Do you know what is a jelly that makes smart decisions? I’ll tell you later. First an update of what our volunteers have been doing.
A sunny clear day is always a good day to be out. The Sunday Work Party morning was just that. We were working along the path down the side of the Arable field which becomes very muddy in the winter. So, by removing some of the scrub, the airflow improves, and it can dry out more quickly. It also gives some viewpoints through to the Redlands area. It isn’t all work and a good work out. Free tea and coffee and biscuits (dark chocolate Kitkats are still the most popular) are available at coffee break and back at the Visitor Centre. We also have some good sightings such as Raven this time, which we don’t see very often here at the Pits.
Volunteering is not all about hard work. It is all about socialising in the outside, good for the mental health. A photography nature group has now been set up for any volunteer interested. Our leader is a very experienced photographer and knows her nature. We spent a great day out at the RSPB looking for fungi and the very small slime moulds- now I have given the answer! More about them later.
Our last work party was in the Bird Sanctuary around the pond area. The Bird ringing at the weekend proved it was a real success. 59 new birds were ringed and 16 re-trapped. Even more amazing were there were 29 long tailed tits and…..a juvenile Marsh tit! A bird thought to have been lost to Paxton Pits over the last few years. Marsh tits do migrate locally and Grafham is known to have a breeding population, so let’s hope this one stays around.
The number of the winter wildfowl on the lakes is increasing. The goldeneye are at last coming in, although it might involve a walk up to Island Pit, as none have been seen on the Heronries yet. Pochard are around including and also a few red crested pochard. Shoveler numbers are increasing. I always love watching those feed. There are also about 500 greylag geese on the northern pits. The Canada geese seem to be preferring the southern lakes. Good to hear that some Common gulls were counted on the water bird survey (WeBS). A bird now red listed on the UK Birds of Conservation concern.
The winter smaller birds are also coming in. Redpoll and siskin have been seen. A redwing was ringed at the latest session. It is amazing how a bird smaller than a blackbird flies such a distance from its northern breeding grounds.
Slime moulds are a world of their own. Once thought to be part of the Fungi kingdom, now are thought of as being closer to the single celled amoeba. They are capable of moving by forming aggregates called plasmodium(jelly-like), which feed by engulfing bacteria, fungal spores and organic material as they move. In times of unfavourable conditions, they form spores which are more resistant to attack. That is where photography brings this world to life. There are some wonderful u-tubes on the internet about how they make their Smart decisions. I recommend a google. One of the common slime moulds is Physarum album, which you can find on the reserve on rotting wood.
Please contact me at friends@paxton-pits.org.uk with your sightings, photos or if you are interested in helping in any way.
Best wishes
Ann
Ann Thomas 19.11.24