Nature Notes April

 
A month of mixed weather; wind, heavy rain, sunshine, sleet and hail.  Despite these conditions, activity and movement was apparent on site.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Stonechats, Siskins, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Swallows, Sand Martins.
Mammals:   Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer, Fox, Mole activity, Pipistrelle Bats.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Flowering Currant, Catkins, Amelanchier, Bird Cherry.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Stickleback fish, Frog
Butterflies:   Large White, Brimstone, Red Admiral. Small White, Orange Tip.
Insects:   Buff Tailed Bees, Hover Flies, Midges.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards.

Many bird species have pressed on with nesting, egg laying and incubation despite changeable weather and air temperatures.  Observations indicate the quantity of eggs being produced in a clutch of Blue Tit eggs were halved from the usual 10 to just 5.
A Sparrowhawk has been observed constructing a nest in a tree on the northern side of Kingfisher Creek.
Both Swallows and Sand Martins have been sighted in flight over the site on several occasions.
A Treecreeper has chosen the crete nesting box along Kingfisher Creek to rear young.
Several Common Lizards have been seen on the boardwalk on warmer days, but no reported sightings of Adders or Grass snakes.
Pipistrelle Bats airborne in warm dry evenings.