Daily Parish Nature Update

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November 2005

1st
Red admiral butterfly a Red Admiral braved the early winter weather in Glebe Meadow.
Right: Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
2nd
early morning had Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving south-west over the village whilst late afternoon had them returning, 190+, north-east.
3rd
Redwings were to be heard moving over on occasion during the night.
4th
the trees at the edge of Town Meadow were now only adorned by Starlings in their pre-roost gathering.
5th
a Dunnock reappeared in a Station Road garden, not having been seen for the previous ten days.
6th
a Grey Heron moved over fields at Court Drove.
7th
the fields at Smith's Field were brightened by the presence of a Green Woodpecker.
8th
an eclipse drake Tufted Duck was on Southington Pools.
9th
both Red-legged Partridges and Pheasants were becoming more obvious in fields in areas such as Willesley Warren.
10th
late afternoon had a huge gathering of Jackdaws in the trees by the Railway Station whilst, a little earlier, dozens of Lesser Black-backed Gulls had moved north-east over the village to their reservoir roosts.
11th
both Brown Hare and Roe Deer were regularly being noted to the north of the village, the Court Drove area being a favoured site.
12th
Blackbird seemed to be the most frequent visitor to gardens in Station Road.Barn owl in flight
13th
Kestrels were to be seen hovering over the fields between Hill Meadow and Willesley Warren.
14th
a Barn Owl over gardens in Glebe Meadow, at dusk, was the first within the village since at least the previous winter.
Right: Barn owl, Tyto alba
15th
the morning and evening flights of Canada Geese continued to build.
16th
an occasional Ladybird sp. was still to be found, not yet hidden away for the winter.
17th
of the many plants still in flower, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, on some of the older and less disturbed walls, was one of the most prominent.
18th
a Little Egret was in Flashetts and the 'Mallard' had produced yet another brood on the pools off Southington Lane.
19th
Tawny Owls continued to be vocal about much of the village, both on the outskirts and within the housing - have you filled in your BTO Survey forms?
20th
Yellowhammers were being regularly encountered in small numbers on the village outskirts, the further afield, the higher the chance of seeing them.Kingfisher
21st
a Kingfisher was in Flashetts. The same / another Kingfisher was heard off Southington Lane late afternoon, when at least two Grey Herons and a Tufted Duck were about the pools.
Right: Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
22nd
a Reed Bunting visited a Station Road garden for the first time this winter.
23rd
a Little Egret was reported in Flashetts, "earlier in the week".
24th
the ornamental Rowans, white berried; in Woodlands were already attracting territorial Mistle Thrushes and over-feeding Wood Pigeons.
25th
a flock of c.20 Fieldfare, in fields behind Sapley Lane Playing Field, may have been driven in by the sharp drop in temperature, particularly noticeable overnight.
26th
a female Blackcap was in Tree Mallows in Woodlands. A Buzzard was over woodland at Turrill's Hill.
27th
hedgerow groupings of birds were sometimes found to include softly 'hooting' Bullfinches.
28th
a Lesser Black-backed Gull moved south over Overton Hill late morning, a less usual direction for this species to be seen flying locally.
29th
mixed parties of Tits were now becoming more obvious at feeding stations, the colder weather perhaps already taking a toll.
30th
of the House Sparrow roost sites those at the northern end of Woodlands and eastern end of Lordsfield Gardens could well have been the most vocal!

Contributors: Brian Chivers; Brian Elkins; Margaret Elkins; Alison Hutchins; Bryher Hutchins; Jay Hutchins; Peter E. Hutchins; Veronique Kerguelen; Adrian Lewis; John Smith; Rosemary Smith & Adam Trickett.

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