Hi, I’m Aashvi Shah (she/her), a Stage 2 student studying Environment and Sustainability (formerly Environmental Social Sciences) at the University of Kent. As part of my studies, I’m fortunate enough to learn from the amazing lecturers at DICE and take the Applied Ecology and Conservation module. This module includes a field trip to the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, offering a fantastic opportunity to explore ecological surveying techniques in the field.
Being an international student, I was really excited about this trip because it allowed me to explore more of the UK – just a short journey from Canterbury to Sandwich. I was part of the first group to visit this year, and despite the excitement, my journey didn’t start off smoothly. I missed my bus from Canterbury City Centre to Sandwich! However, this hiccup turned out to be a blessing in disguise – I had some quiet time to reflect on what I hoped to gain from the trip. As I felt the cool wind on my face during the ride, I was both excited and a bit nervous. This was my first overnight trip with my classmates, and while we had done day trips before, I wasn’t sure what to expect from spending an entire night away. Would I be kept up by someone’s snoring? (Thankfully, I wasn’t!) Surprisingly, I arrived first from our cohort and decided to explore the common area while I waited for the others. The gift shop was full of amazing items, and the walls were covered with informative posters and maps. It felt like stepping into a place brimming with ecological knowledge, and I was eager to dive in and learn more.
Once everyone else arrived, we settled into our rooms. I was sharing a bunk bed room with five other people, which made it feel like a fun sleepover. After getting settled, we had our Health and Safety briefing and induction chat, followed by an introduction to our wonderful warden, Steffan Walton. He gave us a talk about the history of the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT) and the surrounding areas, many of which are designated as ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest’ and ‘Special Areas of Conservation.’ Steffan explained that bird observatories like SBBOT monitor bird populations and migration over the long term, often collecting data on other wildlife such as moths and butterflies. We also learned that many bird observatories in the UK are located in coastal areas, which provide crucial resting and feeding grounds for migratory birds.
Then, we left the residence for a guided tour around the site. We noticed a few stray golf balls along the way, as Sandwich Bay is also home to a stunning estate and golf course. We discussed how balancing stakeholder priorities—such as conservation and recreation—can be tricky for the trust. With the guidance of assistant warden, Jonny Bull, we toured the beach, dunes, golf course, and surrounding areas. It was a chance to dive into our species and geography knowledge, snap some beautiful photos (despite the gloomy weather), and discuss what we were observing. We also visited the beach, where we sat for lunch, surrounded by shingle and “mermaid purses” (shark egg cases). We collected some beautiful seashells — don’t worry, they weren’t occupied by any species!
Afterward, we headed to the Restharrow Scrape to watch various birds, including tufted ducks diving for their lunch. It was also a great opportunity to get familiar with our binoculars and try taking photos through them, though focusing them on camera proved to be a bit of a challenge.
We returned to SBBOT for a quick tea break before heading back out to complete grassland surveys for our assignment. We worked in three different habitats – mowed grasslands, grazed grasslands, and unmanaged grasslands – using quadrats to measure soil pH, moisture, plant height, and species richness. My classmate, Karys, and I worked in the unmanaged grasslands, where we recorded our data for later analysis. Despite getting pricked by some brambles, it was a lovely experience, especially with the sun beginning to set.
Dinner was a welcome break, and we enjoyed some delicious veggie pizzas.
Afterward, we ventured back out to set up two types of moth traps: a large Robinson moth trap with a mercury vapor bulb in the car park and a smaller Heath trap in the woods. Jonny mentioned that catching five moths would be a good night, but we hoped for more!
Once the traps were set, we went on a bat walk using bat detectors. Since bats emit high-frequency sounds above the human hearing range, the detectors allowed us to identify their calls through echolocation. Unfortunately, we didn’t detect any bats, but we learned how to use the detectors and gained valuable insights into bat species and behaviours in the UK. We also stumbled upon a field of cows and were treated to a rare, starry night sky, something we don’t often get to enjoy due to light pollution in Canterbury. It was a beautiful moment to appreciate the stars and spot constellations.
The night wasn’t over yet, though! We participated in a competitive quiz, and my quiz partner, Lily, and I emerged victorious with a margin of just 14 and a HUNDREDTH point (yes, that’s very important to note). Did you know that armadillos are the mammals with the most teeth? Guess how many…
Afterward, we settled down to sleep, but not before snacking on oranges, while watching TV and chatting.
The next morning, we woke up early to set up bird mist nets and assist in bird ringing, led by an expert volunteer licensed to handle birds. We watched him set up the nets and then headed to the Heligoland trap, where he played bird songs to attract the birds. After a quick snack break, we returned just in time to see another team, along with DICE master’s student and trainee ringer Lucy, catch a beautiful bird. We went inside the ringing shed to observe the bird being carefully handled and guided through the ringing process. We then checked the mist nets we had set up and ventured inside the Heligoland trap. To our delight, we spotted a gorgeous short-eared barn owl flying around! We quickly grabbed our binoculars and cameras to capture the moment. Back to the mist nets, we were thrilled to find a blackbird, which had already been ringed. After checking her plumage and wing length, Lucy let her go. Back in the shed, we learned more about bird ringing and saw the unique rings provided by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). These rings allow researchers to track birds’ movements if they are recaught – what an incredible process!
After a quick breakfast of cereal and toast, we processed the moths we trapped the previous night. We found way more than five, which was exciting! Armed with moth identification books, we took our time identifying the first few moths, and as we got faster, it was fascinating to learn more about their wing shape, texture, and patterns, with help from Steffan and Jonny.
And just like that, our trip was over, and it was time for the next group to experience everything. This was an incredible trip, where we not only learned practical surveying techniques but also experienced fieldwork firsthand, from grassland surveys to moth, bat, and bird identification. I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Jake Bicknell, Dr. Holly Harris, Dr. Gail Austen, and everyone at SBBOT for making this experience possible.
Pictures taken by Aashvi Shah, Karys Rapley, and Hannah Ost