Nature Notes June 2018

Date Published: 01-07-2018

June was dry and hot with virtually no rain.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls,
Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood
Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, Goldcrest, Wrens,
Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches,
Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Stonechat,
Nightjar, Tree Pipit.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats.
Insects/Spiders: Wood Lice, Midges, Buff tailed Bees, Tiger Beetle, Hover Flies,
Solitary Bee, Bumble Bees, Raft Spider, Wolf Spider.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Adder, Grass Snake, Common Lizard, Slow Worms, Common
Frog.
Butterflies/Moths: Silver-studded blue, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large White,
Brimstone, Red Admiral, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Species of day flying Moths.
Plants in flower: Foxgloves, Cotton Grass, Herb Robert, Yellow Flag Iris,
Honeysuckle, Arum Lily, Blackberry, Yellow Broom.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Small Blue. Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters, Common Newts.

The Nightjar was recorded on every night throughout June.
Nuthatch chicks fledged successfully mid-June from a dead tree trunk nest, located
on the western end of the site.
Tree Pipits seen and heard on the central heath.
Both Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps continued to call and sing.
Raft Spider observed on the boardwalk.
A Tiger Beetle and Wolf Spider both spotted on the central path across the dry
heath.
Recorder: C Wilcox

NATURE FACT
Wolf Spiders are active hunters, preying on insects and sucking their juices for food.
Unlike other spiders, they do not build a web, but by speed, strength and surprise of
attack, they run down chosen victims in much the same way as a wolf, hence their
name. In turn, they themselves fall victim to small spider-hunting wasps.

SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party replaced unstable fence posts and cut back invasive vegetation from
pathways including the boardwalk. The next work party is scheduled for 31 July at 10am.