Cromwell Bottom

Cromwell Bottom

NEWS - MEETINGS - EVENTS

April 2015 Updated Link on The future of Cromwell Bottom Sign our PETITION (click) to help Cromwell Bottom
WILDLIFE SITING /IDENTIFICATION Send Details or Pictures of finds for identification click to email RECORDS. Please Note ALL lists and Biological Records are Copyright Protected (C) Colin Duke 1998 - 2018 on behalf of the Freshwater Environment Ecology Trust . they should NOT be used or reproduced without permission

Friday 22 April 2016

Nesting Birds

If you are aware of any fires in this area likely to distress the Bird in question Please email in confidence so an activity log can be created and the situation monitorred during the nesting period of this Bird  or any other information relating to this matter appreciated. Eg Date Time , Severity, Duration or any other objective log or imaging accessible from the Public ROW.

Alternatively you may append to Police Log for this matter is 0281 0f 12th April 2016 by ringinging 101

Scenes 22 April 2016 




Species Records Indicating Flood Impact Spring 2016

Whats Slow this Year

With the floods affecting the River this Year it is worth pointing out what species have been slow to recover

Based on 17 years survey return Caddisflies have been a slow starter this year although we have  yet to look at returns from light traps

Also affected appear to be the slow start to the solitary Bee Populations with a number of species down - many solitary bees and wasps use the river embankment to create burrows

The impact of flooding on the Swan Mussells has been masked by the Dreding events in the canal

We shall be addding to the post on the basis of records as they come in and doing a year on year comparison

Intervention Concerns

Tree removal bordering the Spaghnum Bog was never a good idea near open expanse bordering the Pixie Wood is suffering sun scorch and many of the Mosses Lichens ( inc some of the harder to find Cladonias ) and Haircaps on Stumps are in the process of being lost paricularly with the action of the underlying fly ash channels which have shifted with water influx being unimpeded by any rooting vegetation and made there way through the stabilising root bases . The value of Willow carr in preserving relative Ground Humidity has been emphasised . Loss of Damp Habitat also means impact on the Amphibian population. Much of the surface spagnums have been affected by the cement like dust and scum on the water surface. In this area there has been a much reduced Amphibian Count bearing in mind Toads will attempt to make there way to their historic breeding sites This appraisal reinforces the concept that the reserve needs sensitive management . Based on 10 seasonal years record the Willow Warblers that usual stage in this area are down or absent full report to follow.


Tuesday 19 April 2016

Spring in the Hedgerow

Flora and Fauna On the reserve Today

Bees

Honey Bee ( On Goat Willow pollen)
Bombus terrestris
Nomadic bee Nomada sp

Hoverfies

Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly
Eristalis tenax Hoverfly
Melanostoma scalare Hoverfly
Muscid Fly Eudasyphora cyanella



Weevil Sitonia


Butterflies

Peacock
Tortoiseshell
Orange Tip
Botany

Wood Aneomne Suprisingly turning up on the Sandy Soil recently depositted by the Calder Floods
Garlic Mustard (now Flying)
Ramsons ( Just Ready to Flower)
Flowering Currant
broom
Along the River Flowering is the Greatwer Wood- Rush opne of the largest in the rush Family



Wood Aneomne



Birds

Willow Warbler
Chiff Chaff


Sitonia Weevil


Muscid Fly Eudasyphora cyanella



20th April 2015

Cranefly Tipula vittata
Brimstone Butterfly



Tuesday 12 April 2016

WINTER FEED PROGRAMME

BIRD  FEEDER S CROMWELL HOUSE

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G
01/11/15
125+135+165+225
x2
01/12/15
225+197+210+295
x3
01/01/16
200+196+175+300
x3
01/02/16
265+192+228+300
x4
01/03/16
310+147+203+196
x2
01/04/16
200+
x4









HELPING SMALL BIRDS OVERWINTER

FEET HAVE 8 LOCAL SITES WHERE SEED IS DEPLOYED SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF HELPING SMALL BIRDS THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON . THANKS TO THE GOODWILL AT CROMWELL HOUSE WE HAVE A FEW SMALL FEEDERS ATTRACTING BIRDS SUCH AS WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN SEEN FEEDING
CHAFFINCH
TREE SPARROW
BLUE TIT
GREAT TIT
MAGPIE

FEET HAVE A FURTHER 8 CLOSED NON PUBLIC SITES AROUND LOWER VALLEY WHERE SEED IS DEPLOYED SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL WILD BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL SETTINGS

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DONATE WILD SEED OR FEEDERS (0793) 1717608

SITE AOC


DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G






SITE BOC


DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE COC

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE DOC

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE EOC

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE AOB

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE BOB

DATE
WEEKLY SEED TOTALS
FATBALLS 70 G








SITE COB

 




Wednesday 6 April 2016

Creatures of The Night

When all have left and the stars shine in the firmament the reserve switches into a different gear Heres the Picture for tonight 6th April 2016 at 10 pm Tonight  looking at each compass point they of course all overlap

WEST
 EAST
 NORTH
SOUTH


This nocturnal Bronze Ground beetle was found patrolling the the Paths hunting for its prey such as slugs . It attacks them at their apeture and in turn responds by secreting copious ammounts of mucous


IMG_6551

With relative humidity high and marginally warmer temperatures Spiders can be seen by torchlight in the tree canopy together with Slugs and a common tree dewller the White Legged Centipede

Tachypodoiulus niger 9246

Also Found a March Tubic Diurma fagella an early Spring Moth

march_dagger_5852





Monday 4 April 2016

A visit From The Queen

Drying off in the early morning Sunshine The Queen of The Buff Tailed bumblebee one of a number of Bumblebee and Solitary Bee found on the reserve

IMG_6485


Saturday 2 April 2016

Message From Billy The Frog



Hello 

Now Spring is here I will be getting out a little bit more !!

Please if you use the Paths Look Down and dont squash me !!

Please dont take Frog Spawn - from little billies big billies grow

Please dont Cycle on the nature reserve use canal pathways

If you build a fence round a pond remember I live there too 

My Friend Mr Toad follows his anual paths to return to breed

Please dont lock my front door !!

Think Frog !!! -  Have a nice Spring