New OBG Website!

We are very excited to announce the launch of our new website - http://www.obg.org.uk/. With the new site, we hope to offer greater flexibility and interactivity. We hope you will find it to be an easy-to-use and interesting resource. We are gradually migrating information from the old site, and adding new material. There is also a brand new forum where you can post sightings and chat with other wildlife spotters.

Bats Abound

Autumn is a great time of year for spotting bats. September marked the start of the mating season, which will continue throughout October. To attract females, males use special mating calls, including purrs, clicks, and buzzing. At the same time, the bats are out hunting in large numbers, in order to build up fat reserves for the long winter ahead. The glut of fruit in the hedgerows and orchards attracts abundant insect life, which in turn provides a bonanza for the bats.

As they build up their reserves, the bats also seek suitable hibernation sites, and begin periods of torpor. During torpor, the bats' body temperature drops and metabolic rate slows, so that less energy is required to survive. As the winter draws in, the periods of torpor extend in duration, culminating in hibernation.

Local bat expert, Paul Hope, carried out a night-time bat swarming survey at the start of the month at Greywell tunnel. The bats are caught using a harp trap, which consists of a series of taught strings, hung vertically across the tunnel mouth (photo right). The bats fly into the strings and harmlessly slide down to the bottom to be caught in a sling. They are then weighed and their size recorded, before being released (photo above). Despite the poor weather (which the bats don't like to be out in either!), the total catch was 115 bats (6 Daubenton's bats and 109 Natterer's bats; 47 females and 68 males).

Fungus Foray

Our fungal friends put on a good show at the fungus foray on Hook Common at the start of the month. In all we found 44 species of fungus, identified with the help of expert Mike Waterman. They were red, purple, yellow, white, hairy, scaly, slimy and more. Finding the 'dog stinkhorn' (Mutinus caninus) in the photograph was a rare (but smelly) treat. Photo courtesy of Peter Vaughan

Wasp Spider Sighting

This fabulous wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) was spotted feasting on a cricket in long grass on Broad Oak Common. The species is thought to be a recent coloniser of the UK. It builds a spiral orb web at dawn or dusk, commonly in long grass. The web has a prominent zigzag shape called the stabilimentum at the centre, which may function to attract insects. Photo courtesy of Jamie Cole, age 6.

Events

The Isles of Scilly: an illustrated talk at Cliddesden Millennium Hall (Hampshire Wildlife Trust)

Tue 2 Nov, 8pm. Andrew Cleave will present an illustrated talk on these beautiful and fascinating islands. A joint meeting with Basingstoke Field Society, Cliddesden Millennium Hall, Church Lane, Cliddesden, RG25 2JQ. Contact Lydia Knight, 01256 334316. Admission £3 including refreshments.

Autumn Walk in Pamber Forest (Hampshire Wildlife Trust)
Sat 6 Nov, 10am. Join reserves officer, Graham Dennis, in a stroll around this large reserve to see what wildlife is around in November and to enjoy the autumn colours. Meet and park at Pamber Forest Impstone Road parking area. Contact Graham on 01189 700155. Suggested donation £1.50.

Late Autumn Walk at Silchester (Hampshire Wildlife Trust)
Sat 13 Nov, 10.30am. Mike Sharman will lead a late autumn walk. Meet and park at the Calleva Walls car park, Silchester. Contact Mike on 0118 9816104. Suggested donation £2.

To download a PDF which includes all the wonderful images please click on the link below.

Mark took this view of Odiham from Horsedown Hill, the highest point in the parish, just before Christmas.

Hedge-laying Along The Canal

Have you ever wondered how you lay a hedge? If you walk along the tow path between Colt Hill Bridge and Lodge Farm Bridge on Saturday 23rd January you can find out.

Paul Hope and his colleague Roy will be on site, weather permitting, between 11.00 and 15.00 and would be happy to show you how it’s done.

Winter Bird Feeding

During this wintry period, the feeding of birds will reward you as well as possibly save the lives of many birds. Natural food is in short supply as trees and bushes are covered in snow and frost and the ground is hard.

