Welcome
to the Cam Valley Wildlife Group
Cam
Valley Wildlife Group is an independent, volunteer-run, wildlife
group based around Midsomer Norton and Radstock. The area
covers the towns and villages of Cameley, Camerton, Carlingcott,
Chelwood, Chewton Mendip, Chilcompton, Clapton, Clutton, Coleford,
Combe Hay, Dunkerton, Emborough, Farmborough, Farrington Gurney,
Faulkland, Foxcote, Hallatrow, Haydon, High Littleton, Hinton
Blewett, Hinton Charterhouse, Holcombe, Kilmersdon, Litton,
Midford, Midsomer Norton, Norton St Philip, Paulton, Peasedown
St John, Priston, Radford, Radstock, Shoscombe, Southstoke,
Ston Easton, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Temple Cloud, Timsbury,
Tunley, Welton, Westfield, Wellow and Writhlington.
Our
aims are the conservation of local biodiversity, the promoting
awareness and understanding of local wildlife, and the encouraging
the enjoyment of wildlife. Our activities include a varied
events programme, talks, walks, field trips, workshops, social
events, survey projects and practical conservation projects.
We
produce a newsletter four times a year and have an online
discussion group for members. Membership is open to anyone
who supports our aims and an annual fee of £5.00 covers
all members in one household.
Feel
free to browse around our website.
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Thursday
February 11th - Snowdrop Coffee Morning at Paulton
Saturday
February 13th - A Morning of Bird Watching at Elm Farm,
Burnet
Wednesday February 24th - Talk at the Centurion Hotel.
Diana is giving a talk on her memorable trip to Spitzbergen,
Norway.
Saturday February 27th - Goosard Conservation Morning
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CVWG
News
"A
Birding Migration" a talk by Oliver Smart
[posted Thu Feb 4]
Hope
it is OK to bring this talk to the attention of CVWG
members: "A Birding Migration" a talk by Oliver
Smart. After hearing such good reports about Oliver
Smart's talk the Timsbury Nats. have booked him in for
Monday 15 February 2010 at 7.30pm. The talk spans 3
years on the Greek Island of Lesvos and captures the
unbelievable movement of birds on their spring migration
to northern Europe. Friends of mine that have seen the
talk describe the pictures as 'stunning' and some of
the best that they have ever seen! Visitors from our
'next door' group will be very welcome and are invited
to this, out premier event of the year. So do please
come along and enjoy the talk. It will be held at The
Conygre Hall, North Road, Timsbury, BA2 0JG. Entrance
fee £2.00.
mike_baileyattimsbury
Owls
[posted Fri Jan 29]
I had a brief glimpse of a pale owl on my way home this
evening, not far from
the White Post south of Westfield (ST671524)
christophereiles
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What
To Look For in... February
A
month when nature starts to wake up and creatures start to
think about breeding.
Birds
-
House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Thrushes and Woodpigeons
join the January songsters. Blackcaps may also be
heard
-
Woodpeckers begin their territorial drumming.
-
Early nesting resident birds include Dipper, Grey
Heron, Moorhen & Little Grebe.
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Mammals
-
Woodmice start to breed.
-
Bats are hibernating, mostly torpid. Fat reserves
dwindling now and in harsh winters deaths may occur.
Bats must not be disturbed while torpid as effort
of waking could prove to be fatal.
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Flora
-
Coltsfoot and Dogs Mercury in flower.
-
Wild Daffodil starts to flower.
-
Ivy berries ripen.
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Nettles are sprouting and stinging well.
-
Alder and Elm catkins appear.
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Insects
-
You may spot a Peacock butterfly on a warm day.
-
Look out for the following moths: The Chestnut, The
Satellite, Common Quaker, Dotted Border and Spring
Usher.
-
The first large bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation
– the Earth bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and the
Garden bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).
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| Amphibians
-
Frogs come out of hibernation and start spawning.
-
Toads also come out of hibernation to travel back
to their ponds to spawn.
-
Newts return to ponds and start breeding.
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From
'The Wildlife Year' - a month
by month guide to the things that may be happening in the
Cam Valley Wildlife Group area.
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