Nature Notes March

Mild weather conditions throughout the month encouraged the appearance of many species of insects, butterflies and nest building birds.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers,   Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler. Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Blackcap, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:  Primrose, Gorse, Laurel, Flowering Currant, Willow, Bog Myrtle.
Insects:  Bees, Species of Flies.
Butterflies:  Red Admiral, Brimstone, Large White.
Water/Pond Life:  Stickleback, Water Boatman.
Reptiles/Amphibians:  Common Lizards.

Groups of Canada Geese and Mallard Ducks have been seen in flight formation over the site.
A Treecreeper has been constructing a nest in the donated crete Treecreeper nest box - the first time since installation.  In previous years, Blue Tits have taken up residence.
Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers have returned from migration and the Chiffchaff could be heard calling in several locations on site.

Nature Fact

Willow Catkins
 Many of us are familiar with the soft grey silky catkins of pussy willow or the long hanging catkins known as ‘lamb’s tails’ that appear on Hazel trees.  A catkin is a structure consisting of many extremely small flowers in which petals and sepals are usually absent.  These structures are necessary to insect-pollinated flowers, since they help to attract insects, but are mostly wind-pollinated.