An opportunity to have your say

These from Mark Jones today

Some of the 32 Pale-bellied Bret geese out from the play area at midday 

Knot leaving Red Nab

Grey Plover and Knot

Grey Plover

Curlew to the south of the saltmarsh 

Since the injury to the resident male Mute Swan on the main pond at Middleton Nature Reserve last autumn, it has been sealed off to prevent access to all areas except the feeding area. There is no doubt that the waterfowl, and likely other less obvious species, have greatly benefited this winter. There is now a formal proposal to make this permanent with just restricted access.

The below has been posted on facebook by Lancaster city council as a public consultation on fencing around the main pond at Middleton.

We welcome the public’s opinions on proposed measures to help protect wildlife

Please follow the link below to complete a short survey to give your feedback:

https://arcg.is/1rOyjX2

The deadline for responses is Sunday 1st March.

I have already completed my positive response (Malcolm). But I do recognise that responsible dog exercising is a valid use of some areas of the Reserve. Many dog walkers have historically used the main pond to allow their dogs to cool off on hot summer days. So I have suggested that creating a permanent small pond where several seasonal ones current are, close to the main pond, might provide the opportunity for the dogs to cool down in a less sensitive area. Let's hope we can all work together to allow wildlife to thrive and still allow naturalists and dog walkers alike to take pleasure from this Nature Reserve.

Thursday catchup

The Red Kite seen on Tuesday was actually just beyond the recording area boundary on the bypass to the east of Imperial Rd.

A red kite flew low in front of a Travel Care bus, seen clearly by the driver. On the bypass between the White Lund and Heysham, being harried by half a dozen crows at 2.30pm Tuesday 

North shore -David Kaye

Some oystercatchers have taken to 
feeding on the Horse field off Knowleys Road even when the skear is 
exposed presumably on earthworms
They have been joined at high tide by some turnstones and curlew

Oystercatcher 

Turnstone

Curkew

Snipe numbers on the north shore have increased since the recent cold 
weather though you can't see them on the beach until they are flushed by 
the tide.

Also some brent geese which were closer in as the wet weather reduced 
disturbance by dogs. They are not black and white photos it was just 
very dull.

Common Snipe

Pale-bellied Brent geese