Water Vole

Water Vole

Sunday 12 October 2014

PROJECT

It has been quite some time since I updated this blog.
At present it looks like the project is going to cost too much to implement due to the high number of mink reported to be in the area as well as the lack of support that the project is getting. I have 2 volunteers at Cliveden looking out for mink and get reports from the lock keepers on the Thames regarding their sightings. For the project to develop it will need the backing of more people.

Thursday 24 July 2014

HOBBY IN COOKHAM

I HAD A VERY INTERESTING BIKE RIDE TODAY BETWEEN MY HOUSE IN MAIDENHEAD AND COOKHAM TODAY. OTHER THAN THE USUAL BIRDS I SAW A HOBBY, TREE CREEPER AND LITTLE EGRET. THEN WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE A MALE FALLOW DEER SITTING IN THE SHADE.
I AM OFF TO THE GLOW WORM AND BAT EVENING IN COOKHAM TONIGHT.

Monday 21 July 2014

A NEW GROUP IS BEING FORMED IN COOKHAM TO HELP OUR WILDLIFE


Cookham Wildlife Supporters Statement of Purpose
Who are we?
Local people taking care of wildlife and sharing our passion and knowledge in a practical and fun way in the parish of Cookham. 
What is our vision?
By 2019 we will have a Cookham plan for wildlife and nature that stands alongside, and has equal status to, the Village Design Statement and is adopted by the Parish Council and the borough planners. 
What are we doing?
·      Planning a calendar of local events and activities such as guided walks and talks
·      Running practical campaigns and initiatives to enrich habitats such as:
o   Wildlife and natural gardening – educating people about the importance of their gardens and creating wildlife corridors through gardens for hedgehogs and many other animals. Promoting the use of natural and non-chemical substances in the garden.
o   Leaving verges and meadows long, not cutting until after flowers have seeded, and planting wildflowers on verges as food sources for bees and other insects
o   Not cutting hedges and trees between Feb and Aug while birds are still nesting
o   Securing habitat and nest boxes for certain birds such as House Martins and encouraging the use of Swift bricks in new-build properties
o   Reducing light pollution
·      Updating the Cookham Wildlife web pages on cookham.com
·      Offering wildlife advice and building a community of interest through a dedicated wildlife forum on cookham.com 
Who is supporting us?
National Trust and the Woodland Trust
Contact Cindy Barnes cindy@cindy-barnes.com

 

WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR GARDEN WHEN YOU GO TO BED?

MR.FOX AND HEDGE HOG VISITED THE GARDEN LAST NIGHT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IN THIS DRY WEATHER WATER IS LEFT OUT FOR ALL OF OUR WILDLIFE TO DRINK.



Saturday 19 July 2014

MINK SEEN BY VOLUNTEERS

Several mink  have been seen by myself and volunteers in Cookham over the past couple of months.
This is not good news for the project as a trapping program will need to be set up to eradicate this threat to the reintroduction of water voles.
Volunteers at Cliveden have seen mink on the Thames at the bottom of Cookham Reach. The lock keeper at Cookham lock  saw a mink at the lock on the 9th July and I have found a dead mink (killed by someone else) close to the Summerleaze Sailing club in  Maidenhead. From a scientific point of view I collected data from this dead mink and took a few pictures. Like many of you  I do not like to see any dead animals but the truth is that mink are an invasive species which must be eliminated.

I have purchased my first mink raft and trap and will need to place this in Cookham soon to see if there are mink in Strand Water. Do any volunteers want to help me monitor this raft?
On the positive note the swans, and moor hens have had and fledged their chicks which is a good indication that mink are not on Strand water at the moment.


Friday 2 May 2014

MINKRAFT AND TRAP HAVE BEEN ORDERED

I have ordered my first mink raft and a live trap and will be installing it when it arrives.
This will need to be monitored on a regular basis to see what wildlife is using it.

I have been looking for wildlife and any signs of mink along the water way and it would appear that there are mink at the Bray end near to the Bray windsurfing lake. This is not good news as they could easily spread to the other end of the water way.

At present, the Cut along side the Bray nature reserve is possibly clear of mink as there are coots and moorhens sitting on their nests along this stretch and they do not appear to be disturbed by mink at the moment. The swans nest by the allotments in Bray appears to be well established and cob and pen are sitting on eggs.

The Maidenhead Water Way regeneration group have cleared the water of a lot of rubbish by the Library and have been very good by keeping their volunteers away from any nesting birds in the area.

I will discussing my plans with a couple of interested parties soon which will hopefully help with the project.

Thursday 27 March 2014

MAIDENHEAD ADVERTISER

I have just had an article printed in the Maidenhead Advertiser regarding my proposed reintroduction of water voles into the steams between Cookham and Maidenhead in Berkshire. I am looking for volunteers to report on any wildlife they see close to these streams so we can assess what there is at the moment. It is then my plan to install mink raft to see what wildlife is present.
When we were kids we grew up in Cookham and loved the wildlife that was present. This ranged from the water voles, screws, mice, stoats, weasels, rabbits hares, badgers and foxes as well as many species of birds. By controlling the mink which will kill and eat nearly all living creatures from worms to swans I would like to  think that we would see an increase in the wildlife in the area.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact me through ccmalawi@yahoo.com