Pond Dipping

This event, due to held on Sunday May 28th has unfortunately been cancelled. This is due to illness and other unforeseen circumstances.
This event will be held in the near future. Keep your eye on the blog.

Saturday Work Party. May 13th

Saturday was one of our regular work parties. There were enough people to organise three groups. Some started with a cuppa. Guides and Scouts were also involved. David sorted three parties, box building, pond dipping area and bird feeding area, (shown below). All equipment was provided.

Work parties are every Thursday and second Saturday.
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One of Saturday's 3 work parties. 

Photo by Rosemary Wright

Today's Stroll

     A few pics from today and was nice to bump into  Dave F,
     at the lagoon and Dave L and Val at the cabin which was
     doing a good trade which was nice to see, I'm glad its
     getting plenty of visitor's. 28 species seen today and a
     few unid'd and plenty of birdsong but a lot not seen,
     it was good to hear the Water Rail at the lagoon.

                                          Dunnock with insect

                                          Goosander chicks

                                          Female Goosander

                                          Male Goosander

                                          Jay

                                          Chaffinch

                                          Buzzard

Last Night's Walk May 10th

Thirteen members and friends enjoyed a pleasant walk around the reserve last night the 10th. The weather was perfect. We ended up in the cabin for tea and biscuits. Our next walk is an early morning one this Saturday the 13th. Details in the previous post below.

Dawn Chorus Walk & Work Party 13th May

This is our second dawn walk. Last Saturday we had 25 species and 22 people. Not a bad count despite the cold NE wind.

There will be another dawn chorus walk this Saturday the 13th of May. Meet at 05:30 in the car park.
This will be led by Allan and others who will supply tea, coffee and bacon and egg butties later in the Cabin. Come and join us and blow those cobwebs from your hair. All Welcome.

Also on this day there will be a work party. Meet at the Cabin at 09:30. Come to one meeting or both.

DAWN CHORUS WALK Saturday May 6th 2017

DAWN CHORUS WALK

 Saturday May 6^th 2017

Robin’s and Chris’s Dawn walk was very successful with 25 bird species seen and heard. The weather was fairly gloomy and cold but it did not deter the birds or the humans.22 people including a number of children set out after a short  ‘be careful’ talk from Robin. We stopped at the Bailey bridge and noted blue tit and blackcap calling. Also in the distance a willow warbler’s song could be heard sounding as Shelagh described it as a falling waterfall of tuneful notes. Near the weir, unfortunately no sand martins, but there were 2 canada geese on the far bank, one of them with a gosling peeping out from under her wing and as we moved away she stood up and many of us saw 5 young ones scuttling to hide.

We continued past Tag ponds spotting common whitethroat,robin and willow warblers singing, perched on top of bushes. We  listened to the delightful song of a wren. “A bird that punches well above its weight in song “ Shelagh’s pen identifying bird song came in very useful.Down to the feeding station picking up more birds then onto the lagoon. 4-5 reed warblers noisily making their presence felt, defending their territories. A heron flew over and little grebes were calling.By now some children were feeling cold so we made our way back to the cabin. Here Robin and Chris set up camping stoves and very soon the tantalizing smell of cooking bacon was apparent. Bacon butties !! what a splendid way to finish a most enjoyable walk.Many thanks to everyone who took part.

There is another walk next Saturday 13^th , May do come along. 

Warblers

A fantastic weekend at Cromwell for singing Warblers , the hedgerows are now full of singing Blackcap , Willow Warbler , Chiffchaff ,Garden Warbler and the odd Whitethroat. In the Reed beds Reed Warblers can now be herd .A couple of Common Terns spent most of the bank holiday on the ski lake...Grey Heron , Swallows ,Kingfisher , Grey Wagtail  and  Buzzards were also about......Song Thrush , Reed Bunting ,  Bullfinch , Wren (must be the reserves commonest resident) , Blackbird , Robin , Mistle Thrush , Long Tailed , Blue,  Great and Cole Tits were also in good voice..