Category Archives: Plants and Animals

Bird Ringing At The Pond

Conservation, Plants and Animals

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Martin, from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), can be seen ringing Blue Tits at Fleet Pond SSSI in these photographs taken by Rachel Jones, who was there to assist in this task.

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Martin is carrying out valuable work recording the bird-life in the Nature Reserve as part of the ongoing Constant Effort Sites Scheme (CES):

The Constant Effort Sites (CES) scheme is the first national standardised ringing programme within the BTO Ringing Scheme and has been running since 1983.  Ringers operate the same nets in the same locations over the same time period at regular intervals through the breeding season at over 120 sites throughout Britain and Ireland.

The Scheme provides valuable trend information on abundance of adults and juveniles, productivity and also adult survival rates for 25 species of common songbird.

Martin successfully netted and ringed 25 species of birds in the reed beds at Fleet Pond a week ago.

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Please help us look after our bird life by keeping out of the reed beds as birds are nesting. It is very important that dogs are not allowed in the reed bed and marsh areas at this very sensitive time of year for wildlife. Even the very edges are favoured habitat for nesting birds.

Photo credits: Rachel Jones (Hart Countryside Ranger).

Interesting Video On The Aquatic Plant Nursery Area

Conservation, Plants and Animals

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DCXHfoWROA&w=560&h=315]

See above for a recent short video on the progress made in developing the new aquatic plant nursery area at Fleet Pond. It seems that household toilet brushes have many uses!

Details of this task can be found here. This imaginative project is being funded by the Clearwater Campaign of Fleet Pond Society.

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Plan for the Fish Exclusion Zone (click to enlarge; feature legend on rhs)

For general background on the overarching Fleet Pond Restoration Project, see the first part of this very clear video from last year:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7HxaQSqloc&w=560&h=315]

The Recovery Of The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Plants and Animals

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Top down view of a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Peter Martin writes:

During the autumn of 2013, the biggest surprise was the number of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies that I recorded in this part of North-east Hampshire. Please see pictures above and below.

This butterfly, which used to be seen in fairly large numbers, had been badly affected in recent years by a parasitic fly, Sturmia bella, which arrived here from the Continent due to global warming.

The fly lays its tiny eggs on the leaves of the food-plant which are then consumed by the Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars when munching the stinging nettle leaves. Grubs emerge from the eggs inside the caterpillars and start to eat them, leaving the vital organs ‘til last.

Due to attacks by this parasite, I only saw 8 Small Tortoiseshells in 2008, 11 in 2010, 8 in 2011 and 5 in 2012. In 2013, however, I recorded 88. A National Garden Survey for the whole of the UK showed an increase in numbers compared with 2012 of 388%. Locally, we have bettered this with over 1,600% improvement.

Was this due to weather or other conditions making 2013 a bad year for the parasite or could there be a long-term benefit? Only time will tell, but it would certainly be nice to see more of these beautiful insects in future years.

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Side view of a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Picture credits: Wikipedia.

Request For Adder Sightings At The Reserve

Conservation, Education, Photography, Plants and Animals

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An adder spotted by Colin Gray (see here)

David Pottinger writes:

David Buckler, a Committee Member of Fleet Pond Society, is currently carrying out a survey for the Amphibian and Reptile Group (ARG).

As part of this, David would be interested to hear of any adder sightings at Fleet Pond, especially during March/April. There is a concern that there may be a decline in numbers.

Please contact David directly on this subject (no need to leave a comment below), his email address is: david.buckler@talktalk.net

Many thanks for your assistance.

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An adder spotted by David Buckler (see here)

 

Sunday 9 March – Fifteen Herons Flying

Conservation, Plants and Animals, Volunteering

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The ever popular baked potatoes being prepared

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… and then enjoyed

Rachel Jones, the Countryside Ranger, writes:

“Another great turn out for the Fleet Pond Society Volunteer March Sunday!

Wow what amazing weather! We were all rewarded with Brimstone and Peacock butterflies, and we counted up to 15 Herons flying over the Islands!

The aim was to clear as much brash as possible from along the footpaths at Fleet Pond. These extra branches and logs were from the recent storms and previous volunteer parties. With the logs, the team made log piles in the woods which will be valuable dead wood for insects.

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Taking a well earned coffee break

The brash was pulled out of the Eastern marsh now thankfully the area is just about dry enough to venture out there! Terry and Nick worked on the view point and it’s looking great! There was lots of interest from passers by.

We have a team out on Fugelemere Marsh burning all the brash, some dragged from the marsh and some from nearby footpaths. We also reduced the huge pile off the dry heath.

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Well, that’s one way to get the job done!

There is still much to clear and tidy but this was a really great effort from all and we are very grateful to all our volunteers.”

Ed. Some excellent pictures of herons at Fleet Pond can be seen on the Fleet Pond Society Group Pool on Flickr – see here.

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Dedication – working on after the main event has ended…

Ed. If you are interested in the butterflies that can be seen at the Pond (as mentioned above), why not take a look at these articles by Peter Martin?

Butterflies At The Pond – 2013

Butterflies Around The Pond – Have You Seen Any?

Photo credits: David Pottinger and Rachel Jones.