February 2012

Last month was an interesting time in the parish for wildlife, with January being unseasonably warm, lacking the freezing winds and conditions that are often more prevalent at this time.

In terms of flora and fauna this has meant that things are happening sooner than expected, even though spring is officially still several weeks away. In the parish Blackthorn has been seen flowering, and quite remarkably on Hambury Tout the Fox moth caterpillar has been observed.

During the last month, the ranger team were also privileged to observe the Triangular pigmy moss, thanks to Dorset naturalist Bryan Edwards, who has been recording the species for a few years. This moss, a native of the Mediterranean, has now been seen on Hambury Tout and forms one of only six locations found in the British Isles so is of particular importance in the coastal SSSI.

Following on our report on the exciting Great Bustard sighting near East Chaldon late last year, sadly over the Christmas period it was found dead due to ‘fowl’ play by a fox or dog. Unfortunately, these birds are ground nesting and are slow to take off so are particularly vulnerable to such predators. The good news is that a further sighting has been reported from the back of The Launches in West Lulworth.

For many small bird species mating and nesting season is rapidly approaching, but with the cold nights and frosts, natural food sources could be running scarce. This means that during this time it is still important to keep topping up your bird feeders and remember, put up your bird boxes straight away. Annual maintenance should include removing old nesting materials and scalding with boiling water to remove any parasites.

Things to look out for at this time of year are the arrival of Snowdrops in our woodlands and the opening of Hazel catkins. Some of our winter visitors are still about so look out for the large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing in the Chaldon area.

We have chosen the Snowdrop for the flower of this month. This delicate beauty with its cluster of drooping bells is a delight to see when there are fewer plants in flower.

Lulworth Rangers.