Summer Work Parties

The Summer work parties will be held on Tuesdays rather than Thursdays, 10am - 1pm, on the following dates:-
April 17th
May 29th
June 26th
July 24th
Aug 21st

All are welcome and we will endeavour to post details of the work to be undertaken shortly before each date.

Nature Notes

A month of clear blue skies, warm sunshine and cool nights. No recorded rainfall during the month of March.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Buzzards, Jackdaw, Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mistle/Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Mallard Ducks, Heron, Nuthatches, Chiff Chaffs, Bull Finches, Siskins, Stonechats, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels.
Insects: Bees, Wasps, Pond Skaters.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock.
Plants in flower: Gorse, Broom, Flowering Redcurrant, Primrose, Bog Myrtle.

A pair of Mallard Ducks have been seen at Kingfisher Creek.
Bird song has been prolific from the end of March.
Chiff Chaffs were heard in the last week of the month, having returned from wintering in Africa.
Nuthatches have been delivering their high pitch call along the Hazelwood path.

Nature Fact

Breeding for the Chiff Chaff begins from April through to June producing one or two broods. The domed nest is built in vegetation close to the ground where four to nine white eggs, speckled with purple, are incubated by the female for 13 – 14 days. Young fledge in about 14 days.

Nature Notes

After a cold start to the month February then became very mild, with no significant rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Jays, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Song Thrushes, Redwings, Pied Wagtails, Siskins, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Plants: Gorse in flower.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Wood Mice.
Butterflies: Brimstones, Red Admirals.
Insects: Bees.

A small flock of Redwings were sighted from the middle of the month, having been forced to retreat the south to feed, following harsh weather conditions in the north of England.
Both Brimstone and Red Admiral Butterflies along with Bees have been enticed out into the early Spring like temperatures.
Many species of birds are paired now and showing interest in the bird boxes.
A pair of Buzzards have been seen circling together, performing courtship flights over the site.