Thursday 22 June 2017

Saturday June 10th - Thursday June 22nd

Reporting of Schedule 1 Breeding Birds

From March 19th no Schedule 1 species which may be breeding on site (or other species which we deem to be sensitive) shall be reported publicly. This is for the protection of the birds.

This is in accordance with our Bird Reporting Policy which can be read here.

More information about Schedule 1 birds can be read here. Guidance on photographing Schedule 1 birds can be read here.


Annual Report

The Tice's Meadow 2016 Annual Report can now be downloaded for free from this link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuC9nX__kWIggSW-F4MUtWcsifGH

If you would like to buy a glossy, full colour, A4 hardcopy of the report for £15, please email us: ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk

All funds raised from the sale of our annual report are channelled back into projects on the nature reserve.



Facebook

We now have a dedicated public group on Facebook. Please join and report your sightings and share your news and photographs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ticesmeadow/



Saturday June 10th

A volunteer work party met on site this morning and finished painting the shipping container and cut and removed some recently fallen trees in the Woods. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

(c) John Hunt - The Meadow
(c) Kev Campbell - Greenfinch
(c) Kev Campbell - Little Egret
(c) Kev Campbell - Swallow
(c) Kev Campbell - Swift


Sunday June 11th

John Hunt reported a Curlew and an Oystercatcher this morning.

Curlew is the 125th species of bird recorded on site this year.

This is only the 19th recorded sighting of Curlew on site.

This is only the 27th recorded sighting of Oystercatcher on site, the 2nd this year.

Kevin Duncan reported that the first Common Tern chicks have hatched

Murray Nurse reported a Ringlet butterfly this afternoon.

(c) John Hunt - Curlew
(c) John Hunt - Curlew
(c) John Hunt - Oystercatcher
(c) John Hunt - Oystercatcher


Monday June 12th

No reports.


Tuesday June 13th

Kevin Duncan reported that a pair of Moorhens have hatched 3 young and that more Common Tern chicks have hatched.


Wednesday June 14th

John Hunt reported an estimated 25 pairs of nesting Common Terns on site.

John also reported a Painted Lady butterfly.

(c) John Hunt - Common Tern with Young
(c) John Hunt - Common Whitethroat


Thursday June 15th

Phil Hughes reported a Rook, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk this afternoon.

Rooks are a site rarity, especially birds on the ground - this one was seen perched on a post in the Meadow.

A team of assessors from the Canals & River Trust visited site this morning. We have been entered for a 2017 Living Waterways Award and this visit was part of the awards process.

Roger Dickey, ably assisted by Len Winchcombe, ran a ringing session on site today, with the nets erected in the Reedbed. The following birds were caught and rung:
 

Full grown Pulli Retraps / Recoveries Total
Wren 1 0 0 1
Robin 0 0 2 2
Song Thrush 1 0 0 1
Reed Warbler 3 0 0 3
Whitethroat 1 0 0 1
Garden Warbler 2 0 1 3
Blackcap 14 0 0 14
Blue Tit 2 0 0 2
Great Tit 5 0 0 5
Reed Bunting 1 0 0 1
Total 30 0 3 33

Roger commented that "if you look at the totals by species in the right hand column and asked someone to guess the habitat, I doubt if they would say ‘reedbed’". A sure sign that our Reedbed is in a worringly decline, due to record low water levels and invasive willow.

The count of 14 Blackcap is a new record count for the site.

Kevin Duncan reported a new species for Tice's Meadow: White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla).

(c) Kevin Duncan - White Plume Moth


Friday June 16th

Richard Horton reported 2 Swan Geese (of the "Chineese Goose" variety). These ringed and obviously escaped birds are always a site favourite!

Kevin Duncan reported that some Black-headed Gull chicks have hatched.


Saturday June 17th

Richard Seargent reported the following butterflies this morning: Marbled White, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown.

Richard also reported 2 Harlequin Ladybirds, and both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles along the River Blackwater this morning.

