25^th May

My main visit today to H C N R was to take castings of animal footprints and set up the camera trap.

I drove into the reserve and sorted my gear and off I went to find some tracks; I soon found an area with some and took a couple of castings. 

This is the first time I have taken castings, so it was a learning curve for me, the first ones were done with a watery mixture but turned out ok.

I then went to have a look round the newt pond and found some good tracks at the water’s edge, so I mixed some more plaster, this time of a little thicker consistency. Whilst these casts where setting I went to set up the trail camera overlooking the pond nearest Burnham Meadow.

Anyway the casts seemed to dry in what seemed like no time at all so I collected them up carefully in a bag. 

I decided to have a good wander around the reserve and took a few photos with my phone. 

My binoculars are always with me so I was able to see the following—Robin, Magpie, Buzzard overhead, Little Egret overhead, Kestrel on one of the owl boxes in Burnham Meadow, Great tit, Blue tit, Blackbird, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Reed bunting, Linnet, Whitethroat, Wren, plenty of Swifts, Mallard overhead. And in the field nr the reserve I saw a group of Greylag Geese about eight and in among them a single Barnacle Goose. In the same field I saw Deer and Hares.

When I got home, I cleaned up the castings and I was pleased at the results.

Charlie.

On Sunday 19^th May Andy and I embarked on another task at Hollym Carrs Nature Reserve. We gathered the relevant gear we needed and first aid box from Ivy house then headed to the reserve.

For a change we were lucky with the weather and we managed to get onto the reserve with the car and set up for the task. The job today was to clear unwanted weed growth around the trees we had previously planted as a hedge line in Burnham Meadow.

The main piece of equipment we used was the battery-operated strimmer with the blade attachment; Andy used it first using the appropriate safety gear and cut in between the trees making sure not to get too close. I followed from a safe distance with a sickle to cut any weeds growing closer to the trees. We reversed roles later on.

Andy spotted a grass snake when he was weeding between the trees which was a great thrill.

We also cut a path through from Burnham Meadow to the bench near Smess before the battery ran out, again taking it in turns, while one was cutting the path the other cut back any overhanging branches with loppers.

Whilst we were having a break for lunch Andy and I enjoyed watching the birds and listening to their songs.

The next task day is on 16^th June at Ivy House maintaining the grounds.

Charlie.