Messages are welcome on any subject relating to Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve; the surrounding area of St George and Crews Hole or any of Bristol's Parks and Green Spaces.
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Susan
 May 15, 07 - 10:08 PM |
On Troopers Hill today
As the seasons change there are always new things to see on the Hill so I thought I would start this thread so people can add what they see each time they are on the hill. You never know if it catches on we might end up with a really good seasonal record of what you can see when. I must confess that I was last on the Hill yesterday evening rather than today but I saw: in bloom - hawthorn trees with white blossom, broom with shades of petals from pale yellow to deep golden to yellow with splashes of red to beige pink, mouse eared hawkweed with its light yellow dandelion type flowers, the first few heather flowers (ling and bell), the white flowers of the elder trees, buttercups and dandelions in fruit - the very early stage of apples (about the size of small marbles) birds - heard loads of different birds, such as wren, robin, the tit that makes the bike pump noise and blackbird but only saw and heard what I think were house martins (I am extremely bad at sorting out swifts, swallows and house martins) and seagulls. butterflies - did not see any yesterday but have been seeing common blues, brimstones and small coppers. grasshoppers and crickets - did not see any but am starting to hear them. Cheers, Susan |
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Ian
May 16th, 2007 - 7:15 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Out and about early this morning I saw a Fox running up Greendown, a Green Woodpecker, wood Pigeon, several Magpies (very common lately) a male Blackbird. |
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Jules
May 16th, 2007 - 5:45 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Any bunnies on the hill? I ask because we found what looked like an old snare, wire & rusty spike driven into the ground, while we were working up there this afternoon. On a more positive note there was a kestrel hunting over the rough grass, Greendown/Troopers side of the chimney. |
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Susan
May 17th, 2007 - 12:05 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Neither Rob nor I have ever seen rabbits on Troopers Hill - that covers just over 9 years worth of visits. So hopefully the snare never did its stuff. |
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Susan
May 20th, 2007 - 7:26 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
The red valerian is colourfully in flower, a dark pink against the sky as you walk up the step from the lowest Troopers Hill Rd entrance. Lots of black medick plants are showing tiny balls of yellow flowers. There is an attractive patch of ox-eye daisies on the corner of Crews Hole Rd and Troopers Hill Rd. Sally's glade has a large number of ox-eye daisies in various stages of bud and full flower. Cheers, Susan |
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Ian
May 21st, 2007 - 12:34 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Rabbits disappeared years ago (35years?) unfortunately really they did quite a good job of maintenance in their own way keeping things short - although I think most of their energy went on the allottments. The snare maight be being used to trap a fox? I saw a young one this morning being mobbed by two Magpies - I have never seen them do that before, they must have been trying to protect their young I guess? They won and the fox eventually ran off towards me then stopped and hestatated and decided that running past me and the dog was a safer bet! My dog was really taken a back by it I've never seen him looked so surprised. Other than that only two Blue **** on the fence at Greendown, one blackbird, couple of crows and several sea gulls - I don't know what they were up to. |
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Ian
May 22nd, 2007 - 12:14 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Not much about this morning - all the action seemed to becomming from the trees on the other side of Troopers Hill Road save for half a dozen sparrows and a solitary male blackbird. |
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Rob
May 22nd, 2007 - 1:23 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
We saw this tube web spider on the chimney on Sunday. Click here for more information from the Natural History Museum website. |
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Ian
May 23rd, 2007 - 11:03 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
That's pretty impressive - especially the bite! I've certinly not seen one of these before makes you wonder how it got here? I know some juvenille spiders cast a strand of silk into the air and travel on the wind, perhaps this species does the same? |
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Rob
May 23rd, 2007 - 4:41 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Yes interesting to speculate how spiders get around - the tube web spider apparently appeared in port cities such as Bristol first and is now spreading through the UK. Today's sighting - on the steps from Troopers Hill Rd: Photo 1 Photo 2 The clue as to what they are is in the second photo, if you can't guess look here. |
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jules
