3rd December 2016
It is a cold (around 6 degrees out of the sun) but clear and sunny morning with a light wind for our monthly work party. 16 volunteers are once again attacking the sedges with scythes and building a huge bonfire, which it has to be said, was the smokiest one of the year! Ian warmed mince pies on a brazier for our coffee break which were much enjoyed, but the second attempt to heat some in the bonfire ended in disaster!!
These could not even be described as burnt offerings, they were incinerated! But it made us all laugh and resolve to do better next year.
(photos by Hilary)
The only bird sighting of the day was very exciting - Viv reported having flushed out two Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) by accident from the flooded part of the meadow near the carr. They are generally more active at night and hide in vegetation during the day. They are reportedly seen elsewhere on Nailsea Moors, so we may possibly see them here more often now. More excitment when Paul, one of our volunteers who is also a bird recorder for the RSPB said he was sure he had heard the unmistakeable ‘squealing’ sound of a Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in the carr. These are very secretive birds, quite similar to the Moorhen but rarely seen - Smaller and distinctly slimmer than the moorhen, the water rail is a fairly common but highly secretive inhabitant of freshwater wetlands. It has chestnut-brown and black upperparts, grey face and underparts and black-and-white barred flanks, and a long red bill. Difficult to see in the breeding season, it is relatively easier to find in winter, when it is also more numerous and widespread. Although usually secretive they can become confiding but are still far more often heard than seen. (Text and photo from RSPB)
Before the end of the morning Paul confirmed that he had heard the call again and was sure of his identification.
Viv also reported that she had disturbed two Roe Deer lying up in the long grass behind the carr. Quite a morning!
6th December
I decided to make another short visit on the off-chance of seeing the Snipe again, but predictably, I was not in luck. However, it was a very worthwhile trip as I did see a Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) take off from the field and fly to a telegraph pole by the Middle Yeo, and when I got the binnoculars on to it, I was absolutely astonished to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) on the same pole but round the other side from the Green one! A highly unlikely chance sighting and I was thrilled to bits with this. Both birds are much more likely to be seen in more wooded areas, parks or gardens, although I have often seen or heard the Green Woodpecker in the carr. My next thought was to return to the site of the bonfire to see if I could hear the Water Rail, but again, no luck. While I was waiting I noticed a group of Long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) were skipping around in the trees. I have often seen them on my visits and they have to be one of my favourite birds - fluffy balls of feathers with a black hat, distinctive pinkish colouring and a tail much longer than its body. (Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. Text from RSPB) Despite their common name, they are only distantly related to blue tits and in fact - belong to an Asian family of birds. The long-tailed tit or long-tailed bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit. Wikipedia.
As I watched, I could not believe my eyes when a tiny Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) popped up on the brambles in front of me! I did not even think about trying to get the camera to it, as I was too intent on watching to make sure it was what I thought it was! I looked up the Goldcrest when I got home and learned that outside of the breeding season, it will often descend from its usual habitat, high up in tall conifers, and mix with other birds such as tits and nutatches. There were indeed also Blue tits, Great tits, Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds coming and going from the carr.
So, these two chance sightings made for a memorable spontaneous visit.
27th December
The month of December started with very cold sub-zero temperatures on a few days and then turned mostly mild, grey and damp! I was not tempted into making any visits to the reserve, as well as being a bit too busy with Christmas preparations.
Today, however is the perfect opportunity for the last visit of the year, with calm and frosty conditions and hazy sunshine. Temperature is only just above freezing.
Walking down the lane I can hear Jackdaws calling from the fields and Long-tailed tits in the Oak trees. It is a very wintry scene and the small lake on the field is frozen over. A Robin is singing from the usual place in the lane - it is good to hear birdsong again. Another more discordant sound is a Raven ‘cronking’ overhead. Morning is definitely the best time to see and hear the birds and I can distinguish Woodpecker, Wren, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Goldfinch song coming from all corners of the reserve. A little flock of at least 30 Goldfinches flies off from the carr.
As the sun warms the ground, a mist is lifting up from the river which gives the appearance of it gently steaming. Up on the bank of the Land Yeo I spot the speckled plumage of a Song Thrush (not singing) in the trees on the opposite bank. It sits there looking at me for a long time, but will not oblige with a single sound!
My main aim for this visit is to see if I can spot the Goldcrest again. After a short wait in the same place as before, I am delighted to make out not one, but two, Goldcrests in the ivy covered trees of the carr. I am not sure but I think that one is paler than the other, so it may be a pair. This gives me very good reason to hope that we may have a resident pair and to keep coming to check up on them.
The last, but not least, record for the day was the sound of the Water Rail in the carr! I have never heard this bird before, nor could I see it, but it could not be anything else - it is described by my ‘birding’ friends as like the sound of a squealing pig! I am so excited to know that we have these rarely seen birds on ‘our patch’.
I am so grateful to everyone who has provided me with their sightings and shared their knowledge with me - I would not have been able to identify many of the birds, insects and plants we have on the reserve without their expertise.
I may not be doing such regular surveys over the next year, but will still be very grateful for any records and observations you might make on your own visits.
I would like to finish with a huge thank you (on behalf of the trustees) to all the volunteers and supporters who are the heart and soul of the Moorend Spout project. I hope that my blog goes some way to proving that we do indeed have a vey special place here which is worthy of all your hard work to protect and maintain it.
A final photo of the other important business of the project - the social one! With thanks to Dave Gray for his photo and all the work with his trusty hedgecutter and wheelbarrow!
photo by Dave Gray
There are more projects and challenges to meet in the coming year, but with your continued support we will have many more successes and identify, record and increase more of the species who enjoy the protection of Moorend Spout Nature Reserve.