That’ll do for now

Now that the birds appear to have got the idea that Spring is upon us, and have started yelling about it, telling one bird song apart from another can be a bit daunting. Never fear, technology’s here! For several years I have had the Chirpomatic app on my phone, and it can be quite helpful. Not only does it provide examples of the songs of most if not all of the birds found in Britain, but crucially it allows you to record a singing bird and then it suggests what that songster might be. So far, so good, but it’s not the only kid in town.

America’s Cornell Laboratory has produced Merlin: bird ID help for 10,000 species. I have also had this free app on my phone for some time, but really only used it to help identify birds seen: it guides you through the process, narrowing down the field from presumably 10,000 possibilities to (hopefully) the right one, using criteria such as size, colour, location, etc. But it’s also really powerful at identifying birds by sound, and a walk round the very wet NWT Hickling reserve the other day with someone continually using the app impressed me greatly. So much so in fact that I put it through its paces on our own dear reserve the very next day. What I like about this one is that it copes well with several birds all making a noise together, displaying each one on the screen as it makes an identification. Here’s a screenshot of a recording I made of blue tit, robin, wren and goldcrest in the Alder Carr where the boardwalk crosses Fox’s Beck.

That trip to Hickling was just about rain-free, but the reserve and the surrounding area was evidence of how much rain had fallen recently. On my way home I stopped in a lay-by opposite a flooded field, enjoying this flock of swans: a few mutes, but wonderfully, most of them were whoopers, and no doubt soon to leave us for their summer breeding grounds.

It turns out that our mini working party on Saturday 10^th was the final act of the cutting season. NWT warden George has declared the job finished, and expressed his gratitude for our efforts. So we’re off the hook until sometime in March, when attention will shift briefly to Pit Common.

Here’s a short account of how that final hour-long session unfolded:

Eleven of us turned up at the appointed hour, facing as we knew we would, a supremely soggy fen. Three heavily loaded drag sheets had been left from the previous Sunday’s session, and these needed shifting. Would the winch be up to the task? Well, as it turned out, yes, of course it was – thanks goodness.

Here to demonstrate how boggy it was, and also how important one’s choice of headgear is, are two of our stalwarts.

Always hogging the camera, one of the said stalwarts then popped up at the winch site, with another stalwart. You’ll notice they’re pointing in different directions…

Once the three sheets to the wind had been moved and tipped out, we were presented with an almighty great heap of dumped material. So that it isn’t encroaching too much onto the open area, just for the fun of it we decided to pitchfork the front of it over the top to the back of the pile. Here we see just how much fun it was.

Meanwhile, another, less mud-loving team was busy at the car park, knocking back the scrub that had been gradually encroaching. Part of it was temporarily taped off for safety reasons

Brian was reunited with his beloved brush cutter.

Team work makes the dream work!

Here’s the end result …

Another dead hedge!!

We wanted to get some space back, but you must be careful what you wish for!

Here’s the Team Leaders’ message of thanks:

Hello all

When we sent out the schedule of work parties, we had two more scheduled - this Sunday and then two weeks after that, but in truth we have completed everything that NWT want from us for this season! We are just too efficient!

Our NWT warden, George, visited the commons this week and declared us as done for the reed cutting.  There will be a small work party in March to do a Conservation Cut at the Pit and then (for those who are into it) Himalayan Balsam pulling around May time. We will put out emails when these are scheduled in. The main fen/reed cutting will start again in August.

Until then, can we take this opportunity to thank you all very much for all your hard work and support again over the last year.  We have a fantastic team of volunteers at Southrepps - long may it continue. We hope to see you all again soon.

Take care,

Regards, Julie, Margaret, Kevin, John and Sue