Hogmany 2007. Woodhead Community Club hald a very successful party in the Community Centre.

19th Dec. Very frosty.                   

   Benachie at Sunset

24th Nov. A full moon, a frosty, quiet, peaceful night and Fyvie Scouts are out on a night walk through the woods. Listening for the sounds of the night, the most noise came from the traffic on the A947, two miles away. Dogs barking and the screech of an owl were the local sounds. The chatter of ten, happy,  well behaved local scouts and their leaders should also be recorded.

21st Nov. Keep a lookout for a small white bird in the area, with black wing tips and tail.  A leucistic Finch is the general opinion. Not an albino as it has some colour.

20th Nov. AGM held in Community Centre. Bob Davies gave an excellent illustrated talk on the River Ythan and its Wildlife to a very interested audience. Three new members of the community have been appointed to the Woodhead and Windyhills Trust committee.

13th Nov. The raised central path now saves the rain water from draining off the hill and will help maintain the abundance of mosses.

10th Nov. Red Suirrel filmed running along the ground. Looked plump and in very good condition.

8th Nov. Gales all day. No damage done to woods. Weather has changed to winter conditions.

6th Nov. After school club, primary seven, Markethill, Turriff, watched the DVD of the wildlife at Windyhills and asked lots of questions. The meeting was held in the library at Turriff.

4th Nov. Local photography group, including children, try their hand at photography.

Short-tailed Vole and two Roe Deer seen.

24th Oct. Visit by Ellon Art and Photography group.

Beautiful day, warm, sunny and no wind. Flocks of Lapwings and Fieldfares feeding at Monkshill.

 20th Oct. Long Tailed Tits and Goldcrests seen in the woods.

Oct. 18th. Central path widened and upgraded. Three Polish men employed by Highland Stoneways, helped to upgrade the Central path using Windyhills sand.

Oct 7th. The seven foot long Oak bench, donated by Turriff Rotary Club, is  now fixed in position at the top of the path leading from Heatherbloom to Backhill Cottage. Thanks to Neil for sanding the wood and Michael for fixing it to the posts.

 Oct. 1st. Glorious warm, sunny day, a real pleasure to be outside without a jacket. Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies making the most of the sunshine. Black Darter and Large Red Dragonflies sunning themselves by the pond. 

29th Sept. Spiders identification course in Aberdeen with Mike Davidson, who recently surveyed the spiders at Windyhills. Seventy two different species of spiders were found and seven different Harvestmen.

Sept. 26th. Most of the Swallows have left for Africa. Last few were gathering today for the long journey.

Sept. 15th. Grampian Fungi Group, led by Rosemary Smith, spent the day recording the Fungi in the Woodhead section of the woods at Windyhills. Conditions were good for fungi although a bit cold, 10 degrees.

Sept. 11th. Street lights on at 19.15pm. Leaves changing now to Autumn colours. Lots of Mistle Thrushes eating the Rowan Berries and a large flock of Lapwings approx. 200, were seen feeding in a local field. Very few insects this summer for the birds and hardly any house flies.

Sept  6th First Canary-shouldered Thorn moth attracted to light at Windyhills.

Aug 24th Presenation of prizes at Vale Hotel, Fyvie. Woodhead won the Formartine village in Bloom in the Small Communities section. Fyvie won the medium sized village and Ellon won the Town. Congratulations to all.

Aug. 23rd Photos and talk on Windyhills at Methlick Community Garden AGM.

Aug 22nd The heather at Windyhills is looking at its best now, a landscape of purples with an understorey of mosses changing to Russet and gold.

Aug 21st. Four Roe deer were observed by an early morning visitor from Turriff.

A group of Councillors from the Formartine area Visited Windyhills with Area Manager Keith Newton.

Aug. 11th National moth night. Poor weather resulted in a poor catch of moth species in this area.  The lack of sunshine has also had an effect on the insects. Damsel and Dragonflies have been notably fewer this year and there are very few flies about for the birds.

Aug. Off to a wet start with Turriff show being cancelled on the 6th due to thunder, lightning and flooding.

 July weather has made the paths wetter than usual so its wellies for walks at the moment.

30th July  Forty members from Meldrum Rotary Club had a tour of the woods with guides from the Community Trust, Sue Bigg, Lynn and Brian Cleaver, Brian Martin and Helen Taylor. The weather was mild and very pleasant with no midges.

17th July Members of Turriff Tourism Group held their meeting at Woodhead Community Centre following a walk through the woods at Woodhead and Birchwood.

7th July Botanical Survey of Flowers, grasses, rushes, sedges, trees and ferns recorded by Ian P. Green.

4th July Airyhall Ramblers visited Woodhead and Windyhills wood.

June The woodland has changed from crisp and dry underfoot to very wet. The paths were drier during the winter months than they were at the end of June.

21st June Fintry W.R.I. enjoyed a guided tour of the Woodhead wood, Windyhills. The weather was perfect and there were no midgies about.

