Nature Watch

Another period of changeable weather including warm sunny days, wet windy days, frosty mornings and a day of snow and sleet.

SIGHTINGS

Heathland - Buzzards in flight, Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Green Woodpeckers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays, Crows, Jackdaws in flight, Wrens, Goldcrest, Female Roe Deer and a pair of Mallard Ducks.

Hazel Wood - Brambling, Green Finch, Gold Finch, Chaffinch, Great/Coal/Blue/Long Tailed Tits, Jays, Crows, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Holly Blue/Peacock/Brimstone butterflies.

Wet Wood - Song Thrush, Wrens, Blue/Great/Coal/Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Blackbirds, Robins, Mallard Ducks.

The Mallards were seen taking advantage of the waterlogged paths on the central heath probing for worms on the soft earth.

The sighting of a male Brambling in Hazel Wood on the West boundary with Hazel Drive is the first recording since our records began four years ago. Probably passing through on its migration flight.

A pair of Nuthatch have been very vocal in Wet Wood. They are about to nest in a hole in a Cedar tree on the boundary of Beaufoys Avenue.

A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been "drumming" at the West end of Hazel Wood path to declaring their nesting and feeding territory. They have been making regular visits to gardens in Hazel Drive for easy food from feeding stations.

Dartford Warblers and Stonechats are now selecting nest sites on the heath. A polite reminder to all dog owners, therefore, to keep their dogs on leads in the enclosed areas as requested by the signs on access gates.

We await arrival of Tree Pipits during April and Nightjars in May.

Adders, Grass Snakes and Slow Worms may be observed on warmer days in coming weeks as they bask in the sun after hibernation.


Recordings by Christine Wilcox

Nature Fact

Bramblings are seen mostly in large flocks during the Winter period. They usually return to Scandinavia and North East Europe in Summer to breed

Site Management

Cutting down old gorse bushes has continued along the enclosure fence line. Information rubbing plaques have been installed alongside various pathways. A listening post has been sited at the West end of the boardwalk enabling visitors to hear sounds of the wildlife found on the Reserve.

Nature Watch

The past four weeks have had a real mixture of weather conditions. Cold frosty mornings and nights, mild breezy days with sunshine and heavy rain with storm force winds. During this period the following sightings were recorded on monitoring visits:-

Birds in the woodland

Robins, Blackbirds, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Magpies, Crows, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Wrens, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and a Goldcrest bathing in the stream. A Cock Pheasant recorded in Hazel Wood has also been seen in the gardens of Hazel Drive adjoining the Reserve. The drumming of a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers is very evident in Hazel Wood.

Birds on the open heathland

Green Woodpeckers, Jay, Dartford Warblers, Stonechat, Meadow Pipits, Female Reed Bunting and a Snipe in flight.

The air is full of bird song at present with many species already started nest construction or seeking out potential nest sites. Ground nesting birds will be looking for sites at the base of gorse and within the heather. During coming weeks listen out for the arrival of Nightjars which produce a unique call at around dusk on the open heathland. Also the Tree Pipit returns, singing from the tallest pine trees and performing it's parachuting flight to the ground.

Gorse is in full flower at the moment with the sweet scent of coconut. The first blooms of primroses are now showing in Wet Wood.

The resident foxes in Hazel Wood may have produced a litter of cubs in March. Watch out for them during April as they emerge from the Earth on a warm sunny day to sunbathe.

There has been no sign of frog spawn so far.


Recordings made by Christine Wilcox