Nature Watch

The weather during July to mid August has been mostly wet, only improving in the latter weeks, giving a quiet period for observing the wildlife on site. Along the Hazelwood fringe, families of Tit species have been very noticeable together with adult Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Song Thrush, Wrens, Blackbirds and Robins feeding their young. Large flocks of Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Siskin can be seen along the fence line. Goldcrests are again beginning to frequent the woodland floor. A Sparrowhawk has been observed hunting in the Hazelwood woodland. Not much activity out on the open heathland with only a few sightings of the Stonechat family, Green Woodpeckers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Magpies, Jays, Crows and Buzzards. Already, the song birds are in good voice claiming feeding territories in preparation for Autumn and Winter.

With the warm, wet weather, a number of fungi have developed including Puffballs.

Butterflies recorded in this period have included Peacock, Painted Lady, Large White, Comma, Brimstone, Small Heath, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Common Blue and Silver Studied Blue.

Four-Spotted and Broad-Bodied dragonflies, Small Red, Large Red and Banded Demoiselle damselflies have been sighted.

A small number of Common Lizards have been seen on the boardwalk as has the first Raft Spider.

Nature Fact

The Peacock butterfly has a spectacular defence mechanism which it uses if it is disturbed from rest. Opening its wings, it creates an alarming hissing noise as the front and hind wings rub across each other revealing huge "eye-spots". A small bird, startled by the hiss and then confronted by the large owl like eyes, will usually fly off leaving the butterfly to go back to sleep.

Site Management

The July Guardians work party cut back vegetation overhanging footpaths and the boardwalk. As a consequence, previously hidden bog pools have been opened up which are ideal for pond dipping. Scrub has been cleared and extra fencing erected at the eastern end of the boardwalk giving a new area for dipping in Kingfisher Creek.
Dorset Countryside staff have been busy keeping on top of invasive vegetation and garden exotics which are spreading on site. Herbicides are used carefully to kill only troublesome plants in favour of our rarer wild flowers.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the Nature Trail plaques have been changed. This gives the opportunity for new brass rubbings to be done at each location post along the trail.

Slop Bog Celebration Event

Saturday 1st August turned out to be very wet but the event was well attended despite the inclement weather. Pond dipping was a success and an underwater camera gave a subterranean view of life below the surface. Studies were made of the 40 different species caught in a moth trap over the two previous nights. There were displays by the Moth Group, Dorset Countryside, The Urban Heath Partnership, Butterfly Conservation and the Slop Bog Guardians. A besom maker also demonstrated his skills. The Photographic Competition generated a good number of entries providing some wonderful images taken on site. The overall winner was a photograph of a male Crossbill taken by Keith Wilcox shown above.