Introduction – Maple Lodge Bird Report 2014
Maple Lodge Nature Reserve is 40 acres of mixed habitat based around disused gravel workings. It is owned by Thames Water Utilities who lease it to the volunteer members of the Maple Lodge Conservation Society.
The Reserve is basically a man-made wetland habitat consisting of two old gravel pits and a sludge settlement area formerly used by the nearby sewage treatment works. Some refuse dumping also occurred on part of the site and during the late 1950s and early 1960s an area in the east of the Reserve was planted with poplars.
From the early 1970s the site was largely undisturbed and developed naturally into mainly woodland and rank herb rich grassland. The larger of the two lakes, being quite shallow, began to dry out and was being rapidly colonized by herbaceous growth. This resulted in an overall decline in bird diversity at the site, in particular a decline in wading birds.
From 1972, the site which lies in the valley of the River Colne, was used as a bird ringing station. An average of 1500 birds from 50 species were ringed there annually. In 1980 work began, with the assistance of local volunteers and the British Trust for Conservation, to realize the considerable potential of the site as a nature reserve.
In 1982 the Maple Lodge Conservation Society was formed and in 1983 granted a license by Thames Water to manage the site on a day to day basis. In managing the site the aims are to preserve a diverse habitat and to create and maintain an enhanced open water and mud habitat.
In2013 the Maple Lodge Conservation Society applied for and achieved charitable status and has been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1153157.
The Society continues to develop and improve the Reserve with a careful management plan and in partnership with the owners, Thames Water. Our visitors enjoy watching wildlife, so volunteers from among our members have built a number of hides around the Reserve. The hides allow visitors to enjoy the birds and animals without disturbance.
All our members are encouraged to become involved with conservation work at the Reserve. Our volunteer Conservation Officer runs regular work parties with tasks for all levels of effort. The work party is always pleased to see new recruits.
Members join various social events held in our Clubhouse. The Society has a regular Open Weekend in May as part of the local Ricky Week events.
From the Clubhouse hide there is a view over the lake. During the winter the feeding site attracts a wide variety of birds and animals. A strategically placed perch provides the Kingfisher with a good fishing site.
The Plantation area has been replanted with native trees, such as Oak, Alder and Ash. The new trees replaced an old stand of Poplars, felled some years ago. The Alder cones attract mixed flocks of Siskin, Blue and Great Tits and Redpoll. The mature trees and hedges provide nest sites for many common birds.
The Paddock is carefully managed. During the summer it is a haven for flowers, butterflies and warblers. We have created a Wildflower Meadow in an area contained within a Rabbit proof fence. This area attracts large numbers of Insects and Butterflies including the wonderful Marbled White.
Two Lakes with varying cover support breeding wildfowl including Gadwall, Pochard, Little Grebe and Tufted Duck. If we do not keep the vegetation under control, the number of species on the Reserve would decline. The lakes would eventually disappear under the willow scrub and reed mace and there would be no place for the waterfowl to live and breed.
The Long Hedge contains an interesting mixture of trees and shrubs; most of them have flowers to attract insects and butterflies, followed by berries for wintering birds. Replacement trees and shrubs must be planted when older specimens die or are felled by strong winds. The trees, shrubs and flowers must be native species and provide food for birds or insects. Nettles may be painful for people but they are valuable food plant for insects and caterpillars.
There are several hides, some with wheelchair access, around the Reserve so that members and visitors can observe wildlife without disturbance. All the hides have been built by volunteers from the Society who work hard to maintain the Reserve. Seats and benches are also sited around the Reserve so that visitors can pause and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Systematic List
Collated and compiled by Paul Lewis.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Resident, bred.
A common resident regularly observed at the reserve and Lynsters Lake.
A pair present at the reserve throughout much of the year was first noted with cygnets on the 25th May. A total of three were hatched but by the 14th July only one remained. This cygnet was regularly observed and was last seen on the 8th October and is presumed to have successfully fledged. On the 10th June an additional pair briefly visited the reserve and was seen engaging in a territorial dispute with the resident pair in front of the Long Hedge Hide.
Monthly Max - Maple Lodge Nature Reserve.
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Naturalised resident, bred.
Did not visit the reserve throughout 2014 although regularly observed at Lynsters Farm. Two pairs were noted with goslings on the 28th May. A Maximum count of 80 + was logged on the 15th February.
Monthly Max - Lynsters Farm.
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Naturalised resident, formerly bred.
Regularly observed at Lynsters Farm although there was no breeding records.
A pair was observed at the reserve on the 5th & 18th April. A maximum count of 130 was noted on the 9th January.
Monthly Max - Lynsters Farm.
Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii minima
Escaped.
Also known as Small Cackling Goose this North American species is regularly kept in wildfowl collections although occasionally reaching western Europe naturally. A bird of presumed captive origin that had been regularly observed at Lynsters Farm the previous year was again present on the 3rd January. Thereafter regularly seen with the last record logged on the 24th October.
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
Naturalised resident, formerly bred.
Regularly recorded at Lynsters Farm with birds occasionally visiting the reserve.
A maximum count of 10 was noted on the 26th March. On the 29th September five were observed briefly in flight above the Rotunda Hide.
Monthly Max - Lynsters Farm.
Mandarin Aix galericulata
Naturalised resident.
A drake first observed leaving the reserve on the 6th April was again seen on the 27th, 28th & 29th April and the 2nd & 8th May.
