Nature Notes November 2019

Date Published: 02-12-2019

A wet month with several overnight frosts during the last couple of weeks. A quiet month on site.

SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskins, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Stonechats, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Mole activity.
Insects/Spiders: Midges Orb-web Spiders, Sheet-web Spiders.
Plants in flower/Berries: Cut-leaved Geranium, Holly, Ivy.
Fungi: Bay Bolete, Sulphur Tuft, The Blusher, Bracket Fungi.
eating birds have now moved onto consuming Holly berries, as the Rowan berry stock has gone.
The cooler nights and a few night frosts caused the rapid deterioration of the Fungi on site.
A Firecrest was sighted along the fence line of Hazelwood West.

Recorder: C Wilcox

NATURE FACT
The Sparrowhawk typically soars over woods, perches inconspicuously, or dashes by on a quest to predate. It is essentially a forest-edge bird found in parks and gardens, extending its hunting range into more open country in Winter.

SITE MANAGEMENT
Two work parties were held. Holly was thinned in the woodland bordering West Moors Road and Gorse was cut back in the dry heath area to the north of the Redwood Drive entrance. Rotten posts were replaced at the kissing gate entrance to the dry heath.