Top Lodge

Pellets from Heaven

2010-03-14T16:45:00Z

A new visitor has been making their presence felt here recently. A little owl has started using a ledge on the centre buildings as their spot to cough up pellets. Every morning we are finding a couple more. These pellets are the undigested remains of their meals. All owls do this, coughing up the bones and fur of the mice and small mammals that they eat. We know this is a little owl though due to the large number of beetle wing cases that are in the pellets. Little owls eat a lot more insects than their larger cousins.

Little owls are not native to Britain, but were introduced to Northamptonshire in the 19th century and since have spread out across all of England and some of southern Scotland. Which might be just as well, since they are declining in their native grounds of southern europe. Possibly due to the widespread use of insecticides depriving them of their food.

So, why 'pellets from heaven'? Well, the little owl was the companion of the greek goddess Athena. She was the goddess of, amongst other things, wisdom. Which presumably explains why we think of owls as being wise birds.

Catch-up time!

2010-02-14T12:22:00Z

Regular readers may have noticed a distinct lack of posts recently. I'm afraid I haven't been around to update the blog as for the past month and a half I have either been off on leave or standing outside one of several supermarkets in the area, promoting the site and the RSPB.

So, what has been happening?

Well, the big news was about the fate of 'Special K'. You may recall from my last post that unfortunately the body of this popular bird was brought into the centre just after Christmas. At the time we thought there were no suspicious circumstances. However, the corpse was sent off for a routine autopsy, which revealed that he had in fact been shot. This is horrible news, as we were all very fond of him. The idea that someone could have deliberately killed such a wonderful bird, seen and loved by hundreds of people, is just staggering. The police are investigating, and we can only wish them well with their endeavours to catch the culprit.

If you have been up to the site in the last few weeks, you may have noticed a distinct change in the woods. This is because the Forestry Commission (who own the site) have been carrying out logging operations. They are taking out conifers to allow more light in and promote the growth of native broadleaved species. This means that in some areas the wood now looks quite sparse, and various areas have been off limits to the public during the week. Including the area around the wildlife hide, meaning it has been shut. All areas (including the hide) are open at weekends. So please bear this in mind if you are planning to visit.

The work around the hide has also affected our ability to fill the feeders down there. Usually we have volunteers who come in during the week to fill the feeders and show visitors the birds that are then attracted. However, during the restricted access they have been unable to get down there. As a result sometimes the feeders will be empty, particularly early on Saturdays. We ask that visitors are patient during this time of disruption, as it is simply impossible to keep the feeders topped up at all times.

The good news however is that next week is half-term, and the logging operations will be suspended. So during this week the whole wood will again be open to the public, and the hide will be operational with volunteers ready and eager to show off our woodpeckers, jays, tits and finches. During the week we will also be running 'Birdwatching for Kids' courses, on Tuesday and Thursday morning. These are a fun and friendly way to introduce children to the basics of spotting birds. Look for more details on our events page.

A Sad Farewell

2009-12-29T15:02:00Z

It is with much sadness that we have to report the death of one of our best loved kites. 'Special K' (so named after the letter on his wing tag and because he was a serial visitor) was often to be found hanging around the centre. If you visited us over the summer and saw a kite, chances are it was him. A 3 year old bird, hatched in a local wood, he had evidently adopted the centre as his own patch and often gave breathtaking close-up views.

Alas, over the weekend his body was brought in by one of our regular visitors who had found in him a nearby field. The local red kite monitoring group ( a great bunch of guys who do a sterling job keeping tabs on the local population) have sent the body off for an autopsy but at the moment there is no sign of foul play. It just looks like he was unable to deal with the recent icy cold conditions.

RIP Special K, we shall miss you.

The difference between weasels and stoats...

2009-11-28T12:20:00Z

Is that weasels are 'weasely' recognised, whilst stoats are 'stoatly' different!

Bad puns aside, both these little predators have been seen more often now we are entering the colder winter months. Only today as I drove up towards the centre I saw a strange brown shape in the middle of the road. As I got closer this turned out to be a stoat with a rabbit. The stoat heard me coming, took one glance and ran off. Evidently it didn't like what it saw, I'm trying to not take it personally! The rabbit lay there but to my suprise then got off and ran in the opposite direction. Evidently the stoat had just caught it, but had yet to deliver the killing bite. A few moments later. after I had got out of the way, the stoat was back on the road. No doubt wondering where its breakfast had gone!

