Will Scott, our most recent in an illustrious line of long-term voluntary wardens, has migrated north to take up a position on The Farne Isles overseeing their famed seabird colonies - a marriage made in heaven one imagines, with the bird mad lad as happy as a gannet in guano.

Of the five individuals to have completed our long-term volunteering scheme in Weymouth; Andrew Taylor, Will Haywood, Rosie Woodger, Stephen Kershaw…

After impatiently waiting for days with a mean-spirited wind from the north and east we have finally been rewarded with our first returning sand martins of the year. Thankfully yesterday was warm and spring-like promoting one of the first major chironomid hatches of the year, ensuring plentiful food to replenish the sinews after their incredible journey from Africa.

The pioneering sand martin. One of four over Radipole…

Spring was very much in the air today here at Radipole Lake. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were to be seen displaying to each other right outside the Visitor Centre window. Having spent most of the winter out in Weymouth Bay in their drab winter plumage, this pair decided to make the most of the early spring sunshine and show of their newly acquired summer plumage in what must rank as one of the most romantic sights in…

Otter activity on Radipole is at an all time peak with regular signs and sightings over the past few days. Anne broke her uncanny Radipole otter duck on consecutive mornings while bittern monitoring - quite like London buses (and WWII ordnance) in some regards these otters of ours! The motion activated cameras are now in place so by Monday we are hopeful of having some new otter footage - perhaps of mom and cubs. In the…

Taking place this weekend is a binocular and telescope demonstration event. Optics are available to try here seven days a week of course, but this event allows you to try out a wider than usual range of bino's and scope's. The event starts at 10am on both Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th and runs through until 4pm on each day, so drop in to see us between those times. We'll have all the usual high quality RSPB and Viking…

The area of Radipole recently referred to as the summer cut (because we cut the reeds there in summer) has had some nice features added to it this week again thanks to Andy Yeatman of Alaska Environmental. Last week we removed the unsightly post and wire fence which was replaced with this meandering 'wet fence'. Another isolated pool, larger than those excavated in recent winters has been added too which will be…

Yesterday we had a novel discovery on the reserve - possibly not a first but notable nevertheless. Anne was brush cutting a clump of bamboo, (another pesky non-native) recently discovered in a bigger clump of brambles when the metal blade suddenly went clunk on something metallic. Lo and behold it only transpired to be what we believe to be an old anti-aircraft shell. As the photo show the case was well rusted but the detonator…

Mediterranean Gulls have been a major feature this winter the daily sightings log at Radipole. Record counts have been smashed several times and currently stands at an incredible 230+. As well as large numbers of Med Gull we've also had plenty of colour ring sightings which I have mentioned on this blog a couple of times. Saturday morning I saw a red ring on a 2nd winter Med Gull and got a little excited. Red rings always…

Our celebrity trans-Atlantic wader made another of its infrequent visits to Radipole yesterday having been flushed from Lodmoor by three nameless RSPB workers. We were out on the saltmarsh to pick litter, check the cattle fence and weed the tern islands - to deter Canada geese from nesting – three essential jobs for the price of one, to minimise disturbance.

Amazingly, of all the vast acreage the sole dowitch…

Following on from yesterdays blog a picture of frog and spawn by Allan taken in the self same (and justly named) amphibian pool. While out listening  for bittern on Radipole this morning, Anne -  very much our amphibian go to girl - found newts within the secret garden pools for the first time.

Although no 'boomers' were noted Will did have excellent views of bittern on Lodmoor and Anne her very first Radipole otter…

Spring decidedly in the air this mellow and bright morning - a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed by our wildlife. Over recent winters visitors will have noticed new pools appearing around Radipole and one of the desired outcomes of these mini features was to benefit  amphibians - such key components of wetland ecology but surprisingly sparse until recently.

It was pleasing to discover that our 'amphibian pools…

Back before Christmas we removed a large sycamore from Beachdown Way at Lodmoor as they are classified as a ‘non-native naturalised species’ and as such their removal from the reserves is part of our Management Plan Objectives as approved by Natural England. Where it was situated it also provided a predator perch – not great news for reedbed nesters.

Favourable conservation status for woodland SSSI…

While out surveying on the reserve our Site Manager, Nick T, came across a branch of blackthorn covered in a bright blue velvety fungus.  Not being knowledgeable about fungi, we sent photos to local expert Bryan Edwards at the Dorset Environmental Record Office.  Bryan identified the fungus as the Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea previously Pulicherricium caerulum).  Another common English name for this fungus is the…

Once again the diggers have rolled off site and yet again habitat improvements have been left in their wake. Added to the meandering foot drains snaking across the New Meadow, four scrapes have appeared in Snipe Field, several new isolated pools dug around the Secret Garden and a flexi pipe added to feed the existing scrub-fringed pools in summer. Being clay based there is no groundwater percolation and so, in summers…

Some weeks ago we began bundling reeds with which to construct screens to enable disturbance free surveying of the new pools and ditches at the top of Radipole. An unavoidable consequence of the habitat improvements over the past couple of years is that marginal vegetation on the bunds around ditches has been knocked back which has severely limited our ability to monitor wildlife within the new water bodies.

Reed is…

As alluded to in an earlier post, we once again have Andy Yeatman of Alaska Environmental and his slew back on site to add a few post restoration flourishes to Radipole. The third and final fish fence has been added to keep the new waterways carp free (and thus less turbid and better for macrophytic vegetation) and add foot drains to the ‘New Meadow’.

The meadow in question was, until a couple of years…

As part of the mitigation for the construction of Weymouth’s Park and Ride, Dorset County Council’s Phil Stirling (The County Ecologist) and the Dorset Environment Team, very kindly gifted us a few days use of a slew and driver Andy Yeatman of Alaska Environmental. The purpose being to add hydrological features to the sedge beds to the north of Lodmoor, adjacent to the construction site. It was Andy who so expertly delivered…

On the 30th January Weymouth RSPB staged the second successive Sunday community work party as part of the 'Wild about Weymouth and Portland' (WAWAP) project, after the litter pick held at Radipole one week prior. Approximately 20 locals turned up to help RSPB staff and volunteers 'grub out' the hedge and remove the old post and rail fence on South Down Avenue which abuts Lodmoor Nature Reserve.

Between…

The felling of trees and scrub is a contentious issue on nature reserves; whether it be plantation pine to restore heathlands or willows and alder on a wetland. Since time immemorial people have had an affinity for trees as they have provided us with shelter, fuel and myriad other benefits.

Nowadays trees are quite rightly appreciated for their aesthetic qualities and their recreational value when they gang together…

Last Sunday witnessed the inaugural Big Litter Pick at Radipole Lake with staff and volunteers bagging up 50 large bin bags of general rubbish over four productive hours. Added to this tally were two bicycles, various  wheels, helmets, a body board, a tent and a safe.