Bird food is ideal (P&K in Fountains Mall usually has some supplies) but the RSPB suggests many leftover scraps would be beneficial to garden birds including cake, biscuit and pastry crumbs. Other suitable leftovers include mild grated cheese, cooked rice, breakfast cereals, cooked potatoes and fruit.

Please let us know if you have any unusual visitors to your garden. We have had reports of Pied Wagtails and Blackcaps as well as Fieldfare and Redwing.

In the wider countryside there have also been some unusual sightings. Will has told us about Lapwing at Broad Oak and what turns out to be Snipe, all feeding together on a newly emerged ‘lagoon’ in one of the fields.

Broad Oak Pond

On behalf of Odiham Parish Council, owners of Broad Oak Common, the OBG has secured a grant from the Loddon & Eversley Heritage Area (LEHA) to restore the Common's pond. This will be the first practical conservation project we have organised and we hope to recruit local residents and OBG members to undertake most of the work.

The pond has become badly silted up and encroached upon by scrub and small trees creating heavy shade. It is now all but lost in the Common's landscape. The aim is to restore its original form as a natural country pond supporting aquatic wildlife.

Website

Our new website is under construction – thanks to Peter Simmons. Cathy Griffiths who has a lot of experience with the Odiham Community website has volunteered to administer it and monitor input as it will be interactive.

OBG Events

We have firmed up dates for the following events:
Thursday 25th March Update on the LEHA. It hardly seems possible but it was over three years ago that Alison Cross from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust came to talk to us about the Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area Project. Now Amanda Bassett is going to update us on the project and show the DVD that has recently been produced.

Sunday 18th April Guided Walk led by Paul Hope to the new Up Nateley Nature Reserve.

Thursday 22nd July Orchids at Greywell Evening Walk led by Tony Mundell.

More details nearer the time but make a note in your diary!

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Local Events

Sun 17th January Alresford Winter Bird Walk 10-12. Please contact John Bush on 01962 735062 for more information.

Sat 23rd January Winter Bird Watch at Hosehill Lake 2pm-dusk. Please contact Mike Sharman on 01189 816104 for more information.

Sun 24th January Winter walk around Pamber Forest 10 am. For more information please contact David Jewsbury on 01256 420818 (evening) or 07836 493677.

For more information about the Odiham Biodiversity Group please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187

Press Release

HART District Council has appointed a specialist firm to prepare a Management Plan for Odiham Common –a nationally important area for wildlife. The Plan will set out what people value about the common and how it will be looked after in the future. The Management Plan needs to follow the national consultation process ‘A Common Purpose’. This process sets how to engage with stakeholders and it is important to allow the Council to remain as impartial as possible in order to allow open and fair debate among the affected parties. The specialist consultants will act as independent facilitators throughout the process.

Says Adam Green, Hart’s Countryside Manager: “Odiham Common is a very special place. Its historic woodland and open meadows are accessible to the public and they provide a nationally important haven for wildlife. As owners of the common we are committed to preserving it for future generations to enjoy. The Plan will set out what people value about the common and how it will be looked after in future.”

Land Use Consultants spokesman Matthew Tickner says: We would like to hear from as many local residents and common users as possible during the preparation of the Plan and have produced a questionnaire giving them the opportunity to have their say.”

The Management Plan is due to be completed next March –preceded by a period of public consultation on a draft Plan early in the New Year.

To find out more see the Odiham Common webpage on the Hart District Council website. Go to www.hart.gov.uk and follow the links to Leisure, Countryside and Open Spaces and Odiham Common.

Garden Birds 1

Colin Ryall’s talk on the 23rd was very well attended and proved to be most interesting. There were some lovely photographs, some from the BTO and some of Colin’s own and Colin answered those tricky questions like ‘Where do all the garden birds go in the autumn?’ (to the countryside where natural food is plentiful) and ‘Should I feed the birds in the summer?’ (yes, it gives the juvenile birds a good start). He also had his own theory as to why waxwings, a winter visitor, often frequent supermarket car parks (they are less shy than other birds who avoid these busy areas). If you would like to contribute to the BTO’s Garden Birdwatch, you can get more details from their website – www.bto.org. Thank you to all who were able to come.

