January WEBs Count

Apologies for not letting people know in time, that Andy Harding (County Bird Recorder) was doing his official monthly wildfowl count at HESC last Sunday. Although, I know that a few of you who had come to the Open Sunday, managed to meet up with him and enjoy his company, wisdom and wit (not to mention he does seem to be very good at spotting and identifying birds !)

 

Anyway, the good news is, Andy will be back next month on our Open Sunday - 16th February 10am start - to do another count at HESC and would be delighted if members of the Friends Group would like to join him and help in the process.

 

I can say from personal experience that you will find it a very interesting and rewarding experience - and - don't worry if your ID skills are still developing (that's pretty much all of us) it's  a great opportunity learn some tips and hints on how to identify water birds, in a very friendly environment.

 

The HESC wildfowl counts for 19th January were...

G.C. Grebe              4

Little Grebe          2

Cormorant         3

Heron                 3

Little Egret         2

Mute Swan       22

Greylag Goose       4

Canada Goose       6

Egyptian Goose     2

Wigeon             313

Mallard                     2

Pintail                     2 ( male and female)

Teal                        9

Shoveler                 2

Gadwall               30

Pochard                6

Tufted                   83

Coot                      18

Lapwing            350 over on a couple of occasions

Andy's Note

Due to the flooded conditions and the muddy water quality, species numbers were very different from other months. I neither heard nor saw a Moorhen within both HESC and the whole complex from Dovecote to Bradwell !

Ups and Downs of the Yule Tide

The KFB was completed about two weeks before Christmas and - as you can see from the picture of Alan finishing the roof - stood over 1.5 metres above the water line at that time.

With about ten days to go to Christmas, the KFB was still standing proud and we thought our only concerns would be regarding how easily a predator such as Mink might be able to reach the nesting chambers.

Kingfisher activity around the KFB showed no signs of diminishing as these super pictures taken by Neil Schofield show.

Neil's observations revealed that fishing around the KFB area was proving successful for our resident birds.

Then came the three days of storms and by Christmas Day, the Great Ouse had burst it's banks and flowed into the main lake. The water flowed right through our lake and crossed the fields into the adjacent fishing club lake.

Our concern now was should we re-christen the KFB as PNB (Pike Nesting Bank).

Four days after Christmas and the water level has fallen by around 2 feet - we now have a CLB (Cormorant Loafing Bank)

Or possibly CFB (Cormorant Fighting Bank)

As I write the rain has been falling most of the morning and the forecast is wet for the week ahead. I fear our multi-purpose bank may see many more ups and downs before the spring.

Development of Land Adjacent to HESC

Barratt Homes has submitted a screening opinion request for the proposed development of land off Wolverton Road at Great Linford.

The request for the proposed development of land at Linford Lakes Wolverton Road, Great Linford, Milton Keynes comprising approx. 70 ha; is for :

• up to 250 residential dwellings,
• new accesses onto Wolverton Road and Little Linford Lane,
• internal access roads, ancillary recreation/play space and incidental landscape areas;
• creation of country park (approx. 59ha) and visitor centre together with car and coach parking for up to 200 vehicles,
• new access and internal footpaths and access ways                                                          

Details are available on the MKC Planning web site http://publicaccess2.milton-keynes.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=MXJD6XKW0AP00

 

 

 

 

Re Cabinet Shuffle

The debate regarding the transfer of HESC to the Parks Trust due to take place at tonight's MK Council Cabinet Meeting has been deferred to a later date.

Word on the street, is that the Lead Councillors did not feel the report compiled by the Community Facilities Department, was complete enough to properly debate and so reach a decision.

It is also entirely possible that some of the concerns expressed by the Friends Group have struck a chord with our Councillors.

We are now hopeful that before the next meeting is convened, we will have an opportunity to meet with the decision makers to put our views on the subject and achieve a balanced outcome which matches the needs of the Good and the Great, the Green and the Grubby and the small feathered and furry.

