Category Archives: Plants and Animals

Birds Seen At Fleet Pond (1970 To 2012)

Conservation, Plants and Animals

Fleet Pond Birds 70-12

Example: Page 1 Of The Bird Checklist

David Pottinger writes:

William Legge of Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) has kindly prepared a (very impressive) checklist of birds that have been seen at Fleet Pond during the period 1970 – 2012.

The survey covers a very long period of time and unfortunately many of the species have not been seen in recent years. However it is hoped that our exciting pond restoration work will bring some of these back!

The full document can be downloaded here.

Information on a recent bird walk at Fleet Pond, lead by Peter Hutchins of RSPB (Basingstoke), can be found here.

First Snow Of The Year – 2013

Photography, Plants and Animals

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David Pottinger writes:

I was surprised to see a thin veil of snow on Monday morning, so I took the opportunity of taking a few photos around the pond (click to enlarge).

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Someone Was Interested!

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Work Carries On

Finally, on the way back, I was surprised and delighted to spot a heron calmly perching just a few feet from the path!

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Heron On The Lake

If you have any photos taken at Fleet Pond that you’d like to share, please note that we have a Flickr Group set up for this:

Swans at Fleet Pond

All submissions very welcome! See the top rhs of this blog for the most recent entries.

Photo credits: David Pottinger

Birds At The Pond – December 2012

Plants and Animals, Walks

David Pottinger writes:

On Sunday 16 December, Peter Hutchins lead two bird walks at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve. The morning one (10 am start) was with members of the RSPB and the afternoon one (2 pm start) was with members of Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS). Newcomers were also very welcome.

Peter has written an excellent article (including photos) on the morning walk for the December Newsletter of the Basingstoke Local RSPB Group. Here’s a sample extract:

Viewing northwards from the bay, as above, saw Magpie and Woodpigeon on the wing, Cormorant and Black-headed Gull on the distant islands and trees and the first Teal of the outing added, these however no more than hidden ‘preepings’ behind the willow and Alder carr. A bird that did however show, albeit briefly as it headed out over the reeds and trees, was a Snipe; another “You had to be there!” bird that just hinted at what might just be hidden out of view in the damper inaccessible areas. Another in the same category was a Little Egret that flighted eastwards just minutes later, once again only being seen by the few that had not already headed once more in to the woodland.

In total, nearly 50 species were recorded during the walk!

The full article can be found (p 31-41) in the newsletter which Peter has kindly allowed us to be made generally available and which can downloaded here: RSPB Newsletter December 2012.

The article is a very interesting read, as is the newsletter in it’s own right!

Regarding the second walk later in the day, of most note were a showy Water Rail in the north-east corner (two more being heard), the Drake Pochard and several Jays in an all too quickly darkening sky.

So, all-in-all, a very eventful and rewarding pair of bird walks!

If you have any queries on the above or the would like information on future similar walks, please contact Peter Hutchins directly:

Email: fieldfare@jaybry.gotadsl.co.uk or peter.hutchins@royalmail.com

Phone: 07895 – 388378 or 01256 – 770831.

For information and photos on previous (and very popular) bird walks at Fleet Pond lead by Peter, please see here and here.

Another Tern For Fleet Pond

Conservation, Plants and Animals

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The Common Tern is the beneficiary of recent work carried out on one of the new islands in the middle of Fleet Pond. Volunteers from Fleet Pond Society worked together with Hart Countryside Rangers (see above and below) to cover the central island with gravel paid for with funds raised through the Society’s ‘Clearwater Campaign’.

Common Terns like to nest in bare scrapes on flat, poorly vegetated islands. This makes the eggs and young vulnerable to predation by mammals such as rats and mink as well as large birds including gulls, owls and herons. It is hoped that their speckled eggs will be well camouflaged against the gravel, with protection for the chicks provided by the low level roofing tile hideaways. Fencing has been placed round the island to stop mink accessing it.

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Fleet Pond Ranger, Louise Greenwood (pictured below) stated her hopes for the newly covered island: ‘In the summer of 2012 seven pairs of Terns nested on this new island but unfortunately none of them fledged as they were predated. By providing this gravel topping and the hideaways we hope that next year we will have a new colony of Terns on Fleet Pond.’

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Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, said: ‘We would like to thank the company, W M Longreach, for kindly transporting the gravel over to the island for us. It is a very exciting project to have spent some campaign funds on.  In fact we named the island ‘Clearwater’ and if you look closely you might be able to see the flag we planted with the ‘Clearwater Campaign’ logo on.’

April Wildflower Watch – Return of the Skunk Cabbage

Plants and Animals
American Skunk Cabbage in Brookly Glade
American Skunk Cabbage in Brookly Glade

Michelle Salter writes:

Whilst other flowers are making a later appearance than last year, there’s no stopping the return of the robust Skunk Cabbage.

The yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine are only just starting to show on the banks of the Brookly Stream, and the Easter flower, Wood-sorrel has yet to appear on the path to Sandy Bay. But the large, yellow, waxy flowers of American Skunk Cabbage are starting to pop up all around the pond.

Skunk Cabbage Flower in Brookly Wood
Skunk Cabbage Flower in Brookly Wood

While most wildflowers need the warmth of the spring sun before they bloom, the Skunk Cabbage generates its own heat, which is strong enough to melt small patches of surrounding snow. The largest colony of Skunk Cabbage at the pond can be found by Brookly Stream as they formed part of the private garden that became Brookly Wood.

American Skunk Cabbage was introduced to this country around 1900, when it became a popular addition to many gardens. It has since spread as a naturalised plant in marshy areas. Its strong odour attracts flies, gnats, and bees necessary for its pollination.

American Skunk Cabbage has been listed as a species that can be invasive, but as yet its impact is unknown. The wet woodland it favours is a rare and vulnerable habitat and the forceful Skunk Cabbage can crowd out other plants.

A project has been launched to record and count invasive species that can have a destructive effect on native wildlife, and members of the public are asked to take part by taking photos and submitting them to the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) website.

Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC)

The Recording Invasive Species Counts (RISC) project is a way to find out more and to contribute to our understanding of the distribution and ecology of six invasive non-native species.  It is co-ordinated by the NBN and BRC (part of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), in partnership with recording schemes for the animals and plants.  The project is funded by Defra.

Photo credits: Michelle Salter