Nature Notes

[Kidds]

Pied Wagtails seem to love short grass to scamper around catching insects. - But the rewilders say we should not keep grass short, let it grow "wild"
Which is a bugger if you are a Wagtail.
Often wonder how many other species who thrive in the farmed countryside would struggle if the rewilders get their way. Probably far more than would benefit.

Ah that will explain it then.
I have to admit my lawn cutting duties had got a bit behind so to catch up I went over it with the 674 and my big flail yesterday.

 

[Jonp]

Pied Wagtails seem to love short grass to scamper around catching insects. - But the rewilders say we should not keep grass short, let it grow "wild"
Which is a bugger if you are a Wagtail.
Often wonder how many other species who thrive in the farmed countryside would struggle if the rewilders get their way. Probably far more than would benefit.

Just been out checking the sheep and the pied wagtails are where they usually are...right in with the sheep. I suppose the sheep disturb a few bugs or is it that fresh droppings attract a few flies that they can have a go at?
Plenty of swallows swooping about still too.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

I can't remember ever seeing so much badger damage to the pg swards as this year.
This morning I found two primrose plants in full flower, 2nd December, wow.

 

[Jasper]

I can't remember ever seeing so much badger damage to the pg swards as this year.
This morning I found two primrose plants in full flower, 2nd December, wow.

I know what you mean about tommy brock they’ve been rooting all over and we’ve got loads of cow parsley

 

[pycoed]

Watched a buzzrd land in the top of a tree this morning (fewer about here since kites came). She (or so it turned out) waggled her bum a bit & up came a male buzzard, landed alongside her then they proceeded to mate! According to the book, March to July is the nesting period - anyone seen earlier nests?
I do remember spending quite a bit of time once watching one nest from behind a mountain wall looking down onto the nest in a tall tree, but that was classic Springtime stuff.

 

[Lazy Sod]

Mrs LS heard a woodpecker drumming this morning.

 

[Lazy Sod]

We seem to have a gentleman's club (for cock pheasants) established in our garden. It happens every year. There was one cock pheasant first thing and whilst eating my breakfast, 2 more walked from our neighbours field, through ours and into the garden. By 12.30 there were seven, we have had eight.

No shooting is anywhere near. The real attraction is, of course, the fallen apples from our three trees and the picking from under the bird feeders.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Farming Today this morning had a piece about turtle doves, one of the Christmas birds. Apparently they breed in South and East England which is why I've never seen one. Their problem is that they arrive here in the spring and there isn't enough small seeds for them at that time so some farmers are taking special measures to encourage them.
Do any of you have them breeding in your localities?

 

[Av Gorritt]

I'm always pleased by the view from my bathroom window most mornings . I have a resident two pairs of blackbirds that most aggressively defend their territory from all comers necks outstretched and running at invaders . A breeding trio of peafowl that seem to have adopted me (I think it's cupboard love mind , they feed from trough spillages from our beef finishing building ) often a nice little covey of partridge - 6 - to 9 strong , which no 2 son reckons are emigrees from a shoot further up the valley and will return there when the shooting stops . just a few feral pigeons- not too many to be a nuisance , a resident group of pheasant--again - none of my residents are too numerous . and what I think is an orphan rabbit that lives under an upturned digger bucket at the edge of the yard ( collective Ah-h-h-h here !) I have a lot -- too many - jackdaws , but they stay at the other end of the yard , and an odd coupla shots from the estate gamekeeper keeps them away some of the time .

 

[ollie989898]

Even we get a cock pheasant visiting now, he knows where to go and look which is around the chicken house as me move it sequentially around the garden in steps and there is surely food of some sort lying around.

 

[pycoed]

Was watching an otter on pond below the house a month or so back. Yesterday late morning the otter showed back on the ponds & we all spent an hour watching her fishing (I reckon it's a bitch, since smaller than others I have seen) from safe by the woodstove with a drink in hand - luxury eh? Any way, late afternoon she came back & son put on some outside clothes & decided to sneak down to get some close-ups. He snook up & lay full length in the rushes, creeping forward to the water's edge & managed to get some cracking video shots, but too big to Email. I attach a couple of close range (iPhone) stills taken at about 6 ft range!

Today she's back & I just watched her catch 4 rudd about 4oz each inside 30 mins.

 

[DeeGee]

Watched a buzzrd land in the top of a tree this morning (fewer about here since kites came). She (or so it turned out) waggled her bum a bit & up came a male buzzard, landed alongside her then they proceeded to mate! According to the book, March to July is the nesting period - anyone seen earlier nests?
I do remember spending quite a bit of time once watching one nest from behind a mountain wall looking down onto the nest in a tall tree, but that was classic Springtime stuff.

Did you manage to get it on video?
Just asking for a friend.

Well, not exactly a friend, but rather an acquaintance, called Baldrick.
He collects this sort of material for his ‘research’ and he does pay well.

 

[Kidds]

Seem to be more blackbirds about this week. Probably immigrants and usually a sign of col weather.
This one was in my yard, summat up with it and immediately assume bird flu but it could be owt. Looks crossed with magpie.

 

[Lazy Sod]

EGRETS. We've been seeing Little Egrets around here for probably 20 years or more. We've chased many away from our pond, Grey Herons also. They're persistant devils.

For about the last 2 months we've had a Great White Egret hanging about. They're stunningly white, as the little ones are, but as big as a Grey Heron. Are other members seeing them?

 

[Kidds]

See the little ones around from time to time within the last 5-6 years.
Don't see them very often but I did see one in Shropshire on Saturday.

 

[topground]

EGRETS. We've been seeing Little Egrets around here for probably 20 years or more. We've chased many away from our pond, Grey Herons also. They're persistant devils.

For about the last 2 months we've had a Great White Egret hanging about. They're stunningly white, as the little ones are, but as big as a Grey Heron. Are other members seeing them?

Saw one on the edge of Chew Valley Lake, Hollowbrook end last week.

 

[Jonp]

See them on the Gwent levels, are little Egrets the ones with yellow legs?

 

[primmiemoo]

Finding heaps of frogspawn in many places on farm. Ditches, and in the great routs in a little used track. I know they aren't spectacular, but they're a welcome harbinger of Spring.

 

[Kidds]

I've seen several queen bees and wasps about over the last week. It has been quite mild over recent days but plenty of time for winter yet.

 

[Pan mixer]

EGRETS. We've been seeing Little Egrets around here for probably 20 years or more. We've chased many away from our pond, Grey Herons also. They're persistant devils.

For about the last 2 months we've had a Great White Egret hanging about. They're stunningly white, as the little ones are, but as big as a Grey Heron. Are other members seeing them?

I counted 12 in one of our wetter areas, I think that they look slightly bigger than the Grey Herons though. Cannot ever get a picture of them though as they are very shy and fly off much more quickly than theothers - we have little Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Spoonbills too - all nested here last year. One report of a Night Heron but I didn't see it.