Summer of wildlife!

This summer has been, and still is, in full swing at the heath with wildlife and visitors both enjoying the site, and throughout the summer holidays the pool in the main car park has been attractive in this hot weather!

Visitors can enjoy a paddle and an ice cream a seconds walk from their car, or explore the reserve further on its waymarked trails. Many visitors have been attending the free, lottery funded, summer holiday family activity days, tailored to help children and adults alike explore the wildlife and habitats of the reserve in an organised session. These have included:
River dipping: Species found included great diving beetles, caddis fly larvae and crayfish

 Minibeast discovery and woodland discovery:

Despite all these visitors, the site is plenty large enough to accommodate all, and the wildlife has been buzzing, hopping and singing all over the sites variety of habitats. Joint events have also been organised and run at Knettishall with Butterfly Conservation, Suffolk Naturalists, Suffolk Ornithologists Group and Suffolk Bat Group getting involved in surveying days and night walks, along with the reserves fantastic team of volunteers.

Some of the summers more memorable wildlife experiences:

• The night walk where Suffolk Bat Group and 30 visitors were rewarded with good views of Woodcock, Glow worms and Barbastelle bats!

• Regular visitor sightings have included Kingfisher, Dipper and Yellow Wagtail on the Little Ouse

•  Joint taster day: the public joined the experts to survey the reserves wildlife in one day

- Over 20 species of terrestrial invertebrates
- Over 35 bird species seen or heard
- Over 130 species of flowering plants including many Breckland speciality species
- 6 species of damselfly or dragonfly
- 38 aquatic invertebrate species
- Geo Suffolk excavation of periglacial stripes - see photo below showing chalk soils on the left dipping down into the acid soils

•  Butterfly day with butterfly conservation recorded 20 species of butterfly including white admiral, purple hairstreak and white-letter hairstreak. The conservation charity also confirmed that this year has been a bumper year for white admirals.
  
   

A fantastic summer of wildlife that is still on going, so do come and explore it!

Spring Species Recordings

Spring seems to be finally well underway now Summer has arrived!

Some of the key bird species for May at Knettishall have included:
Curlew (pair of)
Cuckoo (singing)
Turtle Dove (pictured below: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/turtle-dove)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (singing and drumming)
Garden Warbler (singing)
Reed Buntings on the Little Ouse (pair of)
Barn Owl (hunting)
Shelduck
Woodcock (almost certainly roding males)
Skylark (singing and breeding)
Tree Creeper

Butterflies:
Small Heath
Meadow Brown
Brimstone
Large and Small Whites
Red Admiral
Peacock
Orange Tip

Reptiles:
Slow Worm
Common Lizard (pictured below emerging from leaves on site)

A fantastic find!

A couple of weeks ago a walker found this rodent on the edge of grassland and woodland habitat near to the Little Ouse at Knettishall. We have identified this as a Water Shrew, Neomys fodiens.
The Water Shrew lives in grass or woodland and scrubby habitat near to, and in, wetland and river sytems, and is our largest shrew.They hunt terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and live in small burrows near to water. They are identified by the distinctive difference between their dark upperside and white underside, as well as the fringe of stiff hairs on their back feet and underside of the tail to aid with swimming.


Visible fringe of stiff hairs on tail

Unfortunately this individual was dead, it had possibly been preyed upon, but it is indicative of a possible local population of the species. This is a fantastic species for the reserve and one we haven't had a record for in the past.
Along with recent signs of Water Vole and sightings of Otter along the same stretch of the Little Ouse at Knettishall, these species are good indicators of the improving ecosystem of the river system here.

Providing habitat for Breckland species

We are currently undertaking some noticable work on the reserve as part of our management programme to encourage Brecks wildlife. You may have noticed the digger and other vehicles on site who have been contracted in to create disturbed ground and make improvements to some of our car park areas.

Historically Knettishall Heath had a lot more open ground and disturbed areas through past aggregate pits and sandy tracks. Many of these areas have been allowed to vegetate over and become more mature habitats. Therefore after securing some funding we are currently trialing a process to gradually re create bare ground and disturbed areas in small, highly varied parts of the reserve to create a mosaic of micro habitats.

Bare, sandy patches surrounded by Brecks flora of a varied structure are essential for some pioneering plant species that are now in decline, and it is hoped this work will encourage them back. Reptiles, such as this Adder (right, http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/adder), and Breckland invertebrates, will benefit from warmer open patches and the associated diversity of flora.

The process is carried out by a digger skimming off the vegetation and top soil of a small area to expose the sandy soil underneath. Areas that have been chosen for the work include parts of the reserve on the heath that are most likely to support the targeted Breckland species, as well as several old pits where the natural slopes should encourage a variety of wildlife.

In particular a large pit near to Hut Hill was chosen that has a very old and hugely matted pile of barbed wire at the bottom, that was to entangled to move. The material that was scraped off the sides of the pit and nearby slope were then used to bury this hazard. The picture on the left shows this pit before it was re structured and covered up.

