Sticklebacks and bees

Today we had a visit from a couple of men from the Environment Agency, as part of their ongoing survey of the quality of water in streams and rivers, and the fish that those watercourses support. They came armed with lots of nets and buckets, and the equipment necessary to stun fish by giving them a mild electric shock. Here they are at work in the Beck:

Their first sweep of a stretch of the Beck leading from the bridge in the centre of the Common yielded 13 three spined sticklebacks, and one ten spined stickleback.

All that were caught were measured before being returned to the stream: this was one of the larger specimens at around 6 centimetres.

While we were out in the area we spotted one of our large nestboxes, which had fallen from the tree it had been tied to. Last time I had checked it I had discovered that it had been occupied by bees, and in fact some honey had dribbled down the front to the box. Looking into the entrance hole we could see the honeycomb, and even some bees; not very active of course, but certainly moving.

Working parties back on track

After a delay waiting for the right part to arrive from Germany, Grizzly has finally been repaired and we have been able to resume work on the cutting programme for the Common. On Saturday six of us managed to finish off the cutting and clearing away on area G (the bit where the cotton grass and most of the orchids grow), and on Sunday another magnificent turnout of 17 volunteers got about half of area A (Warren Road) done. The weather on Saturday was beautiful; Sunday started out wet, but by the time we started work the rain stopped, and we ended up getting pretty warm in the unseasonably mild conditions.

Here's Dr. Tim pretending to haul the cart; the winch was actually doing the real work!

Lots of small froglets about, a shrew and a vole, and we were serenaded by a song thrush. Great spotted woodpecker also drumming nearby - spring almost here!

Here is Chairman John's message of thanks:

Hello All

 

Many thanks to everybody who  helped on The Common yesterday (Sunday) morning.  All who use and enjoy the place deeply appreciate your work, even if they don’t exactly realise the level of commitment you displayed by ignoring the truly grim weather early on.  But I told you the rain would stop, the sun would shine, and suddenly there was no place you’d rather be.  Together with what was achieved by a few of us on Saturday morning, I think we have made up time and are in a good position to complete this season’s work. 

 

My thanks and greetings go out to Mike, another newcomer who joined us yesterday all the way from Norwich, introduced by Liz.  Also, Brian came along in a blind act of faith despite having dropped of my address list since early December, unbeknown to me.  This happens from time to time because my computer sits brooding in the office thinking up ever more ingenious ways of messing up my life.  So if you don’t hear from me between working parties, please enquire by email or telephone (01263 833001) to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

 

We shall resume the good work on Sunday 2nd February at 10:00am and I hope to see you then.

 

Kind regards and appreciation

John

Barn owl hunting

After several years of hoping, today at last my visit to the Common coincided with a barn owl's visit. Better still, I had my camera with me, and at about 3.00 p.m. the light was pretty good. I took 15 photos in the minute or so that the owl hunted over areas A & B (i.e. the Warren Road side if the Beck). The best of them, even if still far from perfect, is this:

So far, 2014 is looking good!

Good start to 2014

Although New Year's Day was horrible, 2nd January was glorious, and the Common looked in excellent order. This is the view across the area where the main populations of orchids, cotton grass and bogbean grow.

On my brief walk across the Common to take my monthly record photographs I managed to find 16 species. Some have started to sing already, including robin, wren, great tit and song thrush. I was also pleased to find a tree creeper and coal tit on Jubilee Boardwalk, and on the main Common there was a female kestrel. In the sky in the distance a buzzard was soaring.

Not bad for a start! Let's hope for a good working party season, so we get all the necessary maintenance work completed.