Nature Watch

August proved to be a very poor month for wildlife sightings with with few butterflies and dragonflies. This has been the case on many other nature reserves.

RECORDINGS

Kestrel, Buzzard, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Willow Warble, Blackcap, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long Tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Magpies, Jays, Nuthatch, Large White Butterflies, Common Darter Dragonflies, Bog Cricket Velvet Ant, Bees, Smooth Snake, Common Lizards, 30-40 species of Spider.

George Dunkling together with son Mark have undertaken an ongoing survey of spiders resident on the Reserve. Investigations were made at different locations ie on Heather, Gorse, Purple Moor Grass, brambles, rough ground and the boardwalk. Two thirds of the spiders found have been identified. Over coming months, photographs taken by George will be shown on this web site.

George, our site photographer, wildlife monitor and life long naturalist has recently been requested by the R.S.P.B to lead a fungi walk at their Sedgemoor reserve in Somerset. George led a very well attended and successful fungi walk for the R.S.P.B at Arne last Autumn as well as many nature walks on Slop Bog.

Nature Fact

The Velvet Ant is not a true ant at all as the larvae are parasitoids, Bumble-bees being the host insect. The male has wings, the more often seen female is wingless. Both have an orange thorax and a hairy coat. They frequent dry habitats and heathland.

Site Management

Felling of trees from within the enclosure has now been completed opening up a larger dry heath clearing thus providing essential habitat for reptiles, one being the rare Sand Lizard. The Guardians work party continued to clear a route for a new permissive woodland path. The path is scheduled for completion by 31 January 2009 and it is hoped it will help to relieve pressure on the fragile heathland and the wildlife found there.

Three donated bat boxes have been sited on trees along Kingfisher Creek.

Another calf has been produced by one of the grazing cows.