Heavy rain and strong winds predominated throughout the period. Progressing into December, the weather turned colder with a few bright days.
SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
Some surprising reports of reptiles being active during mild spells. A Slow Worm was seen on the afternoon of the 11th November. A female Adder was spotted by dog walkers on two separate occasions in the same area during the 3rd week of November. Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinch, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Redwings, Siskins, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Long-Tailed/Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Wrens, Goldcrest, Magpies, Crows, Jays, Sparrowhawk and a Cormorant in flight over the Reserve. The wet bog remains an important habitat for Snipe and 10 of these hard to spot birds were seen.
Two Roe Deer were observed grazing in the Wet Wood at dawn.
During the wet, milder conditions many fungi have continued to appear, one being Tricholoma Aurantium (Plums and Custard), which will deteriorate quickly if the cold and/or frosty weather continues.
