Extreme weather can add to a dawn's beauty

9:50am Tuesday 9th December 2008

IT will not be long now till we reach the shortest day of the year on December 21.

Bullfinch sighting took me back in time

2:17pm Monday 1st December 2008

I WAS carrying out a patrol on the Rifle Range Nature Reserve last week when I saw a pair of birds that took me back to my childhood. It was a pair of bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula). When I was growing up I was lucky enough to have a pair regularly visit my back garden feeding in the hedge. I would always run around the house looking for some binoculars so that I could watch them. It has been a while since I have seen any so I was delighted to make this sighting.

Spare a thought for cute voles under attack

10:38am Monday 24th November 2008

NOVEMBER has certainly shown us that winter is well and truly on its way. We have had frosts, biting winds and driving rain and even just a little touch of snow.

Tiny wren’s character gives it real presence

3:50pm Tuesday 18th November 2008

EARLIER this week I was patrolling one of the quieter, more secluded areas of woodland which surrounds the open heath of the Rifle Range Nature Reserve.

Cows find refuge as we wade through water

10:40am Wednesday 12th November 2008

FOR many years, cattle have been grazing the nature reserves of the Wyre Forest district. While animals come and go, many of the animals currently living out on the reserves have been there since birth and have learned many things about the reserve that even the rangers who look after them have yet to find out.

Diverse countryside is right on our doorsteps

10:07am Tuesday 4th November 2008

I RECENTLY took members of our Young Rangers Club on a visit to the Natural History Museum in London.

Fascinating story behind plant’s peculiar name

10:40am Sunday 26th October 2008

FINDING interesting wild flowers at the end of October would seem like a long shot. Weird and wonderful mushrooms are a much safer bet.

Bonfires built in advance are ‘hedgehog hotels’

3:54pm Tuesday 21st October 2008

Every year, an unknown number of hedgehogs die or suffer horrific injuries because bonfire piles are not checked before being lit.

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Varying approaches to managing our reptiles

12:00pm Sunday 19th October 2008

IT is at this time of year that we begin to look at starting much of our more invasive habitat work.

Take an autumnal stroll...

4:39pm Wednesday 15th October 2008

The Leasowes in Halesowen is hosting an autumn walk this Saturday, October 18.

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Perils of picking wild mushrooms

12:10pm Tuesday 14th October 2008

I HAVE to admit I do like autumn, much more than summer and on a par with spring.

Beloved horse chestnut tree is under threat

11:10am Monday 6th October 2008

ON one of the reserves the other day I spotted some conkers that had fallen from one of our mighty horse chestnut trees.

Big predator in small pool

10:30am Tuesday 30th September 2008

WE have been on the receiving end of quite a wet, miserable summer, with drab dreary days far outweighing the few moments of sun. However, the last few days of September have been a lot more cheery and have had an almost spring time feel.

Gardens host family fun day

2:48pm Friday 19th September 2008

Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses is hosting a family funday on Sunday October 12.

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Similarities between our heaths and the Alps

9:50am Tuesday 16th September 2008

I WAS fortunate to have a holiday this summer that afforded me a couple of days walking in the French Alps.

Take closer look at creepy-crawly creatures

12:57pm Monday 8th September 2008

ONE of the aspects to working with wildlife is that no matter how long you seem to do the job there is always something new to discover, every so often something will be brought to your attention that you knew was residing on one of the sites, but had simply never encountered.

Fascinating facts behind lumps and bumps

10:42am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

DURING the last few weeks, when on events or just walking through the nature reserves carrying out patrols, I have been stopped and asked about the strange lumps, bumps and nodules that can be seen in amongst the leaves of the oak trees. These lumps, bumps and nodules are often, unsurprisingly, thought to be some sort of disease. However, this not the cause of these deformities, they are called by gall wasps. When the word wasp is mentioned the mind immediately jumps to bad memories of our yellow and black friends causing a nuisance when we are trying to enjoy a summer’s picnic. This however, is not the case Gall wasps are extremely different.

Discovering hidden gems beside the seaside

1:15pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

I STARTED the week by leading a group of local children on a trip to a deserted beach in South Wales.

It’s best not to test the harvestman leg myth

11:40am Wednesday 20th August 2008

WHETHER it be out in the woods or just in our garden, one animal I am sure most of us have encountered at some point is the harvestman.

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Take a closer look at creatures it is hard to love

11:30am Wednesday 13th August 2008

ONE of our most common creatures has to be the fly.

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