Nature Fact

During the Autumn, Robins show extreme aggression to each other defending their feeding rights. This changes during December as interest in each other suddenly switches to that of pairing. Having paired up, the birds separate but remain true to their partners until the Spring when they meet up to mate. Several large species of birds, Owls and Woodpeckers among them, also behave in this way.

Site Management

Brush burning continued following the recent tree felling. Nest box monitors have completed the annual survey and emptied the used boxes of their contents. Several boxes have been re-sited and repairs made as required. The survey of the 37 boxes on site revealed:- 27 with constructed nests, 7 empty, 2 chimney style Owl boxes recently installed, 1 large Owl box not inspected. At this time of year the boxes offer shelter and overnight roosting for small birds.

Nature Watch

Very mixed weather conditions during the past month. Mostly overcast but a few warm dry days, a cold snap and some torrential downpours with strong winds. The cold spell held back fungi development until recently when milder conditions encouraged growth.

SIGHTINGS

Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Great/Blue/Coal/Longtail Tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Buzzard, a female Roe Deer. A visiting flock of Redwing have been seen in Hazelwood. There were two separate sightings of Crossbill in the North West of the site.

There has been no recent movement from the Foxes earth in the bank skirting Hazelwood. It is a possibility they vacated their earth due to the noise and disturbance during path resurfacing and tree felling in close proximity to their home. Monitoring will continue.

Three bird fatalities were reported within the last two weeks; a Goldfinch, female Kestrel and a young male Great Spotted Woodpecker. All these birds were resident in Hazelwood regularly visiting garden feeding stations. All flew into plate glass windows of houses bordering the Reserve. This is a frequent occurrence but can be avoided by the application of nature window stickers on large areas of glass.

The last Pipistrelle Bat sighting and reading was taken on 2nd November. Although the weather has been mild for a period since, there have been no further recordings.

Two photographs taken by George Dunkling during the Summer Spider Survey 2008 are shown below

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.

Nature Fact

Not all spiders catch their prey by using webs. An example is the Wolf Spider which is strong and has long legs which enable it to chase and catch small prey such as beetles, caterpillars and slugs

Site Management

Clearance of the new permissive footpath through the woodland at the west end of Hazelwood is nearing completion in preparation for hard surfacing. A small number of large trees and limbs of trees identified as unstable will be removed in forthcoming weeks.

Nature Watch

August proved to be a very poor month for wildlife sightings with with few butterflies and dragonflies. This has been the case on many other nature reserves.

RECORDINGS

Kestrel, Buzzard, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Willow Warble, Blackcap, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long Tailed Tits, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Magpies, Jays, Nuthatch, Large White Butterflies, Common Darter Dragonflies, Bog Cricket Velvet Ant, Bees, Smooth Snake, Common Lizards, 30-40 species of Spider.

George Dunkling together with son Mark have undertaken an ongoing survey of spiders resident on the Reserve. Investigations were made at different locations ie on Heather, Gorse, Purple Moor Grass, brambles, rough ground and the boardwalk. Two thirds of the spiders found have been identified. Over coming months, photographs taken by George will be shown on this web site.

George, our site photographer, wildlife monitor and life long naturalist has recently been requested by the R.S.P.B to lead a fungi walk at their Sedgemoor reserve in Somerset. George led a very well attended and successful fungi walk for the R.S.P.B at Arne last Autumn as well as many nature walks on Slop Bog.