Season’s Greetings to you all,
It has been great spending time with so many of you this year. Our work parties and wildlife survey groups have all been well attended. There is no doubt that the wildlife appreciates our efforts. Our last Thursday work party of the year opened up a breeding bird survey route parallel with the Haul Road. We also did some tree layering. Mike had to go home very early, as the plumber was coming, as we had no hot water, so a few days later I took him to see what we had done. So fantastic to see a lovely family of long tailed tits, blue tits and best of all a goldcrest in the newly laid scrubby area. Absolutely wonderful! They are feeding there now, and I am sure there will be a nest deep in the scrub next spring.
Further along was a robin. They are looking very smart. We stopped for a coffee at the top of Heronry North and one hopped around waiting for the crumbs of our flapjacks. I am so glad our robins are more friendly than those on the continent.
The Water bird count (WeBS) yesterday showed an excellent count of duck-lots of wigeon, more than usual pochard, the odd pintail, great white egret and lapwing. A few goldeneye seem to be staying on Heronry North (see Sandra Landahl’s Goosander, as it takes flight taken during the WeBS survey-note the white in the wing). Kingfisher have also been seen there regularly in recently days.
I am seeing more fieldfare in the reserve this year, often flying with the redwing, as they do. Noticeably fieldfares have more white/grey colour about their bodies and are slightly larger – similar in size to a blackbird. They lack the bold red underwing and the black supercilium which distinguish the redwing. I would like to see more other thrushes, particularly the mistle thrush. We haven’t had a song thrush in our garden this year.
Insects are in short supply, although on the warmer days, red admiral are still around and so are ladybirds. Many adult insects survive winter within a dormant state. They will enter a state of suspended animation, or diapause. They may find shelter in people’s homes, in holes in trees, in piles of dead leaves or under logs and stones. Like some mammals (think this might include us humans!), these insects enter a state of inactivity.
The trail cameras keep showing us great wildlife behind the scenes. It is worth looking at the overhead monitor in the Visitor Centre. It has updated recently, so there are more new sightings to be seen.
Well, I might see some of you on New Year’s Day. If you fancy stretching your legs, Mike and I are leading the afternoon walk at 1.45p.m. Alan and Ann are leading the morning’s walk at 10.30 a.m.
Best wishes for 2024 to you all and I look forward to our days around the reserve when the days are longer.
Ann