Wild Warwickshire

Rarities in Warwick

2011-02-25T18:14:00.003Z

Over the hard winter many species not normally found in Warwick have appeared.
Along the river at the Castle and at the Saxon Mill, Goosander, Wigeon, Teal and Pochard have been seen.

At Aylesford School a Little Egret has been showing well and in the past week one of my favourite winter birds the Waxwing have appeared around Chase Meadows.

Foxes Again

2010-10-31T15:05:00.002Z

Following on from Junes Rabbits I have an update on the Foxes. After seeing them all over Easter the Fox Cubs seemed to disappear in the last couple of weeks however they have returned. Last weekend on my way back from birdwatching I saw this youngster lying in the field catching some late autumn sun.

Rabbits

2010-06-04T20:21:00.002+01:00

Earlier in the day I went up to Priory Park and photographed the young Rabbits and their parents.

Foxes

2010-06-04T20:13:00.002+01:00

Today I was lucky enough to see the foxes again. I used my Telescope to record this short video clip:

Aquatic Life

2010-06-02T19:11:00.001+01:00

I spent this morning having a little dip in the river and backwater at the Saxon Mill. I recorded Water Boatmen, Minnow Fry, freshwater Shrimp, Cyclops, Water Slaters, Snails, Tadpoles, Water Beetles, Midge larvae and Dun Fly larvae.

Mice !!!

2010-06-02T19:00:00.003+01:00

Our garden shed is home it seems to a little mouse - or more likely a family. There used to be a Wood Mouse about but I think this fella is a House Mouse. (Fatter face and little white on underbelly). I managed to catch him on one of his shuttle runs between shed door and spilled seed from the bird table.
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New cygnets on the river and very possibly a casualty.

2010-06-01T16:34:00.002+01:00

On Saturday I went out to check on the other swans still nesting in Warwick. The ones on the Canal have already hatched but I had yet to check on the Avon ones.

I went down first to Mill Street to check on ALA and AUD. There was no sign of them but I did get to watch a heron fishing.

From there I went into the Park and found ALA by the ferry crossing . He Was alone but a man told me that he had seen him with his mate and 6 cygnets the other day.
Further up by the sea scout hut I found ZTG and ARK they had nested in Kingfisher Pools and had obviously brought their two cygnets over to the river. Whilst they were on the river a body of a cygnet floated down river. ARK and the cygnets took a lot of interest in the dead body before it floated off.

Worried that the cygnet was one of the six of AUD I headed up river going as far as the Potterton's Bridge looking for them but to no avail. All I saw was a lone untagged adult. I am guessing that AUD has taken the cygnets further upriver perhaps as far as the weirs and lost one of the cygnets there.

Fox Cubs on my Doorstep

2010-05-29T11:22:00.001+01:00

Five minutes walk from my house I have discovered an Fox Earth in a field. I watched 5 cubs outside the earth this week playing. The sheep in the field have taken an instant dislike to them and take great enjoyment in chasing their neighbours back into their hole.

Recent sightings

2010-05-29T11:16:00.002+01:00

Its amazing how quickly time flies and one can get behind on maintaining a Blog. This was never going to be a daily affair, but I had hoped this would have been at lease monthly. 12 months on even that has failed. I dare not promise greater regularity in case I fail once again.

Nevertheless here we have a photo of a new mammal I have recorded down the Mill. Seen in late February this Weasel caught my eye. It was obviously out foraging and I startled it. It dived into a hole in a tree and then waited for me to leave, keeping a curious eye on me.

House Raid

2009-05-31T13:45:00.004+01:00

Out of the bird boxes I erected only a handful have attracted occupants. None of the open fronted boxes have been used nor has the Marsh Tit box despite its sawdust interior being excavated. 1 box in the meadow and two in the wood however have been occupied by Blue Tits.

Over the weeks I have been watching the adults bob to and fro, now I can hear the cheeps of young inside as the adults bring in caterpillars. Today however I was met by a sight of devastation. A large hole had been eaten into one of the boxes and there were no signs of Blue Tits or chicks.

