OUR AIM IS TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE
To find Nature Notes and records for wildlife here - click on
Our last Meet for 2016 was on Sunday December 18th - a misty morning, dry but overcast. Work along the river today included hauling yet another trolley and another very heavy, rusty bicycle from the river under the high footbridge.
The previous day had been very foggy, remaining so all day, with no wind to clear it - but a very close sighting of a Little Egret brightened the day. Looking north along the river in the murk, nothing seemed to be moving - but turning to look south, I noticed that I was being observed by a little egret low on the river bank - it flew up close by, not hurrying. A moorhen was paddling around below whilst the egret flew a short distance to perch on a tree branch, watching out for small frogs or fish.
Elsewhere along the river banks, our resident birds and winter migrants were foraging for rapidly dwindling fruits and seeds, although less easily accessible fruits were still plentiful.
Brambles provide food for wildlife all year round
The bounty of late summer and autumn continues into winter - dried blackberries are a good source of seed for many foraging birds when other food becomes scarce.
