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CHAPTER 1

Introduction to the Ninth Report of the Moor Green Lakes Group

Ken Crick
Chairman of the Moor Green Lakes Group

Reserve Management and Wildlife Recording

2001 started with some work on the Reserve but by mid February Foot & Mouth restrictions were coming into effect and access to the Reserve was in theory prohibited, with all public footpaths to the Reserve blocked. There are four points of entry to the Reserve, administered by three different local authorities, so the method of control adopted varied from a single strand of tape, with a piece of paper flapping on it, to a complete barrier of bright orange plastic mesh with plastic weather proof signs.

It was not surprising therefore that I received a number of phone calls from concerned members and others, all living local to the Reserve and the Blackwater Valley footpath informing me of irresponsible dog walkers breaching the barriers. I was informed by a representative of Wokingham District Council that the restrictions were not legally enforceable as Foot & Mouth was not actually in the district. During this period someone took the opportunity to try and break in to the Colebrook Hide but the lock held and only superficial damage resulted to the door jam.

Plans to erect an anti mink fence, on Tern Island, were first given impetus with the sighting of a mink on Long Island, the fence posts (paid for by RMC) were duly commissioned and delivered but Foot & Mouth and the onset of the Tern breeding season prevented erection until December.

Work on the Management Plan progressed during the early part of the year but remained in abeyance throughout the dragonfly flight season as I chased up and down the valley in search of these fascinating insects. Work on the plan recommenced at the end of September with a first draft ready for comment by Christmas.

Sue Dent and Adrian Douglas joined the Blackwater Valley Countryside Service just in time for the start of our 2001/2 work party season. Sue now represents the BVCS on our Management Committee in place of Steve Bailey who now heads up the Countryside Service. Both Sue and Adrian have already made significant contributions to the management of the reserve. Amanda Simpson-Atkins despite leaving the BVCS continues to lead our Sunday work parties with her husband Julian, for which we are very grateful. Our gratitude is also extended to all those members who turned out to help with work party activities.

This year Chris Hall was commissioned to carry out an aquatic plant survey. Also Bob Merritt, one time national dragonfly recorder and now something of a specialist on beetles and spiders was prevailed upon to spend some time on the Reserve. Their findings adding significantly to our overall knowledge of the site's flora and fauna. Steve Bailey (bats), Sue Proudley (butterflies), Kevin Briggs, lan Brown, Delphine Hoyle, Katrina Slocombe and myself continued to collect data in our respective fields of interest. The results of these efforts are to be found recorded throughout the report. A special thanks also to Chris Rose who has again compiled our individual efforts to form this report.

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CHAPTER 2

Conservation Work Programme since the last AGM

April 2001 to March 2002

Sue Dent

This has been a busy year for the conservation volunteers on the reserve, with a great deal achieved.

The Sunday conservation work parties have continued with seven tasks through the winter with an average of 14 volunteers each time, a tremendous turnout. This was supplemented by four visits by the Blackwater Valley Conservation Volunteers and a number of visits by BVCS staff to pick up the odds and ends'. A total of 174 volunteer days in all. Many thanks to all the volunteers, it simply wouldn't be possible to maintain the reserve to its current - improving - standard without all their effort. Special thanks also to Amanda Simpson-Atkins for leading the Sunday tasks and to Steve and Sheila Farmer for encouraging new and old members alike to come along.

Regular Conservation Tasks completed this year:

There are a number of jobs which need to be done each year to maintain the habitats and the general infrastructure of the site:

• Cutting viewing slots alongside the lake, the volunteers cleared one area with the remainder done by Julian Simpson-Atkins as a contractor.

• Keeping islands clear of vegetation. Tern Island and Goose Island have both been cleared of scrub this year so that they are suitable for breeding birds. Goose Island also provides open shingle areas that some species of dragonfly like.

• Grassland. We are aiming to keep a mixture of grassland and scrub around the lakes and so have continued to clear bramble, not to get rid of it entirely but to limit it to its current extent. The aim has been to keep the lake edges clear of long vegetation and willow and in particular this year 3 bays on the northern edge of Grove lake have been cleared of scrub and trees completely to create short grass areas where the birds can feed and rest.

• Cattle. The cattle continue to do a vital job maintaining the grassland areas of the site. Unfortunately we were unable to have the Highlands again this year but were able to arrange a substitute herd, of in-calf heifers, perhaps not quite as picturesque as the highlands but they have done their job well. They were on site from December to March.

Apart from the routine work we have also had a number of special projects this, year.

Hibernaculum
The most recent is the hibernaculum, which has been organised by Peter Scott as part of his Earthwatch grant. Everything fell into place miraculously and the hibernaculum was installed by a Sunday work party on the 10th February. This should provide a useful extra habitat for the reserve. Peter Scott is going to monitor the area for reptile activity in the future and would appreciate it if members would report any sightings of reptiles on the reserve this year either direct to Peter or via Ken or myself.

Mink fence on Tern Island

The mink fencing has been installed on Tern Island, or Stalag 19 as I have heard it called, The fence was installed because mink have been reported on site in order to protect the breeding terns on the island. The finished article isn't too obtrusive and hopefully will do its job well and keep the mink away from the nesting birds.

