Tuesday 22 March 2011

Due to very heavy disturbance on my patch this afternoon, very little was recorded. This sometimes happens on my patch, as it is made up up of large gardens and pockets of privately owned land, but worryingly it's getting more frequent in recent years.

Lots of the large gardens on my patch have new owners, and they are busy slashing and burning the mature growth in them, they all seemed to be out today! Also out today were the Hadlow College tree surgeon crew in the large house by the lake area. Hadlow College also had students ( I use the word Students loosely!) all over Migrant Alley doing various ''work'' in between shouting and screaming and chasing each other around!

So with all that going on what did I see ? Well the MARSH TIT was singing in the Wet Woods, the 6 CANADA GEESE were on the 3 lakes, along with the two COOTS, and the KESTREL was hunting above the Tree Nursery. A SISKIN and a MEADOW PIPIT flew over, and were noted down as potential 'last' dates.

Not a good day on the patch today!

13 comments:

ShySongbird said...

I do wish people would stop and think before destroying all the wonderful habitat!

Better luck tomorrow Warren :)

Warren Baker said...

The first spell of warm weather always brings out the fair weather gardeners Songbird. Hopefully things will settle down, but alas the habitat is lost :-(

Derek Faulkner said...

Its not like you to be grumpy and anti-social Warren.
I think you'll find its people enjoying the sun at last and the chance to be outside and be warm and to enjoy making their gardens how they want them to be.

Warren Baker said...

Derek I didn't think it would take you long to take the alterative view.

Its my patch. I live here. I know it intimately. What these people are doing is not recreational gardening.

Come over and visit then make a sensible comment.

Bob Bushell said...

I am deeply annoyed at those who will cut and brutalize the trees, its happened over Lydney, where I was living. You must be in that position.

Warren Baker said...

Bob,

Your right, gardens, especially the larger ones are one of the last refuges for our wildlife.

Anonymous said...

Gardens for so many years have been valuable green corridors/oasis for wildlife, but destroying the mature trees/vegetation will put an end to that.

Derek Faulkner said...

Do I really need to come over there to reach the same conclusion - new owners, big gardens, people doing their own thing on their own property. It may not be nice but its theirs. I have a guy just bought the house opposite me where the large garden has been overgrown for the twenty odd years I've lived here and consequently has good wildlife. Talking to him it appears he is now going to "clean" the garden out and start again - I didn't think it appropriate to tell him that he should leave it overgrown cause I like it like that.

Marc Heath said...

A few bits today at Reculver, 1 Swallow and 3 Sand Martin. Its slow but there may be something by the weekend.

Warren Baker said...

Derek,

It's not a case of me not liking it. These people (your guy opposite included) are ignorant. They are the first to ask '' where have all our Songthrushes gone''?

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

They are the first to ask '' where have all our Songthrushes gone''? The no doubt join Song Bird Survival!
seems to be a rash of unnecessary waste of money lopping topping pruning and general habitat destruction going on here along roadsides and in the parks - thought there was supposedto be no money about could save a fortune by not doing those unnecessary works which included a 300m stretch of blackthorn just about to flower being flailed, and they wonder why there's no bees - eejits...

Cheers

Davo
PS don't get me started on Chinese lanterns aka litter as soon as you light that flippin candle.

Phil said...

Bad luck Warren. I.m glad in a way that i'm surrounded by smaller size gardens. At least there's always a few who leave them unkempt.

Alan Pavey said...

It's a shame about all the disturbance Warren, it's pretty frustrating and seeing things cut down for aesthetics, is also hard to take!!