Monday, 16 March 2009
Nature Fact
The Common Pond Skater moves rapidly over the surface of still, slow moving water using the front legs to grab other insects. Winged individuals often fly far from water to hibernate.
Site Management
The application of the wire netting to the surface of the boardwalk has now been completed. Repairs to several nest boxes has been undertaken ahead of the nesting season.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Nature Watch
During the severe weather conditions , the following sighting were made on monitoring visits:-
Female Grey Wagtail, male and female Sparrowhawks in chasing flight, Blue/Coal/Great/Long tailed Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jays, flock of Redwing, flock of Siskin, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrush, 6 Reed Buntings, female Stonechat, Buzzards, Heron, Woodcock, Red Admiral butterfly(seen on a much milder January day), female Roe Deer, Yellow Brain fungus.
Look and listen for the flock of Siskin. They favour roosting in trees in the area around the enclosure gate where the interpretation board is located, also along the Hazel Drive fence line. The flock are frequent visitors to a feeder situated in a Hazel Drive garden.
Many tracks and foot prints of birds, foxes and Roe deer have been apparent in the soft mud and snow covered ground.
The study of the winter roosting Blue Tit in a nest box has continued. Departure and arrival times have been variable. Departures are now between 7-7.15am but on particularly dark mornings it has been as late as 7.45am. The most significant change is in the afternoon return to the box - now as late as 5.15pm. It's noticeable this occurred when snow was laying which may give a reflection, thereby increasing light levels, thus delaying return to the roost.
The Wasp Spider (Argiope Brucennichi as pictured below) was another specie found on the 2008 summer survey. Females grow to 25mm, males to 7mm. This spider spins a large vertical orb-web usually with a zigzag band down the middle. It is built low down in vegetation eg heather and purple moor grass. They feed on grasshoppers, crickets and low flying insects. The female spins a large egg sac before dying in the Autumn. The eggs hatch in the Spring.
Female Grey Wagtail, male and female Sparrowhawks in chasing flight, Blue/Coal/Great/Long tailed Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jays, flock of Redwing, flock of Siskin, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrush, 6 Reed Buntings, female Stonechat, Buzzards, Heron, Woodcock, Red Admiral butterfly(seen on a much milder January day), female Roe Deer, Yellow Brain fungus.
Look and listen for the flock of Siskin. They favour roosting in trees in the area around the enclosure gate where the interpretation board is located, also along the Hazel Drive fence line. The flock are frequent visitors to a feeder situated in a Hazel Drive garden.
Many tracks and foot prints of birds, foxes and Roe deer have been apparent in the soft mud and snow covered ground.
The study of the winter roosting Blue Tit in a nest box has continued. Departure and arrival times have been variable. Departures are now between 7-7.15am but on particularly dark mornings it has been as late as 7.45am. The most significant change is in the afternoon return to the box - now as late as 5.15pm. It's noticeable this occurred when snow was laying which may give a reflection, thereby increasing light levels, thus delaying return to the roost.
The Wasp Spider (Argiope Brucennichi as pictured below) was another specie found on the 2008 summer survey. Females grow to 25mm, males to 7mm. This spider spins a large vertical orb-web usually with a zigzag band down the middle. It is built low down in vegetation eg heather and purple moor grass. They feed on grasshoppers, crickets and low flying insects. The female spins a large egg sac before dying in the Autumn. The eggs hatch in the Spring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)