Nature Notes November

November had a few cold snaps, but the majority of the month brought heavy rainfall with strong winds. Not a great deal of activity on the Reserve. Water levels were high, with the peat pools overflowing onto the surrounding heath land and up to boardwalk level.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Wrens, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Wrens, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Common Redpolls, Bramblings, Reed Bunting.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse.

The middle of November brought an unexpected fall of snow north west of our area which may well have driven the Bramblings and Redpolls down into the Reserve. They were sighted for two weeks in the middle of the month along the Hazelwood boundary.
A female Reed Bunting was seen south of the boardwalk.
A disappointing month for fungi.

Nature Fact

Common Redpoll, who in summer are in northern areas and Scandinavia, move south during winter months. They have a distinctive red forehead with a small black chin patch. They are often in the company of Siskins and Bramblings.

Nature Notes October

The weather remained wet, with only a few dry days with sunshine. Very quiet on the Reserve with not much activity.
SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests.
Butterflies:  Holly Blue, Large White, Red Admiral.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Insects:  Pond Skaters.

A welcome sight at the end of the month were several Goldcrests. This tiny bird, the smallest resident bird in Britain, was lost in large numbers during the cold spell last Winter.
No more sightings of Bats during the month.
A small number of Fungi were found with the hope that more will appear during November.

Nature Fact

Magpies are members of the Crow family. They are notorious for their habit of stealing other birds’ eggs and chicks. It is worth watching magpies closely. They are constantly inquisitive and are known to hoard bright objects. Often they seem ‘visibly intelligent’ – soaking dry bread in a fishpond, for example, to make it easier to eat; then hiding the excess in a crevice in the rockery, carefully covering it with moss and grass pulled from the lawn.

Nature Notes September

The weather varied greatly ranging from cold, wet and blustery weeks to calm, warm and dry weeks, progressing in a mellow Autumn feel. 

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, White Dove, Buzzards Sparrowhawk, Black–headed Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
A number of Willow Warblers were seen moving across the reserve via the Hazelwood corridor.
A group of Swallows were seen feeding north of the boardwalk.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admirals, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, various species of day flying Moths.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Blackberry, Low growing Gorse, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.

Pipistrelle Bats were still feeding on warmer nights during September.
The seed heads of the Purple Moor Grass were very evident.
Birds of the same specie were defending their newly established Winter territories, whilst Finches were forming into flocks.
The Jays, Magpies and Carrion Crows were noticeably more vocal.

Nature Fact

Most vertebrate animals possess a pair of hyoid bones supporting the base of the tongue. Green Woodpeckers have extended hyoids that curve up behind the head. Muscles pull on the hyoids, giving a powerful thrust to the very long tongue. This enables it to reach distances into holes in the ground and trees to reach its prey.

Nature Notes August

August was drier than previous summer months, with only a few wet days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Carrion Crows, Buzzards, Heron, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaff, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Treecreeper, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Meadow Brown.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Southern Hawker.
Mammals: Fox, Pipstrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Reptiles: Common Lizard, Slow Worm.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees.
Plants in Flower: Low Growing Gorse, Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.
Garden Plants on site in flower: Buddleia, Crocosmia, Pond Lily.

Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs are now seen moving across the site in preparation for migration.

Heathers and low growing Gorse are now at their best.

Nature Fact

The Newt, a small Salamander, is remarkable for its ability to regrow body parts such as its organs, tissues, limbs and tail.

Nature Notes July

There was heavy rainfall until the middle of the month, followed by a week of high temperatures and sunny days. At the end of the month temperatures cooled off once more, with a mix of sun, cloud and occasional heavy showers.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Jays, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Heron,Tree Pipit, Stonechat, Siskins, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Nuthatches Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs.
Reptiles: Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Grass Snake.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper.
Insects: Hover Flies, Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling – Cross leaved and Bell.

Many species of birds have been observed to be in moult during July.

Nature Fact

How do birds moult? A new feather growing from a follicle in the skin gradually pushes out the old one. This usually follows a regular sequence within each feather group. Most birds choose a time of year to moult, when there is plenty of food, dense foliage to hide and no need to use up valuable energy in courtship or migration.

Nature Notes June

The majority of June delivered wet and windy weather, with only a few dry days giving respite.

SIGHTINGS 

Birds:   Buzzards, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Dove, Cuckoo, Jays, Magpies, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nightjars, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chiff Chaffs, Bullfinches,,Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Goldcrest, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-Tailed Tits. 

Reptiles:   Grass Snake. 

Mammals:   Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels. 

Butterflies:   Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral. 

Insects:   Raft Spider, Pond Skater, Bees, Ladybirds. 

Plants in flower:   Low growing Gorse, Wild Geranium. 

Damselflies:   Small Red, Common Blue.

The sound of a Cuckoo was heard at the west end of Hazelwood.

In mid- June, two Nightjars were seen and heard on the central heathland by the Ranger, Will Holland.

The lack of colour on the Tit species is noticeable which emphasises  the lack of caterpillars as a food source this year.

Berries have formed on fruit bearing shrubs and trees.

Nature Fact

The Nightjar, having wintered in Africa, is a Summer visitor. It has camouflage plumage and large black eyes that are highly suitable for seeing its aerial prey in poor light. Hunting takes place at dusk and dawn. With its mouth open very wide, with a fringe of bristles spreading out each side, it ‘trawls’ for moths in silent flight. The calls of nightjars, both male and female, generally delivered from a perch, are a continuous “churring” noise. The calls have been timed as lasting for more than five minutes. If conditions are right, two broods are reared during a Summer visit.

