29 Apr Well the morning started dry and bright but soon deteriorated into a wet afternoon and early evening. There was not much to see at the station except a few BLACKBIRDS and COLLARED DOVES and a WREN flew low across the tracks. This evening in the garden the female Blackbird flew into the ivy-covered house wall opposite the window with a large juicy worm in her bill, but I don't yet know if there is a nest and young. Last night I had another moth attracted to the kitchen light - this time it was an EARLY GREY (see photo below). It's foodplant is Honeysuckle of which there is plenty outside my window. |
27 Apr Always a wonderful moment when you see your first SWIFTS of the year - two were flying high over the flat at 9.00 this morning, bless 'em. Between 11.00am and 1.00pm there was a male BLACKCAP singing at the railway path (see photo below) also two HOLLY BLUES and one SPECKLED WOOD. At the station an ORANGE-TIP and a LARGE WHITE butterfly plus a HOVERFLY which might be called something called Scaeva or then again it might be Metasyrphus (see below) but whichever it is, it's still an attractive animal. At Station Road a more easily-identified hoverfly called Episyrphus balteatus or the MARMALADE HOVERFLY was on a Dandelion (see photo below). There was a HARLEQUIN ladybird nearby. Nothing much at the park apart from some LONG-TAILED TITS and a WREN. In the garden another Holly Blue was around the Ivy-covered wall. |
23 Apr A quick look around the park this morning failed to turn up the flycatchers but the LONG-TAILED TITS and the STARLINGS were there (see photo below) plus at least one WILLOW WARBLER. At the railway path there was a HOLLY BLUE butterfly and a singing BLACKCAP. At Narroways there was a singing SEDGE WARBLER - a 'first' for the nature reserve! Nearby there were a few LINNETS plus CHIFFCHAFFS and another Willow Warbler. Butterflies at Narroways included 8 SPECKLED WOODS (see photo below), 3 ORANGE TIPS and a SMALL TORTOISESHELL. A HOVERFLY (which I think is called Syrphus ribesii) was at the Community Garden off Mina Road (see photo below). There were another two Holly Blue butterflies in the garden this afternoon. |
22 Apr This is an incredible spring! Another PIED FLYCATCHER (this time a female) was in the park, perching on the children's play equipment and flying down onto the grass! Also still three WILLOW WARBLERS there, one was hovering like a hummingbird below the Sycamore leaves picking off aphids from the undersides! The LONG TAILED TITS were still there, making me wonder if they have a nest. Two STARLINGS were feeding on the grassy areas - a video of one of them will be uploaded later. Last night in the kitchen was a HEBREW CHARACTER moth, my first moth of the year (see photo below). |
21 Apr Spring always brings the possibility of rare birds and in the park this afternoon I was delighted to see a gorgeous male PIED FLYCATCHER! It perched very briefly, allowing a close view, but then flew off and I was not able to re-locate it. Nearby were three or four LONG-TAILED TITS and two STARLINGS - unusual for the park. A SWALLOW flew over the allotment gardens and a GOLDFINCH was there showing well. At Fairlawn Road a WILLOW WARBLER was singing and another Willow Warbler was in Ashley Vale along with a CHIFFCHAFF. Also at Ashley Vale the RAMSONS or Wild Garlic flowers were looking wonderful. On the insect front, a SMALL WHITE butterfly was near Hurlingham Road and severla DOCK LEAF BUGS were at Fairlawn Road. A HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD was in the park. Finally (phew!) there is plenty of HAWTHORN (or May) blossom coming out! |
20 Apr Where do I start?! There were no less (and possibly more than) 6 WILLOW WARBLERS in Monty this morning when I did my annual bird survey between 6.40 and 8.00am! Four were in the park, another was in the trees in St Barnabas School playing field and yet another was in Ashley Road! Also three BLACKCAPS (including one showing well at Albany Green) and a CHIFFCHAFF at Fairlawn Road (the latter was noted this afternoon so wasn't included in the survey results). Also this afternoon, Monty was visited by several SWALLOWS - 2 flying north over Fairlawn Road, another couple over St Andrews Road, and 4 birds over the station. Outside my window at lunchtime a handsome male SPARROWHAWK sat on a roof (see photo below). During the survey this morning a HERRING GULL was grappling with a paper bag in Bath Buildings and the bag seemed to be winning! |
18 Apr A grey morning with a cold easterly made it feel more like November in the park at 8.40am. However, I was amazed to see and hear no less than three WILLOW WARBLERS - singing and feeding in various trees scattered around the park! The species has undergone a marked decline in recent years so perhaps this is a good omen and they could be on the way back. Also in the park were BLUE and LONG-TAILED TITS and a GREY SQUIRREL. The CARRION CROW I filmed the other day was in exactly the same place - fame has obviously gone to his head and he's angling for a sequel or two! |
