Nature Watch

April began and continued throughout with splendid warm and bright sunny weather. The bog pool water levels dropped considerably during this period. The weather conditions were ideal in encouraging flying insects for the feeding of early broods of birds. Fledging as early as the first week of April was noted for Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush and Tit species. The call of a Cuckoo was heard on the 1st May at the Wet Wood. Adult foxes were very evident on site, playing and digging for worms during daytime. A Willow Warbler and a Wheatear were seen on the fringes of Slop Bog in a garden in Hazel Drive. New sightings of birds in this period in addition to last month are Tree Pipit, Jackdaw, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Stock Dove and a female Crossbill. Crossbills were recorded on Slop Bog several years ago but no further sightings have been recorded until this month. With the onset of a cooler wet period, food has been provided for the birds at the feeding stations. This is a crucial time for birds when feeding themselves and their young and providing food is a back up if live food is not in abundance.

New recordings of insects in this period in addition to last month are Comma, Orange Tip, Small White, Large White and Holly Blue Butterflies; Large Red Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly; Cuckoo Bee, Common Wasp, St. Marks Fly, Crane, Green Bottle, Blue Bottle and Grey-flesh Flies; Green Tiger and Ground Beetles; Raft and Garden Spiders.

As for Reptiles and Amphibians, the warm weather has brought out Grass Snakes, Adders and Slow Worms so watch out for them on the paths and banks.

Recorded rainfall for the period was approx 30 millimetres

Nature Fact

Green Woodpeckers have an amazingly long tongue that can turn corners inside a beetle's burrow enabling them to lick out their food.

Site Management

At the end of April, the Slop Bog Guardians work party assisted the D.C.C. Conservation Rangers with the construction of a footstep platform to ease access onto the boardwalk at the gate sited at the point adjoining the enclosure fence. Also, a further gate was installed into the fencing of the boardwalk to give safer access into the bog enclosure to the north for nature recorders and monitors.

Photographic Competition

Photographs to be taken at Slop Bog Nature Reserve any subject
Prints no larger than A4 - up to 3 prints per entrant
Two sections - Adults and Juniors under 16
Please put name, address and telephone number on reverse plus age if a Junior
Closing date 17th June 2007
All entries will be displayed at the Slop Bog Open Day Sunday 24th June 2007
Winners will be announced at the Open Day at 3pm and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes awarded
Post entries to Mr G Dunkling 123 Pinehurst Park West Moors BH22 0BS
All enquiries to G Dunkling tel: 01202 897293

Drawing and Picture Competition

Subject - Life on Slop Bog eg creatures, plants, views
Upper age limit 16
Please put name, address, age and telephone number on the reverse
Closing date 17th June 2007
All entries will be displayed at the Slop Bog Open Day Sunday 24th June 2007
Winners to be announced at the Open Day at 3pm
Entries to :- Mrs C Wilcox 19 Hazel Drive Ferndown BH22 9SP