MGLG - 1994 Annual Report

This second report of the Moor Green Lakes Group covers the period from May 1994 to April 1995, with regard to the management of the reserve, and from January to December 1994 for wildlife recording purposes.

It has been a year of steady progress in pursuit of our three aims, of improving the reserve for wildlife, recording and monitoring that wildlife and enhancing the facilities of the reserve for members of the Moor Green Lakes Group and other visitors.

For those visiting the reserve the most important development in the last year has been the erection by the reserve owners, Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd, of a high specification public hide on the western edge of Colebrook Lake North. The hide was officially opened by the Chairman of Berkshire County Council, Councillor Trembath, and the Chairman of the Blackwater Valley Management Committee, Councillor Collett on 6 July 1994 at a ceremony hosted by the company.

A second noticeable development has been the introduction on to the reserve of a small herd of grazing cattle as a natural means of removing excess vegetation during the winter months. It is hoped that this will improve the reserve for wildlife in a number of ways and if our subsequent monitoring confirms this the cattle will be brought back on to the reserve again next winter.

As you will see later in Chapter 4, a considerable amount of conservation management work has been undertaken by volunteers between the 1994 and 1995 breeding seasons and this Introduction provides me with the opportunity to place on record our thanks to all those who have taken an active part in this work, particularly members of the Moor Green Lakes Group and of the Blackwater Valley Recreation' and Countryside Management Service.

Active monitoring of the wildlife of the reserve has involved a number of plant surveys organised by Delphine Hoyle, ably assisted by a number of volunteer helpers and a survey of Dragonflies by Phil Young. The plant and tree surveys located an additional 24 species not found in previous years and the dragonfly surveys added two new species for the reserve. Birds continued to be well recorded with Ian Brown undertaking the very considerable task and collecting together records from a considerable number of observers and producing for this report a comprehensive annotated checklist which includes three new species for the reserve. Full details of the monitoring of these and other wildlife groups appears in Chapters 5 to 12 and their related appendices. If you can add additional records or have data for other wildlife groups (eg insects) please contact the appropriate recorder/committee member indicated in Appendix E.

Membership of the Group has increased over the last year and has reached 60, indicating an encouraging increase in interest in the reserve. The Moor Green Lakes Group is keen to see this level of interest maintained and as well as continuing to work for improvements in the habitat of the reserve for wildlife will also be exploring what additional habitat can be created. A potentially exciting possibility is the building on the reserve of an artificial bat cave for which Berkshire County Council have generously provided the initial funding for a feasibility study which will include the preparation of drawings and other preliminary work.

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 at Appendix F.

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 areas of grassland, planted coppice and wildflower meadow. 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 islands and gravel beaches attractive to wildfowl for breeding or just loafing.

An important feature of the reserve is the presence of a V‑notch sluice in the western exit of the Colebrook Cut which allows the level of the water in Colebrook Lakes North and South to be controlled within limits, allowing 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 to the viewing hide, provided by Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd, which gives extensive and closer views over Colebrook Lake North and part of Colebrook Lake South and which is reached from the footpath along the western boundary of the reserve. 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.

While overall management of the reserve is under the control of 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 Berks, Bucks and Oxon Naturalists' Trust, practical day to day management of the reserve and the collection, recording, assessment and dissemination of information about the reserve is undertaken by the Moor Green Lakes Group.

The Group, which was established in 1993, has increased its membership during the last year to about sixty, all with an interest in seeing the reserve managed to maximise its wildlife. The Group's committee has continued to arrange periodic tours of the reserve and to organise the collection and recording of wildlife data. An annual report on the reserve and its wildlife is produced by the Group, of which this the second.

New members are especially 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, including a copy of the 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. An application form for those wishing to join can be found at Appendix G.

During the past year the Group has organised some twelve on‑site working parties which have undertaken a variety of conservation and other work to improve the reserve for wildlife (details of the work are given in Chapter 4 below). Guided walks of the reserve took place on 4 January, 11 February, 24 May and 22 July 1995 and a further walk, specifically for birds, has been arranged for 10 September 1995 (leader Ian Brown).

The Annual General Meeting of the Group was held at Finchampstead Memorial Hall on 24 February 1995 and this was followed by an illustrated talk on "Winter Wildfowl at Moor Green Lakes" by the Group's Bird Recorder, Ian Brown

The present Committee Members of the Moor Green Lakes Group are listed in Appendix E. The necessary costs of the Group not covered by membership subscriptions are met by Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd.

