Nature Fact

Mistle Thrushes are always more thinly distributed and seem to require much larger territories than that of the Song Thrush.  Large mature gardens and parklands are typical habitats for them.  In the breeding season you may find them in woodlands and even conifer plantations as long as there are grassy areas nearby for spring feeding.  They feed on worms and insects, often in the centre of fields, but fruit is an important part of the diet, particularly mistletoe berries, hence its name.

Nature Notes December

December, although mild for the time of year, brought strong winds and very heavy rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Magpies, Jays, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeon, Stock Doves, Heron, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens,Goldcrests, Nuthatches, Stonechat, Siskins.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:  Gorse.

Due to the inclement weather, there was not a great deal to view. The only evident movement was that of the resident birds in the quest for daily food.
A welcome sighting of a Stonechat was seen north of the boardwalk. Recordings of Stonechats have been few and far between on site during the past year.

YEAR 2012
Nature sightings were down, a disappointing year.  Numbers of Silver Studded Blue butterflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Reptile species, Fungi, Mammals and wild flowers were all showing low numbers.
A total of 24 out of 38 mixed bird specie nesting boxes provided homes for nesting birds on site last Spring/Summer.

Nature Fact

A seasonal bird is, of course, the Robin. The bird's popularity in Britain has built up over the years and legends about the bad luck incurred by anyone harming a Robin go back to the 16^th century. Robins feature prominently on the earliest Christmas cards. It is a particular favourite among bird lovers, but despite all the efforts made to feed this bird in the harsh weather, thousands perish each year.

Nature Notes November

November had a few cold snaps, but the majority of the month brought heavy rainfall with strong winds. Not a great deal of activity on the Reserve. Water levels were high, with the peat pools overflowing onto the surrounding heath land and up to boardwalk level.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Wrens, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Wrens, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Common Redpolls, Bramblings, Reed Bunting.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse.

The middle of November brought an unexpected fall of snow north west of our area which may well have driven the Bramblings and Redpolls down into the Reserve. They were sighted for two weeks in the middle of the month along the Hazelwood boundary.
A female Reed Bunting was seen south of the boardwalk.
A disappointing month for fungi.

Nature Fact

Common Redpoll, who in summer are in northern areas and Scandinavia, move south during winter months. They have a distinctive red forehead with a small black chin patch. They are often in the company of Siskins and Bramblings.

Nature Notes October

The weather remained wet, with only a few dry days with sunshine. Very quiet on the Reserve with not much activity.
SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests.
Butterflies:  Holly Blue, Large White, Red Admiral.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Insects:  Pond Skaters.

A welcome sight at the end of the month were several Goldcrests. This tiny bird, the smallest resident bird in Britain, was lost in large numbers during the cold spell last Winter.
No more sightings of Bats during the month.
A small number of Fungi were found with the hope that more will appear during November.

Nature Fact

Magpies are members of the Crow family. They are notorious for their habit of stealing other birds’ eggs and chicks. It is worth watching magpies closely. They are constantly inquisitive and are known to hoard bright objects. Often they seem ‘visibly intelligent’ – soaking dry bread in a fishpond, for example, to make it easier to eat; then hiding the excess in a crevice in the rockery, carefully covering it with moss and grass pulled from the lawn.

Nature Notes September

The weather varied greatly ranging from cold, wet and blustery weeks to calm, warm and dry weeks, progressing in a mellow Autumn feel. 

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, White Dove, Buzzards Sparrowhawk, Black–headed Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Siskins, Nuthatches, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
A number of Willow Warblers were seen moving across the reserve via the Hazelwood corridor.
A group of Swallows were seen feeding north of the boardwalk.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admirals, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, various species of day flying Moths.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Blackberry, Low growing Gorse, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.

Pipistrelle Bats were still feeding on warmer nights during September.
The seed heads of the Purple Moor Grass were very evident.
Birds of the same specie were defending their newly established Winter territories, whilst Finches were forming into flocks.
The Jays, Magpies and Carrion Crows were noticeably more vocal.

Nature Fact

Most vertebrate animals possess a pair of hyoid bones supporting the base of the tongue. Green Woodpeckers have extended hyoids that curve up behind the head. Muscles pull on the hyoids, giving a powerful thrust to the very long tongue. This enables it to reach distances into holes in the ground and trees to reach its prey.

Nature Notes August

August was drier than previous summer months, with only a few wet days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Carrion Crows, Buzzards, Heron, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaff, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Treecreeper, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Meadow Brown.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Southern Hawker.
Mammals: Fox, Pipstrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Reptiles: Common Lizard, Slow Worm.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees.
Plants in Flower: Low Growing Gorse, Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.
Garden Plants on site in flower: Buddleia, Crocosmia, Pond Lily.

Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs are now seen moving across the site in preparation for migration.

Heathers and low growing Gorse are now at their best.

Nature Fact

The Newt, a small Salamander, is remarkable for its ability to regrow body parts such as its organs, tissues, limbs and tail.

Nature Notes July

There was heavy rainfall until the middle of the month, followed by a week of high temperatures and sunny days. At the end of the month temperatures cooled off once more, with a mix of sun, cloud and occasional heavy showers.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Jays, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Heron,Tree Pipit, Stonechat, Siskins, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Nuthatches Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs.
Reptiles: Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Grass Snake.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper.
Insects: Hover Flies, Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling – Cross leaved and Bell.

Many species of birds have been observed to be in moult during July.