The Lodge

Photo: Comma Butterfly

FCox143 — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Taken at The Lodge, Bedfordshire.

Blog post: Blustery Saturday

Mark Brandon — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:43:00 GMT

An interesting day today- we headed down with our marquee to support the Sandy Festival and Carnival at lunch time, but the weather defeated everyone! Just as the carnival procession entered the field, a massive wind and rain storm hit us and after sheltering under the marquee with a group of very wet carnival goers for some while, we decided that we would have to hurriedly pack up while everything was still in one piece! It was such a shame for the youngsters who were all dressed up and ready to dance and perform in the arena, and some brave ones still persevered in the terrible conditions.

Let's hope it's better for tonight's Twilight walk- it's sunny at the moment but very blustery!

Fingers crossed!

Blog post: Young ravens

Mark Brandon — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:21:00 GMT

We were really pleased when the raven's fledged from their nest on the hillfort recently. This is the second consecutive year that these impressive birds have bred at The Lodge.Visitors have been seeing the raven family really well as they fly around the hillfort and New Heath areas, 'cronking' noisily at times. Sean Darcy took some great images of the young birds and was also fortunate enough to see and photograph a corn bunting on Sandy Ridge. Corn bunting is a very rare bird here - I've never seen one here in my five years at the reserve.!

Blog post: Flycatchers return

Mark Brandon — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:17:00 GMT

Yesterday I was manning the info kiosk and a pair of spotted flycatchers were calling and active in the trees around the Gatehouse car park for most of the day. They were here again this morning in the same spot, and have also been seen in the rear garden, near the toilets Good news! - as they are a lot later than last year.

Blog post: Cuckoo's calling

Mark Brandon — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:48:00 GMT

Although it's been a very wet and dull couple of days following the gorgeous Bank Holiday weather,we've been hearing both the male and female cuckoo's calling from the heathland around the shop.Unlike the males iconic 'cuck -oo' call,females have an unusual bubbling call, that's not often heard.
As one of the earliest migrants to leave our shores,it won't be very long before they go quiet and start the long journey back to Africa, so we have to enjoy the cuckoo's song while we can.

Blog post: Ravens breed again

Mark Brandon — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:57:00 GMT

After last year's successful breeding by ravens at The Lodge, we have been eagerly awaiting to see if they would breed here again this year. Today, 3 young ravens have been seen around the hillfort, with their parents noisily and actively watching over them. Excellent news!
A pair of hobbies have also been on the New Heath, along with a kestrel and a rather distant passing osprey, completing the raptor set for the day.

We are still waiting and hoping that spotted flycatchers will breed once again in the nest boxes at the Gatehouse rear lawn; there has been the occasional sighting over the last week, but no activity around the boxes as yet.

Blog post: State of Nature report

Mark Brandon — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:03:00 GMT

The State of Nature report is published today. I've listened to David attenborough talking about the report on Radio 4 this morning and it has generated a lot of publicity on the media channels. The report is sobering and concluded that nature is in trouble, but the report also shows that wildlife organisations, along with the public, can work together to help improve matters for wildlife in the future.

Here are some headlines from the report;

A single voice - for the first time ever, all of the UK’s leading wildlife organisations have joined forces to undertake a health check on nature.
Our nature is amazing - the UK is blessed with a wealth of wonderful wildlife.
Nature is being lost - 60% of the species we have assessed have declined over recent decades and 30% have declined very strongly. This is just the latest part of a historical pattern of decline in the UK.
Nature is in trouble – and the threats it faces are not going to go away.
We can turn things around - through conservation initiatives, community projects, public campaigns and individuals doing their bit, we can bring nature back.
The power of partnership – all these groups are standing shoulder to shoulder and we’re backed by millions of members of the public. Together we can make a difference.
An army of volunteers – this report is based on data gathered by an army of thousands of dedicated and passionate volunteers in their spare time.

And here are some facts from the Eastern region;

The turtle dove is one of Europe’s most rapidly declining birds and 81% of the birds in the East of England have been lost since the 70s.
South Essex and the Thames gateway supports one of only five remaining meta-populations of shrill carder bees in the UK
The yellow horned poppy is a nationally scarce species of which a fine population may be found at Cley and along the eastern end of Blakeney Point in Norfolk.
The Skylark declined rapidly from the mid 1970s until the mid 1980s. 24% of skylarks have been lost in the East of England.
There are five species of rare and delicate stonewort in the Thurne Broads, some only occurring in the Norfolk Broads.
The willow tit has seen an 88% decline between 1988-2010. Norfolk Bird Atlas states that there may only be 40-90 pairs left in Norfolk.
The Fens in Broadland are the last habitat in the UK of the magnificent swallowtail butterfly, whose larvae feed exclusively on rare milk parsley plants.

