Nature Notes December 2021
Date Published: 03-01-2022
A wet and windy month with very mild temperatures for the time of year, with a few bright sunny days and cold frosty nights.
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Heron, Carrion Crows, Sparrowhawk, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Tawny Owls, Wood Pigeon, Great-Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Redwings, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Stonechats, Goldcrest, Wrens, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Insects: Bees, Midges, Wasp. Garden Spider, Funnel Web Spiders, Sheet Web Spiders.
Mammals: Roe Deer, Grey Squirrels, Foxes.
Butterflies: Peacock.
Plants (in flower/berry): Holly berries, Ivy seed heads, Cotoneaster berries.
Fungi: Turkey Tail, Birch Polypore.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles
Tawny Owls have been heard calling throughout December, in the nesting box location.
Redwings were feeding on Holly and Rowan berries at the beginning of the month.
A survey/clearing of the nest boxes on site took place during December. Only 17 were used out of a total of 42, a disappointing number for the 2021 breeding season.
NATURE FACT
Northern populations of Redwings move on a broad front between September and November. Icelandic birds tend to winter in Scotland and Ireland, while those from Scandinavia winter in southern Britain and further south into Europe. Wintering flocks roam widely.
Recorders: C. Wilcox, K. Wilcox
SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party cut back Gorse and thinned out Birch saplings on the dry heath area.
