RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

[rollingthunder]

Thanks for the info John - not good really........

Laurie:t:

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

River Tame

The recent moderate flooding which filled the North pit and North Jubilee wetlands (both connected to the river). from the North Jubilee wetlands the water went over the bund to the South jubilee wetlands and also the SE sluiced controlled lagoon, but did not breach the bund for the SW sluice controlled lagoon, most of the waders were here yesterday.
The flooding has removed most of the blanket weed and when it goes down again will expose fresh mud.
The river brings in fish to the Reserve, some spawn on the Reserve. But a danger to breeding birds in flood (mild or heavy flood at the moment and heavy flood only if a floating sliuce is put in).
What's it like at Upton Warren for blanket weed (excessive algae growth) and how is it controlled, appears you can let water in and also out at Upton.
Water levels up at Middleton lakes and Geoff may have dis-appeared to Lincs with a Baird's Sandpiper at Frampton.

Regards, John

 

[Phil Andrews]

The recent moderate flooding which filled the North pit and North Jubilee wetlands (both connected to the river). from the North Jubilee wetlands the water went over the bund to the South jubilee wetlands and also the SE sluiced controlled lagoon, but did not breach the bund for the SW sluice controlled lagoon, most of the waders were here yesterday.
The flooding has removed most of the blanket weed and when it goes down again will expose fresh mud.
The river brings in fish to the Reserve, some spawn on the Reserve. But a danger to breeding birds in flood (mild or heavy flood at the moment and heavy flood only if a floating sliuce is put in).
What's it like at Upton Warren for blanket weed (excessive algae growth) and how is it controlled, appears you can let water in and also out at Upton.
Water levels up at Middleton lakes and Geoff may have dis-appeared to Lincs with a Baird's Sandpiper at Frampton.

Regards, John

Hi John - re Upton Warren, at the Flashes there is no problem with blanket weed due to the saline conditions. Our sluice is quite responsive to our manipulation to encourage passage / breeding waders, albeit the actual system is broken at the mo and we have cobbled together a Heath Robinson affair pending the Trust installing a proper mechanism. At the Moors Pool (where there is blanket weed in parts) the main sluice mechanism seized up years ago; there is a small drainage pipe on the west side but it doesnt make a huge difference. Here the biggest threat of flooding (as illustrated earlier this week) is the River Salwarpe breaking its banks and cascading into the Moors Pool which is at a lower level.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Blanket Weed

Hi John - re Upton Warren, at the Flashes there is no problem with blanket weed due to the saline conditions. Our sluice is quite responsive to our manipulation to encourage passage / breeding waders, albeit the actual system is broken at the mo and we have cobbled together a Heath Robinson affair pending the Trust installing a proper mechanism. At the Moors Pool (where there is blanket weed in parts) the main sluice mechanism seized up years ago; there is a small drainage pipe on the west side but it doesnt make a huge difference. Here the biggest threat of flooding (as illustrated earlier this week) is the River Salwarpe breaking its banks and cascading into the Moors Pool which is at a lower level.

Thanks Phil,
These torrential rain bursts we are having now will cause another flood into Jubilee wetlands.

Regards, John

 

[rollingthunder]

I cycled back about 1 oclock this morning and the rain was torrential and had been getting heavier since about 17.30 yesterday evening - it will be interesting to see what the effect is over the rest of the region. Forceast unsettled and rainy this week with a possilbe return to dryer conditons and higher temperatures by next weekend/early next week.....

Laurie:t:

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

New hide

The new hide is complete and glazed, needs benches in and is coded padlocked.
Picture of the hide showing timber upper construction with a brick lower shell, back view of igneous intrusion of Dosthill.
The head of RSPB Reserves present today and was noting any pockets of lying water after the recent re-landscaping, water lies on the new viewing screens, some areas along the East- West track and particulary bad just behind the hide, I noticed a Common Sandpiper feeding here today.
If someone goes to the hide in shoes and falls asleep in the hide at present you would need wellington's to get from the hide if flooding occurs as has just happened. Inbetween all this mud would be taken into the hide from people's footwear unless dry conditions

Regards, John

 

[Phil Andrews]

Is there going to be some screening on the approach to the hide? Are the RSPB going to open and close it every day?

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

New Hide

Is there going to be some screening on the approach to the hide? Are the RSPB going to open and close it every day?

There has to be some screening in Phil, the new hide is the responsibiltity of Nick Martin (who is away at present), Nick can keep the code number to himself and have some quiet photography sessions in there.
However it will probably be opened and shut daily by RSPB Volunteers.

Regards, John

 

[rollingthunder]

You ca'nt beat a nice igneous intrusion.......

