Nature Notes January 2022

Date Published: 03-02-2022

One of the sunniest Januaries recorded for England, mainly dry but with a number of local frosty nights.

SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard) : Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Tawny Owls, Wood Pigeons, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Blackcaps, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Snipe, Stonechats, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Redwing.
Insects: Buff-tailed Bees, Midges Sheet-Web Spiders.
Mammals: Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels. Foxes.
Butterflies: Peacock.
Plants (in flower/berry) : Holly berries, Ivy seed heads, Cotoneaster.
Pond life: Whirlygig Beetles.

The Snipe was seen in the Northern area of the Reserve.

NATURE FACT
Grey Squirrels were introduced from America in the late 1800’s. A Squirrels nest, called a drey, is made from twigs, leaves and moss. It is often set against the trunk and branches of a tree but may also be in a tree hole, or even in a nest box, intended for Owls or Kestrels. Their young are raised in the drey but it is also used at any time of the year as a sheltered resting place.

Recorders: C. Wilcox, K. Wilcox
Contributor: R Pitts

SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party cut back Gorse and thinned out Birch saplings on the dry heath area.