31st December 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Keith, Alan and Martin

Activities:

- checked perimeter for storm damage.  Little change from last week.   Moved a few branches off the heather and made a few things safer.

- cut logs in tool store

- cut some gorse along the road

Observations:

- reed bunting

- plenty of bags of logs taken

- stollen and xmas cake eaten around the tree

- heavy rain after lunch stopped play

Martin

24th December 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Keith, Mike and Martin

Activities:

- walked boundary checking for gale damage. 

- Birch in ditch in ne corner leaning over garden.  Who is owner?  Needs attention.  But currently safe.  It would get hung up in large ill-looking cherry tree in middle of garden.  Occupants look as if away at the moment.

- plenty of branches down, and a couple of trees and all look safe.  One large oak near previously mentioned birch should be dragged down with ropes and plenty of bodies.  Did a little clearing of path.

- stream very high, but little obvious damage.  Cleared channel to keep path on west side drier.

- trimmed Rowan that has fallen along road

- moved pile of gorse branches back to store

- cleared ditch running under road by the stone pillars

- noted that kissing gate has shifted and won't shut properly

Observations:

- mike took remaining small logs

- Keith took hen sweepings

- forester's cottage has some cattle

Martin

17th December 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Neil, Stuart, Mike, Jonathan, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- 3 brash bonfires along beeches avenue, before slope

- prepared a bonfire site at end of the left hand side wood

- cut Xmas tree for no 1, top lodge

- put up unneeded tree in tractor shed

Observations:

- last day of chainsaw training

- brambling.  Jim said he saw 50!

- crossbill

- redpoll

- mulled wine from Jonathan

Martin

10th December 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, Stuart, Keith, Allan, David Airey and Martin

Activities:

- cut some xmas trees

- 2 brash bonfires in Owl wood

- some gorse cutting along the road

- made good two 'hung' trees that contractors left

Observations:

- 8 crossbills, redpolls, reed bunting

- Raven

Martin

3rd December 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Pat, Stuart, Ron, Keith, Neil, and Martin

Activities:

- 2 gorse bonfires on north side of road

- coppicing more gorse near fire

- cleared old cuttings across road onto fires

- Collected further away arisings to a future bonfire site on SH

- went with Paul Copsy and remarked a lot of trees for him to fell

Observations:

- a dozen crossbills

- brambling

- mike has article on Tristram

Martin

26th November 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Mike, Alan, David a, Jonathan, stewart (trial visit), Neil, Pat and Martin

Activities:

- two brash bonfires along beeches avenue where trainee chainsaw people cut down marked trees

Observations:

- raven, redpoll, reed bunting, brambling, goldcrest, meadow pipit

- new neighbour consulted over nest boxes. Given a robin box, and will put up later

Martin

19th November 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, David a and Martin

Activities:

- gorse bonfire on SH

- more gorse coppicing along road

Observations:

- Raven, Crossbill, pigeons, Redwing, goldfinch

- Ron made surprise appearance

 Martin

12th November 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Mike, Alan, Pat, David a, David p, Jonathan, and Martin

Activities:

- sawing and splitting firewood to start with while raining

- bonfire next to Sunday groups last fire on slope above beeches avenue

- helped mark some trees for chain saw training and felling

Observations:

- crossbills

- redwing

 Martin 

5th November 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, David a, David p, Keith, and Martin

Activities:

- tidied up the felled trees by Jilly's stables.  Two stacks of logs

- gorse cutting on SH

- pollarding birch to side of tool store

- replaced poor long blades in bow saws

- separated out poor blades of short bow saws

- mended a lopper

- moved remaining logs in old pile into shed

Observations:

- kestrel

- poor initial weather

- Fieldfares

- goldfinch

- Keith had shrew under one of his tins

 Martin

29th October 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Alan, Keith, Jonathan, and Martin

Activities:

- inspection of perimeter after storm at weekend
- tidied up a few fallen or leaning trees.  Tied up tree hung above Jilly's stable.  Trying to contact Mark
- coppicing and burning gorse on SH

Observations:

- siskins
- bramblings at tool store (3+)
- Raven
- Buck rutting
- Fieldfares and redwing
- interesting fungus in grass like stagshorn without the horn