Garden Birds 2

All it takes is a cold spell to bring those birds back into the garden. I have noticed far more numerous blue tits, great tits, goldfinches and chaffinches, but the real surprise was a pair of goldcrest – a first for my garden. They weren’t actually on the bird feeders but were hopping about on the apple tree and seemed totally unaware of my presence just a few feet away. Another surprise was a nuthatch and I haven’t seen one of those in my garden for a few years. It really is rewarding feeding the birds and you can now get bird food locally – the hardware shop in Fountains Mall now has supplies.

If you would like come and watch these birds from my sofa, armed with a cup of coffee and a biscuit, please let me know and I will arrange another session. Obviously, it will have to be a last minute event, dependent on the weather, so let me have your telephone number if you’re not on e-mail.

Winter Bird Walk Sunday 30th November

Peter Hutchins has kindly agreed to lead a walk for us around Butter Wood. We will meet in the car park (please park in the field) of the Fox and Goose at Greywell – which will be open for our custom when we return. We aim to start at 10.30 finishing about 12.30. Please wear warm clothes and suitable footwear. Cost £1.

Palace Gate Pond

Peter Fountain has told me that Hart District Council has agreed to do the work to restore the pond. Perhaps someone who lives close by can keep me updated on this?

Sad Paw-note

It was whilst walking Heidi – a West Highland terrier of mature years I inherited from my mother four years ago – that the idea of the Odiham Biodiversity Group was born. Walking with her led me onto footpaths that I never knew existed and made me really appreciate the countryside around us and notice the plants, birds, butterflies and changing seasons. Sadly, Heidi died this week and I miss her terribly, but really there is nothing like a dog to get you out into the countryside. The only time I have seen a kingfisher on the canal was a really horrible, murky day and I was only there because Heidi wanted to go out for a walk.

Tree Trail Leaflet

Don’t forget, the first Tree Trail leaflet is now available as a pdf attachment. We are also having a few printed, so if you would like one of these for a small donation please let me know. Now that the leaves are dropping – finding the trees will be even more of a challenge!

Surveys and Observations – what’s it all for?

A couple of Saturdays ago I went on a Mapmate course at the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC). Mapmate is software for biological recording and is the preferred method for groups or individuals to submit records and observations to the county/national database. It is these records and more importantly the trends they indicate, that tell us what is going on in the countryside and the health of the environment we live in. The decline of the otter is a classic example – a direct result of pollution in our waterways. Clean up the rivers and the otters come back.

December Newsletter

A Christmas Competition, another Cross Barn talk and another winter walk – details of all of these happenings will be in the December Newsletter due out at the end of November. If you do not subscribe by e-mail nor have a hand delivered newsletter (i.e. you live on my route from Colt Hill to the Coop), they are available in the Library and the Post Office.

OTHER ORGANISATIONS EVENTS

Hampshire Wildlife Trust
Fungus Foray on Hook Common 10.30 am Saturday 1st November. £2. More details – Audrey Moss-Bradnam 01256 780074.

Scrub bashing on Velmead Common

Sunday 16th November. More details – Elliott Fairs 01256 381190.

Make a wreath at Bartley Heath

Sunday 30th November. £2. More details – Rachel 01256 381190.

RSPB

Basingstoke RSPB are visiting Keyhaven Marshes on the 16th November. More details from Peter Hutchins on 01256 770831.

For more information about the Odiham Biodiversity Group please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187.

Do you have mistletoe in your garden?

On his visits to Odiham, Tony Mundell (the north Hampshire Flora recorder) has been impressed with the amount of mistletoe that he has seen and the different species of tree that it appears on. On Odiham Common mistletoe grows on ash trees and this is rather unusual.

