Nature Notes December

The weather in December delivered many windy, wet days, although on the whole temperatures were mild albeit with a few very frosty cold days and nights, and a some sleet flurries. The Reserve looked bleak on many occasions, with most of the inhabitants seen on the perimeter, where cover was provided by trees and bushes.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Blackheaded Gulls, Common Gulls, Grey Herons, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Nuthatches, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Male Blackcap, Goldcrest, Stonechats, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Longtailed Tits.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Brown Rats.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects : Bees. Plants in Flower: Common Gorse.
Fungi: Polypore.
The wet and windy conditions did not encourage wild life to show. On several cold frosty mornings, Brown Rats were seen on the Hazelwood boundary.

SITE MANAGEMENT
A Tawny Owl nesting box was constructed by a Guardian volunteer and installed by two volunteer site recorders, to replace a damaged box. There was no work party – the next one will be held on 11th January at 10am. Details will be posted on this blog page.

Nature Notes August

August delivered weather similar to July, with periods of heavy rain, wind and occasional bright sunny days.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stonechats, Wood/Feral Pigeons, Collared Doves, Nuthatches, Mistle/Song Thrushes, Robons, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Willow Warbler, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer.
Butterflies/Moths:   Peacock, Holly Blue, Large/Small White, Speckled Wood, Comma, Silver-studded Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet. Species of day flying Moths.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:  Crane Flies, Species of Bees, Sheet Web/Wolf Spiders.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Broad Bodied Chaser, Small Red.
Plants in Flower:   Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Cotton Grass, Common Sundew, Large White Pond Lilies, Rowan /Holly Trees in berry.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore, Common Yellow Russule.

Birds were seen feeding on natures bounty of seeds and berries.
A Sparrowhawk was frequently seen hunting for prey along the Hazel Drive boundary.
The wet warm weather encouraged Fungi to form towards the end of the month.

Nature Notes December

The year ended with mild weather on the whole, only turning to heavy overnight frosts  in the last week.  Another quiet month with little of consequence on view.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtails, Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Wrens, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral.
Insects:   Bees.
Fungi:   A small number of Fungi.

Nature Notes November

November was mild with only a few cooler days and nights towards the end of the month. A quiet month on site, with not much movement.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Wood pigeons, Collared Doves, Stonechat, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Coal/Blue/Great/ Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters.
Butterflies/Moths:   Red Admiral.
Fungi:  An increase in the number of species seen during this month due to the mild, damp conditions.
Plants in Flower:   Common Gorse.

Nature Notes September

September was recorded as one of the driest on record with very little rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Carrion  Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Stonechats, Willow Warbler, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Wren, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Plants in flower:   Ling Heather, Bell Heather, Low growing Gorse.
Insects:   Common Green Grasshopper, Wasp Spider, Ants, Crane Flies, Bees, Wasps.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Water Boatman.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Meadow Brown.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.

The majority of migrating birds have now left the site.
Pipistrelle Bats are still feeding on warm dry nights.

Nature Notes May

The showery April weather continued through May. Temperatures were mild and there was the occasional bright sunny day.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Dove, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Heron, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinch, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats.
Reptiles:  Common Lizards.
Plants in flower:  Cranesbill, Bluebells, Primrose, Ilex, Gorse, Broom, Garlic Mustard, Herb Robert, Foxglove, Cotton Grass.
Butterflies:  Brimstone, Large White, Holly Blue, Peacock.
Insects:  Bees, Wasps, Flies.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Water Boatman, Sticklebacks.

Pipistrelle Bats continued to be seen on warm dry evenings.
Many species of birds had their first fledglings of the year during this month.
The call of the Chiffchaffs and the melodious song of the Blackcaps were heard throughout the month.
Although evening monitoring was undertaken, no Nightjar calling was reported.

Nature Notes February

Heavy rain continued throughout February, causing waterlogged ground on site. Temperatures continued to be on the mild side.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Jackdaws, Jays, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Buzzards, Tawny Owl, Heron,
Canada Geese, Snipe, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Redwings, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox, Wood Mice.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Insects:   Bees.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral, Brimstone.

