Tag: hazel
Wildwatch January 2020
Highlights Still very few wintering bird visitors or migrants, but lots of invertebrates seen under logs and stones. A surprising number of insects above ground too. First flowers spotted as well as fresh evidence of otter presence. Weather Wednesdays in January were kind to Wildwatchers, with chilly starts, frequent sun and no rain. […]
Wildwatch September – December 2019
Highlights Winter birds disappoint, but many new invertebrates found and nine shieldbug species liven up the reserve. Plus a botanical oddity, plenty of fungi and galls. Weather A mixed bag. The wet Autumn’s heaviest rain fell on non-Wildwatch days. September walks were mainly cloudy following overnight rain. October, November and December brought us a […]
Spotlight on… Winter Buds
This months spotlight, written by Wildwatch volunteer, Kaye, is all about winter tree buds —proving we can identify trees without leaves and flowers! Many people believe deciduous trees are hard to identify in winter. Not necessarily so! Some of our native species have very distinctive twigs and buds. Get to know these, and even without […]
Spotlight on… Woodland structure: One year later
In January 2018, our Natural Habitats Manager, Jonathan, wrote a brilliant spotlight blog about the woodland structure, focusing on the understory. In this blog, Jonathan discussed the background of St Nicks woodland and talked about our plans for improvement as we launched our exciting new project; St Nicks community woodland, funded by the Postcode Local […]
Wildwatch Winter 2017/18 (Dec – Feb)
Highlights Rare mammal sighting.. visiting Winter geese and an early Summer visitor.. camouflage in the Environment Centre Pond.. and a tiny, tiny new plant! Weather A colder than usual three months (December to February) with many frosty mornings and, especially after Christmas, several snowy ones, meant that wildwatching at St Nicks was a rather chilly […]
Wildwatch: February 2015 Sightings
Highlights Snowdrops everywhere.. Water skulker and Tree “mouse” return.. a February shieldbug first, and a semaphoring fly! Weather Snow showers greeted us on the 4th, with a chilly 1C. But during the month, temperatures slowly rose and we had bright days on the 18th and 25th. Birds Last month’s statement that the December Water Rail […]
March 2013: Spotlight on…Hazel
Hazel – Corylus Avellana Hazel is a native species closely related to Birch, Alder and Hornbeam. It can grow into a small tree, but is more often found pruned or coppiced into a bush. At this time of year, it is easy to identify by its male flowers, the “lambs’ tails” catkins which start to […]
Wildwatch: 20 February 2013 – Winter lingers but Spring is arriving!
Weather: Cloudy, light, cool SW breeze, 2 – 5 C Observers: Carrie, Hannah, Ian, John, Katie, Kaj, Kaye, Steve The arrival of John and Katie, two new members of Wildwatch, swelled our numbers to eight observers. We decided, therefore to split into two groups. Carrie, Ian, John and Katie went anti-clockwise round the reserve, with the […]
Wildwatch: 6 February 2013 – Is Spring “just around the corner”?
Weather: Early snow shower cleared to lead to sunny intervals. Cold, Northerly breeze. 2 to 3C. Observers: Ian, Kaye, Kaj Ian went for his usual pre-Wildwatch stroll round Osbaldwick Beck, but was soon driven back to the Environment Centre by a short, heavy snow shower. Then he and Kaye set off early, and covered the North-Eastern […]
