Happy New Year from All at FoHESC

Welcome to our first update of the new year and a big thank you to everyone who turned out last Sunday for our first working day of 2013.

Although at first the air was slightly damp the assembled crew took advantage of the mild weather and soft ground to erect a screen along the exposed bank of St Peters lake and to install two more benches.

One Purl one Plain - the screen starts to take shape

It is hoped that the screen will provide a little cover from people walking along the path that runs between the two lakes, so that birds on the St Peters side will not be so easily spooked and so provide a better viewing opportunity. 

The finished screen

For most of us this was our first attempt at building a screen woven from loose willow and other cuttings and spare timbers, so we may need to revisit the project occasionally to carry out maintenance and modifications. Having said this, I think most of us were pleased with our first effort and can add the experience to our rapidly expanding skills bank.

How may Friends does it take to drill a hole?

We also took the opportunity to install two new benches - one at the corner of St Peters Lake (not far from the turn off to the far hide) and the other by the side of the path in the near meadow quite close to the original hibernaculum).

As is customary we also enjoyed a break for tea/coffee, biscuits and I suspect the last mince pies for a while - thank you Pauline and Jane - although this time tiffin was taken in the woodland hide which gave an opportunity to note how quickly the water level has started to drop and to view a little wildlife.

Quite a few Pheasants that have been scattered by the local shoots have taken up residence on the reserve and have started to learn about the seed that can be found near the tables in front of the woodland hide. Some of the cock birds have really glorious colours, although they are pretty feisty towards each other, so you may well witness a punch up or two over the coming weeks, until they naturally thin out and move into new areas.

Walking the plank seems preferable to dodging the bullets

For those of you who are not familiar with pheasant shooting the season in England runs from Oct 1st to Feb 1st, so if the birds on the reserve stay for another few weeks they can then look forward to a safer spring and summer - although the foxes on the reserve do not observe the closed season!

We also still have small flocks of Repoll and Siskin mixed in with Goldfinches flitting around the tree tops and Goldcrest are regularly seen near the woodland hide. The main lake holds good numbers of common wildfowl, although the bund has still not recovered enough yet to provide much of a habitat for waders.

Although Britain's smallest bird, Goldcrest can regularly be seen around the woodland hide

We will be continuing with the open days on the third Sunday of each month and welcome ideas for any other events you would like to see arranged over the coming months. We hope to see you again soon.



Working party photos courtesy of Malcolm Stewart,
Pheasant and Goldcrest by Tony Bedford

Chr-HESC-mas Day

Firstly, a Very Merry Christmas to you all. I sincerely hope Santa brought you something wildlife-related, even if it was simply a new tie with a Robin on it or a plastic duck for the bath.

Just before lunchtime, a break in the weather heralded a visit to the reserve to see what was about, other than a billion litres of water. Well, to be honest, it was mainly water. So here's a photographic record of the extent of the flooding (for the very good reason that if we ever have a Summer in 2013, we can look back at this and be grateful).

This is the view from the far end of the reserve, adjacent to the large Oak tree. The nearest stretch of water is the single track road, after the greenery there's the river and then it's Haversham Lake and the sailing club. Although you would be forgiven for thinking it's just one big puddle.

As usual, when the Great Ouse bursts its banks hereabouts, the reserve is the first port of call. Having topped up the security ditch, the flood water was pouring into the main lake across the "path that never was".

In the Far Paddock, the ephemeral ponds were looking rather less than ephemeral!

Alongside the paddock, parts of the hedged track were under water, but it didn't prevent us from admiring this fungi-laden branch.

Meanwhile, the view from the Far Hide back towards the centre was fairly monotonous, with only a few bits of bund vegetation visible. Admittedly, nowhere for the Lapwings and other plovers to feed, but at least it might knock back some of the weed growth. In other good news, the temporary bridge hadn't floated away, but was still inaccessible.

Water levels had stopped rising just in time, before they flooded the track between St Peter's Lake and the main lake.

The Woodland Hide may have to be re-christened the Mere Hide!

Whilst putting out a small amount of seed for the birds, I couldn't help noticing the bridge IN troubled waters.

By the time I returned to the hide, I'd already missed a Sparrowhawk, my wife kindly informed me!

But things soon calmed down and all the usual feathered suspects were still present.

Back out on the main track, this area in front of the carved bench was bone dry earlier this year and we wondered how it could possibly ever recover. Ta dah! Who would have thought it?