With all these hungry mouths around, some of their prey seem to be going to extreme lengths to avoid being caught. When at the hide, filling up the bird feeders, I found a little woodmouse in one of the feed bins. These are steel bins with padlocked lids (an unfortunate necessity after a number of thefts of our bird food), so how the mouse broke in is a bit of a mystery. Presumably it managed to squeeze through a gap under the lid and was living the high life, surrounded by food and in a fortress impregnable to even the most determined predator. I felt most ashamed at having to evict it.

Oh, and if you are wondering how you do tell the difference between weasels and stoats, stoats are much larger (weasels are tiny) with a black tip to their tail.

Wonderful Winter Walks

2009-11-09T14:06:00Z

We are now into November, so it is time once again for Top Lodge to start up our exceedingly popular series of walks to see the red kites coming into roost. Many places around the country have feeding stations that attract kites to allow people to see large numbers. But such projects can always seem a bit, well, artificial. here at top Lodge however we offer the public the chance to see up large numbers of kites (the top number ever recorded was 110) in a completely natural setting.

The afternoon starts with a 30 minute illustrated talk about the kites and their reintroduction, both in this area and elsewhere around the country. Then, after a short break, we jump in our cars and drive the short distance to the roosting wood. There we stand whilst kites come in from the surrounding countryside. Often they perch up in isolated trees short distance from the wood, checking each other out. You often find family ties being kept, with grown-up siblings perching next to each other.

Over the course of the next hour or so, kites leave the trees and start dropping into the main wood. But it would be a mistake to think this means an end to the spectacle. Often, for no apparent reason, all the kites in the wood suddenly leave together and end up in a mad aerial dance. Twisting and turning around each other in the sky. Really a sight to see.

The walks begin this Sunday and run every Sunday and Wednesday (with the exception of 13 December) until the end of January. Advance booking is essential as these are very popular and we keep group sizes fixed to avoid disturbing the kites too much with huge numbers of people. Indeed, at the time I am writing this, the first 4 Sunday walks are already fully booked. Places may be booked by phoning the centre on 01780 444691. Places cost £6 for adults and £2 for children.

Ambling Through Autumn

2009-10-22T15:21:00Z

Autumn is definitely a nice time of year to be out and about in the woods. The weather is still warm enough to wander around without being wrapped up from head to foot. But at the same time there is often enough of a chill to tingle your nose and bring a flush to your cheeks, making you feel alive. The leaves changing colour brings a myriad of different hues to the forest. The fallen leaves add a wonderful carpet underfoot and, as our younger visitors are finding, great to rootle around in. The falling leaves also allow slanting beans of sunlight to penetrate between the trees, adding more illumination onto the scene. Meanwhile parties of tits and finches move through the trees and squirrels dash hither and thither, gathering food for the colder months ahead.

One of the nice things that happens here at Top Lodge are the weekly 'health walks' organised by the local council. These set off at 1:30 every Thursday (Wednesday in the new year) and are a great way to get fitter in pleasant surroundings. The gentle walk is 2 miles over surfaced paths and suitable for all abilities. The group is very friendly and always welcomes newcomers. Please contact Jenna Parton for more details on 07725 422871 or email jparton@east-northamptonshire.gov.uk. Who knows, you may even see me joining the group, who afterwards meet up for a well-earned coffee in the cafe.

The buck starts here

2009-10-07T08:42:00Z

As we move into autumn, the fallow deer that live here in Fineshade Wood are reaching the crescendo of their rutting season. Males set up 'stands', scrapes in the ground which become their patch. They then make their mating calls to try to attract females. It has best been described as a long belch! The does move through the wood and select the male they like by the loudness of his belches and how much he smells (the males also give off a very strong scent, noticeable even to humans). How very different from human behaviour!