 Martin

22nd October 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, David p, David a, Pat, Mike, Jonathan  and  Martin

Activities:

- switched off water to troughs
- coppiced gorse both sides of road
- collected some dung behind top lodge
- cut firewood and kindling in tractor shed
- cleaned and oiled some tools
- keith took saw dust

Observations:

- crossbills, bullfinch
- 11 Ravens in a group !!
- fieldfare and redwing
- kestrel


Martin

15th October 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan,  Mike, Pat, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- cutting and coppicing gorse on SH and having bonfire of arisings
- search for nail fungus
- digging up birch on slope near high beeches

Observations:

- crossbills, siskins
- 100 fieldfare
- redwing, mistle thrush
- hornet, bumble bees
- beautiful day of sunshine
- Raven, kestrel


Martin

8th October 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, David a, Alan, Keith, Pat and Martin

Activities:

- bonfire on SH of gorse mostly
- coppiced gorse in ditch and tall bushes around
- pollarded birch near trough
- pulled birch, downwards from power lines in middle of reserve
- looked for nail fungus but no luck
- checked lock after coppards had picked up JCB. Readjusted.

Observations:

- kestrel, siskins, pied wagtails
- crossbills, linnets
- brimstone, peacock, small copper
- green woodpeckers

 Martin

1st October 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Mike, John, Jonathan, Alan, David a, Keith, Neil and Martin

Activities:

- helped Monty and Anna with shipping out the ponies
- gorse work along road
- lowered remaining 3 nestboxes and took a fallen one back for Keith to repair
- pulled some birch at far end of power lines

Observations:

- flock of starlings
- mistle thrushes, siskins, Raven
- paul copsey present with delivered tracked machine

Martin

24th September 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Keith and Martin.  Mark but no Sam was doing felling work

Activities:

- lookered ponies on ol2
- bonfire of brash below slope
- piled up some birch logs by track

Observations:

- Raven, buzzard
- meadow pipits
- siskins
- chiffchaff

  martin

17th September 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan,  Mike, David a, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- mended two nestboxes with new lids
- took down a nestbox .. Blue tit at end of pylons ...for  mending
- bracken and ragwort along  m1, road and beeches avenue
- lookered ponies in ol2 and closed the gate.  Told Mark and Monty. Did not see Frank.
- gorse coppicing in the ditch far side of gate on south side of road.
- cut some wood in the tractor shed

Observations:

- raven
- kestrel
- dodder



 martin

10th September 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David p, Mike, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- bracken pulling along the top to bench and a bit
- reduced tree stump by notice board by popular demand
- bracken work on SH near trough, and along road, including some ragwort
- pollarding birch and holly on SH behind tool store, brash in ditch
- lookered ponies.  Above and below high beeches.  13 on the reserve and 5 on anita's.  Phoned Monty.  The 6 from broadwater, were unloaded today and one jumped the fence.  Frank happy with gate being open.

Observations:

- ol2 has been grazed, but plenty of food still there. Plenty of work for the ponies to do.
- redstarts, swallows, 2 herring gulls.
- no deer
- meadow pipits
- many fungi
- speckled woods, brimstone


 martin

3rd September 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David a, David p, and Pat.  No Martin

Activities:

- pond work near bridge finished
- bracken work up to cross roads and a bit


Martin

27th august 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Neil, David a, David p, Keith, Jonathan and martin

Activities:

- mostly near the bridge
- repaired fencing where stream flows out of reserve
- more pond work nearby
- pine coppicing and birch pulling on slope to the sw
- bracken pulling on way back across the middle across stream under power-lines and cuckoo pond

Observations:

- 2 gr dragonflies, common darter, southern hawker
- s copper, commas, brimstones, gatekeepers, meadow browns, s tortoiseshell, clouded yellow, peacocks
- grey wagtail, tree pipit
- bull finch


Martin

20th August 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Pat, Jonathan, David a, Mike and martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies.  At causeway, making towards the trough
- pond work below bridge
- repair work to one slat on bridge
- pulled down with ropes broken pine branch on nest box tree n east of beeches avenue
- opened up vista from notice board with pole sawing branches, coppicing gorse and felling smaller birch
- bracken work around quarry on SH and various  from car park to M1