May 23rd, 2007 - 7:07 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Interesting to note they were/are all on the risers, no sign of them on the treads (even squashed!) and don't worry, there were none on the one I replaced. Didn't see any on other 'flights' of steps, just those few near the top of that run. Couple of geographically challenged ducks in the heather above the Nursery about 10.30 am. |
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Susan
May 23rd, 2007 - 11:18 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Brilliant seeing the ladybird larvae and pupae (spelling?) this evening. At the weekend I saw birds foot trefoil flowering in the gully and more on Monday showing its yellow flowers alongside the path that runs parallel to Troopers Hill road. This I find is a food plant for the Common Blue butterfly which might explain why I have seen a few Common Blues on the Hill. Re. Ian's thought about tube web spiders flying on the end of their web. I don't know but I would doubt it - these things are big. They occur particularly near ports and are believed to come over in ships' cargoes. I think it is more a matter of scuttle and hide as they either make their way on "foot" from the port or hitch lifts on or in vehicles, particularly when the cargo is just shifted in a container onto the back of a lorry. Cheers, Susan |
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Ian
May 24th, 2007 - 5:55 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Nothing to report this morning as the visibility early today was very poor (approx 20ft). Plenty of bird song but I couldn't see anything flying or anything else on the ground. |
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Rob
May 26th, 2007 - 9:34 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
We saw this small kinky slowworm on the way to the Tree Gazing walk on Thursday. |
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Liz
Jun 2nd, 2007 - 11:49 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Today at the workparty a little lizard came to join us. |
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Roger
Jun 5th, 2007 - 1:29 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
99% certain I saw a deer atop the hill at 5am on Sunday morning, too big for a fox, I am intending now to take a few early moring visits to the hill. I see this a 'mission #2' (FYI mission#1 was lizard hunt) There will be deer photos, watch this space. |
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Ian
Jun 5th, 2007 - 1:44 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
You may well have seen a Muntjac Deer there are a few of these around especially in the river valley and past the Lock and Weir Pub towards Keynsham. I have seen a couple of these in the past but not for sometime - I believe the other deer that were commonly seen on the hill are Roe Deer. You need to make sure that the wind is in the right direction and that you stay below the horizon that way you will get very very close. Don't corner the Roe Deer though as they will charge at you and up close are quite a bit bigger than you think. The Muntjac will be hard to spot as they can hide in the smallest of places. With the bracken now shooting up I'm hopeful that I will see and get close to the deer again if they are back. I'm over the hill before 5am and have yet to see them - although I don't frequent the playing field area or the area around the stack. |
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Roger
Jun 5th, 2007 - 2:08 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Excellent,not saying I'll do this on a regular basis!! But if I see you, I won't shout!! |
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Ian
Sep 27th, 2007 - 3:44 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
The deer have been sighted once again but very early in the morning 4am back in the summer (what summer). On the hill recently I have spotted quite a few hedghogs not usually seen them out and about I hope they are not suffering from any ailments. Quite pleased to see them on successive mornings - perhaps they are looking for a suitable spot in which to hibernate? |
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Jules
Sep 27th, 2007 - 4:33 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Thanks for this Ian... I/We'll keep an 'eye out' (more than usual) when bracken/bramble bashing... |
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Ian
Oct 9th, 2007 - 7:37 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Having a busy time at the moment so not sure if it was Saturday morning when I came across (dog sniffed out)two dead Pygmy Shrews in the area where some undergrowth had been cut away. They looked as though they had been hit by something possibly by whatever was used to clear the undergrowth. A real shame to loose these tiny mamals. This morning saw an owl hunting something - it flew right by me with absolutely no sound. |
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Jules
Oct 9th, 2007 - 6:28 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Any chance of being more specific re: the location of the shrews? I hate killing things, especially if it's just for promoting 'prettiness'. Most small animals &c. are long gone before I get there due to the noise/vibration of the machinery I use. This is why I'm concerned about hibernating hedgehogs. I/we always set our mowers at max height of cut for first and second run over long grass, bramble &c. and you'd be surprised how many frogs/mice/shrews scurry away when they feel/hear it coming, no doubt offering expletives. Slow-worms live up to their name, that's why I'm leaving the grass 'longer' near gate E. We do try very hard to avoid collateral damage, earlier this year there were four grown men on their hands and knees trying to catch a large evasive frog just along from Sally Glade, much to the amusement of passing dog-walkers! (Keith was successful, with the usual (ungrateful) result!) |
