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Joe Harris (RSPB Langford Lowfields Site Manager)

Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news but earlier this week a visitor to the reserve had the number plate stolen from the back of his car. It happened in the middle of the day so it was very unfortunate that no one else noticed it happening. Hopefully it is an isolated incident but the advice from Thames Valley Police is:

“If your registration plates are stolen, contact Thames Valley Police immediately on the new non-emergency number 101. It may seem trivial at the time, but not when you receive a fixed penalty notice or you are suspected of having committed a crime.”
 
They also recommend that we direct people to the following website http://www.cherwellsafe.org/. Included on this website is information on where you can get free anti-theft screws for your number plates. These sort of problems can occur in any car park and so it pays to be vigilant.
 
On a brighter note there is some exciting wildlife on the moor at the moment. The great white egret is still striding elegantly around the moor and giving great views, a hen harrier is being regularly seen and merlin and a short-eared owl have put in an appearance. Large flocks of redwing and fieldfare have been noisily feeding around the reserve, a bittern is skulking through the reedbed and bearded tits are still being spotted. With the grass having been cut in the fields in preparation for next years breeding season it’s also a great time for seeing the brown hares that live in the grassland fields.

We have now finished the tractor work for the year and so water levels can be raised in the fields without the fear of the tractor getting stuck (which has happened in the past!). This will help lure in more wildfowl, with wigeon numbers already having already built to about 300 birds, things are looking promising. It looks like the northern viewing screen on the reedbed will be completed by the Tuesday work party next week, which is very exciting news and the Wednesday and Thursday teams are doing a grand job starting on the annual willow coppicing work. They have also cut a number of areas of grass alongside the track just inside the reserve entrance. This grass area next to the ditch is great for grass snakes in the spring and summer and so these open areas will provide perfect spots for them to bask in the sunshine and also hopefully give more people views of these green skinned slitherers.