Work Party Tuesday 28th November

Meet at 10am at Redwood Drive entrance. We will be thinning out some of the holly within the woodland to allow more light to the ground. This will encourage a more varied ground flora and allow some of the saplings of other species to gain a foothold.

There is the chance of a bonfire although Holly is often reluctant to burn so we may stack it. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Please wear old clothes. A chance to take some Holly home for Christmas decorations if you like but we will be leaving any that bear berries.

Please ring Will Holland on 07827 820465 if any queries.

Nature Notes October

October was predominately wet, with short spells of drier mild weather.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls,  Grey Herons, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer.
Butterflies/Moths:   Species of day flying Moths, Large White, Speckled Woods, Peacock, Red Admiral.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:   Midges, Raft Spiders.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Emperor.
Plants in flower:  Blackberry berries, Rowan Tree berries, Oak Tree acorns, Ivy plant seed heads.
Fungi:   Fly Agaric, The Blusher, Birch Polypore, Common Puff Balls, The Sickener.

Pipistrelle Bats were still being seen and recorded on dry mild evenings.
Robins and Blackbirds continued to establish their Winter feeding territories.
Long-tailed Tits seen in flocks of up to 15 in number.
Sparrowhawks were frequently active in hunting along the Hazel Drive boundary.

Nature Fact

The Raft or Fishing Spider is mainly observed on moss or a leaf at the waters edge, or actually on the water surface, hunting down prey.  When alarmed it will sometimes vanish by climbing down the stem of a water plant, where it can remain submerged for up to an hour.

Nature Notes September

The weather during September was dominated by heavy rainfall and wind, with a few dry sunny days. The first signs of Autumn were showing. 

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Commmon Gulls, Grey Heron, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Tree Creeper, Nuthatches, Wrens, Robins, Blackbird, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:  Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer.
Butterflies,/Moths:   Species of day flying Moths, Large White, Speckled Wood,. Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Insects:   Species of Bees and Wasps, Common Grasshopper, Garden Spider, Wasp Spider, Midges, Craneflies.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Emperor, Small Red. Four Spot Chaser.
Reptiles:   Slow Worm, Adder.
Plants in flower:   Blackberry flowers and berries, Large White Water Lily, Rowan Tree Berries, Ivy seed heads, Ling Heather, Honeysuckle, Cranesbill, Tormentil.
Fungi:   Fly Agaric, The Blusher, Birch Polypore, Common Puff Balls.

A number of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs observed feeding and should depart by the end of September.
Spagnum Moss is in healthy growth due to the rainfall  throughout the month.
Pipistrelle Bats have been recorded throughout the month on the dry evenings.
A good number of Fungi species formed throughout the month.
An Adder was spotted swimming across Kingfisher Creek.
The change to the bird song has been noted and sometimes aggressive behaviour, due to establishing individual Winter feeding territories.

Nature Fact

The Adder’s year has two stages and takes place in two habitats.  The timing of each stage is variable and depends on local weather conditions.  From about late September, Adders are inactive, living in underground retreats.   By the end of October or when temperatures fall below nine degrees centigrade, it is unusual to find an Adder above ground.  During the Winter, they make use, often communally, of existing burrows, cracks and crevices, particularly under or among tree roots.  There are two reasons, for sharing a Winter den.  Firstly, there is usually a scarcity of secure, safe sites which give protection from frost, but do not become too dry; secondly, many snakes coiled together help to keep each other warm.