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Ian
Oct 10th, 2007 - 1:30 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Hi Jules As you go through the top gate Troopers Hill Road/Greendown walk towards the river the path then branches to the right. There in front of you is a cleared area it was here that the shrews were found on with a head wound the other was a body wound. Could have been anything really but certainly not another not done by another animal. I have noticed frogs before not quite sure why they are on the hill as there is no water source anymore. I regularly get frogs in my pond but the frogs can be found all year round in or near the water. I know that toads travel some distance and are not so dependant on water but I thought frogs were - maybe someone can answer that. The owl was out and about this morning and there were shrills from another owl so I think it's a pair possibly Tawny owls hard to tell in the dark. |
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Roger
Oct 12th, 2007 - 9:08 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
I have noticed (fairly dificult not to, as you can imagine....) that the shorter grass created at the side of the paths is very popular for dogs to poop on. A vast majority of owners do not clear up after their animals. Apart from clearing down the bracken and preventing regrowth, I take it that, in future, the grass etc that will take over will be allowed to grow? |
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Jules
Dec 4th, 2007 - 5:36 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
There was a Kestrel hovering over the grassland, beyond the gulley from TH Road, slope below the chimney, for quite a while this afternoon 'til it was chased off by crows. Not seen one above the Hill for a long time... |
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Jules
Jan 24th, 2008 - 9:56 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
At about 9.30 on Monday morning I watched a large fox emerge through the fence from the allotments, cross the new path just beyond the dog-bin, and wander slowly down into the woodland below TH field. There were several dog walkers and dogs around, it just waited for a convenient gap in the 'traffic'. |
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Susan
Feb 2nd, 2008 - 7:09 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
We saw a RABBIT!!!!! Actually I didn't but one of the two Duke of Edinburgh candidates working on re-clearing the path down from the red bench in Troopers Hill Field to connect with the path in Crews Hole woodland at the bottom of the steps from Sally's Glade saw it. This poor year 10 lad didn't know why I was getting all excited. This was around 11am today. I now have to go back through all the postings and see how long ago the last rabbit sighting was. I am sure it is at least 20 years ago. Later Kit disturbed a green woodpecker on the Hill near Troopers Hill Rd and Greendown. It voiced its opinion of Kit picking up discarded cardboard. Much weeding and some pruning was done by the work party on the Greendown hedge and it looks great. All ready for the mulch on the next work party. I spotted that one of the hazels in the hedge was already unfurling leaves. The D of E lads have done great work and will be back in a couple of weeks time to continue clearing the path and installing a few log steps to make life easier for the less agile walker. They were a delight to work with and very hard working. A big thank you to Chris, their supervisor for contacting me and asking if they could do a project on the Hill. She is a very hard worker too. I wonder whether Jules' fox will get the rabbit - I hope a few survive to chew off seedling holm oaks. All the best, Susan |
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Susan
Feb 3rd, 2008 - 8:55 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
I checked through postings about rabbits and Ian had said the last time he had seen one was 13 years ago from last year. So not quite twenty years but quite a gap. Cheers, Susan |
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Jules
Feb 4th, 2008 - 6:08 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Much to our amusement, whilst working on the 'view', we've been watching 2 or sometimes 3 squirrels nibbling the buds at the very (and I mean VERY) tops of the tall Maples(?) at the edge of the woodland. They bite/snap off the tips and then settle down to eat them. Last Thursday morning one was happily, if precariously, wedged into the base of a twig at a dizzying height as the tree swayed about 2-3 feet in the very strong winds and rain/hail. The other two chickened out and settled for lower (but not much) branches. They often have alarming arboreal squabbles over who gets the prime buds. |
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A daily walker on the hill
Feb 6th, 2008 - 9:32 AM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
