Toad Migration

Over the last few days the temperature has been gradually rising and the warm sunny spells have lured the Common Toads out of their hibernation. Several have been spotted in various locations around the reserve and especially on the access road. Work on repairing the potholes which was scheduled to start tomorrow has therefore had to be put on hold until the migration to their breeding grounds is over!

Milder nights have also led to an increase in the moths being attracted to the lights on the Field Centre such as this freshly emerged Oak Beauty. It will have spent the winter as a pupa underground. This species has one generation which is on the wing between late February and April and only the males come readily to light. The males have feathered antennae and can be darker than the females too.

The list of species on the observation board will start to grow longer each day as spring bounds forward; Roe Deer and Hare were added earlier in the week and several Kestrels were seen soaring over the outdoor classroom this afternoon. One was also seen flying out of an adopt-a-box!

Unfortunately, the reserve will remain closed until the 12th April but we will try and share as many photographs on here as we can in the meantime.