2007 Archive

Bird Ringing near Market Rasen

On a beautiful Tuesday evening on 4th September 2007, six members of our group joined Stuart Britton and his colleague Kevin for an evening of bird-ringing. This was the first time any of us had enjoyed such a wonderful opportunity to view wild birds so close-at-hand.

After a slow start (at around 5 o'clock), the number of birds in evidence gradually increased right up until dusk at 8 pm. There must have been lots of birds in the bush because, by the time we came to go home we’d had no fewer than 23 in the hand! They included several chiffchaffs and bullfinches as well as longtailed and coal tits, a blackcap, a goldcrest and even a tree creeper. There was much excited chatter and the constant sound of cameras clicking.

Stuart, who has been ringing in the Market Rasen area for twenty five years, showed us how the nets (four in all) were erected, how the birds become trapped and how to extract and ring them with due care and attention. He impressed upon us the importance of remembering that the welfare of the birds is the highest priority at all times, and it certainly surprised us to see how few signs of stress the "victims" showed: at no time was any of them injured or caused any visible harm whatsoever.

Apart from placing a ring of the appropriate size on each one, the birds were weighed and measured. All the records are sent to the British Trust for Ornithology where they are collated, so that, in the relatively unlikely event of any of them being re-captured at some future time in some faraway place, Stuart gets to hear about it. (such recoveries, we were told, run at the rate of about one in a thousand!).

Arranged on the spur of the moment (the night before), this was the sort of evening you never forget. It was made even more unforgettable by the sight of a pair of hobbies hawking after hirundines as the light faded.

Those of us who forgot the insect-repellent paid the price, but it was worth it! We left feeling decidedly uplifted, if a little self-righteous, in the knowledge that we’d spent our time so much more constructively than the rest of them - languishing on the sofa in front of the telly!

R. J. Hume.

Hatfield Moor

Hatfield Moor on Saturday 1st of September 2007 was a glorious warm sunny day. Ten of us met at 12.30 for a guided walk led by Janet Canning round Hatfield moor.

This site is part of the Humberland Peatlands National Nature Reserve.* This is the largest area of "degraded lowland raised bog" in England. Those of you with internet access you can watch a short video about lowland raised bogs and how they are formed, by typing:

peatlandsni.gov.uk/formation/raised

into the Google search engine.

In very brief terms they began to be formed at the end of the last ice age (10,000 years ago in round figures). The ice melted, forming lakes which gradually silted up with dead plants, forming a layer of peat. As you might guess, the term "degraded" is applied to places where, because of extraction of peat for our own use, the habitat is not as it would have been without our intervention.

At Hatfield Moor sand and gravel, as well as peat, have been extracted, but all operations ceased in 2004, leaving an area of pools (where the sand and gravel was removed) and an extensive open area of peat bog.

The layer of remaining peat is not as thick as formerly but it is likely, over a long period of time, that peat will continue to accumulate, returning it eventually to its "natural" state. Two of the main plants responsible for forming peat – sphagnum moss and cotton grass – are thriving here, and this helps to ensure the on-going re-creation of the habitat.

The casual observer could be forgiven for missing all of the above – especially when wandering through the area on a sunny September afternoon. The air was filled with dragonflies: I’ve never seen such numbers or variety!

There is a pleasing diversity of habitat, with maturing birch and willow trees around the pools, a large heather-clad heathland, and grassy and scrubby areas too, as well as a good-sized coot-covered lake overlooked by a hide.

Overall, the site is reminiscent of Messingham sand quarry. Although we didn't see many birds, this is a nightjar site, and there are annual guided walks on summer evenings to hear and (hopefully) see them.

Natural England are very much in the business of allowing – indeed encouraging – access to many of their sites, and it is permissible to visit Hatfield Moor at any time. A number of improvements are planned for the near future, with a view to enabling disabled access, as well as the provision of better facilities for educational visits.

