April 17th - Pleasant walk around the woodlands today, birds noted Blackcap singing, Chiff Chaff, Green Woodpecker, Blackbird, Wren, Robin. The cold nights have reduced the early morning Butterfly sightings,
A different Bee sighting today, one of the Mining Bee family, I suspect Adrena Nitida or the Grey Patched Mining Bee but not entirely confident.
A few Beeflys sunning themselves on the dead leaf litter.
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| Bee-fly |
These wild flowers caught my eye this morning
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| Archangel |
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| Bugle |
And I suspect this clump of Bluebells may be of the Spanish variety, not in the woodland but next to footpath along the edge of the glades.
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| possible Spanish Bluebell ? |
April 7th - Back to the warm sunshine for today's walk, As I walked up past two Ponds I noticed the Woodland trust have been busy planting new trees in the areas cleared a few months ago, five very small saplings of unknown species with some serious protection around each one. The same in the other cleared area.
Bird sightings today included three Nuthatch's, a breeding pair in the previously occupied nesting hole, now three years in a row.
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| Nuthatch |
Blackcaps were very obvious this morning, the woodland filled with their song, ChiffChaff also heard.
Song Thrush, Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit.Jay
Just a single Bluebell on display in the woodland, first of many I hope.
April 4th - Cold, wet, miserable, following the warm sunshine of the last few days, bird sightings today included, several ChiffChaffs, two male Blackcaps, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Linnet, Robin, Blackbird, several Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and a single Stock dove, a few Buff Tailed Bumblebees seen but no Butterflies today.
April 1st - The warm temperatures of late have encouraged the spring growth, wild flowers are appearing along the trails, Butterfly sightings are increasing and have included so far this year, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and a single Red Admiral. Same for Bumblebees it appears that the Buff Tailed Bumblebees are first to appear, I am now seeing my first Red-Tail Bumblebees and Tree Bumblebee's along with just one Bee fly.
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| Red Tail Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius |
Chiffchaff's are calling all around the woodland, sadly the Little Owl has not appeared at its traditional nesting site this year, first time its not appeared for five years.
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| Cowslip |
In the grassy meadows I noticed the first Cowslips starting to appear.