Observations:

- 2 silver washed fritillaries, commas, s copper, s tortoiseshell, peacocks, brimstones, s skipper, m browns, small heath, c blue,  small white, gv white
- gr dragonflies, c darter, s hawker, b chaser, azure
- 2 clouded yellows
- lots of redstarts, stonechats, whitethroat
- 2 buzzards
- 2 sparrowhawks
- swallows
- nuthatch

Martin

13th August 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Alan, Pat, Neil, David a and martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies.  Very difficult, grazing in bracken in trees
- pond work north of bridge
- selective shrub work south of bridge
- bracken scything and slashing along path back to cuckoo pond
- bridge work and attempt at improving slope on west side


Observations:

- 3 buzzards, young from nest near foresters cottage?
- stonechat
- sparrow hawk yesterday
- smallish toad at bridge
- g r dragonfly, common d
- noted notice board is broken
- dodder flowering on road
- verges of road cut
- new top lodge tenants coming apparently in first cottage




Martin

6th August 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, David a, Jonathan, Mike  and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies.  Difficult to count.  Probably all there. Split up and in bracken.
- pond and stream work, particularly mallard
- repair work and cleaning on bridge
- bracken scything and pulling along top to bench and then more by high beeches
- lowered the remaining nest boxes.  Two lids need replacing.


Observations:

- raptor being noisy.  Kestrel? Hobby?
- 2 ravens
- redstarts
- brown hawker, azures
- crossbills
- common blue, small heaths, comma, brimstone, m browns
- nuthatch
- mistle thrushes
- dodder in flower on road


 Martin

30th July 2013 ... weekly volunteering

Present:

John, Jonathan, Ron, Neil, David a, Keith, Alan and Martin

Activities:

- lookered Ponies, two sub-herds
- lowered 2 nestboxes and started another 2
- pulled some bracken while lookering
- cut and split some logs


Observations:

- terrible rain, terrible forecasts
- plant in bog with sundew is bog st johnswort


Martin

23rd July 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, David a, Keith, Ron and Martin

Activities:

- moved ponies to  main reserve. Lookered with  Monty , Jack and Joan
- did some repairs to the car park gate
- lowered nestboxes upto first one on M1
- pond work on  muddy and mallard ponds
- did ragwort on cricket pitch
- bracken and ragwort along road

observations:

- dodder in flower
- crossbills 3
- bullfinch
- stonechat
- brown h, golden r, broad bc, keeled s, banded d, emporer, azure, l red
- meadow b, gatekeeper, brimstone, comma, l skimmer


Martin

16th July 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, David a, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:
- lookered ponies.  Probably need to move next week
- cleared 13th pond
- named the next pond down 'crossing pond'
- slashed and pulled bracken along a number of tracks there
- ring barked 2 pine and 3 birch to make more light
- pulled bracken towards bridge and up other side


Observations:

- crossbill , redpoll, gs woodpecker
- golden ringed, emperor, emerald, azure, large red dfs
- too hot


 martin

9th July 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Neil, David p, david a, Pat, Keith and martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- pond work on level, slip and lake ponds
- dragonfly recording
- last bit of nestboxes
- lowered visited nestboxes so that ladder is not needed

Observations:

- woodlark
- hobby
- emperor, azure, large red, four spot and broad bodied df
- whitethroat, goldfinch, bullfinch
- nightjar calling again
- large unidentified spider at one pond



Martin

2nd July 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Neil, Ray, Pat, Keith, David p and martin

Activities:

- remedial work on ponds High, Top and Level
- coppiced an alder blocking sun there
- pollarded a small birch, a small alder
- arisings used to raise the pathway across the boggy area
- ring barked a pine that is on edge of bog to reduce water uptake.  A bit more work needed on it.
- bracken pulling, scything and digging on south heath, edge of m1, and on heath under power lines
- lookered ponies

Observations:

- nightjar churring briefly near ponds
- tree pipits
- 4 crossbills
- emporer df
- siskins, woodlark, green woodpecker, swift, herring gull
- dodder in normal place.  3 new patches near where stagshorn clubmoss was.

