MGLG - 1993 Annual Report

This is the first Report of what are intended to be annual accounts of the conservation work and wildlife recording being undertaken at Moor Green Lakes Reserve. The purpose of this first Report is both to record the creation and development of the Reserve up to the present time and also to provide an account of what is currently known about the wildlife of the Reserve which will act as a baseline against which future records can be set. It is hoped that publication of this information will serve also to generate further interest in the Reserve and its wildlife.

This introduction also provides an opportunity to place on record the important contributions already made by organisations and individuals to the development of the Reserve. Thanks to the foresight of Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd, the Reserve enjoys the important benefit of a wide variety of habitats created during and immediately following extraction of gravel with an ability to influence the water level in two of the three lakes. This early planning to ensure the creation of islands, a winding shoreline and adjacent meadow provides the Reserve with the essential ingredients for attracting a rich diversity of wildlife.

A second essential is to have the enthusiastic support of volunteers to participate in the management of the Reserve and the recording of its wildlife. The services of the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service, organised and delivered by Steve Bailey, and the support from the Farnborough College conservation volunteers, organised and delivered by Kevin Briggs, has meant that conservation work on the Reserve has got off to a flying start and good progress has already been made in the short time since the Reserve has been open for such activity. The considerable support provided by those with an interest in specific wildlife groups has meant also that an impressive amount of information has already been assembled about the different species using the Reserve, as the later chapters in this Reserve graphically illustrate.

I hope that the enthusiasm of the many volunteers who already have devoted much time and effort to the establishment of the Reserve will lead others to join the Moor Green Lakes Support Group and add their contribution to those of the founding members.

The Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve lies partly within the area administered by Wokingham District Council and partly within the Borough of Bracknell Forest. The River Blackwater, which forms the boundary between the counties of Berkshire and Hampshire runs close to the southern boundary of the Reserve, which is overlooked from the north by Finchampstead Ridges, an area administered by the National Trust. A map of the reserve appears on page 3.

The Reserve covers an area of approximately 36 hectares (90 acres), the majority of which lies within the flood plain of the River Blackwater. It contains three lakes formed out of flooded gravel pits which are bordered by planted woodland and a number of seeded wildflower areas. Two of the lakes, Colebrook Lake North and Colebrook Lake South, are separated by an elongated island through the centre of which runs the old water course of the Colebrook Cut. The third lake, Grove Lake, lies immediately to the east separated by a narrow strip of land. Within the lakes are several gravel-capped loafing/breeding islands and gravel beaches.

Water is received into Grove Lake from the east and exits westwards from Colebrook Lake via the Colebrook Cut. There is also an outlet from Colebrook Lake South directly into the River Blackwater. The construction of a V-notch sluice in the Colebrook Cut allows the level of the water in Colebrook Lakes North and South to be controlled within limits. This is an important feature of the Reserve as it allows water levels to be lowered, and muddy margins exposed, ahead of the main spring and autumn passage of wading birds.

Public access to the Reserve is restricted but a footpath runs along the western and southern boundaries from which much of the Reserve can be viewed. A viewing hide, to which there is public access from the footpath along the western boundary of the Reserve, has been provided by Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd to give more extensive and closer views over Colebrook Lake North and part of Colebrook Lake South. A feature of the hide is the incorporation of a viewing window for observers in wheelchairs.

The main access to the Reserve is from Lower Sandhurst Road where a car park has been provided. The Ordnance Survey grid reference is SU805628.

On completion of gravel extraction and subsequent restoration it was decided that overall management of the Reserve would be assigned to a Steering Group comprised of representatives of Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd, Berkshire County Council (the planning authority), Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service and the local Naturalists' Trust (BBONT) with support from two consultants with appropriate specialist skills.

An early decision of the Steering Group was to agree to the establishment of a support group to assist in the practical management of the Reserve and to be concerned with the collection, recording, assessment and dissemination of information about the Reserve.

In 1993 the Company asked Steve Bailey of the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service to encourage the formation of a support group and this led to public meetings and an inaugural meeting of the newly formed group, to be known as the Moor Green Lakes Group, on 10 September 1993. A Committee was formed, working to the Steering Group, to undertake the day to day management of the Reserve and to organise the collection and recording of wildlife data.

Membership of the Moor Green Lakes Group in September 1993 was 25 and has since slowly risen to 56 in April 1994. New members are welcome. There is an annual membership subscription of £2 for adults and £1 for those under 16 and this entitles members to receive information about the Reserve in the form of an Annual Report, to have the opportunity to take part in the management of the Reserve and to attend field meetings and events organised for members.