For further information about the Group and its activities the contact is either Mike Taylor, telephone 01252‑521899 or the Blackwater Valley Visitors Centre, Frimley Business Park, telephone 01276‑866615.

Conservation work over the last year has had three aims, to improve the reserve for wildlife, to improve the facilities of the reserve and to undertake further wildlife recording. All work has been undertaken by volunteers, drawn principally from the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service and the Farnborough College of Technology and supported by members of the Moor Green Lakes Group. In the period from September 1994 to May 1995 the Blackwater Valley R & CMS organised twelve site visits and further visits were made by students of the Farnborough College of Technology.

On 30 January a small herd of cattle (some 12 adult beasts and a day old calf) were introduced to the reserve, following the erection of a number of internal fences to create separate paddocks. They remained on the reserve until 20 March 1995 during which time they were moved from paddock to paddock so all margins of Colebrook Lakes North and South were subject to some period of grazing.

The use of cattle to control vegetation is more environmentally friendly and ecologically sound than motorised mowing. Apart from providing additional habitat for invertebrates by way of their dung, cattle on rotation do not overgraze and their slow progression over the ground is less harmful to the reserve's rodent population than mechanised mowing. Grazing also has the extra benefit of the removal of young tree growth and riparian vegetation along the edges of the lakes as well as resulting in some churning of the ground at the shoreline to improve it for wading birds.

Prior to the use of grazing cattle from February to March attempts were made by mechanised mowing to reduce the height of lakeside vegetation, particularly on the north bank of Colebrook Lake North, to encourage its use by grazing wildfowl, especially Wigeon. The denseness of the vegetation placed a heavy strain on the equipment used and in spite of considerable effort these attempts at mowing were not entirely successful. Mowing was persisted with, however, on Long Island which would not be reached by the cattle and the island was subsequently used by considerable numbers of Wigeon.

Vegetation along the shoreline too tall for mowing was removed by hand to ensure easy access for wildfowl to the areas that had been mown or grazed.

a. create by rotation further sight-lines so that the reserve can be viewed at several points from the public footpath;

b. restrict the height of surrounding trees to ensure they do not reach a height where they could impede the flight lines of wildfowl into the reserve;

d. improve the northern bank of Grove Lake for wild flowers, dragonflies and butterflies.

The annual task of ensuring islands remain as free from vegetation as possible was again undertaken (necessary to ensure. suitable breeding areas are created for terns and waders). In particular Tern, Plover and Sandpiper Islands in Colebrook Lake were all cleared, and in the case of Tern and Sandpiper Islands an area of plastic sheeting was laid beneath the shingle to inhibit new growth. The existing surface of these islands is comprised mainly of shingle of a large size not suitable for nesting Little Ringed Plovers which require a much finer grade. As an additional task a quantity of pea shingle was taken out to Tern Island and placed where the plastic sheeting had been laid. The same was done on a small part of Long Island where there remains an outcrop of shingle among the vegetation.

As already mentioned, additional internal fencing was put up to create separate paddocks for grazing cattle. In addition it was necessary to improve access to the reserve, both for the cattle and for conservation work involving the use of a boat. This was done by moving a gate from the centre of the reserve to the northwest corner close to the car park.

Additional tree planting was carried out to improve in the future the screening of Grove Lake from Horseshoe Lake which is used for water sports.

This has included removal of vegetation to improve the flow of water exiting through the Colebrook Cut westwards and modifications to the sluice at this point in order to permit a high rate of flow and improve and refine our ability to raise and lower the water level in Colebrook Lake.

Finally two small artificial islands have been made and were positioned on 21 February 1995 half way between the hide and Tern Island to attract breeding birds, one with a gravel surface the other with a tangle of twigs. The latter has already been used by a pair of Moorhens and it is hoped the former may by used by a pair of Common Terns, so affording closer views of both species from the hide.

The main event of the last year has been the opening in July 1994 of a well built and spacious public hide, affording good views over much of Colebrook Lake North and parts of Colebrook Lake South. The hide has been well used since and has been supplied with a number of wall charts to aid identification of the wildlife of the reserve. Log sheets on which to record observations have been provided.

Some work has been done on the footpath leading from the car park to the hide to fill in depressions and reduce the number of wet spots.

