Working with ecologists Lisa and Gareth, we recently completed our last Dormouse survey of the season. As noted previously, we had for the first time this year, visual confirmation that this charismatic indicator species is alive and well at UWNR. So it was hugely exciting to find another nest, but this time in a different location - deeper into the land, on its eastern edge. To date Dormice have been recorded only on the western flank of the reserve. It could be the case that they have always been widely distributed, or it could be as the habitat changes & develops they are spreading. After 6 years all the hedges at UWNR have taken on a profile that is likely to attract Dormice (and a range of other fauna). They are dense, broad, rough & ragged - dominated by hazel, blackthorn, bramble, hawthorn, hedge-maple, honeysuckle and wild rose. I have created wide rough hedge margins at ground level - thistle, nettle, course grasses predominate. And this year the hedges are full of food - invertebrates, rosehips, sloe berries, blackberries & hazel nuts. (A far cry from the over-flayed skeletons, which cover too much of our land).
I love they way they construct their nests - stripped grass woven to create a wrap round bundle.
The save the Badger strategy appears to be working. They have discovered all 6 feed stations and now clean out the peanuts in short order. I have noticed latrines & diggings for worms near the bait stations. This activity had always been situated in the south western area of the land - close to neighbouring cattle farms. The Badgers are moving north and east each night and away from trouble. In fact, one walked past me recently on its way to the baited feed stations. Tim (good friend of UWNR) is helping replenish these - thank you….
This path is more and more beaten with each visit I make…..I imagine them trundling along with purpose to the next feed station.
Late last week a Snipe blasted out of the deep, wet sedge & soft rush marsh to the east of the lake - arrowing left and right. These new arrivals have become a feature of each autumn season. This rough upkept wetland habitat is all too uncommon in lowland England now. As a result Snipe numbers have plummeted, 62% of their number vanished just between 1982 and 2002. UWNR a finger in the dyke for this species??
Field Fares have arrived.
As is the case each autumn Hornets are everywhere. Probing, searching, hunting. I have been scattering sacks of windfall apples across the land and often find one of these magnificent creatures gorging, its bum poking out of an apple. For me they are the most charismatic insect of all - there is an unnerving intelligence about them.
I guess we had the right balance of hot summer temperatures and timely rainfall to produce a bumper crop of Ivy. (Why the hell do people cut Ivy down with with such vigor - STOP)! The Ivy at UWNR this season is covered with solitary bees, Hornets, Honeybees and Wasps. All plundering the last nectar before the winter grips. The noise from this industry really is something.
Last week I set up the Barn Owl barn for coming bad weather. Hoppers filled with layers mash and some fresh hay scattered about on the floor. Soon enough small mammals will venture into the barn, to be predated by the white owls of UWNR. I set up their new (Hartmoor) field for winter hunting - perches are now in place. It is amazing even after just one summer how thick, tufted grasses are a feature of this field and it is now a myriad of field vole runs. A key prey species for many predators.
OK this bit has little to do with autumn but much to do with us - Homo Sapiens. On page 33 of the journal British Wildlife, Amy-Jane Beer writes, ‘Trespass is not a crime. But the government is currently consulting on a manifesto pledge to make it so’. Recently very close to home, we came across this (on SSI designated land);
So what is this? An early test of the manifesto pledge? A 21st Century version of the Enclosures overseen by Natural England? The elites grabbing more land for their exclusive use? Natural England is headed up by Tony Juniper….ex Friends of the Earth. What happened to him I wonder?