A pair of Canada Geese were seen in flight over the site, on several occasions.
A Tawny Owl was heard calling at dusk on the west side of the Reserve.
A Snipe took flight north of the board walk.
Pairing of birds is well underway already, probably due to the mild weather.

Nest boxes were cleared in January, delayed from November, due to the bad weather.  The survey showed 21 had been occupied, 11 not used, 3 boxes missing.

Nature Notes January

The weather continued to be wet and windy, with the occasional dry period. Nationally, rainfall was twice the normal January average resulting in extensive waterlogging on the Reserve.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Jackdaws, Jays, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Siskins, Redwings, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Goldcrests, Dunnocks, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches.
Mammals:   Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Insects:   Bees.

A flock of Redwings were seen in the woodland at Kingfisher Creek.

Nature Notes December

The weather during December, although mild, was mostly very wet with gale force winds. This caused waterlogged areas on site.  A very quiet period for monitoring, with not much wild life showing.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Butterflies:   Brimstone, Peacock.

Nature Notes November

The weather during November was very mixed, generally mild, wet or dry days but with a few colder days and night frosts.  Not much movement on the Reserve.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies, Stock Doves, Wood Pigeons, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinch, Robins, Wren, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Siskin, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in Flower:   Gorse.
Fungi:   A number of species.

A Bullfinch was sighted along the Hazelwood fence line.
Fungi remained on site while the milder weather continued.  As colder days and nights set in, the Fungi will die back.
Many Finch species are now seen in flocks.
Now that the nights have turned colder, birds are roosting overnight in nest boxes.

Nature Notes July

July was a warm sunny month on the whole with only a few days of rain.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Magpies, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jay, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Tree Pipit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Moles, Wood Mice, Roe Deer.
Reptiles/Amphibians:   Grass Snake, Common Lizards.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied, Small Red.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large/Small Whites, Orange Tip, Peacocks, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, various species of day flying Moth.
Pond Life/Insects:   Hover Flies, Pond Skaters, Common Field Grasshopper, Water Boatman, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flowers:  Low growing Gorse, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling – Cross leaved and Bell.

Many birds are now moulting.

Nature Notes March

A cold month with a mixture of heavy rain, wind and wintry flurries of snow. The last week in the month brought dry cold weather, with a few sunny days. Again, a quiet month on site due to the unseasonal weather conditions.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Magpies, Carrion Crows, Buzzard, Heron, Stock Doves, Wood Pigeons, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Siskins, Brambling, Stonechat, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Goldcrests, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Song Thrushes, Blackcaps, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Butterflies:   Brimstone.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Insects:   Buff-tailed Bees.

In the last week of the month, a male and female Blackcap were seen along the Hazelwood boundary having just returned from overwintering in warmer climes.
Several Brimstone butterflies were seen on brighter days, as were Buff-tailed Bees.
On the last day of the month a male Brambling was spotted, surprisingly still in the south of the country not yet having returned to breeding areas in the north or Iceland.
Pairing and mating of birds was very evident throughout the month.

Nature Notes February 2013

The wet weather finally eased by mid-month followed by cold, dry days and nights with a few snow flurries.  A few milder bright days were a welcome change. There were no unusual sightings.

SIGHTINGS 

Birds:   Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Stock Doves, Wood Pigeons, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Goldcrests, Wren, Nuthatch, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits. 

Mammals:   Grey Squirrel,  Fox. 

Plants in flower:   Gorse.

Birds were active in courtship with the dawn and dusk chorus very audible.

Woodpeckers could be heard drumming.

Bees were seen on brighter, slightly milder days.

Work on the bird nesting boxes, which were removed last year for repair or replacement, was completed.

Nature Notes January 2013

January was a mild month on the whole with spells of sunshine, wind and heavy rain.. However, the third week brought heavy snowfall before turning mild once more by the month end.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Buzzard, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long tailed Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wrens, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Dunnocks, Siskins, Goldcrests.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in Flower:   Gorse.

No unusual sightings were reported during January.

Many birds took to neighbouring gardens in search of food during the harsh snowy week.

