A couple more sightings from Michael:
Stoat seen running around the Orchard stones Sunday morning, and three hares (one being chased off by another) near Pony Wood early this morning.
Video clip of three hares (12 MB)
Stoat and hares
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Monthly Archives: May 2018
Little Owl in Pony Wood
Whilst trying to find rogue Spanish bluebells this morning we heard bird alarm calls and looked up to see a little owl in the horse chestnut tree.
A better (?) view
Volunteering Saturday 12th May 2018
Sorry I forgot to post Jonathan’s announcement of our proposed tasks for the Saturday session but here is what we actually did:
Fifteen volunteers attended the monthly Saturday volunteering session on a lovely spring morning.
- The shed roof was weeded, particularly of sycamore saplings
- Benches were trimmed of invasive vegetation in the Orchard, down the Pads footpath and along the Fauna path.
- Keith began the summer pruning of the fruit trees, assisted byStuart.
- The new saplings we planted this winter were trimmed round to increase their light and prevent envelopment:
- Along the Pads footpath
- Up the new hedge in Pony Wood
- In the new extension on the East side of Pony Wood.
- Along the southern hedge boundary of the Flora Field
- The new gorse in Pony Wood was also trimmed although it’s not looking too strong at the moment.
- We made a valiant effort to identify the patches of Spanish Bluebells which the wildflower surveyor had informed us of but without success. We need greater expertise to identify them for removal.
Sowing by Tractor and by Hand
On Saturday, the arable field was sown with barley.
On Sunday, a group of 8 volunteers sowed a variety of seeds around the crop on a hot afternoon.
While walking up the hill sowing seed, I spotted this oystercatcher.
Ploughing and Wildlife
Yesterday the arable field was ploughed and the tractor was followed by numerous Lesser Black-backed and Herring gulls.
Also seen were lapwing (2 initially and 6 at the end of the day).
On the ploughed field we also saw a wheatear, probably on its migration to Greenland or Canada.
Butterflies seen included tortoiseshell, orange-tip and peacock.
I have also been asked to mention that an early morning walker has seen 8 shelduck on recent mornings plus a nuthatch in the Orchard and regular hare sightings.
Wildlife from the Wednesday Work Group
Swallows were swooping over the Wednesday Work Group as we worked to clear algae from the Alder Pond in Big Meadow. We were careful not to go near the moorhen’s nest and found this newt.
As we were packing up, a mother mallard emerged from the marsh with her chicks, we think eight, and led them on to the water, clearly appreciating our clearance.
