Environmental News December 2007
According to the Met Office, it will officially be Winter tomorrow, but looking out at the gloom it is already here. What a transformation from yester day, when golfers (including me) were out in shirtsleeve order.
Most leaves are down, which makes it easier to spot garden birds, and there are lots of winter visitors on the water.
I joined the BoP walk last Sunday round Hatchpond, and there were 30 others just as keen. The hope was that we would see a bittern, as there have been a pair reported living there. They are a great rarity – only around 40 pairs in the UK – and to live in such an urban situation is unique. Needless to say, they did not appear, but there is always a chance to go back and try again. When they stand up in the reeds they look a bit like a small brown heron, but when shuffling about in the waters edge they hunch their neck and look more like a scruffy chicken.
Apart from the missing star, we saw crested and little grebes, five species of duck, heron, egret, cormorant, kingfisher, four species of gulls and all the local residents. Swans looked to have had a very successful season.
I also had a trip to Brownsea, and there is much to see. Avocets are everywhere, and must surely be heading for a record count. The spoonbills looked a bit damp and grey, and the only red squirrel I spied, looked more like a black squirrel. However there does seem still to be a healthy population.
Poole News lists a lot of conservation tasks in December, and there is a walk across Canford Heath (Gravel Hill, 14.00 3rd Dec), and RSPB are active at Arne, Radipole and Lodmoor. There is also a boat round Poole Harbour on 16th (01929 462383).
Still a varied lot of activities, including some for children. All to be found Coast and Countryside.
Useful Numbers of organisations running tasks or walks:-
| Dorset Countryside | 01305 225037 |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
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dudley hull
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