7th June. Woodhead and Windyhills have been awarded a Commended certificate in the Scotland's Finest Woodlands competition.  

3rd June. The Miller moth, and the Heart and Dart have now been added to the species list of moths for Windyhills. Both attracted to light. Found in Birch woods and heathland.  

2nd June 2007 Plant sale at Woodhead raised over £350. Many thanks to the members, friends and Kirkdale Nursery who provided the wide selection of plants.

 25th May. Sixty children from Meldrum Playgroup had great fun at Woodhead wood. They made a large spiral using stones and a sculpture using twigs. Learned about mini bugs, beasties and played at the disused badger sett. Even the adults managed to relax and give the children a bit of freedom to enjoy the beauty of open space and fresh air.

24th May. Squad of willing, able bodied men barrowed in gravel to the central path to raise the centre and allow the water to run off. Well done lads.

21st May. Work started on erecting the oak bench close to the main track leading from Heatherbloom to Backhill. The seat is positioned  overlooking the views to Lethenty and Monkshill.

17th May. Cuminestown Art Group visited the Windyhills. Looking forward to seeing their pictures at their Art Exhibition on 16th and 17th June at St. Luke's Hall, Cuminestown.

15th May. Been listening for the Cuckoo but have not heard it yet. Please let me know if it has been heard.

12th May. Lots of Sky Larks and Lapwings nesting in the set aside on the Sunnybrae road. A pair of Partridges were also seen.

10th May. Stanley Robertson, well known traveller and story teller, visited Windyhills and recounted tales and ballads of the area for the Oral History Project.

6th May. Baby sparrows and Dunnocks are now fledged and have flown the nest. 

2nd May. Good weather continues.

 Lookout for the mining bee homes on the ground at the top of the quarry. This bee is out foraging.

When it returns it will cover the hole with sand.

30th April. Another glorious day of sunshine. No rain or wind for a fortnight. Heavy dew at night.

Saw two Small Copper Butterflies today. Thyme-leaved Speedwell is flowering and Red Champion.

27th April. Meadow Pipits are back ready to nest in the heather. Now is the time to keep your dog on a lead to protect the ground nesting birds.  Look for the solitary mining bees in the sand on the paths. Their homes look like mini volcanos.

Day flying, Common Heath moths can be seen on sunny days above the heather. The white, Greater Stitchwort is flowering profusely amongst the grasses and the delicate, small, white Wood Sorrel can be seen along the North paths with its bright green clover-like leaves.

26th April. First damselfly, a Large Red was seen leaving its exuvia and flying off. The Marsh Marigolds, Lady's Smock and Chickweed Wintergreen are now in flower.  Inverkeithny WRI enjoyed a visit to the woods in the still of a beautiful evening.

24th April. Dog Violets and Wood Sorrel in Flower as well as a few Primroses.

 First Emperor moth of the season attracted to light. One of the largest moths, the males can be seen flying during the day.

22nd April. Swallows return. 3 days earlier than last year 

21st April. Abbie and Callan Reid in full swing making their bird box at the coffee morning.  

19th April. Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White and Peacock butterflies have all been observed on the wing.

10th April. First queen wasp spotted and the Red-tailed Bumble Bee.

9th April. Weather still dry and temperature 17degrees today. Toad spawn in pond.

April First week - Glorious weather. Blackthorn flowering.

31st March. Great day but ground frost at night. Moth season started. Check out moths, more moths, under the flora and fauna section.

28th March. 13 degrees today. First Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, looking very fresh. More large Bumble bees about.

27th March. First tadpoles have hatched, three weeks after being laid. Last year, 2006, they hatched on 15th April.

25th March. Glorious spring day, 16 degrees. Birds all pairing up. Pairs of Kestrels, Buzzards, Red-legged Partridge, Dunnock, Tits - great, coal and blue, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Tree and House Sparrows, Robins, Pied Wagtail and Wren all very busy with territory marking and building.

First, Lesser Celandine flowering. A Water boatman spotted flying into the pond.

23rd March. First pollen showing on Willow Catkins.

18th March. Weather changed from 11 degrees to snowy showers and 3 degrees. Growth on trees and shrubs looking good with lots of buds ready to burst open.

13th March. Small Tortoiseshell butterfly active in the sunshine.

12th March. First Bumble Bee of the season on Crocus flower.

7th March. Frog spawn in pond. Earlier than last year. Should hatch in one month.

March 1st. Wildlife of Windyhills video shown at Cuminestown Guild.  7.30 pm.

Feb 2007

24th Feb. Lots of Yellow flowers on the Gorse.

19th Feb. Chestnut moth came to light at window.

13h Feb. Management agreement signed by Committee for SNH.

We know where we are but will anyone else? The sign for Woodhead has disappeared.

29th  Jan. First moth of the season. Pale Brindled Beauty.

A Crisp Frosty Central path on Christmas day 2006.