Chaff and Chaffinches
Monday, September 17th 2018
One of the first things this morning that stood out was just how much the Red Oak next to the Field Centre had increased its autumnal colour over the last few days. Even in poor light and drizzle, it certainly stood out against the background of green Willow leaves.
After checking to see how Lark and Taurus were doing, the first part of the morning was spent inspecting inlets to ponds, bird hides, Mink traps and Mink rafts - the normal routine on a Monday morning. With the arrival of some new bags, we can now crack on with bagging the chaff delivered just over a week ago and get it taken down to the main Seed Store . The new bags are slightly bigger than the other ones we use, so it didn't take long to fill the trailer.
This was then taken down to the store this afternoon where the bags were stacked, keeping all of this year's bags on the left hand side. The bags stacked against the right wall are the remnants of the delivery from last year. Someone asked what we do with this, and so they went round with me to check bird feeders and the hoppers, which were filled by Michelle, one of our weekend Managers, over the last two days. These are ideal for birds that are not so happy using the feeders and are particularly liked by Bullfinches and Chaffinches as they provide seed and some shelter at the same time.
Despite the drizzle, we have had a few visitors today including two ladies who, despite living in Bedale for the last 20 years, had never been to Foxglove before. Another couple spent time watching the birds on the feeders in the Field Centre garden, marvelling at how quickly they disappeared when a Sparrowhawk dashed through. Had they been there a little later, they would have seen the male bird return but this tiime successfully as it managed to take a young Chaffinch that had come out from the shelter of the hopper.
(0) Comments:
There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:
Help Support Foxglove
Friends of Foxglove
The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.
More DetailsUpcoming Events
CLOSURE: Monday 22nd April 2024
Wednesday 17th April 2024 |
Due to an important event occuring on the camp, Foxglove Covert LNR will be closed for one day only on Moday 22nd April.
The reserve will resume usual opening hours on Tuesday 23rd April.
Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access
Monday 18th March 2024 |
The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.
Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.
Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.
Undergrowth Newsletter
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- More Dead Hedging
- Dead Hedging
- Beautiful Bird Boxes!
- Completed Coppice
- Unconventional Scything
- Garden Birds
- Winter Fungi
- Winter highlights
- Happy 2024!
- Wonderful winter workers!
- Making A Start
- Visitor Information (Update)
- Autumn Crafts and Autumn Colours
- Weekend Waxcaps
- Meadows and Ponds
- Meet Foxglove’s New Ranger
- All Work and No Play?
- Field Centre open Sunday 15th October 12 noon - 4.00pm
- Paving the Way
- Getting further, faster - together…
- Brian’s Baler!
- Reserve closed Tuesday 26th September 2023
- The Revolution has begun!
- Learning to Scythe with Steve Tomlin
- A fine time was had by all!
- Bird Ringing
- Galls
- Late Summer into Autumn
- News from the North
- Thank you!
- A Quiet Walk
- Hanging Around
- Mipits
- Common Lizards Again!!
- Species
- Bird Ringing
- Keeping Your Eyes Open
- Weekend opening hours Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August
- We are recruiting!
- Thank yous and Bye Bye
- When the Sun Comes Out
- Weather and Flora and Fauna
- Volunteers at Work
- More Photos from the BBQ
- Jenga
- Volunteer and Bye Bye BBQ
- Summer
- Summer Work
- More Wildlife
- Wildlife
- A Good Growing Season
- Weekend opening hours Sat 22 & Sun 23 July 2023
- Moth News
- Butterfly Roundup
- More Moths
- Butterflies and Moths
- Weekend opening Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2023
- Watching
- Juvenile Birds
- Common Lizards
- The Scrapes
- Nesting birds
- Ooohs and Ahhhs at the Moth Traps
- Co-operative Plants and Animals
- Summer Maintenance
- Moth Update
- Warm Days
- The Bees Return!
- June Flowers
- Lots of Legs
- Sharing Ideas
- Questions
- Caught Chasers!
- Some Bugs and Beasties
- Snow in June?
- Chasing the Chasers and Other Insects
- A Lesson - Perhaps?
- Small Nest Box Time
- Half Term Trail
- A Winding Way Through the Reserve
- Checking the Ponds
- Around the Reserve
- Moths and…
- Wildlife
- Living Creatures
- Roe Deer
- Dippers
- Dawn Chorus and Volunteering
- CES 1
- Hive of Activity
- Job Complete!
- Trial Run
- Flowers
- Natural England
- At Last
- Spring Sun Winter Wind
- Last Photos from Gibraltar and Shy Moorhens
- Winter or Spring?
- More Flowers and More from Gibraltar
- Reptiles
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2024
- Blog Posts from - 2023
- Blog Posts from - 2022
- Blog Posts from - 2021
- Blog Posts from - 2020
- Blog Posts from - 2019
- Blog Posts from - 2018
- Blog Posts from - 2017
- Blog Posts from - 2016
- Blog Posts from - 2015
- Blog Posts from - 2014
- Blog Posts from - 2013
- Blog Posts from - 2012
- Blog Posts from - 2011
- Blog Posts from - 2010
- Blog Posts from - 2009