Sunday, 3 November 2013
Nature Fact
All habitats support Fungi of various kinds. In general, different kinds of Fungi occur in different habitats, each species being adapted to fill a particular niche. Woodland provide the richest habitat for larger Fungi; both deciduous and coniferous woods are ideal places to look for a wide rage of species. Many of the woodland toadstools form mycorrhizal associations and grow only with certain kinds of tree. Similarly, other Fungi are parasitic or saprophytic on the wood of certain kinds of tree.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
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.
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.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
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.
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.
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