Environmental News December 2008
November has been a very typical month weatherwise. A bit of everything, except of course snow.
Leaves are now nearly all down, and this year even the oaks are barren before December. I don’t know what this signifies, but I am sure there is a wise old country saying to cover it.
Despite the bare branches, birds are hard to find. If it was not for our bird feeders, I think we would not see any, except of course wood pigeons and magpies.
So this month I went on one of the boat trips, which landed on a very deserted Brownsea. The sea birds were there in great numbers,and also spectacular flocks of dunlins and godwits. Plenty of other species there, including a number of spoonbills. I was told once that they did not start breeding until there was a colony of at least ten, and looking at this group they could start breeding next year.
There were a few of Bill Oddies’ red squirrels snuffling around, and looking very fat. Whether this was just preparedness for winter, or lots of camera temptations?
Not much in the way of organised walks this month. Birds to see :- Durlston (7th), Lodmoor (9th) and Radipole (14th), and a bird boat on the 14th.
Otherwise there is lots of conservation work needed, and most organisations run volunteer work parties. Phone numbers below give plenty of choice.
Another rapidly dwindling species is the tree sparrow. We have lost over 90%of our 1980 population. No one really knows why?
Most of the areas run practical conservation groups, and details 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 420909 |
| 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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dudley hull
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