Martin

25th June 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Neil, David a, Keith +(two friends for rounding up ponies), Pat, Mike and  Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- moved ponies to SH
- pulled bracken along top , along road and beeches avenue and on SH
- did first third of nestboxes
- brought back two nestboxes for repair by Keith
- inspected some reptile tins near sweet chestnuts

Observations:

- 2 green hairstreaks, small heaths, emporer dragonflies, red damselflies, bb chaser
- gorce mites on sh
- dodder on road
- early purple orchid on road
- siskins, redstarts
- Raven
- nightjar churring !
- baby owl in nestbox
- woodlarks, tree pipits
- yellowhammer singing
- other owl nestbox had quite a bit of detritis in it.  More than the starter, and flattened
- 3+ buzzards


Martin



-

18th June 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Neil, Mike, Alan, Keith, and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies, 10+1+1 !
- dismantled double fence along Jilly's boundary.  Barb brought back to store.  Stock fencing rolled and left
- bracken pulling both sides of stream and along top
- scything of bracken near bench
- scything  and slashing of bracken along ditch on SH
- second half of nestboxes
- scything path to car park


Observations:

- john gave out copies of forest map
- woodlark
- possible hobby calling
- tree pipits, goldcrests, willow warbler, crosdbills (yesterday), families of swallows and nuthatches
- 2 ? Adders and a slow worm
- small heaths
- 2 red damselleflies and 2 azures
- bog cotton
- a few bog beacons in swamp
- swifts, herring gulls


 martin

11th June 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, Ron, David a, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- bracken, birch and pine saplings pulled across reserve under power lines and down to stream
- tried out newly set and sharpened saw

Observations:

- woodlarks, stonechats, chiffchaffs
- weather wetting drizzle after coffee
- keith took piece of oak for nestbox, and sawdust



 martin

28th May 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Neil, Keith, David a, Alan,  and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies, 3,4 and 5!
- took down dead hung-up deer on fence towards 13th pond
- made heave gate at that spot and left open
- bracken digging and pulling on SH, M1 and slope from roller stand
- after coffee, wood cutting and splitting in tool store
- checked spare first aid kit
- inspected izuzu machine


Observations:

- green hairstreak yesterday
- chiffchaff , willow  warbler , blackcap
- Stonechats, green woodpecker
- horrid rain post coffee
- redstart almost in tractor shed

 martin

21st May 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Mike, Pat, Neil, Ron, Keith, Jonathan and Martin

Activities:

- bracken, birch and pin sappling clearance along east side of reserve
- some remaining bracken clearing on SH from last week
- lookered ponies, two groups of 6
- put up new owl box in owl wood.  Found owl feather.
- did nest box from hanging nestbox in owl wood back to tool store

Observations:

- buzzard
- chiffchaff , willow warbler
- tree pipits , woodlarks
- stonechats
- 3 patches of bog beacon



 martin

14th May 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David p, David a, Mike, Neil and Martin

Activities:

- rain threatened so work was near tool store
- checked and mended fence around SH.  One new post was used, while any others were unstappled, banged further in and restappled.
- some bracken and sapplings were pulled up
- bracken on M1 pulled
- gutters cleared
- a dozen bags of dung collected behind the cottages and stored in shed
- brambles behind shed dug up
- ponies lookered

Observations:

- raven
- John has taken the unclaimed lady's watch
- heavy rain stopped play after lunch


 Martin

7th May 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Keith, David a, David p, Ron and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- fencing along n boundary
- ditch work at stony pond
- birdbox survey upto high beeches
- outlet on west pond
- felled leaning dead tree near path on beeches avenue
- bracken digging along road

Observations:
- saw pat and son at lunch time
- raven
- tree pipit, redstarts, redpolls, goldcrest
- fungus in bog
- mended lock, returned for ladder and spare
- buzzard, whitethroat , chiffchaff , willow warbler

Martin

16th April 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Keith, Ron and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- fencing work along M1 and cricket pitch.  Replaced 20 odd posts, tightened up wires, and secured rotten end strainer.
- inspected fencing around the other side of reserve.  At least 20 posts will be needed.  Cut away branches from wires, and mended the odd missing staple.  Did some temporary repairs down the hill to the stream
- there are some jobs on the ditch down to the stream that need doing.

