Nature Notes April 2021

Date Published: 02-05-2021

This was the driest April since the 1980’s with only 9% of the usual rainfall. Cold Easterly winds and record night frosts for the month were a feature.

SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Magpies, Buzzards, Heron, Robins, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, Siskins, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Stonechats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Coal/Blue,Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Insects: Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Bee Flies, Hover Flies. Wolf Spider.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Mole activity, Wood Mice, Hedgehogs, Pipistrelle Bats.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Common Newt, Smooth Snake, Common Lizard.
Fungi: Bog Beacon.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red Damselfly.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Peacock.
Plants (in flower): Common Gorse, Cotoneaster, Celandine, Ribes (Flowering currant), Broom, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle, Amelanchier, Catkins.
Pond Life: Common Newt, Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters.

Bird nests have been constructed by many of the birds on site, with Blackbirds and Robins already sitting on eggs.
The Tawny Owls have Owlets.
Pipistrelle Bats have been seen and heard on detector, despite the cooler evenings.
A Smooth Snake was observed near the East Bridge, basking in warm sunshine. This is a rare sighting.
A small number of Bog Beacon Fungi were showing in the creek near the Western bridge.

NATURE FACT
The Smooth Snake is well camouflaged making it difficult to spot and is seldom seen. It has smooth scales as the name suggests. It feeds largely on other reptiles.

Recorder: C. Wilcox

SITE MANAGEMENT
A work party was held on 27th April continuing the clearance of debris and vegetation from the drainage ditch bordering the southern perimeter of the Reserve. A length of rotten and damaged boardwalk was removed and replaced by a hardcore path. A gate allowing access to the boardwalk was re-hung.