
Twig-hanging Migrant Hawker beside wide track from West Field to canal at midday on 11th August.
Twig-hanging Migrant Hawker beside wide track from West Field to canal at midday on 11th August.
One Brown Hare sighted browsing on vegetation at the foot of the far hedge in West Field (Pony Wood end) at around 7am this morning (02/05/20).
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.
Two brown hares observed at the gate between the Fauna path and the eastern gate into the Grammar School Field. They disappeared under the hedge and possibly across the Hay Meadow before I could follow them.
Orange tip butterflies observed in the Orchard and Paddock whilst we were volunteering yesterday
Last Wednesday (8th February) as the Hedge Working Party past Little Wood we saw a stoat dart across the wood.
Today (11th Feb) we saw a biggish group of starlings adjacent to West Field. I would say a couple of hundred. Also a flock of linnets in the tree adjacent to the Pads footpath.
Oh and a moorhen in Big Meadow next to the Fauna path
Three teal on Alder Pond this morning, plus a song thrush in the Orchard.
Also, I have been meaning to report that the Hedge Working Party observed a hare in Lower Sowerholme on 25th January.
Sorry I didn’t give notice of the session as I thought the blog was ‘under repair’. Now I know its back up and running here is the report of what we did.
A rather disappointing turnout of only 11 volunteers on a lovely winter’s morning. Problems with temperamental hedge trimming machines also made for a poor start but once under way we got a lot done:
The wild flower plot behind the Fauna Stones has been only a modest success. Goodness knows why the re-seeding in March has not been more successful. However, instances of the four annual plants in the mix have appeared (see below) which will set seed. It may be that the perennials in the mix will come in future years.
The annuals are:
Corn marigold
Common poppy
Corn camomile
Cornflower