Environmental News June 2007
A month ago, it really seemed as if summer had come early. Now it seems that Winter has come late.
All the young creatures that looked to have a comfortable start in life, are now struggling to keep warm and find food. One little fellow I feel very sorry for is a baby spotted woodpecker. He had a fine home in one of our hollow chestnut trees, but last week had reached the stage where mother thought it time to get him up to the higher branches. So for two days she perched higher up, giving a loud chirp about every 10 seconds – but though he often stuck his bill out he would not venture forth – perhaps he was too fat to make it through the hole! On Sunday with all that terrible wind and rain, both parents were calling, and on Monday he was gone. What a welcome to the world. We have also fledged robins and two boxes of tits this Spring, so plenty of small birds in the garden. There has been quite a range of butterflies to see, but just at present they are not about in large numbers.
We often get foxes in our garden, but recently we had a small shrub dug up, and my wife insists it is a badger. They come to a neighbour’s house to feed, so it is very possible.
I sometimes go to an organic allotment in Oakdale, and there at present we have vixen and three cubs, none of whom are afraid of people. If I call in on a sunny afternoon, they will stay basking in the sun until I am about four yards away and then, almost apologetically, they wander off into the undergrowth.
Lots of activity this month if you are fond of butterflies and moths. BoP are having a moth trapping night, with a look at what has been caught at Upton Country Park, 9.00 to 10.30 AM on 23rd June. Durlston Country Park, Portland Rangers(01305 823789) and Butterfly Conservation (01747 854099) are also running events.
Nightjars are with us again. BoP at Corfe Hills School (9.00 PM, 20th June) is the nearest.
Orchids, flowers, birds and bats are all to be seen, via Dorset Coast and Countryside.
Useful Numbers of organisations running tasks or walks:-
| Dorset Wildlife Trust | 01305 264620 |
| Dorset Countryside | 01305 225037 |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 |
| Poole Countryside | 01202 261339 |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
| Dorset Conservation Volunteers | 01202 573213 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
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