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Written by CA & RPC
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JUNE- AUGUST
The buzzards hatched three young in their nest high up in the oak tree  and they fledged in early July. The adults fetched in plenty of prey items for the chicks: mainly very small rabbits. The young could be heard calling for food long after they fledged and they remained around the Decoy for quite a while. They were later seen on the posts near Pickerings Pasture hide where they were seen to catch worms. This is not unusual: a large part of the buzzard's diet is small invertebrates. Over the coming weeks they will learn to catch larger prey and will eventually be evicted from their parent's territory.
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Written by CA & RPC (and photos)
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JUNE- AUGUST
In early June the first large skipper butterflies were seen, whilst the last orange-tip of the year was also seen. A couple of days later, the first small tortoiseshells hatched from this year's caterpillars. On a cloudy but warm day, on the 22nd June, eighteen meadow browns, three large skippers, three small tortoiseshells, a comma, two large, three small and four green-veined whites were seen, flying over the pastures.
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Written by CAC
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The high tides over the last few days have filled the scrape pool. It has been almost dry for several weeks now: only the rain has kept it from drying out completey. Today the tide was part way up the marsh when we arrived at the hide.
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Written by CAC
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 Around the bird hide area today, 13th August, I counted over fifty ladybirds. They were also on the nettles and hawthorns but I didn't count them. They were all the most common species, the seven-spot ladybird. These brightly coloured beetles are one of our favourites: partly due to the nursery rhyme: Ladybird, ladybird fly away home... Tues am: I have just been told the collective noun for ladybirds is "a loveliness of ladybirds" isn't that fabulous?
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Written by Lynda Broad
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This afternoon, August 11th, two men in their twenties were seen shooting at birds on Pickerings Pasture with a powerful air rifle. Four members of the public, bird watching at the hide, were shocked as the weapon was discharged over their heads! The Community Park Warden, bravely, challenged them. They admitted to carrying a gun and claimed that a farmer had given them permission to shoot. They were told that they could not use their weapon on Pickerings Pasture LNR and they left the site, crossing the field to Garnetts Lane, then walking along Halegate Road in the direction of the Water Works. One was dressed in black, with a hood and the other was taller, with a blue and black jacket and little hair. The police have been informed. If you saw where they went, recognize their description or witnessed the incident then please contact the police. We can not allow people to walk our open spaces and streets carrying loaded and dangerous guns.
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