Nature Notes March

Mild weather conditions throughout the month encouraged the appearance of many species of insects, butterflies and nest building birds.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers,   Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler. Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Blackcap, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:  Primrose, Gorse, Laurel, Flowering Currant, Willow, Bog Myrtle.
Insects:  Bees, Species of Flies.
Butterflies:  Red Admiral, Brimstone, Large White.
Water/Pond Life:  Stickleback, Water Boatman.
Reptiles/Amphibians:  Common Lizards.

Groups of Canada Geese and Mallard Ducks have been seen in flight formation over the site.
A Treecreeper has been constructing a nest in the donated crete Treecreeper nest box - the first time since installation.  In previous years, Blue Tits have taken up residence.
Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers have returned from migration and the Chiffchaff could be heard calling in several locations on site.

Nature Fact

Willow Catkins
 Many of us are familiar with the soft grey silky catkins of pussy willow or the long hanging catkins known as ‘lamb’s tails’ that appear on Hazel trees.  A catkin is a structure consisting of many extremely small flowers in which petals and sepals are usually absent.  These structures are necessary to insect-pollinated flowers, since they help to attract insects, but are mostly wind-pollinated.

Nature Notes February

Heavy rain continued throughout February, causing waterlogged ground on site. Temperatures continued to be on the mild side.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Jackdaws, Jays, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Buzzards, Tawny Owl, Heron,
Canada Geese, Snipe, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Redwings, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox, Wood Mice.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Insects:   Bees.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral, Brimstone.

A pair of Canada Geese were seen in flight over the site, on several occasions.
A Tawny Owl was heard calling at dusk on the west side of the Reserve.
A Snipe took flight north of the board walk.
Pairing of birds is well underway already, probably due to the mild weather.

Nest boxes were cleared in January, delayed from November, due to the bad weather.  The survey showed 21 had been occupied, 11 not used, 3 boxes missing.

Nature Fact

The Black-headed Gull, often seen in flight over the Reserve, often causes confusion due to the variety of changing plumage.  In Summer, the black head is in reality chocolate brown forming a hood stretching down the nape and broken only by a white ring round the eye. The beak, legs and feet are a deep blood-red.  In Winter, the brown hood is lost and replaced by white plumage with a small grey-brown smudge behind the eye, with the beak and legs showing as a muddier red colour.