A posh brider | RSPB Saltholme

Here’s me sat in a hide at RSPB Saltholme next to the mature enthusiasts, dressed form head to toe in their oakleaf camouflage. Every inch of their equipment matching their demeanour. They looked like they are about to shoot their target as an army sniper.

Me? well, I’m dressed in a blue RAB down Jacket, blue Jeans, a jumper and a white pair of VANS! My 100-400mm Canon L series lens shining bright white against the dullness of the inside of the hide. A shining beacon to all the birdlife in the area to, as the Monty Python saying goes, “run away!”

Carrying on my walk around the reserve I became more and more aware of how under dressed and over dressed, all at the same time I was. Passing the retired, the mature and more enthusiasts with their several pairs of binoculars hanging around their necks, their big woolly hats, gloves, scarfs, rucksacks, walking boots and the list goes on.

The more I felt like I didn’t belong, surely its not been that long that I’m out of touch ? its has only been a year or so since I took myself away to a reserve.

Sat in the café, where else would I be (roll eye emoji), I became again aware of the many people all looking through their binoculars out of the windows across the reserve and checking their identification books. Me? sat scoffing cheese and onion scone, which had just vacated the oven and was extremely delicious I must add.

I made the decision to vacate the area and head to somewhere perhaps less populated, I was becoming very self conscious and I was worried it was starting to show. has it always been like this? I’m not saying its the RSPB’s fault by no means, the work done by the charity and its volunteers is beyond words, truly amazing.

Perhaps it’s saying more about me than anything, but it does beg to question whether I was under dressed, or over dressed or does it really matter?

At one point I did have a hide to myself and I questioned if I should be taking photographs or simply enjoying the serene stillness, the connection with nature I was experiencing. It didn’t last long until I was disturbed.

After all the questions and uncertainty from today I still managed to grab a couple of photographs. The little Egret sat and posed for me, in some lovely warm sunshine and I had a cheeky male Robin, who probably thought “those VANs are a little White, but they do match his lens!” lol.

I felt very much like a posh birder.