Steve Hallam

Nature conservation, habitat improvement, rewilding, enthusiastic amateur. Tweets about sightings and two conservation projects I'm involved with.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

One of the nicest aspects of the country around Fordham at this time of year is the wild hops in the hedges and scrub. This one is about 30 metres long, if it's all the same plant.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@Lepimann Having read 'Thinking. Fast. Slow' by Daniel Kahnman, I see less scope for optimism. My outtake was that the human brain is not able to cope with the complexity and trade offs required by 'the modern world', with all its interdependencies.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Lovely morning down by the Blackwater, after the rain, doing a follow up Turtle dove survey. Only thing missing is, err, Turtle doves (so far).

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Nothing that unusual about the inland sea of Fordham appearing, except not towards the end of May. (The photo is the wrong way round because I'm a techno-idiot.)

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Disappointing transect at Fordham Hall today. Despite excellent conditions (21 deg, 100% sun, wind speed 2) there was a grand total of 3 butterflies. And I even walked extra slow.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

A grand total of two butterflies on my Fordham Hall transect today, despite it being 20 Deg C and partly sunny. Wonder if they got washed away by yesterday's rain, or just dispirited.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Merlin helpfully confirmed a singing Garden warbler at Fordham Hall, my 1st here. Less helpfully it also 'heard' Curlew and Wood sandpiper. Naturally, I'll be claiming these as location ticks.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@stuttonsparrows Twinstead?

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@OliCWildlife @EssexBirdNews @chas_holt Hmm. Only up to 2, so far, at Fordham Hall, and 1 in Hill house wood. Mind you, we're closer to the Arctic Circle than you. Perhaps that explains it. Or my dodgy hearing.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Bitterly cold today, monitoring M. saxifrage flower numbers on our meadow flower establishment trial plots here at Fordham Hall. Made me feel like @Watts_SH, but without the ecological expertise. Or the views.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

À benefit of going out when the weather is 'orrible: just heard my 1st ever Cettis warbler on Fordham Hall reserve, next to the footbridge over the river. Looks like suitable habitat, too.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Just the 1, well established, Nightingale singing at Fordham Hall this evening. 5 deg C not very encouraging! But a Barn owl was interesting, whilst Merlin claimed to hear a Willow warbler where there has been 1 for the last 2 years. Just wish that Peacock would shut up.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Although when I returned to the car, there was the second Nightingale on the reserve this year, singing away. What a pleasant surprise.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Just completed my first UKBMS transect survey at Fordham Hall, with a grand total of 11 butterflies of 5 species. Gotta start somewhere! No Turtle doves, though, @stuttonsparrows

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Full winter gear needed tonight. Still just the 1 Nightingale singing. Main excitement was the arrival of an AuroraWatch red alert. And the sky is clear. Fingers crossed!

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Still just the 1 Nightingale singing at Fordham Hall this evening. Weirdly, it started at exactly the same time, 8.27, as two nights ago.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@stuttonsparrows I'm recording first and last dates I hear singing in each territory, this year.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

Still just the 1 Nightingale singing at Fordham Hall this evening. Mind you, 1 is better than none, and the others could just have been waiting for me to get out of earshot.

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@fungi_flowers Mark, would there be any value in me taking a photo of where that Tower mustard was growing? I'm sure it won't be there, but it would show the habitat ('bog ordinary' arable land).

[Steve Hallam @SteveHallam56]

@spp_Rich @fungi_flowers Richard, wasn't it Tower mustard that you spotted on the side of a track, when we walked part of the Stour way, in Essex, a few years back? It was near Thorrington Street, I think