Nature Fact

Great Spotted Woodpeckers, our most common Woodpecker, not only drums on tree trunks but also on street lights. This action is to announce their presence.

Site Management

Surfacing of the new permissive footpath through the Western end of Hazelwood has been completed. Several large unstable trees have been felled and unsafe boughs removed from standing trees in this area. Clearance and disposal of brush will be ongoing over forthcoming months. Many new log piles have been formed to provide homes for small mammals, reptiles and insects.

The boardwalk, which becomes slippery in wet and/or icy conditions, has had non-slip material applied to part of its length. Plans to apply some sort of material to the remainder will depend on future funding levels.

Two further Owl boxes constructed by members of the Slop Bog Guardians have been installed, one in Hazelwood East and the other in Wet Wood East.

Nature Watch

Mixed weather conditions this period with heavy rain, strong winds and warm clear bright days. As Autumn is upon us the Reserve has mellowed, with warm colours showing on the deciduous trees and the last of the heathland heather flowers still attracting bees on sunny days. The misty damp mornings give the visitor the opportunity to view the multitude and variety of spiders' webs adorning trees, gorse and heather. These can easily go undetected so an observation walk is strongly recommended.
The Goldcrest and tit species are busy on the pine tree canopy extracting seeds from the cones. A Kingfisher has been spotted on route from the boardwalk area travelling north to Uddens Water.
Watch out for flocks of birds in the coming months. Some are gathering to migrate eg Swallows/Swifts, some are arriving for our Winter eg Redwing/Fieldfare whilst others are resident Winter flocks of Starling and Finches. Also watch out and listen for flocks of Crossbill moving at speed across the site.
Many fungi are now appearing so look out for them in the woodland areas.

SIGHTINGS

Hazel Wood: Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays, Greenfinch, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Wrens, Blackbirds, Robins, Nuthatch, Goldcrests, Tawny Owl, Long Tailed/Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Buzzard, Pipistrelle Bats, Large White/Painted Lady/Red Admiral/Speckled Wood butterflies, Bracket and Common Earth Star fungi.

Wet Wood: Jays, Goldcrests, Nuthatch,Song Thrush, Blue/Great/Long Tailed/Coal Tits, Robins,Blackbirds.

Boardwalk: Kingfisher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Jays, Magpies, Swallows.

Beaufoys Plantation: Jays, Buzzard, Long Tailed/Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Redstart, Stock Doves.

Heathland: Ravens, Kestrel, Buzzards, Magpies, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers.