Tales of the river bank - New life!

Lots of blog posts of days out recently, (or back to normal again), and haven't updated on life at Rooksbury for a while. So here it is.

Spring has sprung! Bird eggs are hatching and the Water Voles are increasing in what is already a good number. Moorhens were the first birds to hatch on the river, along with one set of ducklings a couple of weeks ago. The Swallows have returned and Blackcap are very noisy.

The resident Mute Swan pair have been on eggs since sometime at the end of March and this weekend they hatched. All but one of the eggs successfully hatched and we now have six cygnets and two proud parents.
The reserve has been very busy over the weekend with people coming out to see them. Sounds great, but I prefer the place when it's quiet.  Only last Friday I had a go at two people for standing only a few feet away from a Treecreeper nest, in order to get that 'money shot'. Scare them away! What you gonna photograph then?

Anyhoo.

I've seen two separate litters of Water Vole. Three eating in the same place last week and another one on a different part of the river a fortnight ago. Stood on one of the bridges on Friday I saw FIVE water vole in a 10 metre stretch of the river. 2 adults / 3 babies. They really are thriving here.
Also caught a pair scrapping last week. Most of the action happened behind reeds, but I did get a shot or two.

Although having a good number of coot and tufted duck, after a few lean years, (possibly due to the otter occupation) I've yet to see a nest or any of their young. Fingers crossed it happens again soon.

My personal favourite has been the nesting Bullfinch. So often my nemesis of a bird. I hear many and occasionally see some fly off, but more than often they are perched high up in a tree and I am left with pictures of their bellies, obscured by a dozen branches etc.
At the moment I see a pair regularly visiting a Willow covered in Ivy on the river bank. Standing in the right spot I can watch the Bullfinch and Water Vole at the same time.
What's not to like?

(Click on the pics to enlarge)

 Baby water vole.

 Mallard ducklings

Another young vole on a different part of the river.

 The cygnets started to hatch on Fri 13 May.

Treecreeper collecting food for its young.

Mon 16 May and they were out on the lakes.

 Always wondered what would happen when two of the adult voles met.

 They didnt tolerate each other for long.

 Fledgling Long Tailed Tit.

 A shot many years in the making! Very pleased to finally snap a Bullfinch.

This week is the last in my Neighbourhood Warden job. The training with BBOWT starts next Tuesday. I'm very much looking forward to learning new conservational skills and working with some very knowledgeable people. We also have '30 DAYS WILD' starting in a fortnight and I shall attempt to blog regularly about both experiences.

Until then, thanks for reading.

Acres Down and Blashford.

A couple of hours spent at both today, making the most of both weather and the free time.
Target in the New Forest was Redstart and generally what ever was on view. To be honest, it all seemed a bit quite unless you were after Blackcap, lots of them.

A couple of cuckoo calling and some pipits. Yet to be clarified (by a friend) if they are tree or meadow.

Common Tern were showing well at Blashford.

A tatty Nuthatch was just outside the Visitors Centre and good views of Greenfinch and Siskin etc. from the Woodland Hide.

Summer at Pennington

It's only been a couple of weeks since my last visit, but this South Coast birding mega spot was very different today! The winter visitors, all bar a couple of Brent Geese have gone back to their summer grounds and the hedgerows are alive with our own Summer migrants. In fact the first bird I saw as I got out of the car was a newly arrived Swift fly over my head as it had just come in off the sea. My first one of the year and pleasingly just inside April.

Yesterday I received a new toy. I have treated myself to a new lens for my camera. A Sigma 150 - 600mm zoom lens and after a very satisfying lap of my lakes yesterday I decided it needed a proper test down by the sea. The weather looked good and my sunburned head proves that the weathermen didn't lie.

On my last visit to the area, I felt that I hadn't given it enough time between visits. A little disappointing, stupidly, as I had managed to bag the Spoonbill and Long Tailed Duck that time.
Today made up for any false sense of disappointment. I'd go as far as saying it was one of my best days out with the camera in quite a while.

Walking across Pennington to get to the sea wall and there were many Whitethroat here (and everywhere else today).

Two of the sleepy Spoonbill were still in the area, sleeping mostly..

And a good number of Little Terns and a few Common flying over my head, and successfully fishing the lagoon. I had fun playing with the camera trying to snap them, but generally they were facing the wrong way.

A stonking Black Tailed Godwit was at the side of Fishtail, Not bothered by the crowd snapping it, just bumbling around eating worms.

I made my way to the end of Keyhaven, hoping to see the pair of Dartford Warblers I saw last time. No luck today, but a Stonechat and a few Linnet obliged. I believe I saw a Whinchat, but couldn't get a picture, and a few other birders pretty much told me I hadn't.

Then a shout of 'Osprey'!!
True enough, pretty high up, but an Osprey was circling briefly before heading out to sea.
The new lens proved a very good investment and I have to say I'm chuffed to bits with these!

Back to Pennington and a few Little Egret snaps and Whimbrel next to the sea defenses.

A few shots of The Needles, the big boats going in to Southampton and the Coast Guards on a training drill.

Three hours went very quickly. Walking back to the car I spotted another Whinchat and managed to get a snap of this one.  From distance, lit mostly by the smile my new lens had given me.
A bloody good morning's walk.

Bowdown Bluebells.

