Nature Fact

It is not known exactly what causes an animal to begin hibernation or end it, although a sudden fall in temperature is the most obvious. It is likely that hibernation ceases when the average air temperature rises above a certain level in Spring. Should a period of cold weather then return, the animal will resume hibernation until conditions improve. It has been observed that early nesting birds will abandon their nests and contents if weather conditions do not provide them with food for their expected off-spring.








Brimstone Butterfly














Red Admiral Butterfly









Images by K Wilcox

Nature Notes

The unseasonal mild weather continued through the month but changed to colder temperatures in the last week, bringing sleet showers and frost. Another quiet winter month for recordings.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Jays, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Song Thrushes, Siskins, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
A pair of Bullfinches which produced five young last Spring/Summer, are again active in their territory, visiting garden feeders along the Hazelwood fenceline. A sighting of a Goldcrest was very welcome, as few sightings were recorded last year when many were lost following a harsh spell of winter weather. Birds continue to night roost in the nest boxes on site. Any required repairs or replacement nesting boxes have been made during January.

Nature Fact

The Goldcrest is our smallest British bird measuring 9cm. A very small hyperactive species that always seems to be on the move. It feeds among branches and will sometimes hover to snatch food from the undersides of leaves. Outside the breeding season it often joins flocks of other small birds such as Tits

Nature Notes December

The continued unseasonal mild weather continued through December to the end of the year, with rain and strong winds and only a few cooler days and nights experienced.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Siskin, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Mallard Ducks, Snipe.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Fungi: A large selection brought forth by the continued mild damp weather.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Wood Mice, Roe Deer.

Again, a mild month produced many species of Fungi.
Four Mallard Ducks were spotted flying over the site.
A Snipe flew up from near the north permissive path.
Wood Mice active outside their winter quarters.
The bird boxes were emptied of any previous seasons nesting material. Out of the 35 on site only 19 were used. A poor uptake last Spring. Repairs are now in progress where required.

2011 brought no new significant sightings or discoveries.