More signs of spring

Well, now its definitely spring as our new Seasonal Ranger, Elaine O'Mahony, arrived at St Abbs on Monday! Elaine has decided to swap a life in academia, for a life as a Ranger. Up until recently she was carrying out post-doctorate research on Malaria at Edinburgh University, but decided that this wasn't really fulfilling her love for wildlife and the countryside, so she decided it was time for a change. So over the last year or so, Elaine has been gaining invaluable experience by volunteering for various conservation organisations, including the Marine Reserve last year, helping Georgia out with her educational work. Elaine has a particular passion for seabirds, so is most excited to be living in a bothy in the heart of the reserve, right next door to tens of thousands of seabirds. Although rather camera shy, I did persuade her to pose with some daffodils, which have burst into flower this week along with the primroses. Over the week I have been showing Elaine some of the variety of jobs that we, as Rangers, are expected to turn our hands to; I think the biggest look of surprise I got was when I introduced her to the internal workings of a loo!