Slop Bog Notes March 2018

Date Published: 04-05-2018

March brought a couple of separate periods of snow, with strong winds and low temperatures . The month in general was a wet one, with days of heavy rainfall and the occasional dry, warm and sunny day.  Despite the harsh weather, wild life was active.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Grey Heron, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawks, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Wrens,
Goldcrests, Firecrest, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Redwings, Mistle Thrush, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Roe Deer, Fox.
Insects: Buff-tailed Bees, Midges.
Butterflies/Moths: Brimstone, Red Admirals.
Reptiles:  Adder
Plants in Flower: Common Gorse, Hazel Catkins.
Fungi: Polypore.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Common Frogs, Frog spawn, Common Newts.
Deer slots were seen compressed into ground covered snow.
Redwings observed eating Ivy berries and the few remaining Holly berries.
A Firecrest was seen off the path of Hazelwood West.
Goldcrests were very active at the tree canopy, catching Midges from mass gatherings of these insects.
Tawny Owls heard calling early evening.
Nest building began by Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks and some Tit species in the on site nest boxes. All observed collecting nesting material.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard drumming as was the Green Woodpeckers laughing call.

NATURE FACT
A Catkin is a structure consisting of many extremely small flowers in which the petals and sepals are usually absent. These structures are necessary to insect-pollinated flowers, since they help to attract insects. Late Winter and early Spring is the time of year when most Catkins start to open out. On many trees, such as Hazel, they emerge before the new season’s leaves, to take full advantage of the wind to disperse their pollen.

Recorder: C. Wilcox

SITE MANAGEMENT
There wasn’t a work party in March. The next two are scheduled for the 10th April and the 1st May at 10am, meet at the Redwood Drive entrance.