Nature Notes December

December, although mild for the time of year, brought strong winds and very heavy rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeon, Stock Doves, Heron, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens,Goldcrests, Nuthatches, Stonechat, Siskins.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:  Gorse.

Due to the inclement weather, there was not a great deal to view. The only evident movement was that of the resident birds in the quest for daily food.
A welcome sighting of a Stonechat was seen north of the boardwalk. Recordings of Stonechats have been few and far between on site during the past year.

YEAR 2012
Nature sightings were down, a disappointing year.  Numbers of Silver Studded Blue butterflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Reptile species, Fungi, Mammals and wild flowers were all showing low numbers.
A total of 24 out of 38 mixed bird specie nesting boxes provided homes for nesting birds on site last Spring/Summer.

Nature Notes November

November had a few cold snaps, but the majority of the month brought heavy rainfall with strong winds. Not a great deal of activity on the Reserve. Water levels were high, with the peat pools overflowing onto the surrounding heath land and up to boardwalk level.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Wrens, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Wrens, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Common Redpolls, Bramblings, Reed Bunting.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse.

The middle of November brought an unexpected fall of snow north west of our area which may well have driven the Bramblings and Redpolls down into the Reserve. They were sighted for two weeks in the middle of the month along the Hazelwood boundary.
A female Reed Bunting was seen south of the boardwalk.
A disappointing month for fungi.

Nature Notes October

The weather remained wet, with only a few dry days with sunshine. Very quiet on the Reserve with not much activity.
SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests.
Butterflies:  Holly Blue, Large White, Red Admiral.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Insects:  Pond Skaters.

A welcome sight at the end of the month were several Goldcrests. This tiny bird, the smallest resident bird in Britain, was lost in large numbers during the cold spell last Winter.
No more sightings of Bats during the month.
A small number of Fungi were found with the hope that more will appear during November.

Nature Notes September

The weather varied greatly ranging from cold, wet and blustery weeks to calm, warm and dry weeks, progressing in a mellow Autumn feel. 

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, White Dove, Buzzards Sparrowhawk, Black–headed Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
A number of Willow Warblers were seen moving across the reserve via the Hazelwood corridor.
A group of Swallows were seen feeding north of the boardwalk.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admirals, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, various species of day flying Moths.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Blackberry, Low growing Gorse, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.

Pipistrelle Bats were still feeding on warmer nights during September.
The seed heads of the Purple Moor Grass were very evident.
Birds of the same specie were defending their newly established Winter territories, whilst Finches were forming into flocks.
The Jays, Magpies and Carrion Crows were noticeably more vocal.

Nature Notes August

August was drier than previous summer months, with only a few wet days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Carrion Crows, Buzzards, Heron, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaff, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Treecreeper, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Meadow Brown.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Southern Hawker.
Mammals: Fox, Pipstrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Reptiles: Common Lizard, Slow Worm.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees.
Plants in Flower: Low Growing Gorse, Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.
Garden Plants on site in flower: Buddleia, Crocosmia, Pond Lily.

Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs are now seen moving across the site in preparation for migration.

Heathers and low growing Gorse are now at their best.

Nature Notes June

The majority of June delivered wet and windy weather, with only a few dry days giving respite.

SIGHTINGS 

Birds:   Buzzards, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Dove, Cuckoo, Jays, Magpies, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nightjars, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chiff Chaffs, Bullfinches,,Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Goldcrest, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-Tailed Tits. 

Reptiles:   Grass Snake. 

Mammals:   Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels. 

Butterflies:   Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral. 

Insects:   Raft Spider, Pond Skater, Bees, Ladybirds. 

Plants in flower:   Low growing Gorse, Wild Geranium. 

Damselflies:   Small Red, Common Blue.

The sound of a Cuckoo was heard at the west end of Hazelwood.

In mid- June, two Nightjars were seen and heard on the central heathland by the Ranger, Will Holland.

The lack of colour on the Tit species is noticeable which emphasises  the lack of caterpillars as a food source this year.

Berries have formed on fruit bearing shrubs and trees.