Nature Fact

Pipistrelle Bats leave their daytime roosts at dusk and are creatures of habit, tending to follow the same routes each night. They have tiny, very sharp teeth, ideally suited to chewing the soft bodies of small insects, such as caddisflies, which form the bulk of its diet.
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
Pipistrelle Bat (library picture)

Nature Notes

The weather took a turn for the worse during this month, delivering strong winds and heavy rainfall with cool temperatures. There was twice as much rain as usual.
SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Heron, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mistle/Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Nuthatches, Goldcrests, Siskins, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chiff Chaffs, Willow Warblers, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels.
Insects: Bees, Pond Skaters.
Butterflies: Large White, Brimstone.
Plants in flower: Gorse, Bog Myrtle, Primrose.
Willow Warblers have now returned from their over-wintering in warmer climes.
Birds continue to construct nests, sit on eggs, and feed early produced young.

Nature Facts

NATURE FACT


Woodpeckers sustain a g-force of about 1,200 as it drums its bill against tree bark. A g-force measuring between 80 and 100 is strong enough to give humans a concussion. Researchers have discovered four structures of the Woodpeckers head that make it shock-absorbent :-
* A strong yet flexible bill.
* A hyoid - a structure of bone and elastic tissue that wraps around the skull.
* An area of spongy bone in the skull.
* Little space for cerebral-spinal fluid between the skull and the brain.
Each of these elements absorb mechanical shock, allowing the Woodpecker to strike a tree at a rate of up to 22 times per second with no injury to the brain.

Summer Work Parties

The Summer work parties will be held on Tuesdays rather than Thursdays, 10am - 1pm, on the following dates:-
April 17th
May 29th
June 26th
July 24th
Aug 21st

All are welcome and we will endeavour to post details of the work to be undertaken shortly before each date.

Nature Notes

A month of clear blue skies, warm sunshine and cool nights. No recorded rainfall during the month of March.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Buzzards, Jackdaw, Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mistle/Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Mallard Ducks, Heron, Nuthatches, Chiff Chaffs, Bull Finches, Siskins, Stonechats, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels.
Insects: Bees, Wasps, Pond Skaters.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock.
Plants in flower: Gorse, Broom, Flowering Redcurrant, Primrose, Bog Myrtle.

A pair of Mallard Ducks have been seen at Kingfisher Creek.
Bird song has been prolific from the end of March.
Chiff Chaffs were heard in the last week of the month, having returned from wintering in Africa.
Nuthatches have been delivering their high pitch call along the Hazelwood path.

Nature Fact

Breeding for the Chiff Chaff begins from April through to June producing one or two broods. The domed nest is built in vegetation close to the ground where four to nine white eggs, speckled with purple, are incubated by the female for 13 – 14 days. Young fledge in about 14 days.

Nature Notes

After a cold start to the month February then became very mild, with no significant rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Jays, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Song Thrushes, Redwings, Pied Wagtails, Siskins, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Wood Mice.
Butterflies: Brimstones, Red Admirals.
Insects: Bees.

A small flock of Redwings were sighted from the middle of the month, having been forced to retreat the south to feed, following harsh weather conditions in the north of England.
Both Brimstone and Red Admiral Butterflies along with Bees have been enticed out into the early Spring like temperatures.
Many species of birds are paired now and showing interest in the bird boxes.
A pair of Buzzards have been seen circling together, performing courtship flights over the site.

Nature Fact

It is not known exactly what causes an animal to begin hibernation or end it, although a sudden fall in temperature is the most obvious. It is likely that hibernation ceases when the average air temperature rises above a certain level in Spring. Should a period of cold weather then return, the animal will resume hibernation until conditions improve. It has been observed that early nesting birds will abandon their nests and contents if weather conditions do not provide them with food for their expected off-spring.








Brimstone Butterfly














Red Admiral Butterfly









Images by K Wilcox

Nature Notes

The unseasonal mild weather continued through the month but changed to colder temperatures in the last week, bringing sleet showers and frost. Another quiet winter month for recordings.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Jays, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Song Thrushes, Siskins, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
A pair of Bullfinches which produced five young last Spring/Summer, are again active in their territory, visiting garden feeders along the Hazelwood fenceline. A sighting of a Goldcrest was very welcome, as few sightings were recorded last year when many were lost following a harsh spell of winter weather. Birds continue to night roost in the nest boxes on site. Any required repairs or replacement nesting boxes have been made during January.

Nature Fact

The Goldcrest is our smallest British bird measuring 9cm. A very small hyperactive species that always seems to be on the move. It feeds among branches and will sometimes hover to snatch food from the undersides of leaves. Outside the breeding season it often joins flocks of other small birds such as Tits

Nature Notes December

The continued unseasonal mild weather continued through December to the end of the year, with rain and strong winds and only a few cooler days and nights experienced.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Siskin, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Mallard Ducks, Snipe.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Fungi: A large selection brought forth by the continued mild damp weather.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Wood Mice, Roe Deer.

Again, a mild month produced many species of Fungi.
Four Mallard Ducks were spotted flying over the site.
A Snipe flew up from near the north permissive path.
Wood Mice active outside their winter quarters.
The bird boxes were emptied of any previous seasons nesting material. Out of the 35 on site only 19 were used. A poor uptake last Spring. Repairs are now in progress where required.

2011 brought no new significant sightings or discoveries.

Nature Fact

Wood Mice eat mainly tree seeds but seeds from bushes and herbs are also taken. Other sources of food are fruits, seedlings, buds and Fungi and, in late Spring and Summer, small snails, caterpillars and adult insects.