7th December 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:
John, Ron, Neil, Keith and Martin

Activities:
- we had two gorse fires.
- we burnt the gorse at the triangle near the ride junction, and added a little more that we cut along the boundary ditch.
- we also finished most of the gorse along the road from the five bar gate.  There is now a pretty clear view from the road across the reserve.
- both fires were incredibly difficult to start.  There had been a freezing fog for some time and all the trees and most greenery were covered in the most majestic frost.  This water on the gorse made it difficult to start even with paper and tubes.

Observations:
- mike is still off ill.  Martin is running an errand for him after the close of play.  He is also getting an iron boost, as well as our recommendation of Parsley and watercress  :-)
- Thought we had a Raven calling
- Alice was running a chainsaw refresher course on the reserve, though we did not hear much noise.  Apparently there is now some brash for use to burn up the M1, and logs to pile.
- reed bunting, siskins.
- three xmas trees were thoroughly coppiced and removed.  Some logs were taken as well.

Martin

30th November 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:
Martin

Activities:
- cancelled due to bad weather
- martin cut up some logs in the tractor shed, and brought round a new load from the wood piles

observations:
- 17 fieldfares
- small flock of lesser redpolls
- robin taking opportunity of coming into shed and eating spiders etc
- Frank did some salting of the road, particularly at the junction with the main road.

23rd November 2010 ... weekly volunteers

present:
John, Neil, Ron, Keith and Martin

Activities:
- Bonfire of the Gorse cut last week, above the bench.  Cutting some more to add to the fire, right up against the top path.
- Clearing more weed etc from Lake Pond.  This completes this task.
- Cutting more gorse (and some Pine) for burning maybe next week.  One patch towards the bench from where we had the fire today, and also the triangle where the paths diverge at the ride junction.

Observations:
-2 Ravens
- Siskins, Lesser Redpolls
- Reed Bunting
- Longtailed Tits, Nuthatch

- Heard a collared turtle dove at Tile Lodge last week.

martin

16th November 2010 --- Weekly Volunteers

Present:
John, Neil, Rod and Martin

Activities:
- filled up the leaflets at the car park
- had a bonfire of the stuff cut last week, and more stuff cut in the neighbourhood.  This is in the triangle of paths beyond the Ride Junction.  Fire brigade informed as usual.
- cut some more Gorse and small pines further on, basically above the bench, which makes for better views from the two paths.  As well as getting rid of some gorse that was too leggy.
- John mended the bow saw from last week.
- Neil to mend a rake that is missing a nut

Observations:
- Raven
- Dartford heard on the boundary below four counties
- plenty of lesser redpolls, siskins, redwings, fiedfares, long-tailed tits
- reed bunting on the boundary near the fire site
- a butterfly, unidentified
- goldcrests, nuthatches and treecreepers
- 10 herring gulls


martin

Bird count for 28th October 2010

Here is bird count for October.

Lots of redwing and Fieldfares.  Skylarks passing on passage?  First woodcock for a bit.  2 Ravens.  Very few goldcrests.  Hint of a Dartford warbler, but not counted.

34 species


click here so see spreadsheet

martin

Occasional note ... great grey shrike

Hi,

just to record that I had a Great Grey Shrike today ( 15 november 2010) at the Four Counties car park.  I never thought I would ever see one on the Ashdown forest.  It flew off, possibly onto the reserve.

Also there was a Dartford Warbler there.  Closest to seeing one on the reserve this year.

Martin

9th November 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

-Present:
John, Ron, Keith and Martin

Activities:
- poor weather
- cleared an old 'mouse' nest from the tractor shed
- sawing and bagging logs.
- existing and new bags taken by volunteers
- pulling birch and pine saplings north west of the ride junction
- clearing small Pines and birches, and over grown Gorse just north of junction, ready for a fire at some time
hard work and retired early.

Observations:
- large flock of lesser redpolls around ( say 60 )
- 10 longtail tits by tool store
- 1 herring gull
- 1 reed bunting

Notes:
- a bow saw broke, and needs a nut and bolt.  John has taken to mend.
- John has also taken the portable light to mend.  New battery?
- out of leaflets at the car park

martin

2nd November 2010 .. Weekly Volunteers

Present:

John, Ron, Neil, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- Bonfire of Gorse at the bottom of south heath
- more digging out of Lake Pond
- digging out pine and birch saplings on area other side of stream from staples hill.
- mike distributed two bags of horse manure

Observations:

- Ravens
- Lesser Redpolls, Siskins, Fieldfares, Redwings
- Southern hawker
- skylark, meadow pipit



martin

26th October 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Ron, Neil, Keith, Mike and martin

Activities:

- bonfire at the site behind the cottages, of gorse that had been cut nearby and last week's on South heath
- Road swept after moving the gorse across the road
- coppiced gorse at the bottom of the hill on south heath, and burnt it, creating a new bonfire site just above it.
- considered a further place to have a bonfire site below this belt of gorse for further cutting work.  It would be too much work dragging up hill to the new site.  Will need a north west wind for this to work.
- rain descended after lunch, and we went outr ways
- Mike took away some of the  large bags that his horse manure came in.

Observations:

- Fieldfares and Redwings
- 2 Ravens
- Nail Fungus
- Longtail Tit nest in Gorse

Occasional Notes:

- the mobile phone/camera has been returned to owner, and we all shared some of the thank-you box of chocolates.  The remaining chocolates ( as it is a big tin) are in the tractor shed awaiting the Sunday group and another helping for ourselves.



martin

Historic Photos of Old Lodge Reserve

Nick has provided me some historic photos of old lodge, so that interested people can see the differences from how the reserve is today.  These cover roughly 4 different years, and typically show the reserve in two views.  Click on the links below to get them.



1947 West        1947 East

1962 West        1962 East

1984 West        1984 East

1999 West        1999 East

Please consult Nick if you want to make serious use of them.

martin

24th October 2010 --- occasional note

- Noticed that Don has taken all the silver birch from the log pile.  Some of this has gone via the road, as opposed to across the reserve.  The Forwarder is no longer on site.  Most of the Pine is still there.
- ponies on Pippinford all there, groups of 29 and 2 !
- Nail fungus still showing well.  Some moved to better positions.

martin

5th October 2010 --- weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Ron and Martin

Activities:

- weather forecast awful, and rain threatening most of the time.  Worked near the tool store.
- cut down some remaining silver birch near where we have been doing the gorse coppicing
- did more gorse coppicing there
- brash to the fire-site
- pollarding of the copse to the west of the tool store.  The Hollies and birch were taking off again.  This included lowering the height along the fence onto south heath.
- brought some logs into the tractor shed ot dry
- cut up some of the dry logs in the tractor shed, which were taken by Ron.

Observations:

- siskins
- lesser redpolls
- raven
- kestrel


Martin

12th October 2010 --- weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Ron, Neil, and Martin

Activities:

- pond work on Lake pond.  A large amount cut out and dragged to make a bigger dam bank.
- pollarding of some nearby alders which were dominating some of the smaller alder-buckthorns
- ring barked a big silver birch that was shading the lake pond
- went to the sphagnum heath and experimented with making some berms from dead pine logs, with the intention of making the area retain a little more water, and stopping the erosion and outflow.
- turned off the water for the troughs.
- more gorse cutting near the five bar gate.