Richard also reported a new species for Tice's Meadow: Hook-marked Straw Moth (Agapeta hamana).

Kevin Duncan reported "record numbers of Mute Swan" and that "all site records have been broken by the Common Terns which will almost certainly include a county record with another waiting to be broken". Unfortunately, Kevin has yet to provide any numbers to go with these claims.

Kevin also reported that a pair of Moorhens have hatched 4 young in the Workings.

Kevin Duncan reported a new species for Tice's Meadow: A Plantbug (Calocoris stysi).

(c) Kevin Duncan - Calocoris stysi


Sunday June 18th

Len Winchcombe reported 4 Green Sandpiper this morning.





Monday June 19th

No reports.


Tuesday June 20th

Murray Nurse reported the following butterflies today: Comma, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Marbled White, Small Skipper, Brimstone and a probable Small White.

Murray also reported the following damselflies today: Common Blue/Azure, Large Red, Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed and a single Emerald.

Murray also reported the following dragonflies today: Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor, Southern Hawker and Keeled Skimmer.

Murray also reported a new species for the site today: Footballer Hoverfly (Heliophilus pendulus).

Richard Horton and Oli attended a meeting of local conservation groups at Rushmoor Borough Council offices this evening.

(c) Murray Nurse - Banded Demoiselle
(c) Murray Nurse - Blue-tailed Damselfly
(c) Murray Nurse - Chafer
(c) Murray Nurse - Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly
(c) Murray Nurse - Footballer Hoverfly
(c) Murray Nurse - Keeled Skimmer
(c) Murray Nurse - White-tailed Bumblebee


Wednesday June 21st

Unfortunately, off-road bikers were reported on site today. If you see anyone committing a crime on site, please call the Police.

(c) Andy Little - Black-tailed Skimmer
(c) Andy Little - Grass Snake
(c) Andy Little - Meadow Grasshopper
(c) Andy Little - Roselle's Bush Cricket
(c) Andy Little - Meadow Brown


Thursday June 22nd

John Hunt reported a pair of Nuthatch (a site rarity) in Lisa's Wood this morning.

Nuthatch is the 126th species of bird recorded on site this year.

(c) John Hunt - Comma
(c) John Hunt - Small Skipper
(c) John Hunt - Marbled White
(c) John Hunt - Ringlet
(c) John Hunt - Banded Demoiselle (F)
(c) John Hunt - Banded Demoiselle (M)
(c) John Hunt - Cinnibar Moth
(c) John Hunt - Swollen-thighed Beetle
(c) John Hunt - Nuthatch



Friday 9 June 2017

Thursday May 25th - Friday June 10th

Reporting of Schedule 1 Breeding Birds

From March 19th no Schedule 1 species which may be breeding on site (or other species which we deem to be sensitive) shall be reported publicly. This is for the protection of the birds.

This is in accordance with our Bird Reporting Policy which can be read here.

More information about Schedule 1 birds can be read here. Guidance on photographing Schedule 1 birds can be read here.


Annual Report

The Tice's Meadow 2016 Annual Report can now be downloaded for free from this link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuC9nX__kWIggSW-F4MUtWcsifGH

If you would like to buy a glossy, full colour, A4 hardcopy of the report for £15, please email us: ticesmeadow@hotmail.co.uk

All funds raised from the sale of our annual report are channelled back into projects on the nature reserve.



Facebook

We now have a dedicated public group on Facebook. Please join and report your sightings and share your news and photographs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ticesmeadow/


Birdwatching Shelter Planning Application

The planning application for our Birdwatching Shelter on Horton's Mound at Tice's Meadow is now live on Surrey County Council's website.

https://planning.surreycc.gov.uk/planappdisp.aspx?AppNo=SCC+Ref+2017%2F008

Public consultation is open until June 13th.

We'd greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to provide a positive comment through the council's planning portal (if you think the shelter is a good idea).


More information here.


Thursday May 25th

No reports.


Friday May 26th

No reports.


