Nature Watch

There have been very mixed weather conditions during the past few weeks including prolonged rainfall, strong winds and hot days. Most of our garden and woodland birds have produced their young which have now fledged. Some species eg the Robin may produce a second brood

SIGHTINGS

Hazelwood: Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch,Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Goldcrests, Wrens, Treecreepers, Nuthatch, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jays, Blue/Great/Coal/Long tailed Tits, Songthrush, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Crows, Magpies, Wood Pigeon, Mallard Ducks, Grey Squirrel Fox, Speckled Wood butterflies, Holly Blue butterflies, Blusher Fungi, Cuckoo Wasps.

Wet Wood: Songthrush, Chiffchaffs, Jays, Magpies, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Wrens, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Great/Blue/Tits, Frog, Smooth Snake, Grass Snake, Large Red Damselfly, Banded Agrion, Common Blue damselfly, Broad Bodied Chaser/Four Spot Chaser dragonflies.

Boardwalk: Chiffchaffs, Newts, Common Water Boatman, Pond Skaters, Raft Spiders Common Lizards, Buzzards/Swallows in flight.

Heathland: Dartford Warblers, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jays, Heron/Buzzards in flight, Four Spot Chaser dragonflies, Silver Studded Blue butterfly, Female Roe Deer, Grass Snake.

Blackcaps continue to provide their delightful melodic song along Hazelwood path.

Mallard Ducks with nine young were seen in the Hazelwood stream.

Fox cubs were observed playing at the entrance of the earth in Hazelwood. One fatality has been reported, possibly caused by a passing dog.

The first sighting of a Silver Studded Blue butterfly this year was recorded on 5th June.

The year's first calling of a Nightjar, here to breed on the heathland, was recorded on 10th June.

Nature Fact

The Common Water Boatman can be distinguished from the Common Backswimmer as they swim the right way up. Backswimmers swim upside down. Water Boatman feed mainly on debris from the bottom of a pond or stream. When out of the water they fly well. Males rub their front legs against their heads producing a harsh grating noise.

Event

A Nature Observation Walk led by George Dunkling took place on 1st June, 9 people attended. Recordings made:- 19 flowering plants, 2 reptiles, 1 fungi, 3 water inhabitants, 3 insects, 1 spider and 13 bird species. Quiz poems were presented as an introduction of information to many of the observations made.

Site Management

Clearance of scrub continues. Four adult Aberdeen Angus cows with one calf are now in residence within the enclosure. Visitors with dogs are politely requested to keep them on leads in this area to avoid disturbance to the cattle, two of which are expecting calves.

Nature Watch

Although the end of April into early May was a cold period with heavy rain and thunderstorms, the past few weeks have been fair with warm sunshine. This has given a much needed kick - start to the season. Insects are much in evidence now, providing food for the many species of birds which rely on them for feeding hungry young.

SIGHTINGS

Hazelwood - Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches, Magpies, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Coal/Great/Blue/Long Tailed Tits, Song Thrush, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Jays, Slow Worms and Grass Snakes. Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Brimstone butterflies. Celandine. Thyme Leaved Speedwell, Garlic Mustard and Broom plants in flower.

Wet Wood - Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Robins, Coal/Great/Blue/Long Tailed Tits, Chiff Chaffs, Nuthatches, Jays, Sparrowhawk, Speckled Wood butterfly, Female Roe Deer, Bog Beacon fungi.

Heath - Buzzards, Stonechats, Dartford Warblers, Tree Pipits, Jays, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Wrens, Mistle Thrush, Marsh Harrier, Mallard Ducks, Small Heath and Brimstone butterflies, Lousewort plants in flower and a young Adder.

Boardwalk - Chiff Chaffs, Great Tits, Wrens, Heron, Swallow, Raft Spiders, Common Lizards, Newts, Great Diving Beetles, Pond Skaters.

A pair of Tree Pipits have returned from migration and can be seen and heard on the central heathland.

A Marsh Harrier flew over the site, South West to North East, on 20th April.

Mistle Thrushes have been observed in the Beaufoys Plantation, just to the left of the Redwood Drive entrance.

A pair of Chiff Chaffs have built a nest to the right of the East end bridge at the Boardwalk. Keep a look out for them when feeding of young commences.

The call of a Cookoo was heard from the North Woodland fringe on 11th May.

Many of the nesting boxes are in use with parent birds busy visiting with food for their young. Several early broods have already fledged..

The first Bat detection reading was taken on 25th April on a milder night. Pipistrelle Bats were also recorded visually.

Watch out for young Grass Snakes swimming in the stream bordering Hazelwood.


Recordings by Christine Wilcox