Observations:

- at least 6 common darters
- Raven
- siskin
- some of logs have been taken
- don's 'new' forwarder parked in the wood below the main trough.


martin

19 October 2010 --- Weekly Volunteers

Present:

Martin and Mike

Activities:

- coppicing gorse on the south heath.  Breaking up some of the solid masses of tall gorse at the north east of the heath.  The brash was moved up to the road, ready to be taken across to the traditional fire-site.
- pollarding of a few silver birch nearby which were tending to shoot off.  Brash with the gorse brash.

Observations:

- nail fungus
- 2 crossbills
- flock of redwing
- 2 woodlark
- good flock of lesser redpoll


martin

Fungus Foray .. 8th October 2010 ... list of species

Ray led a successful foray on the 8th October 2010.  Below is a link to the list of fungus species that she has provided for us.

The Nail fungus was in abundance in the usual place.


click here for list of species

martin

R E M I N D E R --- Fungus foray this coming Friday, 10.30 in car park

All welcome. October 8th,

bring lunch

martin

28th September 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Monty, Liza, Michelle, Peter were there for the Pony round-up
John, Ron, Neil, Mike and Martin continued on afterwards

Activities:
- rounding up the Ponies, which went extremely well.  Since Bob was meant to come with the lorry at 11 am, which was rather tight, and then appeared at 10 am !!!  Anyway all signed sealed and delivered in time for us all to go back to the tractor shed for some coffee.  Ponies to be stationed south of Falmer, at Woodingdean.  The foal looked a bit squashed and hesitant, but should be OK.
- went along to the high beeches to dig some of the ponds, including Amex pond.
- cleared saplings near those ponds, adding brash to an existing wood pile.  Pollarded a fallen Pine and Birch which were starting to get away.
- cleared saplings from the slope the the south of the Beeches on the slope down to the stream.  This used to be an area for the silver studded blue.

Observations:
- still too dry for many bonfires.  Every water source is pretty dry.
- couple of woodlarks above the High Beeches
- Raven seen and heard a few times
- Kestrel around
- siskins


martin

Bird count for 23rd September 2010

Here is the birdcount for september 23rd 2010


click here to see spreadsheet

The odd thing went wrong again this month, but most of it has been recovered.  The positions for the last two records  and one other are probably wrong, but not material.

A lot of movements of swallows and starlings.  many chiffchaffs around, failing to call properly :-)

Jackdaws decided to fly across reserve en masse.

martin

occasional note for 21nd and 23september 2010

Observations:

- just to mention that there have been a number ( up to 4 ) grey wagtails around the reserve, presumably exploring from Pippingford
- Alan morris spoke about having the army put up a kestrel nestbox on Pippingford, and this having been successful this year.  Indeed we saw 3 of the birds at the same time.
- he also mentioned a escapade involving wire-cutters and releasing 3 Ravens, possibly in the Sheffield area, which was rather riveting.  Might explain population.  Oh for DNA.



Martin

occasional notes for 26th september 2010

observations

- Don has started removing some of his logs.
- looks as if he is using a new forwarder to do this.  Bruunett.  8 wheel drive !!
- This is parked down from the water trough
- There was a gathering of some sort under the high beeches, of about 10 persons.  Was this religious in some way?  If anyone has information I would like to know, as the reserve management should be consulted beforehand.

martin

Bird Count -- 27th August 2010

Here is the bird count for 27th August.

I had some difficulties with my PDA, and some records were later put into the records by hand.  These would have been in total with a strange grid reference.  Sorry about that.  The problem was later tracked down to a loose connection inside the machine, which may recur unfortunately.


click to see spreadsheet

cheers

Martin

21st September 2010 - Weekly Volunteers

Present:

John, Ron, Martin and Mike

Activities:

- lookered the Ponies
- Two bonfires of Gorse, one behind the cottages and the other near the cattle pens.  Continued coppicing the gorse along the road and feeding the first bonfire.
- One other bonfire was started, but abandoned as there was too much fire risk.  There is now a nice patch ready for burning when the grass is wetter.
- The fire centre were telephoned before the bonfires, and after.
- cleared saplings between cottages and willow pit.  brash in the willow pit
- cleared some more saplings the other side of the path.

observations:

- Raven
- Kestrel

This years fungus Foray .. Friday Oct 8th ..10.30 car park

Hi everyone,

Ray has kindly offered to do her foray on Friday October 8th, meeting in the car park at 10.30.

All welcome.

Best to let me or Nick know, just in case we have to alter arrangements due to weather.

cheers

martin

14th september 2010 ... weekly volunteers

present:

Keith, Mike, Ron, John and martin

activities:
- Dug up ragwort by the cottages along the road
- cut and stacked a large amount of Gorse along the road, making a gap in the gorse to improve the views from the road.  Cleared along the fence, which might allow better access for Ponies.
- Lookered the Ponies.
- cut pine and birch saplings between the cottages and the car park.

Observations:

- lots of nail fungus, some now quite large.
- Lady indicated that she disapproved of us cutting the gorse, as it was used by birds and as a wind break for visitors.
- John is taking the Glasses that were found for safe keeping off site.
- Mike shared some cooking apples and bags of horse manure.


martin

7th september 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:

John, Neil, Ron and Martin

Activities:

- rain threatening, and so stayed near the tool store
- looked at some of the nail fungus.
- lookered the ponies (15)
-coppiced area of Gorse near the cattle pen.  Brash put behind it.
- filled up the leaflet box.
- dug up bracken along the east bank, along to the ride junction approx.  Also cleared some pine saplings on the other side of the path.
- coppiced some gorse between the firesite behind the cottages and the small wooden gate.  There is a lot more to do there.  Brash either on firesite or at other end of this strip.
- told people about the date of Ray's visit Oct Friday 8th Noveber
- noted some ragwort behind the cottages
- planned to have some cut through copicing to break up the bank of high gorse along the road.
- dug a channel at top of beeches avenue to reduce water erosion

Observations

- kestrel, hobby and sparrow hawk.

martin

Smart Phone found

Just to record that nick passed me a camera phone that was found on the reserve a bit ago.

It is a T-mobile S-E device.

I am going to try to find its owner through the T mobile shop in Tunbridge wells.  It still has a SIM card and a Micro SD card intact.  The battery is flat, and I do not have a suitable charger.

Martin

2009 Fungus Foray Lists

Here are some of the results that Ray sent me of the 2009 foray.  one of them is an update of an original sent.  I include both of these.

click here for the original big listing

click here for the updated big listing

click here for the listing of 2009 fora details

We are hoping to have a foray this year, and I will post details when available.

martin

Future Task Sheet

This is a trial of a working task sheet

Objective is to record tasks that need doing, and to allow them to be allocated to dates, ie Sunday group or Tuesday group.

Anyone who wants to be able to enter new tasks and edit existing ones, just needs to ask me.  You will need a gmail account, which is not too onerous.

The spreadsheet is very limited in scope, purposefully.

click here for task sheet

martin

2nd and 3rd September --- Nail Fungus

Nail fungus is plentiful this year in the usual place.  This is rather early.

They are small, dense ( ie numbers per turd, and turds per dropping) and young

I saw them over most of the area.

I looked for them on the other part of the reserve, but no luck.

