Nature Fact

Beetles can be found in almost all habitats, from deserts and ponds to the tops of mountains.  They are thought to represent one third of all insects.  There are believed to be well over 350,000  species of beetle worldwide.  Beetles play an important role in the natural world as they recycle nutrients by helping to break down animal and plant waste.  Most species are herbivorous.

Nature Notes May

The showery April weather continued through May. Temperatures were mild and there was the occasional bright sunny day.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Dove, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Heron, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinch, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats.
Reptiles:  Common Lizards.
Plants in flower:  Cranesbill, Bluebells, Primrose, Ilex, Gorse, Broom, Garlic Mustard, Herb Robert, Foxglove, Cotton Grass.
Butterflies:  Brimstone, Large White, Holly Blue, Peacock.
Insects:  Bees, Wasps, Flies.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Water Boatman, Sticklebacks.

Pipistrelle Bats continued to be seen on warm dry evenings.
Many species of birds had their first fledglings of the year during this month.
The call of the Chiffchaffs and the melodious song of the Blackcaps were heard throughout the month.
Although evening monitoring was undertaken, no Nightjar calling was reported.

Nature Facts

Male Sticklebacks are aggressively territorial and build nests to which they attract females for egg laying.

Water Boatman should not be handled if caught for observation as they can bite. Their usual prey include tiny fish and tadpoles.

Nature Notes April

Heavy rain continued throughout the month with only a few warm dry days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Stock Doves, Jays, Buzzards, Heron, Mallard mDucks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Cuckoo, Nuthatchs, Treecreepers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Siskins, Reed Buntings, Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrests, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches,.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer, Foxes, Pipistrelle Bats.
Reptiles:  Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Grass Snake
Plants in flower:  Gorse, Flowering Currant, Broom, Laurel, Bog Myrtle, Primrose, Hazel, Willow.
Butterflies:  Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.
Insects:  Bees, Wasps, Flies.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Sticklebacks, Whirlygig Beetles.

Tree Pipits have returned from migration to the cenral heathland and heard calling from pine tree tops.
Pipistrelle Bats were detected at dusk by mid-April.
The call of a Cuckoo was heard late in the month from the north side of the Site.

Nature Fact

Why don’t we observe adult wood Pigeons feeding young out of the nest as other species do? (A question raised with Chris Packham by SBG monitor at a recent meeting).
Answer:- Breeding Wood Pigeons feed their young with a liquid slush produced and stored in their crop. The young are never fatter than when in the nest being fed on this rich source of food. When the time is right, the parents abandon the young in the nest leaving them to fend for themselves and is the reason they are seen experimenting, pecking at various items in the hope they may be palatable.