Nature Watch November

Another quiet period for sightings on the Reserve.
Weather: Cold with night frosts, cold winds and snow flurries.

Sightings
Plants: Gorse.
Birds: Buzzard, Magpie, Crows, Wood Pigeons, Jays, Herring/Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch,Dunnock, Wren, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Pied Wagtails, Siskin, Redwing.
A Heron has been seen regularly, flying along the south boundary.
Goldcrests have been sighted after a spell of absence.
A flock of Redwings, roosting in trees in Redwood Drive, have visited the site.
Mammals: Wood mice have been seen during the daytime searching for food as the wintry weather closed in.

The nest box survey was completed in November and last summers nesting material cleared out. Of the 37 boxes on site, 21 had evidence of having been used.

Nature Facts

During November most Frogs begin hibernation. Some young animals may still have been hunting for food. Bats begin hibernation although there could have been some activity on warmer nights. Male Squirrels start to become reproductively active. Young adult Foxes take over the territories of dead or weak parents, or dig out their own earths.

Nature Watch October

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.

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.

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