A very pleasant surprise today when I spotted our first red squirrel of the year, on the reserve, today.

It was a brief view as I had some school kids from Collingwood school with me. This also meant I did not have my camera with me so no pictures I’m afraid.

Good to know we still have some reds in the vicinity.

Well that was a bit of a breeze wasn’t it!!

We have spent the last week clearing up after the big storm. The reserve was hit fairly badly from a tree damage point of view but we were lucky not to suffer any building damage. I always said that the hides could take a cruise missile strike thanks to Johns robust building methods and the storm seems to have proved me right. If they can withstand 100mph winds they should be able to cope with groups of school kids!

Here are a few pictures of the carnage:-

Meet Chris, he very kindly delivered a very splendid load of Ash woodchip that will do very nicely on our paths.

Many thanks to Northumberland County Council for my free hedging pack and free tree pack. There were 60 hedging whips of Dog Rose, Hazel, Hornbeam and Hawthorn which I have used as hedging alongside the track up to Dunces Houses. There was also a 10 tree pack consisting of Wild Cherry, Rowan, and Silver Birch which will be planted to replace some of the Ash that we have lost to Ash die back.

Its that time of year when our Jays are constantly visiting the oak trees and collecting acorns for their winter stashes.

Each Jay can take and bury up to 3000 acorns ready to recover during the winter months.

Its been shown that they remember about 70-75% of the locations where they bury the acorns.

Meet the latest member of the the Clarks Bog Team:-

Meet Polly the Polaris Ranger, an electric All Terrain Vehicle that I’m hoping will make things easier for an old man to move ‘stuff’ around the site. Not so many wheel barrowing trips I hope!

Many thanks to Kevin Davies of Davies Tractors who supplied the ATV, he went over and above. He negotiated a swap with Gateshead Council (thanks to them for cooperating) from the original grey bodywork to a camouflage pattern. Once the swap was agreed Kevin sorted out the swap.

A very friendly and helpful company daviestractors.com

I came across this pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers that were dancing around the power poles and having a real battle:-

One of our Tawny Owls paid a visit recently.

I unlocked one of the hides this morning only to find two dead bodies on the floor. Two rats had met a gruesome end, which was a puzzle as there was no sign of a perpetrator!

I considered calling in Vera but then the chief suspect showed himself in the window:-

Yes our Mink is still at large!

It seems to be a goods season for Grey squirrels this year. I think I have seen more on the reserve this year than any other.

I haven’t seen a red yet although last year it was November before I saw a red.

Here are a few pictures of our current invaders:-

They are busy plundering the hazelnuts at the moment!