Environmental News November 2007
October was a sunny and fairly dry month. As a result plants and trees are still happy, and there are still lots of insects and a few butterflies to see. Birds (particularly Jays) seem to have been very active. I do not try to count birds, but I think the Jay population must be steadily increasing, and they, like magpies, are losing their fear of people. As for squirrels! It is also interesting to note that the holly berries all ripened in October. Does this mean a cold cold winter?
Because it has been so dry, most fungii have been late in developing, and I have only seen one (parasol) mushroom this year.
It has been a fairly good year for our reptiles, and the local ranger who monitors the golf course has found reasonable numbers of snakes and lizards there, including three smooth snakes.
Borough of Poole have guided walks at Shore Road (18th, 10.00am) and Hatch Pond (25th, 10.30am) , Whilst Poole RSPB visit Studland (10th. 9.30am tel. 01929 480248) and have a Bird Boat on 18th tel. 01929 462383.
The visit to Hatch Pond could be exciting if our elusive Bittern is in residence.
More birding almost everywhere towards the end of the month, with the Dorset Bird Club day on Brownsea looking the most attractive (25th). Some hedge laying lessons, lots of conservation tasks and some warmer indoor lectures. A wide list of events is given in the Coast and Countryside Magazine, and there is also a selection of events on the Dorset AONB website.
Friends of Broadstone Heath are hoping to built some comfortable dormouse homes (Upton Country Park 18th 9.30 AM) and a bit of scrub clearance on 25th.
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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