Nature Notes

The weather in June was similar to that of May, very mixed.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Feral/Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Chiff Chaffs, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Stonechats, Siskins, Mallard Ducks, Grey Wagtail, Heron, Black-headed Gulls.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Wood Mouse.
Butterflies/Moths:  Large White, Holly Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Green Hairstreak. Species of day flying moths.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Back swimmers, Whirligig Beetles, Stickleback fish, White Water Lily.
Insects:   Hoverflies. Midges, Wasps, Bees, Funnel Spiders, Sheet Web Spiders.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Banded Agrion, Broad bodied Chaser.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards, Female Adder.
Plants in flower:   Cut-leaved Geranium, Foxgloves, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Dandelions, Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel, Common Sundews.

During the last week of June, the colony of Silver-studded Blue butterflies were showing in large numbers. Resident Bullfinches were seen with this years young.

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.

Nature Notes April

The beginning of April delivered fine warm weather, but the climate turned showery and cold towards the latter part of the month.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Jackdaws, Heron, Wood pigeons, Stonechats, Siskins, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting,  Chiff Chaffs, Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Blackcaps.
Canada Geese/Swallows/Sand Martins in flight over the site.
Red Kites seen circling beyond the Western perimeter of the Reserve
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Roe Deer, Fox, Mole activity found.
Butterflies:  Holly Blue, Small/Large White, Brimstones, Peacocks, Red Admiral, Orange Tip.
Moths:  Species of day flying moths
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Sticklebacks, Tadpoles, Palmate Newts, Whirligig Beetles.
Insects:   Several species of Bees, Hoverfly, Ladybirds, Wasps, Hornet.                    
Reptiles:   Adder, Slow Worm.
Plants in Flower:   Gorse, Primrose, English Bluebells.

The first Bats were detected mid-month.
Chiff Chaff and Blackcaps were heard in many locations on site, the latter having arrived during the last week of the month.
Early nesters were seen busy searching for food to feed early hatching broods, mostly Robins and Blackbirds.
Many Whirligig Beetles seen from the East Bridge where it crosses Kingfisher Creek.

Nature Fact

Whirligig Beetle:-  Groups of these small black beetles swim rapidly in circles on the surface of still water at a speed of 40 inches per second.  They are scavengers, eating other insects that fall into the water.

Forthcoming Work Parties

Work Parties dates for the next 3 months are as follows:-

21 April
5 May
9 June

All are welcome to attend, first timers particularly so, and details will be published on this blog page nearer the time

Nature Notes March

A reasonably dry mild month with only a few showery periods.  Signs of the arrival of Spring were evident.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Kingfisher, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Goldcrest, Siskins, Chiff Chaffs, Willow Warblers, Grey Wagtail.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Primroses.
Butterflies:   Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Tadpoles, Sticklebacks.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Signs of Moles creating mole hills, Roe Deer, Fox.
Insects:   Species of Bees.

Bird species were actively nest building and mating at the end of the month.
Both Chiff Chaffs and Willow Warblers arrived on site during the last week in the month.
A Kingfisher was observed fishing for Sticklebacks in the drainage ditch adjacent to the path and Hazel Drive.
A Heron was sighted perched on top of a Pine tree.
Tadpoles were found in the pools at the north west side of the site.
Badger tracks were seen along the western border.

Nature Fact

The small three-spined Stickleback is one of the most common fish found in ponds and streams in Britain. In March, it claims a territory in open water, defending if against other males, until the end of June. He excavates a pit and builds a nest tunnel for the female to spawn in. After fertilising the eggs, he drives her away, becoming a single parent, who provides shelter and protection for the broods it fathers.

Nature Notes

February delivered one fall of snow in the first week, followed by wet weather on the whole but with a few bright dry sunny days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:-   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Wrens, Coldcrests, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Female Stonechat, Siskins.
Mammals:-   Grey Squirrels, active Moles, Fox.
Plants in flower:-   Common Gorse.
Insects:-   Several species of Bees.

It was noticed that birds were seen in pairs.
Moles were very active, pushing up hills above their tunnel runs.
During the Winter months, the bird box survey was carried out on the Nature Reserve. Twenty four boxes were occupied last Spring.

Nature Fact

Winter life in the cold Season - The short Winter days give birds little time in which to meet their food requirements.  It then becomes vital to conserve as much energy as possible during the long cold over-night vigil.  Small birds are especially vulnerable to heat loss at night and some, such as Wrens and long-tailed Tits, huddle together in groups to share body warmth in a snug recess, such as a tree hole or old nest.

Work Party Tuesday 10th Feb

Meet at the West Moors Road entrance for 10am.  The noticeboard here has had to be repaired and needs resiting.  Depending on numbers, we may split, leaving a group to continue the installation  whilst the remainder carries out scrub clearance further out on the heath.  As always, refreshments available.  Please contact Will Holland on 07827 820465 if you have any queries.

Nature Notes January

January was a cold month on the whole bringing heavy rain, sleet and frosts.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Gulls, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Robins, Nuthatches, Wrens, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Siskins, Grey Wagtail.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Plants in Flower:   Common Gorse.