It was a blue super moon this evening.  I thought I'd try and photograph it at my house.  Firstly I tried my DLSR, but as I am not overly familiar with the full manual controls I couldn't set the thing properly.

Enter my bridge DM-FZ72. I stuck it on the tripod, set it to automatic, pointed it at the moon, zoomed in and...bloody 'ell, I got some decent photos.  Not a white featureless blob.  Then I thought, what happens if I tried a landscape shot. Totally gobsmacked when it actually took decent landscape photos. Sometimes it took multiple shots and combined them into one (not wholly successful), sometimes it took a long exposure - up to seven seconds. My cameras are set to an ISO of 200. Neither have a large maximum ISO - roughly 3200. But anything higher than about 400 or 800 and there is too much noise.

Then I got really barmy idea.  Why not shoot down to the reserve and take photos of the moon over Finch pond? I muffled up in multiple layers, and drove down to the Longwater road entrance, and clambered over the gate.

The moon was so bright I had no problems squelching through the mud.  I stayed round the Longwater road entrance, but I did walk up to the water's edge both eastward and northward.  Whilst I could see where I was going, I could not assess water depths or that of the mud.  Therefore I hung around the Longwater road entrance, and definitely no attempting to get to the north embankment.  I swear the water levels were higher, even with the new drainage channels.

Ideally I would have liked the moon over the copse, but it was gone 7.30pm, and it was very cold with a brisk wind, and Winterwatch would be on in half an hour. I legged it home.

Enjoy the photos.  No captions as they are all from near the Longwater road entrance of Manor farm. For the most part they point east, apart from one that points south towards the lights of the sports grounds on the Hampshire part of the reserve. The long exposure times (seven seconds) smoothed the water nicely.

Firstly a plug. I shall be exhibiting with the Reading Guild of Artists at the Sir John Madejski gallery (in the Reading Museum) between Saturday 10th and 17th February.  I will be stewarding on the 17th Feb, so pop down if you want a chat.

I hope to have at least 2 originals for sale (it all depends on exhibiting space and number of entries), possibly more if reserves are called up to replace any paintings sold during the exhibition.  Remember, 10% of the gross sale price of any of my artwork goes to the RSPB. See my exhibitions page for more details.

Our reserve (Eversley) was mentioned in the Telegraph yesterday: 50 disused quarries turned into wildlife habitats to help Britain's endangered wildlife. "Eversley Quarry in Hampshire was the first to be completed following three years of work by wildlife and conservation experts." I can't say I recognise any of the accompanying photos being of our reserve. Shame it didn't mention phase 2 (i.e. the subject of this blog) or the years of hard work by the Moor Green Lakes Group and Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust to maintain the reserve; but at least we are 'famous'.

Back to our normal schedule.  First a feast for the eyes. Sunrise this morning was pretty good.  It would have been spectacular had I managed to get to the reserve 15 minutes earlier at 7:35 am; all lovely and red.  Though light conditions would have been poor, so my cameras may have struggled.

I've included some photos from the Fleet Hill Farm part of the reserve. Mainly to capture the ever rising water levels in the lakes.  I did put my cheap trail camera out. Water levels in the Blackwater were a tad high, but I decided to risk it.  Judging by the amount of debris on the tree truck, I would say it was approaching running at full spate during the past week.

Parts of the land around the Longwater road entrance, up by the north embankment, were now flooded. I had a good 50 yards or so of water to carefully walk through, trying to estimate the depth I was stepping into.  I needed to avoid some of the deeper gouges made by the bulldozer tracks.

Inert have cut two channels from Finch pond to drain the water into the culvert under the Longwater road and thence into Fleet Hill farm.  It's the first time I have see water flowing through the culvert.

Much to my surprise, Inert have been very busy on Manor farm. I thought they would carry on from last week and continue working on the Hampshire part of the reserve.  Indeed, today they were doing just that.  There was a hive of activity up near the sports ground; diggers, our hard working bulldozer, plus loads of lorries.

They have continued to fill in Finch pond, and I reckon some of the soil they were loading into lorries last week have been piled up into heaps in Manor farm.  They have also started to remove the banking that ran along the south footpath.  It is really weird walking along the south footpath and suddenly coming across vistas we've not seen before.

The things I do for you, dear reader. I managed to fall/slide off the yellow bridge today. Inert had shaved away a slope I used to scramble down. It is now almost vertical, but I reckoned I could still crab down it. I didn't  count on the soil being crumbly, so it collapsed with my first footstep. I fell backward, and slid down on my bottom; now muddy.