 

The pit after it has been filled in and bare gournd habitat cretaed around it

 The rest of the soil and vegetation material that has been scraped off in other areas has been transported to the car parks. Here it will be used to create low banks, or bunds, to define the car park edges, instead of the low wooden rails that are currently prone to accidental damage and vandalism. This should also leave the car parks with a more natural aesthetic appeal and further wildlife habitats.

Depositing the soil on top of the wooden car park fencing to create bunds

Timing: After securing funding we have waited as long as possible over winter until we started the work to prevent damaging the public footpaths too much during the muddy season, but have had to get the work done before ground nesting bird season in order to minimise disturbance to wildlife. Although skimming off the soil can at first appear damaging; this is essential habitat creation that has been carefully planned. It is a very exciting project, and for more information on it and the species it should benefit please don't heistate to contact the ranger.

Winter Wildlife at Knettishall

The wildlife has had it rather tough in the last month or so, with heavy rain and flooding in the New Year followed by freezing temperatures keeping the snow on the ground for up to 2 weeks in many places. Knettishall has been no exception, yet the many walkers this month have seen an array of exciting Winter wildlife to report. Between times of the high flood water levels the Little Ouse has proven it's worth since the river work in September (see blog dated 15th Sep 2012):

Signs of Otters Lutra lutra using the stretch of the river at Knettishall have been reported as walkers have found Otter spraint along the river path. Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea have been sighted fairly regularly particularly at times of lower water levels when the new riffles, where the water flows faster over the rocks, have created greater hunting opportunities for them as they look for invertebrates to feed on. Similarly Kingfishers Alcedo atthis have also benefited from the river work and were spotted hunting up the stretch bordered by the blue river trail (pictured right under flood water) at Knettishall before Christmas.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/grey-wagtail

Many local walkers have reported regular sightings of a hunting Barn Owl Tyto alba flying low over the meadows in this area, no doubt they are spending more time hunting during the tougher conditions. We hope to encourage this species to breed at Knettishall in the future and any reports are welcome; follow this link to find out more about the Trusts Barn Owl project: 

 http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/species-and-habitats/species-projects/bringing-back-suffolks-barn-owl/

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/fieldfare

Other species to look out for at Knettishall Heath over the rest of Winter include mixed flocks of Redwing Turdus iliacus and Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. Both members of the Thrush family they are a delight to watch as they move to various trees such as Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna looking for berries to feed on. They can be spotted moving across most areas of the reserve at the moment.

And lastly I believe one of the most rewarding birds when out on a Winter walk is the Goldcrest Regulus regulus. A delightful bird that frequents Coniferous woodland and scrub it is right at home on the reserve. Winter is a great time to look for it as it becomes easier to spot moving around amongst mixed tit flocks.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/goldcrest

Merry Christmas!

Suffolk Wildlife Trust's first year at Knettishall Heath has been a great success with lots of discoveries and new projects underway. However we couldn't have done it all without the many people who came forward to help out volunteering in all areas at the Heath whether it be taking part in our volunteer work parties on the reserve, stock checking our ponies or helping me with youth groups! Also many thanks to the public for attending our new events this year! Here are some great pictures to end the year on, Merry Christmas!!!

Nosy ponies!



The last work party at Knettishall for 2012 finishing with jacket potatoes roasted in the fire!

Our Exmoors in the wintery landscape

Junior Rangers Christmas shelter building!



Junior Rangers Christmas fire lighting!

 

Hounds of the Heath

A fantastic new partnership between Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Dog Learning Zone formed earlier this year to create Hounds of the Heath; a community group for dog walkers at Knettishall Heath.

It's free to become a member and by simply providing us with your preferred method of contact we can update our members regularly with important and useful information such as livestock movements, path maintenance or wildlife hotspots. With over 70 members and growing since the launch event in July, Hounds of the Heath now meet on a regular basis for guided walks around the site with Dog Learning Zone, who can offer training hints and tips. This gives myself as the ranger a chance to update everyone, share ideas and also receive any feedback or sightings from the dog walkers who often act as our eyes and ears out on the site almost 24/7.


Hounds of the Heath members on a guided walk

The aim is to eventually engage with everybody who walks their dog at the Heath to allow them to have an input into the new developments on site. It's important for us to get feedback on everything from site management to new events and education opportunities, and Hounds of the Heath is a focus to share information and create long term relationships with one of the highest user groups on site.



Dog agility at the launch event - July 2012

Future prospects aim to see the group growing in number, as well as an annual activity day following in the footsteps of the launch, and upcoming available training sessions. We also aim to set up a dog walkers code of conduct for Knettishall to allow everyone to enjoy the site alongside the wildlife.

If you are interested in joining please contact myself Samantha Gay, People and Wildlife Ranger at:
samantha.gay@suffolkwildlifetrust.org
07717 156601