The Committee Members of the Moor Green Lakes Group at April 1994 are listed in Appendix A.

In the period from September 1993 to April 1994 the Committee has met on six occasions and has been represented at two Steering Group Meetings. During this time seven on-site working parties have been organised (for further details see the chapter on Conservation Work Undertaken and Planned) and other work has been arranged on a contract basis, including tasks arising from the erection of a viewing hide.

The necessary costs of the Group not covered by membership subscriptions are met by Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd.

Hall Aggregates (South East) Limited purchased Moor Green Farm, together with Hall and Grove Farms, in the late 1960's.

Planning permission for the Company's landholdings north of the River Blackwater was granted by Berkshire County council in 1982 following the submission of a detailed restoration and landscape plan produced with the assistance of a firm of landscape architects, Messrs. Hutchinson, Locke and Monk of Richmond, Surrey. Extraction commenced in 1983 - in an east to west direction - with material transported by conveyor to the processing plant south of the river.

The average depth of sand and gravel extracted from the site was 3m, lying beneath 3m of overburden and topsoil, the latter being used to cover the margins and banks of the lakes.

Extraction ceased in 1988 with final restoration of the site being completed in 1992.

The Company formed the Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve Steering Group in 1993 with the Moor Green Lakes Group being formed the following year.

One of the first tasks of the Moor Green Lakes Group was to identify what management work needed to be carried urgently ahead of the 1994 breeding season and to seek approval for it from the Steering Group. This resulted from January 1994 in a series of working parties by volunteers drawn from members of the Moor Green Lakes Group the Blackwater Valley R & C Management Service and the Farnborough College of Technology working to a new management brief approved by the Steering Group in October 1993.

The work has involved creating a muddy edge around Colebrook Lake North by digging out invading rushes. This has increased the feeding area for waders and their visibility from the viewing hide. The gravel islands of the main lakes have been cleared of trees and raked to increase their attractiveness to breeding terns and plovers. Long Island has suffered from scrub invasion and the bare sandy and gravel areas favoured by invertebrates and birds has become vegetated. Work has taken place to create a mosaic of scrub, reed, rush and grass on the island by cutting, swiping, raking and digging to encourage particularly grazing Wigeon in the winter and Redshank in the spring.

Viewing points have been cut through the planted borders on Colebrook Lake South and Grove Lake to allow people to see the birds without disturbance. Future management work will ensure that secondary woodland does not become established around the lakes but that scrub and glade areas will develop to increase butterfly and warbler numbers.

The wildflower meadows around Colebrook Lake North have been mown to reduce the rank grasses and docks. This will encourage nectaring flower species for butterflies. The cut vegetation has been carefully composted away from the lake side to produce nesting sites for reptiles. Tree removal from the water's edge is a constant battle at the present time to ensure that the lakes do not become ringed by Alder trees and that there are feeding and loafing edges for wildfowl.

A major concern, and one that has been difficult to address, has been the water level of the Colebrook Lakes. It is critical that the water level can be regulated to ensure a shallow edge for birds during the spring and autumn passage periods to attract interesting species. Experiments have taken place with different sluice levels in the Colebrook Cut to adjust the water level with varying success in what has so far been a very wet year. However, progress is being made and lessons learnt.

Future work will involve the management of Grove Lake to increase the attractiveness of the northern banks to butterflies and dragonflies, the hopeful addition of a reed bed to Colebrook Lake South and the creation of Sand Martin and Kingfisher breeding banks to Colebrook Lake North.

The area now covered by the Reserve (and formerly known for bird recording purposes as Eversley Gravel Pits) has been actively watched for birds for a number of years as gravel extraction has proceeded and the present lakes formed. There is, therefore, a high level of ornithological information already available for the Reserve which reflects the changes in the use of the site by birds over the last few years.

Most of this information was assembled as part of the arrangements which have existed for many years for collecting records from the borders of Hampshire and Surrey in order to produce annual "Hants and Surrey Borders Bird Reports". Those records which relate to the present area of the Reserve and to the adjacent lakes have been analysed in order to produce a checklist of birds so far known to have occurred. This checklist appears at Appendix B.

The records for each species for successive years have been compared in order to detect if any changes have taken place during the establishment of the Reserve and, where these have occurred, they are commented upon in the checklist. These records provide a comprehensive baseline against which future records can be compared in order to assess the effectiveness of conservation and management work undertaken on the Reserve.

The fact that the present list of species exceeds 150 is an indication of the ornithological importance of the Reserve and a reflection of the variety of habitats which already exist. These include areas of bare gravel, muddy lake margins, patches of scrub and bramble, flower meadow which produces a supply of winter seed, a number of mature trees and stretches of hedgerow, adjacent farmland and, of course, open stretches of water.

