Work Party Tuesday 27th September 10am-1pm

Likely tasks are…

Laying chicken wire on the boardwalk (repaired section)

Scrub clearance along fencelines, ditches, paths.

Gate fittings to be modified.

Please meet at the heathland information panel.  Phone Will Holland on 07827 820465 if any queries. Refreshments will be provided.

Nature Notes August

Several weeks of warm bright weather but little rain. Strong winds at times.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Black-headed
Gulls, Common Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Kestrel, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves,  Heron, Grey Wagtail, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Siskins, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrest, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Mole activity.
Plants in flower:  Cranesbill, Cotton Grass, Bell Heather, Crossleaved Heath, Ling. Water Lily.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Common Water
Boatman, Common Back swimmers.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large/Small Whites, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Silver-studded Blues, Grayling, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral,  Gatekeeper, Peacock, Species of day flying Moths.
Insects:   Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Hornets, Wasps, Flies, Ants, Ladybirds, Sheet Web/Orb Spiders, Raft Spider, Grasshopper.
Reptiles:   Common Lizards, Slow Worm, Grass Snake.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Broad Bodied, Four Spot Chaser, Small Red, Common Damselfly, Emperor, Common Darter, Keeled Skimmer.

A good number and variety of Dragonfly and Damselfly seen on site during August.
A few Silver-studded Blue Butterflies at the beginning of the month on the central heathland.
An unconfirmed sighting of a pair of Ringed Parakeets (no image obtained) which were very vocal.
Calls from the Nightjar ceased by mid-August.

SITE  MAINTENANCE
Rotten hand rails were replaced on the boardwalk. Invasive vegetation was cut back from the boardwalk and pathways. Pine saplings removed.

Nature Fact

The Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly is found mainly on bogs and marshes.  Only mature males are blue, young male resembles female. Male commonly rests on the ground.

Work Party Tuesday 30th August

Meet at the Ringwood Drive entrance at 10am. Tools and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome, do as much or as little as you wish.

Nature Notes July

A warm, dry month with rainfall below the July average.  There were strong winds at times.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Tawny Owls, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Grey Heron, Swifts, 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, Fox, Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Mole activity.
Plants in flower:   Cranesbill, Catkins, Cotton Grass, Blackberry, Garlic Mustard, Herb Robert, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Water Lily, Bog Asphodel, Dandelion, Common Vetch, Creeping Cinquefoil, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Rowan berries showing colour.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large/Small/Green-veined Whites, Holly Blues, Orange Tip, Peacock, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Silver-studded Blue, Grayling, Brimstone, Comma, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper.
Insects/spiders:   Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Raft Spiders, Flies, Grasshoppers, Crickets, Wasps, Hornets, Ants, Wasp Spider, Sheet Web Spider.
Reptiles/Amphibians:  Common Lizards, Slow Worms, Grass Snake, Adder. Common Frog.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Broad Bodied, Four Spot Chaser, Small Red, Common Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle, Southern Hawker.

The Owlets, which have been monitored, have not been reported as seen during July although calls and screeching has been heard at several locations away from the nursery site.
A group of Swifts were spotted flying over the site, at a high level.
Young birds were evident, reaching independence.