Observations
- ravens
- willow warbler, chiffchaffs, redstarts
- kestrel
- need some plasters and antiseptic wipes for first aid box


Martin

Birdcount ... march 21st 2013

below is spreadsheet for march 2013

Weather was not really suitable.  Lots of wind.  39 species, but should have been more at this part of the year.

Lots of Fieldfare and Redwings around, and none of the summer visitors.

4 woodcocks were nice

Chaffinches and Great tits singing, though perhaps rather optimistic.

Ravens seem to be more mobile now, and one wonders if they have raised some young.


click to see spreadsheeet

martin

Birdcount .... 29th February 2013

Ok, so there were only 28 days in February this year.  The weather has made planning birdcounts somewhat difficult, so we altered the calendar instead.

28 species, but generally with low numbers.

Heron and Collared Dove were the rarities.  We do get them a few times at this part of the year.

Woodlark and Woodcock were very nice to see.


click to see the spreadsheet

martin

Birdcount ... 28th January 2013

here is the spreadsheet for the birdcount in January 2013

27 species, but of course many just hiding.  We are bound to see them in the following week.

Weather far from ideal, as is typical of this year.  Good for the Herring gulls for some reason.

Pretty small numbers of the species present.  They must all be in the towns scrounging food.

Reed Bunting, Woodcocks and Raven are probably the highlights.


click here for spreadsheet


martin

18th February 2013 ... woodlarks

Heard woodlarks over old lodge again today

 martin

2nd April 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Pat, Alan, Jonathan, Keith, Neil, David p and  Martin

Activities:

- two brash bonfires on south west side of beeches avenue
- cleaned water troughs and turned on water
- maintained fence from cricket pitch  to tool store
- cut down some oak branches, broken by the cattle near the log piles
- brought down a leaning rotten pine near the bonfires

Observations:
- 2 woodlarks
- 2 ravens
- mike got hat
- alan distributed photos
- monty visited and confirmed 11.30 start for pony journey on thursday

 martin

26th March 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, Pat, David p,  Maddy, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- five brash bonfires on slope down from trough
- prepared for next bonfire on sw side of beeches avenue
- took out four small pines, 2 potential hazzards for visitors and the other two potential future hazzards
- took down a hanging branch that was too near path
- brought down fallen tree that was hung up, near bonfire and nest box route


Observations:

- good views of Raven
- sparrowhawk
- siskins
- fieldfare and redwings
- volunteers took a beanie each
- ponies coming next week
- must clean and turn on troughs next week
- pretty cold today, ground frozen in parts

Martin

19th march 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Neil, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- two brash bonfires in wood below the trough

Observations:

- jonathan took two bits of remaining cedar
- john reclaimed gloves
- woodlark singing on SH
- siskins, raven, fieldfare, robin, chaffinches


 martin

12th March 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Jonathan  and  Martin
Weather horrid:  snowing and high wind

Activities:

- cutting logs in tractor shed
- made safe dead tree leaning on fence along the top

Observations

- Great tit, bullfinch, magpies, blackbirds
- 2 possible chiffchaffs flying, not calling
- cattle taken off yesterday.  previous movements were for tb tests.


 martin

5th March 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Alan, Keith, Pat, Neil, Ron, David a, and Martin

Activities:

- 5 brash bonfires down slope to sphagnum heath and stream
- cut down 3 small birches of no consequence
- processed these birches
- lookered cattle
- oiled lock of five bar gate

Observations:

- Raven
- redpolls, siskins, redwing
- small shrew at firesite
- jackdaws
- pheasant at tool store
- nuthatches
- greenfinch
- tawny owl

Martin

26th February 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Neil, David a, David p, Pat, Keith and Martin

Activities:

- 4 brash bonfires on track to right from beeches avenue
- put up two new tit nestboxes made by david's friend John

Observations:

- raven
- crows
- brambling
- 50 Redwing flock
- 2 mistle thrushes
- cattle probably have now moved.  No sign of them

Martin

19th February 2013 .... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Neil, Ron, David a, Ray, Pat and Martin

Activities:

