Weather: A cold snap in the middle of October but the rest of the month was mainly mild with rain showers.
Sightings
Plants in flower: Gorse is now showing a few flowers.
Birds: Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue/Great/Coal/Long Tailed Tits, Buzzards, Magpies, Jays, Wood pigeons, Crows, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Dartford Warbler, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
There were fewer finds of fresh Fungi after mid-October, probably due to the cold period mid-month. The majority of the previous months Fungi is deteriorating because of the drop in temperature.
Many birds are now holding their own winter feeding territories, showing aggression to any other birds.
Good news on the sighting of a Dartford Warbler in the Eastern Enclosure as this specie has been absent for two Summers.
The Bat detector failed to record any movement during October.
During November, watch out for winter migrant birds such as Fieldfares, Redwing, Brambling and Siskin coming onto the Reserve to feed and shelter.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Nature Facts
During the month, Fox families started to break up and spread out into new territories. Frogs began to hibernate as the weather became cooler. Bats searched for suitable hibernation sites. Summer bred squirrels dispersed.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Work Parties
Meet new people, learn new skills. Help conserve Slop Bog Nature Reserve and see parts of it you've never seen before! Volunteer work parties run from 10am to 1pm on the last Thursday every month and on the following additional dates:- Sunday 31st October 2010 and Sunday 28th November 2010.
Please wear old clothes - cinders from bonfires can melt synthetic fibres. We often work on wet, uneven terrain so appropriate footwear is recommended. Tools and gloves are provided.
There is no on site parking so please have consideration for our neighbours.
To find out more, including meeting points and task specific details, contact Will Holland on 01425 483809
Please wear old clothes - cinders from bonfires can melt synthetic fibres. We often work on wet, uneven terrain so appropriate footwear is recommended. Tools and gloves are provided.
There is no on site parking so please have consideration for our neighbours.
To find out more, including meeting points and task specific details, contact Will Holland on 01425 483809
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Nature Watch September
Mixed weather conditions experienced with heavy rain at the end of the month.
From September to the middle of November is the best time to search for fungi particularly following heavy rain. Already this year over fifty species have been found on site of which the following were recorded during September:-
Cap Boletus, Bay Boletus badius, Red Cracking Bolete Boletus chrysenteron, Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare, Spectacular Rustgill, Brown Rollcap, False Deathcap, The Blusher Amanita Rebecens, Fly Agaric, Lilac Bonnet, Bovine Bolete Suillus Bovinus, Ugly Milkcap Lactarius turpis, Milk White Brittlegill Russula dilica, Panthercap Amanita, Plums and Custard Tricholomopsis decora, The Deceiver Laccaria laccata, Amethyst Laccaria amethystine, Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea, Poisonpie Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Primrose Brittlegill Russula sardonia, Conifer Mazegill Cloeophyllum sepiarlum, Hedgehog Fungus Hydnum repandum, Veiled Fibrecap inocybe nappies, Russet Toughshank Collybia dryophila, St George’s Mushroom Tricholoma gambosum, Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus, Brittlegill Russula Lactarus, Collared Earthstar Geastrum triples, False Chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, Lactarius quieticolor, Purple Brittlegill Russula atropurpurea.
The only additional birds to last month’s listing has been a flock of Canada Geese flying in formation North to South over the Reserve. Willow Warblers continue to be sighted on migration. A Blackcap was spotted in Hazelwood and it is possible it will remain in the area for the Winter period, as last year.
Only a small number of Common Lizards have been seen on the boardwalk.
No Bat recordings beyond mid-month.
Butterfly sightings: Large White, Comma, Red Admiral, Painted Lady.