We will keep you posted

Made Glorious Summer by ..............

Following on from yesterdays post, I am delighted to report that I have now received a response from David Foster, the Chief Executive of the Parks Trust, which (at least for now) allays many of our fears regarding the future for the reserve and the Friends Groups roll in its care, maintenance and usage.

Whilst my own natural, small minded, pessimism makes it difficult to totally accept the degree of altruism David claims the Park Trust are displaying, I also feel, it would be totally inappropriate for us not to give his organisation every opportunity to live up to their promises.

Once the Council hearing is complete and we know exactly what is going to happen I will report more.

Tony

 Now is the Winter of Our Discontent

A MK Council report, which proposes the transfer of the HESC Nature Reserve along with the new Stanton Low Country Park to the Parks Trust, is due to go before the MK Council Cabinet meeting this Wednesday (18th December).

Since the Parks Trust looks after much of MK’s green estate, this could be a good move. However there is no guarantee that it will continue to be used as a study centre for local schoolchildren. Nor that an unspent grant of £100,000 will ever be used for its original purpose; to fund improvements to the existing study centre.

As a result, the Hanson Environmental Centre may lose its position as one of the most interesting and diverse habitats for studying wildlife in Milton Keynes.

The Parks Trust have said they have not made any plans for the future of the Centre and Reserve, but since their education facilities will be based elsewhere, they say they would probably not continue the programme of school study visits to HESC.

Surprisingly, the Council report makes no mention of the Friends Group as stakeholders or even as an interested party.

As Chair of Friends of the Hanson Environmental Study Centre Chairman, I have written to the Council expressing the group’s concerns, and pressing for the Friends Group to continue to be involved in its running. I intend to raise these concerns at the Council Cabinet meeting this Wednesday, 18 December, when the subject is debated.

The hope is that should MK Council decide to proceed with the transfer, they will put in place sufficient caveats to ensure the continued success of the Nature Reserve and the Friends Group involvement in both its running and care.

Tony Bedford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Patron Coughs Up Towards KFB
(Well on it actually)

As they say on the TV, those of you of a delicate or squeamish disposition may wish to look away now..... OK, for the rest here we go.

On Wednesday afternoon, Macro Bob (no, not a  new form of twerking, but he of the super photo presentation) asked, if he could have a look at last Sunday's work on the KFB. Despite the perils of the mud, I agreed, and we carefully picked our way down to the site.

Whilst I was pointing out the excellent tiled patio roof, that Neil and Dave had constructed, Bob noticed there was a fair amount of white bird poo in one corner.

"Do you think that's from a Kingfisher?" he asked.
"Well it could be from any bird" I rather pessimistically replied. "But hang on, what's this?"

I had found, sitting on the corner of the KFB, a small white pellet consisting of dried fish scales and small fish bones.

The Pellet was extremely dry and fragile and fell apart as soon as I picked it up -

probably one of the reasons you normally never see them,

plus of course they usually fall in water.

I am sure that most of you will be aware, that along with Owls and Birds of Prey, our little friend the Kingfisher, also has a need to dispose of the indigestible elements of it's dinner, by regurgitating them in the form of a small pellet, and that is what I had found.

When I got home, I thought I might do a little research on the subject and came across these pictures by Andrew Adams. I contacted Andrew, and he very willingly gave permission for us to feature his stunning photographs, which graphically capture a Kingfisher ejecting a pellet.

She appears to have a tickle in her throat

Ah, What's This?

Nearly out

That's better

If the discovery of the pellet was not enough to confirm acceptance of the KFB as the place for a discerning Kingfisher to be seen. This afternoon, I again witnessed our girl (you can tell the ladies as they have a light coloured bottom half to their bill) sitting on the KFB and on the branches that we pushed into the mud close by.

My only concern now, is they think we have built them a bistro, rather than a maternity home!

Kingfisher photographs courtesy of and copyright Andrew Adams
Pellet by Bob Furness