Nature Notes February

The weather remained wet on the whole, giving way to a drier spell in the last week.

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

A female Blackcap was sighted along the Hazelwood West footpath, having remained during the Winter period instead of migrating.
Signs of Roe Deer on site, with tracks in soft mud.

Nature Fact

Roe Deer have cloven hooves that leave tracks (slots) in muddy places and on favourite paths.  Well-trodden tracks may sometimes be seen around a single tree or bush.  These are known as ‘Roe rings’ and may be related to courtship behaviour.  If disturbed, Roe make off in a series of terrific bounds and up to 16 metres may be covered in a single spring.

February Work Party

The February work party has been rescheduled to Tuesday March 15th. Details will be published here nearer the time.

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.