Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at Avon Heath Country Park on Tuesday 27th July commencing 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.

Nature Notes June

Most of June was dominated by heavy rain, wind and thick cloud with only a few short periods of sunshine generating mild temperatures.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Tawny Owls, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Green/Great spotted Woodpeckers, Tree Pipits, Stonechats, Nightjar, Siskins, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Fox, Roe Deer, Mole activity.
Plants in flower:   Cranesbill, Catkins, Cotton Grass, Holly, Blackberry, Garlic Mustard, Herb Robert, Bell Heather, Cross leaved Heath, Water Lily, Foxgloves, Bog Asphodel, Yellow Flag Iris, Yellow Broom.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Butterflies/Moths:   Silver-studded Blue, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Large/Small Whites, Holly Blues, Orange Tips, Peacock, Red Admiral, Species of day flying Moths.
Insects:   Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Raft Spider, Flies, Wasps Ants.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards, Slow Worms.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Broad Bodied, Four Spot Chaser, Small Red, Common Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle.

Monitoring of the two Tawny owlets continued throughout the month, observing the progress and development in their behaviour and appearance.  Towards the end of June the family dispersed and are now more difficult to locate having left the nursery site for independence and new territories.
A Jay was observed predating a Common Lizard on the boardwalk.
Bog Myrtle scent was very apparent on dry warmer days.
A Nightjar was heard and seen on the central heath.

SITE  MAINTENANCE
A picnic table was constructed in the glade bordering the western edge of the central heathland. Invasive vegetation was cut back from the permissive pathways.

Nature Fact

The Raft Spider may be seen resting on leaves of pond weed.  The front legs rest on the surface of the water to feel the vibrations of struggling insects on which they prey.

June Work Party

The next work party is scheduled for Tuesday the 21st June. Meet at the Redwood Drive entrance at 10am. Tools and refreshments will be provided.

Nature Notes May

Mixed weather conditions throughout May ending with warm sunny days.  The Reserve offered sightings of several migratory birds.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Tawny Owls, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Cuckoo, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Tree Pipits, Stonechats, Reed Bunting, Siskins, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Male Mallard Duck.
Mammals:   Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Fox, Mole activity.
Plants in flower:   Cranesbill, Catkins, Cotton Grass, Garlic Mustard, Herb Robert, Rhododendron, Rowan.
Fungi:   Birch Polypore.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Stickebacks.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large/Small Whites, Brimstone, Holly Blues, Orange Tips, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, species of day flying Moths.
Insects:   Buff-tailed Bees, Hover Flies, Midges, Black Ants.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Four Spot Chaser, Small Red, Common Blue Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards, Grass Snake.

Tawny Owls have reared two Owlets this year, using one of the Owl nesting boxes installed by S.B.G.  Another box has four eggs,but no adult Owl has been observed incubating.  This is the first time the boxes have been used.
A Cuckoo was heard calling from the north end of the site, early in the month.
Tree Pipits have returned and have been seen on the Pine trees on the central heathland.
Many young birds were observed on site late in the month, having fledged.  The Blue Tits nesting in a box, mentioned in the April report, only achieved to rear two young out of the initial five.  This could have been an indication of low insect numbers at the time of rearing.

Site Management

The walk way site access from Cedar Way has been completed. Encroaching vegetation was cleared from the boardwalk by the work party volunteers and rotten planks replaced.
It was hoped the cattle would have returned to the Reserve by now but we understand negotiations continue with the preferred grazier.