From September to the middle of November is the best time to search for fungi particularly following heavy rain. Already this year over fifty species have been found on site of which the following were recorded during September:-
Cap Boletus, Bay Boletus badius, Red Cracking Bolete Boletus chrysenteron, Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare, Spectacular Rustgill, Brown Rollcap, False Deathcap, The Blusher Amanita Rebecens, Fly Agaric, Lilac Bonnet, Bovine Bolete Suillus Bovinus, Ugly Milkcap Lactarius turpis, Milk White Brittlegill Russula dilica, Panthercap Amanita, Plums and Custard Tricholomopsis decora, The Deceiver Laccaria laccata, Amethyst Laccaria amethystine, Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea, Poisonpie Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Primrose Brittlegill Russula sardonia, Conifer Mazegill Cloeophyllum sepiarlum, Hedgehog Fungus Hydnum repandum, Veiled Fibrecap inocybe nappies, Russet Toughshank Collybia dryophila, St George’s Mushroom Tricholoma gambosum, Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus, Brittlegill Russula Lactarus, Collared Earthstar Geastrum triples, False Chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, Lactarius quieticolor, Purple Brittlegill Russula atropurpurea.
The only additional birds to last month’s listing has been a flock of Canada Geese flying in formation North to South over the Reserve. Willow Warblers continue to be sighted on migration. A Blackcap was spotted in Hazelwood and it is possible it will remain in the area for the Winter period, as last year.
Only a small number of Common Lizards have been seen on the boardwalk.
No Bat recordings beyond mid-month.
Butterfly sightings: Large White, Comma, Red Admiral, Painted Lady.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Nature Watch
July was very warm and dry but a change took place in August becoming warm, windy and wet.
SIGHTINGS
Plants in flower: Heather/Ling, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Black Nightshade, Dwarf Gorse.
Butterflies/Moths: Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large Whites, Green veined White, Gatekeepers, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Comma, Large Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Brimstone, Peacock, Silver-studded Blue, Grayling, Fox Moth.
Insects: Field Grasshoppers, Meadow Grasshoppers, Velvet Ant, Bees.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Common Darters, Black Darter, Keeled Skimmers, Small Red Damselflies.
Birds: Robins, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskins, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpies, Black Headed Gulls, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Stonechats, Willow Warblers.
Fungi: Egghead Mottlegill Paneolus Semiovatus, Snowy Inkcap Coprinus Niveus.
Several species of birds have been moving across the Reserve on the start of their migration including Willow Warblers and Swifts. One bird, the smallest in Britain, which has not been reported during this Summer is the Goldcrest. It is thought that many did not survive the very cold spell earlier this year. A roe deer fawn has been seen early in the morning on the East side of the Reserve. A healthy number of Silver-studded Blues were recorded on the weekly butterfly transects but numbers of other butterfly species, dragonflies and damselflies are down. The first of the Autumn fungi is now appearing taking advantage of the warm, wet conditions.
Recordings by C Wilcox, G Dunkling, A Bryant, R Chapman, D Lock
SIGHTINGS
Plants in flower: Heather/Ling, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Black Nightshade, Dwarf Gorse.
Butterflies/Moths: Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large Whites, Green veined White, Gatekeepers, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Comma, Large Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Brimstone, Peacock, Silver-studded Blue, Grayling, Fox Moth.
Insects: Field Grasshoppers, Meadow Grasshoppers, Velvet Ant, Bees.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Common Darters, Black Darter, Keeled Skimmers, Small Red Damselflies.
Birds: Robins, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskins, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpies, Black Headed Gulls, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Stonechats, Willow Warblers.
Fungi: Egghead Mottlegill Paneolus Semiovatus, Snowy Inkcap Coprinus Niveus.
Several species of birds have been moving across the Reserve on the start of their migration including Willow Warblers and Swifts. One bird, the smallest in Britain, which has not been reported during this Summer is the Goldcrest. It is thought that many did not survive the very cold spell earlier this year. A roe deer fawn has been seen early in the morning on the East side of the Reserve. A healthy number of Silver-studded Blues were recorded on the weekly butterfly transects but numbers of other butterfly species, dragonflies and damselflies are down. The first of the Autumn fungi is now appearing taking advantage of the warm, wet conditions.
Recordings by C Wilcox, G Dunkling, A Bryant, R Chapman, D Lock
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