A study is being made of the feasibility of building on the reserve an artificial bat cave. An initial survey of Long Island has shown it to be particularly suitable for the construction of such a cave and Berkshire County Council have provided initial funding for a feasibility study, which will include the preparation of detailed drawings.

Observations by members of the Moor Green Lakes Group and others visiting the reserve have been collected throughout the year by lan Brown and are presented later in this report in the form of annotated species list. Visits were made to the reserve to monitor the success, or otherwise, of breeding species during summer 1994.

A number of visits, organised by Delphine Hoyle, were made to monitor plant species present on the reserve to assess if any changes by way of additions or losses had occurred since earlier surveys were carried out.

A number of mammal traps were laid to allow the identification before release of the several species of rodent known to inhabit the reserve and to obtain some indications of their prevalence.

Several surveys were made by Phil Young during the year to confirm the continuing presence on the reserve of species recorded earlier and to see if additional species could be found.

The fact that the reserve contains a wide variety of habitats, bare gravel, muddy lake margins, patches of scrub and bramble, areas of flowers and grass and some mature trees and stretches of hedgerow, accounts for the high number of different species regularly recorded on the reserve. During 1994 these totalled 137, including four species, Garganey, Nightingale, Firecrest and Crossbill for which there are no previous records.

Highlights of the first winter period of 1994 were the presence of a Smew, which remained in the area from early December 1993 until February 1994, and a concentration on the reserve of remarkable numbers of wintering Goosander, which peaked at 79 in January. This is approaching the nationally significant wintering number for this species in Great Britain which is 90.

Spring passage through the reserve was generally good with a variety of waders being observed using the Colebrook Lakes.

Although a good range of species bred or attempted to breed on the reserve, unfortunately breeding success among waders was poor, due to predation by Crows (rather than trampling by geese!). Despite this the Little Ringed Plovers managed a reasonably successful year, rearing five young. Once again the resident introduced Barn Owls delighted many visitors during the light summer evenings.

Autumn passage was generally light, although good numbers of terns were seen including a long staying Arctic Tern in September.

An annotated list of all the species recorded is at Appendix A. Information and guidelines on bird recording on the reserve can be found at the end of the checklist at Appendix A.

The 1994 plant survey was carried out during July and August at the conclusion of the breeding season. 180 species of plants and trees were recorded, 24 being species not found in previous years. The full list of species is at Appendix B, on which the 24 new species are marked with an asterisk.

Of the wild flower mix which was originally sown during creation of the reserve, all but one, Silaum silaus pepper saxifrage, were still present.

There was a predominance of docks, thistles and nettles on the western shore of Colebrook Lake North and a worrying amount of the invasive Crassula helmsii spreading along this same shore. This is an introduced species from Australia and New Zealand which is spreading rapidly in the south-east of England and is difficult to control.

Fewer aquatic species were recorded than in previous surveys. This may have been due partly to difficulty of access in some places or possibly because some of these plants are no longer present.

The reserve's mixture of meadow, scrub and hedgerow continues to attract a variety of mammals. Among the large mammals have been fox, which have been observed crossing the reserve, and deer, which have been seen feeding on the reserve, including on Long Island. Among small mammals there is an active rodent population in the sown meadows (over which the Barn Owl will regularly hunt). The reserve's insect population has attracted so far four bat species.

The species of most concern to have been observed is the American Mink of which in the last year there have been a worrying number of sightings. They are known to seriously predate ground nesting birds and pose a considerable threat to such locally important breeding species as the Common Tern.

In all a total of 22 species of mammals have been detected on the reserve, by sightings, tracts or sound recordings, including one species recorded for the first time in 1994, Water Shrew. The full list is as follows:

Hedgehog	Erinaceus europaeus
Mole	Talpa europaea
Common Shrew	Sorex araneus
Pigmy Shrew	Sorex minutus
Water Shrew	Neomys fodiens
Dubenton's Bat	Myotis daubentoni
Noctule Bat	Nyctalus noctula
Pipistrelle Bat	Pipistrellus pipistrellus
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	Apodemus flavicollis
Bank Vole	Clethrionomys glareolus
Water Vole	Arvicola terrestris
Field Vole	Microtus agrestis

Dragonfly recording during 1994 was confined to the Moor Green Lakes Reserve, Horseshoe Lake and the adjacent stretch of the River Blackwater. A summary of notable and interesting features of the season is provided below and a full annotated checklist for 1994 is provided at Appendix C.

