In search of bog beans

I had a very instructive walk across the Common today with Margaret, one of our botanical specialists. She had told me that there were plenty of bog bean plants growing in areas hitherto un-colonised by them, but I had reported back saying I couldn't find them. This was because I didn't know what the leaves look like: I'd only noticed the flowers before.

So we trudged across the very wet fen to the bog bean area, and true enough, there are many plants there. I also learned what meadowsweet, quaking grass and valerian look like. There are still quite a few orchids in flower, but the cotton grass show has been very poor again this year.

We were also very pleased to see at least four common lizards on the boardwalk: they were very nervous of sound or movement, but this one did stay still long enough for a snap:

In the same area (the section between Warren Road and the Beck), we had a brief view of a small copper butterfly:

Whilst we were in the area, we checked under a few of the refuges set out for our reptile survey. As before, no reptiles were at home, but we found lots of snails, some beetles and woodlice. And under two of them were hiding young toads: here's one of them.

Noisy dawn on the Common

Unexpectedly awake at 4.00 this morning, thanks to the return of a son from the notorious nightspots of Norwich, I decided to make the most of it and take the dawn chorus trip across the Common I had been threatening myself with. As always, once up and out, it was wonderful at that time of day: the air was clear and very still, but I had already missed the dawn itself. Light was still bleeding into the sky however, and the growing noise of birds reminding their neighbours of their presence was almost overpowering. It certainly made it hard to pick out the tawny owl murmuring its own goodnight somewhere in the distance.

At that time of day birds and mammals seem less timid; perhaps because they are not used to seeing people until much later. Thus two muntjac stood and watched me drive along Bramble Lane, before one of them disdainfully turned and wandered into School Common. By the time I had wandered through the woods to that point, there was no sign of it, but it may have been the same deer that stood stock still on the central area of the Common as I walked along the boardwalk almost an hour later. If only I had decided to bring my camera in the rushed decision to go out, I would have had a good photo to display here. I guess that like the pheasant lying flat out amongst the orchids in that area, it hoped it was invisible.

The majority of the noise came from blackbirds, wrens and the always welcome song thrush, but I also heard at least three chiffchaffs and a similar number of blackcaps. I had a brief glimpse of a reed bunting, but no singing at that stage from the reed bed. Nor did I hear a reed warbler, and since I haven’t heard one on my last couple of visits I’m beginning to fear that the bird that was singing a week or so ago may have moved on.  As in the past couple of years, no sedge warblers made themselves known, which is a real sadness. The willow warbler that was singing a couple of weeks ago has also fallen silent.

Further along the boardwalk, near the Warren Road end, a whitethroat was in good voice – or was it a lesser whitethroat? It wasn’t showing itself, which is typical whitethroat behaviour, whilst skulking in the bushes is what lesser whitethroats do, but the song itself was right for whitethroat. Hmm…

Overhead, swifts, swallows, jackdaws and a solitary herring gull checked in, and I was well aware as ever of the presence of wood pigeons, collared doves and crowing pheasants. Less obtrusively, bullfinch, stock dove and great spotted woodpecker all made cameo appearances, as did a small group of long tailed tits.

All in all, an excellent hour’s bird watching. If you have been across the Common in the middle of the day and felt there were not many birds in evidence, an early morning stroll is greatly to be recommended. I clocked up 29 bird species in my hour; you could do better still. The full list is here:

Now is the time to visit Southrepps Commons

Spring has really got going on the Commons now. The different shades of green on the central area are stunning, and the first few orchids have started flowering.

We don't usually do well for willow warblers, but today I heard three males singing - let's hope that at least one stays the course! I also heard the first reed warbler of the year on the main reed bed; more or less the same date as last year. Also on the reed bed is a pair of reed buntings, clearly feeding young.

Other songsters in fine voice are blackcaps, chiffchaffs, wrens, at least one song thrush and blackbirds. Perhaps best of all there is a cuckoo doing the rounds of the neighbourhood, and perhaps even two males calling.

Peacock paradise

On this really warm and beautifully sunny morning, which followed several days of grimly overcast, misty conditions (not to say "Killer Smog"), the boardwalk was swarming with butterflies, all absorbing as much sunshine as they could, reminiscent of Brits abroad. I didn't bother to count, but it seemed that there was one every few yards, along with a couple of small tortoiseshells and bright yellow male brimstones. It was a good year for peacocks last year, and many have obviously survived the mild winter. It's unfortunate that the second year we surveyed them on the Commons was a particularly bad year for them, with very few about.

Hardly a great picture, but you get the gist.

On the bird front, song is increasingly rapidly now. We've had chiffchaffs singing for a couple of weeks, and the first blackcap started up a couple of days ago. I could hear at least two today, as well as an agitated one doing its impression of stones being clicked together. No sight of them though.

Best of all today, our first reed bunting of the year was on show in the reedbed, singing while he preened. These are one of our indicator species, so it's always good when they come back each year. I never seem to get a good enough view of one here for a good photo, but here's an impression of him, with his back to me.

Now all we need are some reed and sedge warblers! The other highlight of the morning was a buzzard cruising overhead, being politely shepherded away by a couple of crows.

Swarming for spawning

This gorgeous spring weather has brought the frogs to life in a big way, and Scouts' Pond (off Jubilee Boardwalk) is heaving with them. Quite apart from the sight of hundreds of amorous amphibians, the sound is pretty pleasing too.

Cutting programme completed well ahead of schedule

Hello All

 

Very well done indeed to everybody for such a splendid conclusion to this season’s work.  Despite all the problems, both meteorological and mechanical, we finished in grand style and ahead of time.

I always enthuse about The Common’s appearance at this time of year,  just as the new growth starts to appear, and this morning’s sunshine does justice to the place.  You can feel proud of your contribution to village life which apart from giving pleasure to residents and visitors alike, also has a very real cash value because we know what a contractor would charge to do not such a good job.

The remaining 2 working parties, 16th and 23rd March, are cancelled in favour of ad hoc sessions as the need arises.  I will publish a programme for 2014-15 later in the year. 

 

AGM is Monday 12th May at 7:00pm in the Social Club.  Whilst making it brief and to the point, I nevertheless honour the occasion for what it is and present an annual report.  We have refreshments and would love to see you there, ready to answer questions and suggestions.

 

Thanks again for your dedication and hard work.

Best wishes and regards

John

Record breaking working party 16th February

Today's working party, in wall-to-wall sunshine, saw a record-breaking turnout of 22 volunteers, including three people there for the first time. It's not surprising that we managed to complete the cutting of area A on Warren Road, which means that the main cutting programme has been finished, and earlier than usual. The combination of a consistently good turnout of willing helpers and the new winch, which has made the task of hauling cut vegetation to the dumping sites so much easier, is the reason for this excellent progress.

We had enough people to be able to sweep the boardwalks clear of leaves, and to trim the edges of long stretches of the boardwalk, so preventing future rotting of the boards.

One of our new volunteers is particularly handy with a camera, and took loads of pictures to record the event. Here's a selection of Sheila Robinson's lovely images:

Here's Chairman John's message of the day:

Hello All

 

I hope you basked in a warm glow of satisfaction and pride, not to mention a nice bath, after this morning’s work. 

We have come close to finishing this season’s quota of work given us by Natural England which, after difficulties both meteorological and mechanical, reflects incredibly well on all of you.

Anybody with experience of  community work that I’ve ever spoken to would be very impressed by what we achieve and today’s record turn-out of 22 volunteers.

The next working party is Sunday 2nd March when we will certainly finish our primary task and go on to who knows what.

Thank you and well done.

 

Regards from John