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22 November A jay was acting rather strangely in the park, flicking its wings, spreading its tail and restlessly flying from branch to branch, presumably as a response to the presence of a predator? Also in the park were eight long-tailed tits, two blue tits, two blackbirds, three magpies, two carrion crows, one grey wagtail, five chaffinches, three woodpigeons, a wren and a robin. |
19 November A spectacular raptor moment this afternoon. I walked down Station Road past the telecom mast and I was alerted by alarm calls from a carrion crow in time to see a peregrine falcon fly from the tower and over Colston Girls' School. This was my first 'definite' Monty Peregrine although I have seen a few 'probables' over the years. Lovely stuff. I will have to keep an eye on the mast in case it is a regular Peregrine look-out. A blackbird was in song behind the Old Vicarage this afternoon. On my way to Herberts this morning I stopped off at the park and at first I though there wasn't much about but a couple of pied wagtails landed on the concrete play area followed by a grey wagtail. A jay flitted among the trees and a siskin flew over - when are Siskins going to settle I wonder? Meanwhile, outside the flat there was still a gaggle of starlings hanging around. |
17 November A delightful visit from 22 starlings this morning, flying over the flat and landing on the chimney opposite. They are still not common here and I suspect these were migrants from Eastern Europe who will no doubt spend the winter in Britain. There were a couple of blackbirds sub-singing this afternoon - one outside the back entrance of Somerfield in North Road (in exactly the same shrub it was sub-singing last winter - birds are creatures of habit!) and another at the top of St Andrews Road. There was a party of long-tailed tits in the poplars in Station Road and a few female chaffinches there and a pied wagtail flew over. A goldfinch was sat on the top of a tree behind Apsley House, Richmond Road, and singing its heart out and a siskin flew over the station. |
15 November The beautiful frosty morning stimulated much common bird activity in the park. Wrens and robins were making alarm calls, the 'predator' turned out to be a grey squirrel. I tried to take a photo as the squirrel leapt through the branches but only managed a shot of its rear end and as Wild Monty is a family show I can't use it. A goldcrest called from one of the large pines, a siskin passed overhead and a grey wagtail flew low past the park. |
13 November I was so glad my train was cancelled this morning as it meant I could have a look around the park and as a result found another Monty surprise in the shape of a mistle thrush. It gave close views for a while before flying to the trees behind the Old England. This is a bird I've not seen for many years locally so I was well pleased. At the station a jay was flying among the young sycamores and a flock of greenfinches numbered about ten - hopefully this flock will get bigger as winter sets in. There were welcome groups of starlings in Brigstocke Road and a grey wagtail flew over Portland Square. |
11 November My little wander produced a jay over the top of Richmond Road and a grey wagtail over the park. At Fairlawn Road a red admiral was still on the wing and there was a fine show of feverfew in a garden in Hurlingham Road. The kind owner allowed me a wander round her lovely garden, so many thanks. 12 November A jay inspected next door's patio chairs this morning, a grey wagtail gave fabulous views as it fed among the fallen leaves in the park and a skylark flew over while I watched it. |
11/11/07 – additional fauna report from Chris. |
MONTPELIER PARK – Swarming with alien Harlequin Ladybirds. Lots of empty pupae were noticed on the upper surface of the leaves of English Elm suckers. Gave up counting after 12 adults had been found. 7 were the red variant with 18 black spots. One had some spots merged to form black transverse bands. In another the spots were increasing fused towards an all-black rear end. Three were black with two or four red spots. |
ALONG THE RIVER FROME FROM THE WADE STREET BRIDGE TO THE M32, JUNCTION 3, ROUNDABOUT - Two Brown Rats on the bank. Several Mallard Duck. A few Moorhens. Good views of Grey Wagtail. One Collared Dove. Des heard Robin and Wren. A party of Long-tailed Tits. A Grey Squirrel. The best came last. First, just as we were about to peel away from the river, the hoped-for Kingfisher shot out of the tunnel under Easton Way and headed downstream. Then I spotted an adult rabbit a few feet from the path in the shrubs on the St. Paul’s side M32 embankment - in the centre of the junction 3 roundabout. Des caught a confirmatory glimpse of the tail disappearing, and wondered if it was a released domestic – but it was definitely ‘wild-coloured’. |
9 November This morning in the park the regular group of chaffinches was feeding high in the trees - eight or nine birds were present and both sexes represented. The Hitchcockian pair of carrion crows were in the play area and were incredibly confiding! More crows were kicking up a racket in Ashley Road - they are really very common in and around Monty. 10 November Still quiet in the mild autumn weather, the only highlight was a raven near the station and some long-tailed tits along Station Road. A wren scolded in the park and a robin sang in the garden. Lots of white dead nettle plants in flower along the verge at Fairlawn Road. |
8 November A stiff breeze kept bird activity to a minimum this morning - at the station the only flying objects other than a few woodpigeons and lesser black-backed gulls were yellow leaves swept along by the gusts. A harlequin ladybird was in the kitchen this evening. |
7 November I was in such a rush this morning I just could not stop but while brushing my teeth I heard long-tailed tits outside. While rushing down Richmond Road, I heard some house sparrows. While hurtling along Picton Street I heard a great tit singing and, while sprinting along Dove Street, Kingsdown, there were three pied wagtail |
1 November Another bright and warm morning brought out lots of common bird activity at the station. Most noticeable were chaffinches and greenfinches which seemed to be everywhere, flying among the trees. But it was difficult to count them accurately. A wren was in full song and house sparrows were chirping away near the allotments. |