Of the twenty species recorded in our first report in 1994, as being present at some time during the period 1986 to 1993, seven were not recorded in 1994. The Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii is primarily a western and northern species of fast flowing streams; the Black Darter Sympetrum danae and Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens usually inhabit marshy spots or peat bogs; the Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea and Broad- bodied Chaser Libellula depressa would normally only be expected as occasional individuals on this site; the Common Hawker Aeshna juncea would also only be expected as an occasional individual, belying its name; the White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes tends to prefer well-vegetated streams and rivers and is believed to be intolerant of pollution although it has been recorded recently from the Blackwater near its confluence with the Whitewater and its absence from the stretch of the Blackwater adjacent to the reserve may be indicative of water quality.

Two new species were recorded on the reserve in 1994, making a total for the year of fifteen species of Odonata. The addition of Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanquineum as a breeding species (see below) was significant. However the single injured Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata can be regarded as no more than a vagrant individual.

Banded Demoiselle obviously breed in the Blackwater River in large numbers and early indications for 1995 show this still to be the case despite a number of upstream river pollution incidents during the past year. Small numbers of adults are also consistently recorded from the lakes on the site. However, it is unclear whether or not these are just vagrant individuals from the river population. Any records of breeding behaviour on the lakes in, the coming year would be especially welcome.

Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas was confirmed as being present in certain restricted areas of Colebrook Lake North in 1994. Early records in 1995 show that it is also present and attempting breeding in small numbers on the south shore of Colebrook Lake South.

Good numbers of Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum were recorded from the west shore of Colebrook Lake North. An unexpected finding was the presence, in significant numbers, of Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanquineum in a mixed population. Traditionally thought to prefer well-reeded ponds and ditches with luxuriant vegetation, this record for Ruddy Darter from a relatively immature gravel pit with minimal marginal vegetation, is in line with recent findings of other British Dragonfly Society members.

Notes and guidelines on dragonfly recording have been provided at the end of Appendix C.

Twenty species of butterfly were recorded on the reserve in 1994. A summary of notable and interesting features is provided below and a full annotated checklist is at Appendix D.

The Large Skipper Ochlodes venata was confirmed as a resident on the reserve. The two migratory species, Painted Lady Cynthia cardui and Clouded Yellow Colias croceus, were also recorded on the reserve in 1994.

Five species seen on or near the reserve at some time during the period 1989 to 1991 were not recorded during 1994. They were Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus, Grayling Hipparchia semele, Wall Brown Lasiommata megera, Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus and Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus. It is known that it was a poor year locally for both Holly Blue and Small Heath.

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 will need to be taken into account in the formulation of future management plans.

All have been observed on the reserve but in only small numbers. However it is hoped the presence of several rafts of frog spawn in the north-west corner of Colebrook Lake North in spring 1995 will lead to increased sightings of what is the reserve's logo. [Until 1997 the Group's logo was a Frog on a Lilly pad]

Interestingly at least one toad was found attempting to enter the reserve by way of the Colebrook Cut where it had become trapped in the sluice!

Lizard and Slow Worm are also likely to be present but have yet to be observed, and volunteers to spend some time surveying the reserve for this wildlife group would be welcome.

A systematic survey of the lakes on the reserve has still to be undertaken but incidental sightings, either during conservation work or while observing fish-eating birds, has shown the following species to be present:

Although this cannot be counted as a species using the reserve, Common Terns have been observed occasionally returning with what appears to be a catch of golden-coloured fish (some-ones Goldfish?)!

Other wildlife groups are present on the reserve but have not yet been surveyed, principally because no one familiar with those groups has volunteered to visit the reserve for this purpose.

If you have a knowledge of one of the following groups and some time for a small survey we should be pleased to hear from you:

The contact is Steve Bailey at the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service on 01252-331353.

The following account, prepared by Hall Aggregates (South East) Ltd, describes the early history of the site prior to the formal opening in 1994, of Colebrook Lakes and Grove Lake as a nature reserve. The account deals particularly with the action taken to reduce acidity in the soil and water.

