Wildlife at St Nicks has been flourishing this spring. Wildwatch volunteers would normally be meeting every week to record – and enjoy – this. Alas, this is impossible right now. However, several Wildwatchers have been able to visit individually and share their sightings with us all. And of course staff members continue to do essential […]
In the Spring and Summer, members of the Tit family – Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit – pair up to breed at St Nicks. Some of them occupy the numerous nest boxes scattered around the reserve. But, in the Autumn and Winter months (October through to February) members of this bird […]
Highlights A secretive dweller in the Pond – and CCTV catches a “first” for St Nicks! Weather A dull and drizzly start to the first Wildwatch of the year, but it got colder and clearer later in the month. There was a scattering of snow on the 14th. Birds We searched unsuccessfully for the Water […]
Highlights: A skulking bird was a first for the reserve.. unexpected winter insect sightings, while a world of other creatures are found hiding under logs and stones.. and 15 species of flower still out! Weather: Temperatures ranged from 1C at the beginning and end of the month up to 12C on the 17th. All the Wildwatch […]
Highlights: Late departures and early arrivals of birds.. A new botanist, new species for old, and the start of a moss survey.. Flies still flying in warm October, and at least three new insect records for St Nicks this month. Weather: Nationally, the 10th= warmest October since 1910! At St Nicks, the highest Wildwatch Wednesday temperatures […]
Highlights A plant re-discovered after a 3 year absence.. a “protective” hoverfly, new for St Nicks.. a bird up a tree (you don’t often find this water bird up a tree!).. more sightings of a endangered mammal. Weather A generally dry, warm month, with temperatures reaching 23C by the middle of the month. Plants The weekly […]
Weather: Cloudy, breezy Northerly, 11 to 13 C but felt colder Observers: Carrie, Ian, Kaye Ian did his usual pre-Wildwatch perambulation, but drizzle then persuaded him not to carry his camera out on the Wildwatch patrol. Fortunately, Carrie and Kaye were able to take some interesting close-up photos of plants and other small things! We […]
Weather: Cloudy at first, then sunny. Little wind. 5C to 11C Observers: Eithne, Ian, Kaye, Kaj, Linda Last week, our blog headline was “Has Spring Been Cancelled?”. What a change this week! It felt pleasantly warm, especially when the sun was shining. And there were signs of Spring everywhere. This resulted in several “firsts” for […]
Weather: occasional light drizzle, grey and overcast, cool (2C to 4C) and light Easterly breeze. Observers: Carrie, Cavan, Eithne, Haley, Ian, Jim, Kaye A grey, raw day, but it didn’t deter the seven members of the Wildwatch Group who turned up! Some of the smaller paths were very muddy after the recent heavy rain, but […]
Weather: Gloomy, overcast, no wind, cool (2C to 3C) and occasional short, light snow flurries Observers: Carrie, Ian, Kaye, Mark, Steve, Tim Ian had his normal pre-Wildwatch yomp around Osbaldwick Beck and had some interesting sightings. Then, Ian & Steve had another trip round the beck, again, with some good sightings. They picked up Kaye, […]