Nature Notes December

                                               

December was unusually mild with strong winds and heavy rain for  the majority of the month.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gulls, Stonechat, Siskins, Redwings, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Indication of Mole movement, Wood Mouse.
Butterflies/Moths:   Red Admiral.
Plants in flower:   Gorse.
Insects:   Several species of Bees.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore, Sickener.
Pond Life:   Whirlygig Beetles.

Tawny Owls heard on most nights.
A flock of Redwing at various locations on site, stripping Holly bushes of their berries.
Many bird species seen defending their territories.
The clearance of bird boxes of last years contents has been delayed, due to the hazardous weather and ground conditions on site.

WORK  PARTY
The December work party continued the coppicing of gorse and clearing overgrown vegetation from the fenceline bordering the dry heath area north of the Redwood Drive entrance. Accumulated cuttings were burnt. The next work party is scheduled for Tuesday 26th January, details will be published on this blog page shortly before this date.

Nature Fact

Redwings are Winter visitors,  fractionally smaller in size to the Song Thrush.  The ‘seep’ sound is the commonest flight call of the Redwing.  Distinctive markings are the pale eye-stripe above and below the eyes, with red flanks.  Redwings breed in Iceland in the Summer months and are visitors in Scotland during the winter, spreading southwards if the weather conditions deteriorate.

Work Party Tuesday 29th December 10m-1pm

We will be cutting and burning Gorse.  Bonfire guaranteed.  Xmas leftovers guaranteed.  Weather - who knows! 

All are invited, whether you want to get stuck into the Gorse or just have a chat and warm yourself by the fire. 

Meet by the Heathland information panel.  Phone Will Holland on 07827 820465 if you would like more info.

Merry Christmas!

Nature Notes

November was memorable for the mild, wet and windy weather. Due to these weather conditions there was little wildlife to observe.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Magpies, Black-headed Gulls, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeons, Buzzards, Siskins, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels.
Butterflies/Moths:   Red Admiral, Brimstone.
Insects:   Sheet/Nursery Spiders, Web/Funnel Spiders.
Fungi:   Birch  Polypore, Sickener.

The Tawny Owls continued to be very vocal from dusk through to morning light.

WORK  PARTY

The October work party coppiced gorse and cleared pine saplings on the dry heath area north of the Redwood Drive entrance.  The next work party is scheduled for the 29th December. Details will be published on our blog page shortly before the due date. 

Nature Fact

During the winter months, blackbirds spend their nights in communal roosts.  Gathered together at the chosen sheltered site, it enables them to conserve heat most efficiently and safety from predators. These roosting birds are not just from the British population,  vast numbers come from Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland and Finland, for a milder winter.