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

Problems with the establishment of trees planted in the 1984/5 planting season arose in early 1986 when it was noticed that new planted trees in some areas of the site had failed. Tests for acidity were taken in various areas across the site from Horseshoe Lake in the east to Grove Lake in the west. Levels of ph were discovered between 1 .0 & 2.0 (the acidity of battery acid being 1.0).

It was decided that an application of agricultural lime should be spread on the affected areas at a rate of 40 tonnes/hectare. This improved the land areas but the water in Grove Lake still was measured at 3.0 which is too low to provide an environment for living creatures within the lake.

A distinct smell of H2S (sulphur dioxide) could be detected across the site and it was discovered that there were deposits of iron pyrites in the peat overburden and gravel, caused by an iron rich water running across the site, during an interglacial period of the last ice age.

The beds of the lakes on the site were likened to a concentrated solution of acid caused by the anaerobic conditions existing in the water whereby iron compounds were being converted to sulphides in the water. Problems were encountered with metal pumping equipment in the quarry processing plant with a basically weak sulphuric acid solution causing premature failure of metal pipes and pumps from internal corrosion by the acid water.

It was decided in early 1986 to seek the advice of Mr W Davison, a freshwater biological assessor based at Windermere in the Lake District, with regard to seeking a solution to the high acidity problem.

It was recommended that by diverting surface water running into the site into the most acidic lake areas and by utilising the non acidic artesian spring in the base of the excavation a "flushing" mechanism could be established whereby the acidic water could be washed out of the lakes into the River Blackwater and could be replaced by non acidic replacement water. A proposal for using surface water and artesian water for "flushing" the lakes was put to Berkshire County Council in July 1986 with details of the water and soil analysis and the Council accepted the company's consultant's recommendations.

By diverting and incorporating surface water and alkaline artesian water into the lakes it has been possible to reduce the acidity of the water. It was fortunate that the artesian springs were situated on the northern bases of the lakes created and that the hydraulic gradient across the site fell towards the River Blackwater in the south. (Caustic Soda is added to the water taken from the current gravel working south of the River Blackwater in order that water with an acceptable ph can be discharged into the river).

The first application of lime resulted in decreased acidity to 6.5ph on the surface of the site but despite ripping and cultivating at a point 10cm below the surface a low value of 4.0 was only achieved.

Topsoil storage heaps around the site were investigated and it was noted that where the acid peat had been exposed to the atmosphere and oxidised it was suitable to use as replacement soil on the site. These soils were spread on the areas linking Horseshoe Lake to Grove Lake and Grove Lake to Colebrook Lake in May 1988.

A link was also provided at this time to take surface water entering Horseshoe Lake together with artesian water emerging on the north side of Horseshoe Lake through a linked water course to Grove Lake and thence through another ditch to Colebrook Lake. The water eventually left the site either via the Colebrook Cut stream to the west or by a water discharge to the River Blackwater in the south west corner of Colebrook Lake South.

A second application of lime was made on the site in Summer 1988 at a rate of 10-20 tonnes/hectare. This resulted in ph levels of 5.0 generally across the site except for Colebrook Lake South where a lower level still persisted.

A wildflower seed mix (Emorsgate E7.17) was precision drilled by an oil seed rape seed drill onto the banks of Colebrook Lake North (west banks, north banks, east banks and the area between Colebrook Lake South and Grove Lake together with an area to the north east of Grove Lake. These areas are shown as Wild Flower Meadows on the map within this report.

Before the wildflower seed mix was drilled it was necessary to kill off docks which were prevailing on the site. The proprietary dock killer "Assulum" was used together with glysophate to kill other foliage. As the wildflower mix contains no grass, only flowers and herbs, it was necessary to kill off all other vegetation before seeding. Liming was carried out before the seeding at a rate of 10 tonnes/hectare.

Both the wildflower mix seeding and the third application of lime in 1988 were very successful with a good take which was first cut in the summer of 1990. However some soils analysed in 1992 still showed high acidity and the bird wading scrapes adjacent to the viewing hide were measured at 2.5ph.

LITTLE GREBE A common resident and winter visitor which breeds in small numbers. Two pairs present in 1994 but breeding unsuccessful.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE A common resident and winter visitor with numbers generally peaking in autumn. Highest 1994 count was of 17 in December. Five pairs present during summer, two successfully rearing a total of 6 young.

CORMORANT A common winter visitor which has oversummered in small numbers in recent years. Maximum count in 1994 was 30 in December.

