Nature Fact

The Velvet Ant is not a true ant at all as the larvae are parasitoids, Bumble-bees being the host insect. The male has wings, the more often seen female is wingless. Both have an orange thorax and a hairy coat. They frequent dry habitats and heathland.

Site Management

Felling of trees from within the enclosure has now been completed opening up a larger dry heath clearing thus providing essential habitat for reptiles, one being the rare Sand Lizard. The Guardians work party continued to clear a route for a new permissive woodland path. The path is scheduled for completion by 31 January 2009 and it is hoped it will help to relieve pressure on the fragile heathland and the wildlife found there.

Three donated bat boxes have been sited on trees along Kingfisher Creek.

Another calf has been produced by one of the grazing cows.

Nature Watch

Another wet and windy period with only a few short spells of dry, warm days. This has been a quiet time with fewer sightings than previous months.

RECORDINGS

Hazel Wood: Tawny Owls, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackbirds, Greenfinch, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Speckled Wood butterflies, Pipistrelle Bats. Plants - Herb Robert, Thyme Leaved Speedwell, Geum, Arum, Enchanter's Nightshade, Cross Leaved Heath, Bell Heather, Blackberries. Spiders - Hammock Web, Nursery, Funnel or Sheet Web, Harvestman, Looper.

Wet Wood: Great Tits, Blackbirds, Jay, 3 Roe Deer.

Boardwalk: Common Lizard, Cotton Grass.

Heathland: Silver Studded Blue/pair of Camberwell Beauty butterflies, Grasshoppers, Southern Hawker dragonfly, Kestral, Buzzard, Magpie, Sundews, Dwarf Gorse, Broad Leaved Helleborine.

Flocks of House Martins and Crossbills in flight were seen over the West Woodland circular walk.

Badgers have been spotted in a garden on the West side of the Reserve - the first sighting made in recent years.

Birds are now in their quiet vocal month prior to establishing Winter territories. Migratory birds will be preparing for their long journeys to warmer climates. The Nightjar normally departs from mid-August.