No doubt a Woodpecker located the nest and decided he fancied a snack. You can avoid this by using metal hole protectors however it is my aim that my efforts supplement nature not dictate it, therefore I decided not to lend extra support to any tit family's, such is life as a small bird. The dangers are many.

Exciting Day

2009-03-22T18:04:00.003Z

Yesterday I actually took some time to enjoy the land. Rather than work tirelessly at clearing back nettles, putting up bird boxes or scattering seed I took down my hide and set it up so that I could photograph some of the species that visit the feeding station I have set up. Blue Tits, Great Tits and Long Tailed Tits all visited and whilst I waited even a Kingfisher appeared alongside the creek.

After sitting for awhile I went and took a water sample and set up my remote camera on the main gate post. I retrieved the camera this morning and rushed back to look at what it had caught. The camera had been activated 35 times and recorded Wrens, Blackbirds, Rabbits, Wood Mice and the piece de resistance a Badger!

I suspected Badgers frequented the site given a few smudged footprints. Bearing this in mind I baited the area in front of the camera with peanuts, a badgers favourite food.

Redpoll

2009-03-01T16:12:00.004Z

As part of my sunday morning route I came across a small flock of Redpoll. They have thrown up an interesting exercise in identification as I struggle through the various subtleties of sub-species differences.

Whats in your garden?

2009-02-01T17:36:00.003Z

Over Christmas I bought an infra red camera. Its a great little device that has an 8MP Camera that can take either still or short film clips. I have been trying it out so far in the garden before trialling out in the wild. So far I have discovered mice and hedgehogs.

Work continues

2009-01-31T15:00:00.006Z

Exactly a month has passed since I seriously began to work on developing Saxon Mill Carr and things are really starting to take shape.

In the past 30 days a lot of the materials I had ordered arrived and so I have slowly been working on putting them in place.

Work today consisted of putting up a further two nest boxes and planting some trees

The first trees to be planted were a Sessile Oak and 3 Bird Cherries. Oaks are the countries most important species for supporting invertebrate life and Bird Cherry trees grow well on damp ground and produce berries in the autumn that are eaten by many species of bird.

For the last 3 weeks I have also been conducting a detailed tree survey. I have recorded the location of approximately 213 trees on the site. I used a GPS to plot their exact position and noted down their species. Below is a preliminary map of the results.

Work begins

2009-01-01T15:03:00.000Z

It is a New Year and with it comes a renewed chance to make a difference. As regular readers will be aware I have taken over managing a piece of wet woodland on the Avon. It is my aim to make this even more of a haven for wildlife than it is already.

After many months of planning and thinking I have now reached the doing phase. Apart from some Himalayan Balsam control I have done little but arrange the fencing. With an assigned budget of £150 I have invested in a number of bird boxes, bat boxes and some plants.

The first nest box arrived on New Years Eve and so this morning I went out to put it up. The box, bought from CJ Wild Bird Foods is a specialised box designed to encourage Willow Tits. It is like any normal box but as Willow Tits like to excavate a little the interior is filled with sawdust.

I went down mid-morning and put the box up at a medium height with an easy flight path to and from it. It was screwed to a Willow tree and was positioned to face north this keeps the box away from the prevailing wind and means no direct sunlight will over heat it in the summer. Now is a good time to put up boxes. The breeding season can start as early as February and birds like to get accustomed to new objects in their neighbourhood.

After checking it was secure I then spent a little time exploring the previously overgrown parts of the site. I found a fallen willow branch that had snapped off in the winds. Some of its shoots were still in bud and so I carefully cut them off. I had read that Willow so readily roots that you can propagate them merely by sticking the branches into the ground. I took about ten of these budding branches in to the meadow scrub where a number of willows have naturally begun to grow. I pushed them into the ground around these other trees, it will be interesting to see if the tale is indeed true and they take.

