Bank Holiday Weekend News

Mute Swan family - Southwater Country Park (Sue Cocker)

 After a busy bank holiday weekend around the sites it was very exciting news to find out from Sue Cocker that the Mute Swan's which had been nesting on Cripplegate Lake, Southwater Country Park eggs had started to hatch. In total four eggs hatched and these are now on being paraded round by two very pround parents!

Cygnets at Southwater Country Park (Sue Cocker)

If you want to go and see the cute little bundles of fluff and possibly feed them please bring a wild bird seed mix or lettuce rather than bread as it is much better for their digestive system. Also if you have a dog then please remember to keep it on a lead as the parent Swan's can be very protective over their babies.

European Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) - Owlbeech Woods

Another interesting find this weekend was the larvae of the European Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) on Scot's Pine in Middle Heath Enclosure at Owlbeech Woods. This would not be a welcome species if this was still a pine plantation as the larvae can strip whole tree's thus effecting their growth rates. Luckily this was the only patch I could find but I am sure there are more lurking out there somewhere.

Water Carpet - Warnham LNR

Back at Warnham LNR the moth trap has been very very quiet mainly due to the cold overnight temperatures and the blasted wind! Not to be dettered however we have continued to persevere with the trapping and though little has been attracted to the light this lovely Water Carpet was the first of the year at the Reserve. In terms of moths, things can only get better!