Nature Notes July

The weather during July was mixed, with days of heavy cloud providing heavy downpours of rain but with a good number of dry warm days, filled with sunshine. Monitors found the reserve very quiet, with nothing much on show.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Jackdaws, Black-headed Gulls, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Carrion Crows, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Robins, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Willow Warblers, Swifts, Tree Pipit, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Common Lizard, Grass Snakes, Slow-worms.
Insects: Hover Flies.
Spiders: Raft, Heather Jumping, Heather Crab.
Butterflies: Silver-studded Blue, Marbled White, Large Skippers, Small Skippers, Large Whites, Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.
Dragonflies: Broad-bodied Chaser, Keeled Skimmers, Emperor.
Plants in flower: Common Helleborine, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling – Cross-leaved, Bell, Low summer growing Gorse.
Mammals: Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Moles.

Moles became more active after heavy rain. Young Moles are at present forming a network of tunnels, which will become their territory for hunting worms.
A flock of Swifts were seen feeding over the site, building up food reserves for the long journey overseas during August.
No Marsh Gentians found yet.

Nature Facts

Main Summer litters born to Grey Squirrels, with dispersal of Spring young. Adults begin to grow new ear-tufts and tail hairs. Fox cubs lie up in a sheltered position above ground. The remaining Froglets leave the water. Bat young still suckling from
their mothers.

Nature Notes June

The month started off with unsettled weather producing a mixture of wet, windy, cooler with showers, but ended with warm sunnier days with the occasional downpour of heavy rain. Another quiet month for observations.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Feral/Wood Pigeons, Jays, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Black-headed/Herring Gulls, Buzzards, Blackbirds, Robins, Song/Mistle Thrushes, Dunnocks, Wrens, Coal/Long –tailed/Blue/Great Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Siskins, Blackcaps, Nuthatch, Tree Pipit, Nightjar, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers.
Plants in flower: Cut-leaved Geranium, Blackberries, Cotton Grass, Common Helleborine, Heather/Ling – Cross-leaved, Bell.
Fungi: Yellow Brain.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Common Lizards.
Insects: Pond Skaters.
Dragonfly: Broad Bodied.
Damselflies: Small Red, Common Blue, Banded Demoiselle.
Mammals: Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Butterflies: Speckled Wood, Small White, Silver Studded Blue, Small Skipper. A number of different species of day flying Moths.

The sound of a Nightjar was heard from early June.
Robin young are now losing the speckled appearance, replaced by the rustic red breast.
Rowan Trees along Hazelwood path on the southern end of the site have berries colouring up.
Holly berries are now forming.
Very noticeable this year is the success in breeding by the Bullfinches, Blackcaps and Siskins.