LWT membership levels are at all time highs, around 469 which is fantastic in itself. Many people will be aware Fraser Cottington said he was dedicated to growing membership and with next year’s building of the new North Spit Hide and another announcement we hope to make soon, we think there are lots of reasons to join.

Fraser Cottington has been visiting the Dinton Pastures area since 1981 and very few people can offer his depth of knowledge on where and when to see certain birds, so don’t delay, get your name in the hat and join , or donate to LWT as soon as possible.

It’s taken a while to fund raise enough, to get specifications set out and to get the people arranged to build, but we are pretty much there and are about to go ahead with Environment Agency permission paperwork. One requirement is that the floor level will be above the 1:100 year flood level, which was required for Ron’s, so this week we arranged a surveyor to take the levels off Ron’s and position a marker post on the North Spit.

We cannot say 100% until we commence materials purchasing that we have all the money we need, because of the many shortages and price increases of various elements, timber being one example. But all we can say is we’ll keep everyone informed and add that if you haven’t already donated towards the hide, please do go to our GoFundMe page and give as much as you can afford.

The fact you can see this means the web site is up and is now on it’s new host, so it should not disappear on Wednesday when the old host is shutdown.

Email has now been setup so “Contact us” should work now, but there is still a problem of getting stuck on multiple sending that I will look at again.

If you see any problems then email me directly for now – peter.scudamore@talktalk.net

Sorry for the downtime but I had to wait till the internet lost all references to the old host, which meant I could not bring up the new web site as it would try to go back to the old host when I tried. The old host was still found after 12 hours but after 15 hours it had gone, they said it could take up to 24 hours.

UPDATE: Web Site moving 10pm tonight Sunday 12th September, so will disappear for a while – hopefully will be back up in a few hours. DO NOT POST UPDATES AFTER 10pm. I tried to do a seemless changeover but that does not seem to work as I hoped.

Our current web site host will be switching off their servers on 15th September, so our web site will be moved to a new host. This should not affect you but it might mean the LWT web site is not available for a few hours while the transfer is completed.

Also if you are planning to post your magnum opus you have been working on to the members area, then please can you wait a few days till the move is complete, to make sure your work is not lost.

The web site address is not changing the only changes are to the web host and the DNS settings that directs your browser to the new host. The DNS setting changes can take a few hours to update round the web hence it is possible that our web site is not available for a few hours.

I hope to redirect the foll.org.uk domain first to the new host to make sure it works as this should affect less people, if that works then I will update the lavells.org.uk domain to the new site.

Also the new web site host should have added protection as it should be a https: site, so you should not get a security warning when logging into the members area. This also means the members area is secure which makes sure we meet GDPR rules. The new host will be in the UK or EU which also means we are GDPR compliant.

Hopefully this will all go smoothly and I will update the news when complete.

The end of the bird nesting season is upon us and we have lots to do, so we are having extra work parties for most of the rest of this year. 15th August is about increasing the speed of growth and spread of the Phragmites in the Network Rail created diggings. We need people with spades and wellies to help us transplant the reed roots (Rhizomes) in spade sized big muddy clumps so they carry on growing into late autumn. If you have a wheel barrow you don’t mind getting muddy, bring that too. Meet Lavell’s car park 09:50.

Note – Booking of Ron’s hide is no longer required since most Covid restrictions have been lifted.

LWT has had to follow latest Government rules and will maintain the use of the booking application, the good news is that there are lots of slots available and as dawn is so early, nobody should face disappointment.

Please remember to join the AGM on Tuesday 15th June at 7:30pm on Zoom.

You should have been sent the Zoom meeting details if you are a member and we have your correct email address.

Note – Booking of Ron’s hide is no longer required since most Covid restrictions have been lifted.

In line with the Government’s step 2, LWT will be re-opening Ron’s hide on 12th April, from 05:00.

As before access will be via the Visibook application, bookings are only available to LWT members

A full list of rules must be read and can be downloaded here

Use of the hide is limited to 1 household at any one time and a maximum of 4 people

• Masks must be worn when more than one household is using the hide
• Hand sanitizer must be brought with you
• The outer gate MUST be locked upon entry to ensure those who have not booked cannot just walk in

PLEASE NOTE : The padlock access code is emailed to you upon booking

YOU CANNOT :

• Share the padlock code with anyone
• Stay in the hide beyond your booking slot, WhatsApp Fraser Cottington and he will confirm if you can remain in the hide
• Allow anyone through the outer gate, if they are booked they will have the code

The 2020 LWT bird review can be downloaded here

LWT is endorsing the pledge by Wire Fence to donate 100% of monies raised to a nature charity, by our placing the link to Wire Fence, we stand as good a chance as any charity of benefiting. Why not take part and spend an hour seeing what visits your garden. Wire Fence

While we are in Tier 4, sorry to say that Ron’s hide (at Lea Farm) will be closed and the bird walks cancelled.

