A visit to CW Widlife Rescue

I have been following CW Wildlife on Facebook for a few months now mainly because they are local to me, and last week my Mum and I were privileged enough to be invited to have a look around their new premises. 

We had a lovely time seeing the patients and meeting a couple of the birds that are full time residents. It inspired us both and today we went back armed with old towels, old newspapers, cleaning products, puppy food and training pads, and most importantly I was given permission to take some photos and find out more about this amazing operation. 

Chris, and his son Harry, have worked really hard to get where they are today. The rescue organisation is only two years old and they have treated and released hundreds of birds and mammals. 

Chris has always had a love of wildlife and probably relates more to animals than people. After looking after an injured crow a few years ago he realised how much he wanted to help animals and birds that were injured, orphaned or lost. It costs a lot to run the rescue centre, in both money and time. The hours are long, and the work can be dirty and smelly. The patients don't like you and often let you know that, but Chris and Harry wouldn't have it any other way. Chris was inspired by the late Les Stocker (who founded the famous Tiggywinkles centre), the late Steve Irwin and the natural historian Sir David Attenborough. Chris and Harry are not paid for what they do, they operate purely thanks to donations and are assisted by volunteers. Their knowledge is incredible and you can see just by watching them around their patients that their love for our wildlife is genuine. 

The centre is not open to the public so any donations have to be arranged with Chris directly, his contact details are at the end of this blog post. I have also posted a link to their website where cash donations can be made. 

 The medicine cabinet

 The patient board

One of the volunteers, Luke, cleaning out the incubators

The two incubators

The amazing dedicated Chris with one of his prickly patients

Harry with one of the soon to be released pigeons

This Jay was caught by a cat and although it survived, his wing injury is quite severe

This young Tawny Owl fell out of its nest and has been with CW Wildlife for five weeks now. He is now flying strongly, eating well and will be released back to the wild soon. 

This is Bob the Little Owl. Sadly he cannot be released and will live out the rest of his days at the centre. 

 Whilst I was there today Chris said an unusual patient was on it's way to the centre...…. 

This stunning Cockerel had been literally thrown over a garden wall. It cannot fly and appeared to have a limp. On closer inspection it's comb/wattle had been cut off and the bird seemed to be in shock. 

Harry has the same love of animals as his father, and immediately took to the poor Cockerel, holding it closely against his body and talking soothingly to it. Within a few moments the poor bird was calm and even appeared to fall asleep, so we think it is very used to human contact but has probably been through a very traumatic experience. 

The finder had called the bird Rusty, and it's a very apt name. My photos don't do the bird justice but he is a magnificent and colourfully handsome chap. 

I will be volunteering there myself in the future, and helping Chris and Harry in any way that I can whether it be cleaning the incubators of hedgehog pooh (well done Luke !) or collecting donations to help keep this amazing rescue centre operating. 

CW Wildlife contact details are by mobile 07508 010197 and/or email cwwildliferescue@yahoo.com

Cash donations can be made via their website https://cwwildliferescue.com/

If anyone local to me (Middlesex area) can help with donating old towels, puppy food, hamster or gerbil cages, folding dog pens/cages, cleaning products, disposable gloves or, very importantly, two hard backed desk chairs, please email me at wendywinomarks@hotmail.co.uk so I can advise of a nearby drop off point or arrange to come to you. Thank you in advance. 

Tracks and more at Maple Lodge

I went to Maple Lodge today on a very impromptu visit, and forgot to charge my camera battery before I went. The work party were also there and whilst I waited for my battery to charge (luckily I had my camera charger in my rucksack) Martin and Gill took me on an off site tour of the recent works. 

The three hides down the right hand fork (the double decker, Sanctuary and Rotunda hides) have all had major work done in front of them. New ponds, islands and raised banks have been created along with a very nice area just after the bend in the path which might become a little picnic area in the future. My iPhone photos don't do the work justice sadly, but the areas created are going to look fantastic once it all greens up. 

The local wildlife have already been investigating the new areas and we found both fox and badger tracks....

and two Tawny Owl pellets......

After my unplanned off piste guided tour, I spent a few hours wandering around on my own. 

As to be expected at this time of year there is still a lot of fruiting fungi around....

Martin is leading a fungi Walk and Talk this Sunday, which I will be attending too..

One of my favourite hides at the moment is the cosy Shell Hide. This is Reggie the Robins territory and he will dive bomb you as soon as you start walking up the path towards the hide. I've learnt on my last couple of visits to leave the door open whilst I'm in there as he likes to come in the hide window, and go out the door. This also ensures he isn't accidentally trapped in there. No photos of Reggie today, but here are a couple of out of focus pics of Vinnie the Vole. There are actually two Bank Voles that pop in and out now, and if you stay completely still and quiet (and Reggie doesn't chase them off) they do pop out to collect up any of Reggies spilt bird seed....

There were lots of Gadwall around today. These drab looking ducks actually have the most stunning intricate feather details. I just wish they had been a bit closer so I could capture that in more detail....

There are a lot of Shovellers around at the moment too, and numbers will go up as winter sets in...

One of the most heard noises on site today were the 'trilling' calls of the Little Grebe. From the Sluice Hide there were good views of three Little Grebes together, and one gave me a penetrating stare before diving down....

Even though it was a fairly cold day, the sun was out for most of it and I found one species of Hoverfly warming up on a leaf.... the very common Marmalade Hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus

Whilst I was in the Long Hedge Hide I noticed this golf ball sized nest in the corner. I'm pretty sure it is a wasps nest, but happy to be corrected. It was small and the web underneath it seemed to be covered in either droppings or tiny flies.... 

As always I had a really interesting visit, and was thankful for the comfort of the clubhouse with its microwave and kettle - home made reheated lasagne and a mug of coffee never tastes better than when you're watching the local nature go by. 

Wet visit to Maple Lodge

Autumn was definitely in the air at Maple Lodge NR today. But despite the frequent rain showers and cooler air, there were still lots of critters around. 

There were two species of hoverfly braving the weather.....

Syrphus sp.

Myathropa florea

 There was even a Comma at Comma Corner.....

On the screens by the Barn Owl Meadow, there was a tiny green jewelled wasp....

and a bit further along I found a Hornet......

The rain bought out the slugs, including this huge orange thug of a slug.....

The rain also caught out this Shield Bug that was on the rails at the Long Hedge Hide.....

More bugs, this time Dock Bugs, were out in force at Comma Corner during one of the brief sunny spells.....

and on another leaf some of them were sharing space with a spider......

One good thing about the rain.....it makes spiders webs look quite pretty.....

Up at the Shell Hide, Reggie the Robin popped in to ask for some meal worms......

and from the Clubhouse Hide the now predictable Nuthatch came as soon as nuts were put out for him/her....

As to be expected at this time of year, there was plenty of fruiting fungi around.....

Despite the cooler wetter weather I still had an enjoyable visit. There was plenty more that I could have photographed including the Treecreeper in amongst a mixed tit flock that was making it's way around the reserve, and the 20-30 Redwings by the Lynsters Hide  but they were a little distant.