Nature Fact

Blackberries:   The main consumers of bramble berries are Marsh and Willow Tits, Bullfinches, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.  Among mammals, Foxes, Badgers and even Squirrels and Deer are fond of bramble berries.  The berries are sought for their energy-rich pulp, while the seeds within pass undigested through the gut and are conveniently deposited in a ‘ready-grow’ package of manure.

Nature Notes July

July delivered dry, hot sunny days, with the occasional thunder storm toward the end of the month.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Tawny Owl, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mouse, Fox, Roe Deer.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Adder, Slow Worm.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Small White, Holly Blue, Peacock, Brimstone, Silver-studded Blue, Comma, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Grayling, Ringlet.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:    Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied, Small Red
Insects:   Common Green Grasshopper, Bees, Wasps, Flies, Ants, Wasp Spider.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Water Boatman, Smooth Newt.
Plants in flower:   Low growing Gorse, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling - Cross leaved and Bell.

A Tawny Owl was heard along the Hazel Drive fenceline.

Nature Fact

The Common Green Grasshopper can be found in a variety of grassland habitats over most altitudes.  They can be a variety of colours, but their background is mostly brown. The females are more variable and may show splashes of red or purple in their colourations.  They lay their eggs in the Autumn, these then hatch in Spring and the young hoppers grow through a series of instars until they reach full maturity in early summer.

Nature Notes June

A dry, warm and sunny month - reported as the hottest and driest June of recent years.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Dove, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawk, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Swallows.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Roe Deer, Fox.
Reptiles/Amphibians:  Common Lizards, Slow Worm, Grass Snake.
Plants in flower:  Cranesbill, Foxglove, Cotton Grass, White Stonecrop, Cinquefoil, Tufted Vetch, Groundsel, Prickly Lettuce, Bog Asphodel.
Butterflies/Moths:  Large White, Holly Blue, Peacock, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Silver-Studded Blue, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue,
Insects:  Jumping Spider, Bees, Velvet Ants.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Water Boatman, Sticklebacks, Frog
Dragonfly/Damselfly:  Four Spot Chaser, Azure, Large Red, Small Red, Beautiful Damoiselle.

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.