Nature Notes March 2019

Date Published: 02-04-2019

A month of wet periods and unusually warm, sunny days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Tawny Owls. Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Stonechats, Siskins, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long -Tailed Tits, Blackcap.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Mole activity, Fox.
Insects: Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Wasps, Hornet, Hover Flies. Flies.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Peacock, Comma.
Plants in Flower: Common Gorse, Laurel, Flowering Currant, Amelanchier, Cherry, Hazel Catkins.
Fungi: Birch Polypore, Many-zoned Polypore.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles.
Reptiles: Slow Worm.

A Blackcap was heard in the last week of the month along the Hazelwood fence line, having returned on migration.
A number of Hedgehogs have been seen in the area of Hazelwood.
Species of Tits were seen busy taking nesting material into the boxes on site.

Recorder: C Wilcox

NATURE FACT
Heathland is now globally scarce. The U.K. has about a fifth of Europe’s lowland heath. The total area in the U.K. has shrunk by 80% since the 1800s. The R.S.P.B, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and County Councils alongside other partners work to restore heathlands to their former glory.

SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party removed redundant fencing and commenced necessary repairs to the boardwalk.
The cattle were removed for TB testing possibly to return in May.