12 Apr Well the good news is that a male BLACKBIRD did come to the window this morning BUT it might have been the 'spare' male that has been hanging around rather than the female's mate. I will keep tabs on the situation....Meanwhile, the WILLOW WARBLER was still in the park showing well and singing strongly at 11.00 this morning (see photo below). It has been there nearly two weeks now! In the garden the HOLLY BLUE butterfly was still showing well. At Fairlawn Road I watched as the CARRION CROW sat in its nest and its mate came to the nest, greeted the sitting bird which then left, and the second bird then sat in the nest so this confirms there are eggs. Under the Cheltenham Road arches there was a dead FERAL PIGEON in the road. Only about another 3000 to go! |
9 Apr Another fine spring morning. A WILLOW WARBLER (possibly the same bird that has been hanging around in the park for the last week or so) was singing near the allotment gardens this morning. I was also surprised to see a BLACKBIRD nearby with what appeared to be a white patch on the side of its head but it didn't hang around for me to have a good look. A DUNNOCK also gave good views at the allotments. In the park two GREY SQUIRRELS were chasing each other up and down the trees and one allowed me to film him/her (see below). Also in the park was a singing COAL TIT. |
8 Apr A fabulous sunny morning and in the park the birds were singing even though you could hardly hear them because of an almighty racket from the Dovercourt development. A drill was making an ear-splitting and teeth-jangling noise and I'm surprised the birds were not wearing ear-plugs. Despite the din, no less than three WRENS were singing their hearts out and I think I've mapped out their territories. One occupies a spot behind the childrens play area, extending to the Old Vicarage, and the other two are around the concreted games area. If you are not sure what a Wren sounds like I recommend you stand in the middle of the concrete court and you will hear the two birds battling it out! I was also surprised to see a couple of CHAFFINCHES chasing each other wildly near the play area - whether it was a confrontation between males, or male/female courtship I was not able to find out. |
7 Apr In the garden, the two male BLACKBIRDS were chasing each other around half-heartedly - I really don't know what the second male is doing hanging around when there is a well-defined pair in an equally well-defined territory, yet his presence seems to be more or less tolerated. At Fairlawn Road a CARRION CROW was sitting in a nest, presumably on eggs (see below), and a WOODPIGEON was carrying nesting material nearby. Also at Fairlawn was a very ginger BUMBLEBEE which may well have been a species called Bombus pascuorum but sadly it didn't pose for a photo! At Narroways between 11.00 am and 12.00 noon there was a singing male BLACKCAP, 5 CHIFFCHAFFS, a fly-over MEADOW PIPIT and a BULLFINCH was heard calling. |
6 Apr A cold but sunny day with some wintry showers. At 4.00pm the WILLOW WARBLER was still showing well in the park(see below) favouring trees at the back near the Old Vicarage. There was also a pair of ROBINS there. A female CHAFFINCH was outside my window this morning and a WOODPIGEON disappeared into the Ivy so possibly prospecting for a nest site. |
5 Apr A sunny but chilly day did not deter the first HOLLY BLUE butterfly of the year - it was flying far and wide in the general area of the garden. The CHIFFCHAFF was still at the top of the railway path and a BLACKCAP was singing nearby. The sound of JACKDAWS was heard above the park and the very tame ROBIN was feeding at its usual spot near the dog waste bin (how romantic!) In the garden, a BLACKBIRD disappeared into the Ivy cover and made me wonder if it might be thinking about building a nest there as it was close to the traditional spot. GREEN ALKANET was flowering nicely in the park and COW PARSLEY near the iron bridge (see below). |
3 Apr A beautiful, warm, sunny morning. Right on cue a WILLOW WARBLER turned up in the park, showing well and singing occasionally as it fed among the buds of the Horse Chestnut tree near the back of the park. This is about the average date of arrival of this small yellowy bird which has flown all the way from Africa. It will not stay around - Willow Warblers tend to avoid built-up areas - but it was probably feeding up before continuing its journey. Also in the park was the Council contractor doing some tidying up, a couple of dog-walkers and a one-eyed cat. A WREN was singing vigorously outside the window as I was getting ready for work. |
2 Apr Does anyone know of a good cure for laziness? I'm only asking because I'm finding it difficult to get out of bed these days, and this morning was no exception. I had hoped to do a quick circuit of the park but I bumped into an elderly neighbour and by the time we'd finished chatting it was too late to do anything wildlife-related. However, this evening I've had a new report from Chris who's found a very exciting plant in Kingsdown - the report will be up on the website tomorrow so watch this space! |
