Monday, 16 March 2009
Nature Watch
A month of very mixed weather for our area. Heavy snow fall, frost, wet and windy, with only a few dry milder days.
SIGHTINGS
Hazelwood- Nuthatch, Wrens, Chaffinches, Siskins, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, all Tit species, Goldcrests, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Male Pheasant, Female Tawny Owl.
Wet Wood- All Tit species, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Robins, Sparrowhawk, Wrens.
Beaufoys Plantation- Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Goldcrests.
Western Enclosure- Green Woodpecker, Dartford Warbler.
Eastern Enclosure- Pair of Snipe, pair of Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Green Woodpecker, first sighting of Pond Skaters on the surface of the acid pools(12/3).
Beaufoys Bog- Pair of Snipe, Dartford Warbler, female Roe Deer.
Buzzards Carr- Buzzards.
Wild Wood- Jays, Bramblings.
Dragonfly Drop- Flock of Redwing, Buzzards.
Roe Deer footprints found in snow and soft mud. Several Raptor strike remains have been found on site.
The Blue Tit study is ongoing. Daylight activity has increased to 12 hours and the bird continues to night roost. Will it choose to use this box for nesting with a partner?
The spider shown this month is the Heath or 4 Spot Orb Weaver, another specie observed during the Summer 2008 survey. This large brightly coloured spider lives on grassland, heathland and hedgerows. The abdomen may be yellow, orange, green, red or brown. It spins a large vertical orb-web built low down among ground vegetation. It catches mainly grasshoppers, crickets and other jumping insects
SIGHTINGS
Hazelwood- Nuthatch, Wrens, Chaffinches, Siskins, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, all Tit species, Goldcrests, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Male Pheasant, Female Tawny Owl.
Wet Wood- All Tit species, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Robins, Sparrowhawk, Wrens.
Beaufoys Plantation- Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Goldcrests.
Western Enclosure- Green Woodpecker, Dartford Warbler.
Eastern Enclosure- Pair of Snipe, pair of Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Green Woodpecker, first sighting of Pond Skaters on the surface of the acid pools(12/3).
Beaufoys Bog- Pair of Snipe, Dartford Warbler, female Roe Deer.
Buzzards Carr- Buzzards.
Wild Wood- Jays, Bramblings.
Dragonfly Drop- Flock of Redwing, Buzzards.
Roe Deer footprints found in snow and soft mud. Several Raptor strike remains have been found on site.
The Blue Tit study is ongoing. Daylight activity has increased to 12 hours and the bird continues to night roost. Will it choose to use this box for nesting with a partner?
The spider shown this month is the Heath or 4 Spot Orb Weaver, another specie observed during the Summer 2008 survey. This large brightly coloured spider lives on grassland, heathland and hedgerows. The abdomen may be yellow, orange, green, red or brown. It spins a large vertical orb-web built low down among ground vegetation. It catches mainly grasshoppers, crickets and other jumping insects
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.
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