We'll be keeping our ears on the radio and eyes on the TV over the coming days to see the reaction and interest that this report generates.

Blog post: Help the RSPB Give Nature a Home-apply for a Membership Development Officer role in the East..

Mark Brandon — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

As you read this blog, you are already passionate about wildlife and Giving Nature a Home. If you would like to work for the RSPB as a Membership Development Officer and help in our mission to Save Nature by inspiring people to join us as members,please take a look at the available roles you can apply for below.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/vacancies/details/344990-membership-development-officer-essex

http://www.rspb.org.uk/vacancies/details/344993-membership-development-officer-lincolnshire

http://www.rspb.org.uk/vacancies/details/344977-membership-development-officer-bedfordshire

Blog post: Come along to The Lodge Spring Fair this weekend...

Mark Brandon — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:14:00 GMT

Blog post: Spring enjoyment

Mark Brandon — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:19:00 GMT

After an incredible holiday in Arizona, adding plenty of colourful new birds to my life list, I'm fighting the jet lag and noticing through hazy eyes that spring has erupted while I've been away.
It seemed quite strange coming home to see our gloves and winter clothes laying around from the cold days before we set off. Now the trees are fresh and green, warblers are singing and the long staying winter finches have all departed. A lot can change in a fortnight!

This Saturday we have our Bluebells and Spring Birds walk.Starting at 11am, we have timed this just right as the bluebells are at their peak at the moment. Just give us a call on 01767 680541 if you'd like to join the walk as there are limited places.

Blog post: Bluebells and parking bays

Peter Bradley — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:14:00 GMT

The daffs are done, the bluebells are blooming - lovely! - it's well worth a visit this weekend. It will be fantastic if the weather stays warm and sunny as forecast, and since trees are late coming into leaf it should be a great opportunity to actually see our woodland birds in full song.

We have just added a few extra car parking bays at the gatehouse, and levelled the disabled bay near the gazebo. However, we can be really busy over a bank holiday weekend, especially so between 10.30 - 2.30pm, so if you want peace and quiet (and a parking space) you may want to come early or late.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Peter

Photo: Shoots of spring

Kiteman47 — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:14:00 GMT

Photo: Wren

Kiteman47 — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:11:00 GMT

Perched on the bracken near small pond , this Wren preened itself

Photo: Male Black cap

Kiteman47 — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:08:00 GMT

Photo taken on the path towards the pond at the back of the main house

Photo: Jay

Kiteman47 — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:05:00 GMT

Blog post: At last... some migrants!

Peter Bradley — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:25:00 GMT

I did some bird surveying in the good weather last week. It involved me standing at certain points, and noting what birds and how many I could hear. All to assess our woodland for birds. It's one of the nicest things I get to do, though it's not easy!

At last, there are some migrants! I heard whitethroat and chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap. There's also been a tree pipit around (sadly not on my survey, though...).

Today's birds included a firecrest singing in holly trees at the far end of the headquarters car park.

Blog post: There's a buzzing in the woods...

Peter Bradley — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:16:00 GMT

Our chainsaw sculptor Patrick is busy creating an amazing sculpture in the bluebell wood. This will mark a small and beautiful corner of the reserve where people can remember their passed loved ones. If you pop down this week, you will see it all happening. Once it's all cleared up, it should look great, and be a quiet, natural area for us all to enjoy.

Photo: Goldfinch drinking at the hide pond

GTH — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:03:00 GMT

Forum post: Ring Ouzel at The Lodge 21 April 2013

Sandyman2 — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:50:00 GMT

Blog post: Slowly slowly- spring is coming

Mark Brandon — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:43:00 GMT

With the winds turning to the south and a warmer feel to proceedings, the first spring migrants have slowly been appearing. After last weeks chiffchaff, several swallows were over the reserve at the weekend and sand martins have been in the local area as well.We are just waiting for our first willow warblers and blackcaps to be reported now. Still a touch of winter in terms of the birds still here; a couple of bramblings, around a dozen redpolls and the odd siskin are still using the feeders before they decide to fly away and leave us and a large flock of fieldfares and redwings have been on Sandy Ridge. Red kites have been seen quite regularly, being mobbed aggressively by the ravens at the weekend. A single crossbill was reported from the hide pools on Sunday, but there has been no sign of the larger flock of 30 birds recently. The next few weeks should be exciting on the bird front!