To investigate this and add to Tony’s county records, we have decided to do a survey. Now the leaves have fallen it’s much easier to see the mistletoe but less easy to identify the host. Please let us know if you have mistletoe in your garden. We need to know the species of the tree that it grows on and a grid reference for your garden or your post code will suffice. Any other records in the wider countryside, if you can supply the same information would also add to the picture.

Churchyard Small Mammal Survey

On the 8th and 9th of November with the help of Amanda Bassett from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust we carried out a small mammal survey of the Churchyard. Eight traps were set and next morning we found that three were occupied. All three occupants were wood mice – 2 males and a female. Not much of a variety but at least we know that there is life there!

Churchyard and Cemetery Surveys

We are now coming to the end of the surveys and would like to thank all the people who have helped over the last year, particularly Wendy, Carol, Liz and Julie who have been doing the bird surveys. We are now collating our findings and will write our reports which we will submit to the Churchwardens and The Parish Council in due course. It has been a fascinating year for discovering what lives in these special places – from Red-legged partridges in the Cemetery to the Fiddle dock in the Churchyard! The numbers of cowslips, primroses, ox-eye daisies, scabious and knapweed on the south side of the Cemetery were particularly stunning.

Sofa birdwatching

We were lucky with the weather – a cold sunny morning and the birds duly obliged. Blue tits, Great tits, a Robin, Chaffinches and Goldfinches all appeared on the feeders.

Winter Birds

Many people have noticed the Fieldfares and Redwings that have now arrived. These are winter visitors to our shores and are members of the thrush family. Redwings are slightly smaller than a Song thrush and have distinctive red colouring under their wings, whilst Fieldfares are a little larger with a grey crown. Both have the thrushes’ speckled breast. Mistle thrushes are also making their presence felt – or rather heard – they have a very distinctive call like a football rattle, as they defend a favourite berry-laden shrub.

We are arranging a winter bird walk with Peter Hutchins in January – more details in next month’s newsletter.

Paul’s Talk

I think that all those who attended would agree with me that Paul’s talk was quite fascinating and we now know that Ratty no longer lives in the canal (except maybe in the western section), the shrub with distinctive pink berries and orange seeds is the Spindle and the cygnets once grown are driven away by their parents and probably end up on Tundry Pond. Thanks to all who came to this very successful evening and we now have our insurance money for next year!

Tree Trails

Following our tree trail walks we are now producing two leaflets – one concentrating on the Churchyard and Chamberlain Gardens and the other on the Cemetery, King Street and Buryfields. More details next month.

Buryfields

On 6th November Paul Hope, the canal ranger, and Carol Gibbons visited Buryfields infant school to talk to the children about the canal and local animals . Paul explained the need for managing the trees by the canal and dressed up volunteers in his safety gear to illustrate his work. He then showed everyone the skulls of a badger, fox and deer: animals many of the children had seen in the area. The audience was enthusiastic and asked interesting questions and Carol and Paul had a very enjoyable morning.

OTHER ORGANISATIONS EVENTS

Hampshire Wildlife Trust Walk at The Vyne Sunday 9th December

Ruth Cairns will lead a walk around the fascinating and beautiful grounds of this National Trust property, keeping an eye open for wildlife along the way. Meet at 10.00 am and park at The Vyne car park, Morgaston Road, Sherborne St. John (Map ref. SU 637 576). For further details, please contact Ruth on 01256 326364.

Hampshire County Council Guided walks

Hampshire County Council produce a little booklet (free) of guided walks in Hampshire. They range from weekly 1 hour ‘health’ walks in and around Basingstoke to a 12 _ mile walk on the 27th December around Greywell via Tunworth, Mapledurwell and Upton Grey. There are many other walks throughout the county including some on the coast.

The booklet is available from Odiham library – as are the Parish Council’s footpath maps.

