The New Year came in cold with a low temperature of -3.3°C overnight and a heavy frost on the ground and ice on the water troughs. The troughs were checked daily to remove the ice so the cows and goats could drink.
On the 5th the staff returned after their Christmas break and the cattle were shut into Kiln Close to maximise the grazing in that area. There were still apples on some of the Peter Lock trees in the Orchard and some of the stored apples were put out to feed wildlife. Ice was removed from the water troughs again on the 6th but by the evening rain had started.
Harry, Jes and volunteers Issy & Olivia, started clearing the top stone wall in Forde Orchard on the 7th. They recorded 15 Meadow Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 30 Blackbird, 10 Greenfinch, 12 Fieldfare, Kestrel around the LLP. Also, c150 finches feeding in top of old crop that had been opened up by the cattle.
On the 8th Harry and Lowenna finished clearing the Apprentice Path where the trees had fallen. We had 41.8mm rain that day(1.6”). A Peregrine seen flying over the reserve, passing over the top field shelter on the 9th. Daniel, Mateo, James and 4 others ringed 41 birds in the Orchard and Main Field on the 10th. They also saw 6 Fieldfare & a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the Orchard and flock of 150 finches (20 Linnet, 30 Goldfinch, 100 Chaffinch) in the Main Field around new crop.
Sometime over the weekend the goats got over the hedge bank into Kiln Close knocking over the tree shelters on the recently planted trees, they were moved back to North Park on the 12th. There was a pair of Bullfinch around car park hedges on the 13th. On the 14th the contractors arrived to dig a trench at the bottom of Kiln Close for a new short stretch of stone walling. As a result, the cattle, who had been shut in there to give it a ‘good grazing’ were let into the Main Field. Whilst there they had knocked down an empty Dormouse box and pushed over some fence posts which now need replacing below the remnant hedge.
