September 2011 - Butterflies, Dragonflies, Ladybirds and Treecreeper!

Saturday 24th: Had a walk around my local wood in the morning sunshine. Came across a flock of Blue and Long-tailed Tits. Amongst the flock were two Treecreepers. These birds are always a special treat to see and even more to photograph. For such a small bird, they are quick on their feet as they scramble up the bark of a tree - never down. I did see one of them flutter down the ground and then start climbing.

Aside from that flock, not much else. Most birds are either molting or coming to the end of their Summer-moult so tend to keep themselves hidden. But what I did notice was a large number of Ladybirds. These were the resident variety of 7-spots. No Harlequins seen.

 With Autumn now upon us, this is the best time of year to seek-out those elusive fungi. Below is a photo of the Cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa).

Later in the back garden I came across an unusual Moth; Angle Shades  (Phlogophora meticulosa). After taking photos, we placed it on a bush where it has stayed all afternoon and was still there at 6pm!

Oh...and Mel got stung again (the second this season) by a Wasp!

The garden provides cover and residence to a large population of House Sparrows. At the last count a few weeks ago, there was 109. Clearly not all of these live in the conifers, but may do, with others from surrounding gardens taking advantage of the variety on food on offer here. Nationally, they may be on the RSPB's Red List, with very low numbers in London, but here they are most definitely on OUR Green List!

Wednesday 21st: My first outing since recovering from sciatica problems with my back. So it was just a local trip up the road to Hatfield Moor and hopefully not too much time on my feet. Fairly uneventful overall. The highlights being 2 Hobbies that flew overhead, with one returning about 20 minutes later - unfortunately no photos. A good view of a GreenWoodpecker through binoculars while Sandra used the scope to get an even better view and later a Great-spotted Woodpecker. Still, quite a number of Emperor and Red Darter Dragonflies about with various other kinds. The ground is damp as would be expected after the rain that we've had recently and various Mushrooms\Toadstools were evident.

 Above: Just one of many Speckled-Wood Butterflies seen at Hatfield Moor (south).

 Above: This Small Copper Butterfly was the only one seen.

Above: Red Darter, as usual, this was the most numerous of the Dragonfly family.

Above: Gadwall in flight.

Above: Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus)

Above: Silky Nolanea (Nolanea sericea).

 Above: Woolly Milk Cap (Lactarius torminosus).

Above: Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria).

May 2010 - Kirkmoor Planation Wood & news from the Garden

May 2nd: Strolling around my local wood, I can see that the Summer migrants have now arrived. I saw 3 male Blackcaps singing in different territories though no females. So, do the males return before the females and stake-out territories before the females arrive later? Answers would be appreciated. Of course, the early arrivals, the Chiffchaffs have laid claim to territories as long ago as late March and are in full voice! Willow Warblers are also back and their familiar song can also be heard. At least two have taken-up residence in the wood. Another question that intrigues me: do these migrants such as Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers return to the same site after flying 3,500 miles from Africa year after year? Or is it just chance that brings them to this little wood on the outskirts of Doncaster?

Bluebells now carpet the wood and for two weeks or so will provide a vivid blue colour to the wood. The local residents such as Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon are as usual, fairly abundant. For such as small wood, it certainly contains a large variety of wildlife.

Meanwhile, in our garden, the birds are in full flow. The pair of Wood Pigeons that nested in the conifers, produced one fledgling. But after making its maiden appearance, was frightened by a local Squirrel and has not been seen since!

The Blackbirds - specifically the females - are constantly visiting the kitchen for mealworms, so much so that Melanie has now rationed them as we don't expect another delivery until Wednesday 5th! Once we open the back door then it becomes a constant procession of female Blackbirds (3 different individuals), 1 male Blackbird and a small group of House Sparrows!

Over this Bank Holiday weekend, Melanie could easily spend the entire day supervising the birds! She has to limit each bird to a reasonable number of mealworms as they tend to empty the bowl and leave none for the next visitor.

The female House Sparrows seem to be more forward than the males (who wait outside by the doorstep) and will fly in and hover waiting for the moment when they can seize the odd mealworm from under a Blackbirds beak! There has already been one Blackbird fledgling, that Mel photographed last Friday, but alas, this morning (Monday) she discovered its remains in the flower bed. Just the beak, a poo-pellet and some feathers are all that was one a Blackbird. It looks like the neighbourhood Sparrowhawk is back on the scene!

March - Kirkmoor Plantation Wood

Saturday 27th: A lunchtime walk around my local wood and after an unusually long Winter, Spring is slowly starting to breakout. The buds on the trees are still wrapped tightly but given a few more days and some warm weather, they will flourish. It's been a while since I've been birding in this wood and though small and dilapidated in some parts, it supports a wide variety of wildlife. A couple of Chiffchaffs, presumably, recently arrived from their 3,500 mile flight from West Africa have already taken up residence, one at either end of the wood, their familiar calls ringing out in response to the other. It's incredible that those Chiffchaffs that migrate, (some tend to stay), make this journey across the Sahara, mountains and seas to get here. The two images here are of the same bird as it was very obliging for me. Below is a short movie with sound of the Chiffchaffs song.

Long-tailed Tits are in abundance. I've noticed that there seems to be one flock that works its way up and down the wood, moving from tree to tree.

No Bluebells yet, still too early but there are sporadic island of Daffodils that have bloomed. Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons Goldfinches, Wrens and Robins were seen around the wood. As I write this today (Sunday 28th), I can report that I also saw a Treecreeper, female Chaffinch and astoundingly two male Goldcrests resplendent with their red display skull caps quarreling with each other in an attempt to entice the attention of a female Goldcrest a short distance away. Unfortunately I could get a photo of these two birds. I must admit that I have never ever seen male Goldcrests with red display plumage.

Friday 26th: The female Blackbird that we have called "Nice Misses" has laid two eggs in the same nest she used to rear her 3rd brood last year. This is amongst the pyhracantha attached to the wall of the House. She still comes into the kitchen on a regular basis to feed on mealworms. There is another Blackbird pairing nesting in the conifers at the bottom of the garden. During the Winter, there were at least seven Blackbirds in the garden but the others have now dispersed to find their own territories.

Thursday 25th: The majority of Frogs that return each year to our pond, have now left after spawning, leaving only about half a dozen resident Frogs. Both male and female Frogs came back to the pond on or about the 20th, paired up and spawned before disappearing to wherever they stay for the remainder of the year. This year due to the harsh Winter they returned late, usually its been late February or early March. During the time they were here, Mel counted 100+ and the females have deposited approximately 50+ clumps of spawn. Now the majority of this spawn will not survive as the Goldfish are partial to it as are Blackbirds and maybe small pond beasties and some will just not mature to tadpoles. Some that do mature to tadpoles and froglets will succumb to any resident much larger frogs. Unfortunately the mature females that come back do not always survive the mating process as they get either drowned or suffocated by the competing males. This year we have found 4 dead females.