Author: froyle_wildlife

Dragonfly sightings 2015

froyle_wildlife Recording, Sightings
Emperor Dragonfly in flight
Emperor Dragonfly in flight

A significant increase in the number of dragonfly and damselfly species recorded in Lower Froyle demonstrates the benefit of new wildlife ponds that were dug locally since 2012. On sunny days in August, the vivid blue coloured Emperor Dragonfly could be seen performing aerial acrobatics over the old pond on the corner of Husseys Lane. A mating pair of Common Darters were noted and will lay their eggs in aquatic vegetation. Although this pond is unsuitable for breeding because the ducks and fish will eat the developing nymphs other nearby garden ponds are suitable. From a small garden pond, it was amazing to witness an Azure Damselfly nymph climb out of the water and emerge as a flying adult once it’s wings had expanded and dried.

Common Darters paired
Common Darters paired

Other species recorded include Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle.

See British Dragonfly Society for more information.

Prepare ground wildflower area July 2015

froyle_wildlife Projects
Planned area for wildflowers
Planned area for wildflowers

An area 5x20m on the northern edge of Froyle recreation ground is going to be sown with native wildflower seed this autumn.  A meadow mixture of Spring/summer flowering perennials is planned with cornfield annuals included to provide a display in 2016 and act as a nurse crop for the perennials that take longer to establish. Thanks to Froyle Parish Council for purchasing the seed from Emorsgate Seeds, EM5 Meadow mixture and EC1 Cornfield annuals (link to a list of the 27 species Wildflower seed list).

Emorsgate EC1 cornfield annuals
Emorsgate EC1 cornfield annuals
Emorsgate EM5 meadow mix
Emorsgate EM5 meadow mix

Now all we need are volunteers to make it happen! Can you help on Sunday 19th July 9-12am to remove and stack turves into habitat piles? (The turf will have already have been cut by machine). If so please bring a garden spade and gloves, refreshments will be available.  We will then hoe weeds every 3 weeks on Sundays 9th and 30th August and 20th September at 9am and again assistance would be appreciated.  The wildflower seed should be sown in late September depending on weather. An idea of numbers would be appreciated so please contact us if you can help.

Froyle wildlife photo competition 2015

froyle_wildlife Projects

What better way to connect with nature than to capture images of what you see.

Common frogPhotos must have been taken within the parish of Froyle and depict what you value in local wildlife.

Images should preferably be landscape format with a max .jpg file size 2MB or prints max 7”x5” size.  The winning photos will be displayed on the website www.froylewildlife.co.uk along with at least one photo from each person entering. Entries from under 14’s will be judged as a separate category.

Please submit up to 4 entries by 31st October 2015 either by email to photo15@www.froylewildlife.co.uk or at the village hall Meeting Place on the last Friday of each month by the Froyle Nature Conservation Group table

Update Nov 2015, link to winning photos.

Two Mills walk 30th May 2015

froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

Two Mills walk Saturday 30th May 2015

Join us for leisurely 2.5 mile stroll following footpaths and quiet lanes taking in Isington and Froyle Mills.  We will be and looking to see what’s flowering and flying on the way with refreshments to follow at Mill Farm Organics Shop (to be paid for individually).  Afterwards there is the option of a further 1.3 mile round walk on footpaths through the farm, south of the railway line, then back to the shop.

River Wey near Froyle Mill
River Wey near Froyle Mill

Meet at Froyle Village hall for a prompt 9 am start. The going is mostly flat with the odd gentle incline -there are some styles.  We will be taking the underpass so we don’t have to dodge the A31 traffic!  Allow about 3 hours plus an extra 1 hour if you wish to extend the walk as above.

Please let us know  beforehand if you would like to come. Mill Farm needs to organise enough tables and cakes and we need to organise transport back to the hall.

Evening bat walk 12th May 2015

froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

On Tuesday May 12th 2015 (postponed from 5th) there will be a bat walk led by our speaker last November, Nik Knight from the Hampshire Bat group. We shall start at the Village Hall car park at 8.30pm, taking a circular walk, finishing at the Village Hall. Nik is bringing bat detectors so that we can hopefully be able to identify some of the species of bats that are around Froyle. Click on link to hear samples of bat echolocation calls.

Bird recording in Froyle.

froyle_wildlife Recording

In the last few months 41 records have been submitted totalling 101 bird sightings and covering 7 of the eleven target species, well done everyone and please keep the records coming in.

April sees the return of the cuckoo, a bird whose breeding population in the UK has fallen by half in the past 20 years and the subject of a BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) tracking project to find out why.  Please keep a special listen out and send in your records, but beware, sometimes the collared dove gives a good impression of a cuckoo!

House martins are also on their way from Africa and will begin nesting in May, making their mud nests on house walls. For this species please send in records of active nests only.

See http://www.rspb.org.uk/ and search house martin for information on this lovely species.

Anyone can join in this survey, the target species being skylark, lapwing, yellowhammer, red kite, barn owl, little owl, little egret, cuckoo, grey partridge and woodcock.(+ house martin active nest count)  For an information pack contact us or come along to the Meeting Place on the last Friday of the month where you can view the Bird Maps and Froyle Nature Conservation Group display boards.

Which do you think should be Britain’s national bird?  You can vote for one of the 10 contenders at http://www.votenationalbird.com/  voting closes May 7th 2015.

Bird Walk Sunday 12th April 2015.

froyle_wildlife Walks and Talks

Leader Keith Betton, Hampshire Bird Recorder

Interested to learn more about the birds to be found in our parish?  Then you could do no better than joining Keith (who gave the great talk in the village hall last autumn) on a 5 mile round walk from the village hall to see what’s flying and singing.

Please meet at the hall for a prompt 9am start. Should anyone prefer a shorter walk of 3.75 miles ending at the church in Upper Froyle, then do please let us know so that transport can be arranged to and fro.

Allow 2 ½ – 3 ½ hours and bring a snack and drink if you wish plus binoculars if you have them and would suggest walking boots or wellies as parts of Saintbury hill track can be very muddy.

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