there, we got to see quite a few of the people that we worked with last year, and got to see a lot of nice seabirds as well! A nice sunny holiday. Pity it was only for a few days though! The day after we got back from the Farnes, we went bird ringing, down at the local dump, and caught lots of birds, which is really good for Jason as they don't catch quite so many on Fair Isle (but they do catch more interesting birds!). We also went up to Chanonry point for some dolphin-spotting, and got to see some nice birds on the way too! Unfortunately, they weren't putting on a spectacular show for us (often they are seen leaping out of the water only a few metres away), but we did manage to see some dolphins and porpoise, so I was happy! :D I also took Jason up to Loch Ruthven, so that he could see some Slavonian Grebes and the reserve that I work at, as well as going out to restaurants, shopping, etc etc etc. I just wish his visit lasted longer, but he had to get back to work! :(

August
August saw the number of Slavonian Grebe chicks increase! A few weeks after the third full loch survey, I noticed another chick, much smaller than any of the ones we had seen on the survey, bumping our total up to 9! Then, at the end of the month, I noticed a pair of Slavonian Grebes taking weed into the sedge beds, building up their nest to protect their eggs from falling into the water and drowning. A few weeks later we had more chicks!! 2 in fact, giving us a grand total of 11 chicks!! Hooray! We also had a big meeting about all of the work that's been going on at Ruthven and the other lochs that Slavonian Grebes breed on, showing just how much I have to get done before the end of September! In other news, August saw the retirement of Christine, who worked in the administration department of the office. We had a massive BBQ for her, which was attended my many many people and enjoyed by all!!

Also in August, my dad came to visit me! He came on a trip up to Loch Ruthven with me and managed to see some Slavonian Grebes! Lucky really, since most of them are thinking about leaving in August! I'm glad he got to see them, as they aren't exactly common, with just 29 pairs breeding throughout the whole of the UK this year, and all of those within 40 miles of Inverness! In addition to this, we went on a coach trip to the Isle of Skye, which I really enjoyed, as it's somewhere I've never been before, and so beautiful! We got to see all the tourist sites, photos soon to follow! Unfortunately I had to work on the Monday that he was up here, but I really enjoyed his visit! In addition to this, I went bird ringing most weekends in August, and even went Cannon netting! This is when you fire a bigger, thicker net out of several cannons to catch waders and ducks! It's really fun, and I'm glad that I got to press the (not so) big, red button that fired the cannons!! Then it's a race down to the shore to get all of the birds out of the water and out of the net, put a ring on them and take a few measurements before letting them go :) I also managed to get to the cinema, to see Harry Potter and the Inbetweeners movie!


August also saw my first trip to A&E since I moved up to Inverness. It's not for anything too bad though! There seem to be a lot more ticks about in the Highlands than there are anywhere else in the country, and since I work outdoors and in long vegetation where there are lots of deer about, I often get ticks on me. Horrible little things. The main problem with them is that they spread Lyme Disease, a nasty little disease that sticks with you for the whole of your life. So the RSPB issued me with a Tick Twister, a genius device that allow you to remove ticks easily, and in tact, without burning/squeezing them which can cause them to vomit up whatever evil diseases and animal blood they happen to have in them - disgusting! This also increases your chances of getting Lyme Disease. So the tick twister is really helpful, as it helps to prevent this from happening. So, back to the A&E story, I was on the phone to Jason when I noticed I had a tick in my arm. No need to panic, I'll use the Tick Twister...Oh no...I've lost it!! So instead I tried to use regular tweezers to remove it, as this is recommended if you don't have anything else. But it was in a really awkward place on my arm, and I couldn't quite reach it properly, so I ended up acidentally ripping it's body off, leaving the head in my arm, spreading infection and disease. I panicked. I rang a friend from work, who suggested I call NHS 24, who told me I need to go to A&E - NOW!! So off I went, slightly scared, to get this tick head removed. It took all of about 10 seconds, as the nurse used a needle to hook the head out of my skin. Job done! And the moral is, id you get a tick DON'T use tweezers!! (or duct tape for that matter - you know who you are!) Thankfully, I did not develop signs of Lyme disease :)

September
Time is running out! I'm quickly approaching the end of the month, and the end of my contract with the RSPB! It's a race against time to find a job, but unfortunately there don't seem to be that many out there at the moment. So wish me luck in finding something, and let me know if you see something suitable! I have been out to the loch a few times this month to check on our two newest chicks, but they seem to be doing very well, keeping our total at 11 chicks from 13 pairs of Slavonian Grebes! Mega!! Last year they had just 7 chicks form 7 pairs, so we've really done well this year, despite the copious amounts of rain, wind, cold, and predation! Well done grebes!! My hire van has now gone back though, so I won't be visiting the loch too much more, and am now concentrating on getting everything that I have done written up into various spreadsheets and reports, so that the data I have collected can be analysed by the maths wizards, and so there’s a permanent record of my work. Wish me luck with this as well - it's a mammoth task!!

