Multiple skeins of geese (someone will have recognised them by their calls but not me, sorry) flew south over the reserve this morning, and at 12.15 four buzzards were circling and calling over the allotments and no doubt making sure the Wednesday Work Group left on time and locked the gates properly.
A large flock of goldfinches were feeding on the thistles by the Aldcliffe Road ponds. Photo attached.
Steve
There was a family of treecreepers in Pony Wood yesterday.
Steve
Five large skipper butterflies in SE corner of Arable Field.
Steve
There were hundreds of whirligig beetles (Gyrinus natator) on the surface of the Aldcliffe Road ponds this afternoon.
Steve
Common blue and blue-tailed damselflies were egg laying in the new ponds today.
Steve
Look out for Dan’s winter bird count and Rob Zlock’s diptera survey on the website. Now follow the link to the surveys directly from the home page.
At least four whitethroats in the hedge along the pads footpath. They seem to be benefiting from the hedge becoming taller and thicker.
Also a hare in Arable Field.
Steve
Good numbers of red mason bees, the species that are attracted to cardboard tubes for nesting, feeding on gooseberry flowers near the Millennium Oak. There were also a number of solitary wasp species on the flowers.
Steve
First swallow I have seen over reserve this year.