17th may 2011 --- nest boxes

below are the records of the nest box survey on the 17th may 2011.  click on the link below, should get you to see or download it.

click on this link for the spreadsheet


Quite a few Redstart now, plus the three separate nuthatch nests.

martin

two two man saws

I have purchased a couple of two man saws on eBay.  Second hand of course.  One pound and five pounds.

I have sharpened them and generally titivated them.  I think they will be fine.

One is like the one that Alan used to bring, and the other is more symmetric.  I think Alan's is really for vertical cutting of horizontal logs, while the other is for horizontal cutting of vertical trees.

I am keeping them in the tool store for general use.

Martin

Adder on the road

last Thursday, I saw a magpie having a go at something on the road up from the tool store.  I think that it was mutual, as the adder also had a go at the magpie.  I shooed away the magpie, and hoped the snake would just disappear.  However it just wanted to stay there.

It look Ok, but sluggish.  I found a very long stick, and basically lifted and pushed it away down the path to the tool store.  Eventually it moved under its own steam onto the boundary bank and away.

also saw at least 4 green hairstreaks, including one by the five bar gate, small heaths, small coppers, buzzard, flock of crossbills, and a blackcap nesting behind the gentleman on the bench.

martin

17th May 2011 ... weekly volunteers

Present:
Neil, Anthony, Katherine and Martin


Activities:
- basically taken up with doing the nest box round.  Good progress with 9 redstart nests.  One tit has already finished.  3 nuthatches.
- recovered the nest box in the swamp which probably the cattle knocked down.
- checked the cattle and the ponies
- noted the dodder
- did running repairs to one nest box ( one before sphagnum heath ), installing a hook.
- one nest box had had its lid lifted up, but it was still occupied by Blue tit.  We closed it.  stump one half way up M1.

Observations:
- two Tawney Owls, including one seen near west pond, seeming to take off from the ground
- a couple of green hairstreaks
- 2 ( M&F) Broad Bodies Chasers on Amex pond
- lots of large reds, and a few azures
- Raven, Buzzards.


martin

Adela reaumurella -- little dark moth with enormous antennae

I don't think they are there any more.  

A few weeks ago we had swarms of these dark fly like things around the tops of the pollarded trees behind the tool store.  Their antennae really are longer than their bodies.

I have found out there are called Adela reaumurella.   They have a common name of Green Longhorn.


I think only the males have the antennae.




martin

Speckled yellow Moth

I have seen this smallish day flying moth many times at Old Lodge, near the tool store.

I have just found it in a book, and so can now give it a name...  Speckled Yellow.  Well that is what I would have called it.

I don't know much about it.  Google it to find out.

I always found it difficult to tell whether it was a moth or a butterfly.  I would guess most people will think the latter.  It flies around for quite long distances without the least interest in landing.  A common man's fritillary.


martin

10th May 2011 ... weekly volunters

Present:

Martin, Pat and Ron

Activities:
- filled up brochures
- digging bracken on the South Heath
- checked Sundews.  plenty, but a bit dry
- checked Orchids.  None
- digging bracken along the top from the car park, plus the odd birch.
- checked club moss
- checked the 3 nest boxes to north of swamp.  The one in the swamp had fallen, and was placed under one of the others that was not occupied.  Blue Tit in the other.
- checked the cattle
- lookered the Ponies
- dug up some birch in the bad patch opposite Forester's cottage
- dug up some ragwort along the road and tool store
- checked the dodder area.  Masses of the plant already.

Observations:
- 2 green hairstreaks
- small copper
- plenty of small heaths
- one common blue
- sparrow hawk
- 2 buzzards
- Raven
- tree pipits
- wood lark
- 'suff cart'  Tanker came and emptied the cess pit.
- nice bit of peat available in one of the older coppiced gorse patches along the top.  easily accessible by car.


Martin

3rd May 2011 --- weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Anthony, Pat, Neil and Martin

Activities:
- did the nestbox survey, bar the three in the swamp and the previous two.
 - of note
3 nuthatches
7 possible redstarts
- put up 2 new boxes along the fence to South Heath
- continued repair work on the m1, using stones transported across the site.  This apparently worked well.
- pulled Bracken near the bridge
- pulled Birch sw of bridge


Observations:

- Sparrowhawk
- Raven
- 2+ green hairstreak
- Small Copper
- Brimstone
- Lesser redpoll


Martin

Nest boxes for 3rd May 2011

Here is the spread sheet of the nest box survey for 3rd May 2011

click to get spreadsheet

We have 3 boxes with nuthatches, none of which we can get into, as they are all sealed up with mud.

martin

Dead Shrew on New Heath

Last Thursday, I was up at Old Lodge walking around, and I happened to see a small dead shrew.  Small but maybe not a pygmy shrew.

It is probably only the third small mammal that I have ever seen on the reserve.  The others were a tree mouse ( 5 stem chestnut) and a pygmy shrew in the tractor shed ( having a confrontation with an adder).

No idea what case of death was.  No obvious damage.

martin