Date Published: 02-06-2022

NATURE NOTES May 2022

A month of very mixed weather conditions with dry sunny spells, wind and storms with heavy rain and lightning.

SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Heron, Tawny Owls, Wood Pigeons, Great Spotted/Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Siskins, Stonechats, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Robins, Blackbirds, Wren, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, Tree Pipits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Insects: Species of Bees, Midges, Wood Lice, Ants.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Foxes, Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Soprano Pipistrelle Bats, Hedgehogs.
Butterflies/Moths: Brimstone, Large White, Peacocks, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, species of day flying Moths.
Plants in Flower/Berry: Common Gorse, Catkin, Dandelion, Celandine, Cut-leaved Geranium, Sundews, Buttercups, Ivy, Arum Lily, Common Broom.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Common Newts,
Sticklebacks.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Reds, Broad Bodied.

The song of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs was evident throughout the month.
Tree Pipits were seen on the central heath area.
A family of Stonechats spotted on site.
Young Nuthatches fledged from the provided nest box.

NATURE FACT
Young Stonechats fly at 12 – 15 days. Adults continue to feed the young for 4 – 5 days before the female concentrates on the next brood while the male continues feeding for a further 5 – 10 days.

Recorders: C. Wilcox K. Wilcox
Contributor: C. Smith

SITE MANAGEMENT
A track was laid from the Redwood Drive entrance to the boardwalk to improve access for emergency vehicles.