Week 5: 5th - 8th November

Monday

This morning we had our first official introduction with the Reserve Officer, Tom Eyles who explained some of the work we’d be carrying out at Silent Valley over the coming months.  We were also joined by a new trainee, Mickaël.

After this, we had a whole team meeting to keep everyone up to date on plans and events that are coming up over the following month.

In the afternoon we had our first welsh lesson!  The whole team have enrolled on a short course of 10 weeks (split into weekly, 2 hour sessions) to help build our language and communication skills.

Tuesday

We spent the whole day in Silent Valley Nature Reserve carrying out checks of the fence lines running around and through the reserve.  Any repairs that are required were noted along with the location of the repair and a list of equipment needed to carry out each task.  We also cleared a fallen oak tree branch from one of the trails.

Beth clearing fallen oak tree branch.

Wildlife sightings

Buzzard • Blackbird • Raven • Robin • Blue tit • Coal tit • Sparrowhawk • Red Kite (2)

Adult fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Image: ©Andy Sands; naturepl.com

Our wildlife sightings also included a flock of fieldfares.  The fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a winter migrant species, usually arriving in Britain during October and staying until late spring.  They are best seen in the countryside, in fields, and along hedges.  

This is the first sighting this year of a winter migrant species in Silent Valley!

Wednesday

Today we helped out at Magor Marsh again and the day was divided into various different tasks.  Firstly we swept and cleared leaves from the boardwalk leading through the reserve; a pile up of leaves of the boardwalk can make it extremely slippery and become a safety hazard.  After this we searched overgrown, grassy areas for harvest mouse nests as two were discovered a week previous.

After lunch, we helped manage an area of willow re-growth – previously cut trees had begun to sprout new saplings.  Using bow saws and loppers, we cleared the saplings from the area.

Sally sweeping leaves from the boardwalk in Magor Marsh

Beth after sweeping a section of the boardwalk.

Thursday

Today is our weekly office day; spent typing up our blog and putting together background research for the new project.

Week 4: 29th October - 1st November

Monday

Today was our weekly "office day".  We spent the day typing up our blog and continuing researching the new project.

Tuesday

We spent the morning at the ERC checking the moth trap that had been set up on Monday evening.  Only three moths were caught all together and, using a reference book, were able to identify them as two Feathered Thorns (Colotois pennaria), and one Brick (Agrochola circellaris).

Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria)
Image: © Nick Greatorex-Davies; ukmoths.org.uk

Brick (Agrochola circellaris)
Image: © Ian Kimber; ukmoths.org.uk

Approximately 19-23mm, the Feathered Thorn is usually seen between mid-September and early December in habitats such as broadleaf woodland, hedgerows, and gardens/urban areas.

  

  

Approximately 14-19mm, the Brick moth is usually seen between late August and early December in habitats such as broadleaf woodland, scrub, hedgerows, and gardens/urban areas.

The afternoon was spent up in Silent Valley Nature Reserve where we carried out a litter pick of the car park area and boardwalk leading into the reserve.

Wildlife sightings

Buzzard • Magpie • Raven • Jay • Great tit

Wednesday

Back at Magor Marsh today, we spent the morning searching for signs of water voles (http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/water-vole) in an area of dense reed bed that bordered two reens.  This search was required as the reed bed was due to be cut that afternoon as part of a management plan for that habitat.  If left unmanaged, a reed bed habitat can eventually self-poison and damage the biodiversity of the area.

Sally going into the reeds to start searching for water vole signs.

As no signs of water voles were found in the area, the afternoon was spent clearing the reeds.  Brushcutters were used to cut down the reeds and then hay rakes were used to clear up the debris into several piles.

Thursday

Today was another office day, as Sally wasn't able to come in.  The day was spent researching and reading up on information to help get the new project underway.