Friday 18 September 2015

Tree works at the lakes this autumn

As suspected, more trees are to be cut along the east side of Windmill Pool this autumn, with some cutting also taking place along the south side of Engine Pool too. The following note from C&RT ecologist Paul Wilkinson concerns the proposed tree work around the lakes:

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Hi Bob,

Please could you circulate the planned tree works, the works are due to the reservoir engineers concern regarding the reservoir embankments and preventive measures to stop the likelihood of trees falling and blocking weirs in a storm event, all tree works have also been assessed by an independent arboriculturalist.

Please let me know if you have any concerns, I believe all the trees have already been marked, P= pollard at height, a line or F is fell to the base or the line.

Sorry for the short notice, they would like to start next week.

Regards,

Paul.


Saturday 12 September 2015

Bat box survey, 12/09/2015

Earlswood Wildlife Partnership today did a bat box survey at Earlswood, and although we only checked 42 of the 100+ boxes there it was a good one. We had a few Soprano Pipistrelles, a Noctule and best of all 2 Brandt's/Whiskered Bats! Paul Wilkinson (C&RT ecologist) thinks they were Whiskered, which as far as I'm aware would be a first for Earlswood, but there is also only one previous record of Brandt's in the area, so either way a great record! Hopefully DNA analysis on some droppings we collected from the box they were in will give us a positive ID...

Noctule Bat

Brandt's/Whiskered Bat - 2 in box

Thursday 10 September 2015

Moth evening at St. Patrick's Church

ImageEarlswood Wildlife Partnership invite you to join them for an evening looking at the fascinating night-time world of moths – an opportunity to see a variety of moths caught in special light traps around the churchyard and to learn more about them.

Thursday 17th September 7.30pm in the Undercroft (rear of the church). Light refreshments will be provided.


For further information, speak to Tony Philp 01564 702915

Sunday 6 September 2015

Autumn patch all-dayer

Yesterday several midlands patches did an all-day bird race. The results are as follows:

  1. Belvide - 91 spp.
  2. Upton Warren - 89 spp.
  3. Grimley - 88 spp.
  4. Clayhanger/Stubber's Green - 81 spp.
  5. Middleton Lakes - 77 spp.
  6. Earlswood - 56 spp.


We had only a fool's hope against those other patches, but we fought bravely! ;-) Thanks to Jon Chidwick, Mike Jeeves, John Oates, Tony Philp and John Sirrett for also taking part at Earlswood. I managed to connect with all 56 of the species recorded at Earlswood, namely:

  1. Mute Swan
  2. Greylag Goose
  3. Canada Goose
  4. Mallard
  5. Shoveler
  6. Tufted Duck
  7. Great Crested Grebe
  8. Cormorant
  9. Grey Heron
  10. Sparrowhawk
  11. Buzzard
  12. Moorhen
  13. Coot
  14. Black-headed Gull
  15. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  16. Herring Gull
  17. Stock Dove
  18. Wood Pigeon
  19. Collared Dove
  20. Kingfisher
  21. Green Woodpecker
  22. Great Spotted Woodpecker
  23. Sand Martin
  24. Swallow
  25. House Martin
  26. Grey Wagtail
  27. Pied Wagtail
  28. Wren
  29. Dunnock
  30. Robin
  31. Blackbird
  32. Song Thrush
  33. Blackcap
  34. Garden Warbler
  35. Common Whitethroat
  36. Chiffchaff
  37. Goldcrest
  38. Long-tailed Tit
  39. Blue Tit
  40. Great Tit
  41. Coal Tit
  42. Nuthatch
  43. Treecreeper
  44. Jay
  45. Magpie
  46. Jackdaw
  47. Carrion Crow
  48. Raven
  49. Starling
  50. House Sparrow
  51. Chaffinch
  52. Greenfinch
  53. Goldfinch
  54. Siskin
  55. Linnet
  56. Bullfinch
We'll do another all-dayer next spring, hopefully against the above five patches plus the Warwickshire patches that participated in the spring this year.