So far this month I have been out ringing quite a few times again, as well as more cannon netting. And I also have a new house mate, Martin! He will be moving into my room when I leave at the end of the month, so until then one of my other housemates, Fiona, who is also the owner of the house, has moved out to her parent's place for a month until I leave. I'm mostly applying for jobs this month, in the hopes of getting something (preferably in conservation, and paid) over the winter, but it's not looking too great at the moment. I will keep you all updated with my progress in finding work, and I'll let you know how I get on in the last few weeks of my job. I'll also add in some photos some time soon, I promise!!

Monday 30 May 2011

First surveys of the season!

So, Kate and I have finally recieved our licences from SNH, which allow us to work closely with the Slavonian Grebes, which are a Schedule 1 species. This means that they have the highest level of protection that a species can have, and so it is illegal to disturb them in any way, especially during the breeding season, unless you are granted a licence to do so. Since we are carrying out important research on this rare breeding species, we have been given licences which allow us to photograph them on their nests, and to disturb them (which we will have to do in order to find the nests and set up the cameras). We will be carrying out nest searches next week, so that we can install the nest cameras as soon as possible, so that we can make sure to catch any signs of predators and to research the effects that all this rain and high winds is having on the grebe nests. We already know that a few nests have been washed out on other lochs as the water level rose too high and carried the eggs away. A terrible loss for this species, as every nest is precious due to their low numbers. But hopefully it is early enough in the season for them to re-build, and re-lay. As far as I know, all of the nests at Ruthven are ok, but I guess I'll find out when I go back tomorrow! Finger's crossed!

Last week Kate, Stewie and I completed the first full loch survey of the season! This involves walking around the edge of the entire loch and noting down any species that we see or hear, paying special attention to the Slavonian Grebes and the number of pairs of the grebes. This survey gives us a good idea of the number of pairs using the loch, as well as how many are nesting, and whereabouts they are nesting, which gives us information on their habitat preferences, as well as providing us with knowledge of which other species use the loch for feeding and breeding.

Completing the survey was fun, but pretty hard going! For the first quarter or so we had to trudge through mud by the sedge beds, which I managed to get stuck in! I sank in up to knee level and have to be rescued by Kate! But then we moved onto stony ground which was more slippery, but much easierto walk on, although we did have to wade through a channel waist deep to get there! So I ended up with my waders full of freezing cold loch water, but at least I didn't fall over in the loch! Anyways, the survey showed that we might have 12 pairs of Slavonian Grebe on the loch this year!! A brilliant result, as there were only 6 pairs that bred here last year! However, we are still analysing the maps, so we're not too sure on the number of pairs yet, but I'm hoping that 12 will be correct!

Whilst on the survey, we managed to see and hear some pretty good birds, like a Tawny Owl calling, a Red Grouse calling, a Greylag goose with 7 goslings, Sedge Warblers singing in the reeds, a Spotted Flycatcher, and we even saw a Short-eared Owl hunting over the grassland near to the loch while we were driving back to the office! We still have 2 more of these surveys to complete over the next 2 weeks, as well as having to find nests so that we can install cameras, as well as all of my regular work. In addition to this, we are having a visit from the RSPB Scotland Committee (very important people within the RSPB) this week, so I need to prepare for that! So it looks as if I'm going to become a very busy person in the next few weeks, as the breeding season kicks off at the loch! Wish me luck!

On the home front, everything is going well! I'm getting on well with both of my housemates, and enjoying living in Inverness, although I still don't really know many people. But I've started going to yoga once a week with two of the girls from work, and I'm planning to start up bird ringing again in the next few weeks as well! Also, if I get the time and I'm not too tired I might start volunteering with the SSPCA (like the RSPCA, but Scottish) on the weekends, as they have a re-homing centre close to where I'm living! Would be nice to spend some time playing with cats and dogs (but mostly cats)! I think that's about all that's happening at the moment, I'll update again soon if I get a chance to, so keep checking back!

