Nature Notes November

Another predominately wet month, with rain, wind and the occasional dry sunny day.   Temperatures remained fairly mild throughout, until the last week, when heavy frosts occurred and cold winds were experienced.  Changes on the Reserve were very evident with foliage changing from Autumn colours to bare branches.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Grey Heron, Tawny Owl, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Wrens, Goldcrest,  Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Dunnocks,, Stonechats, Redwings, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Blackcap, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Butterflies:   Red Admiral, Large White.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters.
Insects:   Midges, Bees.
Mammals:   Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Fox.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Holly Berries, Blackberry fruits, Rowan Tree berries, Tree acorns, Ivy plant seed heads.
Fungi:   Many-zoned Polypore, Silver leaf bracket.
A Blackcap was seen along the Hazelwood boundary, not having migrated to warmer climes for the winter. A flock of Redwings were resident on site from the last week in the month, driven southwards from Scandinavia. They were feeding on Holly berries.

SITE  MANAGEMENT
The cattle have now been removed from the site.
The monthly work party cut back  Holly within the woodland in the south west corner  of the Reserve to encourage a more varied ground flora and allow some of the saplings of other species to gain a foothold.  The date of the next work party is yet to be decided.  Details will be posted on this blog page.

Nature Fact

Redwings are the smallest of the true Thrushes. They suffer severely in cold winters and any prolonged snowfall results in large numbers of underweight birds struggling to find enough food to keep warm and stay alive. This encourages them to move south, where they live a nomadic life, searching for food.  The  ‘seep’ sound is the most common flight call and if you see the birds in flight, a glimpse of the Redwing’s rich russet-red underwing and  bold eyestripe, which is white or yellowish-white, makes its identity clear.

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.