Nature Fact

Undergrowth habits:  Heather might look monotonous at first, covering the ground as far as the eye can see, but among the individual plants, each in its particular stage of growth, there are a variety of different types of micro-habitat.  The small, young plants flowering prolifically in an open community, allow Lizards to bask on the warm, dry surface of the ground and Grasshoppers to find places to lay their eggs in the soil.  Here too, Solitary Bees and Wasps can excavate their nesting chambers.  The Wasps furnish the chambers with insect larvae as fresh food for their own larvae, while the Bees lay in a store of honey and pollen.

Work Party Tuesday 9th June at 10am

We will be continuing with the fence repairs pending arrival of the cattle on site. Work will be undertaken in wet areas of the Reserve so the wearing of wellingtons is recommended. It is advisable to bring insect repellent with you. Drinks will be provided.

Meet at the Redwood Drive entrance.

Nature Notes May

The weather during May was very mixed, with periods of both dry, sunny and warm temperatures, contrasting with cool, showery with strong winds.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Feral/Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Chiff Chaffs, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Pied Wagtail, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Stonechats.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Roe Deer, Fox, Grey Squirrrels.
Butterflies/Moths:   Species of day flying Moths, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Small/Large Whites, Red Admiral, Peacock.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Stickleback fish, Common Newts, Whirligig Beetles.
Insects:   Bee Species, Wasps, Sheet Web Spider, Hoverflies, Black Ants.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red.
Reptiles:   Adder, Common Lizards, Slow Worms.
Plants in flower:   Gorse, Cut leaved Geranium, Catkins.

May continued to be a busy month on site for the many resident birds with the building of nests, producing eggs, feeding of the young and in some cases, fledging.
Monitoring for the arrival of Tree Pipits and Nightjars continued throughout the month, but no positive sight or sound can be confirmed up to the last week of the month.

Nature Fact

The colour of the Adder is particularly interesting because differences between male and female are rare in snakes.  Adult female Adders are usually brownish or reddish with dark markings, whereas males are normally a contrasting black and pale grey, with obvious black zig-zag pattern.  Some Adders are darker in colour or totally black (melanic), with no visible pattern or marking.

Work Party Tuesday 5th May

We will be continuing with the fence repairs started in April. Any queries should be directed to Will Holland on 07827820465.