If you want to try to see or hear the rut, early morning or late evening are the best times. The deer are often hidden away in the wood though and might be tricky to find. Alternatively, why not visit our Date With Nature site at Cannock Chase. They are running deer rut walks on various mornings throughout the season. Find out more by visiting http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/cannockchase

Q: Why is Mr Mushroom so popular?

2009-09-15T12:06:00Z

A: Because he's a fungi to be with....

OK, sorry about the terrible joke. But as we get into autumn it becomes a good time to look for all sorts of fungi in the woods. Here at Top Lodge I spotted four species just on a quick walk to the wildlife hide.

King Alfred's cakes are hard black lumps that can be seen on fallen branches. Their name comes from the old story of Alfred the Great who, being ousted from his kingdom by some marauding Danes sought shelter in the cottage of an old woman, deep within the woods. Because he had no money (having had to leave in something of a hurry) she instead tasked him to watch some cakes (more likely bread rolls) that she was baking. Unfortunately he was no cook and burnt them! The irate woman promptly threw him out of her cottage and threw the cakes after him. They stuck to trees and can still be seen today. They really do look like little lumps of charred bread or cake.

The dryad's saddle is a highly distinctive fungus. A thick stem flattens out to a broad pale yellow cap covered in brown scales. The entire funguis can grow to be rather large, sometimes up to 30 cm across. The name comes from the belief that dryads (makle wood nymphs) used them as saddles when riding deer around the woods.

The many-zoned polyphore might not sound too exciting, but its alternative name of 'turkey tails' gives a clue as to how it looks. These are fan-shaped bracket fungi, with distinct rings of different colours, making them look like the spread tail of a turkey.

Staying with the bird theme, chicken-of-the-woods is a large yellowish bracket fungus found at the base of rotten trees or logs. The name comes from the resemblence to cooked chicken. Young ones are sometimes eaten but may cause severe allergic reactions. As with any fungus, I would recommend NEVER eating one you find in the wild, unless an expert confirms it is safe.

So come along, and have a look to see what you can find!

Fires, Photography and Fairs

2009-09-09T14:45:00Z

If you have a chance to come along to Top Lodge between now and Sunday, do be sure to look into the Big Barn. This renovated 18th century farm building is where we show footage of a red kite nest each year, following the chicks from hatching to fledging. But for this week it is acting as a gallery for a local artist, Kenneth James Martin. He uses long exposure photograpjhy to capture ritual fire writing and to produce some really dramatic works. Well worth popping in to have a look at.

If you are looking for something else to do at the weekend, why not visit either Rutland Day on Saturday 12 September? This celebration of the status of England's smallest county is being held at Rutland Water and we will be there with our team of face painting volunteers, to add a splash of colour to the proceedings. Look out for the blue and white RSPB marquee.

Alternatively, maybe you'd like to visit the autumn fair at Barnwell Country Park in Northamptonshire on Sunday 13 September. This is a great place to see wildlife, including our lovely red kites. Again, myself and the volunteer team will be there (alas, no facepainters this time), so come along and say hello!

We do try to get out to as many local events as we possibly can, but so if you organise a fete or fair within Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, south Lincolnshire or the Peterborough area, do get in touch. Or maybe you fancy having some fun and helping out as a volunteer? Do contact the Top Lodge centre on 01780 444691 or email toplodge@rspb.org.uk

From shopping trolleys to stately homes

2009-08-29T19:55:00Z

Crikey, it has been a wee while since the last update, hasn't it? Not because I have been sunning myself on a beach (chance would be a fine thing) but because instead I have been out and about in the local community.

Whilst sites such as Top Lodge are of course very important to the RSPB, it is vital that we spread our message to as many people as possible. Therefore over the past few weeks I have been on the road. Standing outside supermarkets in Bourne and Kettering gives you a great opportunity to do one of my other hobbies, people watching. Plus it led to some great conversations with some really nice people.

The most exciting work I have been doing over the past few weeks though was in the somewhat grander surroundings of the gardens belonging to a stately home. Burghley House near Stamford is just a few miles up the road from us at Top Lodge. You may have heard of it as the venue for a prestigious equestrian event, the Burghley Horse Trials. The house (which incidentally is well worth a visit) has some very nice grounds, including gardens laid out by Capability Brown in which are housed sculptures. It was there, overlooking an ornamental lake, that we pitched our marquee and set up for a week.