I have split the slideshows into the following sections.

1. Arty sunrise shots: Longwater road entrance and north embankment
2. Fleet Hill farm
3. Manor farm south footpath
4. Manor farm Cormorant lake and south footpath banking
5. Manor farm Finch pond and Longwater road entrance

1. Arty sunrise shots: Longwater road entrance and north embankment

A major difference I noticed this morning as I descended on the reserve at 7:50 am was the amount of bird song. I was serenaded by at least one Song Thrush, which stood out against the background of chirping and chattering, and a large flock of Long tail tits twittering in the trees above my car.  There was a huge flock of Field fare in some oak trees near the north embankment.  More noise was added by the large number of gulls, Canada geese, Widgeon, Lapwing, one green woodpecker and Egyptian Geese; plus a host of others I could not identify.

Just missing a spectacular sunrise by 15 minutes, I still managed some pleasing shots.  I will have to get down to the reserve earlier and earlier to get any really spectacular sunrise shots, as the sun comes up much earlier these days.  It did start off quite cold, say about 2 degrees C, but had climbed to a more respectable 7 degrees C and drizzling when I finished my tour around the reserve two hours later.

2. Fleet Hill farm

After placing my trail camera, I took a mini wander around Fleet Hill farm; only as far as the wooden footbridge and back.  The vegetation has largely died back, which instantly gives a different feel to the place.  You'll not be surprised when I reiterate that water levels in all the lakes and ponds have risen.  Track ways have been inundated.

3. Manor farm south footpath

After my mini wander around Fleet Hill farm, I popped back over the Longwater road and took our customary route along the south footpath along Manor farm. There are a few points along this footpath where I took photos of restoration progress on this section of the reserve.  The location of most of these points were dictated by the restricted view we had caused by earth banks running along the southern edge of the reserve.

Inert have had another go at tackling these earth banks. A section has been cleared, near one of the viewing points over Cormorant lake.  It is a viewing point for most people who walk along this footpath, particulary the bird watchers.  The ground has been worn by the passage of so many feet standing on this spot.

The signs of restoration efforts were reasonably clear this week, but still a patch of churned up mud looks pretty much the same from week to week, especially if a slurry of top surface mud quickly eradicates any crisp, new tracks.

4. Manor farm Cormorant lake and south footpath banking

Inert have been very busy in Manor farm this week. There are plenty of signs of large numbers of heavy plant movement and bulldozing.  Though vehicle tracks have been softened by the mud, which has the consistency of batter, flowing into them.

Inert have built up a considerable low earth bank along the south shore of Cormorant lake, extending the bit they created two weeks ago.  They have also started to clear away the earth ramp to the yellow bridge, which vehicles used to use to get over the conveyor.  I think most of this earth ramp has been piled up in heaps along the south shore of Finch pond, and is industrial rubble.  Good solid hardcore, great for a heavy vehicle track.  It will be bulldozed into Finch pond.

5. Manor farm Finch pond and Longwater road entrance

Apart from the afore mentioned piles of spoil piled up in heaps along the south shore of Finch pond, Inert have been extending the shore line into Finch pond; bulldozing soil from around the area straight into the pond.

They did some work around the Longwater road entrance. I suspect it might have been emergency works, partly to shore up some areas around the entrance, but also to cut a couple of drainage channels from Finch pond to the 'new stream bed'. This will allow water from Finch pond to drain into the new stream bed and flow over to the culvert under Longwater road and thence to Fleet Hill farm.  This might alleviate some of the flooding caused by Finch pond breaching its banks.

Whilst we have had rain recently, it hasn't been excessive, and might even be average.  This following a particularly dry year, especially early autumn, caused by La Nina and a couple of other oceanic/climatic oscillations.

Normally the order of the sections and photos reflect my route around the reserve.  Not this week as I have flitted around a bit on my trek through the reserve. Thus, you will find shots from the north embankment mingled with those from the south part of Manor farm.

It gives me great pleasure to present results of the considerable hedge laying activity over last Sunday and Tuesday by the Moor Green Lake volunteers, with support and guidance from members of the BVCP. We laid a small section of hedge shown in the photos below; say about a quarter of its length. The balance was cleaned up, with much scrub and small plants removed.

My original plan was to walk around the reserve on Saturday 20th as the weatherman had been promising me clear skies and sun. That way I could photograph the lakes and ponds from the north embankment in brilliant light conditions. However, by Thursday this optimistic forecast had turned to one of pouring rain, dark cloud and cold temperatures.