Other observations:

- hobby
- 2 buzzards
- just possible dartford
- blackcap
- house martin
- lots of swallows
- small heath butterfly

martin

31st August 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:
John, Ron, Neil, Mike and martin

Activities:
- Helped Monty round-up the ponies on South Heath, and move them onto the main reserve
- Coppiced the gorse and silver birch near the water trough.  Brash put into the gap between fence and road.
- harvested wood taken to wood pile behind tool store
- did sod cutting at lake pond
- coppiced the alder near the causeway, leaving the brash roughly where they fell
- started getting rid of birch and pine saplings, and bracken, between the gorse triangle and the car park
- Monty allowed us to skip the lookering since he had done it the day before

Notes:
- Neil cut himself with a bow saw, nicking his thumb through his leather glove.  Bandage applied.  Did not appear to be of any consequence.
- found a pair of ladies glasses between small wooden gate and road.  Ron has since told SWT about it.  They are stored on the first aid kit.


Observations:
- a Raven a couple of times
- two woodlark
- small heath butterflies
- migrant hawker
- common and black darters
- adder, and John saw one last week
- lots of fungi.  They appear very early this year


martin

24th August 2010 ... weekly volunteers

present: John, Neil,Ron,Mike and Martin

Activities:
- cut down some pine saplings on top heath (?), along the top from the car park, and before the ride junction
- pulled bracken wherever we went
- dug out two ponds, Rocky and one near the beeches
- cleared saplings and coppice gorse triangular area south east of bench and west of path
- cleared area along the top from bench to north boundary
- lookered both lots of ponies.  4 on south heath.
- inspected alders for coppicing near causeway
- stacked brash in wood with bench

observations:
- commas
- 2 woodlark
- heard Raven
- Kestrel
- lizard sunning on side of pine tree
- ponds nearly full again

martin

Recording program --- freeware

Hi,

As people will have seen I record my sightings using a program which adds time and place to make things easy.  The program is in tcl/tk and can in theory be run on most platforms.  I run it on a Microsoft PDA.

Now you probably have to have some skills to take my source code file and to run it, but its actually not too bad.  It is all free of course.  Get the tcl/tk runtime, start it, and with the command 'source' run the source file given below.  It uses one other file which is a text file of your chosen ordered list of birds. I give an example below.

I use a touch sensitive screen with a stylus, but you can run it totally with a directional-pad or joystick.

You can

- add dynamically species to the list
- search the list of records with regular expressions
- run commands in tcl directly
- use a clock system to get the direction of the observation
- record a distance to the bird
- add information about gender, age and behaviour
- add comments to a record
- the order of the list can be statically fixed by the user.  I concatenate two lists, each in alphabetic order.  One is for common species, and the other for irregular species.  This makes for much faster input.  I have a summer file and a winter file, of course
- converts to national grid.  Very messy code.
- output to a CSV file on memory card, and a back up file on the main device, should your pda crash.  Yes, windows mobile does have the odd crash.


which is pretty good since you do not leave the one static page.

here are the two files.

please consider that the code is under the gpl license.

click to download the tcl program

click to see the source code

click to see the list of birds and to download it

martin

summary of 2010 bird nestbox surveys

 Here is a rather complicated spreadsheet of the nestboxes.

First there is a summary of the number of successes and failures
Then a sheet including all the information by nest box, listing the detail in time order
and then the three sheets of the separate surveys

23 out of the 65 boxes remained empty
34 were successful
8 were failures in either abandoning eggs or failing to complete a nest

click here to see the spreadsheet

because of the poor weather conditions, too wet or too hot there was a big gap which sometimes meant that the species was not determined


martin

Bird count for July 29th 2010

Here is the bird count for 29th August 2010


click here to see spreadsheet

martin

17th August 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Neil, Ron, Mike, and Martin

Activities:

- digging bracken and birch saplings on South Heath
- lookered the 2 ponies
- filled the leaflets at the entrance
- Went to the bench, and
- dug out one of the two ponds on the area below the bench
- dug out a pond on the right of the path near the beeches
- cleared young birch and pines north of the bench
- cleared 4 Rhododendrons.  Left within the brash pile of pines above the bench.
- inspected some of the coppicing of gorse along the top, which now appears to have some very small regrowth showing.

Observations:
- 2 woodlarks
- 17 mistle thrushes
- 7 Herring gulls
- stonechats
- dodder


Martin
Publish Post

3rd August 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  Neil, Ron, John

activities:
- trimmed the new posts by the causeway
- did work on Lake pond
- cleared some more pine and birch saplings north of the bench

Observations:
- failed to find the Dodder
- lots of dragonflies, including Keeled Skimmers
- Mike apparently reported a bird of prey that sounded like a Red Kite

martin

10th August 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  Ron, Neil, Mathew ( Ron's son) and Martin

Activities:
- lookered the ponies
- digging up bracken and silver birch on South Heath.  Neil took some birch away for gardening.
- brought in the rest of the wood from the first wood pile
- cut up all the wood in the tractor shed and the stuff above
- some bags of wood taken as perks, and some added to stock in tractor shed.
- Ragwort dug up near car park
- Made a Pine branch safe opposite the high beeches.  It is now further away from the path and it is clear that if the current attachment breaks it will only fall a few feet and remain hung up.  It is less dangerous to leave like this, than at this moment to attempt to take it down.
- cleared the path up to the car park a little. One can get very wet walking along here.

Observations:
- meadow browns, gatekeepers
- Hobby calling from OL1
- Dodder on road opposite to the small wooden gate
- 4 of Mrs Reid's black sheep near stony pond.  There is a place where they can get under the fence.  Mrs Reid will be informed, but there is probably no urgency to this.


Martin

Nightjar walk .. 1st july 2010

Here is a spreadsheet of our nightjar count this year

click here for spreadsheet

The first part of the count was quite good, but it all stopped north of the stream for some reason.

So not as many as last year apparently.

Present Keith, Ron and Martin

martin

27th July 2010 ... Weekly volunteers

Present: John, Mike, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- Keith brought back nest boxes with neoprene covers.  Has taken one more for same treatment
- filled up the leaflet box
- lookered the South heath ponies.  Monty phoned up to say that he had checked the main reserve herd
- worked on the Island lake, taking out a lot of the encroaching  grassy mass
- continued cutting saplings and bracken above this area
- took out flowering ragwort on the cricket pitch area, and hid   plants under brash pile in OL2 wood
- took out more saplings and bracken along the M1

Observations:

- 2 Ravens at nest site
- siskins and lesser redpolls
- Kestrel
- silver studded blues at both traditional sites.  Based on behaviour
- lots of gatekeepers, large skippers, common blues, meadow browns
- red admiral, Ringlet ( cricket pitch), large whites
- Brown hawker
- small patch of Dodder along the road.

13th July2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Martin was absent, and this is possibly inaccurate

Keith, Mike, John, Neil

Activities:

clearing saplings down the slope towards the stream at the bridge
lookering ponies

martin

20th July 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:  Keith, John, Mike and Martin

Activities:
- lookered Ponies
- smoothed off the remains of a scrapping pile near the water trough
- cleared some algae from the trough
- added some stakes and did some repairs to the causeway
- did some clearing of the pond below the causeway ( lake pond?)
- cleared pine saplings and bracken from the slope under the power lines running south to the stream and top pond.