The lake provided most of the birdlife that we saw, with a kingfisher providing brief but regular views. Grebes, coots, moorhens and ducks dabbled or dived on the water whilst buzzards, red kites and on a couple of days a hobby wheeled overhead. In the RSPB marquee we chatted to visitors and had fun with the kids making dragonflies out of pipe cleaners, with acetate sheets cut into the shape of wings.

I would just like to say what a pleasure it was to meet everyone over that week and how grateful we are to Burghley House for allowing us into their gardens. We are hoping to repeat it in 2010, watch this space!

A Kite's Eye view

2009-08-07T09:30:00Z

On Monday I was asked to give a talk about the local red kites. Nothing unusual about that, I get to do it quite often. But the people I was talking to were the Welland Gliding Club. When flying they look out for thermals to give themselves extra lift. Kites do the same and so they often find themselves in close proximity to each other, giving some marvelously close views. All of which obviously piqued their interest.

Very kindly, one of the members of the club offered to take me up in his glider so I could get the impression of what a kite must feel like. Now, I have to admit that I am not the best flier in the world, so the idea of strapping myself into what is effectively a plane without an engine did make me think twice. But pretty soon I found myself sat in the front seat whilst Mike ran through the safety briefing and explained how the instruments worked. And then it was time to be off. The winch rope was attached and we started to hurtle along over the grass. One brief hop and then we were up, up into the air. After some intial nerves I soon got into it as we rose up to 1000 feet. It was marvelous to see the local countryside spreading out in front of us and looking down it really made you appreciate how good a kite's eyesight must be to spot food from up there. We drifted around whilst Mike pointed out local landmarks, and then all too soon it was time to return to earth again.

It really was a mervellous experience and I can highly recommend it to anyone.

Ready for take off!

And they are off.....

2009-07-24T14:56:00Z

The kite chicks that is. They have finally taken the plunge and are now no longer on the nest. over the last couple of weeks they had only been appearing at infrequent intervals. Usually just after the parents had dropped some food off at the nest. Mum and Dad have finally got bored of waiting hand and foot on the youngsters now, so the chicks will have to look after themselves, foraging for carrion in the surrounding fields. Who knows, you may just catch a glimpse of them circling over the centre.

Hop to it!

2009-07-06T13:24:00Z

If you've been meaning to come to Top Lodge to see the kite chicks on the nest, you'd better get your skates on. The three chicks are getting ever more adventuresome. In preparation for their first flight they have taken to 'branch hopping', where they leave the nest for nearby branches and then half jump/half flutter from one branch to another. As a result, its not always possible to see all three birds on the nest camera. Indeed, somtimes you can only see the tail of one bird, with the others nowhere to be seen!

All of which gave us a slight problem on Sunday, when a BBC film crew came with Mike Dilger (best known as the wildlife expert on The One Show) to tell the story of our kites. Luckily the kites behaved impeccably, so watch out for them on 'Inside out', sometime in the Autumn.

Midsummer Madness

2009-06-23T16:32:00Z

It has been a busy weekend for us here at Top Lodge, as we held a summer solstice fair. Visitors were entertained by sword dancers, a juggler and live musicians. A bar provided alcoholic refreshment whist the young (or just young at heart) had fun with the games and facepainting. Then in the evening we held a barn dance in our 18th century barn. Local musicians got the toes tapping and everyone had a great time.

If all this sounds like fun, do keep your eyes on our events at www.rspb.org.uk/toplodge. Or maybe you would like to help out with future events as a volunteer? Just get in touch on 01780 444691.

I am not a number!

2009-06-18T13:59:00Z

I'm a free...... kite?

Our three red kite chicks are now sporting their very fetching wing tags. These light plastic tags clip over the kites' wings and allow them to be identified from a distance. Reports of their movements will help us understand the kites and how they live their lives better. So if in years to come you see a kite with a white tag on both wings and the numbers 78, 79 or 80, give them a cheery wave!

In other news, this weekend is set to be a big event for us. We are holding our Summer Solstice Fair, with live music, sword dancers, juggler, craft fair, bar and lots of other activities. Do come along and pay us a visit!