GREY HERON Common visitor in small numbers. Highest count in 1994 was of eight.

MUTE SWAN Common resident and winter visitor. Three pairs raised a total of 9 young. A count of 82 on 19th Nov was a site record.

GREYLAG GOOSE Occasional visitor. In 1994 there were 2 on 26th Feb, 5 on 26th Mar, 3 on 16th Apr, 30th Apr and 15th May and 1 on 19th May.

SNOW GOOSE Visiting birds from Stratfield Saye peaked at 34 during the first winter period, including the usual single blue-phase bird.

CANADA GOOSE Abundant resident. Maximum count in 1994 was 337 on 16th Nov. Eighteen pairs bred.

BARNACLE GOOSE The feral population continues to expand with two pairs rearing 7 young (a third pair were unsuccessful) and a new peak count for the reserve of 86 in November.

SHELDUCK Occasional visitor. Just two records in 1994, single birds on 12th Mar and 16th June.

MANDARIN Irregular visitor which has bred. In 1994 pair present from March to June with breeding considered probable. Single birds seen 25th Oct and 5th Nov and a party of 9 flew north on 12th Nov.

WIGEON Common winter visitor. Appropriate management work has resulted in a new reserve record of 124 on 17th Dec (IHB). Birds were recorded up to 16th Apr and from 30th Aug with an eclipse male on 12th Jul the first record for that month.

GADWALL Common winter visitor often staying into late spring. The 1994 peak was 147 on 28th Dec, the usual period for highest numbers.

MALLARD Common resident and winter visitor. Highest count was of 86 on 28th Dec.

PINTAIL Infrequent winter visitor. 1994 was an above average year with a male on 5th Mar (IHB) et al), a female and a first winter male on 22nd Sep (JND) and a male on 3rd Dec (GKT et al).

SHOVELER Regular winter visitor. Peak count in 1994 was of 14 in January. A late male was present on 21st May.

TUFTED DUCK Common resident and winter visitor. At least nine broods seen in 1994 with a maximum count of 109 birds on 8th Jan.

GOLDENEYE Regular winter visitor in small numbers. First winter 1 f, 1 imm and 1 m from 1st Jan to 26th Feb, the male remaining to 16th Mar and the female to 5th Apr. Second winter 1 f from 12th Nov joined by second female from 26th Nov.

SMEW Rare winter visitor. The female present at the end of 1993 remained until 26th Feb creating the first long-stay record for the site.

GOOSANDER Common winter visitor in increasing numbers. Following on from the exceptional numbers in late 1993 there was another record count of 79 (14 males) on 23rd Jan (JMc). In second winter numbers reached 40 in December.

RUDDY DUCK Irregular annual visitor. A male was present on 25th Apr (IHB).

HOBBY Regular summer visitor over the reserve. In 1994 1-3 birds recorded between 12th May and 4th Oct.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Resident in small numbers. In 1994, however, the only confirmed record was of 4 on 20th Mar.

WATER RAIL Regular winter visitor with single birds on 6th Mar, 21st Nov and 27th Nov.

OYSTERCATCHER Irregular visitor, usually in spring. In 1994 just one on 17th May (IHB; JND).

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Summer visitor breeding in small numbers. At least three pairs noted in 1994 rearing a total of 5 young. Earliest record 28th Mar, latest 29th Aug.

RINGED PLOVER Passage migrant and summer visitor in small numbers. Up to three pairs in 1994. Although first bird arrived on 22nd Jan breeding was unsuccessful due apparently to predation by crows. Last records were on 21st Jul and 23rd Aug, the latter a presumed passage migrant.

GOLDEN PLOVER An infrequent visitor. In 1994 there were four records, 2 on 17th Feb (KBB), 1 on 19th Feb (11-113), 1 on 17th Sep (IHB) and 8 on 3rd Dec (per JNM).

GREY PLOVER Rare passage migrant. One in winter plumage 21st May (JND;IHB) the only record.

LAPWING Common resident and winter visitor. Eight breeding pairs in 1994 with a peak count of 316 on 17th Feb.

DUNLIN Regular passage migrant, predominantly in spring. In 1994, the best year so far for records, the monthly totals were:

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
-	-	2	5	26	1	2	2	2	-	2	2

The largest flock, of 23, on 7th May remained for just 2 minutes (IHB) and was the highest number recorded together.

