This month Michael Walter's report includes a section about the dormouse found during a volunteer session in the Reserve. As I have already written about this, I have omitted that section. However, I wasn't aware at the time I wrote my post that the dormouse was transported to Wildwood in a glove. Michael takes up the story: The most suitable container to hand [to transport the dormouse] was one of Michael Thomas' leather gloves; the dormouse was dropped inside the glove, and the open end was then sealed up with gaffer tape. Unfortunately, the animal burrowed head-first into the small finger and Michael’s brand-new glove had to be cut open at Wildwood in order to extract the animal! Hazel Ryan, who is a small mammal expert based at Wildwood, explained that “our” mouse could become part of a licensed captive breeding programme, that would enable dormice to be reintroduced to suitable habitat in Kent. She hadn’t received dormice from the Blean area before, so our animal would add to the genetic diversity of the breeding stock. Although the dormouse was undeweight when it was found, a call to Wildwood a few days later confirmed that it was doing well.
Ravens
We are now used to seeing buzzards in Kent, but for most of us a raven is still very much a novelty, although these large black birds are also making a comeback, nesting on Dover cliffs and being seen more frequently inland as well. In the past two weeks there has been a flurry of records of single ravens in the Canterbury/Blean area, four of which involved a bird flying over Blean Woods. Its flight path was invariably south-east to north-west, which could mean that the raven is commuting to Graveney Marshes, perhaps feasting on lamb afterbirths. Last breeding in Kent around 1890, and persecuted to extinction in the south east in the 1900s, this rather regal bird, with its low, sonorous, and utterly diagnostic “pronk pronk” call, is very slowly returning to its former haunts. Although technically a crow, it could almost be classed as a bird of prey, as it can kill newborn lambs, and has a massive bill for tearing up its victims.
Raven photo by Dave Smith
Spring Walks in the Reserve:
The spring walks season is nearly upon us, and dates for your diary are given below. Nightingales should be singing on all the walks, with nightjars a bonus on the evening trip, so why not join them to listen to these truly evocative sounds.
Dawn Walks Sun 26th April at 5.30am and Sun 17th May at 4.30am
Evening Walk Sat 6th June at 8.30pm.
All walks cost £5 adult RSPB non-member, £3 adult member (bring your membership card) Children under 16 free. Booking essential on 01227 464898 or blean.woods@rspb.org.uk