Felbeck Trust 1, Weather 0

Well, what is it with the weather and our work parties? For at least 10 days before this Sustead work party, the forecast had solidly predicted rain for the morning – to the extent that the planned bird-ringing demonstration was called off two days before. However, cometh the day, cometh dry weather – and 18 volunteers! Only as we were leaving did the drizzle – which later turned into heavy rain – begin. Something, someone, somewhere is on our side.

We arrived around 9.00 to find that Roger had already set up his ringing net and started his luring birdsong recordings. Those of us working nearby, at the bird-hide end of Spurrell’s Wood, were called over from time to time to see what Roger had found. The highlight was a Goldcrest which had already been ringed (‘rung’? I heard Trevor say this several times, so it must be right!) elsewhere. This apparently is exciting for ringers – and we wait to find out from Roger who had ringed the bird and where. And he has just written:

'We have the ringing details of the Goldcrest that I caught on Thursday. It was ringed at Fordham in Norfolk on 23rd Sept this year at 11:40 and recorded as a juvenile. Its wing was measured as 54mm and its weight was 5.5g. We captured it on 18th Dec at 10:30, age unknown, sexed as a male. So it has clearly performed its post-juvenile moult in the intervening period. Biometrics were wing 54mm and weight 5.1g. The movement was 69km to the ENE in 86 days. Interesting that it moved in almost the exact opposite direction to the incoming continental migrants here for the winter!'

The first part of the morning had a dozen volunteers, led by Nick, coppicing and dry-hedging in the north-west corner of Spurrell’s Wood; Trevor and Sophia attempting to improve the bird feeding area on the Surveyor’s Allotment so that I (a ‘short-arse’, according to Trevor) can reach them more easily when re-filling them; and a team of four builders (Simon G, Stu, Andrew and Trevor) doing amazing work building a bridge over the field drain that emerges from the field at the beginning of a footpath just north of Thatched Cottage.

Field Drain Bridge

This team first had to dig out the silted-up channel – where flooding often occurs in winter months – before laying and fixing two lengths of timber, then creating a brick-lined approach at the road end and a cobbled lining to the path at the field end. This was truly a master work – done for the community rather than Felbeck Trust, as the bridge lies outside our bounds.

After the mince-pie break (thank you, Jane!), the bridge-builders and some of the dry-hedgers continued their work while the rest of us joined Martin Scaiffe of Home Sounds leading us on a Sound Walk. We were all equipped with headphones linked wirelessly to Martin’s recording equipment so that we could experience the sounds we would not usually notice: first of all, just the sound of what’s going on around us – leaves rustling, wind blowing, distant tractors; then the sounds from under Gur Beck (using underwater microphones); then the sounds from the soil and from a compost heap. This was fascinating (and very peaceful – good for meditation!) even though we didn’t necessarily know the source of what we were hearing. A big thank you to Martin for this immersive experience. If you want to know more, go to www.homesounds.org.

Sound Recording

Then, around midday, we packed up as the drizzle approached. Our last work party of a very successful and busy year. Thanks to all who have come to work parties in 2025 and a very Happy Christmas to all – and another good conservation year next year.

Our next work party is on Saturday January 3rd, at WBOA, with our next Thursday one on the 15th January – probably in Sustead.

Peter Maingay December 18th 2025.