{"id":58064,"title":"The Mystery in the Reeds","description":"\ud83e\udeb6 A Little Explorers Journal entry with Bran the Robin Hello again, explorer! Bran here.  Last time, we became Shoreline Detectives at Thurstaston.  We searched among shells and driftwood, investigated a mysterious mark in the sand and nearly solved it","content":"

\ud83e\udeb6<\/span> A Little Explorers Journal entry with Bran the Robin<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Hello again, explorer!<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Bran here.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Last time, we became Shoreline Detectives at Thurstaston.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We searched among shells and driftwood, investigated a mysterious mark in the sand and nearly solved it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Nearly.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The tide had other ideas.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\"eabybeydvgtxbhmfhdzi8wvusxtl0zbdsrkjkhzddm9qsqfm.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

Today, I've followed the Dee somewhere quieter.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There are reeds beside the water, grasses bending in the breeze and plenty of places for small creatures to disappear.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

It looks peaceful, doesn't it?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But I've been watching from this reed for a while.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And I'm beginning to think it's not quiet at all.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Did You Hear That?<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Listen.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The reeds make one sound when the wind moves through them.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Swish... swish... swish...<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

That's easy.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But every now and then there's another sound.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A rustle.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A splash.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something moving where I can't quite see it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There!<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Did you hear that one?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I definitely did.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Come a little closer.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We'll investigate together.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

What Can We Spot?<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

You have to be patient here.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

At the shore we could walk around looking for clues.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Here, some of the clues might come to us.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something ripples the water and disappears.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A bird calls from somewhere we can't see.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The reeds twitch.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then everything is still again.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Wait!<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something moved between those stems.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I saw a flash of brown.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Or was it gold?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I was looking the other way for one second.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Typical.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Did you see it?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We could go charging through the reeds after it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But then everything would hear us coming.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And whatever lives in there probably wouldn't appreciate a robin crashing into its hiding place.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

So we'll stay here.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Very still.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Very quiet.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Watching.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There's another rustle.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But nothing appears.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Hmm.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

This could take some serious explorer patience.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A Place Full of Secrets<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Now that we've stopped rushing around, look at everything else that's happening.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A bird crosses the water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something tiny skims across the surface.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The breeze bends the grasses and then lets them spring back again.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And look at the water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The evening light has made a shining path right across it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I wonder where it goes.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I know, I know.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

It's only sunlight on the water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But it looks like a path.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And explorers are allowed to wonder where paths might lead.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Especially shiny ones.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Give It a Secret Name<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I think we've found our place for today.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Not somewhere marked with a big explorer flag.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Just this little spot beside the reeds where we stopped and discovered that quiet wasn't really quiet at all.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

It deserves an explorer name.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

How about Rustling Reed Corner<\/strong>?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Or Bran's Excellent Lookout<\/strong>?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I may be slightly biased about that one.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Choose your own.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

It could come from something you saw.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something you heard.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Or even something you're still wondering about.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Next time you visit somewhere like this, listen again.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

You might hear something completely different.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And perhaps you'll have better luck than me finding out what made that rustle.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83e\udeb6<\/span> Explorer Field Notes<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udc42<\/span> Listen:<\/strong> How many different sounds can you hear without moving from your spot?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\udc40<\/span> Watch:<\/strong> Can you spot something moving in the water, grass, reeds or sky?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83e\udeb6<\/span> Discover:<\/strong> Look for one clue that tells you an animal or bird has been nearby.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f<\/span> Imagine:<\/strong> Give your little lookout place an explorer name of its own.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The sun is getting lower now.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We've travelled from our woodland base camp at Royden Park, followed the salt wind to Thurstaston Shore and ended up here, watching the evening light across the Dee.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

That's quite an adventure.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But look at Bran.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I'm already wondering about something else.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Autumn won't last forever.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Soon the mornings will become colder.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The leaves will disappear.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Perhaps there'll even be frost beneath our feet.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I wonder where we should explore when winter arrives?<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We'll find somewhere.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

We always do.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\ud83e\udeb6<\/span> \u2014 From Bran's Little Explorer Journal<\/strong><\/p>","urlTitle":"the-mystery-in-the-reeds","url":"\/blog\/the-mystery-in-the-reeds\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-mystery-in-the-reeds\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/beastlyboroughs.com\/blog\/the-mystery-in-the-reeds\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1788193944,"updatedAt":1788194209,"publishedAt":1788194209,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":405864,"name":"Beastly Boroughs"},"tags":[{"id":4549,"code":"little-explorers-journal","name":"LittleExplorersJournal","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/little-explorers-journal\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/i2cj773l7elnunb17jdpj781uqpt386pze8jxwyhuaeez8di.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/i2cj773l7elnunb17jdpj781uqpt386pze8jxwyhuaeez8di.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/i2cj773l7elnunb17jdpj781uqpt386pze8jxwyhuaeez8di.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":55967,"title":"Meet Bran \u2014 Your Little Explorer Guide","url":"\/blog\/meet-bran-your-little-explorer-guide\/","urlTitle":"meet-bran-your-little-explorer-guide","division":405864,"description":"Hello there, little explorer! I\u2019m Bran the Robin \u2014 and I\u2019m very glad you\u2019re here.  I flutter along woodland paths, skim over sandy shores and hop between tree roots, looking for things that are easy to pass by.  That\u2019s one of the best things about being a robin","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/r5kitoo9topg4nlzdhekn2evafm6ftituowtzaiudqzfposh.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/r5kitoo9topg4nlzdhekn2evafm6ftituowtzaiudqzfposh.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":55968,"title":"Thurstaston Hill \u2014 Open Light","url":"\/blog\/thurstaston-hill-open-light\/","urlTitle":"thurstaston-hill-open-light","division":405864,"description":"A Little Explorers Journal entry with Bran the Robin Hello, explorer. Bran again.  Today we have climbed somewhere a little different","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7evqgtimghwbgcjwskkeucirtb3uwxgltyktkp9pcvtnh169.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7evqgtimghwbgcjwskkeucirtb3uwxgltyktkp9pcvtnh169.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":55970,"title":"Eastham Woods \u2014 Bluebell Quiet","url":"\/blog\/eastham-woods-bluebell-quiet\/","urlTitle":"eastham-woods-bluebell-quiet","division":405864,"description":"A Little Explorers Journal entry with Bran the Robin Hello again, explorer. Bran here.  Something wonderful is happening in the woods","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/losjnxebvfyvl19ngcexgmhjuhrmt6euk5m6xkzzjehtvxek.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/losjnxebvfyvl19ngcexgmhjuhrmt6euk5m6xkzzjehtvxek.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}