How much more vegitation do you intend to clear?,some of us like to see the trees and bushes on the hill.It's nice to get away from the sights and sounds of traffic, but now in the early morning watching the constant stream of traffic makeing it's way along Crews Hole just reminds you we are in a town. Where as before the trees and bushes which were there ,allowed you just some time to escape from the ever presant sights and sounds of town life. Perhaps you have cleared enough. |
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Kite
Feb 6th, 2008 - 3:41 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
I feel for you Walker. Without going into the reasons for bramble and scrub clearance, which is well documented elsewhere and I'm sure Rob will comment on, I would suggest that the issue here is really rather more about the amount of traffic using Crews Hole Road as a rat-run. Our wonderful, new, Showcase Bus Route, for which we all feel so very grateful don't we(?), has guaranteed even more cars will now use what is surely one of the narrowest and busiest roads in this area. As we get the views across Bristol and down into the valley back, we sadly experience this unwelcome side effect. Perhaps traffic calming restrictions and generally slowing this road down might help solve the problem you have highlighted. 
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Jules
Feb 6th, 2008 - 4:52 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Just before lunch, there was a Sparrow Hawk swooping low several times over the area between the view/bench and the chimney. Couldn't see what it was chasing. |
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A daily walker on the hill
Feb 6th, 2008 - 7:39 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
You miss my point,I live on the edge of Troopers Hill,and am well aware of the Showcase Bus route,my aim was not to highlight the traffic problem of Crews Hole road,we know it's there as with many roads unfortuneatly,it's the fact that we can now see it and hear it, where as before it was a pleasant escape to walk the hill and be free from it for a while.I understood this Forum was an avenue to comment on wildlife and all that grows or should I say grew there. The traffic situation good or bad will always be there,most people have to travel to work one way or another,it's the times when we are not travelling that are important,free time, time to take advantage of our surroundings,the hill for example, which was my point, not the traffic situation |
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Susan
Feb 6th, 2008 - 9:46 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Dear Walker, I am sorry you dislike the re-opening of the views. We have had a lot of positive feedback particularly from people who use the bench that is just inside the entrance to Troopers Hill from the Field. They had been losing "their" view year by year. I hope you will be pleased to hear that the work, apart from tidying up, is at an end in that area for this year. It is unlikely that any further extension of clearing of scrub will be made in that particular spot. There will be work in future years to maintain the bounds that have been achieved to date. Depending on the weather, there will be an enlargement of the existing "Sally's Glade" - the open area accessed from Crews Hole Woodland via steps with a wooden bench at the top of of them. This area has had a lot of work done on it by volunteers but we have been losing to the encroaching trees. As described in the Management Plan page of this website all this work is being done to protect Troopers Hill's unique habitat. One thing that has been discussed is whether volunteers should create (if we have enough volunteers) new paths through the woodland, negotiating with Bristol Parks to take on the maintenance after we have done initial clearance. What do you think? You may have noticed that I, two Duke of Edinburgh volunteers and their supervisor, have started reclearing the path that leads down through the woodland opposite the first red bench as you come into Troopers Hill Field from Malvern Rd. At the moment you are quite likely to pick up bramble thorns if you use it but we will continue to work on it to improve it and will be building some rustic steps to overcome the short, steep, slippery bit. This will take place in 5 more two hour sessions at 2 week intervals. Bristol Parks will then maintain the path. This should provide you with an additional woodland walk and will provide another link to the bottom of the steps leading up to Sally's glade. It's probably not a lot of comfort to say that there are still plenty of places on Troopers Hill out of sight of traffic but I do hope you continue to enjoy them. You would be extremely welcome to come to our meetings and contribute to discussions on options for the maintenance of the Hill for the benefit of the extensive range of wildlife it currently supports and the public. Dog walkers are severely under-represented. The next meeting is Thursday 6th March 7.15pm at the Wesley Memorial Church on Bryants Hill. I do hope you can come. We are friendly and although we follow an agenda it is a very light-hearted and informal session. You will see from the minutes published on this website that we do cover a wide range of issues. Email me directly at chair@troopers-hill.org.uk if you would like a copy of the next agenda. I usually circulate it about a week before the meeting. Best wishes, Susan |
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Kite
Feb 6th, 2008 - 10:03 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
No, but it was my point. 