Bird records for the Reserve already include a number of locally uncommon breeding species (including both Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Common Tern), nationally important numbers of wintering Goosander and a rich variety of passage waders. To ensure these records remain as comprehensive as possible it is important for all observations to be submitted for inclusion in the database that the Moor Green Lakes Group has established. Information on how to do this is contained in Appendix B.

The Reserve's mixture of meadow, scrub and hedgerow has attracted a variety of mammals, from the large (such as fox and deer which have been observed crossing the reserve), to the small (there is an active rodent population in the sown meadows). A good insect population has provided food for, to date, four bat species.

In the past two years sightings, tracts or sound recordings have been made of the following 21 species:

Hedgehog	Erinaceus europaeus
Mole	Talpa europaea
Common Shrew	Sorex araneus
Pigmy Shrew	Sorex minutus
Daubenton's Bat	Myotis daubenti
Noctule Bat	Nctalus noctula
Pipistrelle Bat	Pipistrellus pipistrellis
Common Long-eared Bat	Plecotus auritus
Fox	Vulpes vulpes
Stoat	Mustela erminea
American Mink	Mustela vison
Badger	Meles meles
Roe Deer	Capreolus capreolus
Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Grey Squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis
Harvest Mouse	Microtmy minutus
Wood Mouse	Apodemus sylvaticus
Yellow-necked Mouse	Adodemus flavicollis
Bank Vole	Clethrionomys glareolus
Water Vole	Arvicola terrestris
Field Vole	Microtus agrestis

Work on the distribution through the Reserve and on the abundance of these 21 species, and of any additional mammals which are recorded in future, continues. Volunteers to help in this work with some knowledge of particular mammal groups would be welcomed.

The Reserve lies in the flood plain of the River Blackwater and prior to gravel extraction consisted of old grazed meadows bisected in an east-west direction by the water course known as "The Cut". A survey carried out in September 1982, prior to gravel extraction, recorded 19 species of trees and shrubs (three of which are no longer present), 16 species of plants along the Cut and a further 61 plant species (excluding grasses) in the river valley. About 75% of these plant species have been recorded in more recent surveys. During reinstatement after gravel extraction, 23 species of wild flower mix were sown and 9 tree/shrub species planted.

Three surveys of the plants on the Reserve have been carried out, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, and the species identified during these surveys are shown in Appendix C. As different bases were chosen for these surveys, however, the three are not strictly comparable. In 1991 the survey concentrated on the lakes and listed the wetland and aquatic species to be found there. The 1992 survey separated the plants into the following categories; meadow-mix sown, grass sown, planted shrub and waterside/aquatic. The categories selected for the 1993 survey were grassland, shrub, hedgerow and wetland/ aquatic; this latter category is therefore the only one common to all three surveys.

The total number of plant species recorded in the surveys was as follows:

It is planned to survey in future using a standard format so that it will be easier to compare the results and detect any changes that may take place from year to year. There is also, a need to check one or two of the species listed in Appendix C to ensure there have been no cases of mis-identification.

The Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve, together with the adjacent stretch of the Blackwater river, has the potential for being an important site for the conservation of dragonflies and damselflies (referred to collectively below as dragonflies).

All dragonflies require relatively unpolluted freshwater for the development of the nymph stages. Some species spend several years developing as nymphs before emerging as adults. Casual observers are usually only aware of dragonflies during their brief existence as adults on the wing, during which time their general agility, their ability to catch prey on the wing and their unusual in-flight copulatory behaviour fascinate many observers. The presence or absence of different dragonfly species are often sensitive indicators of the state of pollution of water bodies.

Dragonfly nymphs require warm shallow water in which to develop. Abundant submerged vegetation is important in order to provide cover and hunting habitat. In addition most species prefer to climb the stems of emergent plants while undergoing the final transformation from nymph to adult. The final cast skin of the emergent nymph, the exuvia, is usually left clinging to the stem at the emergence site and often provides a useful indication of breeding.

Some dragonfly species are quite sedentary, not moving far from the water body from which they emerged, while other species may range quite widely as adults in order to find suitable areas for feeding and breeding. When recording the dragonfly fauna of the Reserve and surrounding area it is important that where possible we establish the presence or absence of resident breeding populations. Various indicators have traditionally been used as evidence for breeding at a site: searching the substrate for nymphs, copulatory behaviour in the "wheel" position, oviposition by females and the presence of exuvia. It is important that where possible we record such evidence in order to establish the status of the dragonfly fauna in the Reserve, in the surrounding complex of lakes and on the River Blackwater.

