Environmental News May 2009
April is ending with a grey and cool day, after having a good month weatherwise. Plenty of sun and not much rain, so nature has been busy preparing for the Summer ahead. The greatest change in my garden is as always the trees. From gangling grey giants they transform into clouds of attractive green leaves and some pretty flowers. The only exception is a small Alder Buckthorn, which keeps a 'dead' appearance right up to mid-April. This is very sad really, as I grow it as the food plant of Brimstone butterfly caterpillars, and by the time it has leaves most of the early Brimstones have passed on.
Whilst trees have no leaves it is easy to spot birds, and there seem to be a fair number aroundBut now they can hide in the leaves, and that seems to be a signal for them to start nesting. Normally we have keen occupants for our nesting boxes, but this year they seem to all be ignored. . The smaller birds, and a few frustrated squirrels, pay very frequent visits to the seed feeders, and the water we put out. Water is fine until a wood pigeon calls in for a bath, then it is gone
Had a very pleasant stroll round the public side of Hatchpond last week. Saw 10 species of water birds, including a heron, a young cormorant with a very white tummy (standing, up he looked like a penguin), three crested grebes (one with two healthy chicks) and a sandpiper, who is a fairly rare visitor to the site. No bittern alas. There was also a water vole, which is a rarity these days.
Not many butterflies around though, as we keep getting cold days.
The DWT field of green winged orchids on the way from Corfe Mullen to Stoney Down is just coming in to flower. Worth a visit.
Lots of guided walks this month, but nothing in the Broadstone area. Brownsea (14th NT 707744) is about the nearest. If you are an early bird, May 2nd 3rd are International Dawn chorus days, and RSPB and NT Brownsea are happy to welcome you.. Details of many more events are available from the contacts listed below.
Most of the areas run practical conservation groups, and details of these and further interesting walks should be available at the numbers below, or for a wider picture ring 01305 224214 for a copy of Coast and Countryside, or try your local library.
Useful Numbers for tasks and events :-
| Local Dorset Wildlife Trust | 01202 692033 |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 |
| Poole Countryside | 01202 265265 |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
| Natural England | 01929 557450 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
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