RUFF Scarce passage migrant. The two records for 1994, above average for the site, were 1 from 2nd to 4th May (IHB) and 2 from 2nd to 7th Sep (GKT), one of which remained until 12th Sep (11-113).

SNIPE Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Peak numbers in 1994 occurred in second winter period with a maximum count of 51 on 16th Dec.

WOODCOCK Irregular visitor. Birds occasionally pass over the site but none were reported using the reserve in 1994.

WHIMBREL Annual passage migrant usually in spring. In 1994 one briefly 23rd Apr (EN), 2. on 26th Apr (IHB et al) and 1 on 3rd May (IHB; CRG).

REDSHANK Summer visitor and passage migrant. Four pairs present in 1994 but regrettably no young seen. Recorded from 23rd Feb to 23rd Jul with isolated records of single birds on 22nd Jan and 1st Dec.

GREENSHANK Regular passage migrant. The six 1994 records were 1 on 28th Apr, 2 on 1st May (1 staying to 5th), 1 on 1 9th May, 1 on 6th Aug, 1 on 12th Aug and 1 on 30th Aug.

GREEN SANDPIPER Regular winter visitor and passage migrant. Recorded all months in 1994 except June, with 1-2 until 6th May and from 16th Jul (2 were present on four dates).

WOOD SANDPIPER Scarce passage migrant. One on 2nd May (IHB et al) was seen by many observers.

COMMON SANDPIPER Common passage migrant. Spring passage noted from 19th Apr to 22nd May (maximum of 5 on 23rd Apr) and autumn passage from 29th Jun to 8th Oct (maximum 6 on 13th Sep).

TURNSTONE Scarce passage migrant. One present from 24th to 27th Apr (IHB;CRG; et al).

LITTLE GULL Scarce visitor. 1994 was a good year with three records, 3 seen briefly 23rd Apr (CRG), adult 11th May (CRG;IHB) and an immature 16th Sep (LAD).

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Common visitor. Recorded all months in 1994 except June.

YELLOW-LEGGED HERRING GULL Annual visitor in small numbers. In 1994 a 3rd winter bird seen on 25th Sep (JND) and an adult on 31st Dec (IHB).

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Frequent winter visitor in small numbers. Reported in 1994 in Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec with a maximum of 4 on 17th and 26th Feb.

COMMON TERN Summer visitor and passage migrant. In 1994 recorded from 2 on 22nd Apr to 2 on 23rd Jul. Seven pairs reared a total of 13 young. Passage records involved 1 on 13th and 23rd Aug, 6 on 2nd Sep, 2 immatures 20th Sep with 3 on 21st and a late bird on 22nd Oct (GKT).

ARCTIC TERN Scarce passage migrant. Two 1994 records, 2 adults 13th Sep (IHB;JNM) and an immature which remained from 14th to 21st Sep (CRG;IHB; et al), the longest stay to date.

LITTLE TERN Rare passage migrant. One on 23rd May (IHB) was only the third site record.

BLACK TERN Regular passage migrant. The four records in 1994 were of 2 on 19th May (KBB), 1 on 29th Jul (PB), 1 on 13th Aug (IHB) and 4 on 15th Sep (IHB;PES).

STOCK DOVE Common resident and winter visitor. Highest count in 1994 was of 25 on 23 rd Oct.

TURTLE DOVE Uncommon passage migrant. One on 30th Apr (IHB) the only record.

CUCKOO Regular summer visitor. Recorded from 23rd Apr to 4th Jun, two males holding territory.

KINGFISHER Resident in very small numbers. At least one pair bred rearing two broods totalling 4 young.

SKYLARK Resident during summer and winter visitor. Highest count was 55 on 31st Dec.

SAND MARTIN Common summer visitor. Recorded from 12th Mar to 23rd Sep. Peak passage was in April with c300 on the 9th.

SWALLOW Common summer visitor. Recorded from 2 on 2nd Apr to 1 on 26th Oct with maximum count of c170 on 17th Sep.

HOUSE MARTIN Numerous summer visitor. Recorded from 1st Apr to 25th Sep, with peak count of c250 on 17th Sep.

TREE PIPIT Uncommon passage migrant. Just two records in 1994, 2 flying south 20th Aug (IHB) and 1 NW 23rd Aug (MGM).

MEADOW PIPIT Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Maximum count was of 35 on 5th Nov. A singing male present in March and April was not suspected of breeding.