Switching rapidly to plan B, as I had a day off work, I did my muddy jaunt today (Friday) while it was sunny. Unfortunately, this would probably mean not getting on to the reserve or onto the north embankment as there would be heavy machinery trundling around the place.

Inert appear not to have done anything to the Manor farm part of the reserve. I heard lots of heavy plant as I walked from the Moor Green Lakes car park, but when I reached the works bridge I could only see plenty of activity south of the Blackwater. Walking further west it became apparent nothing had been done to Manor farm, plus both the bulldozer and digger were absent.

Switching on the fly to plan C. As Inert and Cemex were not on Manor farm, I decided to pop over the gate at Longwater road, take some photos of the work around Finch pond, then high tail it up to the north embankment to photograph the lakes. My reasoning being that I would be unmolested (by the likes of security) as there was no work going on, particularly on the north embankment.

To this end, I introduce you to Hawthorn Lake.  You'll have to check the maps pinned at the top of this blog to see its location.  It is on the north part of Manor Farm, right up against Longwater road.  From the plans, it is intended to remain and not get filled in.

The pump is still absent, which means water levels have crept ever higher. This in a year where we have had below average rainfall.  The reserve has been known to flood. Check the Moor Green Lakes website.

During my walk I spotted what I believe were snipe. Birdwatchers had told me they had seen many on Manor lake.  I also spooked several deer.  I see their tracks everywhere.

As usual, picture heavy. Split into five sections reflecting the route of my walk.

1. Moor Green Lakes hedge laying and south footpath.
2. Longwater road entrance and Finch pond.
3. North embankment, Finch pond and Cormorant lake
4. Hawthorn lake
5. Cormorant lake and Manor lake north (though these might be the fen)

As usual, I will post the basics of the post first and then fill in the commentary as and when I get the time

1. Moor Green Lakes and south footpath.

Not much to be seen as I trotted around here. As I looked south from the works bridge I saw the blue digger, complete with both tracks, working far on the other side of the new community/sports area on the Hampshire side of the reserve.   As I continued my way west I saw no sign of the bulldozer or any major workings on the site.  It was then I decided to walk along the north embankment.

I've left the next slideshow static, so bringing the hedge laying activities to the fore.  You'll need to click on the slideshow and use the navigation buttons to see all the slides and caption.  I'll add a link to the Moor Green Lakes Group website when the ranger has added their report on the hedge laying.

We had quite a large group of volunteers attend the work party this past Sunday.  Some new members to boot, plus a number of teenagers doing various awards e.g. Duke of Edinburgh.  Whether male or female, young or old, they got stuck in, enthusiastically wielding axes, bow saws, bill hooks, lopers, etc, etc.

It appears that nasty 'hair' is back in the top right had corner of the photos. I had thought I had got rid of it. Sadly not.  I shall have to dig out the stock lens that came with the camera originally to work out if the hair is in the lens or the camera. Not too sure what to do if the hair is in the lens mechanism.

2. Longwater road entrance and Finch pond

Not much to report here.  I retrieved my trail cam from the Fleet Hill farm section of the reserve before popping over the gate to Manor farm. The trail camera got loads of shots of squirrels, pigeons and coots.

I reckon that the Longwater road has been built up on a bank some 2 1/2 to 3 feet ( 70cm - 90cm)above the Finch pond water level.  Not a huge margin should the Blackwater decide to burst it's banks due to the effects of global warming.

It was noticeable how much water levels have risen. I could not get to the north embankment without walking through water - a foot (30cm) deep in places. I had no trouble walking along dry land last week.

3. North embankment, Finch pond and Cormorant lake

Not really much I can say except the usual mantra: water levels rising.  This week though, I had lovely sun.  Unfortunately I think I had too much ev and got my white balance wrong on occasions. There was plenty wildlife.

4. Hawthorn lake

I actually spotted this lake last week, but decided against exploring it.  I often catch a glimpse of it as we walk east along the Lower Sandhurst road back to the Moor Green Lake car park. This part of the manor farm reserve comes right up against the Lower Sandhurst road.

Hawthorn lake is scheduled to remain as part of the plans for the reserve.  Interestingly it is separated from Cormorant lake by a large bank of what looks like gravel.  This whole area will change. It appears that the north parts of Cormorant lake could be come fens. However the plans are probably subject to change.