Regular and consistent recording of dragonflies has not been carried out in the past. There are however some records for the period from 1986 to 1993 and these are tabulated in Appendix D.

Early records for 1994, a bad year for weather up to May, indicate occasional Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Large Red Damselfly) in the reserve and good numbers of Ischnura elegans (Common Blue-tailed Damselfly) and abundant Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle) along the river despite a constant smell of "sewage". Ischnura elegans is, however, one of the more pollution tolerant species.

Few records exist of butterfly species on the Reserve and in the surrounding area prior to 1994, but those obtained indicate that up to 21 species have been recorded at some time since 1989. About 24 species of butterfly can be expected to occur at former gravel workings in southern Britain as vegetation re-establishes itself following cessation of extraction.

The two primary requirements for butterflies are the larval food plant and sources of nectar on which the adult stage may feed. The presence of such food plants will determine the suitability of the reserve as a conservation area for butterflies and this needs to be taken into account in the formulation of future management plans.

Over the period 1989 to 1991 as part of a tetrad survey of butterflies throughout Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, D J White recorded the following species on, or in the vicinity of, the Reserve:

In 1991 Brimstone, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood were also observed by Steve Bailey who, in addition, identified Wall Brown to bring the total to 21.

It is believed that Green Hairstreak, Large Skipper and Painted Lady may also have occurred on the Reserve and hopefully their presence will be confirmed in this or future years as the recording activity intensifies. It is also hoped to coordinate efforts to determine the breeding status of butterfly species with plant recording on the Reserve.

Despite the logo of a frog for the Moor Green Lakes Reserve, amphibians appear to be quite rare on the Reserve. There are just two species for which there are sight records but the frog has so far only been heard (twice on the same day!).

The species concerned are:

It is likely that other species occur (eg Lizard) and that the three above species may occur more widely than present records suggest. Observers should be on the look out for representatives of these groups and volunteers specifically to search for them would be welcomed.

At present no systematic surveying of the lakes themselves has occurred but five species have been identified either during conservation work on the Reserve or by observing fisheating birds on the lakes.

The species so far identified are:

Pike	Esox lucius
Roach	Rutilus rutilus
Tench	Tinca tinca
Eel	Anguilla anguilla
Three-spined Stickleback	Gasterosteus aculeatus

The major wildlife group missing from those listed in this Report is that of insects. This presents an excellent opportunity, for those interested, to commence the recording of this important group and volunteers to help with this work would be particularly welcomed. Volunteers for other missing groups (eg lichens) are also being sought. All enquiries by those interested in helping with recording should be directed in the first place to Steve Bailey at the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service on (0252)331353.

LITTLE GREBE A common resident and winter visitor, which breeds in small numbers. In 1993 three pairs raised 7 young.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE A common resident whose numbers generally peak in autumn. In 1993 a maximum of 19 occurred in September. A total of five pairs were present during the summer, three successfully rearing a total of 6 young.

CORMORANT A common winter visitor which has oversummered in small numbers in recent years. In 1993 numbers peaked at 33 on Dec. 18th, a record count for the site.

GREY HERON A common visitor occurring in small numbers. A maximum of five were present on several dates during 1993.

MUTE SWAN A common resident and winter visitor. In 1993 three pairs reared a total of 9 young The maximum count was 53 on Jan. 2nd.

WHITE FRONTED GOOSE An infrequent winter visitor. The only record was of one on Jan. 11th (KBB).

GREYLAG GOOSE An occasional visitor with a few records most years. There were singletons on Jan. 30th, Apr. 21st and Dec. 27th.

SNOW GOOSE The free flying flock at Stratfield Saye regularly visit the site. The maximum count was of 34 in December. This flock includes up to two blue phase birds.

CANADA GOOSE An abundant resident, whose numbers continue to increase. The maximum count was of 294 on Aug. 18th.

BARNACLE GOOSE A feral population has been established recently. Breeding first occurred in 1990. In 1993 one pair successfully reared 2 young, two other pairs were unsuccessful. Numbers peaked at 75 in November.

SHELDUCK An occasional visitor. The records were as follows; 2 on Apr. 15th and 17th, 1 on Apr. 26th, 2 on May 3rd, 2 on May 31st (probably relate to same birds), 6 on Jan. 30th and 5 on Nov. 1st.

WOOD DUCK An infrequent visitor, with records probably relating to free-flying birds from local collections. There were three records all of males, 1 on May 10th, 14th and 18th.

