Date: 10th November 2020
Time: from
9:45 a.m.
Weather: dry,
sunny/cloudy, light wind, 12°C to 14°C
The forecast was
for a grey and cloudy day so I had not planned to go out. However, by 9:15
a.m., it was already becoming quite sunny so I quickly gathered my things
together and donned my outdoor gear.
I accessed the
site, as I usually do now, along the track from Larkins Tyres. On recent visits,
a viewing point watching over the field at the northern edge
of the site approached along the track and wooded area from Larkins Tyres has proved to be successful.
It was again successful this morning and in fact I spent 2 hours watching from this viewpoint and did not
visit the rest of the site.
Within a few
minutes of reaching the edge of the wooded area to view the field and surrounding
scrub, hedges and scattered trees, I saw a large Red Fox (presumably an
adult male) with a bright white-tipped bushy tail as it emerged from a
hedge on the far side of the field. It was quickly followed by another Red
Fox and then by yet another! A very good start: 3 Red Foxes in quick succession.
The large Red
Fox and one of the others soon disappeared out of view behind another hedge
but the remaining Red Fox, which had a distinctive downward-kinked tail with no white tip, walked a short distance and then stopped. It
proceeded to wash itself for several minutes before then laying down half
hidden from view and evidently went to sleep.
Although I had
got off to an excellent start with the Red Foxes and anticipated more
sightings, that was it for the rest of the 2 hour period. The sleeping Red Fox
occasionally raised it head, only to curl up and go back to sleep in the
sunshine.
However, from
my viewpoint, I did have some noticeable bird sightings during my stay.
Firstly, I saw
2 Chaffinches flying over which I initially located by their call. I
have seen this species at the site before but not on a regular basis. This
year, I have only had single records in each of May and June.
In
addition, I saw at least 2 Goldcrests but
there were probably more than this within a mixed flock of foraging and calling Blue
Tits, Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits which moved through.
A flock
of c.100 Starlings were particularly noisy throughout my stay and they
occasionally took to the air in a wheeling flock.
I also
heard calling Green Woodpeckers and Great Spotted Woodpeckers on
several occasions and saw 2 of the former flying over. Jays were particularly
active flying to and fro between the various trees and hedges.
Finally,
as I was about to leave, a female Sparrowhawk flew through.
I saw 4 Grey Squirrels this morning: 2 in the wooded
area approached along the track from Larkins Tyres and another 2 in and around
the trees bordering the field.
However, possibly the most remarkable sighting was of a Small White.
Clearly, after seeing a Pipistrelle on my evening visit to the site on 7th November 2020,
some butterflies and bats are not yet convinced that summer is over!
As I left my viewpoint, the Red Fox was still curled up asleep with just the top of its head and 2 ears visible.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records
in italics):
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Starling
Sparrowhawk
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Herring Gull
Red Fox
Grey Squirrel
Here are some photos from my visit:
Photo: Starlings
Mammals = 6
Butterflies = 21
Dragonflies and damselflies = 7
Reptiles = 1
Amphibians = 0
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