Steve Hallam
@stevehallam.bsky.social
Nature conservation, habitat improvement, rewilding, enthusiastic amateur. Posts about sightings and some conservation projects I'm involved with.
Today Ann and I did our 1st water quality monitoring test, as part of Essex Riverwatch, at 2 separate sites on the Colne at Fordham. And it worked! We tested 6 different parameters, 3 physical and 3 chemical. And hardly fell out at all. #miracle
May 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Today Ann and I did our 1st water quality monitoring test, as part of Essex Riverwatch, at 2 separate sites on the Colne at Fordham. And it worked! We tested 6 different parameters, 3 physical and 3 chemical. And hardly fell out at all. #miracle
Fighting back against nature's efforts to bury the plot marker plates is very much the glamour end of running our meadow flower establishment trial, now entering its 9th year at Fordham Hall reserve. Still, plenty of Meadow saxifrage appearing & both Whitethroats to listen to
April 30, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Fighting back against nature's efforts to bury the plot marker plates is very much the glamour end of running our meadow flower establishment trial, now entering its 9th year at Fordham Hall reserve. Still, plenty of Meadow saxifrage appearing & both Whitethroats to listen to
After the first Cetis warbler at Fordham Hall last year, this year there are at least 3, probably 4, and possibly more. It's a happening place!
April 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
After the first Cetis warbler at Fordham Hall last year, this year there are at least 3, probably 4, and possibly more. It's a happening place!
This is a productive log, in Hillhouse Wood. Previously it had Wood sorrel growing on it, now Ground ivy and Red campion.
April 28, 2025 at 7:18 AM
This is a productive log, in Hillhouse Wood. Previously it had Wood sorrel growing on it, now Ground ivy and Red campion.
Very noticeable this morning that the Nightingales in Hillhouse Wood (ancient woodland with areas of thick understory) are singing much, much more strongly than those at Fordham Hall (areas of scrub establishing themselves among young trees). Like chalk and cheese!
April 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Very noticeable this morning that the Nightingales in Hillhouse Wood (ancient woodland with areas of thick understory) are singing much, much more strongly than those at Fordham Hall (areas of scrub establishing themselves among young trees). Like chalk and cheese!
3 singing Nightingales at Fordham Hall this morning. There'll be more, as it's such a large area and they only sing intermittently. Also Garden warbler, but no Willow warbler or Turtle Dove. Grr! And Cowslips
April 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM
3 singing Nightingales at Fordham Hall this morning. There'll be more, as it's such a large area and they only sing intermittently. Also Garden warbler, but no Willow warbler or Turtle Dove. Grr! And Cowslips
Getting my retirement off to a great start, on a trip to Holkham with @swallowbirding.bsky.social . Closer than the Arctic, but with similar weather. Currently looking for Shore lark. And coffee.
January 11, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Getting my retirement off to a great start, on a trip to Holkham with @swallowbirding.bsky.social . Closer than the Arctic, but with similar weather. Currently looking for Shore lark. And coffee.
Not sure who's nabbed the birds that you would normally hope to see on the Fordham Hall reserve, this afternoon. But the light has been spectacular and the breeze has ensured that I have been well and truly braced. Brrr!
January 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Not sure who's nabbed the birds that you would normally hope to see on the Fordham Hall reserve, this afternoon. But the light has been spectacular and the breeze has ensured that I have been well and truly braced. Brrr!
That's a relief! Initially I wondered if this was a bad case of fly tipping the middle of Fordham Hall reserve, but closer inspection revealed that contractors are removing the plastic sapling protection guards. Phew!
December 30, 2024 at 3:03 PM
That's a relief! Initially I wondered if this was a bad case of fly tipping the middle of Fordham Hall reserve, but closer inspection revealed that contractors are removing the plastic sapling protection guards. Phew!
Checked out 1 of my routes around Fordham Hall reserve this am. Very few birds of note - ok, no birds of note. But it gets me out of the house. And it must be monotonous to see good birds all the time. Or, hardly ever, to be fair.
