Birdwatching spot

Hello to all our members. I have just returned from West of Ireland. Like the UK they are recovering from a bad winter.Everywhere is a bit brown and battered.
I was in Greenfield LNR and was watching a LongTailed Tit having a bath under some bushes....brrrr.... brave little bird! I also saw a Wren creeping about in some brambles for all the world like a little mouse. It occurred to me that this would make a good birdwatching area. Picture the top path and go to where one of the sawn off slanting interpretation boards is. A telegraph pole is nearby and you are on the way to both ponds.If you look across the "new" pond, which at present has water in it, you will see some bushes and trees. There are numerous birds using this area. I think if we put a substantial plank across the uprights, after levelling them, and build a screen in front, it would make a good birdwatching area. We could use some of the culled wood from our lopping and clearing.On mentioning this to Helen H. a committee member,I got a positive response. So let me know what you think, e-mail me please. Any handypeople out there would be very welcome to help out with this mini project.
Thanks to Helen. H. by the way for taking the Juniors on Saturday last.
Don't forget our next big effort is to raise money for Red Squirrel Conservation on March 22nd. Please all try to come and bring friends. We shall need some home-made cakes to sell, so get baking nearer the time, please.
A bid has been put in to "Small Sparks" for £500 towards a substantial, lockable notice-board. If successful we shall have to provide the rest of the cost from our funds.If you see anything interesting at the LNR please photograph or make a sketch or note and eventually we can post these in the notice-board for visitors to see.

Fungi in February

Hello
again. We had our usual work parties and Junior Rangers on Saturday
30th January 2010. 16 people did the Big Garden Bird Watch and spotted
12 different species in the hour allowed.We also spotted our first
female Hazel flower with its familiar red tuft.Bird results were sent
to RSPB. A small group heroically cleared an area behind the new seat
on Lower Path. A lot more work will be needed on this. We hope to
either make a wild flower patch or plant some low level shrubs that
would be bird friendly. We await advice from John Lamb of LWT.Why not
bring your muscles, forks and spades along on Saturday February 27th.,
either 10.30am or 1.00pm.and lend a hand.
When in the Reserve on Saturday last I found a fallen, mossy tree
covered in beautiful shining yellowish fungi. I am fairly sure they
were Velvet Shank. Our "duck that is different" also appeared. She, and
I think it is a duck and not a drake as she was accompanied by a male
mallard,is probably an escapee from a wild fowl collection. If they
mate watch out for a collection of "magpie" ducklings.
Our Chairman did a good bit of brash trimming and has created a lovely
habitat pile in the lower woodland.Our next big event is the Fund
Raising Evening to help The Red Squirrel. It is on Monday March 22nd.
7.00pm at St John's Methodist Hall in Colne. A varied evening of
interest is planned,please support and bring your friends and family.