Saturday 21 May 2011

A few snaps from Inverness


The East end of Loch Ruthven. All of the far shore seen in this photo is owned by the RSPB and part of the reserve.


The West end of the loch. None of this part is owned by the RSPB. Both ends of the loch are used by the Angling Association, who fly-fish from row-boats rather than motor boats to maintain the water quality of the loch.

3 Greylag Geese flying over the loch. They breed on the loch and now have goslings!

The reserve as seen from the car park. In addition to the loch, the RSPB owns an area of woodland and moorland, some of which can be seen here!

A pair of Osprey flying over the loch. The one on the left has a fish (caught by diving into the loch), and the one on the right is chasing it.

The East end of the loch as seen from the beach.

A Slavonian Grebe stretching

A Slavonian Grebe preening it's belly feathers

Slavonian Grebe

A pair of Slavonian Grebes on the loch on a misty morning. The one on the right is the male. You can see he has bigger yellow tufts and is slightly bigger overall.

A male Red-breasted Merganser - seen on the loch quite often!

Blaeberry (also called Bilberry) grows all over the reserve. The berries are edible and look and taste much like small blueberries. They are a favourite of Black Grouse, although there are none on the reserve or the surrounding area.

The woodland part of the reserve. The trees here are all covered in lichens, which indicate the excellent air quality found in the Highlands.

Highland Cattle! Seen quite often on my drive up to the loch

The beach at Loch Ruthven provides the best views of the East end of the loch.

A Wheatear resting on a post at the loch

April - May is lambing season, and there are little lambs everywhere at the moment!

The woodland walk that takes you through the reserve and up to the hide!
More photos will follow soon! Hope you have enjoyed these ones so far!

Sunday 8 May 2011

It's getting busy!

Hi Guys!

Sorry it's taken me so long to write another post! I've just been really busy lately! Everythings starting to happen at the loch so I've been going pretty early, and just too knackered when I get back to bother updating this!! If you want a more regularly updated blog documenting my work life, then visit the RSPB Loch Ruthven blog, which I update weekly!

All is going well at work and at home, and I'm really enjoying my job so far! There are now at least 8 pairs and 3 single Slavonian Grebes on the loch, so we've already improved on last year, when there were only 6 pairs! So let's hope that they all stay to breed! We also have lots of Common Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, Lapwing, Curlew, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls attempting to breed, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers hanging around the loch most days. Add to that all of the small woodland and moorland birds singing and nesting, Cuckoos and Great-spotted Woodpeckers calling and Grasshopper Warblers reeling from the moorland and that's a lot of activity! We completed the first in a series of surveys of the moorland and woodland birds on the site last week, and will be installing the midge and mink traps next week, as well as beginning the full loch surveys to find nests and install nest cameras, so I'm going to be even more busy very soon!!

As for home, I'm really enjoying where I'm living and so glad that I chose this place to stay at! My housemates are so nice, and know how to have a good time! They are determined to show me the nightlife of Inverness and introduce me into their circle of friends :) And my workmates are just as nice! Went out with them today for a walk along a river, before wading through it as we couldn't find the bridge to the other side!! So we all got a bit wet, but it was a good adventure!! And I saw a Dipper! :D Also, I went to visit Jason on Fair Isle last weekend, and had a really brilliant time! Saw loads and loads of birds, including a lot that I hadn't seen before, so I was really happy! Especially since I got to ring a few birds too!! Living in Scotland really is doing a lot for my birding life list!! So many new birds since I've come here, and there are still so many I want to see!! Trip to the Cairngorms anyone?

Photos of all of this to follow shortly, unless you're on Facebook, in which case you can see them all right now, instead of waiting fore me to get around to actually putting them on here! Missing everyone lots, and really looking forward to visits from Jason, Jon and Tahnia soon! (I hope!) xxx

Tuesday 12 April 2011

My First Week

Hello All,

I haven't been able to update for a while as i don't have internet at the moment, but for those of you that don't know, I have managed to find somewhere to live in Inverness, so I'm not living in the Hostel any more! Yay! I chose to go with house number 1 in the end (see previous post) and am all settled in there. My 2 housemates are both really nice, one is a hairdresser and the other works for the council, so we all do very different jobs but we get on well which is the important thing!

This is now my second week working as the RSPB's Slavonian Grebe Reserve Officer. I split my time between the North Scotland Regional Office in Inverness, and at Loch Ruthven, where I will be spending most of my time from now on.