Happily, flood levels on the boardwalk were passable, though it didn't prevent Mrs W from proving once again that she can walk on water.

It was much the same story from the Near Hide, barely a bit of bund to be seen.

In the Near Paddock, the lake was inching ever nearer the most recent seat to be modified for horizontal bottoms.

Finally, all that water has to go somewhere. Here it is exiting the main lake via the perimeter track and flowing into Blackhorse Lake.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year and a warmer, drier, wildlife-laden 2013.

FoHESC Christmas advert

This isn’t just any wildlife calendar… this is a FoHESC wildlife calendar, with sumptuous images taken by a local resident.

A local resident who takes great care to select only the finest subjects for his photographs.

Photographs showing the beauty and fragility of the natural world on our doorstep, hand-picked by the photographer.

This isn’t just any photographer… this is a photographer whose work is also featured on the BBC Springwatch website.

(Image 4 of 4. Nice one, Tony!)

On a more serious note, if you want to give one of these calendars to the nature lover in your life, tomorrow (Sunday 16th December 2012) is likely to be the last chance before Christmas to pick up one of these gems.

On sale at HESC, between 10am and 4pm, for the recession-busting price of just £5.

If you're very lucky, you may be able to purchase one of the really valuable ones that Tony hasn't signed.

 

HESC December Wetland Bird Survey

 

 

Andy Harding recorded the following birds on the HESC lakes on Sunday (09/12/12) as part of his December WEBs survey.

 

G.C Grebe - 3

Little Grebe - 1

Little Egret - 2

Grey heron - 3

Cormorant - 7

Mute Swan - 18

Wigeon - 117

Gadwall - 38

Shoveler - 4

Teal - 8

Mallard 7

Pochard - 51

Tufted - 73

Water Rail - 1

Coot - 91

 

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible next Sunday (16th) for our last open event for this year.

Sunday Working Party 02/12/12

Sundays plan was to remove as much of the rubble pile as possible, by using it to further develop the hibernaculum that we built in the summer. Then, to use the remaining material, to build another winter shelter for invertebrates and other small creatures, behind the fence, on the other side of the path, close to the rubble.

The day was cold and bright, in fact the night had been so cold, that we needed to take a mattock to the top crust of the rubble, in order to break it up ready for transporting. While this was going on, some corrugated iron which had been rescued from the bund (yes once upon a time you could actually get on the thing) was placed on the original hibernaculum in order to provide a waterproof membrane. This was then covered with more rubble and soil which will finally be topped off with grass and perhaps a few logs.

The revised original hibernaculum starts to take shape

 

As we started to work our way into the heart of the rubble we encountered a couple of small smooth newts, which were rescued and re-billeted in the new winter home. Then as more material was taken for starting the second hibernaculum, we uncovered a small community of voles. With care the nest site was recovered and it was agreed, that for the time being, we would form a pathway through the rubble but leave the rest of it in place, so that, whatever had decided to set up home for the winter, could remain in peace.

Access restored, but habitat left intact for this winter

Despite the disruption to the plan, sufficient material was moved to create a very usable second hibernation site. Which based on what we have seen a pile of dumped rubble can house, should provide a home for any creatures not yet laid up for this winter and certainly a place of safety for coming winters.

Hibernaculum 2 takes shape

 

As well as the work on the hibernacula, our ace bench building team (the now infamous Betty and Barney), converted the pretty useless bum rest in the near paddock behind the centre, into a fully operational bench.

Looks like the new bench is a good place for a yarn or two!

 

As always a good time was enjoyed by all and some really useful projects completed.

Thank you to everyone who turned out and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Please remember the last open Sunday for this year is on December 16^th, we hope to see you there (see Events and Projects tag for more details).

PS Thanks to Malcolm Stewart for providing the photos.

November Open Sunday Review

Our third Open Sunday was blessed with possibly the best day of the Month so far, weather wise, with clear blue skies, bright golden sunshine and just the right amount of frosty bite to make for an exhilarating day.

Three Mute Swans looking glorious in the Autumn sunshine

The word now seems to be spreading about the FoHESC Open Sundays and the combination of good publicity, great weather and our special guest for the day – Andy Harding (Bucks County Bird Recorder) – resulted in our largest turn-out so far with well over fifty visitors to the centre.

