Another successful bird ringing session carried out over the weekend. Not vast quantities (23 in total) but good variety, listed below:-

Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Dunnock, Great Tit, Wren, Blackbird.

Sedge WarblerWillow Warbler

Whitethroat

Just when I thought our classroom was a lost cause I got some great news today. IMMI came back to me with the surprise news that their landlord had decided that he would donate the portacabin classroom to the reserve. This is fantastic as we can now use the existing planning permission and now the only headache is moving the classroom from its current location to the reserve!

Sadly today I found a dead Roe buck in the centre of the marsh. I could not determine if it was shot, got at by a dog or just died of natural causes. Looks like the foxes have had a good meal!

Caution graphic photos  below:-

All the tubes are now in place, camera installed and nicely wrapped to keep the soil out the joints.

So next job is to bury it all, build the mound, and then a bit of landscaping and the badgers will be queuing to take up residence😜

Bad news on my portacabin classroom, the company that offered it to us has now renaged on the offer. So I am now on a search for a replacement. If anyone out there knows of a portacabin  up for grabs please let me know.

A few birdie pics from last week, male pheasants showing off to the girls, a greenfinch or two and nice male bullfinch.

Hurra! Just received planning permission for the hides and ponds so it’s full steam ahead!

Although we will have to be patient with the pond digging as we are too deep into the nesting season, so that will have to wait until autumn.

A teacher from Newminster visited the reserve last week to see if it would be suitable for their children. He gave it a good look and was very enthusiastic about what they could use the reserve for. So it looks like a thumbs up from an educational viewpoint and we seem to be doing the things that they would want from a schools perspective.

So we will be looking to start something with schools in early June.

Local resident showed a lack of manners when snapped by local paparazzi.