Nature Notes August

August brought heavy rainfall with winds and fluctuating temperatures. A few warmer bright days were experienced towards the end of the month. Another month not providing much to report, although a good selection of Fungi was brought forth by the warm damp conditions.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jackdaws, Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Black-headed Gulls, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Willow Warblers, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Blackcap.
Reptiles: Adder, Common Lizard.
Butterflies: Large Whites, Grayling, Peacock.
Plants in flower: Common Helleborine, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling, Low growing Gorse, perfume from Bog-Myrtle.
Mammals: Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Fungi: Yellow Swamp Brittlegill Russula claroflava, Paxillus atrotomentosus, Paxillus involutus, Brown Birch Bolete, Leccinum scabrum, Willow Bracket, Phellinus orgniari, Lactarious quieticolor, Green Brittlegill, Russula aeruginea, Sickner, Russula emetic, Primrose Brittlegill, Russula saronia, Blucher, Amanita rubescens, White Knight, Tricholoma stiparophyllom, Yellow Staghorn, Calocera viscose, Collared Earthstar Geastrum, Cream Pinkgill, Eantoloma sericellum pos. Russet Toughshank, Collybia dryophila, Collared Parachute Marasmius rotula.

Nature Facts

During August young Fox cubs began to forage for themselves and slept apart from the adults. Adult Frogs lived in long grass. Young Bats started to catch insects with females leaving the nursery sites to find males. Many migrant birds were preparing for the long flight to warmer Winter climes during September. Most resident birds were completing their moult - several species were securing their Winter territories.

Work Party Thursday 25th August

Usual time 10am-1pm, meet at Redwood Drive entrance. We will be installing waymarker posts on the open heath to clarify where the permissive footpaths are. Please bring your own refreshments if required and be prepared for some digging work. Unless we have lots of rain between now and next Thursday, wellies shouldn't be needed.

This will be the last Thursday morning work party for the time being. Starting next month and through the winter we will be going back to the full day Sunday tasks (last Sunday of the month 10am-3.30pm). The first date will be Sunday 25th September.

All volunteers very welcome.

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.

Nature Facts

During June, Foxes abandoned the breeding earth. Young Bats were born. Young Frogs left the ponds. Light-weight summer Squirrel dreys of grass started to appear, often built by juveniles. Most fledglings became independent.

Nature Notes May

The weather during May was on the whole dry with strong winds. Less reported wildlife during this period compared with previous year.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, Buzzard, Kestrel, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Song/Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Siskins, Stonechats, Dartford Warblers, Tree Pipits, Cuckoo, Wood Pigeons, Long-tailed/Blue/ Coal/ Great Tits.
Plants in flower: Broom, Wild Geranium, Blackberries, Cotton Grass, Rhododendron.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Grass Snakes, Adder
Insects/Bugs/Spiders: Raft Spiders, Sawfly Caterpillars.
Dragonfly: Broad Bodied.
Damselfly: Small Red.
Mammals: Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Butterflies: Speckled Wood, Small White.

A very quiet month with few noticeable insects, butterflies, dragonflies or damselflies.
The majority of birds have now produced young which have fledged, many seen flying and feeding together in family groups.
The Bog Myrtle bordering the boardwalk has produced a perfume from the leaves.
Sheets of webs covering bushes contain the Sawfly caterpillar, which is green with small yellow spots.
A Cuckoo was heard but not seen at the south east end of the boardwalk, within the woodland.

Nature Facts

During May, young Fox cubs started to learn through play and to eat solid foods. Female Bats looked for nursery sites, to produce young. Adult Frogs left the ponds. Early tadpoles began to metamorphose. The Spring litters of Grey Squirrels were weaned and left the litter drey to become independent. Female Roe Deer produce young during May/June.