Nature Fact

Winter, life in the cold season  -  Most insects lie dormant, buried in whatever nook or cranny offers them the best protection from cold and predators.   Many moths and butterflies overwinter as pupae although some adults, such as those of the Brimstone and Tortoiseshell butterflies, also overwinter successfully. The key to the survival of many so-called ‘cold hardy’ insects lies in the conversion of blood sugar to glycerol which acts as a diluted anti-freeze thereby protecting vital tissues against prolonged sub-zero temperatures.

Work Party Tuesday 13th January 10am - 1pm

We will be working along the back path burning the brash that we created last month; continuing any path clearance/Holly thinning in the same area;  clearing scrub around the drain outlet (where it passes beneath the flyover) to prevent blockage/scrub growth into the ditch. 

Meet along the back path at the West Moors Road end - phone Will Holland ,Ranger, on 07827820465 if directions are required.  Refreshments will be provided.

Work Parties

The work party dates for early 2015 are:-
January 13th
February 10th
March 10th

Further details will be posted nearer the date.

Nature Notes December

The year ended with mild weather on the whole, only turning to heavy overnight frosts  in the last week.  Another quiet month with little of consequence on view.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtails, Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Wrens, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral.
Insects:   Bees.
Fungi:   A small number of Fungi.

Nature Fact

The Wren  is a delightful plump little bird with a short, jaunty, upright tail,  that feels at home in most places.  The hedgerow is no exception for it delights in examining every crack and crevice, fallen leaf, twig or stone in its ceaseless search for a succulent insect or spider - which, apart from the occasional seed, form its main diet.  The familiar call of ‘tic-tic-tic’ in a deafening loud voice is out of proportion to its diminutive size.  Another astonishing feat performed by this little bird is its ability to reach up to peck above its head by simply stretching its neck in a quite un-wren-like manner.

Nature Notes November

November was mild with only a few cooler days and nights towards the end of the month. A quiet month on site, with not much movement.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Wood pigeons, Collared Doves, Stonechat, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Coal/Blue/Great/ Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters.
Butterflies/Moths:   Red Admiral.
Fungi:  An increase in the number of species seen during this month due to the mild, damp conditions.
Plants in Flower:   Common Gorse.

Nature Fact

Now that the daylight hours are much shorter in length, most feeding activity for wildlife takes place during the morning. Once the animal has sufficient food intake, it restricts its movements to conserve energy and heat retention for the night ahead, which might possible be very cold.

Nature Notes October

October was a mild month with heavy rainfall at times, strong winds and several thunderstorms.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Kingfisher, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stonechats, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Coal/Blue/Great Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches.
Mammals:   Fox, Grey Squirrels, Moles.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral.
Insects:   Bees, Wasps, Crane Flies.

No readings of Bat movement  recorded during this month.
Despite mild damp weather conditions, very few fungi have appeared on site.
Many berries formed and showed colour on various trees, shrubs and plants.
Birds took to roosting in the nest boxes on site.

Nature Fact

The Shaggy Ink-cap is also known as Lawyer’s Wig.   Readily recognized by the shaggy, narrowly conical cap which soon blackens from below and deliquesces into an inky fluid.   It is a good edible species when young, while the gills remain white, but must be eaten very soon after gathering.

Nature Notes September

September was recorded as one of the driest on record with very little rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Carrion  Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Stonechats, Willow Warbler, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Wren, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Plants in flower:   Ling Heather, Bell Heather, Low growing Gorse.
Insects:   Common Green Grasshopper, Wasp Spider, Ants, Crane Flies, Bees, Wasps.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Water Boatman.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Meadow Brown.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.

The majority of migrating birds have now left the site.
Pipistrelle Bats are still feeding on warm dry nights.

Nature Fact

Pipistrelle Bats are creatures of habit and tend to follow the same routes each night but will quickly change to a new hunting area if food becomes scarce.  When the bat’s stomach is full, it comes to rest on a tree and stays there until digestion has  progressed sufficiently to allow further feeding.

Nature Notes August

The weather during August was mainly mild and dry with sunshine.  However, the latter part of the month turned cooler with long periods of heavy rain.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, Stock Doves, Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Stonechat.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Fox.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Slow Worm.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied, Common Darter, Small Red, Red Veined Darter
Plants in flower:   Herb Robert, Common Vetch, White Clover, Low growing Gorse Lousewort.
Insects:   Green Grasshopper, Bog Cricket, Green Shield Bug, Robber Fly.
Pond Life:   Pond skaters, Water Boatman.
Butterflies/Moths:   Peacock, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Silver-studded Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Species of day flying Moths.

As the end of the month approached, several species of migrant birds were seen passing through on site.  Tree Pipits, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers all depart August/September.
Blackberries, Rowan/Holly/Bird Cherry  berries were observed being consumed mainly by Blackbirds.
Many Blackbirds were observed sunbathing, with wings outspread.

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.