Meadow madness

The Meadow is looking fantastic as usual...........and this year an Orchid even decided to make an appearance. Below are some pics of what you may see in the Meadow this year, including Bee, Devils Bit Scabious and Grasshoppers.

Photo friendly

Our job isn't all just about saving or photographing cute and cuddly creatures.................

A sign of things to come.....

Rufford has been as busy as ever with lots going on as always.
Recently a new sign was ordered to show people some of the birds that are using our lake as their home, as well as passing through occasionally on migration.
A spot was chosen overlooking the lake so that people can identify what birds they can see.

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Also some remedial work is being undertaken in the maze area where a new fence is being put in. There is still a lot to do here but it may be.......a sign of things to come.

Flying the nest......

Once again the Swallow's set up camp near our office, and along with a few other pairs have successfully fledged 4 baby swallows, feeding up for their long maiden flight back to Africa. Swallow's will nest in the same spot most years.

Above are some pictures of the tentative young Swallow's, awaiting instructions and life lessons from their parents.

Himalayan Balsam pulling.

Last year the Himalayan Balsam made it to the stage of flowering in a very small area so this year we tackled it early, with help of our Conservation Volunteers, Wild Sherwood and the team. Luckily we have spotted none flowering this year (see picture below).

The team donned some waders and ventured out as some had been spotted on one of our floating islands. Previously we did some work in the Wetland Conservation Area.

All A bit Batty!

Rufford has all been a favorite of the local bat population for many years and recent surveys have identified a total of 7 species using the site with at least 4 of these species breeding.

Bats that have recently been recorded by Nottinghamshire Bat group and a recent ecology surveyor are:

Natterer's

Brandt's 

Whiskered 

Daubenton's 

Brown long-eared 

Soprano pips 

Common pip 

We are really lucky to have this many species on site and  taylor our woodland management to reflect this by using minimal intervention techniques in the woodland such as just clearing dangerous trees and a proportion of the scrub layer. We do this to improve the structure and diversity of the woodland as a whole and to ensure younger saplings and ground flora have a chance to take off , this in turn encourages insects into the woodland which are a bats favorite food. 

The other bonus we have here at Rufford which bats just love is the lake. On a warm summers evening they can been seen doing aerial acrobatics over the open water catching insects as they go putting on a fantastic display for whoever might be passing at that moment.

So next time your out for a summers evening walk just before dusk, head to the lake to see if you can catch the show.

Pesticides, pond dipping and fledglings.

A busy week has seen many things happen at Rufford.
Lots of young birds have decided to make their way in the world, fledglings spotted include House Sparrow, Blue tit (see below), Robin and Swallows about to make the leap.

Alongside this a college group from North Notts College cam out to do some water surveying for us. They split into two groups and pond dipped off two platforms to see what was frequenting our Wetland Conservation Area. Results were counted and verified and the species listed below were found;

• Water Boatmen
• A huge Dragonfly nymph
• Lots of other nymphs
• Leech
• Stickleback fish
• Water Mite
• Loads of tadpoles in various stages, some with legs forming
• Freshwater Hoglouse

And to finish off on a positive note we all passed our PA6 Pesticides assessment.