Nature Watch

Very mixed weather conditions during the past month. Mostly overcast but a few warm dry days, a cold snap and some torrential downpours with strong winds. The cold spell held back fungi development until recently when milder conditions encouraged growth.

SIGHTINGS

Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Great/Blue/Coal/Longtail Tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Buzzard, a female Roe Deer. A visiting flock of Redwing have been seen in Hazelwood. There were two separate sightings of Crossbill in the North West of the site.

There has been no recent movement from the Foxes earth in the bank skirting Hazelwood. It is a possibility they vacated their earth due to the noise and disturbance during path resurfacing and tree felling in close proximity to their home. Monitoring will continue.

Three bird fatalities were reported within the last two weeks; a Goldfinch, female Kestrel and a young male Great Spotted Woodpecker. All these birds were resident in Hazelwood regularly visiting garden feeding stations. All flew into plate glass windows of houses bordering the Reserve. This is a frequent occurrence but can be avoided by the application of nature window stickers on large areas of glass.

The last Pipistrelle Bat sighting and reading was taken on 2nd November. Although the weather has been mild for a period since, there have been no further recordings.

Two photographs taken by George Dunkling during the Summer Spider Survey 2008 are shown below

Nature Fact

Great Spotted Woodpeckers, our most common Woodpecker, not only drums on tree trunks but also on street lights. This action is to announce their presence.

Site Management

Surfacing of the new permissive footpath through the Western end of Hazelwood has been completed. Several large unstable trees have been felled and unsafe boughs removed from standing trees in this area. Clearance and disposal of brush will be ongoing over forthcoming months. Many new log piles have been formed to provide homes for small mammals, reptiles and insects.

The boardwalk, which becomes slippery in wet and/or icy conditions, has had non-slip material applied to part of its length. Plans to apply some sort of material to the remainder will depend on future funding levels.

Two further Owl boxes constructed by members of the Slop Bog Guardians have been installed, one in Hazelwood East and the other in Wet Wood East.