P1260972
GST Voles in the Sandy Smith Nature Reserve Reed Bed carrying out the annual rotational cut of a quarter of the bed, this year the South East quadrant. A very cool day withsnow flurried on the ground and ice of the Decoy Pond. The sun came and went but overall the light was positive but I rated at 800 ISO equivalent and later when clouding over 1600 ISO. With 21 voles the start was a bit chaotic and there were too many on the cut and rake side in the field. With initially just one fire, personned by Jane as usual, a big pile of reed developed but later a second fire started by Jim and a more even division of the teams soon had the task proceeding at a cracking pass. We also developed of "sausage roll" tecnique passing the cut reed over the barbed wire fence and this made a big difference in our efficiency. It also gave the reedbed drag team time for a breather while the fire team took the tarps with reed to the fires.
Entertainment at the tea breaks was provided by 3 Stonechats who came to hunt close enough for me to snap. Other points of note being the regular visit of Sue & Erika for their cake, Malcolm's calendar sale and his cakes of course, the choccy ones being very dark with turkish delight and other bits.
Until next week at Maulden Heath.
P1260972
GST Voles in the Sandy Smith Nature Reserve Reed Bed carrying out the annual rotational cut of a quarter of the bed, this year the South East quadrant. A very cool day withsnow flurried on the ground and ice of the Decoy Pond. The sun came and went but overall the light was positive but I rated at 800 ISO equivalent and later when clouding over 1600 ISO. With 21 voles the start was a bit chaotic and there were too many on the cut and rake side in the field. With initially just one fire, personned by Jane as usual, a big pile of reed developed but later a second fire started by Jim and a more even division of the teams soon had the task proceeding at a cracking pass. We also developed of "sausage roll" tecnique passing the cut reed over the barbed wire fence and this made a big difference in our efficiency. It also gave the reedbed drag team time for a breather while the fire team took the tarps with reed to the fires.
Entertainment at the tea breaks was provided by 3 Stonechats who came to hunt close enough for me to snap. Other points of note being the regular visit of Sue & Erika for their cake, Malcolm's calendar sale and his cakes of course, the choccy ones being very dark with turkish delight and other bits.
Until next week at Maulden Heath.