Nature Notes August 2023
Date Published: 04-09-2023
The weather was very mixed, dominated by heavy cloud
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Heron, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owls, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood pigeons, Stock Doves, Stonechats, Nightjars, Tree Pipits, Siskins, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Chiffchaffs.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Foxes, Hedgehogs, Wood Mice, Pipistrelle Bats, Sparano Pipistrelle Bats.
Plants in flower or berry: Rowan, Blackberry, Common Vetch, Holly, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Ling, White Pond Lily, Cut-leaved Geranium, Cotton Grass, Celandine, Sundews, Marsh Gentians, Low growing Gorse.
Insects: Bees, Wasps, Harvestman Spiders, Wood Lice, Black Ants, Common Green Grasshopper, Field Cricket, Orb-web Spiders, Sheet-web Spiders, Funnel Spiders, Midges.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Toad, Common Frog, Slow Worm, Common Lizard.
Butterflies/Moths: Speckled Wood, Holly Blues, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Orange Tip, Small Heath, Gatekeeper, Grayling, day flying Moths.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters, Common Water Boatman, Raft Spider.
Dragonflies/Damselflies: Small Red, Common Darter, Southern Hawker, Broad bodied Chaser.
Fungi: Puff Balls, Turkey Tail.
Due to the wetter and mild weather conditions, Sundews and Autumn Fungi appeared.
Several colonies of Marsh Gentians were found.
A damaged Owl box was replaced
NATURE FACT
The Marsh Gentian grows on areas of acidic bog and wet heathland. Clear blue tubular flowers flaring at the extremities, have both white and grey or green vertical streaks with grey spots on the inside. Leaves are narrow linear.
Recorders: C Wilcox, K Wilcox
SITE MAINTENANCE
Two work parties were held. Tasks undertaken included the ongoing removal of debris and and cutting back of vegetation from the drainage ditch and clearance of pine saplings from the heath.
Marsh Gentian Image by K Wilcox