Unintentional, but possibly quite fitting that after using my blog to explain my redundancy situation and next move, that the first post after is solely about my new 'office'.

As a Neighbourhood Warden we have been checking Bowdown Woods in Greenham for a long time. Our area of focus is more on the car parking areas and connecting lanes but we do go in to the woods from time to time, normally on a foot patrol from one car park to the other but we do lead our Walk for Health group in there once a year.
The reason for that visit is the stunning bluebells.

Greenham Parish is an amazing place for Bluebells. Bowdown, West Wood (south of the main Greenham estate) and the bottom of Audrey's Meadow have to be the best locations I know for the  Spring flowers. The woodland floors are blue carpets and the smell is high up in my all time Top 5!
The bluebells seem a bit late this year, surprising considering the mild winter, and sunny days have been a bit rare, but today myself and my colleague Jim had a stroll with cameras around the woods and took a few snaps.

BBOWT (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) manage Bowdown Woods and as a Conservation Trainee, based at their depot on Greenham Common (next door) I imagine there will be quite a bit of time spent in Bowdown. Bring it on!

I daren't tell you about some of the stuff we have found in the past in the parking laybys etc. as wardens, cos even I struggle to believe it some time..

On to 'grazing' pastures new..

Hey.

If you've found this page, it's probably because I've asked you to read it from my facebook or twitter page. So thank you for stopping by.

As most of you will know, the redundancy ship called in at the Neighbourhood Warden port and sadly we were put on Redundancy notice a week or two ago. (The last month+ has been a bit of a blur).
Negotiations are believed to still be on going between some of our excellent funders, but the clock is ticking and the chance of saving the scheme is looking very slim. (that I know of). This despite overwhelming and very humbling support from resident, Councillors and other Partner Agencies.
We have all been told to seek other employment if we can.

It's been a tough time, since the last week of Feb when we were told the host organisation was pulling out.
We were (are) good. Good workers, good PR for our employers, (in an industry where they don't get very much), good for the communities, but most of all, it was good for me! I loved the job and the freedom it gave, the reputation we had worked so hard to build and then sustain, the partner agencies we worked with... I could go on for a while!
But many more important jobs before us have been cut and we do consider ourselves lucky to get this far in a world with no money.
At first we believed a rescue package would be found, (maybe it still will). In cycling a manager is often told that the sponsor is pulling out and he must find a new one.  Riders stay loyal and hope something can be found for the next season.
In our situation, the management is pulling out, leaving the sponsor and riders to find their own way. Us 'riders' are very grateful to the sponsors (Councils) and out of loyalty and want, you cant walk away from people who are fighting so hard for your services. It's been a headf*ck to say the least.

Personally I've been looking around, halfheartedly at job sites. This is only my third job! The previous two have been in the leisure industry. What the hell next?
I had an interview at Andover Leisure Centre but the pay was a lot less than certainly I felt it deserved. Seems there isn't much money in the leisure industry any more.
Ultimately I thought I'd try and hang on to the end of the scheme, take the Summer off to watch Le Tour and help with child care in the Summer Holidays, then actively 'job hunt' for something in the Autumn.

Rach, my other half, suggested I took the time to retrain. But what?

Myself and my colleague Jim in the past have discussed what we'd do if the job folded. We have felt we have been close a couple of times in recent years. Chats like that make you think about what you enjoy about the job and many times in recent years I have said 'maybe something in conservation'?

Working in such a green area, me and Jim love to get out in the countryside, spotting Red Kite or Badger etc. And then there has been all the conservation projects we've been lucky enough to get involved with - in work time.  Things like The Renewal Project  on the River Lambourn, or helping the local Ornithologists clear islands at Lower Farm Gravel Pits, for waders to nest on.
Basically any excuse to don the waders or cut and burn stuff.
Just last week we cleared a blocked 'badger run' in Bagnor, found by patrolling 'off piste'. You wont believe how many rough sleepers we have found by patrolling the more rural parts of the parishes.
I've led our Junior Wardens on Nature Walks and got them involved in the RENEWAL river clear ups too. Trying to inspire the next generation sounds like a cliche, but hopefully you know what I mean.
Nature is a passion for me, but if you know me and / or read this blog you'll know that already.


So, conservation...
Following the BBOWT account on the work twitter account I saw that they were offering a Conservationist Trainee's post on Greenham Common.
Interested!

Learn skills like hedge laying, wildlife surveying, heath and river management etc. Right up my street.
The catch? it's voluntary. A years training at three days a week, but no salary.

I've tried to embrace the whole redundancy thing as 'doors opening'. There are no other warden schemes and unless I go back to leisure, I will be doing something new.
When you have an amazing job, the next move has to be a good one. I liked the sound of the BBOWT traineeship. Through work I know a lot of them and they are a good bunch. The redundancy package that ten years service offered would help to see me though the financial income drought. Hopefully!

So apply I did. Last Tuesday I had the interview, and on Friday I was offered the post.
Today I told my employer and I start mid May, the week after my birthday.

If only I could start a week earlier! I have been informed that is the week they are tracking 'tagged' adders!

Leaving will be sad. So many goodbyes to say to so many people I've got to know so well over the last decade, but...

 I think I'm going to enjoy this!

Leading Greenham kids on a self guided Nature Walk.

Taking our Junior Wardens around the Nature Discovery Centre.

Aint no party like a (Lower Farm) Bird Hide party!