With all the recent flooding a lot of litter has been left behind and so I spent a little time gathering polystyrene, beer cans and pop bottles from just a small stretch even so I quickly filled a black sack. Several more visits are needed to fully clear up before the next flood washes up more human detritus.

I await now the rest of my nest boxes and the hedgerow plants I have ordered, more of that later though.
All in all a great morning, it feels good to actually be doing something after all this time.

Where Peacocks Pace finally published

2008-11-30T11:10:00.001Z

My book on the Natural History of Warwick should be out within the next few weeks. Where Peacocks Pace - A Natural Historians Guide to Warwick charts the ecological history of the town and its wild places.

There are Chapters on the Castle, Priory Park, Common Land, The River, and the Town Centre.
The book highlights the plants and animals that can be found there and includes hints and tips to watching or finding them.

The book includes a history of these places and what animals used to be present. It is illustrated with full page photographs.

The book is available for pre-order from Authorhouse - http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~53353.aspx and is priced £14.99.

Saxon Mill Carr

2008-10-21T19:54:00.000+01:00

Well its been quite awhile since I last posted a blog and to be honest I m not sure if anyone reads it. Nevertheless I will persist. I hope to now be able to blog my work on my new nature reserve.

Ever since I was a child I wanted own and manage my own land. Trouble is its so expensive. For the last 5 years I have been trying to get the land where I do most of my wildlife watching designated as a Local Nature Reserve. I spent hours preparing reports and writing to local conservation authorities all to no avail.

Then one day I had whilst surfing the web I found the details of an allotment in Old Milverton it stated that it was owned by Mr Heber-Percy, the landowner. Finally I had access. I wrote to the treasurer and requested Mr Heber-Percys address and wrote to him.

With in weeks I had a very encouraging reply and I sent him all my plans and proposals. We met this summer on site and he agreed to let me manage a section of innudation meadow and wet woodland. Over joyed I set to work lining up insurance and arranging for a fence to be erected on the fence. Once up the site would be secure at the far end and I could start the real conservation work. Sadly the site is not able to be open to the public although I do have permission to take on small parties, something I will do in the summer.

Last week the fence went up and so now I feel ready to start the improvements and I shall chart my successes and failures in this blog.

BADGER CULL AVERTED

2008-07-05T15:44:00.000+01:00

For the time being it has been decided to not Cull Badgers to control Bovine Tubercolosis in Cattle. Whilst this will continue to impact on Farming this is in my view the correct decision in terms of nature conservation.

Other efforts should now be more fully investigated to ensure farmers are suitably compensated and that a method of protecting catlle is found.

For once I feel I must congratulate the government on following prevailing scientific advice, though the sceptic in me doubts whether this decision will stand for long. Either way I m sure the Badgers will appreciate this stay of execution.

The Latest Swan familys.

2008-06-14T17:46:00.000+01:00

This week a pair nesting on the old bridge near Mill Street hatched 3 cygnets. It is not thought the pair, ALA and AKT, are locally born birds. ALA and AKT were both first recorded in the 2nd Winter plummage at Chase Meadows Pool in September 2006. They subsequently joined flocks at St Nicholas Park where they have raised three cygnets.

One of the cygents of this brood is quite adventurousm trying to be like his Dad and chasing the Ducks and being like his mum trying to up end. On one incident he actually managed to completely submerge like a diver!

At Kingfisher Pool there is still bo sign of ZTG's mate ZOT. She has been AWOL for several weeks now and he seems to have paired with a new female - ARK. She was exhibiting some desire to nest, half heartedly collecting feathers and dead grass about her. I suspect however it is too late in the season.

On the canal VGY and ATZ still have their 6 cygnets and further up near the 'Cape of Good Hope' AJV and her Untagged mate have 7 cygnets.

Young Squirrels

2008-06-01T15:14:00.000+01:00

For the past week we have had the delight of watching young Squirrels playing on our garage roof. 'Walnut' has been a regular visitor to our garden for teh past few winters this year however he unusually remained right into the spring. I assumed he and 'Peanut' had mated and gone to build a drey somewhere. I expected them to use the large thick conifer a few doors away but was surprised to see three young squirrels emerging from beneath the eaves of my next door neighbours bungalow.

