Work Party Tuesday 26th September

There is a work party next Tuesday starting at 10am until 1pm.  Please meet at the Redwood Drive entrance.  We will be installing a bench as well as undertaking a few other odd jobs.

As always wear old clothes and dress for the weather. Tools and refreshments will be provided.

Telephone Will Holland on 07827 820465 with any queries.

Nature Notes August

The weather during August was dominated by heavy showers of rain with strong winds on occasions. Towards the end of the month, drier conditions and mild days were experienced.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Blackcap, Tree Creeper, Nuthatches, Goldcrest, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrush, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Siskins, Kestrel. Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:  Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Wood Mice, Roe Deer.
Butterflies/Moths:   Species of day flying Moths, Large/Small/Green Veined White, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue.
Pond Life:  Pond Skaters, Back Swimmers, Whirlygig Beetles, Stickleback fish, Frog.
Insects:   Species of Bees and Wasps, Hoverflies, Common Green Grasshopper, Raft Spider, Sheet Web Spiders, Orb Spiders, Funnel Spiders.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:  Broad Bodied Chaser, Emperor, Small Red, Common Blue.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard, Female Grass Snake, Slow Worm, Female Adder.
Plants in flower:  Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Rowan Tree Berries, Holly Berries, Ivy seed heads, Large White Pond Lily, Blackberry fruits, Common Vetch, Cranesbill.

The Rowan berries are providing meals for a number of birds at present, particularly Blackbirds and Bullfinches.
Tawny Owls have continued to be very vocal along the Hazelwood fence line.
A number of Hedgehogs have been sighted in the late evening in gardens adjoining the Reserve.
Many migrant bird species are in the process of preparing to leave, building up their fat reserves for the long journey ahead of them. One of the first to leave is the Nightjar, who has not been heard calling during the past month.
With the wet and mild weather, Fungi is now forming.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
The fenceline forming the southern perimeter of the enclosure was reinforced with barbed wire. The path along this fence is being widened to allow vehicular access from the Redwood Road entrance as far as the boardwalk. The next work party is scheduled for 5th September and another may be held on the 26th - see this blog page for details nearer the time.

Nature Fact

The Bullfinch forages in woodland, especially coniferous forests. It is a versatile bird both in choice of habitat and in the food it eats, rarely moving more than a few miles from home territory and is expert at seeking out the best food available in its local patch. Adult Bullfinches are vegetarians but they feed their nestlings on large quantities of predigested and regurgitated insects and spiders. Throughout Summer and Autumn they consume a huge variety of seeds, anything from minute grass seeds to the ash keys which hang in inviting bunches and are one of the Bullfinch’s favourite food.

Nature Notes July

The weather during July was very mixed, with extremely hot dry weather followed by   windy and wet conditions.  Quite quiet on the Reserve as the breeding season nears the end for most animals.  

SIGHTINGS
Birds :  Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Tree Creeper, Nuthatches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Goldcrests, Wrens, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Nightjar, Siskins, Kestrel, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Fox, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies/Moths:   Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Large/Small White, Comma, Small Heath, Silver-studded Blue, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood. Species of day flying Moths.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Back Swimmers, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:   Species of Bees, Hoverflies, Wasps, Mining Bees, Velvet Ants, Common Green Grasshoppers, Raft Spider, Sheet Web Spiders, Orb Spiders, Funnel Spiders, Seven Spot Ladybird.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Southern Hawker, Broad Bodied Chaser, Four Spot Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Small Red, Common Blue, Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard.
Plants in flower:   Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel, Rowan Tree Berries, Holly Berries, Large White Pond Lily, Blackberry Fruits, Cranesbill, Garlic Mustard, Common Vetch,

A Nightjar was last recorded on 7th July before the weather turned wet.
Young Owlets have been heard along Hazelwood.
A case of Avian Pox was sighted on a Dunnock along the southern fence line and reported to the appropriate authorities.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
Cattle returned to the Reserve in early July. There was no work party in July-the next two will be held on the 1st August and 5th September. Details will be posted on this blog page  nearer the time.

Nature Fact

AVIAN POXVIRUS ALERT  -  Avian pox is a viral skin infection that shows up as warty growths on the head (particularly next to the eyes and beak) legs, wings or other body parts of the infected bird.  The growths are usually grey, pinkish, red or yellow in colour and can reach a considerable size.  Affected birds feed and move around normally.  The birds most affected are Tits, Dunnocks and pigeons.  Avian poxvirus spreads between birds by biting insects, by direct bird-to-bird contact and by indirect contact via surfaces such as perches or bird feeders.  Good hygiene at feeding stations (regular disinfection required) will help to stop the spread to healthy birds.