Nature Notes April

April commenced with cool temperatures, heavy overcast days, and occasional heavy rainfall. A few warmer days followed later in the month.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Buzzards, Heron, Stock Doves, Wood Pigeons, Black-headed Mallard Ducks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bramblings, Redpoll, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Goldcrests, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants in flower:   Gorse, Primroses, Celandine, Flowering Currant.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Butterflies:  Brimstone, Comma, Peacocks, Large White, Orange Tip.
Insects:  Bees.
Pond/Stream Life:  Minnows, Pond Skaters, Whirligig Beetles.

The warmer days prompted many butterflies to emerge along the Hazelwood boundary.

The Bramblings and Redpolls were not seen on site after the 16th April.

Many of the bird boxes on site are now occupied and the first eggs laid.

Nature Fact

The majority of birds produce one egg every 24 hours.  The eggs are laid at dawn each morning until a full clutch is produced.