Staff outing

Lunch time today saw a group of staff from the Trust head out to George's Hayes nature reserve, a lovely block of woodland on the edge of Cannock Chase between Rugeley and Lichfield.  The reserve has a fantastic display of woodland wildflowers including the biggest colony of native daffodils in Staffordshire.  Obviously at this time of the year daffodils are finished, but the woodland is filled with wild garlic and bluebells with the odd patch of yellow archangel.

The woodland is definitely worth a visit in the next week or so.  Visit the Trust website for details - http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/reserves/georges-hayes

This evening I attended the first Staffordshire Mammal Group summer evening visit of the year, this time to Trentham.  Members of the Deer Study Society were on hand to show us around, but as usual birds were well represented on this mammal outing.  The main highlight was my first hobby of the year, a fantastic sight as it caused havoc for a flock of hirundines above.  Other highlights were kingfisher, sedge warblers and several grey heron returning to the local breeding colony on the islands.

Mammals seen or field signs recorded included otter along the river, a hedgehog scat, fox scats, deer trails, a badger sett, a couple of rabbits and a fox running across the car park.  Several bats were also seen and heard including noctules.  Everyone is welcome to attend Staffordshire Mammal Group events, absolutely no experience is needed!  Find out more here - http://www.staffordshiremammalgroup.org.uk

Otter prints along the river