MANDARIN An irregular visitor which has recently bred. A pair was present from March till May, and breeding was considered probable. A further two males were present in spring. Other records were of singletons on Jul.29th, Aug. 14th and 18th.

WIGEON A common winter visitor which has become established in recent years. Numbers continue to increase with a site record of 66 on Dec. 15th (KBB). Birds were recorded up to Apr. 3rd and from Sept. 15th.

GADWALL A common winter visitor with some birds occasionally staying into late spring. The site is now established as a regionally important wintering locality for the species. Numbers usually peak in Dec/Jan as in 1993 when 127 were present on Jan. 17th.

TEAL A moderately common winter visitor. The peak count was 23 on Nov. 11th.

MALLARD A common resident and winter visitor. The peak count was 137 on Feb. 17th.

PINTAIL An infrequent winter visitor. There was one record of a pair on Jan. 1st (IHB).

SHOVELER A regular winter visitor in small numbers. A count of 17 on Dec. 30th (IHB, JMC) equalled the previous highest count from 1989.

POCHARD A common winter visitor. A maximum of 49 were present on Dec. 30th.

TUFTED DUCK An abundant resident, which breeds in small numbers. In 1993 two broods were seen, and a maximum count of 110 on Jan. 10th.

GOLDENEYE A regular winter visitor in small numbers. The records are summarised as follows; If Jan. 9th, 2f Feb. 27th to Mar. 20th, 1imm Oct. 31st to years end joined by 1m on Nov. 2nd and 1f on Dec. 11th (both remaining till the end of year).

SMEW A rare winter visitor. A female was present from Dec. 5th into 1994 (RJB et al). The first record since 1991.

RED BREASTED MERGANSER A scarce winter visitor. A male was present on Dec. 5th (IHB et al)

GOOSANDER A common winter visitor occurring in increasing numbers. The site is now an area of regional importance for this species. Since the late 1980's birds from neighbouring waters have roosted on the site, supplementing the numbers of the wintering flock. During the year exceptional numbers used the site in the late year, resulting in a record count of 71 (10 males) on Dec. 31st (IMC, IHB, GJSR). The peak daytime count was of 55 (7 males) on Dec. 30th. Birds were recorded until Mar. 27th in the early year and from Nov. 20th in the late year.

RUDDY DUCK An irregular visitor of annual occurrence. An immature was present on Dec. 4th (IHB).

GOSHAWK A male, seen well on Oct. 19th (IHB) was the first record for the site.

SPARROWHAWK A common resident which breeds nearby.

OSPREY An excellent year with the first records for the site, involving four records of at least three birds, as follows; 1 on Apr. 14th (IHB), 1 on Apr. 15th (CRG), 1 on Aug. 30th remained for 15 minutes (JND,MGM) and 1 on Oct. 2nd (CRG).

KESTREL A common resident which breeds in small numbers. One pair reared two young.

HOBBY A regular summer visitor which visits the site to hawk insects and birds. One to three birds were recorded between May 11th and Oct. 19th. On one occasion an individual was seen to preferentially select dragonflies that were mating rather than singletons!

PEREGRINE A rare visitor. A female was watched for 15 minutes chasing pigeons on Sept. 5th (CRG). The third record for the site.

RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE Resident in small numbers, probably breeding annually in the vicinity of newly extracted pits.

GREY PARTRIDGE Recorded annually, possibly breeding. The only record was of 5 on Sept. 5th.

PHEASANT Common resident

WATER RAIL A regular winter visitor. The only records were of singletons on Jan. 1st and Nov. 24th.

MOORHEN An abundant resident. A maximum of 64 were present on Mar. 18th.

COOT An abundant resident. The maximum count was of 218 on Jan. 2nd.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER A summer visitor breeding in small numbers. The number of breeding pairs fluctuates according to the availability of suitable habitat. In recent years numbers have marginally declined but will hopefully increase as a result of specific site management. Three pairs were present with one pair successfully rearing 3 young. Birds were recorded between Mar. 20th and Jul. 29th.

RINGED PLOVER A summer visitor and passage migrant which breeds annually in small numbers. The species has become established as a regular breeder, with up to three pairs rearing a total of 3 young in 1993. The first birds arrived on Feb. 9th and the last was on Aug. 1st. One on Aug. 22nd was almost certainly a passage migrant.

GOLDEN PLOVER An infrequent visitor. The only record was of six moving SW on Nov. 21st (IHB) during cold weather.

LAPWING A common resident and winter visitor. A small breeding population has been established in recent years with nine pairs present in 1993. Numbers increase in early autumn as a result of post breeding dispersal from other sites, plus a regular wintering flock. The peak count was of 200 on Feb. 24th.

