Cold, Frosty and Sunny
Saturday, November 26th 2016
Windscreens had to be scraped and locks unfrozen before many of the ringers could set off from home. A different sort of Winter Wonderland awaited them. No snow but a really heavy frost covered all the vegetation. Golden light could be seen through the conifers and out onto the moorland.
The heath was white.
Leaves were covered in spectacular ice patterns.
Nothing escaped the frost. Hawthorn berries are still plentiful for the winter migrants, Redwing and Blackbird, both of which passed through the ringing room today. As soon as the sun started to rise, its heat began to melt the frost on the berries!
Birds ranged from the 5g Goldcrests to the 100g migrant Blackbirds, with Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Redwing, Song Thrushes, Marsh Tits and Brambling in between. Lesser Redpolls, now known again as Redpolls, are beginning to spread into the reserve for the winter. The Mealy Redpoll, below, was newly ringed. A five year old Coal Tit and Chaffinch were among the retraps.
235 birds were processed today. Ringing is not a numbers game, but the variety of species and totals of birds processed does give an indication of the health of the populations and their movements. Not many Greenfinches have been seen or recorded over the last year so it was really pleasing to ring 28 new ones today. Blackbirds have also been scarce. They made up for it today as 20 were ringed. The majority of these were migrants from Europe.
Ringers were kept busy carrying out net rounds and ringing the birds. Thank you to all of them and to those volunteers who supported the day with cups of tea, biccies and sausage rolls! It was a very productive session!
PS We have received a recovery of a Meadow Pipit that was ringed at the The Crater in the late summer two years ago. More details to follow.
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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.
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