Nature Notes

Birds:   Carrion Crows, Magpies, Black-headed Gulls, Jays, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Buzzards, Stonechats, Siskins, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Grey Wagtails, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Fox, Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Speckled Wood, Species of day flying Moths.
Insects:   Wasps, Sheet/Nursery Web/Funnel Web/Garden Spiders.
Reptiles:   Slow Worm.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore, Deceiver, Sulphur Knight-cap, Sickener,

Readings of Pipistrelle Bats were still being taken on the last evening of the month.
A Kestrel was spotted mid-month, north of the boardwalk.

Nature Fact

The Slow Worm is a legless Lizard resembling a small, smoothly cylindrical, neckless snake.  It prefers damp shady places and hibernates during the coldest months of the year in warm places like compost heaps or under metal sheeting.

Work Party Tuesday 27th October

Next Tuesdays work party will be at the usual time of 10am - 1pm, meeting at the Redwood Drive entrance.  We will burn the material cut last month and clear further vegetation to maintain access to fencelines (for repairs) and keep access routes clear.

Refreshments provided as usual.  Please wear old clothes that don’t melt easily!

Any queries - phone Will Holland on 07827 820465.

Nature Notes September

Heavy showers of rain dominated the first half of the month followed by dry, warm, sunny days, with cool nights.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Jays, Magpies, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Siskins, Stonechat, Swallows, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Willow Warbler, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:  Fox, Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer, evidence of Mole movement underground, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies/Moths:  Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Large/Small Whites, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, species of day flying Moths.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Stickleback fish, Frog.
Insects:  Crane Flies, Wasps, Bees, Sheet Web Spiders. Nursery Web Spiders, Funnel Web Spiders, Garden Spiders.
Plants in flower:  Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Rowan/Holly Tree berries, Montbretia, Large White Water Lily.
Fungi:  Birch Polypore, Fly Agaric, the Blusher.

Late in the month, three separate Tawny Owls were seen and heard in the same area.
A Heron was seen in flight and later landed in the canopy of a Pine Tree.

Nature Fact

The voice of a Tawny Owl is a familiar hoot ‘hooo-hooo-hooo’ of the male that proclaims his territory and is used during courtship, September through to November, following on to nesting and producing young from as early as February.  The female also has a hoarse version of the hoot. Another commonly heard call is a sharp ‘kee-wick’ made by both male and female.  Occasionally calls can be heard during daylight.