The current government guidelines for Tier 4 imply that work parties are still allowed, so currently they will continue.

If there are any changes in the lockdown level or government guidance then we will update the web site to let you know how it affects you and us.

The work party on Sunday 22nd November is on, this is allowed by government rules as long as everyone follows the 2m distancing rule and has not had Covid-19 or had to isolate in the last 2 weeks.

We will adhere to the Government rules for Covid19, so once again we will reluctantly have to say that Ron’s hide will be closed from 5 November until further notice.

Also bird walks are also cancelled until the end of Lockdown 2.

As a thank you message to Network Rail Fraser Cottington put together a sped up compilation video of the marsh and reed bed excavations and added some nice music. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Our postponed Annual General Meeting is to be held via Zoom on Tuesday 22 September 2020 at 7.30pm.

A link to join the meeting has been send to everyone who has given us their email address, if you have not received the details and would like to join then please contact us.

As Zoom switches to whoever makes the most noise, then you will be muted during the AGM and unmuted when you are allowed to ask questions, so someone sneezing won’t cut off the main speaker. To be sure of this then mute you microphone if you are not planning to say anything (option in lower left corner of Zoom window).

Summerleaze Ltd, owners of the landfill and neighbouring Lodge Wood Lake and whom sold Lea Farm Lake to Ron Bryant, are assisting LWT by promoting our GoFundMe fund raising page on their website’s news page

Summerleaze Ltd have always supported FOLL before LWT was formed and we continue to maintain a dialogue and strong and special relationship

Our long awaited huge habitat expansion and creation project funded by Network Rail is underway, the reed bed along the West side to the North is already about 25% dug, the drivers of a large excavator, bulldozer and tipper are making great progress, lots of pictures and videos on our Facebook group

Our postponed Annual General Meeting is to be held via Zoom on 22 September 2020 at 7.30pm. A link to join the meeting will be sent a few days beforehand.

Please would you email secretary@lavells.org.uk  if you plan to attend, saying how your name will appear on your zoom login, as we need to record attendees at the meeting.

If you join a Zoom meeting from a Windows PC your name will default to your user name on the PC you are using, you can change this name within Zoom. Your user name is the name you login with, or if you are the only one who uses the PC it is the one it prompts you to login as, when logged in to your PC – your user name can be seen in the Start menu just above Documents when you slide up to the person shaped icon above the power button icon.

Our existing Treasurer is looking to step down in the not too distant future, meaning LWT is looking for someone to replace him and help us manage our income and expenditure.

The role is not complex, Phil has set out an excellent set of documents making the job much easier, it just requires a diligent eye and someone comfortable with numbers.

If you can spare 1-2 hours per month and 2 hours for a bi-monthly for our Zoom calls please get in touch.

info@lavells.org.uk

After a gap of 8 days the Night Heron was found at Sandford Lake and stayed in view for nearly 1 and half hours, it was then seen arriving at Sandford again 3 days later (19th) and sat in a tree above the reeds near the hide for several hours in sheltering from the rain, allowing many locals to see this much wanted species.

And last night it was seen yet again flying in around 20.00 and sat near the same reeds close to Sandford hide.

You can see lots of pictures at Berksbirds

You can also see my videos on YouTube

We ask all visitors to please make a donation to LWT and at all times respect the birds welfare and the habitat managed by LWT and Dinton Pastures Countryside Service (DPCS), any behaviour by visitors that threatens the bird will not be tolerated.

Early morning 8th August a juvenile Night Heron, also known as Black-crowned Night Heron flew over low over Lea Farm Lake towards Dinton Pastures, but could not be found. Being crepuscular – active at twilight, it was probably heading to an unknown roost.

2 days later a local resident sent Fraser Cottington a picture of a ‘small heron like bird’ in the pond behind their house on the Western fringes of Dinton and the bird is immediately recognizable as a Night Heron, the story emerged that it was photographed by them on the 6th August, so local bird watchers are now frantic to track it down to see this very rare species, having only ever been seen three previous occasions.

The search continues and last night (10th), hopeful locals we treated with a consolation sighting of a Short-eared Owl flying over at dusk, a very uncommon bird indeed and especially now, as all previous sightings are in the winter, the last records being 9th Nov 2014 and prior to that 15th Nov 2005.

