Nature Notes March

A fine, dry and mild month, with plenty of warm sunny days. The clock adjustment has given us extra light in the evenings to enjoy the abundant bird song.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Hooded Crows, Magpies, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mallard Ducks, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Robins, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great Tits & Long Tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Dartford Warblers.
Plants: Gorse and Broom in flower, Hazel catkins.
Butterflies: Brimstones, Peacock.
Insects: Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, Pond Skaters.
Reptiles: Adder, Grass Snake.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels.

Good news with the sightings of pairs of both Stonechats and Dartford Warblers after the harsh weather this past winter.
Four Mallard Ducks in flight over the site.
A pair of Bullfinch along the Hazelwood path west.
Both Adders and Grass Snakes have emerged from hibernation, finding warm banks and paths to bask in the sunshine.
A great deal of drumming from the Great Spotted Woodpecker, proclaiming rights to a territory, and laughter sound from the Green Woodpecker.

Many of the bird boxes now have Blue/Coal/Great Tits in residence.

The streams and pools are now showing life with Pond Skaters on the move.

Nature Watch

The past 4/5 weeks have seen very mixed weather conditions. Two weeks of fine, warm weather turned to overcast days with cold winds, scattered showers and night frosts.

SIGHTINGS: Brimstone/Peacock/Speckled Wood butterflies, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Jackdaws, Common Snipe, Buzzards, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Chaffinches, Green/Goldfinches, Siskin, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Tree Pipits, Grey Heron, Canada Geese in flight, Whirlygig Beetle, Green Tiger Beetle, Water Boatman, Pond Skater, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Wool Spider, Ant Beetle, Mirid Bugs, Pine Cone Bug, Crab Spider, Wolf Spider, Bark Beetles, Leaf-hoppers, Gorse Shield bugs, Grey Squirrels, Common Lizards, Grass Snakes, Slow Worms. Plants in flower include Cornsalad, Ground Ivy, Common Field Speedwell, Hair Bittercress, Lesser Celandine, Gorse.