The morning commenced with Andy leading a posse of newly sworn-in deputies around the main lake to conduct his monthly water bird and wader survey. Prior to the count Andy explained the purpose and importance of the survey which forms part of The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS).

WeBS is the scheme which monitors non-breeding waterbirds in the UK. The principal aims are to identify population sizes, determine trends in numbers and distribution and to identify important sites for waterbirds. More details can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs

During the survey, Andy kept our visitors involved in helping identify and count the many different species of water birds spotted - the whole experience was both informative and a lot of fun.

The principle species found and recorded on the reserve main lake were as follows –

Coot - .42 .

Pochard - 17

Wigeon - 353

Tufted Duck - 119

Canada Geese - 1

Great Crested Grebe - 11

Mute Swan - 52

Gadwall - 37

Grey Lag - 410

Cormorants - 16
 

this list is by no means exhaustive and other smaller numbers of species were also recorded.

In addition to the above we were also fortunate enough to spot 3 Kingfisher (the most Andy has ever recorded in a single visit to HESC), 7 Little Grebe and 5 Snipe, plus a few Shoveller, Teal and Mallard.
 

 

352,353 This pair of Wigeon make sure they are included in the count

Although the above represents a snap shot taken at that particular time and day, the results clearly demonstrate what an important site HESC is for these birds, as they move into and around the country.

Following the count, our visitors explored other areas of the reserve for themselves, visited other hides to do a bit of birding of their own (including watching our resident Marsh Tits at the Woodland feeding station) or relaxed in the centre with a cuppa and browsed our book store and displays.
 

Apart from the water birds there were plenty of other species to see including

Redwings in many of the trees and bushes

In the afternoon Andy graciously submitted to a well attended, open interview with Tony Bedford in a Q&A session, which covered his initial steps into birding, advice for newcomers into the hobby, the importance and reason for collecting data on bird numbers and movements, his thoughts on the proposed new wind farm at Haversham and included stories of his overseas trips and entertaining anecdotes.
 

Andy fielding another of Tony's Questions

and holding the audience's attention

 

Although it is impossible to cover everything discussed here; in summary, Andy advised that probably the best single thing that newcomers to bird watching could do, was to join a local club or organisation where they could get help and advice from fellow birders and partake in organised outings and trips etc.

Andy shared some of our concerns regarding the effect that the proposed Haversham wind farm may have on HESC and other local wildlife habitats such as Little Linford Woods and firmly declared his support and backing for HESC as one of the most interesting and important bird and wildlife reserves in the area.

Despite the amount of time he had already donated to us, Andy then kindly offered to accompany those who wished, out to the hides for a final birding session. An offer which many of our visitors gladly accepted.

Once again our Open Sunday proved a thoroughly enjoyable day for all concerned and as always we would like to thank the visitors who decided to join as new permit holders and or join the Friends Group, make purchases, give donations and contribute to making the whole day such a success. We would also like to specially thank Andy Harding who was key to making this our best open event yet.

Our next Open Sunday will be on December 16^th, please also feel free to join us at our next maintenance Sunday on December 2^nd (10am start).

Best wishes and I look forward to meeting with you all again soon.

 

Tony Bedford

 

Other Links you may find useful

Bucks Bird Club

North Bucks Birders

Stop Haversham Wind Farm

Reminder re Open Sunday

Great News For Birders at Our Next Open Sunday
18th November 2012

FoHESC are delighted to announce, that as part of our next open Sunday activities, Andy Harding (Buckinghamshire County Bird Recorder) will be conducting his monthly bird count at HESC and has invited our visitors to join him, in helping compile his records, which will go forward to help make up the national statistics. The count will start at 10.30am - please meet at the centre.

Redpoll - seen from the Woodland Hide last week
(photograph © Tony Bedford)

Then at 2pm in the centre Andy will be taking part in a Question and Answer session and will be offering tips and advice for those taking their first steps into birding, whilst helping those with a little more experience improve their identification skills

The Centre will be open from 10am untill 4pm, so that visitors can make use of the facilities (including light refreshments on sale, toilets, viewing balcony etc).

Within the centre we will have FoHESC members to answer questions, give advice on the wildlife to be found on the site, various displays, a large secondhand book stall and various gift items including our New Calendar will be on sale.

Everyone is welcome at our Open Sundays and Permit Holders are invited to bring family members, friends or guests. We will also be accepting applications from anyone who would like to become a permit holder and/or join the Friends Group.

Please note Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult