Cam Valley Wildlife Group

an independent wildlife conservation group covering Midsomer Norton, Radstock and surrounding villages

About The Group

Introduction
Aims & Activities
Our Area
Local Wildlife
The Wildlife Year
Contact Us

Membership
How To Join
Membership Form
Projects
Group Projects
Barn Owl Project
Bat Project
Bird Recording
Butterfly Project
Dormouse Project
Flora Project
Otter Project
Owls & Raptors
Small Mammal
Goosard Reserve
Paulton Reserve
Stephen's Vale
Events
Events Diary
Newsletter

Latest Newsletter
Articles Archive

Links
Links


Little Owl 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.

Upcoming Events

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

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


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.

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.

Flora

  • Coltsfoot and Dogs Mercury in flower.
  • Wild Daffodil starts to flower.
  • Ivy berries ripen.
  • Nettles are sprouting and stinging well.
  • Alder and Elm catkins appear.

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).

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.

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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