Saturday May 27th

Mark Elsoffer reported 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 7 Mallard, a Gadwall, a Teal, 8 Common Tern, c200 Swift, 12 Sand Martin, a House Martin, 3 Swallow and a Red Kite this morning.


Sunday May 28th

John Hunt reported 24 Common Tern and a Garden Warbler this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Wren


Monday May 29th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Ringed Plover, a Lapwing, 8 Mallard, c150 Swift, 4 House Martin, 8 Swallow and 2 Red Kite today.

In addition, Richard Seargent reported the first Reed Bunting fledglings of the year.

(c) John Hunt - Common Tern


Tuesday May 30th

No reports.


Wednesday May 31st

No reports.


Thursday June 1st

No reports.


Friday June 2nd

No reports.


Saturday June 3rd

Mark Elsoffer reported a Dunlin, a Redshank, a Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 6 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 26 Common Tern, 24 Swift, 12 Swallow, 2 Red Kite, a Kestrel and 9 Buzzard today.

Mark counted at least 18 pairs of nesting Common Terns and 3 pairs of Black-headed Gulls.

Mark reported 100s of Common Blue Damselflies on the waterbodies on site, and a number of Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Glorious Morning at Tice's Meadow
(c) Mark Elsoffer - It's Getting Hard to Read the Water Levels in the Workings


Sunday June 4th

John Hunt reported a Dunlin and a Garden Warbler this morning.

(c) John Hunt - Garden Warbler
(c) John Hunt - Juvenile Jay


Monday June 5th

Murray Nurse reported c60 Swift this morning.

Hanson's fencing contractors were on site today extending the fences that have become obsolete due to the worryingly low water levels on site, leading to the cattle having access to the reedbed and islands - where they could disturb nesting birds.

Alan Martin from Nature Conservation Services visited us this evening and demonstrated the use of a "Tree Popper" to remove invasive willow from the reedbed. Alan also demonstrated injection of weedkiller into a few willow stumps. Alan kindly leant us a Tree Popper so we could show the other members and decide whether to buy one or not.




Tuesday June 6th

No reports.


Wednesday June 7th

John Hunt reported a Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, a Kestrel and a Red Kite this morning.


Thursday June 8th

No reports.


Friday June 9th

No reports.



Thursday 1 June 2017

Birdwatching Shelter Planning Application

The planning application for our Birdwatching Shelter on Horton's Mound at Tice's Meadow is now live on Surrey County Council's website.

 https://planning.surreycc.gov.uk/planappdisp.aspx?AppNo=SCC+Ref+2017%2F008

Public consultation is open until June 13th.

We'd greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to provide a positive comment through the council's planning portal (if you think the shelter is a good idea).

To do so, click where it says "Click here to comment on this application", fill out your personal details and add your comments (upto 2000 characters) or attach a letter.

NOTE - Make sure you change the drop-down box to "Not Objecting"!

You might like to say something along the lines of:


I support this application as Tice's Meadow is developing into one of the best places to watch birds, and other wildlife, in Surrey.

There is a clear need for an all-weather shelter on Horton's Mound as it can be exposed to inclement weather. The shelter will form a centrepiece to the site, and the wider Blackwater Valley, and allow the hard-working volunteer groups, visitors and local residents to enjoy the wildlife on their doorstep in relative comfort.

The proposed shelter design has been carefully thought through and includes a bio-diverse brown roof and wall mounted invertebrate habitat panels which will not only mitigate the impact of the new shelter but actually add to the bio-diversity of the site.

The roof will be planted with native plant species which will provide food, and habitats, for threatened invertebrates.

Access for disabled visitors has been included in the design, and the shelter will be linked to the Blackwater Valley Path by a new all-weather path, bridge and RADAR gate.

The shelter will have a minimal carbon-footprint as it is based on a re-used shipping container and uses as many locally sourced recycled and re-appropriated materials as possible.

The visual impact of the shelter will be mitigated through the painting of it olive green, the bio-diverse roof and careful planting around the sides of the structure.



Thank you for your support!