Nature Notes May 2024
Date Published: 15-06-2024
May was predominately a wet, windy month but with several drier, warm, sunny days.
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Herring Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Stockdove, Collared Doves, Swifts, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Siskin, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Starlings, Dunnocks, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals: Fox, Grey Squirrels, Hedgehog, Wood Mice, Mole (activity).
Plants in flower/berry: Yellow Flag Iris, Arum Lily, Foxglove, Rhododendron, Cut-leaved Geranium, Herb Robert, Bluebells, Common Vetch, Buttercups, Bog Myrtle, Catkin, Ivy, Celandine, Dandelions.
Butterflies/Moths: Brimstone, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange Tip, Peacocks.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Common Blue, Broad Bodied.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Common Newts, Whirlygig Beetles, Sticklebacks.
Insects: Bee Flies, Midges, Wasps, Buff Tailed Bees, Hover Flies, Solitary Bees, Black Garden Ants, Wood Lice.
Reptiles: Slow Worm.
With nesting well underway, mostly only the male birds were seen, while the females were sitting on eggs.
On warmer, dry days, Butterflies were seen.
A Sparrowhawk was sighted along the Hazelwood path, hunting for prey.
The first sightings of Damselflies and Dragonflies were noted.
NATURE FACT
The hunting methods of the Sparrowhawk rely mainly on silent observation, stealth and final explosive acceleration. It exploits rich food sites within a territory and return to them repeatedly, provided they remain productive. The hawk sits silently on a perch, waiting for prey. It glides only as far as the next perch, until it singles out its victim then approaches fast and low taking the unsuspecting prey with out-stretched talons, either while the victim is still perched, or after a short and frantic pursuit which isn’t always successful.
Recorders: C. Wilcox K. Wilcox
SITE MANAGEMENT
The monthly work party focused on the boardwalk, installing pedestrian gates, post and wire fencing and reinforcing posts and rails. The West Moors Road entrance notice board was repaired.