5. Manor lake north

I must admit this area is a little confusing; I guess it is because I rarely visit this part of the reserve and haven't quite mapped it onto the plans for the area. I am not sure what is going to happen to the lake north of Manor lake, and I am not sure it is even connected to Manor lake. It is possible it will become fen land.  Not sure.

Finding landmarks is more difficult, it can all look the same which ever way you face. A large expanse of grassland to the north of the reserve looks pretty much like every other expanse of grassland.

Anyway, previously I walked along the north shore of Cormorant lake and Manor lake north, but this week I had to strike off inland following various animal trails.  I could not walk along the shoreline due to the raised water levels effectively removing the shore, and these wide streams, flowing into the lake, appeared blocking my way.

Still this is where I saw my first ever snipe, and where I spooked yet more deer.

It has been a busy week for Inert, and I have a busy day tomorrow.  Hedgelaying and path clearing with the Moor Green Lake work party. I know the theory of hedgelaying, and I'm all ready to go with my bill hook and four pound lump hammer. You can you us if you like. Do as much or as little as you feel you can; we're grateful for any help - even if you just make the tea.

On a more somber note: Plastics in the environment has made the news. The reserve has not escaped this scourge. I do notice a lot of plastic in the ground as I walk around the reserve. Most of it is being bulldozed into the ground, along with a lot of other industrial rubbish.  I'm not sure of the long lasting environmental impact, and how much will be leached into the soil.  I have a photo of small beads of polystyrene floating on Finch pond near the Longwater road entrance.

Inert have brought in a digger to help with the restoration. A natty blue thing.  Poor thing couldn't cope with the mud, and 'threw' a track.  Actually, there is probably a real reason why the track was taken off, but I like the mud theory. It's difficult to work out what it did this last week.

Our stalwart bulldozer has be hard at work pushing soil into the south shore of Finch pond, steadily extending the land northward by a couple or so metres. It has also been hard at work around the site of the former pump station bridge. There have been some quite dramatic changes here.

I wanted to take photos of the reserve from the north embankment to show how much water levels have risen. I was waiting for a sunny morning to enable dramatic photos like the last time I did this walk.  With the pump started, I figured I had better take my chance now and photograph the lakes before levels fell, even though it was really really dark and miserable this morning. Both cameras struggled - particularly the DSLR with it's zoom lens. The bridge camera faired better. Much as I have maligned my Panasonic DMC-FZ72 bridge camera, it does do a sterling job; even with its below par photos. I might have a look at a Canon superzoom bridge camera, as they seem to produce better photos.

As it was I didn't have to do the north embankment walk today (even though I did) as the pump was gone.  I have no idea if it needed repairs or is to be replaced or is not needed or was stolen.  Though why anyone would nick a knackered old pump is beyond me.

I took a chance on the weather and put my trail camera back out. Water levels in the Blackwater had lowered considerably, though they were still up. I was able to step easiliy onto the fallen tree trunk; no leaping 5' (1.5m) over 3' (90cm) deep water. Heavy rain is forecast for Monday, with periods of drizzle thereafter, but I think water levels will not rise that much.

The slideshows are split into three sections today. The first covers the south footpath, pump station and yellow bridge.  The second is mainly concerned with the work around the south shore of Finch pond. Finally, the Longwater road and north embankment.

Pump station and yellow bridge

The most dramatic change around this area has been the building of small banking along the shores of Cormorant lake and Manor lake.  I can't say I really understand why. They are quite small, being about two feet (60cm) high and roughly a yard ( 100cm) wide, bordering very short sections of the lakes.  They are quite tidy and neat.

The digger was lurking around the yellow bridge, looking quite downcast with its thrown track.  I'm still not sure what it did on the site. Perhaps it built the banking around the pump station.

South shore of Finch pond

As stated earlier, Inert have been extending the land south of Finch pond by the simple dint of bulldozing soil ito it. With little rain this week the going was very much easier where the bulldozer had been working. Oddly, some areas were left alone. The mud in these areas were still the nasty, sink up to your knees variety.

Finally, a walk along the north embankment. I figure you have got a feel for how murky the day was from the previous slideshow.  It was beginning to brighten up a little by the time I got to start my walk along the north embankment - roughly 9:20am. Even still, the conditions varied from bright to dark and dank. Far removed from the sunny, frosty conditions of my earlier blog. Still you get a feel for how much water levels have risen.

Incidentally, the water levels on the west shore of Finch pond arn't that much lower than the Longwater road.  I could be wrong (I'll check next week) but it looks only like a foot or two.  The surface of the ponds do appear higher than the surface of the Blackwater. It is really hard to tell, as they are separated by several tens of metres at the narrowest point.

