Nature Notes June 2022

Date Published: 01-07-2022

Generally a warm and mild month with occasional thunder, lightning and strong winds.

SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Wrens, Goldcrest, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Siskins, Stonechats, Tree Pipits, Nightjar, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Grey Wagtail.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Hedgehogs.
Insects/Spiders: Wood Lice, Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Wasps, Hover Flies, Bumble-Bees, Ants, Orb-web Spiders, Sheet Web Spiders, Funnel Web Spiders.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Adder, Common Lizards, Slow Worm.
Butterflies/Moths: Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Orange Tip, Silver-studded Blue, Brimstone, Large Skipper, species of day flying Moths.
Plants in flower: Foxglove, Herb Robert, Yellow Flag Iris, Blackberry, Cotton Grass, Honeysuckle, Arum Lily, Holly, Garlic Mustard, Bog Asphodel, Cranesbill, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Sundews.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters, Common Newts, Backswimmers, Sticklebacks.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Common Blue, Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselle.

A Nightjar was heard in the first week of the month.
The warmer days brought many species of Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselfly on the wing.
Families of Tits were seen feeding.
Both Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs continued singing/calling throughout the month.

Recorders: C & K Wilcox

NATURE FACT
The Holly Blue Butterfly settles on Holly and Ivy flowers and feeds on the unripe berries. They are seen to drink by edges of streams and ponds.

SITE MAINTENANCE

Two work parties were held during the month carrying out boardwalk maintenance and fencing repairs, applying herbicide to Birch regrowth, clearing vegetation from Kingfisher Creek and cutting back Pine saplings.