Over the following few evenings they have played and explored tentativly. They seem quite large and I expect that they are pretty much independant now, which is a good think as my next door neighbour has now sealed the gap under the eaves.

A surprise garden visitor

2008-05-05T14:51:00.001+01:00

As I just finished my breakfast a flash of brown swept down from above the conservatory towards the fence. I knew instantly that the blur was a Sparrowhawk after one of the many sparrows in the garden. I quickly leaped to my feet to see where it had gone, I couldnt see it flying off and assumed it had gone to ground next door perhaps with its catch.

I raced upstairs and saw that it was in fact perched on the fence. Turning I ran to the office to fetch my camera, of course it was downstairs with the wrong lens on. Luckily it was still present and I was able to snatch a few shots. It seemed very interested in the next doors garden and dropped down to the floor beneath a bush, perhaps it had knocked a bird down there? It was out of sight for a moment and then flew up and away.

VGY hatches 6 Cygnets

2008-05-03T15:44:00.001+01:00

Today VGY and ATZ's cygnets hatched. 6 little bundles of fluff are now resting from the efforts of extracting themselves from their shells on the nest, whilst their proud father jealously patrols the water by them.

VGY is a female Mute Swan who I have known for 6 years. We first met in 2002 when she used to nest at the Saxon Mill. Her mate then was ZNY. Between 2002 and 2005 they raised 11 cygnets to adulthood.

Sadly in the winter of 2005/06 her partner ZNY was killed by a car. She returned to the winter herd in St Nicholas Park. There after a brief flirtation with AFO she paired with an Untagged Male. She took him back to the Saxon Mill where he built a nest for her. Unfortunatly the nest was too low down the mud bank and in heavy rains it was washed away. The following year - 2007 the pair were more successful and hatched 6 cygnets all of whom made it to adulthood. Severe flooding in the summer saw them move from the river to the Canal where VGY remained. In the course of the year the Untagged male disappeared and then on the 1st April 2008 VGY was seen sat on a nest on the canal with a new mate ATZ.

Oakley Woods Saved

2008-02-14T14:38:00.000Z

Oakley Woods has been saved from development by Warwickshire District Council. The woodland alongside the Crematorium was up for sale. It was possible it would have become a private woodland and use its hunting and shooting rights.

After a campaign by locals and support by local councillors the Council have bought the site for £320,000. They plan to develop the wood as a sustainable public amenity. The ancient woodland includes an Iron Age fort and it is hoped the wood many of the mature native trees that were replaced with conifers after the war will be returned over the next 20 years.

Pigeons and Kingfishers

2008-02-02T14:38:00.000Z

Whilst out walking this morning around Priory Park I was treated not only to a fleeting glimpse of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing and the usual Woodland birds but a particular fat pigeon and a very at ease Kingfisher.

The kingfisher was fishing on St Johns Brook and allowed me to get quiet close and take the best photos I have managed to despite many hours sat beside the river at the Saxon Mill.

A tasty treat for a Peregrine

2008-02-02T14:32:00.000Z

The Peregines continues to frequent St Mary's Tower and as they do more evidence of their feeding habits. Excellent photos have been taken by Steve Valentine this morning of the pair - http://steve-valentine.fotopic.net/

In previous years birders have told me of the various wader and pigeon carcasses found around the roost site, this year further grisly sights have been recorded and reported in the Courier.

Whilst out this morning I found evidence of perhaps last nights meal - the severed head of a Green Woodpecker.

A Peregrine at Last

2008-01-30T17:13:00.000Z

Each winter a Peregrine Falcon roosts on St Marys Church Tower unfortunatly I have never been able to see it.

Assured that it was showing well I started trying agin this year. After several disappointing trips I went on the spur of the moment on Sunday. I went at 4.30pm. I wandered around the churchyard for awhile and the took up post on a bench. By 5pm I decided to do another loop of the churchyard it was here I met another birder looking for the Falcon. As the light started to fade I began to leave just as a Male flew in.