Crassula helmsii
This year there have been moves on several fronts to tackle the problem of Crassula helmsii on the reserve. There is no quick and easy solution to the problem but hopefully the work proposed should begin to tackle it. Chris Hall's survey of the aquatic and wetland plants of the reserve (see elsewhere in this report) showed that at present Colebrook lake is heavily infested with Crassula while there were only a few of plants on the scrape next to the hide on Grove.

In June 2001 the Crassula in the scrape beside Colebrook Hide was cut and dug out by hand. This was back breaking work and the sheer physical bulk of the Crassula makes it impossible to tackle more than a very small area this way. This kind of mechanical removal is not recommended by any recognised Crassula authority and will not be undertaken again.

In autumn 2001 the Crassula on the new scrape in front of Grove Hide was covered by remnants of household carpet in an attempt to shade it out of existence. A technique used successfully at Frensham Pond. It has proved quite difficult to get the carpet to stay and thanks to Ken Crick and Steve Farmer for replacing it when it moved. When water levels drop the remainder of the scrape will be assessed and any other patches will either be carpeted or possibly sprayed or dug out if very small. The condition of the Crassula under the carpet will be assessed in the summer to see if it has been killed.

Ken Crick has assessed the options for tackling the infestation on Colebrook Lake and we hope to be implementing a programme of limited spraying with herbicide to try and get it under control.

Finally Having joined the BVCS team in September 2001 I would like to thank the Moor Green Lakes Group for making me welcome and for all their help in getting me up to speed on the site and what needs to be done.

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CHAPTER 3

REPORT ON BIRDS 2001

Recorder: lan Brown

During the year 127 species were recorded of which 66 were present in suitable breeding habitat in the summer. Three new species were added to the site list, Green Winged Teal, Lesser Yellowlegs and Ring Necked Parakeet bringing the total number of species recorded to 201.

In the early winter period there were good numbers of surface feeding duck, with a site record count of 585 Wigeon. This contrasts markedly with ten years ago when there were approximately 50 birds using the site. There were moderate numbers of Goosander roosting on the site and other early year highlights included Pintail, Peregrine and a brief appearance by a Ring Necked Parakeet in February.

By the time the site was reopen following closure due to FMD many spring migrants had already returned. Wader passage although generally light produced some good local species including Sanderling and Turnstone but the spring highlight was the first Temminck's Stint for nine years. This bird was well watched during its four day stay most of which was spent in the vicinity of Tern island. Other spring records of note were a Mediterranean Gull and several Black Terns.

As in recent years breeding success was mixed but Little Ringed Plovers bred successfully on the reserve although the other wading species were unsuccessful with Redshank leaving the site relatively early. Little and Great Crested Grebes both bred successfully on the reserve. However as in 2000 Common Terns continue to flourish on Tern Island with nine pairs rearing a total of 18 young (cf 6pairs / 14 young in 2000), yet another record success. Most of the birds feeding in the valley come from this colony and travel distances of many miles to keep their hungry young satisfied! Mandarin were again successful in nestboxes and Tufted Ducks were very successful rearing a minimum of 25 young. Woodlark bred on the site for the fourth year running and Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail prospered in their traditional sites on the river. The brief appearance of a Lesser Yellowlegs on the Hampshire part of the complex in June was an unexpected find and constitutes the first record of this North American species.

Late summer/autumn saw a scattering of interesting waders mainly on the drained Hampshire pits with Ruff, Black Tailed Godwit and several Curlew Sandpipers. Other highlights included two records of Little Egret and two Caspian Gulls. Wader passage on the reserve area was generally light due to vegetation encroachment.

The year closed with returning waterfowl building up early. This included the highlight of the year, a drake Green Winged Teal that gave obliging views to many (from far and wide!) on the reserve from November into 2002. Another first, involving a North American species. Other highlights during this period included Mediterranean Gull, Hen Harrier (only the second site record, the first in 1988), several sightings of Barn Owl and good numbers of finches including Siskin, Redpoll and especially Brambling, the latter frequenting land near Longwater SF.

Last but not least many thanks to the growing band of observers who submit records including those who provide observers names on the log sheet. 

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CHAPTER 4

BOTANICAL SURVEY 2001

Dr Delphine Hoyle

Records of the plants on the Reserve have been kept since 1992 (excluding 1996 and 1999) and since 1997 these records have been quantitative surveys of the areas around the Colebrook Lakes.

The methods used since 1997 are based on National Vegetational Classification (NVC) Methodology.

Ten random samples (1 x 1 m) were surveyed on 14th July 2001, five on the north side and five on the west side of Colebrook Lake North. In each of the sample squares the species present were identified and quantified both on abundance and frequency (see previous Annual Reports for further details of this method)

Table A shows the frequency and abundance of the species found in each of the samples. Table B lists other species found in the surrounding areas.

Eighteen species from the original seed mix were found in the sample squares and one more in the surrounding area.

Predominant species were Leucanthemum vulgare, Plantago lanceolata and Centaurea nigra and of the grasses Agrostis spp and Holcus lanatus. This is in line with previous findings.

Again there was little evidence of tree and shrub invasion although there were patches of bramble outside the survey area.

Thanks are due to Irene, Draper, Helen Edwards, Marjorie Trendall, Katrina Slocombe, and Gill and Michael Wells for their help in this survey.

Table A

Note: S = Sown Species

Table B

Other plants recorded outside the sample squares