Monday 4th - First day! Got shown around the office and introduced to everyone, and then taken to Loch Ruthven to put up some 'No Bank Fishing' signs, as there were problems with members of the public bank fishing last year, which resulted in the death of one of the Slavonian Grebe chicks. Also checked the Mink rafts with Kate, as Mink are one of the biggest predators of ground nesting birds, but thankfully there haven't been any at the loch in recent years.
Tuesday 5th - Read through some important papers and information about Slavonian Grebes and drove up to the site all by myself for the first time, and didn't get lost!
Wednesday 6th - Drove up to the loch again and surveyed the crows in the area, as they will predate the eggs of Slavonian Grebes, so we need to keep an eye on numbers.
Thursday 7th - Went out with Kate and Claire to do some practical work putting up stiles at one of the saltmarsh reserves, and sorting out the sluice pipes at another reserve so that the surrounding fields flood (good for breeding waders)
Friday 8th - Did some more reading, wrote a piece for the RSPB Loch Ruthven Blog, and made 3 midge traps so that we can measure the level of midges at the loch as they are important food for Slavonian Grebes.

Yesterday (Monday 11th) it was decided that from now on I should make daily visits to the Loch in order to keep an eye on Slavonian Grebe behaviour and any nesting or mating behaviour that they show, and so that we can see how many pairs are associated with each of the 6 main sedgebeds. So in the morning I got all of my supplies ready and in the afternoon, I went off to complete my first intensive sedge bed watch of the season! And was rewarded with good views of a pair of Slavonian Grebes performing one of their ritual dances! AND lots of Sand Martins and Swallows, the first I've seen this year!

Today (Tuesday 12th) I went to the site in the morning so that I could spend a while finding the best places to view each sedge bed from, and so that I could watch each bed for a long time. Today I was able to see a Red-throated Diver in breeding plumage, as well as an Osprey which flew right over my head!

So all in all, a good experience so far, and it will only get better when the Grebes start nesting and having babies everywhere! Excited much?? I am! :D

Saturday 2 April 2011

Dilemmas!!

It's my 3rd day in Inverness, and I have seen all of the 7 house shares that I had lined up. Of those 7, 2 are pretty crap, 1 is ok, and 4 are really good! So now I have a difficult decision on my hands. The problem is that each of the final 4 has good points and bad points, which makes it quite difficult to choose, but I need to make a decision before Monday really, so that I can let everyone know! So, I need your help! Here are the choices:

Option 1
£330 per month, with £330 deposit. All bills included in rent.
Nice modern house, shared with 2 females in mid 20's. My room would be the downstairs double bedroom. Also have use of kitchen/dining room, bathroom and living room (upstairs). Decking outside as garden.
10 minute walk to RSPB office, 30 minute walk to town, but bus stop close by and regular buses.
The room is currently occupied, so the earliest I could move in would probably be Monday/Tuesday.

Option 2
£380 per month, with £380 deposit. All bills included in rent.
Nice, quite large modern house in fairly new area. Owned by couple in late 20's, husband away on business all year but visits on weekends. Wife will often be visiting him as well. My room is good sized double room, which she will repaint sometime soon (so may have to move out for a few days while this is done). Also have use of kitchen/dining room, living room and bathroom. Fairly large garden.
30 minute walk to RSPB office, 45 minute walk to town. Bus stop close by, but only 1 bus per hour.
Can move in any time.

Option 3
£360 per month, with £360 deposit. All bills included in rent, but no wireless internet, although she will consider getting this.
Nice, old, large house very close to city centre. Will share with 1 female in mid 20's, whose boyfriend often comes to visit, and she will often be off visiting him as well. My room is good sized double room, no wardrobe, but plenty of storage space eslewhere. Also have use of large kitchen/dining room, living room, WC and bathroom, which will be replaced in early May due to crack in bathtub - may mean moving out for a couple of days while this happens, or no showers for a couple of days. Smallish garden.
20 minute walk to RSPB office, 5 minute walk to town, all buses go from town centre.
Can move in anytime.

Option 4
£360 per month with approx. £90 deposit. All bills included in rent.
Nice mid-sized house in ok area. Will share with 1 female in 30's, but is often out with hobbies. My room is good sized double room with loads of storage space, and TV with freeview! Also have use of lounge/dining room, kitchen and bathroom. Front and back gardens.
15 minute walk to RSPB office, 25 minute walk to town, buses stop nearby and are regular.
Can move in anytime.