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Liz
Feb 6th, 2008 - 11:02 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
As a regular bus-commuter I feel I have to point out what a great improvement the Showcase bus route has been. I now regularly log times of less than 20 minutes from the Fountain to Old Market, almost on a daily basis. Plus we have brand-new buses. I have lived in places where the public transport is so brilliant it makes no sense to drive and I firmly believe it is the only way forward. One of the aspects of the view from Troopers is the brown haze over Bristol you can very often see. |
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Susan
Feb 6th, 2008 - 11:41 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Liz, I am really pleased it works for you and yes, anything to reduce the brown haze is great. However on the few occasions I have used the service this year it has taken me 75 minutes door to door i.e. leave 7.30am, 10 minutes walk to the bus stop close to the junction with Troopers Hill Rd. Wait, hoping bus turns up on time, sit in queue of traffic to the Fountain, then chug on until St Augustine's Parade (near the Hippodrome) and then another 5 minutes walk to my office on the docks. So instead, I cycle, 30 minutes door to door and 10 minutes changing time. Greater use of the washing machine for sweaty gear and the occasional oiling of the bike does not make it completely green. The bike until this year was over 25 years old so hopefully I was carbon neutral ;-). A desire to stop safely in the rain (V brakes are a major advance over caliper brakes) plus maintenance issues led me to buy a new bike recently. Walking takes me 1 hour and 5 minutes which beats the bus, plus, if I time it right I walk only 40 minutes and catch the excellent Bristol Ferries service from Temple Meads railway station (7.40am) and for a whole £1 enjoy a trip on the water admiring cormorants, seagulls, swans, ducks etc. to be dropped off at Millenium Square totally relaxed and ready to start the day. Aren't we lucky we have jobs in the right place to have all these options for going to work? A bit more imagination on cross town routes for public transport would be good. Look at all those employers in Stoke Gifford - the only way to get there by public transport is go into the centre of town and out again - hopeless. However "walker" is probably right that we are going off the subject of "on Troopers Hill today". The next person who wants to talk "public transport" could you start a new thread? It is easy, just click on the "post" button as you enter the forum page. Cheers, Susan |
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Susan
Feb 9th, 2008 - 9:24 PM |
Re: On Troopers Hill today
Today the Hill was covered in sunshine. Some people, all in the same kind of red and black exercise clothing, were jogging up and down the Hill. Does anyone who they were? Frighteningly fit. A big fat bumble bee was happily buzzing around near Sally's glade. Kids were creating pistol shot cracking sounds breaking up dead Japanese knotweed in the area below Sally's glade. I thought I heard a lizard-like rustle at the top of the second set of steps up from Troopers Hill road but didn't see anything. The cherry tree at the entrance from Sally's glade to Crews Hole woodland looks as if it is about to burst into blossom at any minutes. Lots of squirrels were about and I could hear long tailed tits. I saw the usual crows, magpies and wood pigeons. With this amount of sunshine it wouldn't surprise me if the common lizard sticks his or her head out to have a sunbathe. Do send in a photo if you see one and do record it with BRERC (Bristol Regional Environment Records Centre). I recorded a sighting on 6th March two years ago. Lots of insects flying about in Crews Hole woodland so a good food source for a lot of creatures. This is probably a bit early but what the heck: The spring is sprung, The grass is riz, I wonder where the boidies is? They say the boid is on the wing But that's absoid, The wing is on the boid Often ascribed to anon but I have also seen it recorded as being by Ogden Nash. Enjoy the sunshine, Susan |
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