What a pity, given all of this, that Robin Hood airport had to be placed so close. It’s hardly getting away from it all when you can’t hear yourself speak for the sound of a roaring jet barely a couple of hundred feet overhead!

* The term "National Nature Reserve" is applied to one that is managed by "Natural England."

"Natural England" has been formed (just recently in fact) by bringing together "English Nature" (the landscape access and recreation elements of the Countryside Agency) and the environmental land and management functions of the Rural Development Service.

Bearing in mind that English Nature used to be called the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Agency is probably more-or-less the same as the body that was once the "Countryside Commission," you could be forgiven for getting a bit confused.

Well I can tell you, I've been involved one way or another with nature conservation for the best part of forty years and I find the constant alteration in the names of the various bodies involved, and the way they merge together, absolutely baffling: you are not alone!

R. J. Hume

Swaby-Belleau Walk

Fourteen people, including three children, enjoyed a walk from Swaby to Belleau and back on a fine Saturday afternoon on the 10th November 2007. The walk took in part of the Elms Farm permissive route, opened as part of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, as well as a series of public footpaths.

We started by following the permissive path, passing a fishing lake constructed in 1990 which is normally occupied by a flock of Canada Geese. These were absent on this occasion: just a few coots and moorhens were seen.

There followed a steep climb to walk along the southern edge of Swaby valley, giving fine views of this former Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve which is an excellent example of a glacial overflow valley with chalk grassland and calcareous marsh.

Eventually we descended into the valley itself to follow the public footpath and green lane to Belleau Bridge trout farm, the long leaves of sweet chestnut, with its spiky-cased fruits, creating interest along the way.

From there we followed field paths to Belleau church, a short stretch of road and finally a high level path across the fields to return to Swaby where a few goldfinches flew up in front of us.

Although the ground here did not feel particularly tacky, some very muddy walkers finally arrived back at their cars! A wonderful range of colourful fruits was admired throughout, including those of hawthorn, dog rose, bramble, guelder rose and black bryony.

Clifford Jukes (leader)

Summary of Recent Events
by Jennie Redpath

My Holiday in Iceland by Jane Drinkall

In July I took a cruise holiday to Iceland - an amazingly picturesque country with snow-capped mountains and glacial valleys everywhere. This is a place of contrasts with volcanic lava fields, geothermal springs and alien-like sulphur geysers in the west and dramatic waterfalls and beautiful fjords in the north.

Despite its proximity to the Arctic circle, parts of the country are relatively temperate during the summertime when there are 20 hours and more of daylight every day.

As regards wildlife, Iceland is of course home to many seabirds – notably, as in the Scottish Highlands, eider ducks, puffins and arctic terns. Also reminiscent of the north of Scotland is the fact that this used to be a well-wooded country.

The Viking occupation from the 9th century had a profound impact, and the forests were severely depleted as a result of the need of timber for housing and sea-going vessels. There is now a programme for re-establishment of woodland in many parts of the island, just as there was during the 20th century in Scotland.

It’s not surprising that the people of Iceland enjoy a comfortable standard of living, given that they have the three abundant resources of fish, free sustainable energy and a striking landscape to attract tourism. With its raging rivers and deep basaltic gorges and the magic of the colours and light, Iceland is a truly inspirational holiday destination.

A Two for One offer plus a bonus!
Pickering’s Meadow, Watt’s Wood, Snarford Church.
Saturday, 7th July 2007:

Five cars arrived at Dunholme, parking in the lay-by close to the church, bringing an enthusiastic group of supporters – for an amble rather than a ramble – to visit two reserves.

We took a leisurely stroll through the village, past the cenotaph memorial, the beck, the small and neatly-kept green and colourful gardens, before reaching the home of Charles Pickering, where we enjoyed walking round the garden and feeding the fish in the large pond.

Soon, Charles himself arrived together with Sylvia Watts – fast approaching her 85th – who entertained us with many tales of her adventurous life, always with a thread of wildlife, animal and gardening interest and liberally sprinkled with her forthright views on modern technological society, the “nanny state” and the associated deterioration of behaviour and attitude.