So all quite similar really! Which probably makes it harder to make a decision. Option 1 is cheapest, Option 2 is furthest away from everything, Option 3 is the oldest house, and Option 4 is average really. The house mates in all cases are really nice, so just need to decide! What is your opinion?? Help!

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Inverness tomorrow!

I'm all packed and ready to go!! Took most of the day (with lots of faffing around in between packing each item), but I have finally packed up my suitcase, which just about weighs under 20kg, according to our wildly inaccurate bathroom scales anyways!! Hopefully I won't get charged more when I get to the airport, but you never know. Got quite a bit of stuff to put in my hand luggage, including this laptop, but hopefully it will all fit in the bag! As well as all of that, I have a few more things that my dad is going to freight up to me once I find somewhere permanent to live, but its only a couple of things really so should be fine :)

So! My dad is picking me up at 0745 tomorrow morning to take me to Luton airport (which is very kind of him!), so I can get my flight at 0930, and should be in Inverness by 1100!! Sorted! Then just gotta hang around till the hostel opens and then go look at a couple of house shares in the evening! Friday and Saturday will involve more looking at houses, until I find one that is nice, has nice people living there, is in a good location, and not too expensive and then I can move in and start living it up in Scotland! I'm so excited!! The only downside is that the SHYA hostel is fully booked for Friday night. So I'm staying there on Thursday night, then moving to a different hostel for the Friday night and possibly the Saturday too! ...Hopefully they will both be nice!
And then I start my fun new job on Monday and get to see Slavonian Grebes for the first time ever! And I will be introduced to some of the sites, and to all of the people I'll be working with, which I'm really looking forward to!

Wish me luck in finding a new place to live, and for my first day in my new job!

Friday 25 March 2011

UPDATE!

So. After spending quite a bit of time hunting around with my dad for a decent, yet cheap, little car, we found a very nice little Ford Fiesta for under £900 and in very good condition! Winner! My dad had already got me a Satnav, which I had registered and set up, and I bought some insurance for the car so that I could drive it home. All set. :)

Then I check my emails and realise that actually a car ISN'T necessary for this job, as I can use the two RSPB cars to get to Loch Ruthven!

So I had a decision to make:

EITHER
Buy the car so that I can drive up to Inverness with all my stuff, use it to get to the site and back and have my petrol re-imbursed, and so that I can get around more easily on weekends.

OR,
Don't buy the car, cancel the insurance, use the RSPB cars to get to the site, and either walk or use buses to get around the Inverness area on the weekends. Saving me around £2000 in total.

I think you can guess what I chose to do! So unfortunately, I am not the proud new owner of a nice little car, but I will be will be able to actually save some money from this job. And if I get there and realise that actually a car would be massively useful, I'll have more time and money to find one up there. AND it means I don't have to stress so much right now! Which is awesome!

The only slight downside is that I now have a satnav that I don't have a whole lot of use for right now (and the shop won't take it back since I've opened it and registered it etc), but I'm going to have to get a car at some point in the next few years, hopefully when I've got some more money, so it will be very useful then :)

Also, I now have to fly up to Inverness, as it is MUCH cheaper and easier than getting the train (which takes 9 hours and involves changing trains about 3 times) but it does mean that I might have to have some luggage packed up and sent to me if I can't fit it all on the flight. But thats no big worry really, and hopefully won't cost a lot, so it's all good!!

Now all I've got to do is book a flight, pack all my stuff, and find somewhere to live! Shouldn't be too hard...right?? Wish me luck!

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Cars!

Going with my dad to look at cars tomorrow and Thursday, hopefully I will be able to find something decent and fairly cheap, so that I can get all of the paperwork out of the way and get in some driving practice before the long (and kinda scary) journey to Inverness! If I can't find a car in time, I'll have to either get a train up there or get my dad to take me, and then attempt to find a car whilst I'm there - could be quite difficult though, as I know nothing about cars!!

So wish me luck in finding a decent one, and if you know of any being sold, please let me know!

Saturday 19 March 2011

Preparation

Hi Everyone,

In case you don't already know, I've got a shiny new job! And now a new blog to go with it! For six months this summer, I'll be working for the RSPB up at Loch Ruthven near Inverness, monitoring the breeding success of Slavonian Grebes! Very excited! The only issue now is that I need to find a place to live in Inverness, and I need to get a car so that I can get up there! All in 2 WEEKS!!! Very stressful, so wish me luck!

If anyone knows of someone in Inverness who is looking for a flat mate, or anyone that wants to sell a car, let me know!!