Observations:
- Red admiral
- two mating silver studded blues in the standard place.  This is first time for a few years.  We thought they might have disappeared !!
- Raven, Hobby
- plenty of  gatekeepers
- southern hawker emerging, broad bodies chasers

Other items:
John Luck doing a dragon fly survey on Sunday
Keith had had a bee sting on the face the previous Sunday and was still suffering
The ice cream van has had a make-over and is now pink.  It will be used as a 'freedom' frozen smoothie vehicle.
We donated some old diesel and chainsaw oil to Paul ( windy ridge Head Gardner ) and he will take the 'sledge' away next Tuesday at 9.  We promised to help in its removal
Some more things from Alan have arrived, including

- 2 hedge clippers
- large back-pack sprayer
- various broken spades, which John has taken to see if he can repair anything
- one good spade
- 3 nest boxes ( one doormouse?) which Keith has taken for a neoprene make-over
maybe there were some other things we did not notice.


martin

Nest Box count 15th June and 6th July 2010

Here is a spreadsheet of the nest box survey.

click here to see spreadsheet

The weather and other things delayed the second half.

Note that the two nuthatch nests were successful, even though we do not know the number of fledglings.

The blue tit nest in the damaged hanging nest, appeared against the odds to have succeeded.

surprisingly few casualties from the poor weather, though some late nesting.

Quite a lot of repair to do to the boxes before next season.

martin

Bird count for june 24th 2010

Keith and I did the bird count on 24th June 2010

below is a link to where people can see the spread sheet

click this to see spreadsheet

Of interest is the 3 spotted flycatchers.  One of the records is not in the correct location.

I have since heard birds in one of the locations.

martin

6th july 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Keith, John,, Martin, Ron, David, and Neil

Activities:
- lookered the ponies
- completed the nestbox survey.  Lots of bee(?) occupations in old nests  second nuthatch success.
- took out saplings ( mostly birch) and bracken in area bordering forester's cottage down to the stream
- took out pine saplings on area north west  of the willow hollow down to the path between the roller stand and the ride junction.  Plenty still here, but it was a start

observations:

- hot
- small heaths, meadow browns
- 3 golden ring dragonflies seen by visitors
- possible raven

martin

Gorse Mite Photos by Mike P

Mike took these pictures at old Lodge in June 2007.  There are 6 photos in total.  Click on the link to see the others. From mike's photos of gorse mite

The Mites were spectacular.

They do not occur every year on such a scale

martin

29th june 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  David, Neil, Ron, John, Keith, Mike and Martin

Activities:
- lookered ponies
- dug out west pond, which is almost dry.  Mostly removing old silt, but lowering the level of the old part a few inches as well.
- clearing bracken and saplings on the plateau above west pond
- clearing ragwort from both sides of the cricket pitch.  Not much , and hidden on OL2 part away from ponies
- odd bits of bracken clearing on route
- newly cut keys given to Neil and Ron, and tested
- technique for opening the tractor shed lock worked out.
- too hot finally and left early

Observations:
- woodlark singing over west pond
- patch of St john's wort on plateau above west pond
- lesser redpolls, tree creepers, nuthatch
- probable barn owl on the Pippingford side, disturbed by cadets
- Raven ( yesterday)
- Bournes have taken one or two loads recently. Finishing the one near the water trough, and starting the first one above sphagnum heath
- a couple of Does and Fawns

Other:
- discussed possible open day to attract new volunteers
- planning nightjar walk this thursday at 9.30



martin

22 june 2010 --- weekly volunteers

Present: John, Ron, David, Neil, Mike, Keith and Martin

Ron, David, Keith and Mike went after lunch

Activities:

- helping Monty round up and transport 2 of the 4 ponies on South Heath
- continuing the digging up of pine and birch saplings near the bench
- digging up some of the three cornered leaks in the car park
- gathering dung on SH
- digging bracken on the SH

martin

visit 17th june 2010 ... martin

- Greenhair streak or streaks behind tool store
- Buzzard being mobbed by Herring gull
- woodlark on SH
- Lots of stonechats, with young
- blackcaps near cottage
Mistle Thrush on SH
- Hobbies in the usual place, calling from nest site
- car park gate repaired, after the unwinding of the wire
- some three cornered leaks dead headed in the car park.  There are some bulbs that need taking up sometime
- lots of skippers.  Speckled wood, large white.

- some glass near pump house that still  needs removing.

martin

15th June 2010 --- weekly vounteers

Present:

John, Keith, Mike, Ron, Neil, David, and Martin

Activities:

- did the first part of the nestbox survey
- dug out Pine and birch saplings near the bench
- dug up bracken on the slope down from the roller stand and near cuckoo pond
- lookered the ponies

Observations:

- mike came across newly born fawn
- nuthatch whose nest box was cleared re-occupied and reared brood
- great tits near tool store succeeded, despite the torpid state of nestlings seen last time
- some pony dung taken as perk
- Monty may be taking 2 of the ponies off the south heath since Old Lodge is not contracting for their use
- brimstone
- 4 crossbills
- no ravens


martin

8th june 2010 --- weekly volunteers

Present:  Keith, David, Ron, Neil, John, and Martin.  Mike sent apologies, and will be here next week

Activities:

- weather not good to start with, and rain forecast
- did bracken digging on south heath
- lookered ponies on South heath and main reserve
- felled 4 silver birch behind cottages, piled up logs and brash
- took down a couple of old stumps, but will leave the new ones to rot
- discussed 'ripples' and will give to an Oxfam shop
- sawed up some of the wood stored in the tractor shed.  These are bagged up there for taking later.


everybody had commitments in the pm, and so left after lunch.

Observations:
- woodlark near stream
- nightjar and 4 woodcock at the weekend
- nuthatch young being fed
- ravens appear to have left the nest
- no sign of hobbies
- sundews starting to come out, Bog cotton.
- green hairstreak towards the car park
- green hairstreak behind tool store on Monday.

martin

June 1st 2010 --- weekly volunteers

present:  John, David, Neil, Ron, and Martin

Activities:

- bad weather was expected mid morning, so we concentrated on things close at hand
- dug up some Ragwort near the tool store
- dug up bracken on South Heath plus the odd birch away from the trough area.
- Tidied up the new inspection traps, which the ponies had messed up
- lookered the South Heath Ponies.  Ron and Martin Had checked the other ponies in the last two days.
- tidied up some of the mess / strange objects around the roller stand.  There were some new things.  needs watching.
- forced the locks ( easy) on the agricultural Pesticide container.  Contains some herbicide and some colourant.
- left photos for the Sunday group

Rain stopped play at coffee time, and appear set in for the day as forecast.  So we left.

Observations:
- stonechats on SH, tree pipit, cuckoo
- unlikely that John's rearranged hot air balloon flight would go ahead.
- discussed internet etc, bat fives on the river plate.

martin

Green hairstreak near car park yesterday

Title says it all.

just about 20 yards west of the car park, just outside the reserve was a green hairstreak on a dead bit of gorse.

It clearly had not worked out that dead gorse was not a good background for its colour.

Ponies, Ravens, staghorn all fine.  Large red damsel fly also in the car park.