A blue ringed Common Tern E07, was seen throughout July, but it took me several attempts to get a good enough look at the ring to see the number. I have now checked and it is actually one of our own young hatched and fledged here in 2011. The cr-birding page provides all the data. So there you have it 9 years later it’s still coming, albeit with a limp right leg.

We have created a booking system to use Ron’s hide to meet Government guidelines, social distancing, keeping occupant levels to 2 households and maximum 4 people, plus trace and track. Members have to log in to see the link

Fraser Cottington launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay for the new hide we really want to build overlooking the new marsh and reed bed at Lea Farm Lake’s North East bay.

Created 23rd July, generous donations have poured in from members and people wishing to remain anonymous too, as of today the amount raised is £2,015.00 and we hope we can keep spreading our message out to the wider bird watching community and local residents too.

The link to our page is here GoFundMe  please share the link to this page with anyone you know who loves birds and enjoys Dinton Pastures. Please do make a donation.

The aim is to raise £20,000 to add to LWT’s £8,000.00 and as soon as we hit our target we will commence the Environment Agency consent and Wokingham Borough Council planning applications. If everything goes to plan by late July 2021 we will be commencing construction and finished before the winter.

The proposed new hide, is set to be made out a 40ft sea container, like Ron’s will be on stilt legs to provide optimal viewing and ensure it cannot be flooded. A similar example can be found here but ours will be fully contained and locked.

LWT volunteers were out in force Sunday 26th July preparing the Lea Farm Lake site for the diggers, marking out with tall pegs what must stay, what must be avoided and there is more work to be done 9th August after the grass areas behind the existing reed beds has been cut.

Then 17th August the diggers arrive and it’s full on huge excavations and some 2+ weeks later we’ll have a new marsh and the shallows for our single largest reed bed.

I’ll be posting regular updates here, on Twitter and on Facebook as things progress.

I have received information about an orange colour ringed Little Egret seen at Lea Farm Lake 26th June. It was ringed as a ‘pulli’ 10th May 2019 at Stanborough Lakes, was then seen 16th August at Moor Green 2019 and then at our lake 414 days after it was ringed,  some 58 kilometres from it’s origins.

LWT launched a fund raising campaign using GoFundMe platform as a simple, efficient way to raise £20,000 to go towards a new hide overlooking the Network Rail funded Phragmites reed beds and marsh, which commences 17th August.

LWT has around £8,000, but we need at least £20,000 to cover everything else, this campaign is live right now and the sooner we share and encourage all our friends to support their local conservation charity, the sooner we can all be enjoying the birds that will soon be using the habitat we are creating

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fraser039s-campaign-for-lavell039s-wetland-trust?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Please donate today

Following the latest government advice we have now re-opened Ron’s hide at Lea Farm, but under a strict booking only basis to members so that we can  limit numbers for social distancing and to manage track and trace.

The maximum people allowed at any one time is 4 people from 2 households

The remaining hides are the responsibility of Dinton Pastures Countryside Service, whom opened these hides and have also requested a limit to occupancy, but as public hides everyone must observe social distancing themselves to remain safe.

Another colour ringed gull – Blue ring B=W, was seen 21st June and a Bristol ringer named Peter Rock came back with news of it being ringed at the nest (no exact location but around Bristol) 24th June 2019. So a minimum of 83 miles in a straight line. Getting ring numbers can create another interesting angle to bird watching, for many of us it is fascinating to learn of a birds origins.

Sad news that someone has cut 4-5 holes in the hedgerow at different points between the hide and the green bridge and even worse, then sprayed weed killer at each cut, the end result has been mass die back of nettles and shrubs.

This kind of act is hard to fathom, accept or explain, because the cutting clearly suggests it was done by someone wanting to view birds, so if they are a member it makes me sad such actions could be done by a so called supporter of LWT.

This has been reported on our WhatsApp groups and we ask everyone to remain vigilant and report anyone acting suspiciously, or if you witness vandalism contact Fraser Cottington and the police immediately.

With Covid-19 making it impossible for our members to enjoy the hides, offering any views into Lea Farm Lake has been impossible. It is still important to LWT that our members know the work of just a few has made a big and positive impact, the raft that was repaired and towed out by Alan Rymer and Ron Bryant and within 24 hours Terns were showing great interest, as of the last 2 weeks new fewer than 23 pairs have settled and should be hatching the first young any day. I took this short video when there were 18 bird settling in, a further 5 pairs squeezed themselves on shortly after.