SANDERLING A rare passage migrant. A first summer bird was present on May 12th (MAS et al). The third record for the site, the last being in 1987.

LITTLE STINT A rare passage migrant. The only record was of an adult in winter plumage on Apr. 23rd (IHB).

TEMMINCK'S STINT A rare passage migrant. This species has now been recorded in each of the last three years. One on May 20th 1993 (MAS) was the third record for the site.

DUNLIN A regular passage migrant, predominantly in spring. In 1993 the following were recorded, 1 Mar. 20th, 1 Mar. 24th, 1 May 2nd-3rd, 1 May 14th-15th, 1 May 31st - Jun. 1st, 1 Sept. 18th and 2 Sept. 25th.

SNIPE Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Numbers usually peak in March as in 1993 (12 on Mar. 19th) with the last birds in late April/early May. Returns begin in August/September (Sept. 4th in 1993). Small numbers usually over winter.

WOODCOCK An irregular visitor. Birds breeding nearby occasionally pass over the site.

BLACK TAILED GODWIT A rare visitor. One on Feb. 13th was the only record.

BAR TAILED GODWIT A rare passage migrant. Two records in 1993, two flew NE on May 10th (IHB) and one on May 16th stayed for 25 minutes! (CRG).

WHIMBREL A passage migrant occurring annually, especially in spring. Three records: 3 on Apr. 20th recorded from 20.00 till dusk (JNM et al), one briefly on Apr. 23rd (MAS) and one left NNE on May 7th (IHB,MAS,MJT).

CURLEW An uncommon visitor. The only record in was of two flying South West on May 22nd (IHB et al).

REDSHANK A summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds returned to breed in 1991 and have bred in each year since, profiting from restricted public access to the site. In 1993 four pairs were present, but no young were seen. Recorded between Mar. 7th and Jun. 26th. Other records involved singletons on Jul. 23rd, Dec. 11th, Dec. 27th and Dec. 30th.

GREENSHANK A regular passage migrant. Three records, 1 on Apr. 27th, 3 on May 9th, one remaining till 10th.

GREEN SANDPIPER Winter visitor and passage migrant. Recorded in Jan, Feb, Apr, May (tin 9th), Jul (from 17th), Aug, Sept and Dec. The maximum count was of 6 on Aug. 22nd.

WOOD SANDPIPER A scarce passage migrant. One on May 2nd (arrived at 19.30 and remained until dusk (RJB, MAS, IHB).

COMMON SANDPIPER A common passage migrant. Recorded in spring between Apr. 10th and May 19th with a maximum of 5 on Apr. 19th. In autumn recorded between Jul. 2nd and Sept. 14th, with a maximum of 4 on Aug. 5th.

TURNSTONE A scarce passage migrant. There were two records involving a total of seven birds. Five on May 14th stayed briefly before leaving SE (EN) and two on May 20th to 21st (IHB, MAS, JMD) with one remaining until 28th.

LITTLE GULL A scarce visitor. Two records, a first arrived on May 13th was present from 15.00 to 16:25 (MAS) and a juvenile on Oct. 3rd remained for four minutes before leaving south (IHB).

BLACK HEADED GULL A very common visitor. Maximum counts were 700 on Feb. 27th and 600 on Nov. 25th.

COMMON GULL A common visitor. Recorded until Mar. 7th and from Sept. 8th. 60 were present in Nov.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL A very common winter visitor. A maximum of 250 were present on Feb. 24th.

HERRING GULL A common winter visitor with selected 1993 records as follows; 300 on Feb. 24th, 1 recorded summer on May 4th, and adult Jul. 17th.

YELLOW LEGGED HERRING GULL A regular visitor of annual occurrence. Two records in 1993, a single bird on Jan. 3rd (MAS) and 4 on Feb. 9th (MAS).

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL A frequent winter visitor. Recorded until Apr. 26th (a 2nd winter bird) and from Oct. 20th. Maximum. count of 4 on Jan. 1st.

COMMON TERN A summer visitor and passage migrant which has bred since 1991. The first were 3 on Apr. 12th and last were two adults and 2 young on Jul. 23rd. Seven pairs reared a total of 10 young.

ARCTIC TERN A scarce passage migrant. Two 1993 records, an adult on May 15th (MAS) and a juvenile which remained for a few minutes on Sept. 18th, before leaving east (IHB).

LITTLE TERN A rare passage migrant. One on May 8th was present for just a minute before leaving east at 08.30 (IHB) and two were seen on Sept. 18th (BM, JM). These are the first records for the site.