Laurie:t:

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Black Tern

You don't usually see many Black Tern at middleton lakes they are usually on the North pit when flooding has occurred, you have more scope now with Jubilee wetlands, Dosthill lake attracts more Black Tern. Check those Teal if you see any, you could find a Garganey.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Small Tortoiseshell larvae

Visiting the Reserve last Friday I noted there were alot of Small tortoiseshell larvae along the bank Jubilee wetlands from the first screen on stinging nettles, they were of various sizes, they were going to outstrip the nettle food supply which was limited along here. I was prepared to move some larvae Monday along the canal where there is plenty of stinging nettles. However on Monday I could not find one Larvae, I can only assume they were all washed away in Saturday nights rain storm.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Middleton Lakes

1/8/13 A Hobby over Mill plantation was soon mobbed away by the farm Swallows.
Arriving at Fisher's mill bridge 2 vols reported a Female Marsh Harrier seen by another vol earlier called Chris. I later had a brief view of the fem/imm bird to confirm.
Water levels up with a little egret, shelduck, 99 Mute swan, 102 grey lag geese, Holly Blue seen by Fisher's mill bridge and a Dusky Sallow moth. Marsh Woundwort and Water mint in flower.
The flood has caused damaged to the East -west pipe bridge, water is now flowing back to the river, it will be good for waders in 2 days time, unless further rain.

Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

4/8/13 A visit this afternoon hoping the water levels may have dropped, however it was not the case, it appears under the current situation that water levels will only drop after a prolonged dry period, this is what happened in June and early to mid July, when plenty of waders were attracted, now the main wader passage has started no passage waders are being seen. The reserve is more suited to ducks than waders, the same would be so at RSPB Titchwell if the water levels were not controlled on the freshwater lagoon there.
Jubilee wetlands Redshank and Little Egret, 2 Teal and Little Egret on the north pit. A new bund has been put up to the right of the hide to enter the hide giving cover, there are small gaps each side of the hide that could be covered by planting of Gorse. Nick Martin hopes to feed birds infront of the hide, there are usually linnets attracted to the north pit, one day someone may photograph a Twite also. Waders will be attracted to the area in front of the hide, the damaged pipe bridge has been repaired and it will not be the only time. I don't know much about floating sliuces but in a big flood these may become damaged also.
Along the tracks at Fisher's mill, many Red Bartsia are about to flower finding a niche along the verge of the cut grass areas, Purple loosestrife are also in flower seen from Fisher's mill screen.

Regards, John

 

[rollingthunder]

This has severe implications for the 'reserve'. I am sure the RSPB did not envisage not being allowed to 'control' seasonal variation in water levels? The EA wish to use the area as a levee to 'control' levels and alleviate potential flooding further down the system. It's been a flood plain of sorts. Coupled with the naturally higher water table in Winter and it's hard to envisage the place getting anything like the amount of passage waders that were hoped for and indeed are passing through the local reservoirs and minor wetlands in the Midlands. Middleton should be heaving with the bloody things:C

Any breeding waders will be doomed to failure under the present regime.

The hoped for 'Minsmere' of the Midlands, somewhere to actually put the region on the map, may well turn out to be a pipedream, i hope not but certainly the way things are at present i do share any optimistic outlook i'm afraid.............

Just my thoughts that's all - i have'nt visited for 18 months, it's also a bit far to justify the mileage but i did have plans on mooring my narrowboat during Spring and Autumn migration for a couple of weeks at a time in order to be 'on site' so to speak.

Laurie -

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Middleton lakes

This has severe implications for the 'reserve'. I am sure the RSPB did not envisage not being allowed to 'control' seasonal variation in water levels? The EA wish to use the area as a levee to 'control' levels and alleviate potential flooding further down the system. It's been a flood plain of sorts. Coupled with the naturally higher water table in Winter and it's hard to envisage the place getting anything like the amount of passage waders that were hoped for and indeed are passing through the local reservoirs and minor wetlands in the Midlands. Middleton should be heaving with the bloody things:C

Any breeding waders will be doomed to failure under the present regime.

The hoped for 'Minsmere' of the Midlands, somewhere to actually put the region on the map, may well turn out to be a pipedream, i hope not but certainly the way things are at present i do share any optimistic outlook i'm afraid.............

Just my thoughts that's all - i have'nt visited for 18 months, it's also a bit far to justify the mileage but i did have plans on mooring my narrowboat during Spring and Autumn migration for a couple of weeks at a time in order to be 'on site' so to speak.

Laurie -

RSPB Middleton lakes has the largest wader scrapes in the WMBC Region, however after the last few visits I am planning to visit other sites to see migrant waders like Branston Gp's, Blithfield, Rutland, Titchwell and Cley.


Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Marsh Harrier

Last weeks female Marsh Harrier was seen to go down in the rough along the East side of Jubilee wetlands, I noticed on my last visit the RSPB have roped off the area to the right of the East screen to prevent people wandering along the eastern shoreline of Jubilee wetlands and disturbing birds.


Regards, John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Enviromental Agency bund

I was noting the work completed so far by the EA from Dosthill bund, the RSPB have lost part of a small productive pool on the West side of Fisher's mill meadow (the long Horn and now Konik pony field). This reeded pool favoured by Water Rail, Reed Warbler and noted very late here so a good area for them to stock up before their long migration, Reed Buntings Mallard and coots, also Cetti's on occaision frequent here. The RSPB were forced to have this bund across their land, a bit like the M6 Toll.
The EA have put a road through Fisher's mill meadow as the old road was blocked during the bund work and thus the RSPB have lost grazing land, there's not much grazing around Jubilee wetlands. The EA have dug 2 new small pools by the old bridge crossing (old Bridge meadow) to compensate for wetland/reeds lost on West Fisher's mill meadow. These pools will take a while to develop though.
Although on the reserve there are increasing areas for Water Rail and Reed Warbler around Fisher's mill pools and Newreedbed Pools.
The new EA Bund will provide a higher area of grass for small mammals to escape floods and also attract Owls and grass type butterflies and moths, later areas willl scrub which is also good habitat, good scrub has been lost in the early clearing stage for the EA bund. The EA have cleared an area West of the canal and used it as a base for there machinery. Nick Martin said the RSPB have been compensated for the EA activities.


Regards, John

 

[geoffw1946]

First visit in over a week and a bit depressing to see the state of the place. Water levels were very high and much of the north pit and the Jubilee Wetlands were under water and water was still coming in from the river, wellies were needed.
I expected to see the hide in use but it was still locked up and guttering for the roof was inside but I couldn't see any benches or seats. No work was going on and no diggers were seen apart from the work on the new canal bund.
42 species of birds were seen today with the highlights being 1 juvenile Redshank, 6 Common Tern and a few Swift, Sand and House Martins.
I should imagine that all the wetland birds will have now given up any thoughts of nesting for this year having been flooded out three times, it's a good job it's been a relatively dry summer. Will have to hope no birds attempt to nest next year unless they sort out the sluices.
Upton Warren NR have proposed a bird race for Saturday 7th September if anyone is interested, I may be on the reserve for an hour or two on the day if I'm not in Lincs. Let's hope that water levels will be down by then.
Geoff

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Middleton Lakes

First visit in over a week and a bit depressing to see the state of the place. Water levels were very high and much of the north pit and the Jubilee Wetlands were under water and water was still coming in from the river, wellies were needed.
I expected to see the hide in use but it was still locked up and guttering for the roof was inside but I couldn't see any benches or seats. No work was going on and no diggers were seen apart from the work on the new canal bund.
42 species of birds were seen today with the highlights being 1 juvenile Redshank, 6 Common Tern and a few Swift, Sand and House Martins.
I should imagine that all the wetland birds will have now given up any thoughts of nesting for this year having been flooded out three times, it's a good job it's been a relatively dry summer. Will have to hope no birds attempt to nest next year unless they sort out the sluices.
Upton Warren NR have proposed a bird race for Saturday 7th September if anyone is interested, I may be on the reserve for an hour or two on the day if I'm not in Lincs. Let's hope that water levels will be down by then.
Geoff

I'm sure Nick Martin (site manager) will do his best to come to a solution regarding controlling the water levels in medium flooding events, Nick got the
job after the land was obtained by the RSPB, so it was up to those people in the RSPB to check out all the finer details at that time.
The area has proven over the years a good site to see birds, if the reedbed grows well and the water levels become controlled in the future, birders will be able to watch migrant waders with the ''booming'' of Bittern in the background in Spring.

Regards, John

 

[rollingthunder]

I do hope you are right John but there's lot of 'ifs and buts' or should it be 'ifs and bunds'?

The RSPB might have been compensated but it's no compensation for the breeding and passage birds?

As must be summized by the tone of my posts i for one am very dissapointed with the current situation at Muddleton - hence i do'nt visit anymore. More concern seems to be being shown with regard to permits and where you can access the place (the sure sign of a reserve). They ought to be grateful to anybody who wishes to visit imho. I remember getting pulled over for having my dogs with me whilst a 'birder' was wandering down the spits flushing birds etc!

As for the hide - how much did that cost?

Should i visit i shall access from the top end from the canal it will save a lot of time and trouble.

All the best -

Laurie:t: