First Work Party Achievements

Cyril Cleaver the warden and a handful of volunteers were down on Ashlawn Cutting near the Pytchley Road Bridge on Sunday 11th September where the grassland has been extended.  We were clearing up the brash with a massive bonfire.

 

Cyril observing
   
Getting in at the thick end
 
Loading the fire
 
 
Tidying up

MORE ASHLAWN CUTTING BIRDS

Well I’ve now completed my more formal bird surveys for the year to enable Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to build a data base but will continue to watch during my times in the Cutting.
Today had a few surprises including a couple of Muntjac deer, a stoat having a rabbit for breakfast, a shrew, a vole, a fox, and most surprising of all what I can only assume was an escapee hamster dashing across the path! Just shows what a rich wildlife environment there is – add lots of different butterflies and moths, frogs and toads and loads more insects and it really is a fascinating place to be. And of course the flora is very diverse this time of year especially on the grasslands the volunteers work so hard to maintain.
The survey list since April has:
Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Crow, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Finch, Green Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Linnet Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen,Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Willow Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer – 40 different species with others seen during the year taking the total to 71 so far and as ever I’m sure some have not been recorded.
If you have any more sightings please let us know.

Steve 13th July 2011

Save our Butterflies

Take Part in the Big Butterfly Count – this Saturday 16th July to 31st July

Butterflies are beautiful and vital to the health of our environment. Their existence is crucial yet they are in serious decline. Please help save them.

It’s easy and fun and anyone can take part. Download your free butterfly chart, spend just 15 minutes in the sunshine, then log your sightings at www.bigbutterflycount.org

 

Ashlawn July 2011

July Work Party
Malcolm – preparing for hedgelaying, cutting into the sapling with his small saw
July work party
July Work Party
July Work Party
July Work Party

Ashlawn Birds starting to nest

A stroll down the length of the cutting from Hillmorton Road to the other side of Onley Lane revealed 23 different species of bird as follows:

Blackbird, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Crow, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Greenfinch,Black headed Gull, Magpie, Moorhen, Redwing, Robin, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Wren

 Sure I missed some even then.

 Also spotted several butterflies – Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Brimstone male and female