A Busy Weekend

Monday, May 28th 2012

Yesterday whilst the children were enjoying Eco Club the bird ringing volunteers were out again checking the many nest boxes on the reserve and training area. 

The area recently ploughed in preparation for the winter wild bird seed crop was harrowed and planted by George and Timothy Fothergill, our friendly farmers from Red House.  And what an excellent job they have done.

There were a few problems with some fairly large slabs of stone and concrete but these, too, were soon overcome.  It is fantastic to think that yet another part of the reserve has been reclaimed and added to the mosaic - with help from the Young Farmers' Club!

As the soil is damp and the weather warm we should see shoots coming through in about 10 days time.

Beekeepers were at Foxglove over the weekend running a course for people new to beekeeping.  The hive bees were making the most of the sunshine and were very busy.

The ringing weekend continued with CES 3, starting at 04.15.  As the bird ringers parked their cars and headed to the Field Centre they were entertained by almost every bird on the reserve singing!  What a fantastic sound!  It was cool and misty as the nets were opened.

Sunshine soon broke through and the temperature rose.  As most birds are sitting on eggs the ringers were not too busy during the ten and a half hours the nets were up.  Just over 100 birds were processed including a nice Mistle Thrush.  A surprise was a pair of juvenile Coal Tits recently out of their nest.

Many flowers, over the last few weeks have remained in bud but the sunshine is making a huge difference and new flowers are being added to the Observation Board daily.  Northern Marsh Orchid is just bursting its purple buds, Sweet Woodruff now has small white flowers amongst its bright green leaves and the first Dog Daisy along the 'Dog Daisy Walk' is wide open.

New and regular visitors enjoyed the sunshine, the flowers and the many damselflies hawking over the ponds.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and supported Foxglove over the weekend.

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