Date: 9th February 2022
Time: from
8:15 a.m.
Weather: dry,
bright/cloudy with occasional sunny spells, light wind, 8°C to 11°C
This
was my third visit to the site in 2022 and by far the most interesting and with
some notable sightings.
Although it didn’t feel especially like spring (but then it is still early February), there were some definite signs that spring is on the way. A few Snowdrops and Daffodils have started to emerge in St. Nicholas Church cemetery and there is much more bird song with Dunnocks, Blue Tits and Great Tits joining the Robins which began singing again in early December and the Song Thrushes which have been singing for about a month now. Green Woodpeckers were also much more conspicuous and vocal (see below).
The most notable sighting
during my visit was a single fly-over Mute Swan which was my first
record for the site bringing the total number of bird species to 55. Whilst
I was watching the Red Foxes (see below), I heard
the distinctive rhythmic whistling sound that the wings of a Mute Swan make
in flight although being surrounded by tress it was initially difficult to
locate the bird. Eventually I had a brief glimpse above me and through the tree
canopy as the bird flew over heading in a south westerly direction.
In addition, I added a further 2 species to my 2022 list for the site
bringing the total to date to 22: Black-headed Gull (a single bird flying over) and Long-tailed Tit (a small foraging
flock in the eastern section of the cemetery).
Other notable records included Goldcrest (1 heard calling and
then seen in the wooded area adjoining the eastern section of the cemetery), Green
Woodpecker (2 in the eastern section of the cemetery plus a single bird watched
for some time and photographed in the large oak tree at the edge of the field
in the north of the site) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 heard calling
very briefly and distantly in the north of the site).
I regularly record Magpies and this species doesn’t usually
warrant any comment but this morning there was the remarkable sight of an
extremely noisy group of c.30 birds in the hedges and trees in the north of the
site. The collective noun for this species is a “parliament” and this group of birds
were much more enjoyable to watch than the incompetent, lying and corrupt Government
located about 30 miles to the west as the Magpie flies.
Photo: Green Woodpecker
During my visit, I had extended views of Red Foxes. When I
arrived on site via the track from Larkins Tyres, I spent a few minutes at my usual
watchpoint overlooking the rough grass field bordered by scrub, hedges and
trees although it was very quiet so I moved on. I went back to the same
location before returning home and immediately spotted a Red Fox basking
in the sun just to the left of the large oak tree. After getting a few photos,
it must have seen me and jumped up and bolted back in to the scrub. Having reviewed
my photos, this Red Fox had one blue eye and one golden-brown eye which was
rather curious. Red Fox cubs have blue eyes for the first few weeks but
then they change to a golden-brown colour.
After about 30 minutes, another Red Fox emerged from the scrub
and hedges at the far side of the field and started walking in the direction of
the large oak tree before again disappearing back in to cover. From reviewing my
photos, this was clearly a different animal since it seemed to be either blind
in its left eye or had an infection. What I assume was the same Red Fox,
judging by the dark black to the back of the ears, again appeared very briefly
at far side of the field.
My last sighting arose from hearing movement in the wooded area
immediately behind me and, as I turned round, I saw a Red Fox bolt off away
from me. How long he had been watching me looking out for him in the other direction,
I have no idea! …. “he's behind you” …. clearly, the winter pantomime
season is not quite over yet
Photo: Red Fox
Photo: Red Fox
Species
recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Site totals to date (2022 totals in brackets):
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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