I had planned to do a circular route. Walk along the north embankment. Drop down to the channel between Cormorant lake and the lake north of it; the channel where I got my wet foot. Hop across the channel in my wellies, and walk back to Finch pond along the tongue of land separating Cormorant lake and that to the north of it; before climbing back up the north embankment and retracing my steps to the Longwater road entrance.  This, dear reader, was not to be, as you will see in the slideshow.

Cemex (or should I say the Inert Recycling company) have started the new year with a vengeance. They have demolished the bridge near the pump station. Its remains are still on the site, awaiting removal. They also appear to have brought in an awful lot of soil. No idea if it is going to be new top soil for the area that used to hold the bridge, or whether it is to be bulldozed into Manor lake.

Our bulldozer man has been hard at work around the copse area and the south shore of Finch pond; pushing ever more soil into the water and creating new land.  I believe Finch pond is supposed to shrink in size quite drastically, and become mainly reed beds.

The pump has been turned back on again. I reckon water levels in the lakes are about at their maximum now, which makes for interesting working conditions near the shore lines.  No doubts Cormorant island will make a reappearance, and hopefully Cormorant spit.

I didn't put the trail cam out. The Blackwater river was running high with all the rain we have had recently. It makes for a tricky leap over three feet deep water to get to the tree trunk I place the camera on, and most of the animals will stay shy of the area until water levels fall.

You might find the photos a little odd this week. Firstly I was experimenting with white balance. I set it to fluorescent. This made the photos overly blue, and making the gloomy, overcast, misty morning (it was 8.00am) even more so.  Although the setting did portray the atmosphere quite well, I think it overdid it a bit, and a lot of detail was lost because of the colouration.

I edited some of the photos with Firestone.  Bear in that this is the second time I have used Firestone to try and correct photos, it was the first time trying to correct the colour and I don't really know what I am doing. I took the time honoured approach of playing with the controls to see what happens.

It gave many of the photos a quality of being from the early years of the last century or of black and white photos that have been colourised.  In some ways it is quite an interesting affect.

Reasonably large number of photos this week. So you'll need to open the slideshow to see them all.

I am actually quite pleased with the photo of the geese. Lousy light conditions. White balance set to fluorescent. Geese a little blurry due to me I tracking them in the mist and low light. But it seems to work.

As for the welly shot; told you it was muddy, and this was a shallow mud puddle.

Cemex and the RSPB have been working in partnership to restore 1000 hectares of ex-quarry workss to prime, natural habitat. Giving themselves until 2020 to achieve this target, they actually managed it last year.

The first hectare was at part of the Eversley quarry. Basically, Moor Green Lakes and some of the other amenities around the area e.g. Horseshoe Lake.

Click this for a Cemex/RSPB video on youtube explaining the first to the 1000th hectare to be restored. It has shots from Fleet hill farm and Manor farm, which regulars to this blog will be familiar with.

Click this for a link to the RSPB website which explains the 1000 hectare initiative.

Click on this for a link to the Cemex website for their news on the 1000 hectare initiative.

Click this for information on Cemex being runner up in the MPA Nature and Quarry awards due to their work at Eversley.

Personally I feel that Cemex, RSPB, Moor Green Lakes Group and Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust have done an outstanding job of it all.  It's a shame I only became aware of this 15 months ago. People I bump into as I traipse around the reserve are highly appreciative of the effort - most especially the bird watchers.

Back in my youth, there was a brilliant bakers on the corner of Junction road and Holloway road. They baked the most wonderful Black Forest Gateau; full of flavour, correct balance of cream, cherries, jam and sponge, all on a biscuit base.

Fast forward a few decades to the insipid cream based, overly sweet versions of today that has driven me to make my own Black Forest Gateau, following proper German based recipes.

I give you, on this grey and manky New Year's day, my 9" Black Forest Gateau. Mary Berry eat your heart out. GBBO here I come.

OK, not the prettiest of cakes, but then again the proof is in the eating.

Medical experts say that with long term treatment and counseling, those family members brave enough to sample this creation may make a full recovery.

Actually, as you can see from the last photo, the Black Forest Gateau - aka Crater cake - went down a storm.

Happy New Year!

Update: Crater cake was all eaten up by 3rd Jan 2018, with requests for more!

The sponge does not have any flour in it - just eggs, sugar and cocoa powder. Proper Bakewell tart is the same, except ground almonds used instead of cocoa powder.