Some strange items near the log pile and water trough.  Ripples may be a stall name plate. Some cut bits of machined pole, a strange scrap bit of window frame (?) nailed to 2 other bits of wood on the log pile, Silver ( for chocolate) half penny wrapper, large bottle of water, and a currant bun bits (in the trough the other side).  What is going on?

martin

25th May 2010 ... Weekly volunteeers

Present:   John, Ron, David and Martin

Activities:

- lookered the ponies
- dug up ragwort on the cricket field, both sides
- cleared bracken from M1, beeches avenue
- cleared birch and pine saplings from area of wood and heath opposite the cricket field
- inspected the sphagnum heath for berm possibilities

observations:
- two adult and at least two young Ravens
- Hobbies calling from one of their standard haunts
- Tree pipits behaving in a strange territorial way --  appearing to be young?
- Small copper, brimstones, speckled woods and one green hairstreak
- crossbills, 4 siskin, Jackdaw, swift, swallow, tree creeper singing
- palish adder

More green hairstreaks

Today I saw two male green hairstreaks having a 'dog fight' behind the tool store.  Another was reported by Brent as seen at the ride junction on some holly.

I also saw the black ( well almost black) adder near the log piles, and moving off into the wood.  Definitely something spooky about it.

Otherwise normal things.  Crossbills, tree pipits, linnets, lesser redpolls.

martin

Additional tools etc

For the record, here is a list of the additional tools that we have access to.

click here for spreadsheet


martin

Nest Box count 11th and 18th May 2010

Here is the completed nest box count

click here for spreadsheet

martin

Hobbies, Green Hairstreaks etc

Yesterday I saw my first hobbies (2) over the reserve.  Hope they are alright.  Ron and I saw a crow land on their old nest site earlier in the month.

Today was the first really warm day, and I thought it would be fun to find green hairstreaks.  Indeed I think I found 2 of them high on a Holly tree behind the tool store. It could just have been one, that was incredibly quick at relocating, but I don't think so. The hollies have an enormous amount of flowers at the moment, and must be the largest current source of nectar.  You had to really get your eye in to see them. The green is slightly different from that of the Holly leaves.

There were a couple of male holly blues there as well, fighting it out.

Brimstones ( male and female) and a speckled wood completed the company

martinW

18th may 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Mike, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- unpacked, documented, sorted and stored Alan's equipment that Alice had left for us
- lookered the ponies
- discussed the new Pony Ember with all and Monty
- Keith has taken two nestboxes to be refurbished
- did the last part of the nestbox count.  One dead female redstart in one box with 6 eggs.  No obvious cause.
- improved the ground around the main post of the kissing gate, with stones and soil and turf.
- pulled up and loppered lots of silver birch and a few remaining pine on area opposite forester's cottage.  There is still much work to be done here. The brash was deposited in the woods nearer the stream.
- some bracken destruction, but they are still only just emerging.  There is evidence of frost damage.

Observations:

- Ravens calling a little
- woodlark, tree pipits, redstarts, tree creeper singing
- map of reserve pinned to tractor shed door

Bird count for May 13th 2010

Here is the spreadsheet for the bird count on May 13 2010, that Ron and I did.

Ravens definitely included at least an extra call from the nest site, and so is recorded as 3.

No hobbies.

Raven and Buzzard had a barny, with them both flying increasingly high, before the Buzzard had had enough aggro from the Raven

Not yet warm, but a better day than recently.

click to see spreadsheet

martin

Nest Box count 11th May 2010

Here is the spreadsheet of the nest box count for may 11th.  We did just over half the boxes.

The weather has been bitterly cold and everything seems rather delayed.  Certainly the adults seemed to want to stay on the nests.

We will try to do the rest next week.

click to see spreadsheet

martin

New pony and Green Hairstreak

Title says it all.

Ember is a new gelding on South Heath and OL1.  Quite big and dark.  Looks settled in with the dark Filly as a companion.

I saw a green hairstreak on its favourite gorse bush ( as of last year).  In fact it was pretty well on the same sprig.  Like father, like son, presumably.

Ravens around, swallows passing through, no hobbies yet.

martin

11th May 2010 ... weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Ron, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- first half of the nest box survey done.  Mostly 'adults on nest', but some restart eggs.
- fencing around the South Heath Cess pit checked and renovated
- birch and Pine seedlings lopper'ed opposite foresters cottage. partially tidied away under trees.
- 2 replacement nest boxes installed, and the old ones returned to the tool store
- Some ditch work around stony pond to make sure the water flows into the pond and does not short circuit
- tidying up the birches that were felled last week
- gps of the nest box route recorded.
- lookered the ponies, with 11 + 1 foal on the main reserve, and 3 on OL1
- 2 pine branches intruding onto the path near the bench were cut back

Observations:

crossbills, plenty of redstarts, stonechats, whitethroats, swallow
Almost no butterflies, as is still pretty cold for the time of year
Did not hear any ravens

Future work

- finish nest boxes
- mend nest-boxes
- improve ground at kissing gate
- bracken
- coppicing gorse after the nesting season
- get rid of more saplings
- bird count this Thursday

A google map of Old Lodge

I hope that below you should have a live google map of the reserve, which you can wander around in.



View Old Lodge reserve in a larger map




martin

Nightjar records on a map

This is a little test of records that can be displayed on bing maps or Google earth.

You may have to download it and double click it

click here for geographic records

martin

Bing map of the reserve

Here is a map from Bing

click here for picture

martin

Cess pit update

Work continued yesterday on the pipe to the cess pit.

There is now an inspection cover in place where the blockage was.  Some strange stuff in the pipe !!

Apparently the pipe was damaged by a tractor or other heavy vehicle some time ago ( a number of years), partly because it was not laid into a decent bed of material.  The current reset length has pea gravel as the base.

The other 2 holes should be completed by Thursday next week.

The ponies are arriving this Sunday, and will have to be kept in OL1 as is usual for when they arrive, in order to reduce risk of them jumping over the fences and road to join the rest of the herd.

martin

Ordinance Survey map

Here is a map of the site, with thanks to get-a-map from the Ordinance Survey

click here for map (jpg file)

martin

Cottage cess pit problem

The pipe between the cottages and the cess pit/ soak away in the middle of south heath had got blocked. It was noticed last Tuesday flowing up out of the ground about 80 metres from the cess pit itself.

The head gardener at Windy Ridge did not manage to clear it himself with rods and today called in a contractor to help do the work.  The contractor drove onto the south heath and starting at the bottom of the pipe hosed up the pipe work doing something like 40 metres at a time, until the blockage was found just below where the stuff was flowing out.  It looks as if the last repair at this point had managed to damage the adjoining pipe connection, and this had built up into the blockage.

It is planned to take advantage of the three pits that were dug to expose the pipe work, and to fit inspection / rodding traps there, allowing  easier maintenance.

For future reference

- the soak-away is actually a properly constructed cess tank, with brick and concrete work.
- there is a metal inspection cover at the east end fairly close to the existing fence work.
- the pipe work is say 2 feet below the current surface.  The pipe was back filled with some pretty rough soil and stones, and looks very different from the surrounding peat.  I am happy if the stones are left on the surface, rather than buried.
- if one is rodding the pipe work through a T-junction, then care must be taken to ensure that the plunger goes the direction that you are aiming at.
- the fence work around the soak-away probably needs a little attention.
- the new inspection traps will be near the fence ( outside ) and 40 metres up from there.  The one wher ethe outflow occurred will be replaced or reset.
- if you look closely you can see the path of the pipe work and where the soil has been disturbed in the past.

