KFB Gets Shipshape
(Although It's Not Always Plain Sailing)

I though I might use this post as an opportunity to look back over some of the events of the last month, as well as an update on progress on the KFB.

Firstly a big thank you to everyone who turned out on a pretty drab day to make this November's Open Sunday such a well-attended, successful and enjoyable day.

The bonhomie which seems to pervade FoHESC events, was again very evident, when we held our first photography group evening proper on the 20th November.

The budding macro-photographers gather for Bob's presentation

The session was hosted by FoHESC member and keen photographer Bob Furness and covered the subject of macro-photography. Bob gave an informative and enjoyable presentation which covered a little theory, plenty of useful tips and Bob's own take on and attitude to, this fascinating art. The presentation was illustrated with many of Bob's excellent photo's and was very well received by the thirty plus attendees. Our next photography group evening will be on 22nd January and will be an illustrated presentation on wildlife photography, by Chris Ward from the local RSPB Group.

A Bridge Too Wet - The route to the bund is rescued

Those of you who have been getting hands-on in the building of our Kingfisher bank project, will appreciate that getting materials to the building site has been more and more challenging, as the month has gone on. Firstly the bridge connecting the bund to the shore started to sink below the rising lake and needed recovering to the more traditional position - i.e. above the water. Then the mud on the bund became thicker, wetter and generally more yucky and made the use of wheelbarrows very difficult.

The offer from Martin Kincaid of the loan of a Parks Trust boat, to help transport material from the overflow car park to the KFB site, was therefore, received with delight if perhaps also a little trepidation.

Loading sand and gravel into sacks prior to shipment

As it turned out the boat became boats and after a few minor teething issues we were soon ferrying sand, gravel and tiles out to the bund.

The time honoured method of transporting goods by water is resurrected at HESC

The weather was - for the first day of December - unbeatable and our plucky crew cut quite a dash as they crossed an azure lake under matching blue skies. Boatiful.

Off loading at the KFB Docks

 

The KFB is filled to the top with sand

With a more reliable supply of materials the construction team were able to complete the filling of the main shell with sand and then lay a patio-style tiled roof to help keep the whole structure water-proof.

This is not just any KFB - This a FoHESC KFB and quality is our watchword

The tile roof has been laid with over-hanging edges to

provide a little more security from predators

The last part of the plan is to put a retaining row of single bricks around the edge of the top of the tiled roof and infill with gravel to finish the job.

If you check-out our Flickr site (FoHESC Images), you will see that Neil Schofield has captured some excellent shots of kingfishers around the KFB area, and once again one of the little chaps can be seen sitting on the bank itself.

Fingers crossed folks.

Photographs by Malcolm Stewart and Tony Bedford

Tunnel(s) of Love
(KFB Update)

The mighty edifice which is our new kingfisher nesting site is now up to full height and the nesting chambers have been installed.

Picture courtesy of Malcolm Stewart

We now need to fill the remainder of the main structure with a sand/earth mix and install the roof.

As you can also see below, the prospective residents are still taking a close interest in proceedings.

Picture courtesy of Carol Hughes

Bundfire of the Vanities
and
Kingfisher - Bankers, You Can Trust

A view of some of the activities from the near hide

Thanks everyone for another great turn-out on Sunday.

Getting the materials to the building site has been one of the hardest jobs

and much appreciation for all their efforts must go to all those

that have "barrowed" materials to the KFB. 

As you will see from the pictures, the Kingfisher Bank is almost up to full height and just requires one or two more layers of blocks around the back and sides.

Our man with the trowel - Great work Alan

The cavity has been half filled with gravel and earth and it will soon be time to cut the holes in the front blocks and install the pipe nest chambers.

Then we fill the rest of the cavity with sand/earth, install a weatherproof membrane and maybe try and make the exterior a bit more natural looking.

Along the surrounding hills, tribes of Apache, Comanche and Sioux gathered, to try and read the messages rising into the beautiful blue skies above the bund - but it was just our slightly premature celebration of bonfire night, as we disposed of the Willow arisings which had been cut a month or so earlier.

We also managed to open up and widen some of the pathway and clear some growth from around the woodland hide.

This Jack Pike skull caused quite a bit of speculation regarding

it's demise - was it killed by a particularly ambitious Heron or Cormorant -

or could it have been an otter? 

All in all a great days work and many, many, thanks to everyone who joined in.

Chris Packham
Autumnwatch Thursday 31st October

I have been known, in the past, to be less than complimentary, regarding the presentation style of some of the Spring(Autumn)Watch presenters, if I'm honest, on occasions probably downright rude.

So, for me, to be both moved and motivated by the words of Chris Packham at the close of last nights program came as a bit of a shock.

You see, last night, he hit something deep in the heart of me, that made me realise why I am so proud to be the Chairman of FoHESC.

Following another fantastic piece by wildlife photographer John Aitchison featuring the river Ythan (north of Aberdeen) Chris very eloquently summed up Johns closing message:

"We've all got our patches, places that we go to, places that we love.
We need to learn to look after them.
If you've got a patch, look after it.
Sometimes it comes down to you - Nobody else is going to do it - otherwise in twenty years it may be gone." 

