March 2014 – Rugby Wildlife

March 29, 2014April 4, 2014

Spring encounters

Wildlife is stirring around the Cutting. See views below, by Phil Parr.

March 16, 2014March 21, 2014

Rugby Group Visit Malpass Site

Comments & Photos by Phil Parr.

Cemex kindly gave us permission to continue our work maintaining wildlife habitats on this old quarry site which is noted for its uncommon insects and plants.

As on Ashlawn the priority is to maintain grasslands, preventing them from reverting to scrub.

Seven of us spent a beautiful sunny morning hard at work, but enjoying it as Comma, Brimstone, Peacock, & Small Tortoiseshell butterflies flew around.

We hope to visit again for a survey walk in a few weeks time.

March 13, 2014March 14, 2014

Muntjac encounter etc

Muntjac amongst the birds, interesting views of Reed Mace and the flooded area @ Pytchley Bridge.

March 11, 2014March 14, 2014

Keep your eyes open for…

Butterflies now on the wing: out of hibernation and flying on warm days.

Look out for Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and Comma, especially where there is a nectar source in a sunny spot out of the breeze such as Coltsfoot, Dandelion, and Pussy Willow. Small White will also soon be on the wing.

Comments & pictures by Phil Parr. Some pictures courtesy Steve Cheshire

March 11, 2014March 14, 2014

Spring update

Ashlawn update 11-3-14 by Phil Parr

Jolly’s Hedge coming on well. Steve Boswell, expert hedge layer laying it in County Style (Not staked) should finish what we asked him to do tomorrow. This will leave us just a short length to do at a later stage.

Spring flowers: Primrose is in flower in one or two places, and, Coltsfoot is flowering on the bank below the hedge and attracting Small Tortoiseshell butterflies to nectar on it.

March 11, 2014March 14, 2014

Frog Frenzy

They are back. Report & pictures by Phil Parr.

Frog Report: After a late start they are now busy at Station Pools and Station Marsh. They seem to have completely avoided Reservoir Pond this year – no spawn at all as far as I could see, but moved across to the centre of the marsh where it is hard to see them.

They were there in great numbers 4 days ago, seem to have spawned and cleared off. Perhaps the water was a bit on the cold side for them as the weather has turned.

Its pleasing that the work we did on the marsh is proving so worthwhile.

They have also spawned in the small scrape we created nearer Pytchley Bridge despite it being weed covered.

There is less activity south of Pytchley Bridge this year and they may have already finished there.

Other small patches can be found below Ashlawn bridge, and one or two other places.

March 5, 2014April 4, 2020

Jolly Good Work

From yesterday, pictures of work in progress on Jolly’s Hedge and some of the considerable progress on scallops/glade in Section E north of Ashlawn Bridge thanks to Peter and Ian with chain saws. Ken & the Rugby School group help with the clean up.

Comments & photos by Phil Parr.