Nature Notes November

Another predominately wet month, with rain, wind and the occasional dry sunny day.   Temperatures remained fairly mild throughout, until the last week, when heavy frosts occurred and cold winds were experienced.  Changes on the Reserve were very evident with foliage changing from Autumn colours to bare branches.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Grey Heron, Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Wrens, Goldcrest,  Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Dunnocks,, Stonechats, Redwings, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Blackcap, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral, Large White.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters.
Insects:   Midges, Bees.
Mammals:   Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Holly Berries, Blackberry fruits, Rowan Tree berries, Tree acorns, Ivy plant seed heads.
Fungi:   Many-zoned Polypore, Silver leaf bracket.
A Blackcap was seen along the Hazelwood boundary, not having migrated to warmer climes for the winter. A flock of Redwings were resident on site from the last week in the month, driven southwards from Scandinavia. They were feeding on Holly berries.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
The cattle have now been removed from the site.
The monthly work party cut back  Holly within the woodland in the south west corner  of the Reserve to encourage a more varied ground flora and allow some of the saplings of other species to gain a foothold.  The date of the next work party is yet to be decided.  Details will be posted on this blog page.

Nature Notes October

October was predominately wet, with short spells of drier mild weather.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls,  Grey Herons, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer.
Butterflies/Moths:   Species of day flying Moths, Large White, Speckled Woods, Peacock, Red Admiral.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:   Midges, Raft Spiders.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Emperor.
Plants in flower:  Blackberry berries, Rowan Tree berries, Oak Tree acorns, Ivy plant seed heads.
Fungi:   Fly Agaric, The Blusher, Birch Polypore, Common Puff Balls, The Sickener.

Pipistrelle Bats were still being seen and recorded on dry mild evenings.
Robins and Blackbirds continued to establish their Winter feeding territories.
Long-tailed Tits seen in flocks of up to 15 in number.
Sparrowhawks were frequently active in hunting along the Hazel Drive boundary.

Nature Notes March

The weather was mixed ranging from fine warm days to wet and windy. The warmer temperatures encouraged many species of wildlife to venture out into the early Spring.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Magpies, Carrion Crows, Jays, Buzzards, Jackdaws, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Grey Heron, Stock Doves, Song Thrushes, Robins, Blackbirds, Treecreepers, Nuthatch, Siskins, Stonechats, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Wrens, Goldcrests, Firecrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Flowering Currant, Primrose, Amelanchier, Hazel Catkins.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Mole activity, Foxes, Female Roe Deer.
Insects:   Buff-tailed Bees, Bumble Bees, Honey Bees, Wasps, Midges, Flies.
Butterflies:   Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Tortoiseshell.
Pond Life:   Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters.

The second week in the month brought a Blackcap along the Hazelwood boundary.
The first call and sighting of Chiffchaffs came at the end of the month.  The males are spaced evenly along the Hazelwood paths, fenceline and heathland, Kingfisher Creek and on the northern heathland wood boundary.
A Nuthatch was observed preparing a nest in a dead Pine tree trunk, alongside the heathland fenceline path. The downsizing of the entrance hole with mud is most important to deter any predators.
Many of the nest boxes are now occupied by potential pairs with much activity by the Tit species.
Common Gorse adds a vibrant yellow to the Reserve producing the scent of coconut on warmer days.
Hazel Catkins are on view from the boardwalk.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
Fencing was replaced along the southern border of the dry heathland area and new posts installed.  The next work party is scheduled for Tuesday 25th April at 10am.  Details will be posted on www.slopbog.org  blog page nearer the time.

Nature Notes January 2017

The weather conditions were continually changing throughout January.  From cold, frosty conditions, thick mist, to heavy rain or drizzle.   Not a very hospitable time for the wildlife.  A quiet month on the Reserve.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Magpies, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Tawny Owl, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Herons, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Stonechats, Siskins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, Robins, Blackbirds, Long-tailed/Blue/Great Tits.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer, Fox, Mole activity, Wood Mice.

Resident species of birds were seen in pairs and visiting nest boxes in readiness for the start of the breeding season.  Tawny Owls and Buzzards will nest in the coming month as raptors are among the first birds to breed.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
The cattle have now vacated the site and are expected to return in the Spring. The work party replaced a number of straining posts pending realignment of part of the enclosure fencing as well as clearing invasive vegetation along Kingfisher Creek.  The next work party is scheduled for Tuesday 28th February at 10am.  Details will be posted on this blog page nearer the time.