Nature Notes July

The weather during July was very mixed, with extremely hot dry weather followed by   windy and wet conditions.  Quite quiet on the Reserve as the breeding season nears the end for most animals.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds :  Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Tree Creeper, Nuthatches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Goldcrests, Wrens, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Nightjar, Siskins, Kestrel, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies/Moths:   Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Large/Small White, Comma, Small Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood. Species of day flying Moths.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Back Swimmers, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:   Species of Bees, Hoverflies, Wasps, Mining Bees, Velvet Ants, Common Green Grasshoppers, Raft Spider, Sheet Web Spiders, Orb Spiders, Funnel Spiders, Seven Spot Ladybird.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Southern Hawker, Broad Bodied Chaser, Four Spot Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Small Red, Common Blue, Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard.
Plants in flower:   Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel, Rowan Tree Berries, Holly Berries, Large White Pond Lily, Blackberry Fruits, Cranesbill, Garlic Mustard, Common Vetch,

A Nightjar was last recorded on 7th July before the weather turned wet.
Young Owlets have been heard along Hazelwood.
A case of Avian Pox was sighted on a Dunnock along the southern fence line and reported to the appropriate authorities.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
Cattle returned to the Reserve in early July. There was no work party in July-the next two will be held on the 1st August and 5th September. Details will be posted on this blog page  nearer the time.

Nature Fact

AVIAN POXVIRUS ALERT  -  Avian pox is a viral skin infection that shows up as warty growths on the head (particularly next to the eyes and beak) legs, wings or other body parts of the infected bird.  The growths are usually grey, pinkish, red or yellow in colour and can reach a considerable size.  Affected birds feed and move around normally.  The birds most affected are Tits, Dunnocks and pigeons.  Avian poxvirus spreads between birds by biting insects, by direct bird-to-bird contact and by indirect contact via surfaces such as perches or bird feeders.  Good hygiene at feeding stations (regular disinfection required) will help to stop the spread to healthy birds.

Work Party

The next work party will be held on Tuesday 1st August from 10am-1pm. Meet at the Redwood Drive entrance.

Annual General Meeting

The Slop Bog Guardians AGM will be held on Thursday 10th August at Avon Heath Country Park commencing 7.30 pm. Visitors are welcome.

Nature Notes June

June was a month of extreme weather with heavy rain and strong winds in the first few weeks followed by sunny, dry days and soaring temperatures.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Siskins, Stonechats, Nightjar, Tawny Owls, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrests, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Dunnocks, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants in flower:   Blackberries, Rowan, White Water Lily, Herb Robert, Cross-leaved Heath, Common Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel, Heath Bedstraw, Garlic Mustard, Hypericum.
Mammals:   Roe Deer, Common Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Wood Mice, Mole activity.
Butterflies/Moths:   Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, Silver-studded Blue, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Species of day flying Moths.
Insects:   Species of Bees, Hover Flies, Wasps, Midges, Ants.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Common Blue, Broad Bodied, Four Spot Chaser.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters,  Whirlygig Beetles, Sticklebacks.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards, Grass Snake.
With the extreme conditions during June, the wildlife life struggled. Bird species parents were greatly tested in their ability to find food for their young during the wet period and then suffered with the extreme temperatures that followed.
A Nightjar was heard in the evening of the 1st June and every night after until the bad weather set in.
No Tree Pipits have to our knowledge been heard or seen this year.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
Repairs to the fencing were completed by replacing rotten posts along the western perimeter which will allow the cattle to return in early July. The date of the July work party is uncertain but details will be posted on this blog page when known.

Nature Fact

Nightjars are Summer migrants to Europe and occupy open heathland or lightly wooded areas.  They spend the day motionless and emerge at dusk to feed They are remarkably agile flyers having large wings and tails often cruising around bush tops and trees to catch moths. Their strange song helps to identify them. They may approach people at dusk as if curious about intruders in their territory.