Headstarting is a collaborative effort between WWT, BirdsRussia and the RSPB, and occurs as part of the International Arctic Expedition mounted each year by BirdsRussia under the leadership of Dr. Evgeny Syroechkovskiy.

Look out – Bears! 15 June 2011

15 June 2011

Martin reports:

Need to catch up a bit, two full on days!

On a downer over the spoon-billed sandpiper still. We need some good news.

Had some seriously close bear encounters and saw a wolf today. The bears are scary. I’m not sure what they would do, but we kept our distance as best we could and let them do their own thing.

A bear spooted on our search for nests, Photo by Martin McGill

The first one wanted to come right up to us. I was so glad that I was on the quad today and not on foot.

Nigel on a quad adventure

the quad kept us at safe distances from the bears

No spoon-billed sandpiper seen or heard on our search (Si and I) today. Nige and Jochen had only one sighting. The other two teams had three sightings apiece, in the warmer areas. I’m hoping the weather was to blame as it was windy and cold.

Maybe they are all on nests, fingers crossed.

  1. Giles Diggle Reply

    The blogs give a real sense of what is like for you and the SBSs out there. Keep the faith. People I meet casually in the hides at Slimbridge are really captivated by this project. – Regards Giles.

  2. Amanda Jones Reply

    They look such beautiful birds. Hope your spirits improve soon.
    Best wishes for the success of your venture, Amanda.

  3. Jayne & Rich Taylor Reply

    We have been following your blog since the announcement. You have all been doing so well in such extremely difficult conditions. You have come so far, set up what you can and trialed a successful egg run, everything is ready. It must be soul destroying being so far from home, feeling unwell and exhausted with little signs of breeding pairs and eggs. But while you are all there and there is still time there is so much hope. Keep going and keep safe. Your in our thoughts. Best wishes Jayne & Rich Taylor

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