Work Party

There will be Work Parties at Whitacre Heath NR (9:30am) on the following dates:

July 23rd

August 6th

As ever transport is available from Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Coventry at 9am, with another pick up along the way to the day’s task if requested, returning to Brandon for 4:00pm.

4th July

Quick walk along the fringe of the wood and flashes hide:

Bullfinch (1 m 1f), Lesser spotted Woodpecker (1m), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Whitethroats, Chiffchaff (2 singing), GS Woodpecker (2), Buzzard (1), Black-headed Gull (60+), Swift, Swallow and House Martins, Greenfinch (2)

Grass Snake (2), Brown Hawker (1), Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselfly

Butterflies: Gatekeeper (1), Ringlet (12), Meadow Brown (30+), Comma (3), Small Tortoiseshell (6), Small Skipper (7), Large Skipper (5), Green-veined White (1), Latticed Heath Moth (2), Six-spot Burnet (1)

14th June

Orchids: Common Spotted (25+), Southern Marsh (35+)

Butterflies: Large Skipper (2), Common Blue (4), Small Tortoiseshell (1)

Moths: Cinnabar (1), Latticed Heath (1)

Odonata: Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly

Flashes: Black Headed Gull (50+), Swift (30+), Stock Dock (2), Buzzard (2), Kestrel (1)

Woods: Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Cuckoo (1 male), GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker

Main Pool: Little Grebe (1), Coot (+4 young), Reed Warbler (5+)

31th May 2009

Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids (70+)

Butterflies: Common Blue (12), Painted Lady (7), Peacock (2), Small Toirtoiseshell (1),  Small Copper (1)

Flashes: Buzzard (3), Kestrel (1), Skylark (1), Reed Bunting (2), Oystercatcher (2), House Martin (5), Kingfisher (1)

Scrape: Little Grebe (+young), Coot (+young), Reed Warbler (4)

Woods: GS Woodpecker (other pair now with young), Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cuckoo (1), Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Greenfinch (+young), Bullfinch (1m)

23rd May

Butterflies: Brimstone (2), Small Copper (1), Peacock (3), Small Toirtoishell (1), Large White (numerous), Orange Tip (3)

River Pool: Kingfisher (1 flew over), Cuckoo (calling), Chiffchaff, Blackcap, GS Woodpecker (+young in nest)

Flashes: Skylark (1), Meadow Pipit (3), Buzzard (1), Grass Snake (2)

Car Park: Buzzard (2), Swallow (2), House Martin (3), Swift (5), Robin (feeding young), Whitethroat, Bank Vole (1)

Damselflies: Blue tailed, Common Blue

And thank you to Roger for the donation for bird food. I'll pass this onto John for feed later in the year.

22nd May

Working party: Himalayan Balsam Removal, unfortunately no-one from the Trust showed, and the seven volunteers became three, but we did a few hours of removal. It'll take a few years to get this invasive species under control.

A quick walk round before hand. Cuckoo (1), Blackcap, Whitethroat, Swallow (2), House Martin (4), Swift (12), Buzzard (2), GS Woodpecker

11th May

Over the reserve: Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, GS Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Speckled Wood (2), Brimstone (2), Orange tip (3), Large Whites

Car Park: Sparrowhawk (1), Skylark (1)

Flashes: Buzzard (1), Meadow Pipit (1), House Martin, Swallow (2), Swift (1)

Feeding Station: Willow Tit (1), Robin (juv)

The Scrape: Little Grebe (2 + 2 young), Gadwall (1 male), Heron (2), Grass Snake (3 along path), Sedge Warbler

Main Pool: Little Grebe (2), Mute Swan (2), Kingfisher (fishing on right hand side), Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting (male)

River Pool: Kingfisher (1 flew through), Swift (1), Swallow (1), Gadwall (4, 1 pair mating), Coot (2), Moorhen