YELLOW WAGTAIL Moderately common passage migrant which has bred. 1-2 recorded from 30th Mar to 9th May in spring and in autumn an early bird on 5th Jul was followed by 1 on 20th Aug, 2 on 27th Aug and 13 together on 17th Sep.

GREY WAGTAIL Moderately common resident. One pair bred along River Blackwater rearing 3 young.

PIED WAGTAIL Common resident and winter visitor. Highest count was of 40 on 20th Aug.

WHITE WAGTAIL Regular on spring passage in small numbers. In 1994 one 16th Apr and 1 on 27th and 28th Apr.

NIGHTINGALE Rare summer visitor. Singing male heard 10th to 12th May (IHB et al) was the first record for the site.

REDSTART Uncommon passage migrant. A single record in 1994, one on 20th Sep (EN).

WHINCHAT Moderately common passage migrant. Three autumn records in 1994, 1 on 25th Aug, 2 on 29th Aug and 2 on 2nd Sep.

STONECHAT Irregular visitor but on the increase. Three birds were present in Feb 1994 and during post-breeding dispersal from 6th Jul to 30th Sep there was a maximum of 4 on two dates. A pair was then present to the end of the year.

WHEATEAR Moderately common passage migrant. Recorded in spring from 28th Mar to 5th May with the only autumn record 1 on 11th Sep.

FIELDFARE Common winter visitor. Largest flock was of c170 on 12th Feb and the last seen in spring was on the late date of 19th Apr.

REDWING Common winter visitor. Largest flock was of c250 on 26th Nov. None were reported after 5 on 26th Mar until 10 on 12th Sep.

SEDGE WARBLER Moderately common summer visitor. First recorded in 1994 on 23rd Apr and last on 3rd Sep. Four singing males held territory.

REED WARBLER Summer visitor in increasing numbers. Seven singing males held territory and breeding confirmed. Last seen 20th Aug.

LESSER WHITETHROAT Summer visitor in small numbers. Two singing males held territory with breeding confirmed. Last record is for 27th Aug.

WHITETHROAT Common summer visitor. Recorded from 23rd Apr to 3rd Sep with 6 males holding territory.

GARDEN WARBLER Common summer visitor in increasing numbers. A total of 14 singing males held territory. Last reported on 3rd Sep.

BLACKCAP Summer visitor in small numbers. First singing male on 12th Mar, four later held territory.

CHIFFCHAFF Common summer visitor, occasionally winters. Four singing males in summer and an over-wintering bird in both 1993-94 and 1994-95.

WILLOW WARBLER Common summer visitor. Recorded from 1st Apr (7 birds) to 3rd Sep. Up to six males held territory.

FIRECREST Rare visitor. A male in song was present from 11th to 13th Mar (BM;RM; et al) near the car park, the first record for the reserve.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Regular passage migrant which has bred. The only 1994 record is of one from 24th to 25th May.

TREE SPARROW Scarce visitor which formerly bred. In 1994 just 2 on 4th Apr (PB).

BRAMBLING Regular winter visitor. Two present in Feb and Mar with the last spring record of 1 on the late date of 23rd Apr. Good numbers present from 5th Nov until year end with peak of 40 on 26th Nov and 1st Dec.

SISKIN Common winter visitor. Early year maximum was 20 on 8th Jan. Larger numbers present second winter period with a peak of 120 on 5th and 26th Nov.

REDPOLL Winter visitor in small numbers. Present in only low numbers until 30th Apr but rather more in second winter period with a maximum of 15 on 10th Dec.

CROSSBILL Rare visitor. Two briefly seen over reserve on 13th Mar (JNM) were the first records.

YELLOWHAMMER Resident in small numbers. Three singing males held territory. Maximum count was of 7 on 8th Oct.

The following observers, referred to previously by their initials, submitted records for 1994:

Following the designation of Moor Green Lakes (part of the Eversley Gravel Pit complex) as a nature reserve, it is important 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, and all contributions no matter how small are welcomed.

Ideally records should be submitted on Eversley Gravel Pit recording forms available from the recorder at the address below (please enclose SAE). Records should be submitted every 3-4 months (or more frequently!) so that the log can be kept as up to date as possible. If you visit the site only infrequently records may be submitted annually.

3. Date of observation (and time if a fly-over only sighting or a short-stay record)