November 25, 2024 at 1:01 PM
Checked out 1 of my routes around Fordham Hall reserve this am. Very few birds of note - ok, no birds of note. But it gets me out of the house. And it must be monotonous to see good birds all the time. Or, hardly ever, to be fair.
One of the more spectacular displays of Spindle tree berries I've come across on the Fordham Hall reserve. Embarrassingly, I've walked past this tree innumerable times and not previously noticed it.
November 14, 2024 at 10:41 AM
One of the more spectacular displays of Spindle tree berries I've come across on the Fordham Hall reserve. Embarrassingly, I've walked past this tree innumerable times and not previously noticed it.
About a month ago there was a fairy ring in this plot, part of the long term meadow flower establishment trial we are running. Interesting to see how much greener the sward is now, where the ring was.
November 7, 2024 at 3:12 PM
About a month ago there was a fairy ring in this plot, part of the long term meadow flower establishment trial we are running. Interesting to see how much greener the sward is now, where the ring was.
Walking along this ride at Fordham Hall, and a Munctjac buck stepped out in front of me. He stopped, looked, and then the feisty little blighter stamped his forefeet. A bit worried he's been watching Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
October 31, 2024 at 3:07 PM
Walking along this ride at Fordham Hall, and a Munctjac buck stepped out in front of me. He stopped, looked, and then the feisty little blighter stamped his forefeet. A bit worried he's been watching Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
Beautiful weather for Day 3 of #BCBW24, with well over 50 people on this morning's walk at Fingringhoe Wick. They must have known that an Osprey would show up
October 27, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Beautiful weather for Day 3 of #BCBW24, with well over 50 people on this morning's walk at Fingringhoe Wick. They must have known that an Osprey would show up
Best ever views of a party of 8 Bearded reedlings at Old Hall Marshes today. Lovely little birds.
October 23, 2024 at 11:12 AM
Best ever views of a party of 8 Bearded reedlings at Old Hall Marshes today. Lovely little birds.
It doesn't rain too often around Colchester, so naturally the Friends of Hillhouse wood organised a work party for this morning. New dead hedges going in to protect the Bluebells from visitors walking through them.
October 19, 2024 at 11:50 AM
It doesn't rain too often around Colchester, so naturally the Friends of Hillhouse wood organised a work party for this morning. New dead hedges going in to protect the Bluebells from visitors walking through them.
The Woodland Trust has 're-purposed' what was a small seasonal pond at Fordham Hall into this substantial pond, particularly to encourage Turtle Doves to return here. To me, it will be 'The Jonathan Jukes Memorial pond'; I look forward to monitoring its evolution.
October 18, 2024 at 1:49 PM
The Woodland Trust has 're-purposed' what was a small seasonal pond at Fordham Hall into this substantial pond, particularly to encourage Turtle Doves to return here. To me, it will be 'The Jonathan Jukes Memorial pond'; I look forward to monitoring its evolution.
These are a bit hefty, about 5 cm across the stem, in young woodland at Fordham Hall. Can anyone tell me what they are?
October 17, 2024 at 2:29 PM
These are a bit hefty, about 5 cm across the stem, in young woodland at Fordham Hall. Can anyone tell me what they are?
Pleasantly surprised to find this fairy ring in 1 of our meadow establishment trial plots at Fordham Hall. But it's going to rather complicate doing the last mow of the season.
October 3, 2024 at 12:17 PM
Pleasantly surprised to find this fairy ring in 1 of our meadow establishment trial plots at Fordham Hall. But it's going to rather complicate doing the last mow of the season.
Who needs paint when you've got lichen?
October 2, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Who needs paint when you've got lichen?
Who needs paint, when you've got lichen?
October 2, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Who needs paint, when you've got lichen?
Here we are in the Colne Valley, Essex, inappropriately dressed, thanks to the Met office
October 2, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Here we are in the Colne Valley, Essex, inappropriately dressed, thanks to the Met office