2018 Spring BioBlitz
May 4th to May 6th sees our third annual Spring BioBlitz. Please see the below poster for details. We hope to see you all there!
Press Coverage
Our recent Aviva Community Fund win was covered in the Surrey & Hants News.Our recent Aviva Community Fund win on the front page of the the February edition of The Farnham Diary, plus our Lottery funding, Richard's award and our BioBlitz on page 14.
Our Big Lottery Fund grant was on the front page of the Surrey & Hants News.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Surrey & Hants News Front Page |
Quarry Life Awards
You can follow our progress in the Quarry Life Awards on our dedicated blog.Sunday January 21st
Kevin Duncan reported a Common Sandpiper today.Monday January 22nd
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| (c) Anthony George - Goldfinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Grey Squirrel |
Tuesday January 23rd
Richard Horton reported a Merlin (past Ray's Gap) this morning.This is only the 9th recorded sighting of Merlin on site.
Wednesday January 24th
No reports.Thursday January 25th
Mark Elsoffer reported 150 Lapwing, 38 Tufted Duck, 45 Teal, 14 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 2 Stonechat, 2 Kestrel and a Peregrine this morning.In addition, Murray Nurse reported 4 Buzzard and a Red Kite this morning.
In addition, Len Winchcombe reported 2 Blackcap this morning.
Friday January 26th
A visiting birder reported a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper today.9 volunteers met on site today and moved all of the salvaged wood for the woodland feeding station onto site - due to the poor state of the footpaths and the lack of any bridge, this involved throwing the wood over the river and then moving it by hand through the woods. Afterwards, a willow cutting and burning session was held in the reed beds.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Jim Throwing the Wood Over the River |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Hard at Work in the Reed Beds |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Jim's Mobile Fire |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Hard at Work in the Reed Bed |
Saturday January 27th
12 volunteers met on site today and built the viewing screen for our woodland feeding station. It was great to finally be able to construct something on site and it made a change from cutting willow!The viewing screen includes slots at 3 heights, to allow for use by both seated and standing visitors, and wheelchair / mobility scooter users.
The volunteers working on site today ranged in age from 9 months to 70+!
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Oli Drives in the First Spike |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Alex Shows Us How to do it |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Alex Takes Over |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Precision Work |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - A Bird's View of the Screen |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Oli Checks Out the View |
Sunday January 28th
Richard Seargent reported a Common Sandpiper, 150+ Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 20+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 6 Gadwall, 5 Mallard, 10+ Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Greylag Goose and 73 Herring Gull this morning.Murray Nurse reported that Blue Tits were investigating next boxes 14 & 15 this morning.
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| (c) Anthony George - Buzzard |
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| (c) Anthony George - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Dunnock |
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| (c) Anthony George - Goldcrest |
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| (c) Anthony George - Goldfinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Great Tit |
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| (c) Anthony George - Song Thrush |
Monday January 29th
No reports.Tuesday January 30th
No reports.Wednesday January 31st
Our cattle herd started calving today, with 2 calfs successfully born on site and more due any time soon.The Bat Cave was surveyed this afternoon by licensed bat surveyors and 2 Long-eared Bats were found roosting inside. This is the first record of bats using the bat cave, and is a fantastic bit of news for the nature reserve and can only bode well for the future.
The new woodland feeding station is starting to show signs of success with Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit enjoying the feeders.
Thursday February 1st
Mark Elsoffer reported 100 Lapwing, 3 Little Egret, 4 Mallard, 18 Wigeon, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 6 Common Gull, 3 Red Kite, 3 Buzzard, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk today.Birds seen using the woodland feeding station today: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird & Goldcrest.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Visitors Enjoying the Feeding Station |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - The Feeders |
Friday February 2nd
Mark Elsoffer reported a Green Sandpiper, 75 Lapwing, a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 2 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, 20 Teal, 2 Stonechat, a Red Kite and a Buzzard today.In addition, Dudley Cox reported a Pochard today.
Hugo Wilson's Nan photographed a Barn Owl this evening.
Ray and Len did great work today mowing and raking the Bells Piece Wildflower Meadow, whilst Mark and Oli spent the morning building a dead hedge around the woodland feeding station.
Mark, Oli, Len and Richard then visited the Plant Yard and salvaged more items from the travellers mess (which Hanson have still to clear up, 11 weeks and counting) for use on site.
