January 1st to January 20th

Monday January 1st

Murray Nurse reported 200 Lapwing, 25 Wigeon, a Shoveler, 5 Teal, 2 Egyptian Goose, a Greenfinch and 2 Lesser Redpoll this morning.

One of our cows got stuck in a hole today, but thanks to Murray Nurse (who called me to alert us) the cow was quickly rescued by farmer Gibby, who has "rewarded" Murray with a gallon of his homemade cider! If you do have any concerns about the cattle on site, please let one of the Tice's Meadow Bird Group know asap.

(c) Ben Fitzcosta - Coot

(c) Ben Fitzcosta - Goldfinch

(c) Ben Fitzcosta - Mute Swan

Tuesday January 2nd

Dave Baker reported a Green Sandpiper, 150+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Water Rail, 12 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 3 Egyptian Goose, 34 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 3 Brambling, 5 Bullfinch, 3 Siskin, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzard this morning.

Wednesday January 3rd

Dave Baker reported 150+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Water Rail, 4 Shoveler, 5 Mallard, 12 Teal, 10 Wigeon, a Greylag Goose, a Bullfinch, a Stonechat and a Kestrel today.

Thursday January 4th

Richard Seargent reported 250+ Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Greylag Goose, 6 Egyptian Goose, 2 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Gull, 3 Bullfinch, a Stonechat, 2 Kestrel and a Buzzard today.

In addition, Dave Baker reported 3 Mistle Thrush, 30+ Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Sparrowhawk and 3 Red Kite today.

In addition, Mark Elsoffer reported 13 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 3 Shoveler and a Goldcrest this afternoon.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Water Levels Finally Rising

Friday January 5th

No reports.

Saturday January 6th

No reports.

Sunday January 7th

John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, 194 Lapwing, 25 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, 50+ Redwing, a Kestrel, a Buzzard and a Red Kite this morning.

In addition, Phil Hughes reported 30+ Fieldfare this afternoon.

(c) Tony George - Goldfinches

(c) Tony George - Redwing

(c) Tony George - Starlings

Monday January 8th

An dog walker managed to let his Husky into the meadow this afternoon, where it proceeded to harass and chase the cattle - we have some heavily pregnant cows. Richard Horton saw off the Husky, checked the cattle were ok and called the tenant farmer. If anyone sees people in the meadow who shouldn’t be there, or dogs in the meadow, please let us know ASAP. Please also call the police on 101.

Tuesday January 9th

No reports.

Wednesday January 10th

Richard Horton reported c1000 Golden Plover and a Peregrine this morning.

(c) Susan Renaud - Fungi

(c) Susan Renaud - Lapwings

(c) Susan Renaud - Long-tailed Tit

(c) Susan Renaud - Red Kite

(c) Susan Renaud - Teal

Thursday January 11th

No reports.

Friday January 12th

7 volunteers met at the Plant Yard this morning and salvaged a large amount of wood that had been dumped by the travellers, removed all the screws and transported it to Richard Horton's house ready for use on site. Thank you Mark, Richard H, Jim, Len, Oli, Andy and Trevor.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Steptoe & Sons

Saturday January 13th

Richard Seargent reported 250+ Lapwing, 14 Snipe, a Water Rail, 9 Wigeon, 6 Mallard, 20+ Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, a Stonechat, a Kestrel and a Buzzard this morning.

8 volunteers met at Richard Horton's house and spent the whole day building 26 nest boxes. The boxes were built with hinged lids for ringing access, and wrapped in wire mesh to try and deter woodpecker predation. Thank you Mark, Richard H, Len, Oli, Dave, Steve, Cliff & John M.

In addition, Andy and Jim spent the day cutting and burning willow in the reed beds - well done guys.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nest Box Production Line

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nest Box Production Line

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Nest Box Production Line

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Dave Got a Gold Star for Effort

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Workers Were Well Fed

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Day's Work

Sunday January 14th

Mark Elsoffer reported 300 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, a Little Egret, 4 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Gull, a Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush, 50 Redwing, a Bullfinch, a Lesser Redpoll, 18 Siskin, 2 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel this afternoon.

In addition, Richard Horton reported a Firecrest this afternoon.

In addition, Steve Minhinnick reported a Jack Snipe this afternoon.

In addition, John Hunt reported a Water Rail and a Grey Wagtail this morning.

5 volunteers met at Richard Horton's house and spent the morning finishing off the nest boxes - making 29 in total. Thank you Mark, Richard H, Richard S, Oli & Steve.

(c) John Hunt - Grey Wagtail

(c) John Hunt - Water Rail

(c) Mark Elsoffer - The Finished Nest Boxes

Monday January 15th

No reports.

Tuesday January 16th

No reports.

Wednesday January 17th

Richard Horton reported 2 Green Sandpiper and a Water Rail today.

In addition, Peter Brown reported a Goldcrest this afternoon

Thursday January 18th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 325 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 3 Pheasant, 4 Stonechat, a Bullfinch, 10 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 3 Siskin, 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Red Kite today.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Water Levels Continue to Rise

Friday January 19th

Mark Elsoffer reported a Nuthatch, 3 Siskin, 8 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, a Goldcrest, a Bullfinch, a Kestrel and a Buzzard this morning.

5 volunteers met on site and spent the whole day erecting 27 newly built nest boxes, taking down c20 of the old nest boxes and burning the piles of vegetation cleared from the Water Rail Ditch. Thank you Mark, Richard H, Oli, Len & Jim.

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Box Number 1 Goes Up

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Lord of All He Surveys

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Twisted Firestarter

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Last of the Summer Wine

(c) Mark Elsoffer - Old Boxes Ready for Refurbishment

Saturday January 20th

Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 450+ Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 15+ Wigeon, 20+ Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 32 Greenfinch, a Pheasant, a Kestrel and a Buzzard this morning.