Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I have been a bird watcher all my life but have never been any good at identifying bird calls and what a glorious year it has been for birdsong. This made me realise just how many birds can be overlooked unless you can identify their calls or actually be present at the time they are around. Now this is all changing as my son-in-law Joe has now made a wonderful gizmo. It is a tiny computer with attached microphone which he programmed to analyse, store and playback birdsong. The best bit is that now I don’t actually have to be around for it to work and what outstanding results it has produced. It has heralded the return of nesting goldcrests and spotted flycatchers but I never knew before that we have common redstarts actually nesting in the garden. Then it caught up with our local garden warblers and incredibly firecrests – 45 species in all so far and still counting and the parish list now stands at 100.
The field between Mousehole Cross and Leyhill was ploughed in mid-April, which produced an immediate invasion of gulls, buzzards and at least three red kites all intent in garnering worms and other invertebrates. I have been aware that there have been kites in the area for a long time, even flying over our garden. I suspect that they mostly hang out somewhere in all the trees on Hembury Fort.
Our blue tits are very busy raising seven young and we have really been enjoying watching their progress on the webcam. I have heard two reports of wrens highjacking last year’s swallow nests. When the swallows retuned they were seen off in no time at all and had to start anew.
Please do not forget to support the Payhembury Open Gardens on Sunday 7 June in aid of Hospisecare. Despite what the brochure says, we now have 5 gardens to visit including the new Peace Garden created last year in the school grounds. We are opening our garden and also hope to have a plant stall.
Himalayan Balsam
You only have to drive in North Devon or even closer to home in Broadhembury or Ottery to realise what a problem Himalayan Balsam has become. Until 2022 there had been none along the stream, and then more appeared last year, doubtless seeds being swept down from upstream. It mostly grows along river banks and other damp locations flowering between June and October and setting seed heads from early July. It smothers native plants, adversely impacting other biodiversity and seeds may remain viable for two years or longer. It is a major problem when dying back in autumn the banks are then left bare of vegetation leading to erosion and increasing the likelihood of flooding which none of us want.
It is easily pulled up by hand but if it snaps off above the lowest stem node then you must get the roots out as it is crucial to prevent re-growth or seed production.
The trouble is many people simply will not recognise plants until they produce their pretty pink flowers by which time the plant reaches over head height.
Devon Wildlife Trust do not use chemical controls but pull it by hand, composting being their preferred means of disposal but only if done before any seed heads have set, otherwise there is a problem. The heads explode upon touch shooting up to 800 seeds up to 7 metres in every direction. The plants must then be treated as controlled waste and can only go to licensed waste disposal sites or be burnt. These plants have to be pulled as soon as possible, ideally before the end of June and there is a need to recheck later in the year to ensure no more has appeared
Many sites are inaccessible making long term eradication unlikely and we may just have to learn to live with this plant species. It’s not a notifiable weed and if present on your land you are not legally obliged to remove it, but if it does spread to the wild or a neighbour’s property then you could be liable.
Paul 841696