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| (c) Hugo Wilson's Nan - Barn Owl |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Long-tailed Tits |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Great Tit |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - House Sparrow |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Robin |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Long-tailed Tit |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Siskins |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Stonechat |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Freshly Mown Bells Piece Meadow |
Saturday February 3rd
Richard Seargent reported a Water Rail, 150+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, 40+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 6 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 10 Pochard and 16 Tufted Duck this morning.5th Farnborough Cub Scouts (13 cubs, 3 parents & 3 leaders) spent the morning on site today. They did a litter pick a built a hibernacular - this counts towards their Global Conservation and Hikes Away badges.
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| (c) Richard Seargent - The Cubs Enjoying the Woodland Feeding Station |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - The Cubs and Their Hibernacular |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - The Cubs Building Their Hibernacular |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - The Cubs Making Their Pledge |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Robin |
Sunday February 4th
Mark Elsoffer reported 50 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 12 Wigeon, 20 Teal, a Buzzard and a Red Kite this morning.9 volunteers spent the morning adding an extra panel to the woodland feeding station viewing screen (due to unprecedented visitor numbers), another feeding pole, finished the dead hedge and built a bench made from salvaged and off-cut wood.
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Blue Tit |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Coal Tit |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Great Tit |
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| (c) Anthony George - Blue Tit |
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| (c) Anthony George - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Great Tit |
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| (c) Anthony George - Long-tailed Tit |
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| (c) Anthony George - Grey Squirrel |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - The New Bridge Over the Blackwater |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Oli Der Hammer |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Oli Does Seem to be Doing all the Work |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Len Painting the new Screen |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Building the Bench |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - The New Bench |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - The Volunteers |
Monday February 5th
Richard Seargent reported 150+ Lapwing, 2 Water Rail, 20+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 8 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 6 Siskin and 2 Stonechat today. |
| (c) Richard Seargent - Siskin |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Siskin |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Goldcrest |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Great Tit |
Tuesday February 6th
No reports.Wednesday February 7th
No reports.Thursday February 8th
Mark Elsoffer reported 50 Lapwing, 3 Bullfinch, 16 Chaffinch, 10 Siskin and a Red Kite today.In addition, Peter Brown reported a Little Egret and 2 Stonechat this morning.
5 volunteers installed the custom built (by Steve Minhinnick) metal feeding table on a cut down telegraph pole at the woodland feeding station this morning. The viewing slots in the screen were also adjusted following visitor feedback.
We were well represented at the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust's AGM in Sandhurst tonight. I think it’s safe to say we had the biggest display on the night, with lots of attendees interested to hear about our nature reserve and the work being done on site by our volunteers. After the formal business, we enjoyed an interesting talk by Eddie Mayer of the Swift Conservation Trust.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Robin |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Blackbird |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Little Egret |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Steve Painting the Viewing Screen |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - The New Feeding Table |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Out Stand at the AGM |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Richard Enthralls the AGM Crowds |
Friday February 9th
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Goldcrest |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Coal Tit |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Long-tailed Tit |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Redwing |
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| (c) Kev Campbell - Siskin |
Saturday February 10th
Richard Seargent reported 150+ Lapwing, 2 Pochard and 6 Tufted Duck this afternoon.11 volunteers met a Chez Horton this morning and built a new tern raft. A dozen or so old nest boxes were also refurbished.
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Hard at Work |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Tern Raft Takes Shape |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Nest Boxes Being Refurbished |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Volunteers Hard at Work |
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| (c) Mark Elsoffer - Phil Guards Lunch |
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| (c) Jort Brough - The Tern Raft |
Sunday February 11th
John Hunt reported a Green Sandpiper, 92 Lapwing, a Water Rail, 2 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, a Kestrel, a Buzzard and a Red Kite this morning.In addition, Richard Seargent reported a continental race Cormorant (Sinensis), 18 Tufted Duck, 20+ Teal and 30+ Siskin today.
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| (c) John Hunt - Green Sandpiper |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Dunnock |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Siskin |
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| (c) Richard Seargent - Siskin |
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| (c) Anthony George - Buzzard |
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| (c) Anthony George - Chaffinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Siskin & Goldfinch |
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| (c) Anthony George - Little Egret |
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| (c) Anthony George - Red Kite |
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| (c) Anthony George - Redwing |
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| (c) Anthony George - Siskin |
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| (c) Anthony George - Stonechat |
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| (c) Susan Renaud - Feeding Station |
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| (c) Susan Renaud - Long-tailed Tit |
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| (c) Susan Renaud - Siskins |
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| (c) Susan Renaud - Grey Squirrel |
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