The pipe is now clear and the rest of the work should be done before next Tuesday.  There are no domestic animals on the South Heath at the moment.  I guess Monty should be told about the outflow.  But with a bit of rain in the next few days, I doubt if it will be much trouble.

Though it should be noted that last time we fenced it off with a photo cell driven electric fence that Alice provided.


martin

May 4th 2010 ...Weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Ron, David, Neil, Mike, and Martin

Activities:

Special week where we celebrated John's 70th birthday.  So as well as the work done below, we all went to the Hatch were John fed and watered us.  Much appreciated.

We presented John with card, copy of Selbourne Natural History, and a pair of work gloves.

- repaired the kissing gate at the main car park, so that the latch worked and kept the gate fixed.  A pull and push construction was used to correct the main twisting that had affected the gate.  Probably some extra soil on the top would be useful.

- Repaired the fence along side the tool store onto the common, which was in a very poor state.  About 5 new supporting posts were put in place.   This does not effect the ponies, but only the cattle and sheep on the common.

- A couple of marked silver birch behind the cottages were taken down.

- reported a leak in the effluent system for the cottages.  There must have been a blockage more than half way towards the soak away, which had resulted in a blow out.  This was in exactly the same place that it happened about 4 years ago.  The head Gardener from windy ridge came out and started repairs, which should be quickly completed.  We must watch this progress.



- Order taken for 3 group photos and a south heath photo of Alan for the Sunday group.

- last bit of 'freecylce detergent' and jam bottles taken.

- butterfly and moth leaflets pinned up in shed noted as OK.

retired early

Martin

December 2009 - March 2020 - Weekly Volunteers

December 2009 - March 2020 - Weekly Volunteers

I used to email Alan with reports of our weekly conservation work.  I used to find it difficult to keep this routine up, but he would always chivvy me for them.

I guess that he would never have read some of the latter one's when he was unable to get down to the library to get onto the Internet.

For the record I am placing them here for people to see.  I may have to edit a few items which are personal and medical.

I try to get them in chronological order.

all errors and omissions are my fault.  Sometimes it is difficult to remember the details of a Tuesday session.

martin
-------------------------------------------------------------

old lodge conservation --- Dec 1st 2009

hi Alan,

present  john, Ron, David and myself

We did the next site along, towards the cross roads, but still roller stand side of fence.

Another quite large fire, but we did not manage everything up to the fence.  There are three pines in a triangle that will be a small site for next week.  We did clear a pine that was out in the open below the slope.

we prepared two bonfire sites.  The one above, and then one on the staples hill slope.  This will cover everything that don has cut so far there other than one large birch.

cheers

martin
-----------------------------------------------------------
old lodge conservation ---- Dec 8th 2009

Hi Alan,

The Sunday group are having no luck.

We had a burn up of both the remaining bonfire sites along beech's avenue.

present

john, mike, Ron, David and self, plus a visit from Neil who is invalid after surgery on moles, and the stitches stop him doing forestry work apparently.

Neil made a similar quick appearance last week.

covered the previous fire sites actually last week, but forgot to mention.

had phoned don telling him that we are running out of brash. he promised to do a day the Monday ( which was the day before)  John and David went to check and found no work done, but did find don himself, who was just arrived and was about to do some work.  He promised to do more on the following Friday and Monday.

Ron and I went to clear the drain at Hayward's pond/path, and inspect Gilly's outflow.  Drain flowing, but we cleared leaves and did a bit of precautionary work.  Gilly's outflow is still dripping, but everything is relatively clean after all the rain.  Not the time to take up again yet.

We obviously did not make up any bonfire sites, but there should be our earlier brash work available.

ravens

cheers

martin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

15th Dec 2009 ... old lodge conservation ..... martin

Hi Alan.

present  john, David myself and john luck ( after coffee )

don has cut enough trees to keep us going for  a bit.  He also turned up for a days work, which was down the slope and along the pippingford boundary.

We chose the south west corner, by the cricket pitch for our first bonfire here.  Quite a nice block of trees ( about a dozen).

we also did some small conifer eradication along the m1, since there was a particularly dense patch of them.  these are small and old, but they are starting to get a foothold.  We will have increased the grazing pressure at least.

next week the priority I think should be the big trees on the slope which came down 'today'.  but must depend on wind etc.

Raven and Crossbills.

5 new patches of nail fungus found previous Wednesday.

cheers

martin

--------------------------------------------------------------------
22 December 2009 ... old lodge conservation .... martin


hi Alan,

john and I braved the snowy weather, and had a bonfire in the cricket field wood.  A wonderful day.

Ron was rescuing his abandoned car.

cheers

martin

-----------------------------------------------------------------

29th Dec 2009 .... old lodge conservation --- martin

Hi Alan,

present

Neil, Ron, john and myself.

a bit rainy, and we abandoned after lunch.

- cut up the sweet chestnut in the tractor shed, and some of the birch.  This was all taken away.

- dug up the montbretia on the path down the side of the tool store on way to log piles.  4 bags are in the tool store awaiting removal

- pollarded some gorse on the main road either side of the car park entrance.  The snow had flattened this and it was a visibility hazard for people coming out of the car park.

- brought some more wood into the tool store for future cutting.

- had a bonfire at the side of the cottages, which is where we dragged all the small birch we dug up from the south heath.

- cut down some of the marked birches in the wood besides the cottages, putting brash on the fire

- pollarded and burned a little gorse that had been flattened by the snow

we had to abandon the fire before it was all burnt, because of the rain.  It was safe.  Some of the felled trees are still to be cut up.

we could not make any fire sites for the Sunday group.

Ron has the sign board from the main entrance, which had fallen off.  He is waiting for it to dry, then he will clean and reattach ( probably in a less movable place )

cheers

martin

-----------------------------------------------------------------

conservation -- old lodge -- 5th Jan 2010 .... martin

Hi Alan,

present

David, Neil, john, mike and myself.

We did the bonfire, of the big trees that are on the slope down to the pippingford boundary.  This included about 5 very large pines and a couple of very large birch.  We organised a good fire site from which we could clear all the brash.

A very large fire, and pretty exhausting.

Don has done a chunk more of the cricket pitch wood, and there are several places for fire sites.  We did not make up any.

cheers

martin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

conservation 12 Jan 2009 .... martin

Hi Alan,



Neil and I have  bad colds, the roads are difficult, and there is a lot of snow on the forest.  John was in favour of cancelling !

cheers

martin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

19th Jan 2010 old lodge conservation .... martin

Hi Alan,

just to record this last Tuesday.

present

Neil, Ron, mike, john and myself

- had two bonfires above west pond.  There are still some trees to be felled towards the hunt gate for another fire.  There is one tree which is high up which we did not burn while it was the other side of the mire.  We will leave that for the next one.

- The new west pond dam has been breached and will need more repair.  We did a little.  Obviously it was not strong enough to withstand the height and flow of water.

- on the way back we completed processing of felled birches behind the cottages.  Log pile is currently that side of the road, and should be brought back when we have time.

nice day and lots of work done.

