Work on site has included the removal of dead and dangerous trees or limbs next to footpaths. Where possible Dorset Countryside will leave standing dead trees for insects, fungi and all who feed on them - nature's takeaway restaurant for species such as the Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Where dead trees and branches pose an obvious hazard to people using the Reserve, they have to be removed. Contractors will be doing more branch pruning over coming weeks so please comply with all signage.
Woodland management work on the edge of Hazel Wood is also ongoing. This work will encourage regeneration of a greater diversity of trees and shrubs in place of the dominant pines being felled Increased light levels will encourage wild flowers.
Other work undertaken include mowing and pruning footpaths and ongoing invasive/exotic plant control
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Friday, 16 October 2009
Nature Watch
Dry weather in the latter half of September turned to a short wet spell at the beginning of October. A period with very few sightings on recording visits
SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
Boardwalk: Common Lizards, Small Red damselflies, Southern Hawker dragonflies.
Hazelwood: Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Nuthatch, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Long Tailed/Blue/Great Tits, Wrens, Jays, Buzzards, Blackcap, Willow Warblers.
Central heath: Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Jays, Buzzards.
The screeching of a Tawny Owl heard in Hazelwood West.
The Summer visiting Willow Warblers and Blackcaps are now leaving and beginning their long migratory flight to warmer climates. The flock of Siskins which were resident on site during the Summer have now moved on.
Monitoring of Bats on site during the last month has continued to show readings of Pipistelle.
Fungi is now on the increase aided by the damp, warm weather conditions.
SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
Boardwalk: Common Lizards, Small Red damselflies, Southern Hawker dragonflies.
Hazelwood: Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Nuthatch, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Long Tailed/Blue/Great Tits, Wrens, Jays, Buzzards, Blackcap, Willow Warblers.
Central heath: Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Jays, Buzzards.
The screeching of a Tawny Owl heard in Hazelwood West.
The Summer visiting Willow Warblers and Blackcaps are now leaving and beginning their long migratory flight to warmer climates. The flock of Siskins which were resident on site during the Summer have now moved on.
Monitoring of Bats on site during the last month has continued to show readings of Pipistelle.
Fungi is now on the increase aided by the damp, warm weather conditions.
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Thursday, 17 September 2009
Nature Watch
Having experienced weeks of wet, windy weather, this has finally given way to warmer dry days.
SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
Hazelwood: Adder, Grass Snake, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Long Tailed Tits, Speckled Wood/ Painted Lady/ Comma/ Large White/ Peacock butterflies.
Wet Wood: Song Thrush, Long Tailed Tits, Common Frog, Speckled Wood butterflies.
Boardwalk: Common Lizards, Large White butterflies.
Open Heathland: Kestrel, Buzzards, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, flocks of House Martins and Swallows in flight, Silver Studded Blue butterflies.
A Tawny Owl has been heard calling from Hazelwood and to the west of the site.
Readings using a bat detector have continued at dusk. Pipistrelle Bats have been recorded feeding in Hazelwood, Wet Wood bridge east and across the open heath.
With the approach of Autumn, nesting boxes are now being selected for Winter roosting. A Blue Tit is already in residence in a camera nesting box situated on the fringe of Hazelwood, arriving before dark at about 7pm each evening.
Over the past month a weekly snake survey has been carried out by a Guardian volunteer who is licensed to do so. In total, 9 Adders, 19 Grass Snakes and 15 Slow Worms have been counted. The survey is undertaken at specified sites throughout the Reserve away from the main paths and tracks.
For some years now the Guardians have been monitoring butterfly numbers, particularly the Silver Studded Blue. In Great Britain SSBs are classified as nationally scarce. They are typically found on heathland that has not become too overgrown. Bell heather is a favourite nectar source. This year has been the best yet in terms of total butterfly numbers at Slop Bog including the Silver Studded Blue. It is not easy to ascribe a specific reason for this but the grazing cattle may well be a contributory factor.
SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
Hazelwood: Adder, Grass Snake, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Long Tailed Tits, Speckled Wood/ Painted Lady/ Comma/ Large White/ Peacock butterflies.
Wet Wood: Song Thrush, Long Tailed Tits, Common Frog, Speckled Wood butterflies.
Boardwalk: Common Lizards, Large White butterflies.
Open Heathland: Kestrel, Buzzards, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, flocks of House Martins and Swallows in flight, Silver Studded Blue butterflies.
A Tawny Owl has been heard calling from Hazelwood and to the west of the site.
Readings using a bat detector have continued at dusk. Pipistrelle Bats have been recorded feeding in Hazelwood, Wet Wood bridge east and across the open heath.
With the approach of Autumn, nesting boxes are now being selected for Winter roosting. A Blue Tit is already in residence in a camera nesting box situated on the fringe of Hazelwood, arriving before dark at about 7pm each evening.
Over the past month a weekly snake survey has been carried out by a Guardian volunteer who is licensed to do so. In total, 9 Adders, 19 Grass Snakes and 15 Slow Worms have been counted. The survey is undertaken at specified sites throughout the Reserve away from the main paths and tracks.
For some years now the Guardians have been monitoring butterfly numbers, particularly the Silver Studded Blue. In Great Britain SSBs are classified as nationally scarce. They are typically found on heathland that has not become too overgrown. Bell heather is a favourite nectar source. This year has been the best yet in terms of total butterfly numbers at Slop Bog including the Silver Studded Blue. It is not easy to ascribe a specific reason for this but the grazing cattle may well be a contributory factor.
Nature Fact
Many people think Tawny Owls call with a 'tu-whit,tu-who' sound. What we hear is not a single owl but two birds. One of them gives out an eerie 'hoo, hooo, hoo-oo-oo-oo' call and the other, probably a female, answers with a sharp 'ke-wick'. Both sexes hoot and both call 'ke-wick' but these sounds are never uttered together by the same bird.
Site Management
Work on site has included repairs to the livestock fencing. Regular checks of the whole fence line reveal any weaknesses such as rotten posts which have to be dealt with straight away.
Now the bird nesting season has finished, woodland edge management work has begun on the belt of tress that stretch the length of the site. This will include the creation of 2 'bays' to break up the straight edge and the coppicing of a small area of Birch. Rather than reducing the woodland, this work will improve it by allowing regeneration of healthy saplings to replace poor quality trees. This will produce a dense screen of regrowth and allow wild flowers to benefit from the increased light levels.
Now the bird nesting season has finished, woodland edge management work has begun on the belt of tress that stretch the length of the site. This will include the creation of 2 'bays' to break up the straight edge and the coppicing of a small area of Birch. Rather than reducing the woodland, this work will improve it by allowing regeneration of healthy saplings to replace poor quality trees. This will produce a dense screen of regrowth and allow wild flowers to benefit from the increased light levels.
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