The Tao Te Ching contains observations on how best to live a long and contented life.
The poet Gary Snyder translated chapter 33 in this finest of ways: “The best things in life are not things”
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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
“Always keep your mind as bright and clear As the vast sky, the great ocean And the highest peak, empty of all thoughts”
Morikei Ueshiba
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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
Date: 25th October 2021
Time: from 8:15 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 10°C to 12°C
It was a beautiful sunny autumnal morning for my visit and there were 2 main highlights.
Firstly, and somewhat surprisingly, I saw a single Red Admiral nectaring on the few remaining Ox-eye Daisies in the central section of the cemetery. Whilst this species can be seen in October and even later in the year on warm days, it was a relatively cool morning so I was certainly not expecting to see any late flying butterflies.
Secondly, although it continues to be relatively quiet with regard to birds, I did see a flock of c.15 Jackdaws flying over the central section of the cemetery, past the church and continuing away off to the south west. This is my first record of this corvid species bringing my site total for bird species to 54.
I did see a single thrush species flying over very distantly but unfortunately I was unable to confirm if this was the first Redwing of the winter. Certainly in the last 2 weeks or so, there has been a major influx of this species in to the UK as they arrive for the winter from their northern European breeding areas.
The only other bird record of note was Great Spotted Woodpecker with an individual heard calling in the woodland beyond the eastern section of the cemetery and another heard calling distantly from the church.
Robins and Wrens were the most conspicuous species with several singing and calling throughout the site. There also seemed to be an increase in Blackbirds, again likely to be due to the arrival of birds arriving from Europe for the winter.
During my visit, I failed to record any Red Foxes, Grey Squirrels or Reeves’ Muntjacs. It is extremely unusual not to record any mammals at all. However, I did spot the gruesome remains of part of a the head of what I think was a Red Fox judging by the canine teeth and the signs of reddish fur.
Species
recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
This week, from Monday 25th October through to Sunday 31st November 2020, is National Mammal Week.
National Mammal Week is organised by the Mammal Society as a celebration and awareness week of mammals and their conservation in the UK.
At the end of July 2020, the first official Red List for British Mammals was published by the Mammal Society for Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and NatureScot (see here and here). It showed that of the 47 mammals native to the UK, 11 are classified as being "at imminent risk of extinction", with a further 5 species classified as "near threatened".... see here. The destruction or degradation of natural habitats, alien invasive species and historic persecution are the main cause of the decline in the populations of many UK mammals.
However, on a more cheerful note, National Mammal Week also gives me an opportunity to showcase some of my favourite UK mammals.
A long-time favourite is the Otter which I have seen on an almost annual basis for many years at various locations in north and west Scotland. I have also seen this species at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in east Norfolk and on the River Little Ouse at Santon Downham in Thetford Forest on the Suffolk and Norfolk border.
Photo: Otter at Loch Scridain, Mull, Argyll
Photo: Otter at Loch na Keal, Mull, Argyll
Photo: Otter at Broadford Bay, Skye, Highland
Another favourite is the rare but increasing Pine Marten which I first saw on an evening mammal watch trip with Speyside Wildlife in the Cairngorms in Scotland in May 2005. Since that time, I have also seen them regularly during week-long stays at Mingarry Lodges in western Scotland in September 2015, September 2016 and September 2019 plus a few chance encounters elsewhere in north and west Scotland over the years.
Photo: Red Squirrel at Mingarry Lodges, Mingarry, Moidart, Highland
Photo: Red Squirrel at Freshfield National Trust reserve, Formby Point, Merseyside
There are 2 mammals that have produced many wonderful experiences at one of my local patch sites, St. Nicholas Church and the surrounding areas: Red Fox and Badger. I have got to know both species very well through observation and reading several books about their ecology.
Photo: Red Fox at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cubs at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Badger at British Wildlife Centre
Photo: Badger at British Wildlife Centre
Finally, I am now going to cheat 😀. I am including most definitely a favourite mammal although I have yet to record it at either of my local patch sites and I am very unlikely to do so any time soon 😀. Therefore I am not sure that it can be celebrated during the UK's National Mammal Week but it is going to get an honorary mention anyway since it is a magnificent animal and it was formerly present in the UK. It is Ursos arctos, the Brown Bear .... see here for more information on its status and distribution as a UK mammal.
I have seen several Brown Bears on 3 separate trips to north east Finland at Pirtttivaara (Martinselkonen Wilds Centre), Lentiira (Wild Brown Bear Centre) and Kuntilampi (Bear Kuusamo). All these sites are close to the border between Finland and Russia and provide almost guaranteed sightings of Brown Bears. Here is probably my best photo from many of the magnificent Karhu:
Photo: Brown Bear at Pirtttivaara, Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland
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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