Raven and crossbills ( 6+)

cheers

martin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

conservation ---- Jan 26th 2010 ---old lodge .... martin

hi Alan,

present

john, Neil, Ron, john luck and myself.

went bonfiring again around cricket pitch wood ( north side), and had two bonfires, which were right on the edge with the heath.  One half way along the north edge of the wood, and the other on the same edge but right away from the cricket pitch.

still plenty to do at the second site and round the corner towards the crossroads.

Quite big fires, and we did well to do as much as we did.  It leaves one patch of brash near and on the cricket pitch, which I now know was burnt by the Sunday party.

went back to the tool store and Ron and Neil mended the problem gutter.  John luck took a load of firewood.  I think John had a load of bricks for his road.

A replacement key for the tool store has been cut, to make up for the one John has mislaid.

There would have been a week when people might have had difficulty opening the three ( ex five)  bar gate, as it had a substitute lock on it.

The bags of mombretia compost has now been taken.

cheers

martin

------------------------------------------------------------------------

conservation --- old lodge--- 2 Feb 2009 .... martin

Hi Alan,

present

John, Ron, Neil, mike and myself

The weather was forecast to be nasty, though it turned out to be nothing like as bad.

But we decided to start near the tool store

John and I took some perk firewood

We bagged up bricks and hardcore for John and his daughter.  This is now in the tractor shed awaiting removal.  There really are no walls left, and only broken bricks and tiles.   We removed a partly exposed iron pipe outside the concrete base.

Ron and Neil repaired / reinforced the fence at three points in front of the tractor shed.  It is weak further down, but we did not do anything there.

Ron and Neil did a further repair to the gutter at the back, using a bit of tree tube to reinforce the problem join.

Brought some more logs into the tractor shed for drying and cutting later.

Finally decided that we should brave the weather and went off to the willow pit and burnt the gorse that was stacked there.  Quite difficult to light, but eventually it went quite well. We also burned a bit of the dead willow branches, that have recently fallen. There is a pile of cut gorse wood there for collecting.

Noted that the stag horn moss is alive and growing.

weather after lunch was less good, and we decided to go home at about 3.

cheers

martin

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Feb 9th 2010 .... old lodge... conservation .... martin

Hi Alan,

my last conservation email got the wrong date on it somehow should have been the 16th Feb, not the 17 Feb !!!

Present

Ron, Neil,  John, Mike, John Luck, and myself.

Windy and cold, so we chose bonfire sites within the cricket field wood.  About in the centre.  We had two pretty big fires.

I covered over the neighbouring old fire sites to hide them.

Mike told us about the Sunday group finding a large branch down on the east boundary near the car park, and their difficulty in knowing whether it was ours or the rangers.  After the bonfire, a number of us went [ not myself, as I was still watching the embers] to inspect.  Concluded that

- it was ours

- too large and dangerous for us to attempt

- safe at the moment

Later I contacted Alice and explained.

suggested

- need good chainsaw person

- should leave bulk as fallen wood

- I had done a little tidying up.

The staghorn moss is still there and growing

John L took some wood.

cheers

martin

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
17th Feb 2010 ... old lodge conservation ... martin  [ actually the 16th]

Hi Alan,

just john, Ron and myself this Tuesday.   The weather forecast is bad.

We went to see how the fallen branch/tree was along the top.  Alice was organising someone to come and chainsaw down.  The fence needed one staple only.  we tidies up some of the bits.  It should be fine as a decaying natural habitat.

Obviously whoever did the sawing had a few attempts  !!!

The we cut up lots of the logs in the tractor shed and reloaded it.  Now all the logs outside in the first row are under mikes plastic.  All the plastic sheets are in good condition.

then we went home after coffee.

cheers

martin

----------------------------------------------------------------

conservation days .... various....Feb and march 2010 ..... martin

hi Alan,
-----------------------------
Feb 23rd

john, myself, Ron, John Luck and David had another two bonfire just east of beeches avenue on staples hill.  Don was felling in the area.

The toy Rat was duly found by Ron, and is now with the frog and man behind the tool store

re-instated the OLD LODGE board by the car park kissing gate.  It has been treated with various oils and hardeners.  May last a little bit longer.
----------------------------
march 2nd

I was away at a funeral.  John, David, Ron and Mike I think had a bonfire, if not two,  on the route down from the cross-roads to the bridge.
--------------------------------
march 9th

you came up to the reserve.  John, David and later myself had a fire near the path at the south east corner of the cricket field wood.

It was pretty safe being on green bilberry, which did not burn.

Ravens on OL2

---------------------------

march 16

started a bonfire at the north east corner of the cricket field wood.  it went far too well and we abandoned it when we discovered that the spread of small outbreaks were not self igniting.  This was mostly in green bilberry !!

did pine and birch pulling on the area the other side of the path down to the crossroads.  ie the area with the fire beater stand.

and then an area of pine saplings south of the high beeches, just east of one of the studded blue areas.  Looked far better.
-----------------------
march 23

John, Ron, Neil, David and mike.  big bonfire at the north east corner of the cricket field wood.  In the site we had to abandon last week.  It had rained and the fire was never in any danger.

It looks really good now.

Ravens calling, and plenty of crossbill.  Ravens are south of the power line post between the cricket field one, and the one at the top of the hill on the M1.  About 50 metres in, say.  Different type of call, and surely at the nest.

don has collected virtually all his logs.  there are three rows of them at the roller stand.  two on the north, and one on the south.


martin

---------------------------

Bird count for April 22nd 2010

Here is the spreadsheet for the bird count that Ron and I did on April 22nd 2010.

click for spreadsheet

Includes a couple of adders and some slow worms, and a peacock butterfly.  We tend not to count the hens either at Jilly's or Tristram's, nor the peacocks (birds)  themselves.

getting 3 cuckoos at exactly the same time ( not recorded in the log, as one had already been counted) was very good.

43 species, with plenty unrecorded, was good.  With a following wind we could break the 50 barrier yet.

martin

27th April 2010 ... Weekly volunteers

Present:  John, Ron, Mike and Martin

activities:
- put up two nest boxes that had been taken down for repair last year.  Numbers 61 and 44.  These were put back in exactly the same positions.  Indeed Number 61 used  the same nails!
- repaired the fence between south heath and OL1 with 4 new fence posts.
- cleaned out both water troughs, bailing them out and cleaning with a sponge.  Then turned on the mains tap.  Note for future reference that by cleaning the south heath one first allowed air into the pipe, and then it appeared as if the water was actually switched on and flowing to the one on the main reserve.  This lasted for about 40 seconds.
- the housing around the inlet pipe on the south heath trough was repaired and reinstated
- Pond thirteen was given a once-over, with weed raked out, the outflow to the side re-dug, and the outflow in the centre of the dam filled in with a log, large slab of stone and mud.  We had lunch there, and everything seemed to be working fine.
- the fire-sites on staples hill were raked over to effectively hide their existence.
- saplings on staples hill were given a coppicing
- logs were removed from Haywards and nearby ponds.
- saplings just up from the high beeches were coppiced.
- extra leaflets were put into the display at the entrance.

observations:
ravens, redstarts, 2 woodlarks on Staples Hill and another at roller stand, heron, swallows near stables, herring gulls calling, bullfinches, Tree pipits.
Peacocks, 3 small whites, Holly Blue, 3+ brimstones.

martin

Bourne's take first peat of the year.

