Nature Watch

The past month has delivered several weeks of warmer weather albeit with frosty nights. As a consequence wildlife has been more noticeable.

SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS

Chiffchaffs have returned from their winter habitat and have been seen and heard at Wet Wood, Old Peat Cuts, Wild Wood and Dragonfly Drop areas. Bramblings have also frequented Dragonfly Drop.

Several Crossbills were spotted in the north west of the site feeding on pine seeds.

Green Woodpeckers, Dartford Warblers and Stonechats have been seen and/or heard on the open heathland.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen and heard drumming throughout the Reserve thereby pronouncing their presence and claiming their territories.

The large flock of Siskin have returned to their breeding grounds in the north. A few remain and are still to be seen feeding in gardens in Hazel Drive.

Herons and Buzzards are regularly in flight over the Reserve.

Tit species are visiting bird boxes on site.

The Blue Tit observation has continued. The bird returns each night and roosts until first light but there is no sign of nest building.

The first bat activity reading was recorded on 15th March and nightly since.

Comma, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies seen along the Hazelwood/Hazel Drive fringe.

Bog Myrtle in flower, also Catkins showing, viewed from the boardwalk. Primroses in flower in Wet Wood as is Gorse on the heath.

Again, no recordings of frogs, toads or their spawn this year.

Nature Watch

During the severe weather conditions , the following sighting were made on monitoring visits:-
Female Grey Wagtail, male and female Sparrowhawks in chasing flight, Blue/Coal/Great/Long tailed Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jays, flock of Redwing, flock of Siskin, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrush, 6 Reed Buntings, female Stonechat, Buzzards, Heron, Woodcock, Red Admiral butterfly(seen on a much milder January day), female Roe Deer, Yellow Brain fungus.

Look and listen for the flock of Siskin. They favour roosting in trees in the area around the enclosure gate where the interpretation board is located, also along the Hazel Drive fence line. The flock are frequent visitors to a feeder situated in a Hazel Drive garden.

Many tracks and foot prints of birds, foxes and Roe deer have been apparent in the soft mud and snow covered ground.

The study of the winter roosting Blue Tit in a nest box has continued. Departure and arrival times have been variable. Departures are now between 7-7.15am but on particularly dark mornings it has been as late as 7.45am. The most significant change is in the afternoon return to the box - now as late as 5.15pm. It's noticeable this occurred when snow was laying which may give a reflection, thereby increasing light levels, thus delaying return to the roost.

The Wasp Spider (Argiope Brucennichi as pictured below) was another specie found on the 2008 summer survey. Females grow to 25mm, males to 7mm. This spider spins a large vertical orb-web usually with a zigzag band down the middle. It is built low down in vegetation eg heather and purple moor grass. They feed on grasshoppers, crickets and low flying insects. The female spins a large egg sac before dying in the Autumn. The eggs hatch in the Spring.