Summer 2010

WINTER 2009 -2010

Last winter proved to be a difficult time for both the wild life and the staff of Bolam Lake !   As all the news reporting over that period showed, there was large amount of snow fall which went on for longer than we had seen in previous years.   We measured 14 inches of snow on our picnic tables.   The birds and animals found it difficult to find food as, in addition to the snow fall covering the vegetation, there were fewer people around to bring food for them.  Even the staff found it very difficult to get there, having to turn back on several occasions because of impassable roads.   When we made it to the site we were able to leave out food to help our residents get through the bad times.

The lake usually freezes over in the winter, but recently this has not lead to any thick ice forming.  This winter was different.  The ice started about 21.12.09 and did not clear until the first weeks in March.  The birds rely on the swans and geese to keep some of the lake free of ice as they swim about. 

Warning signs were put out to alert visitors to the danger

of the iced over lake, asking them to “Keep Off”.   Some were still prepared to risk the threat of falling through the ice as foot prints were often found in the ice, crossing the lake and several times whole families, parents, children and pets were asked to come

off the ice.  Other parents watched their children trying to break through the surface of the ice.

The ice is a danger for dogs too.   Allowing your pet to run over the ice to chase the birds is bad for the birds as they should not be frightened when the water area is so small and dangerous for the dog as the thickness of the ice varies.   One puppy did drown when it slipped its lead, ran onto the ice and fell through, to the distress of the owners and our staff. 

Sadly, it often takes a tragedy to happen and be reported on the news to make people think twice about the real danger of falling through ice.

On a brighter note the ice and snow allowed us to check out the tracks left by the wildlife.   Less mink and more otter tracks were found.  Mink, when they move into an area, devastate the resident bird population.   This spring has been the most successful for some time for young water birds.

Male otters are the only natural enemy of the mink.

Please keep your eyes open when you are at the lake, both for warning signs and for all the lovely things you will see on the shore and in the woodland.

FRIENDS ACTIVITIES.

Our group was formed in 2005 to protect, promote and preserve the country park at Bolam Lake.   We hope we are fulfilling this ideal.

We have prepared two leaflets about the birds that live in or visit the park. The first one helped you to identify the birds that live in the woodland, and the second, now ready in the café is for the lake birds.

The photographs for both were taken by Chris Barlow, and the leaflet prepared by Chris and his father, Mike.

The funding to print the leaflets has been provided by the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club.   They were keen to help us with an educational project.   We hope you will enjoy using them and manage to tick lots of the boxes.   We thank them for this support.

One of our members has made a bird island which was launched onto the lake and has been used by a coot as a nest site.   The family of 7 is doing well.   We are delighted that it was used so quickly and so successfully. 

Keep your eyes peeled and see if you can find it.

Many of you will be aware of the problems facing the native red squirrel population all over the country.    Sadly their existence is threatened by the bigger greys, introduced from America in the 1930s.   The reds die from the pox carried by, but not affecting the greys and lose out in the food chain as they have to wait for nuts to ripen. They are unwelcome to land owners as they eat the bark of the trees, taking out a strip all the way round the truck which causes the tree to die.   The reds only eat bark if there is nothing else available and only little pieces.

Bolam Lake has, in the past, had red squirrels living in the trees, but they have fallen victim to the pox.   We know from the scientists that when the greys leave and time passes they will return.  In recent months we have succeeded in trapping quite a number of greys and one red, which was released again. 

The Friends have had a training day provided by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust so we can try and help restore the reds to our woodland.

We learned how to survey a small area and read the signs that we have squirrels in the woods and how to spot the drays where they live up in the trees.   By surveying our sites twice a year, valuable information can be gained on possible numbers and also by looking at the food remains, how many squirrels our woodland could sustain.

Trapping is important too and after lunch we saw how they should be used, and where they are best placed. 

It was very interesting and we hope we can help keep the red squirrels safely in our part of Northumberland, which is one of their last strongholds – especially in the Keilder Forest.

The details of the Summer Events programme are available from the Café.   They are planned to help you get more understanding and enjoyment out of your visits.

By learning more about our countryside we can all improve the environment and preserve it for the future.   This is the aim of the Friends of Bolam Lake – to Protect and Preserve the Country Park – why not join us?