Wigeon Anas penelope
Winter visitor.
There was just four records logged for the year with the first coming from the reserve on the 10th February when two were seen. On the 14th Mar five were present at Lynsters Farm. On the 21st November a singleton was noted briefly in flight over the reserve. The final record was 11 present at Lynsters Farm on the 15th December.
Gadwall Anas strepera
Resident, bred.
Regularly observed at the reserve throughout the year with a maximum count of 72 noted on the 4th July, all concerning moulting birds. There was just one breeding record, a female with seven ducklings on the 9th June.
Monthly Max
Teal Anas crecca
Primarily a winter visitor with small numbers occasionally observed throughout the summer. Recorded throughout both winter periods with a maximum count of 20+ on the 17th November. Summer records included two on the 20th June and singles recorded in July and August.
Monthly Max
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Resident, bred.
A common resident regularly observed at the reserve with a maximum count of 70 noted on the 10th July. Breeding was first recorded on the 27th March when a female was noted with ducklings. A successful breeding season with at least eight broods of young eventually recorded. On the 6th June a female was noted with a single duckling feeding at a puddle at Lynsters Farm.
Monthly Max
Garganey Anas querquedula
Scarce passage migrant.
There was just a single record of a male bird observed briefly in flight from the Shell Hide on the 5th April.
Shoveler Duck Anas clypeata
Resident, formerly bred.
Regularly observed with a maximum count of 10 logged on the 10th September. Present throughout the breeding period although no evidence of any breeding activity noted.
Monthly Max
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Uncommon naturalised resident, formerly bred.
A pair that was first recorded at Lynsters Lake on the 17th March remained until the months end. Singles briefly visited the reserve on the 5th April and 4th May. The final record was a pair again present at Lynsters Lake on the 17th May.
Pochard Aythya farina
Resident, bred.
A common resident regularly observed at the reserve with a maximum count of 25 noted on the 6th April. The first breeding record was logged on the 27th May when a female was observed with four ducklings. A female present with a brood of six ducklings on the 10th June was the final breeding record.
Monthly Max
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Resident, bred.
A common resident regularly observed at the reserve. A maximum count of 48 was logged on the 15th April. The first breeding record was recorded on the 1st June when a female was present with 4 ducklings. A successful breeding season with a total of nine broods of young eventually registered.
Monthly Max
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Uncommon winter visitor.
The first winter period provided three records all from Lynsters Lake with a singleton noted on the 9th February and a pair present on the 11th & 12th of February.
Pheasant Phasanius colchicus
Naturalised resident, formerly bred.
There was no reports of any breeding activity throughout 2014 with all records relating to singletons present at the reserve during both winter periods.
Cormorant phalacrocorax carbo
Non breeding resident.
A regular visitor to the reserve with a maximum count of seven recorded on the 5th August.
Monthly Max
Bittern Botaurus stellar is
Winter visitor.
There was two sightings of a single bird present at the Phragmites reed bed on the 23rd and 27th January.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Non breeding resident.
Although common throughout the Colne Valley with a small breeding colony close to the reserve at Stockers Lake, this delicate Egret is a relatively scarce visitor to our reserve. Two recorded on the 5th April was the first record of the year. A maximum count of three visited the reserve on the 27th July.
Monthly Max
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Non breeding resident.
Regularly observed with immature birds from local breeding colonies visiting the reserve throughout the summer months. A maximum count of four was noted on the 29th May when an adult and three juveniles briefly visited the reserve.
Monthly Max
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Rare visitor.
On the 10th May two birds were observed briefly in flight heading north. This constitutes the first record for the reserve.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Resident, bred.
A common resident regularly observed throughout the year with maximum counts of seven recorded on the 25th April and 18th August. The first evidence of breeding was noted on the 23rd April when a nest with three eggs was located. At least four pairs eventually reared young.
Monthly Max
Great-crested Grebe Podiceps Cristatus
Resident, bred.
A single male that was present at the reserve throughout the first part of the year eventually attracted a mate and the pair was seen displaying on the 9th April. On the 3rd May a nest with eggs was located from the Long Hedge Hide with a single youngster first noted on the 31st May. Eventually two broods totalling two young was successfully reared.
Monthly Max
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Non breeding resident.
A common resident regularly observed with maximum counts of three recorded on the 6th January, 2nd March, 6th April, 28th September and 8th October.
Monthly Max
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Uncommon non-breeding visitor and passage migrant.
Singletons briefly visited the reserve on the 6th April and 5th May with the latter bird observed in flight over the Rotunda Hide.
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Resident, bred.
Throughout the early part of the year a pair was located at a nest site in the flooded Alder plantation. On the 10th April the male bird was observed collecting twigs. From the 18th May the nest was regularly occupied and on the 14th July two downy young were visible. On the 19th July an adult was noted taking prey back to the nest. On the 24th July a single fledgling was noted on the path adjacent the flooded plantation. A total of three juvenile birds successfully fledged and were observed flying around the plantation on the 8th August.
Buzzard Buteo buteo
Non breeding resident.
This species has increased its range dramatically in recent years and is now regularly seen at the reserve and surrounding area. A maximum count of five was noted on the 14th March.
Monthly Max
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Uncommon passage migrant.
In the early evening of the 9th April a migrating bird was observed over the reserve heading east from the Teal Hide.
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Resident, formerly bred.
A common resident observed at the reserve and present throughout the breeding season although there was no evidence of any breeding activity.