We walked the lane to the two reserves, where Sylvia explained about the development of the wood, some 15 to 20 years ago. (It wasn’t completed in just a single year). She expressed her disgust at the theft of some benches and the mindless vandalism to fencing.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed in the warm sunshine (July wasn’t a complete washout!) before moving on to the meadow, noting a wild pond in one corner and several bird nestboxes – including large ones for owls – along with the expected flowers, grasses, etc. We returned along a well-trimmed grass path, maintained by the local farmer, by the side of the beck, to our cars.

All thoroughly enjoyed the varied experiences of our visit, meeting such an enthusiast for nature and wildlife, who had the ambition, forethought, time and energy – along with her late husband and cousin – to create the mixed woodland with associated habitat to encourage mice and voles – and therefore kestrels and owls.

The “bonus” was a visit to the very old small church which had once been the centre of the community of Snarford – just a couple of miles from Dunholme along the A46. The marble statues and elaborate tombs here were indicative of just how wealthy some of the local landowners must have been, and of how important they thought of themselves as being, many years ago.

Many thanks to all who supported this venture – and especially to Charles and Sylvia – so nice to meet again – it can’t be seven years, can it, since my wife and I moved from Welton to New Waltham!?

Colin at Watts Wood standing in front of a tree
he grew from seed and planted there.

Colin Rushby

Tetney Blow Wells Open Afternoon
Sunday, 20th May 2007

Unlike last year, the weather was fine and sunny, and 110 visitors, including 16 children, attended. They had the choice of touring the reserve at their own pace, following a marked route with a trail leaflet, or going with a guide who pointed out aspects of the plant and animal life.

All visitors were welcomed by Trust volunteers Noel Hanford, Andy Brown and Lynn Leeman and four separate groups were guided around the reserve by Barry Whitehead, Rob Tasker, Mark Tyzska and myself. The Trust’s Coastal Support Warden, Rob Lidstone-Scott, was present in the North-Eastern area to talk to people about a recent project to remove trees and scrub from one of the old watercress beds and restore it to open marshland.

Many visitors were able to hear, and some to see, the cuckoos which remained quite active and vocal throughout the afternoon. Others were fortunate enough to see a roe deer. Butterflies present included orange-tip, peacock, green-veined white, speckled wood and small white. Large furry drinker moth caterpillars were seen munching their way through the leaves of reed, and nests of small tortoiseshells were found on nettles.

The Common blue damselfly was also seen.

Cowslips were just coming to the end of their flowering period, but hawthorn blossom was plentiful and the many other wildflowers included cow parsley, and hogweed, red campion, and ragged robin, yellow iris, pond sedge, ground ivy, herb robert and garlic mustard.

All in all this was a very successful and enjoyable event.

Clifford Jukes (reserve warden)

March Meeting

Barrie Wilkinson's talk on Wildflower Meadows was fairly well attended considering folks might have been put off coming out by N.E.L. Council's resurfacing Grimsby's main arterial roads from 7pm-7am on this date.

Barrie, formerly the Trust Reserves Manager for 37 years, came with his projector and some excellent slides of individual plants and some of before and after management of land by humans and animals. For instance we were shown the same oak tree in several shots over a period of time.

Barrie teased us by saying he normally looked for the frog orchid at Kingerby Beck Meadows about a week earlier than our Group proposed visit on June 16th. Do come along on that date eagle-eyed just in case we do find one!

Walk on the Viking Way Tealby - Walesby
Saturday 17th March - leader Clifford Jukes

Was it the advertised “some extremely steep gradients” that kept our usual happy band of walkers away on this occasion? So just 4 of us set out on this very scenic route on what turned out to be a lovely sunny afternoon.

