Nature Notes February

The majority of the month was wet and windy which kept most of the wildlife on the Reserve under shelter.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Magpies, Carrion Crows, Jays, Tawny Owls, Common Gulls, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Tree creeper, Siskins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, Robins, Blackbirds, Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox, Mole activity.
Insects:   Midges, Bumble Bees.

Both Blackbirds and Robins were observed collecting nesting materials.
The calls of Tawny Owls heard early in the month.
Re-installation of removed nesting boxes for repair was completed early in February.  A quantity of new boxes were installed.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
The clearing of invasive vegetation along Kingfisher Creek continued.  The next work party is scheduled for Tuesday 28th March at 10am.  Details will be posted on this blog page nearer the time.

Nature Fact

Most Insects lie dormant in Winter, buried in whatever nook or cranny offers them the best protection from cold and predators.   Many Moths and Butterflies overwinter as pupae, though some adults, such as those of Brimstone and Tortoiseshell butterflies, also overwinter successfully.   The key to the survival of many so-called ‘cold hardy’ insects lies in the conversion of blood sugar to glycerol, which acts as a dilute anti-freeze, protecting vital tissues against prolonged sub-zero temperatures.