Bird count for feb 25th 2011

Here is the spreadsheet of the bird count at old lodge for 25th feb 2011.

Red Kite was the first for a bird count.  Collared Dove may be rarer?

Overall the number of species was very good at 43 for February.  We just had rather few of lots of things.


martin


click on link to get spreadsheet

Bird count for march 23rd 2011

Here is the bird count at old lodge for march 23rd 2011.

A lesser spotted woodpecker heard in OL1 was maybe the best record, but 5 buzzards and three ravens ( two parents and one young)  were perhaps more exciting.

Nuthatch in nest box outside toolstore will also be exciting.

Unfortunately we missed the winter and summer migrants, with the exception of chiffchaff.

Note that a zero count refers to seeing a single bird for a second or more time.

Martin

double click here to get spreadsheet

22nd March 2011 .... Weekly Volunteers

Present:
John, Mike, Ron,  Anthony, Keith and Mike

Activities:
- The car Park is being relaid, and we took the opportunity to do work on the north side while there were no cars parked.  We basically pollarded trees reducing any shading of the bank of the ditch there.  The brash was moved to our ditch along the east boundary, and logs either taken home ( Keith ) or stacked in the ditch.  There will be collected when there is access to the car park again.
- spoke to the ranger in charge about various things.  He was happy with the work we were undertaking.
- After Lunch, there were just John, Anthony and Martin.  We investigated some other bits of birch that could do with pollarding, notably some by the next car park up the main road, and down in the 'source of the stream' area.
- continued processing the trees felled along Reynard's way last week.  There is still a small amount of work to do here.
- moved a rotten willow trunk from where it was cut down by the rangers just outside the stone gates, to the ditch outside the fence.  This is to protect the foot path across this ditch becoming further eroded.

Observations:
- we spotted signs of three cornered leek in the ditch, along with some ransoms.
- Brimstones out and about
- Crossbills heard
- woodlarks
- big flocks of redpolls and siskins in the birches.  Too difficult to count properly


martin

15th March 2011 ... weekly volunteers

Present:
Anthony, John, Neil, Keith, Pat, and Martin

Activities:
- Moved some willow logs and branches from just outside the boundary to the log piles, moved the associated brash from the path to the car park.
- cut down and processed silver birch on the ditch and bank feature parallel with Reynard's way.  This allows for  the open space beyond the bank to be seen as more connected to the rest of the heathland.  There is still some processing to be done here.  Log piles along Reynard's way.
- checked the nest boxes from the large holly/birch across to One stump pond.  A new box was put up on the holly.
- Anthony and Pat taught some of the crafts of inspecting nest boxes.
- a new box was put up on the large beech by the tractor shed.
- more tidying up was done in the copse by the tractor shed, and more logs placed on the log piles.


Observations:
- there was a patch of gorse mite near the Ride Junction
- a few crossbills were seen later in the week
- An Adder was seen across the heath towards Jilly Goulden's house
- at least two male brimstones quartering their territories
- one red admiral seen
- the odd lizard evident
- tree creeper, nuthatch, wood lark, stonechat, skylark.
- Cattle not interested in the cut ( uncooked) birch.
- nice honeycomb structure cleaned out of a nest box.
- one very small holly transplanted to Crowborough.
- a long lost glove of martin's found in the swamp, in reasonably good condition.  Lost during last years nest boxing.
- first chiffchaff singing at top lodge.
- sap rising. Or rather dripping. As usual, taste is slightly under whelming.


martin

Female adder seen by volunteers 15th march 2011

This adder was seen north of the bench, across the heath.  It is likely to be a female.

Keith found and snapped it, while we were checking the three corrugated iron sheets along the border of the heath.  The sun was out, but I suspect that it was still rather dopey.   I think it felt that hiding its head was sufficient to stop us seeing it.

You can probably expand the photo by double clicking on it, but resolution may limited, and your computer and browser may not have the facilities.

martin

8th march 2011 .. weekly volunteers

Present:
John, Pat Kelly, Neil, Keith, Anthony and Martin
Mike came for Lunch

Activities:

- strengthened the fencing along the east boundary, including adding 4 new supporting posts
- bonfire of the gorse cut last week, plus finishing off coppicing the gorse triangle.
- more birch cut in the copse next to the tractor shed.  stacked on new log pile.

Observations:

- 2 woodlark
- reed bunting
- Raven chasing off a Buzzard
- Siskins and lesser redpolls
- the cattle as crazy as ever over the bonfire, including getting singed
- looked for more nail fungus, but none seen.  It is getting drier.

martin

1st March 2011 ...weekly volunteers

present:
John, Anthony, Ron, Neil, Keith, Jane and Martin

Activities:
- Bonfire at the bottom of South Heath of gorse cut last week.
- Pollarding and felling trees in the copse by the tractor shed.  A new log pile started to take the four foots.
- Inspecting the fence from the five bar gate to the corner by Jilly's house.  Replacing staples and fixing others
- noted that the initial stretch from the car park needs extra new posts at some time.  Not urgent though.
- coppicing gorse at the gorse triangle, stashing the brash under the trees down the hill towards cuckoo pond.

Observations:
- edf or whatever telling people about a planned power break
- Jane has got her new job with SWT
- Jane has done a refresher course in chain saw, and might be able to help out to fell some pines near the stream.
- cattle may have been nibbling the yew along the top.  Should we cut down the low branches.
- tree Creeper, herring gull, wood lark, nail fungus.


martin