The year 2010 started off with a survey of the Brough and Brandesburton sites. This was done with the kind help of John Traill, the Wetlands Officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

John is used to working with anglers as he is a trustee for the East Riding Chalk Rivers Trust. As a result of this survey the Brough site has seen a number of bird boxes positioned around the site, in addition to several bat boxes.

The expenditure on these boxes was very low and it is intended to add further boxes at the Brandesburton sites.

I’m currently looking at the installation of owl boxes on our sites with the help of the Wolds Barn Owl Group. I would be interested to hear of any sightings of tawny or barn owls on the Brandesburton Ponds.

Data is held regarding the bio diversity of the East Riding of Yorkshire and surveys of Hull & DAA sites have been carried out in the past.

I received a request to carry out a survey in order to verify and update this data. As a result a botanical survey was carried out on Motorway Pond, Brickyard Pond, Blue Lagoon and Tilery Lake which I attended. The sites were described as rich but not containing anything rare.

I’m constantly surprised by the interest shown by many of our members in the wildlife at our sites. However, not all members of the animal kingdom are welcomed with equal enthusiasm on Association property – and the licence to control cormorants on the Brough site has been renewed.

An otter fence has been built at Brough as we have had several otters visiting these ponds causing substantial financial loss. Otters have also been observed making regular visits to several other Association fisheries, so it is clear that their numbers are increasing at a considerable rate (as has been confirmed by the latest National Otter Survey).

The Association would be interested to hear of any sightings of otters seen on Association waters and also any unusually large sightings of cormorants (five or more).

Phil Arnott