Soggy Sunday

As the bulk of my latest blogpost at 'Imperfect and Tense' concerned HESC, I thought I'd cut and paste the relevant section across to the FoHESC site:

"After breakfast, we drove down to Hanson Environmental Study Centre to drop off some books for the second-hand stall run by the Friends group. On a fence post by the single track road into the reserve, we were surprised to discover a very bedraggled Barn Owl, scanning the adjacent pasture for prey. I guess the rain that has been omnipresent for the last few nights has made hunting difficult and hunger has driven this bird to be out in daylight in less-than-favourable conditions.

Having completed our literary errand, Our Lass and I had a potter to the Near Hide and back, spotting the owl once more by the old Oak in the paddock and then glimpsing a Kingfisher and a pair of Pintail from the hide. At the end of the boardwalk, a few Coltsfoot were braving the elements though, wimps that we are, we didn't stay out too long.

Back at the Centre, we popped in for a cup of tea and a chat, entered the 'Guess the name of the Otter' competition to win a framed photo of one of the stars of Autumnwatch (no, it isn't Michaela, Chris, Kate or Martin) and even bought a book to grace the recently-created space on our shelves. Despite, or possibly because of, the miserable weather, there were visitors enjoying the view from the warm, dry Centre and watching the bird feeders or the occasional passing Muntjac deer. Very civilised and all in a good cause. Many thanks to the kind-hearted team of Friends volunteers who give of their time and effort to provide this facility for permit holders and the local community."

The signs of Spring are definitely ramping up and may yet force the sun to put in an appearance!

WEBS Wildfowl Count Sunday 10th March

 

 Oystercatcher - photograph © Tony Bedford

Andy Harding recorded the following species at HESC on Sunday

 

G.C.Grebe 6

Little Grebe 1

Cormorant 25

Heron 19, mainly in the heronry

Little Egret 3

Mute Swan 14

Canada Goose 2

Wigeon 44

Gadwall 32

Teal 13

Mallard 3

Shoveler 2

Tufted Duck 73

Pochard 4

Goldeneye 3

Coot 22

Moorhen 2

Others

Oystercatcher 1 ( +1 on the bank of Black Horse lake)

Also what was very probably a female or immature Merlin, but too brief to be a certain record. However something to keep a look out for.

Working Party Sunday 3rd March

Another good turn-out enabled us to split into three groups each tackling a different project.

All sorts of creatures were found in the pond!

The water babies drained the raised pond at the front of the centre and started to prepare it for planting. As the water level fell the volunteers kept a sharp watch for any creatures that needed rescuing and relocating to a safe environment - although we hope once we have planted out the pond and refilled it, they may wish to move back to their former home.

A Diving Beetle prior to moving house

If possible we may continue this project during the next Open Sunday (17th March) in order that the pond is in full working order for the Spring.

The fast food team assembled and erected a multi-feeder station at the rear of the centre, which we anticipate should bring a good selection of our feathered friends within easy viewing distance of the back windows.

Do you want to go large with that?

The back woods boys and girls (no I didn't mean backwards) started work on our new main lake viewing point, by clearing the small trees and scrub, in readiness for the Council to remove the large trees and trees on the edge of the reed margins (unfortunately this cannot be done until the water level falls a little further).

A view begins to appear

Once the Council have completed the removal of these trees, we will fit a three sided viewing screen around the existing hard standing, which should hopefully, provide a very interesting new perspective on the lake.

The FoHESC Team were not the only ones engaged

in building projects on Sunday

WEBs Count Results - Open Sunday 17th February

Thanks to everyone who turned up on Sunday, we were pleased to be able to lay on some good weather for you for a change.

Andy's final WEBs count results for HESC were as follows

G.C. Grebe - 9

Cormorant - 3

Grey Heron - 8

Little Egret - 8

Mute Swan - 14

Canada Goose - 61

Wigeon - 301

Teal - 18

Mallard - 4

Gadwall - 5

Pochard - 50

Tufted Duck - 102

Coot - 21

Moorhen - 2

 

Sadly the Pintails who had been on the lake earlier in the week decided not to take part in this months census.