For more information about the group please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187 or e-mail at smbates@btinternet.com

Canal Wildlife Walk Friday 10th August

Peter Bickford, one of the Canal Rangers will be leading a walk for us on Friday 10th August. If the weather is kind, we will see dragonflies (but perhaps not the 24 different species that have been seen along the Basingstoke Canal!) but Peter will undoubtedly point out other wildlife. Please wear sturdy footwear and have waterproofs handy if the weather is at all doubtful. Meet at Colt Hill (Odiham) Wharf at 10.30 am. Cost £1.

Flora Surveys

Tony Mundell completed the second and final flora surveys of the Churchyard and Cemetery on the 12th July. 18 new species were added to the Churchyard and 30 to the Cemetery. Most were grasses but in the Cemetery they included Yellow Oat grass and Meadow Fescue both of which are usually only found in ‘botanically good quality i.e. unimproved meadows’. The Cemetery also yielded a (nearly) red White Clover – a rare occurrence and the first time that Tony had seen it. The Fiddle dock in the Churchyard was in full flower and another plant was found in the long grass on the southern side of the church. If you are interested in the full list of species, I will be able to send it to you on an Excel spreadsheet.

Tony also carried out a flora survey of Broad Oak Meadow, details of which will be available in due course.

Hedgerow Surveys

Odiham Parish has many kilometres of hedgerows and the task that we have set ourselves is rather daunting. However, we will be using the standard sampling technique and have already made a start. The parish is divided into one kilometre squares and each square is divided into nine. A 30 metre section of the hedgerow nearest to the middle of each square will be surveyed. Of course we have to get permission from the landowners before the surveys and this is taking some time – so if you own a hedge in the Parish or know someone who does – please let us know.

Butterfly Walk

The weather forecast was not good but a group of us walked from Colt Hill to Broad Oak Meadow where Tony pointed out several different species of butterfly, including Meadow Brown and Marbled White, and the Burnet Moth. He also gave us insight into the complicated life cycle of the blue butterflies. Sadly, the walk was abruptly curtailed when the heavens opened and proved not to be a passing shower. Later, when the rain stopped, the southern meadow was a mass of Marbled Whites – drying off, as we were!

Church Fete

Thank you to all who helped at the Church Fete – or came to see us and take part in our quizzes. Richard Coleman won the Tree quiz with an impressive 18 out of 21 correct answers with Mary Turvill and Stuart Wardle tying for second place. The (senior) wildlife quiz was won by Simon and Sylvie Childs with Kathryn Childs (no relation) in second place. The junior prizes were won by Bea, Aimee, Rose and Vicki (combined effort) and Chloe. Well done!

Garden Wildlife Surveys

Thank you to those who have sent in their reports for the last quarter. I think that I am not the only person who has had more birds coming to feeders this summer, than during the winter!

OTHER ORGANISATIONS EVENTS

The Hampshire Wildlife Trust now have a northern office and are based at Herriard Park. They have several events in August, including a Dragonfly Walk at Ancells Farm on Saturday 4th August, a wildlife walk at Caesar’s Camp on Saturday 11th August, a bat and moth walk at Herriard Park on Tuesday 21st August and a Marsh Gentian count and picnic at Bartley Heath on Saturday 25th August. I have some more details of these events – or you can look at their website - www.hwt.org.uk

If birds are your thing and you’re happy to travel a bit further – the Basingstoke RSPB group are going to Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes HWT reserve on Sunday 19th August. Contact Peter Hutchins on 01256 770831 or Maureen Brailey on 01256 702006 for more details.

The Basingstoke HWT group are having a Butterfly and Flower walk in the afternoon of Saturday 28th July in the Malshanger area. For further information please contact Audrey Moss-Bradnam on 01256 780074.

DIARY
28th July HWT Butterfly and Flower walk, Malshanger.
4th August HWT Dragonfly Walk, Ancells Farm
7th August OBG Committee meeting and Hedgerow Group meeting 7.30 pm
10th August OBG Canal Wildlife Walk Colt Hill 10.30 am.
11th August HWT Caesar’s Camp
19th August RSPB Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes
21st August HWT Bat and Moth walk Herriard Park
25th August HWT Gentian count and picnic Bartley Heath

For more information please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187 or smbates@btinternet.com