For me I guess that patch is HESC, the potential is fantastic - but the threats are real too. Shrinking council budgets, pressure for spaces to build and digging out the last ounces of mineral resources along with uncertainty regarding the eventual ownership of the site, all pose medium to long term risk regarding the future of the reserve.

But Chris is right - it does come down to us - and together, I am positive we can see the patch that we love thrive and develop.

If therefore, you feel as I do that these wild places are worth preserving, please continue to support the Friends Group, as I know, you have in the past - and if possible - encourage other like minded souls to visit on Open Sundays and even join us as members.

This Sunday we will again be working on the new Kingfisher Bank and with luck burning off the scrub we cut on the bund a month back, along with any other small tasks that need doing - please if you can, come and join in (Boy Scouts, old and new with fire lighting skills very welcome).

Best wishes

Tony Bedford
Chairman FoHESC

Please click on the events tab above to see the dates of future open days and events.

Friends Enjoy Cake but Kingfisher Takes the Biscuit
(Open Sunday 20/10/13)

The mixture of mild but intermittently soggy weather didn't seem to deter our visitors last Sunday including a few who were seeing HESC for the first time.

Wildlife it seems is all well and good, but when the heavens open for - thankfully not too long - bursts of showers, the combination of a cuppa and a piece of freshly home-baked cake proves an irresistible combination.

Our berries may be Guelder-rose rather than Mary and our Wood, Woody-nightshade, rather than Hollywood, but the FoHESC bakers certainly took all the plaudits this week.

Mary Berry - No - Rose Hips

Berries by the way are not just plentiful at HESC this Autumn, but across most of the UK, with 2013 being declared a mast year. So expect to see flocks of fieldfare and redwing plundering the trees and bushes any day now.

During a gap in the afternoon rain, a few brave souls took the opportunity to clear a bit more vegetation around the far hide and open up the views to the right, looking back towards the bund.

We also delivered some more materials down to the King Fisher Bank (KFB) construction site. Thanks to great work by Neil and his team the KFB is coming on apace and the block retaining walls have now been started.

Talking about the KFB, you may remember from our last post, that I was being extremely cautious regarding the possibility of take-up by out little feathered friends. You could therefore have knocked me down with a small blue feather when Neil showed me this picture taken by Peter Barnes.

This potential new home owner is considering

putting a deposit on an off-plan development

 

No, its not a trick photo and yes, that really is a kingfisher sitting on the footings of the KFB - I can only hope its a good omen. If nothing else it suggest we got the location correct.

KFB for Sunday Lunch

Our working party last Sunday (6th Oct) concentrated on two new tasks:

Firstly, the tall vegetation around the far hide was cleared and hopefully, you will all agree, that the views are now much improved, although, if possible (and safe access can be achieved) we would still like to cut back the tree which partially blocks the view of the lake to the right hand side of the hide.

The improved view from the far hide

 

Whilst the hide clearing was underway, we commenced what we hope may be one of our most exciting projects to date: the building of an artificial kingfisher nesting bank (KFB) on the bund, approximately 50m from the connecting shoreline and facing towards the near hide.

A lot of thought and planning has gone into this project, both in terms of location and construction.

The location has been chosen, firstly, so that good views can be obtained from the near hide, should we be lucky enough to attract some residents and  secondly, we have seen sufficient kingfisher activity in this area over this summer and autumn, to believe there is a possibility of success in birds nesting. The location of the KFB is sufficiently far away from the areas favoured by ducks and waders not to impinge on their use of the bund.

The first stage has been to dig out the footings and

get the shuttering in ready for the concrete base

The bank itself will measure approximately 2.5m x1.5m x1.5m and will be constructed from blocks, set on a concrete base. We believe this sturdy design will ensure it is not washed away, should we see a substantial rise in the lake level over the winter. The inside of the rectangular block structure will be earth filled with sand filled pipes inserted and opening out on to the front face of the bank, to provide the nesting chambers. The roof will be covered in gravel and appropriate vegetation planted around the bank to create as natural a setting as possible.

The shuttering in place, as seen from the near hide

It will take quite a few weeks to complete the task so please bear with us until the job is finished.

You will have noted that throughout this piece I have talked about luck and possibilities, because as always with nature, there are absolutely no guarantees that the KFB will be used by the little electric blue beauties that we hope may nest in it.

The object of our desires,

photograph by Tony Bedford

However, if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the lottery and I understand that the chances of Kingfishers moving into the KFB are infinitesimally greater than me carrying off the big one.

Every cloud as they say!

Work Photos courtesy of Malcolm Stewart

Update

Following on from the above, a small band of Friends got together the following Saturday to lay the concrete base.

Many thanks to Alan, Dave, Neil, Pauline and Simon & Son

FoHESC Images

I'm sure by now that most of you will have realised our new Flickr site is up and running, to visit just click on the link below:

FoHESC Images

We have already received nearly three hundred images, but we hope that many more of you will also upload your own favourite pictures taken at HESC, so that we can build a comprehensive photographic record of all the flora and fauna to be found on the reserve.

 

A superb picture of a Hobby clutching it's prey

(a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, I think)

taken by Mark Baker

 

Can we please ask that you restrict your photos to only those taken on the reserve and limit your uploads to not more than three per day, but within those limitations, please feel free to reflect any aspect of HESC that you wish.