Tuesday 12 January 2016

Meeting with BBOWT

Sunny at first then clouding over, 5°, light W.

A very positive meeting today with a BBOWT representative at Cholsey Marsh.

Mark Bradfield of BBOWT (community wildlife officer) met with Tony Rayner and myself at Cholsey Marsh this morning.

If all goes well BBOWT should be taking on the management of the reserve sometime this year with a lot of work to be done once that happens.

We discussed the value to local wildlife that the reserve holds from the roosting Corn Buntings in the winter to the various visitors that breed on the marsh during the summer months.

Also Reptiles, Amphibians, Dragonflies, Butterflies and other species that inhabit the marsh including the “British red data” species, Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail that has special conservation status.

One of the major aspects was to engage the local community in many aspects of the marsh and over the coming months it is hoped that we can develop and communicate this to local residents.

Just over 30 species noted this morning on or over the marsh.

Later in the morning a visit to the EastEnders garden where there were at least 7 Lesser Redpoll feeding and I managed to get a few pics through the kitchen window.

Our own garden is still very busy with 2 Nuthatch still visiting, also at least 2 Treecreeper regular.

Belated news of a Bittern flushed from Cholsey Marsh last year.

Also the first Blackcap of the winter in the village seen by Michael Pocock on Saturday.





1 comment:

  1. When I was akid it was not a marsh, it was where they grazed the cows.

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