Nature Force Dates

The Himalayan Balsam Season is upon us!

As you may be aware, we have a large amount of Himalayan Balsam control scheduled into the Nature Force Programme this Spring and Summer.

We will be targeting Whitacre Heath SSSI nature reserve on the Tame Valley.

We are aware that balsam control can sometimes be a little monotonous, but we want you to know how vital it is for nature conservation:

The work at Whitacre Heath SSSI is essential in preventing the spread of this invasive non-native species onto further areas of the reserve and onto surrounding land. Work in recent years has helped to reduce its hold in some areas, which has enabled other wildflowers to flourish. The 350 hours of work that Nature Force undertook at the reserve last year meant that we could prove that we are doing ‘our bit’ to control balsam – without this, the Trust would have been docked a significant percentage of funding that we receive for reserve management. Thank you for your tremendous efforts last year, which ensured that we met our management requirements and retained this essential funding.

Nature Force Dates for Whitacre Heath if you wish to help out:

31st May 2012 - Path Clearance
07th June 2012 - Path Clearance
12th June 2012 - Balsam
14th June 2012 - Path Clearance and Balsam
26th June 2012 - Path Clearance and Balsam

13th May 2012

Long-tailed Tit, juvenile

Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Tit (feeding young), Long-tailed Tit (feeding 6+ juv), Buzzard, Swift (9), Swallow, GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Little Grebe, Mute Swan (2), Canada Goose (2), Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler

Fox cub (1), Green-viened White, Peacock, Orange-Tip butterflies.

Cornsalad sp. (Identified as Common Cornsalad)

Common Cornsalad - Valerianella locusta

06th May 2012

Little Grebe

Red-legged Partridge (2), Buzzard (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Swallow (4), Whitethroat (6+), Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Little Grebe (6), Mallard (9), Teal (1 male), Gadwall (1 male), Grey Heron (3), Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler

Fox, Muntjac deer

Butterflies: Comma, Peacock, GV White, Orange-tip, Small Tortoiseshell

04th May 2012

Posted on TameValleyBirding Website:

Hobby, Cuckoo

19th April 2012

Flashes: Wheatear, Kestrel, Buzzard (2), Reed Bunting (2), Green Woodpecker, Fox and 3 cubs.
Woods: Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker (2) Chiffchaff (2). (Paul Casey)

15th April 2012

Peregrine

Flashes: Buzzard (2), Peregrine (2)

Main Pool: Bullfinch (2), Moorhen (2), Buzzard (1), Blackcap (1 male), LT Tit (2), Pheseant

Woods: Willow Warbler (3), Chiffchaff, Bullfinch (2), Buzzard (1), GS Woodpecker, Oystercatcher (over)

Car Park: Blackcap (1), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Skylark

Butterfly: Orange-Tip, Peacock

10th April 2012

Orange-Tip

Buzzard (3), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Chiffchaff (5+), Willow Warbler (1), Goldfinch (3), LT Tit (6), GS Woodpecker (1), Willow Tit (2), Song Thrush (2), Sand Martin

Butterflies: Orange Tip (3 male), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Comma, Brimstone (1 male)

25th March 2012

A few photo's from the scrape hide (Rob Whitcomb)

Muntjac Deer

Muntjac Deer

Muntjac Deer

Canada Goose

Blackbird

Mallard

Buzzard

22nd March 2012

Lesser spotted Woodpecker briefly this morning near Main pool (AJ Hale)

19th March 2012

Flashes: Buzzard, Canada Goose (2), Song Thrush, Peregrine (1 on pylon), Stock Dove (3)

Feeding Station: Lesser Redpoll (4), LS Woodpecker (calling nearby), Sparrowhawk (1 flew through)

Woods: Lesser Redpoll (8), Treecreeper (2), Bullfinch (2), Raven (1 over), Sparrowhawk (1 circling high above the woods), Couldn't find the LS Wood :(, Chiffchaff (1 singing)

Fish Pool: Kestrel (1), GS Woodpecker (1)

Car Park: Skylark (2 opp. reserve entrance)

Long-tailed tit

17th March 2012

Flashes: 60 Fieldfare, Buzzard, Kestrel, Oystercatcher. Peregrine on pylons.

Woods: GSW, Green Woodpecker, Willow Tit, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Redwing. Elf Cup fungus. (Paul C)

02nd March 2012

Feeding Station:

Redpoll (6 visits by at least 3 different birds to sunflower & Nyger seed 5m in front of hide)
Goldfinch (5 visits to Sunflower & Nyger Seed 5m in front of hide)
GSW (Numerous visits to lard & nut smeared to usual feeding points)
Wren on pond
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Willow Tit
Long Tailed Tit’s (10+) towards back
Chaffinch
Pheasant
Robin
Buzzard came in to trees approx. 25 feet high.(Jon Bowcutt)

Blue Tit ©Paul Lathbury

Great Spotted Woodpecker ©Paul Lathbury

Reed Bunting ©Paul Lathbury

Lesser Redpoll ©Paul Lathbury

01st March 2012

Coal Tit

Coal Tit, Feeding Station (Rob Whitcomb)