By Joe Walker, Scottish Dolphin Centre Residential Volunteer and Guide
Hello readers and welcome to the first edition of Joe’s Spey Bay Whale and Dolphin Conservation residential volunteer blog, or as I like to call it; Blogs through the Baleen, or Words with Whales, or Dolphin Discourse… I haven’t yet made my mind up, any reader suggestions?
It has now been about a fortnight since joining the team here at the Scottish Dolphin Centre and what a time it has been. Wildlife, walks, wind, waves and the 1978 animated version of Lord of The Rings. To make my way up here I undertook a biblical fever dream of trains to a country I had until then never been to. Arriving into Elgin I was faced with terrible autumnal Scottish weather but luckily a WDC staff member came to my rescue. Driving through lake sized puddles in the road did not dampen (although I was damp) the beauty of the new landscape I saw flicker on by, and this wasn’t even at the coast yet! Upon arrival the welcome from all the staff and the other three residential volunteers was lovely.
The first couple of days were spent familiarising myself with the Dolphin Centre and the immediate area surrounding it. I cannot recommend more the walk up to the old viaduct crossing over the tumultuous River Spey, it is a beautifully wild place with some of the freshest air I have ever tasted. After a day of training and exploring, the evenings here are magical, the late summer sun pierces through the sky to be scattered over the serene sea view, and if you are patient the stars come out in their glory, minimal light pollution permitting the milky way to split the sky. Last night we even saw a hint of the Northern Lights. I would of course be remiss not to mention the wildlife, although unlucky in not seeing bottlenose dolphins in Spey Bay, I watched a large pod for an hour on my local orientation day. I have also visited an RSPB reserve with the most intense songbird assemblage I have ever seen, chaffinches, blue and great tits, black caps and robins constantly darting around. A few woodpeckers even showed their faces.
However, on to the actual work. Induction here consists of training training training, as can be expected. Firstly, I was trained in working ‘front of house’, operating the shop and greeting visitors and where possible getting them excited about conservation. Weather permitting this also involves hourly data gathering Shorewatch efforts. I have even delivered my first Icehouse tour delving into the Centre’s fishing history, which went very smoothly other than getting the front door lock stuck for a couple minutes. I now know a lot about the area’s local history and more about whales and dolphins as half of the tour is dedicated to the spooky ‘bones room’. This room contains amazing bits and pieces of whales and dolphins with stories attached to each one. I have also begun work on my own ‘Nature Champions’, an activity for kids on a topic of my choosing, which for now is a secret. There is still much more for me to learn and do, there is a giant inflatable whale, beach cleans to organise and carry out, school visits and public engagement out in the real world, many shores to watch, and much more.
The final element of the trifecta of volunteering here is living with the other volunteers, which has been a pleasure, we are all similarly minded all being early conservation professionals. We have been snorkelling and swimming together in the ‘refreshing’ North Sea and spend a lot of time exploring the bizarre collection of DVDs and board games that come with the volunteer house. This includes the 1978 animated Lord of the Rings, an uncanny valley experience of great proportions.
Until next time, happy shore watching!
