Work Party Tuesday 25th October

Meet at 10am at the Redwood Drive entrance. We will continue with some of the scrub clearance work for access and habitat management. Tools, gloves and refreshments provided. We will be on site until 1pm.

Please phone Will Holland on 07827 820465 if any queries.

Nature Notes September

September began with periods of heavy rain turning to brighter blustery weather mid to late month. Several mornings were damp and misty, giving an Autumnal feel.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzards, Tawny Owls, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stonechats, Siskins, Chiff Chaffs, Willow Warblers, Reed Bunting, Jack Snipe, Pheasant, 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:   Ling,  Water Lily.
Pond Life:   Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large/Small Whites, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, species of day flying moths.
Insects:   Midges,  Sheet/Orb Spiders. Grasshoppers.
Reptiles:   Slow Worms. Common Lizard.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Broad Bodied, Common Darter, Emperor.

In the latter part of the month, migrant birds such as Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs were seen feeding, several together, preparing for their departure.
Pipistrelle Bats were recorded late into the month, on warm dry evenings.
A Jack Snipe was observed in flight and adjacent to the boardwalk.  These birds usually breed elsewhere but do visit the site throughout the Winter months, although difficult to locate and observe, unless disturbed.
Several species of birds seen catching food for the oncoming Winter, including Jays and Nuthatches.
Many finches were late in producing young this Summer.  Noticeable were the young Goldfinches who at present lack their red and black masked faces which will develop during the Winter months.

SITE  MAINTENANCE
The work party laid chicken wire on the replaced boardwalk planks as well as clearing scrub along fence lines, ditches and paths. The next work party is scheduled for October 25th commencing 10am. Details will posted on this blog page nearer the time.

Nature Fact

ALERT
Two bird diseases have been observed in the area of Slop Bog.  Trichomonosis is a disease which affects mostly finch species, especially Greenfinch.  The infected birds show extreme runny moisture at the eyes and beak, with beak open, showing great difficulty in swallowing.  This prevents the bird from feeding and subsequently it dies.   Knemidocoptes is caused by mites burrowing into the legs of birds, creating raised scales and growths on the legs.  This has been seen on Chaffinches and Wood Pigeons on site.
ADVICE
If you have seen an infected bird on your feeder, please remove feeder and soak in a solution of 95% water/5 percent bleach for a period of time, to help prevent other birds contacting these diseases.  To report any infected birds, contact  web.support@bto.org  or write to  B.T.O., The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU

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.