 

Visitors to the woodland hide reported seeing the Willow Tit plus, Marsh, Great, Blue and Long-tailed tits, Siskin, Redpole,Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Dunnock and a Treecreeper.

 

From the centre we enjoyed a good view of a Sparrowhawk, we also saw a Kestrel, three Buzzards and a Muntjac grazing on the grass.

 

Tony has donated a framed picture of his now infamous "as seen on TV" Otter

which we are giving as the prize in a "name the otter competition".

The draw takes place at the AGM on Wed 15th May

 

In the centre the bookstall did good business and the "name the otter" competition got off to a promising start. We have also started selling birdseed in convenient 1kg bags for a £1 each, initial reaction suggests these will also be a popular item.

 

Our next scheduled meeting is Sunday 3rd March which is a working party morning, we hope to see you then.

Open Sunday 17th February 2013

Just a quick reminder that the Friends Group will be opening the centre this Sunday at 10am as usual. The weather forecast looks reasonable so why not come down, have a walk around, spend some time in the hides and then join us for refreshments in the centre.

Andy Harding will again be doing his wetland birds survey (WEBS), starting at approximately 10.15 and would be pleased to have your company and assistance as he completes his HESC count, which normally takes around one hour.

Malcolm Stewart will be doing an introduction to telephoto photography for beginners and will be happy to let you have a go with his long lens from the comfort of the viewing gallery and Jane has just the ticket for you to win your very own Lutra Lutra.

As usual, the second hand book stall will be well stocked with plenty of bargain buys.

So why not come and join us, we look forward to your company.

Tony

Working Party Reports

Thank you to the dozen or so Friends who turned out last Sunday to help around the reserve. Although it was mid morning, initially we had to work quietly so as not to disturb the youngsters who were having a lie-in after a night partying (well chasing rabbits and pheasants anyway).

What time to you call this?

Tasks completed included:

 Creating yet another bench, this time, under the shade of the birch tree in the “comfrey triangle” (I promise you that is not a slightly dodgy metaphor) and clearing a view into the part of St Peter's lake that lies adjacent to it.

No, we have not stolen his little red hat and fishing rod (sorry Neil)

Clearing scrub from opposite the woodland hide and removing the partially fallen tree near the door to the hide.

Graeme sings motivational sea shanties, whilst the ship mates splice the main brace

Finishing off the first hibernaculum with a covering of earth and some logs and branches, so that it blends into the surroundings.

Can you see what it is yet? 

Thank you also to the similar number from MK Green Gym (The Conservation Volunteers) who came down on Thursday morning to help clear brambles, carry out some coppicing and replant young blackthorn along the perimeter fence, which in time, should form a substantial protective hedge.

Our next meeting is the Open Sunday on February 17^th, we look forward to seeing you.

Sunday January 20th

Following the snowfall it was decided to open the Centre for a shorter period than normal, however, hot drinks, nibbles and warm wildlife viewing were still available for the brave and hardy souls who wanted to witness the reserve in her winter pelage (courtesy C Packham) first hand. So apologies to anyone who visited in the afternoon and found us closed, and, well done and thank you to our earlier visitors.

Probably the best spot of the day goes to the three male Goosander who found a patch of open water to share with our usual collection of water birds. Sadly our brave and intrepid photographer was neither brave or intrepid enough to go back out to try and capture some distant pictures of the Goosander Three, so instead, please find a few pictures that give a flavour of the reserve on Sunday.

Familiar paths took on new magical qualities and places to play identify the animal track.

Robins appeared at every turn begging for a little food

and Dunnocks turned themselves into feather balls to keep warm

Entrance to Santa Grotto?

Pheasant crossing the frozen pond to raid seed from the woodland feeders

Mrs Chaffinch samples the seed sorbet

and lastly our perennial favourite, the Willow Tit found time between 

sorties to the feeding tables, to pose superbly.

All photographs © Tony Bedford