Nature Notes March 2024
Date Published: 31-03-2024
A very wet and windy month the last few days of which heavy rain, strong winds, hail stones, a thunder storm and a warm sunny day were experienced.
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owls, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons Stockdoves, Stonechats, Siskins, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Dunnocks,, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinch, Coal/Blue/Great/Long tailed Tits, Blackcap, Chiffchaffs.
Mammals: Fox, Grey Squirrels, Hedgehog.
Plant in flower/berry: Common Gorse, Holly, Ivy, Viburnum, Catkins, Cotoneaster, Wild Cherry, Laurel.
Insects: Midges, Buff tailed Bees, Wood Lice, Wasps.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral.
By the end of the month, many species of birds had constructed nests.
Grey Squirrels had built a nest in the Owl box to rear their young.
The first sightings of a Hedgehog was seen on camera, after hibernation.
Recorders: C Wilcox K Wilcox
NATURE FACT
In recent years the Siskin has become a common garden visitor during the Winter months. In the breeding season, it is much more secretive and hides away high up in the top of Conifer trees. The Siskin is one of our smallest finches, and like most other members of that family, the male is brightly coloured. Its staple diet is Conifer seeds which are generally available all year.
SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party replaced the pedestrian gate at the Redwood Drive entrance, replaced rotten fence posts and broken rails as well as removing fallen trees and branches.
