Nature Notes September

The weather during September continued to be mild and dry, with just a few damp days. A definite Autumnal feel on the Reserve with leaves already turning colour and, in some cases, falling.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers,  Black-headed Gulls, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Robin. Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral.
Insects/Pond Life: Pond Skaters.  Reptiles:  Common Lizard.
Plants in flower:  Low growing Gorse, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.

Blackberry bushes supplied a heavy crop of berries this September, food for small mammals and foxes. Rowan trees were heavily laden with berries, providing much needed food for resident and migrant birds before departure. The warm damp weather at the end of the month will promote the growth of fungi early next month. Summer visiting birds departed by the end of the month, with only a few Swallows being seen flying over the Reserve.

Nature Fact

Weather conditions can play a big part in the timing of the birds’ departure south on migration. While the birds may be physically ready to leave, they need to use the best weather conditions for migration so may stay put if the weather is bad. Swallows may stay on well into October.

Nature Notes August

The warm dry weather continued through the month.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff.
Butterflies/Moths:   Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Peacocks, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Silver-studded Blue, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Clouded Yellow, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Brown Argus, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, many species of Moths.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Southern Hawker, Broad Bodied, Four Spot.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Mole, Roe Deer, Wood Mice, Common Shrew, Foxes.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards.
Pond Life/Insects:   Pond Skaters, Water Boatman, Sticklebacks, Species of Bees, Hover Flies, Ants.
Plants in flower:   Low growing Gorse, Ling/Bell Heather, Cut-leaved Geranium.

Species of Finch have been seen in flocks in the tree canopies. The warm dry weather has prompted sightings of Damselfly/Dragonfly. Many feathers were seen on the ground as birds were in moult. Foxes were heard barking during the hours of darkness.

Nature Fact

Many juvenile birds are now in the process of change in their appearance to become the same as the adult of their species. Young male Woodpeckers who have red caps on the top of their heads, are now developing this marking further down the neck to the nape. Young Goldfinches (both sexes have the same appearance) are now beginning to develop their red face plumage as summer draws to an end. Young Robins have lost their speckled plumage and are now showing a small rusty breast.