a valiant attempt to divert the river !

which is now running into the drainage channel and flowing backwards to the site

7th February, the Ver overflows …

 and a previously waterlogged path disappears

 mallard head for the high ground

and on the 9th Feb the water level rises to an unprecedented level ….

when will it end?!

First sight of the moorhen and a single chick.

With a bit of luck the offspring will stay hidden in the reed and evade the attention of predators!

Our site updates have been notable by their absence so far this year, but here’s a reminder of the view over the mere.

This photo taken in April, (and really is only a ten minute walk from the city centre!) ……..

and a colourful creature that only the most tolerant gardener would like to see …..

… a vine weevil on the stalk of our spring flowering fritillary…

Early morning hoarfrost after a very cold night!

and one of our volunteers, wildlife photographer Luke Massey,  has included this photo of a heron on our site in his calendar for 2013 ….

For  more information and to see more of his excellent photographs, go to Luke’s website:            www.lmasseyimages.com

the kingfishers are no rumour.

Seen perching on the boardwalk handrail, Tuesday morning…. and yes, there are two. No copying or pasting here …..

One man went to mow ……

A rare dry day saw the volunteers out in force for the first cut of the meadow area ……

A view of the River Ver now the hedge has been laid.

Make the most of it! Recent showers have had  no effect on the continuing fall in water level.

On the subject of our local chalk stream, a new book has been announced ……

– The River Ver –  A Meander through Time

 by Jacqui Banfield-Taylor

This first major and comprehensive work on the River Ver
reveals a fascinating story from source to confluence and prehistory to the
twenty-first century of a chalk stream that has shaped not only the local
landscape but the lives of people past and present.

With a forward by the renowned television presenter and
wildlife photographer Chris Packham of Spring/Autumn Watch fame, the book tells
of the Ver’s long, interesting and chequered history, including archaeology and
geology, milling and watercress growing, problems with abstraction along with
rainfall and aquifer records, abstraction and flow charts and comprehensive
records and details of a selection of local flora and fauna.

There are wonderful personal memories and experiences
sprinkled throughout the book of people who have lived, worked and played on or
near the river, helping to bring the past to us here in the present, all
complemented with over 300 illustrations, many never seen before in public and
some going back more than 250 years.

The River Ver, A Meander through Time, makes it clear how
valuable and important our chalk streams are and how vital it is to raise their
profile and that of the rich diversity of wildlife they support. This
beautifully written and illustrated book hopes to encourage readers to take an
interest in exploring and caring for this superlative resource and its
surroundings and help to give the River Ver its rightful importance now and for
future generations.

The leylandii have gone, distant houses are now visible, and a pair of canada geese drop in to survey the scene…

Just a few days after our AGM talk by Peter Antram , leader of the St Albans RSPB , Mamta from Luton reported a productive visit with her RSPB group …

Blackbird, blue tit, carrion crow, chaffinch, coot, dunnock, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, green woodpecker, jackdaw, jay, kingfisher, lesser redpoll, long tail tit, magpie, mallard, moorhen, ring-neck parakeet, robin, siskin, song thrush, wood pigeon, and wren

and all before 10.00 am  …. learner birders take note, make an early start!