The bird was magnificent. It had a full crop and looked in great condition. I watched it until it grew too dark. Unfortunatly the light was too poor for a photograph as you can see from this digiscoped image - its a Peregrine...just.

Apparently a female has also been sighted roosting on the tower and I m hoping they stay into the breeding season.

Sightings at the Saxon Mill

2007-12-16T15:30:00.000Z

On my usual survey of my patch at the Saxon Mill at Guys Cliffe I had begun to despair of anything interesting. It was cold and there seemed to be very little about. That was until a Water Rail emerged from the reeds. It wasnt very timid and I was able follow it for some 20-25 minutes as it moved downriver along the bank. I last saw a Rail there 2 years ago.

I also saw a dog Fox on the opposite bank the first I ve seen on the site in nearly 3 years.

Sign petition against the Cull

2007-12-11T18:22:00.001Z

There is a petition on the Government Website to ask the Prime Minister not to cull the Badger.

Please take the time to sign up.

Thanks

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/stop-badger-cull/

Badger Cull on the cards?

2007-12-11T17:55:00.000Z

The Badger (Meles meles) is perhaps my favourite animal in the UK. They are an elusive species and even I have only seen them on a handful of occasions.

There has been a link between Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis. The Badgers act as carriers and reservoirs of the bacteria. They help to spread the disease amongst the UKs cattle population. TB is currently at epidemic proportions on many farms and Farmers are looking to cull the Badger to help eradicate the disease and save their herds.

There have been many long term surveys of the link between Badgers and the spread of TB. A recent report detailing a long term study revealed that a cull was not an appropriate way to control the spread of TB however this month the Governments chief Scientist has come out in favour of an organised cull.

To be successful many farmers want a complete cull of all badgers in vast areas. It is only in this way - essentially a local extinction of the species in an area that TB may be effected. This I believe is erroneous. The overwhelming scientific data suggests culling actually increase TB as missed badgers leave the arae carrying the disease and it is incredibly difficult to kill every badger in every sett.

There is also the question of humane tactics. Gassing is sometimes prefered but is impractical which leaves trapping which can leave a badger in agony until discovery or live capture and shooting.

It is my guess the government will attempt to please both sides and sanction a limited cull which will have little or no impact on TB and will result in the needless death of badgers.

Farming is in a difficult place at the moment and that is no thanks to the government and I understand the despair of loosing a herd to the disease but surely the best approach is vaccination of herds and using the money that would have been spent on a cull to compensate farmers.

The Song Thrush

2007-12-02T11:19:00.000Z

When was the last time you saw a Song Thrush in your garden?

There was a time when they were abundant but in recent years there has been a major decline. On the Woodloes in Warwick at least to see a Thrush in your garden is a rarity.

Song Thrushes have fallen foul of changing climate patterns they are very susceptible to cold winters and rely on seasonal foods in the form of berries and invertebrates.

In the last few years there does seem to be some recovery in the species and there are several pairs breeding in Warwick and there continue to be good numbers at DM Kineton.

You can help continue this success by recording Song Thrushes seen on Birdtrack (http://www.birdtrack.net), putting out food for wintering birds and leaving berries on fruit trees before pruning.

LBAP

2007-11-30T17:03:00.000Z

Warwickshire is really moving with its Local Biodiversity Action Plans. I have been helping out on some of the bird plans. As BTO Rep some of the action points fall to me namely spreading awareness of some of the key species. I ll be doing this in the next few months - I ll take a species at a time and waffle on about it a little.

For now I shall just point out the counties website for it www.warwickshire.gov.uk/biodiversity

Of course for Bird information there is a copy of some research I did last year on my website http://www.wildwarwickshire.co.uk

Wild Warwickshire Blog - Take 2

2007-11-29T18:28:00.000Z

The last blog was less than successful so here is a second attempt.