Nov. 18th. Survey of the mosses and liverworts at Windyhills completed by Dr Martha Newton from Cheshire.   The survey reported Seventy six different Mosses and twenty three different Liverworts identified at Windyhills, some of them appeared in very small areas of vulnerable habit which will require careful management.  

 Oct. 31st. Wasp photographed feeding on Ivy flowers. Hornets and wasps belong to the same family but hornets are much bigger than wasps. Wasps feed their young on insects.

Oct. 7th. Liz Holden, Field mycologist, led a group of fungi enthusiasts on an identification expedition.  This is one of the fungi found, the Earth Fan, Thelephora terrestris. Fan-shaped rosette clusters, found on soil amongst leaf litter in heath and conifer woods.

Oct. 3rd. Woodhead Community Club held a successful coffee morning, bring and buy stall and raffle on a very blustery day. Woodhead and Windyhills Community Trust carried out a survey of local residents suggestions, plans and ideas for the next five years. 

Sept. 30th. Three different species of Dragonfly seen today in the sunshine. Black Darter, Large Red and Common. Peacock, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and Large White Butterflies making the most of the warmth. Cold night last night only three moths caught in the trap, Red-line Quaker, Brick and Streak.

Sept.29th. Forglen WRI visit Windyhills for a short walk and film show of the wildlife at Woodhead and Windyhills.

Sept. 29th. Following a visit by Sheila Brown, Her Majesty's Ispector of Education, Woodhead and Windyhills Community Trust has been identified as an area of Good Practise. Congratulations to everyone involved. The Web-site was highlighted for the range and quality of information.   

Sept. 23rd. Skeins of wild geese seen flying South. Weather been good for over a week. Dark nights are creeping in. Street lights on 7.30 pm.

Sept. 17th. Visit to Newmachar WRI. Wildlife DVD and talk. Common Hawker and Black Darter Dragonflies seen today. One solitary Swallow still here. 

Sept. 10th.  Fourteen Peacock, four Painted Lady's, six Red Admiral and-two  Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were enjoying the nectar on a late flowering buddlia.

Sept 9th. Over 50 Swallows gathering on the electric wires. Twittering very excitedly about their forthcoming trip to Africa.

Sept 5th  Andy  McMullen led a group of bryophyte (mosses) enthusiasts on a training day at Windyhills. Glenn Roberts recorder/manager at North-East Scotland   Biological Recording Centre organised the event. Funds were provided by Aberdeen-shire council through the Leader project.

Sept 3rd. Results of Village in Bloom announced. Auchterless won the small community section and Woodhead were runners up this year.  The village is looking stunning especially the cross and square in the village centre where the bulk of the tubs are. Well done to everyone who helps with the planting, watering and deheading.

Aug. 30th Woodhead Community Trust took part in the Fyvie homecoming event, held at  Fyvie Castle. A selection of photos were on display showing the diversity of the animals and plants found on our 100 acre site. The new geology leaflets were handed out. Enlarged photos of the quarry, pebbles, melt water channels  and  the layers of sand were on view. White heather corsages were sold, with  hand  embroidered momentos  of Fyvie 2009.

Aug 21st and 22nd. North-East Scotland-Biological Recording Centre organised a training session at Windyhills for identifying small mammals.  A selection of Common Shrew, Bank Voles, and  Short tailed Field Voles for found.

Jamie Urquhart led the group of recorders and taught them how to set traps to catch live  small mammals. Next morning the traps were examined, the animals identified and released.  Painted Lady caterpillars were seen on Thistles. 

Aug. Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterflies feeding on nectar on the sunny days. The most common butterfly this month has been the Green Veined White. Look at the pictures in the butterfly section of Flora and Fauna.

July 4Th. 2009 Twenty people attended the training day at Windyhills to identify grasses, rushes, sedges and ferns. The group was led by Ian Green from Fochabersand the Nesbrec (Northeast Scotland Biological recording centre) organised the event. Aberdeen-shire Council leader project partly funded the course. The participants came from as far a field as Manchester andSt. Andrews. The weather was hot and dry. The day was very enjoyable and informative.

Lots of Ringlet Butterflies were flying and two Roe deer fawns were spotted. The Cross leaved Heath is flowering and the Bell Heather is beginning to flower.

June 29th. Tremendous heat for a few days. New path drying out and consolidating. Currently suitable for use by pedestrians.

June 28th. Tree Sparrows have flown.

June 20th. Live action with cameras on Swallow nest (five eggs hatched today.)  Tree Sparrows now one week old, eyes beginning to open.

June 13th.  Five Blackbirds successfully fledged.

June 13th. Village enhancement. Tubs, hanging baskets and plants in situ ready for Village in Bloom.

June 8th. Visit to Windyhills wood by Fisherford WRI. New path being prepared leading to Birchwood.

May 30th. Lovely day for guided walk with Barthol Chapel Guild.

May 16th. Bring and buy plant sale and coffee morning raised over £500 for Community Trust funds despite taking place on a very wet, cold day.

May 15th. Blue tit nest (on camera) now contains 5 eggs.

May 10th. Sparrowhawk has killed, plucked and eaten two Swallows in the garage.

April 29th. Visit to Barthol Chapel Guild to show birds nest building and wildlife at Woodhead on DVD.

April 27th. Blue tit and Tree Sparrow started nest building.

April 20th. First Swallow 2009 returned.

April 19th. Green Veined White butterfly and Small Tortoiseshell butterfly seen.

April 12th. Peacock butterfly feeding on Spring Flowers. 

April 6thand 7th. Geogoly information boards erected at appropriate sites at Heatherbloom quarry and near melt water channel in Woodhead wood and at large gravel pit in Windyhills wood.

April 1st. Sound added to Bird box cameras. Very mild misty night, over 300 moths attracted to 40 watt Actiniclight under a Sallow tree in Woodhead wood. Species recorded to date for 2009 are; Pale Brindled Beauty; Mottled Grey; Hebrew Character; Chestnut; Red Sword Grass; Red green Carpet; Pine Beauty; Clouded Drab; Common Quaker; Red Chestnut; March moth; Early Tooth stripe; Yellow Horned.

March 27th. Twenty four Curlews feeding in field at Windyhills.

March 20th. Flock of 22 swans fly over heading north west.

March 19th. Fisherford WRI. Delighted to see the DVD of "Wildlife on their doorstep."

March 13th. Frog spawn seen for the first time this year.

March 5th. Visit to Tarves WomansGuild. DVD on Flora andFauna at Windyhills shown.

March 4th. Visit to St. Ninians Guild, Turriff. DVD on Wildlife at Woodhead Shown.

March came in like a lamb!

Feb. 27th Mild day. First Coltsfoot flower open.

Feb 17th. Snow and ice almost gone. Birds active, looking for nest sites. Saw Coal Tits, Great Tits and Wrens in the wood today. Some branches which had broken off with the weight of snow were removed from the path.

Feb 9th. Minus 8 degrees here last night.

Feb 7th.  Snow, and lots of it.

Jan 23rd. Visit to ArdmiddleWRI with DVD on WoodheadFlora and Fauna.

Jan 18th Sunday. Paths in wood in good condition with very few wet patches. Evidence of recent squirrel action, the cores of pine cones left on the ground under their favourite trees.

Jan 2nd 2009. Male Bulfinch seen feeding on thistle seeds at Woodhead.