Warden Reports

10th February 2008

During this last week I have had to constantly check the calendar to make sure that it is really February and not March, such has been the warmth and spring like conditions. Remember last year, when the warm spring played havoc with many of the traditional rhythmus of nature. Early maturing plants and insects had a great year, but later species suffered either through lack of food, for example nesting Blue Tits and Great Tits, or got caught out, as the summer turned out to cool and wet. We will have to see how 2008 proceeds.

Much of my time has been spent away from the main valley, coppicing in a wooded part of the reserve. My constant companions have been two male robins, signing from nearby branches, as they battle over the ownership of part of the wood. Additionally the wood has been filled with the chiming notes of great tits and the occasional buzz of a queen bumble bee, searching the woodland floor for holes suitable to nest in. Of course it is not possible to do many tasks without help and I am grateful to the support I received from both new and regular volunteers who, on Wednesday and Sunday, helped to clear much of the coppiced wood and stack it ready for use. If you would like to help at the reserve our next volunteers day is on Sunday 2nd March when we will be cutting back the hedge alongside the cow field (see the events page).

If you are in the reserve in the next 7 -10 days stop by the male yew trees, or some of the large confer species, and you may notice the small yellow flowers on the undersides of the leaves, or on the tips of the shoots. Tap the branch and pollen will be released which is as fine as talcum powder.

Two regular bird enthusiasts have reported to me that firstly some of the bird boxes that we put up in November and January are being visited by birds with either nesting material, or are being used as night roosting sites. Secondly, that common buzzards were seen riding the thermals above the reserve on Saturday the 9th Feb.

Enjoy the icy mornings and warm sunny days and do visit the reserve before the spring like conditions change.

Steve

Week ending 02 February 2008

The mild weather has continued and although at the end of this week the wind is cold, the sun is gaining strength and I recorded a reading of +14°C in the direct sun, on Friday lunchtime.

With the warmer weather many of the early spring plants have put on a spurt of growth and there are many Wild Arum plants (also known as lords and ladies) to be seen under the trees and amongst the bramble scrub. Also patches of Dogs Mercury can be found in many of the wooded areas. The Winter Aconite flowers have now finished although the Snowdrops are at their best near to the barrel bridge and along the lime tree walk. A few Primroses can be seen in flower on the bank of beech trees close to the path from Netley Close, but these are the early ones for it will be a few weeks before the majority of the plants come into flower. February is a great time to look for Moss plants, perhaps on fallen logs or old tree stumps, as during the month many of them will be releasing their spores, from the capsules protruding above the main part of the plant. Often mosses are difficult to identify, but when the spore capsules are visible it is a much easier task. Ivy is another plant to keep an eye on during February because unlike most plants its berries ripen in spring and not autumn. Many birds take advantage of this food source and I often see Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds and Thrushes feasting on the dark berries in February and early March.

This last week the reserve has been full of bird song with Great Tits, Song thrushes and Robins leading the way, as the males find a favourite singing branch and proclaim ownership of their territory. Many of the bird boxes we have put up this winter are attracting the attention of the local birds so if you spot a box fixed to a tree, stop for a few minutes and see if you notice any birds checking it out or singing close by. If you would like to be one of our birds box watchers this spring then do please contact us via email
(click here to email me)

Many people close to the reserve will have probably heard the foxes calling during the night, as December and January are prime months for the foxes to mate. The good news is the calls and screams should lessen as February progresses and pregnant females begin to search for suitable areas to dig out a den, where the pups can be born later in March.

I have notice a large dog fox around the cow field and lake areas of the reserve, which unfortunately has a bad case of mange. The mange can be passed to dogs via fleas on the fox, so if you visit the reserve with your dog you might want to be aware of this problem, particularly if you allow to dog to roam in the undergrowth, where the fox might have passed through.

Steve

Week ending 26 January 2008

Recently I wrote in the newsletter how it seemed to me that the weather during recent autumn and early winter had been colder and more easonal than the last few years. Of course the moment I wrote this, the weather changed and became unseasonably mild!

During this last week a touch of spring has arrived in the reserve. On Monday the frogs were stirring down in the silt traps and although not mating yet, they were certainly far from sleepy. Nearby the Winter Aconite flowers seem to have gone past their best, whereas the Snowdrops near the barrel bridge and along the lime tree walk look a picture. Also at the end of the lime tree walk you can just see a few Sweet Violets emerging.

All around the reserve birds are singing, particularly the Great Tits. I've also heard a few Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming on some of the mature trees; the cow field is a good area to listen out for them. In the kitchen garden I spotted a female Bullfinch amongst the brambles with her buff pink feathers looking in their prime. If you are looking for Jackdaws and Crows, try the top of the valley near to the Crematorium and also the field near to the Netley Close entrance to the reserve. At this time of the year the birds seem to be pairing up and looking for possible nesting sites.

On Wednesday John Puckett from the Kent Bat Group visited the reserve, to check out the two bat hibernation sites at Vinters. With the weather being so mild, John was not too hopeful on finding any bats on this visit, so it was particularly pleasing to find seven bats belonging to three different species, as we checked the two sites. One of the hibernation sites is very difficult to survey and so we probably only saw some of the bats that use the site. John is a great friend of the reserve and along with other members of the Kent Bat Group has been monitoring the sites at Vinters since 1994, building up a valuable record of bat occupation at Vinters.

If you have noted any signs of spring when visiting the reserve, or anything else that has caught your eye, do drop me a line (click here to email me)

Lastly, I am also grateful to the contractors replacing the street lights along the footpath bordering the reserve, in the vicinity of Netley Close. After a phone call and a chat to the workmen, finally sense has prevailed and the replacement street light, which two weeks ago was placed in front of the gateway used by the emergency services, has now been moved so that once again the gate can be accessed. Three cheers for common sense!

Steve