Nature Notes January 2016

The weather continued to be wet and windy throughout the month, with only a few tolerable days and several frosty nights.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Buzzards, Tawny Owl, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Siskins, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Treecreeper.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in Flower:   Gorse.
Insects:   Several species of Bees.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.

A quiet month on the Reserve with not a great deal of movement.
Tawny Owls continued to call.
Many birds, in particular the Tit species, were seen in pairs.

Nature Fact

The Jay belongs to the Crow family. In Spring you may find gatherings of Jays known as ‘marriages’. These are probably courting birds trying to find a mate. On some occasions up to 30 Jays are present displaying and calling in great excitement. They are shy and restless birds and you may find it hard to get a good view. Most often you see them flying away when the large, white patch above the black tail is noticeable.

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!