When Ron and Martin did the bird count last Thursday, they noticed that Bourne's had been and taken a load of top soil from the pile below the water trough.

martin

Nest box count 13th and 20th April 2010

Here is the record of the first nest box count of the year.

The squirrels continue to damage the lids.

One nest box had mud all over the top part and holes, and just wood slivers inside almost up to the top.  We mistakenly thought this could not be a bird, and cleared it out. Later we realised this was a nuthatch.  It is years since the last one nested in a nest box, and only John had any idea what this was.

Alan said that he had put up nest boxes on Forester's cottage, and ever-since no nuthatches had ever used the nestboxes on Old lodge.  Well something has changed.  We found another just like the first, and steered well clear.

We have four boxes in the tool store, and four gaps or needed replacements on OL.  So we must put these up soon.

nest box count 13 and 20 april 2010

we had a pair of woodlark take off just in front of us by the fire-site behind the cottages.

martin

First Green Hair Streak Butterfly

I saw my first Green hair streak of 2010 today behind the tool store.  It looked in pristine condition.

I have no idea what it will feed on there, and will have to move off to some gorse,possibly down the ditch.  There are no bluebells out yet, which was their first observed food plant last year.

Only other butterfly was a probable peacock.

martin

20th April 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:

- Ron, David, Neil, John, Mike and martin

Activities:

- remaining nest box count and inspection.  Two nuthatch boxes.  1 occupied definitely.  Some Great tits on nest.  three or four boxes need replacing.
- getting rid of birch and pine saplings opposite Forrester's cottage.  Some trial coppicing tried, as there are a huge number of birch saplings in this area and pulling or digging out is very difficult.
- checked the fencing from the car park to the Roller stand and around the South Heath.  Minor staple repairs done and noted that some additional posts will be needed.  3 along the OL1 border, and 5 along the common border.
- discussed how one might strengthen the poor fence by the tool store
- took some barbs of the heave gate into OL1 to make it easier to get over
- some birch stumps taken down to ground level behind the cottages

Observations:

- crossbills, lesser redpolls, siskin, 2 singing woodlark, tree pipits, Ravens, swallow, plenty of redstarts, willow warblers, cuckoo.
- some damsons distributed
- getting ready to celebrate John's seventieth
- bird count this Thursday
- plenty of birdwatcher visitors

nightjar count July 2009

We did one count on a rather windy night and had virtually nothing.

The zero counts refer to additional tracking of above birds.  In principle one could do a bit of triangulation and get a better fix on the birds.  It is very difficult to estimate direction and distance.

This count was rather better.  here is the record

click for nightjar count 2009

martin

Q3 2009 bird counts

hare are the third quarter 2009 bird counts

click for July 2009 bird count

click for August 2009 bird count

click for september 2009 bird count


martin

Q4 2009 bird counts

Here are the bird counts for Q4 of 2009

click for Oct 2009 bird count

click for Nov 2009 bird count

click for Dec 2009 bird count

martin

Bird count recording software

This is a Tcl/tk program, which I personally run on a number of different platforms.

My main mobile machine is a windows mobile 5  PDA.  But I am sure anyone used to installing Tcl/tk programs can run it on virtually anything.

click to download program file

It makes use of a gps input socket ( eg com4: ), a text list of birds ( or whatever ), and an output file.

People should be able to hack their way through it fairly easily if they want to.

features include

- adding to an ordered list of 'species' ( I have common species alphabetically, then less common alphabetically)
- searching in the past records
- giving distance, and direction ( oclock to direction of walk) to bird
- adding comments
- recording some basic attributes male, singing , adult
- simultaneously records a backup in case of failure
- directly calling Tck commands

Treat as being opensource under GPL please.

martin

Bird counts and other spreadsheets

Hi,

I am posting a number of spreadsheets in this blog.

You will need to have a Google account in order to see them.  It is simple to register and I do recommend you have a Google account.  This allows you to use Google docs ( sort of competitor to Microsoft office), and this in turn allows you to see the spreadsheet.

The bird count spread sheet has a number of columns which are pretty obvious, except that the national grid reference is that of the bird, and the gps references are for the observer.  My software allows me to say that the bird is so many meters away at such and such o'clock.

The gps info is in a funny format, being dddd.mmmm  very strange, almost like Pounds shillings and pence

references to zero number of birds is basically saying that I think that I have counted the bird before, but am here adding some extra information to the earlier record.  ie I am seeing the Raven again at this time and location.

The column # refers to the number seen.

I will publish the code of program in the blog as well.

Martin

Bird count for Jan 27th 2010

 Here is bird count for January 2010

bird count January 27th 2010

martin

Bird count on Feb 19th 2010

Here is the normal spread sheet for the bird count at Old lodge

bird count feb 19th 2010

I will explain some of the oddities of the form in another posting

martin

bird count for march 2010

Actually this was 1st of April.  But Ron and I call this the 32nd of march.

32nd march 2010 bird count

Ravens messing around at the nest site, lots of song thrushes, some stonechats.  But pretty quiet.

You should be able to see the relevant details by clicking the link.

Martin

13th April Nest Box records

 Here is the spreadsheet of april 13th 2010 Nestbox records

any difficulty in understanding it, please leave a comment

martin

April 6th 2010 ... Weekly Volunteers

Present:  John, David, Neil, Ron

activities:
- bonfires (3), clearing everything on Staples Hill
- Only brash left are 2 trees near west pond, and 1 near the heave gate onto Pippingford.

Comments:  Martin on grandchild duty

April 13th 2010 .... Weekly Volunteers

To record activities

Present:  John, Neil, David, Ron, Keith, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- Nest box inspection.  First Half of route done.  One box to be reinstated, near hunt gate.
- Boundary fence inspected prior to ponies return, with most work done on the cricket field ( replacing posts) and up from the stream on the west side ( staples)
- Helped Monty with rounding up Pippingford ponies
- Repaired the new dam of west pond, and allowed overflow to go out the east side.  Used some pine trunks to make it firmer.
- Removed the brash of a felled tree above West pond, to uncover the heather.  Dragged to a potential firesite.
- Pulled up saplings on north east side of the M1, pine and birch
- John collected hard-core from the Pump house.
- Reserve leaflets refilled

Sightings:

A number of Redstarts singing
A woodlark
Ravens active near nest site
Owl pellets (2) out in the open above west pond
17+ crossbills
Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Kestrel on the M1
Willow warbler at tool shed
Chiffchaffs

Plenty of visitors.

 Martin

Flood Damage in 2007

Here a a couple of photos of the extreme flood damage in July 2007 to Old Lodge.

It was overdue and did great service to the conservation and diversity of the stream part of the reserve.

luckily we did not loose the bridge.  We build two new ponds in the new contours, 13th and muddy.

One of the photos shows Alan on the bridge after clearing

Boundary with Army and Mrs Reid needing repair. 

Rupert, Alan and I did the work, if my memory serves me right

The scale of the flow is obvious

Where did those tussocks go?

Tussocks caught on stumps

Looking west at bridge

looking east at bridge with Alan, after clearing

There are more detailed photos at click here for album

martin