After the coldest night in 20 years in the area

Icicles behind the café

After taking off a few inches of snow from the car and breaking through the ice holding the locks shut, it was a nice sunny drive to Doncaster.

Frozen for freshness

Swans on the ice by the reserve entrance

The night had been the coldest in over 20 years for the area and the day did not warm above zero degrees Celsius.   Due to the cold I was wrapped up in salopettes and a ski jacket to keep out the cold.  Due to the cold nature of the day i put out extra rations at the feeding station and watched as a pair of swans slide over the ice to try and get some grain.

Snow caped thistle

After trying to complete a tool shed inventory check, but disbanding due to the cold affecting the lighting and making it to dark to see inside the container it was time to check on the sheep.  They were in the furthest section of the field and to ensure their welfare it meant jumping the fence and walking round to that section of the field.  A head count and ensuring no lameness later I continued my walk round the site. 

Dear Santa Chinese lantern

 

Oak tree

It was a very scenic if cold day for walking as all the ponds had iced over during the night and though this limited the amount of life on the ponds it did provide a different backdrop and some interesting ice patterns to look at.  Whilst walking round I chatted with visitors and checked for any vandalism to the hides.

There was no further progress on the removal of the regeneration today as I did not fancy being on my knees on a sub zero day, that had resulted in all the access points to the compound freezing shut and needing forcing to gain entry.

 

Delayed from 16/12/09

Counting sheep out in the rain

 

Candle Snuff Fungus - Xylaria hypoxylon 

We once again set to work clearing the embankment of scrub (so no long waffle update). 

Yellow Brain Fungus - Tremella mesenterica 

 

Rain streaming off a tree trunk

Delayed from 15/12/2009

We were back on the old embankment that resulted to the bruised ribs.  Again we were removing willow and silver birch trees and leaving the oak and thorn bushes to allow more light onto the grass land at the side of the embankment.  As it was volunteer day we managed to get a fair amount done.

An example of willow carr

In the afternoon I had to check on the sheep and ensure no lameness and all accounted for, as well as cutting out the bits required to make a hanging bird feeding platform.  They were to be assembled at a later date as part of an activity day.

Old set of railway wheels at the base of the embankment

A mixed bag to pass the day

The day started nice and sunny and soon warmed up to tee shirt temperature.

The long access road to the mess room

Once the feeders outside the feeding station hide had been topped up, the next task was to ensure the hebridean sheep were ok and not stuck in the brambles. 

Railway lines cross the site at many points

On the Sunday there is a planned event for children that require willow stems to be used to make Christmas shapes.  So with a pair of loppers in hand it was off to the far side of the reserve where some willows had been cut the previous year and would provide a suitable size and number of stems for use by the education team.  A peanut sack of stems later it was off back to the mess room.  On the way back i found a pair of lost binoculars at the side of the path and chatted with a chap that had just taken some very good bittern snaps. 

The mother drain that provides water for the ponds

 

Peanut sack of willow cuttings

After a quick lunch break it was onto tidying up some more of the weeks vista opening site and placing the cut stems into a pile and selecting larger stems to at a later date chip for path material.

A very tidy scrub heap