- Mike counted the cattle
- and then the cattle started to be taken off, with just 2 left at the end, plus all the corral stuff
- had 4 brash bonfires above beeches avenue towards the cricket pitch

Observations:

- Raven
- redpoll and siskin
- Tree creeper singing
- chaffinches and great tit singing
- Jack etc have moved in permanently now


Martin

12th February 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, David a, Ron, and Martin

Activities:

- bonfire of brash half way up the  M1
- lookered cattle

Observations:

- Mark, Rubin and  Mike on site cutting down trees
- 2 Ravens
- Robin

 martin

5th February 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Keith, David p, Neil and Martin

Activities:

- John did some more mending on  m1
- completed bonfire started by sunday group
- started a new bonfire towards the path across plateau
- lookered cattle
- cut a bag of logs
- oiled and graphited lock at roller stand

Observations:

- Ravens
- owl pellets
- Jack started to move some of gravel pile
- need to keep route to far garage clear

Martin

29th January 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Alan, Keith, Mike, Jonathan, David a, David  p and martin

Activities:

- lookered the cattle.  Five now.
- took the leg down from fence on South Heath, being remains of a deer.
- refilled pamphlet box.  There was a found child's/ ladies watch there.  We will tell swt about it.  Not intrinsically valuable. Now in tool store.  Plus a pair of Y-fronts !
- mended the heave gate nearest the tool store on SH. Strainer, strut and a post replaced.  No idea what pushed it all over.  Herd of deer chased by dogs?  Linked to other dead deer?
- cut wood in tool store and brought more inside.
- put up repaired nest box from last week.
- checked notices about short leads being from jan 1.

Observations:

- lousy windy rainy weather
- raven
- new tenant Jack not here today


Martin

22nd January 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Keith, Jonathan and  martin

Activities:

- lookered cattle
- cut wood in tractor shed
- brought in rest of se- most pile of logs to dry
- took down nest box near cuckoo pond for repair.  Keith  has taken away

Observations:

- frank et al sanding/salting the road
- horrid weather and nothing else possible


 martin

15th January 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan,  Mike, Ray, Alan, Neil, Keith, and Martin

Activities:

- work on m1 track filling in ruts left by contractors vehicle
- two brash bonfires along M1
- cut down two weedy birch and one small pine marked but missed by contractors
- lookered cattle.  They all seemed fine
- moved some logs into tractor shed

Observations:

- Ravens
- nice day, despite cold
- Mike had problems with his knee, with no apparent cause


Martin

8th January 2013 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Alan, David p and daughter Maddy, Keith, Neil,  Ron and Martin

Activities:

- 4 bonfires of contractor brash, along path from cricket pitch to cross roads
- renovated some of the diagonal gullies along the M1
- lookered the cattle

Observations:

- David p cut up some firewood for home
- Ravens
- Siskins, goldfinch, chaffinch
- deer

Martin

1st January 2013 ... weekly volunteers

And we did exactly what we did last week.  But perhaps with more energy to be in the open air.

Martin

25th December 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Surprisingly we did nothing, despite the need for work on burning the brash.

martin

2012 --- nestbox survey

click below for the spreadsheet of results

there are separate pages for the three 'days' of rounds, one pulling this altogether with interpretations, one summary of successes and failures, and one giving the repair and cleaning jobs to do before next season.

the general results for a year of appalling rainy weather are of small late clutches having reasonable success.  Some early failures.  Redstarts tend to finish what they start and either have complete success or complete failures.

there is a record of a crazy cuckoo attempt on a redstart nextbox.  What stole that egg?

Only one nuthatch nest this year. But 11 redstart nests, 8 of which were successful.

there were 30 empty boxes and 42 used.

thanks to the various volunteers that helped me go round the reserve, in what is a long hard trek, when carrying a ladder.  Thanks also to Keith for a continuous effort in maintaining and building nestboxes.

I should mention that I did not count the owl box which has been lowered to a safe observable level, and was emptied ( after the season) and found to be totally full of leaf litter ( probably squirrel winter bedding) and addled Owl eggs ( 11 if I remember correctly), probably stretching over at least 11 years.  Nor a new owl box that we put up in 2012 after the season, and one which is shortly to go up.

click here to see the spreadsheet of the nestboxes


martin