The views were spectacular looking over the plain towards the Lincoln Edge. Lincolnshire Longwool sheep were photographed with and without walkers. We didn't see much bird life apart from the rooks who were very vocal as we passed by the wood but we heard a Green Woodpecker twice.

Flora noted in flower - celandine, blackthorn just bursting, daisy, speedwell and violets in a sheltered corner on just coming into Walesby Old churchyard. The memorial spot to the late Nev. Cole of the Ramblers Association was bright with daffodils. After a short look inside Walesby church we turned back and bravely took the slightly longer uphill way into wind back to Tealby.

Walkers at Walesby Church

Meeting Arthur Watmough
by Ray Hume

Our group leader, Jennie Redpath with Arthur Watmough

On March 6th, Jennie and I went to talk to Arthur Watmough. Arthur was the first treasurer of the Grimsby/Cleethorpes group, which began its activities in 1970.

At first there was little by way of fund-raising, but gradually ideas developed – plant stall, cake stall and white elephant stall; all of which contributed regular and significant amounts of money. As a result it wasn’t long before the sum of £600 was raised. This was dedicated to the erection of a bird hide at Covenham reservoir.

Arthur was also involved with L.W.T. activities in a variety of other ways. He was a regular volunteer at the Lapwings shop (which operated in the late 1980s but which closed in 1992), and spent a lot of time making bird tables and nestboxes to sell there.

Birds in particular were always his principal passion and he used to lead regular forays in search of waders on the local mudflats. As a talented artist, he has created numerous drawings and paintings of birds. Several of these have been done on wooden plaques and he kindly donated some of these for us to sell at our indoor meetings.

He also bestowed a sizeable stack of wildlife books upon us. As he is now 88 years old, he doesn’t get out bird watching as much as he used to, and feels it right that he should pass on his books to others who might benefit from them.

It was interesting to hear that Arthur, along with many of his contemporaries, used to shoot wild birds! Maybe this seems shocking to us these days, but at a time when good wildlife habitats were more widespread, it wasn’t generally thought of as being wrong to, as it were, take a crop from Nature’s harvest: after all, even the great Sir Peter Scott started out as a wildfowler!

He reflected on the changes in the countryside in his lifetime: the loss of hedgerows, the devastation of Dutch Elm disease, the increased use of pesticides, and so on.

Unlike many of us today, though, Arthur considers the current fears about global warming to be somewhat exaggerated and reminded us of other very mild winters (as well as the very cold ones of 1947 and 1963) that he remembered.

Jennie and I would like to offer our thanks to Arthur for his time talking to us, for the generous donation of his precious books and, above all, for all he has contributed to wildlife conservation in our area over the years.

February Meeting

This featured Clifford Jukes talking about an area he has known and loved for most of his life, namely the Yorkshire Dales. This wonderful National Park is of course just a few miles north of us here in Lincolnshire.

Clifford’s talk was illustrated with a colourful array of his own photographs. He reminded us that, this being basically limestone country, its calcareous plants such as rock rose and the rare bird’s-eye primrose that thrive in the area. It was surprising to realize that there are so few woodlands, as such, in the Yorkshire Dales. There are plenty of trees, of course, but they are to be found mainly along the riverbanks.

As well as the many flowers, including several kinds of orchid, birdlife is significant in the area, with some nationally-uncommon species such as golden plover and merlin still breeding in a few places.

This talk was not solely about wildlife, however, and was enjoyed by all for its wide-ranging coverage of spectacular scenery and social history.

January Meeting

Janet Canning, assistant Site Manager at the Humber Headlands N.N.R. for Natural England came to talk to the group about the history of peat digging at the site and since its complete cessation in 2004 at Hatfield Moor, the work that is going on to make it into a leisure area and haven for wildlife.

The talk was very well illustrated with Power point presentation. The cotton grass and heather come to mind amongst the plants and the opportunities of hearing nightjars and nightingales during the summer evenings.

We have arranged to visit Hatfield Moor on Saturday 1st September. (See Calendar of Events.)

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