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.

Site Management

At the end of April, the Slop Bog Guardians work party assisted the D.C.C. Conservation Rangers with the construction of a footstep platform to ease access onto the boardwalk at the gate sited at the point adjoining the enclosure fence. Also, a further gate was installed into the fencing of the boardwalk to give safer access into the bog enclosure to the north for nature recorders and monitors.

Photographic Competition

Photographs to be taken at Slop Bog Nature Reserve any subject
Prints no larger than A4 - up to 3 prints per entrant
Two sections - Adults and Juniors under 16
Please put name, address and telephone number on reverse plus age if a Junior
Closing date 17th June 2007
All entries will be displayed at the Slop Bog Open Day Sunday 24th June 2007
Winners will be announced at the Open Day at 3pm and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes awarded
Post entries to Mr G Dunkling 123 Pinehurst Park West Moors BH22 0BS
All enquiries to G Dunkling tel: 01202 897293

Drawing and Picture Competition

Subject - Life on Slop Bog eg creatures, plants, views
Upper age limit 16
Please put name, address, age and telephone number on the reverse
Closing date 17th June 2007
All entries will be displayed at the Slop Bog Open Day Sunday 24th June 2007
Winners to be announced at the Open Day at 3pm
Entries to :- Mrs C Wilcox 19 Hazel Drive Ferndown BH22 9SP

Nature Watch

March ended in cold windy weather but early April saw clearer, brighter, warm days. The following sightings were recorded on the Nature Reserve within the past month

Birds :- Wood Pidgeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Jay, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Reed Bunting, Heron, Mallard Duck, Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff

Plants in flower :- Hazel, Gorse, Primrose, Lesser Celandine, Sallow, Willow, Bog Myrtle, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Spring Snowflake

Insects :- Buff tailed bumble, Drone Fly, Pond Skater, Crab Spider, Wolf Spider, Hunting Spider, Brimstone Butterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly

Fungi :- Many Zoned Polypore, Candle Snuff Fungus, Witches Butter

Animals :- Grey Squirrel, Roe Deer, Fox, Mole, Common Frog, Pipistrelle Bat

It has been noted that little frog spawn has been recorded this Spring and although monitors sighted frogs in February, no more sights have been made. Many of the bird boxes are now occupied. The first recording of Bat movement after winter hibernation was on Good Friday.
Sound recordings are now on file. Items of interest found include the skeleton of a Hedgehog, Roe Deer antler, Long Tailed Tit nest

Nature Fact

A Long Tailed Tit nest appears very small when first constructed. However, as more space is required for a growing family, the nest nest is built in a way that enables it to expand

Site Management

The clearance of tree branches and brush by burning continued on the Guardian work party morning in late March. Out on the central heathland the commencement of heather cutting has begun, part of a programme of work to encourage new growth, which will support the habitat of Silver Studded Blue butterflies. The heather seeds collected were then scattered on the newly formed clearings.

A visit by Jan Freeborn of the Dorset Bat Group took place on Saturday 31st March. This was a base line visit to confirm occupancy of the existing boxes and to offer recommendations for the future support of the Bats, which are known to feed on Slop Bog. Due to the late installation of the newest boxes and the lack of dry roosting material, no roosting Bats were found on site. It was suggested that sponsorship for the purchase of Schwegler boxes be obtained which are more robust, weather proof and have a life span of about 25 years. Two Guardians attending the Annual General Meeting offered sponsorship for two of these Bat boxes and further sponsorship is invited from interested persons wishing to support the wildlife at Slop Bog

Community Award

One of our member Guardians, wildlife photographer/recorder George Dunkling recently attended the Dorset CC Community Awards. We are delighted that he was awarded a Merit Certificate in the environmental and conservation category in well deserved acknowledgement for his life long contribution to local recording of wildlife and presenting his findings to the public. George is a major influence on all those involved with Slop Bog and his extensive knowledge and wonderful photographs have been invaluable in recording and understanding the site's habitat.