BLACK TERN A regular passage migrant. Three records all in May; 6 on 10th (RJB), 1 on 12th (IHB, MAS, RJB) and 5 on 13th (MAS, RJB et al).

STOCK DOVE A common resident. Notable counts were of 24 on Oct. 22nd and 72 (in one flock) on Oct. 30th.

WOOD PIGEON An abundant resident.

COLLARED DOVE A common resident which breeds nearby.

TURTLE DOVE An uncommon passage migrant. Two records, one on May 3rd and one on June 12th.

CUCKOO A summer visitor. Recorded between Apr. 19th and Jun. 19th (1 juv). Three singing males held territory.

BARN OWL Resident. Released birds have bred since 1992. In 1993 1 pair raised 3 young (per SB).

LITTLE OWL A common resident, with 4 territories in 1993.

TAWNY OWL A common resident with at least 2 territories in 1993.

COMMON SWIFT A numerous summer visitor. Recorded between Apr. 23rd and Aug. 18th, with 250 on May 14th.

KINGFISHER A moderately common resident. At least one pair successfully bred.

GREEN WOODPECKER A common resident.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER A common resident.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER An uncommon resident which may breed. Recorded in summer (July) in 1993.

SKYLARK A numerous resident, which flocks in winter. There were 30 on Nov. 7th.

SAND MARTIN A common summer visitor which may breed. Recorded between Mar. 27th and Sept. 25th. The maximum count was 80 on May 14th.

SWALLOW A common summer visitor. The first were 3 on Apr. 3rd and the last were 2 SE on Oct. 23rd. The maximum count was of 80 on Apr. 17th.

HOUSE MARTIN A numerous summer visitor. Recorded between Apr. 3rd and Sept. 25th. Selected counts were 500 on May 14th, 400 on May 15th and 300 on May 16th.

TREE PIPIT An uncommon passage migrant. Two records, 1 on Mar. 26th (RJB) and 1 on Apr. 17th (IHB).

MEADOW PIPIT A common winter visitor and passage migrant. The maximum count was of 40 on Mar. 7th. One singing male held territory in April but breeding was not suspected.

YELLOW WAGTAIL A moderately common passage migrant which has bred. Recorded between Apr. 12th and May 22nd in spring. No count exceeded 2. The only autumn record was of 2 on Sept 15th.

GREY WAGTAIL A moderately common resident. One pair probably bred along the River Blackwater.

PLED WAGTAIL A common resident. The largest count was of 52 on Aug. 7th.

WHITE WAGTAIL A regular spring passage migrant. Six records as follows. 1 on Apr. 5th, 1 on Apr. 9th, 3 on Apr. 17th, 1 on Apr. 28th, 1 on May 4th and 1 on May 10th.

WREN An abundant resident.

DUNNOCK A common resident.

ROBIN A common resident.

WHINCHAT A moderately common passage migrant. Recorded in spring between Apr. 21st and May 22nd. In autumn recorded between Aug. 6th and Sept. 7th. The maximum count was of 8 on Aug. 18th.

STONECHAT An irregular visitor which has become more common in recent years following post breeding dispersal, with some birds overwintering. A pair were recorded in January and February. Post-breeding dispersal occurred between Jul. 22nd and Oct. 9th with a maximum of 8 on Aug. 30th. A pair on Nov. 7th may have been returning wintering birds.

WHEATEAR A moderately common passage migrant particularly in spring. In spring recorded between Mar. 20th (4) and Apr. 25th (2). The only autumn record was of 1 on Sept. 4th.

BLACKBIRD A very common resident.

FIELDFARE A common winter visitor. In the early part of 1993 the largest flock was 125 on Mar. 17th and the last were 25 on Apr. 8th. First returns were 8 on Oct. 25th.

SONG THRUSH A common resident.

REDWING A very common winter visitor. The largest first winter flock was of 350 on Feb. 6th, with the last bird, a singleton on Apr. 3rd. First returns were 105 on Sept. 25th. A flock of 150 was present throughout Dec.

MISTLE THRUSH A common resident.

SEDGE WARBLER A moderately common visitor, which breeds. The first was on Apr. 23rd and the last was on Sept. 4th. Five singing males held territory.

REED WARBLER A summer visitor, which is breeding in increasing numbers. The first was on Apr. 24th. Five singing males held territory and breeding was proved.

LESSER WHITETHROAT A summer visitor in small numbers. Three singing males held territory, with breeding being proved.

WHITETHROAT A common summer visitor. Recorded between Apr. 12th and Sept. 4th. A total of six singing males held territory.

