Nature Watch

Fine weather with occasional thunderstorms for this period.
The ongoing Butterfly Transects undertaken indicate that, over the last 3 weeks, numbers of Silver Studded Blues have increased compared to the corresponding period last year.
A Tawny Owl reported calling along the west side of Slop Bog.

SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS

Kingfisher Creek: China Mark Moths, Large Red/Small/Azure/Azure Blue Damselflies, Four Spot Chasers/Broad Bodied/Common Hawker/Emperor Dragonflies.

Western Enclosure: Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Green Woodpeckers, Fox, Broad Bodied/Four Spot Dragonflies, Small Red Damselflies.

Beaufoys Bog: Stonechats.

Wild Wood: Buzzards, Chiffchaffs, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Hazelwood: Siskins, Wrens, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Songthrush, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chiffchaff, Blue/Great/Coal/Long Tailed Tits, Buzzard, Magpies, Jays.

Wet Wood: Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Songthrush, Chiffchaff, Jays, Blackcaps, Male and Female Roe Deer.

Nightjar Twirl: Grass Snakes, Azure Blue Damselflies.

Eastern Enclosure: Adder, Tree Pipit, Jay, Green Woodpecker.

Boardwalk: Two Common Lizards, Keeled Skipper/Four Spot Chaser Dragonflies.

Flowering Plants: Common Cudweed, Dwarf Gorse, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel, Cat's Ear, Tormentil, Cinquefoil, Hedge Woundwort, Hedge Bindweed, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Common Vetch, Black Medick, Smooth-sow Thistle, Ragwort, Groundsel, Herb Robert, Marsh Beadstraw, Water Lily, Sheep's Sorrel, Common Chickweed, Wall Speedwell, Herb Bennet, Enchanter's Nightshade, Stinging Nettle, Nipple Wort, Smooth Hawksbeard, Curled Dock.

Nature Watch

Nature Watch

Grass Snakes are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for up to one hour at a time

Site Management

Much of the work recently has been done by the cattle. You may have noticed that the grass this year seems less vigorous within the grazing unit. This is due to the cattle grazing it down and creating lawn like areas in places. This allows light to reach the soil giving the heather and more delicate seedlings the chance to germinate.

Site Management

May's volunteer work party had no attendees unfortunately as many of the group were on holiday or had conflicting plans. However, Ranger staff removed the remaining debris on the dry heath previously raked up by volunteers. This will allow light and warmth to the ground so that seedling heather can germinate. June's work party saw some sensitive clearance of small invasive birch scrub in the bog area. It is hoped the grazing cattle will keep any new shoots in check.

Event

The 3rd West Moors Brownies paid another visit to Slop Bog whereupon Ranger staff led a reptile walk and pond dip. Over 20 Brownies were lucky to see Grass Snakes and and the pond dip resulted in close up views of dragonfly larvae and young newts. An underwater camera gave a tadpoles eye view of life in the bog.