Nature Watch

The latter days of May had wet and unsettled weather which again made observation and recording very difficult. The scheduled Nature Walk on 27th May was cancelled due to wet weather, Early in May a female Crossbill was seen. Crossbills produce young in January through to March and two young were sighted in the canopy of the Pine trees in the west of Slop Bog dry heath. These may possibly have come from the nearby Uddens Plantation which provides the habitat of dense Pines for them to feed on. The pair of Stonechats have only managed to produce one young this season. The Tree Pipit young fledged successfully in the first week of June. A pair of Kestrels reappeared in the northern areas of Slop Bog. Birds using the nest boxes have now finished rearing young. Great Tits usually only rear one brood but Blue Tits often have a second.

On Sunday 10th June a Butterfly survey on Slop Bog was undertaken by volunteer recorders. An estimated 100 male Silver Studded Blue were seen in flight, with only a few female on the wing. Male usually outnumber the females as many females gather in deep foliage out of sight. A number of Painted Lady Butterflies were also recorded.

In the Wet Wood, Yellow Iris and Royal Ferns have been observed.

Large Red, Small Red and Azure Blue Dragonflies have been spotted as have Large Hawker, Four Spotted Chaser, Keeled Skimmer and Broad Bodied Dragonflies.

A small amount of Cotton Grass with the fluffy white heads are visible in one pond and scattered over the wet heathland. A recent pond dipping showed the occupancy of Water Spiders, Stickleback fish (on which the Kingfisher feeds) and Saucer Beetles (beware, these beetles administer a rather nasty bite). On the boardwalk many Common Lizards are now being spotted on warmer days.

Recorded rainfall for the period approx 55 millimetres

Nature Fact

The Newt is one of the few creatures to be able to regrow a limb should they lose one. If these little animals can avoid being preyed on, they may live up to 20 years.

Site Management

The Guardian work party installed a larger kissing gate improving access to the dry heathland area for parents with pushchairs and the disabled in mobility chairs. An extra work party in early June assisted the D.C.C. Ranger with the placement of an Interpretation Board

Nature Watch

April began and continued throughout with splendid warm and bright sunny weather. The bog pool water levels dropped considerably during this period. The weather conditions were ideal in encouraging flying insects for the feeding of early broods of birds. Fledging as early as the first week of April was noted for Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush and Tit species. The call of a Cuckoo was heard on the 1st May at the Wet Wood. Adult foxes were very evident on site, playing and digging for worms during daytime. A Willow Warbler and a Wheatear were seen on the fringes of Slop Bog in a garden in Hazel Drive. New sightings of birds in this period in addition to last month are Tree Pipit, Jackdaw, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Stock Dove and a female Crossbill. Crossbills were recorded on Slop Bog several years ago but no further sightings have been recorded until this month. With the onset of a cooler wet period, food has been provided for the birds at the feeding stations. This is a crucial time for birds when feeding themselves and their young and providing food is a back up if live food is not in abundance.

New recordings of insects in this period in addition to last month are Comma, Orange Tip, Small White, Large White and Holly Blue Butterflies; Large Red Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly; Cuckoo Bee, Common Wasp, St. Marks Fly, Crane, Green Bottle, Blue Bottle and Grey-flesh Flies; Green Tiger and Ground Beetles; Raft and Garden Spiders.

As for Reptiles and Amphibians, the warm weather has brought out Grass Snakes, Adders and Slow Worms so watch out for them on the paths and banks.

Recorded rainfall for the period was approx 30 millimetres

Nature Fact

Green Woodpeckers have an amazingly long tongue that can turn corners inside a beetle's burrow enabling them to lick out their food.