GARDEN WARBLER A common summer visitor. The first were 3 on Apr. 24th. A total of 8 singing males held territory.

BLACKCAP A summer visitor in small numbers. The first birds singing were 2 on Apr. 17th. Four singing males held territory. A late female was seen on Oct. 3rd.

CHIFFCHAFF A common summer visitor which overwinters in small numbers. Two birds overwintered in 1992-93. During the summer there were five singing males. At least one bird was present throughout Dec.

WILLOW WARBLER A common summer visitor. Recorded between Apr. 3rd (2) and Sept. 8th. A maximum of six singing males held territory.

GOLDCREST A common winter visitor.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER A regular passage migrant which has bred. The only record in 1993 was of one on May 31st.

LONG TAILED TIT An abundant resident.

COAL TIT An irregular visitor. Two records, singletons on Sept. 4th and Oct. 22nd.

BLUE TIT An abundant visitor.

GREAT TIT An abundant visitor.

NUTHATCH An occasional visitor which breeds nearby.

TREECREEPER Resident which breeds in small numbers.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE A rare visitor. One on Feb. 7th was an Colebrook Island from 11:30 to 11.35 in heavy rain (DC). The first record for the site.

JAY A common resident.

MAGPIE A common resident.

JACKDAW A common resident and winter visitor. The largest flock was 65 on Oct. 22nd.

ROOK A regular visitor. The largest gathering was 65 on Feb 27th.

CARRION CROW A common resident. A flock of 50 on Oct. 9th was notable.

STARLING An abundant resident.

CHAFFINCH An abundant resident and winter visitor. The maximum count was of 200 on Nov. 7th.

BRAMBLING A regular winter visitor. There were 2 on Mar. 13th, 2 on Nov. 2nd and 1 on Nov. 7th.

GREENFINCH A common resident. The largest flock was of 60 from Jul. 29th to Aug. 2nd.

GOLDFINCH A common resident.

SISKIN A common winter visitor. The maximum in 1993-94 was 60 on Jan. 1st. Selected counts in second winter period were of 66 on Oct. 30th and 100 on Nov. 21st.

LINNET A common visitor. The maximum count was of 80 on Oct. 22nd to 30th.

REDPOLL A winter visitor in small numbers. Up to 10 were present in the first winter period. A pair was present up to May 8th, display was seen but breeding was not suspected.

BULLFINCH A common resident.

YELLOWHAMMER Resident in small numbers. Three singing males held territory. A maximum of 10 were present in one flock on Aug. 7th.

REED BUNTING A common resident. At least 11 singing males were present in summer.

ESCAPES

SACRED IBIS One arrived from N on May 3rd, was heavily mobbed and left S after a few minutes (IHB).

Following the designation of Moor Green Lakes (part of the Eversley Gravel Pit complex) as a nature reserve, it is necessary to maintain a detailed log of birds using the site in order to monitor bird populations, with particular reference to conservation management. Any persons visiting the site who wish to submit their records should do so as described below. The collection of such data is an important function of the and all contributions, no matter how small are welcomed.

Ideally records should be submitted on Eversley Gravel Pit recording forms available from the recorder (please enclose a SAE). Records should be submitted every 3-4 months (or more frequent!) so that the log can be kept as up to date as possible. Less frequent visitors may wish to submit their records annually.

Where possible the following information should be provided:

1) Name of species (inc age/sex if known)
2) Number of individuals (accurate counts particularly useful)
3) Date of observation (and time if a fly over only sighting or short stay record)
4) Site location
5) Other observations such as unusual behaviour or direction of flight of birds flying over etc.
6) Observer(s) initials. Records not submitted on forms should also include name and address.
7) Accompanying field notes (needed if the record is of a scarce species).

Records should be sent to:

Ian Brown
26, Ashfield Green, Yateley, Camberley, Surrey GU17 7AL

Sightings of rare or unusual species would be welcomed by phone (0252-878126) particularly if still present as this would enable dissemination of information to other interested observers.

The survey in 1991 was carried out by Chris Hall
The survey in 1992 was carried out by David Faut for Hall Aggregates (South East) Limited
The survey in 1993 was carried out by Farnborough College of Technology

Recorders:
BBONT - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust
(1986 - sites A, B, C,D)
DS - Des Sussex of Bracknell Forest BC Ranger Service
(1991-92 - site E)
DD/JD - David & Jean Dell, members of British Dragonfly Society (BDS)
(1990-93 -site F)
DT/SB - Don Tagg (BDS) & Steve Bailey
(1993 - site G)