Meetings, meetings, meetings -- and some Natterjack Toads

Thursday was another typical day of meetings in London, catching the 9.30 train, to see a Foundation that supports some of our work, followed by a meeting with a new potential corporate sponsor, then talks with our PR company, followed by another meeting with a donor, to discuss fund raising for the Atlantic Rainforests in Argentina, where we have just made a down payment, and aim to raise a further $400,000 by the end of the year. And so to the train, getting back at just before 10 in the evening.

But the night before was something else. I collected writer and WLT Council member Simon Barnes and we drove over to Westleton Heath, getting there around 9.45. As we stepped out of the car, a Nightjar was churring, and a Nightingale was singing in the distance. There was an odd call, we couldn't make out, and a few minutes later some Natterjack toads started to call. The odd call came to life -- it was Stone Curlew. Pretty good we all thought. Then to crown it, a Bittern started booming. Half an hour later we set off home, and had a perfect view of Little Owl.

To me it was some sort of record to see and hear so many nocturnal birds (and a toad).

Have you had a similar experience? Let us know!