Nature Notes September 2023
Date Published: 26-09-2023
The first two weeks were dry and warm before the weather turned wet and stormy. The latter days improved with mixed weather conditions.
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owls, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Stonechats, Siskins, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tit.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Wood Mice, Pipistrelle Bats, Saprano Pipistrelle Bats, Hedgehogs.
Plants in Flower/Berry: Rowan, Blackberry, Holly, Cut-leaved Geranium, Holly, Sundews, Marsh Gentian, Low Growing Gorse, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Ling.
Insects: Species of Bees, Wasps, Wood Lice, Common Green Grasshopper, Field Cricket, Midges, Orb-Web Spiders, Sheet-Web Spiders, Funnel Spiders, Black Ants.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Common Frog, Slow Worm.
Butterflies/Moths: Speckled Wood, Large White, Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Pine Moth, Species of day flying Moths.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Four Spot Chaser, Southern Hawker, Broad Bodied Chaser, Small Red, Common Darter.
Fungi: Puff Balls, Turkey Tail.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps have been preparing for migration.
Tawny Owls were heard calling.
NATURE FACT
The Speckled Wood prefers to remain in shade and half shade, readily rests on the leaves of shrubs and herbaceous plants. It feeds on nectar and the juice of overripe berries, excrement and flowing tree sap. It vigorously defends its territory against intruders. Eggs are laid singly on grass stems and leaves of the caterpillar’s food plants.
Recorders: C. Wilcox, K. Wilcox
SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party cleared scrub growing alongside the drainage ditch and outlet at the northern end of the boardwalk.
Cattle returned to the Reserve.
Speckled Wood Image by K Wilcox
