Spring Has Sprung In NSL !

Date: 12th April - All Day

Location:  Newton Park Lake Circular

A inquisitive Goldfinch !

Observation:  Started the walk and was nice to see the Kingfisher back on the Brook, slightly further down stream than normal. On up to the Dog Walk, the Chiffchaff was present as always on the wire, along with a Buzzard through the forest possible with a catch. Lots of Hoverflies and Bee's up the Lane towards the Crossroads so got some nice macro shots! 

Tapered Hoverfly

A single Yellowhammer was present at the Pennyquick junction on the hedgerow, very unusual to see them that far along! Nothing much of note through the village or in the church, apart from a fly-over Kestrel and Buzzard, also a Green Woodpecker was heard. The Little Owl was present on Bottom Lake. We passed through Top Lake to check on our resident Mute Swans, the Male was busy feeding and the female is back on the nest, no eggs as of yet sadly, but hopefully they still have the chance to be successful this year.

 Lots of lambs running around the Lake on the far side, making a right noise, but the Grey Heron's didn't seem that bothered even when they were a few feet away! A surprise pair of Mallard, had 3 ducklings no more than 3 days old and no Teal present currently. 

We walked on up to Home Farm through the Uni grounds, lots of Skylark and a few Meadow Pipits, along with a single Yellowhammer, Buzzard and Kestrel all hunting for food. 

As we got to Home Farm, there was a Hen Pheasant sat in amongst the Manure heap, with Chaffinches feeding on the flies aswell. A group of 7-8 Yellowhammer flyovers whilst walking along 12 O'Clock Lane. 

We spotted a Rabbit feeding on the grass, along the Lane also, very rare to see a Rabbit in our area, normally have a few Hares but none about. 

Back onto the road for the last stretch and a pair of Pheasants (Male) were having a bit of a scrap on the hill, went to record it and the stopped (typically!). We had a close sighting of a Chiffchaff in the same place we seen one this time last year along with a Pied Flycatcher, but sadly no Flycatcher this year (yet!). A group of 3 Coal Tit, 3 Swallow and more Yellowhammer finished the walk for us!

Weather:  Cloudy, Some Wind, Warm

Other Species: 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Yellowhammer, 1 Blackcap, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Owl, Skylark, 

 Butteflies + Bee's: European Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Tapered Hoverfly, White-Tailed Bumblebee, Red-Tailed Bumblebee, Wasp

Thanks For Reading/Looking !

Hawthorn Blossom & Number 2 Barn Swallows !

Date: 09/05/2015

Location: Newton St Loe Patch - Walk to lake

Observation: Headed out through busy campsite diggers workmen everywhere and onto dog track.

Hawthorn Blossom on entrance

Another tractor this time clearing trees that were cut down a few months back not until byway did I hear the Skylarks, up and singing. 

Terrible Buzzard shot always into the sun !!

Seven Acre 2 Buzzard 1 calling loudly from inside wood couldn't see it ! At least 50+ Crows, Rooks and Jackdaw on lower fields by globe pub. At village 1 Barn Swallow still sat lonely on telephone wire watched for 15 mins.

Calling for some company !

Then headed to lake a Willow Warbler on track to fisherman car park saw him Monday but no shot, today he posed ! 

Lake quiet Mute Swans top lake have lost their egg, laid Sunday we seen it on Monday, Thursday gone. Male was still chasing anything around off female off feeding but no egg ! :(

Predated? Very close to bank but since 2010 nest has been same place. 

Headed back to village and 2 Barn Swallows again watched 15 mins only 2 but there coming !! On way back home Chiffchaff.

Weather: Blue skies 18c 

Other Species: Buzzard, Willow Warbler, Barn Swallow, Goldcrest, Skylark, Chiffchaff of note.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Tortoiseshell, Peacock , Small White, Orange Tip, Comma

Thats All Folks :)

Yellowhammers + Swallows!

Date: 6th April - 1PM

Location:  Newton Park Lake + Village

Observation:  Alot quieter through the work in the campsite due to the Bank Holiday, so alot more bird song about! The Dog Walk produced 7+ Yellowhammer alot closer than normal which was nice! They all flew off and kept circling for about 10 minutes. There were the normal pair of Buzzards circling over Seven Acre Woods. Further down the lane, was another Buzzard who was hovering before chasing off a Raven!

 A Greater-Spotted Woodpecker in the Church area, with 2 further Buzzards and 1 Sparrowhawk hovering over the fields.

The resident Little Owl was present and enjoying the sun, the other of the pair is hopefully in the nest !

On the Top Lake, the resident Mute Swan was on the nest, with 1 egg laid (since last night!), hopefully will be a successful year again for them!

Walking back through the village this newly arrived Barn Swallow was resting up and preening before catching some flies in the farm! Lovely to see them back and about 2 weeks earlier than the previous 2 years!

A very low hovering Kestrel finished off the walk and gave some stunning views before diving down into the field!

Weather:  Blue Sky, Sunny + Warm

Other Species: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 5 Buzzard, 7+ Yellowhammer, 1 Little Owl, 2 Raven, 1 Greater spotted Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, 4 Mute Swan (1 on nest) - Of Note

Butterflies: 10+ Brimstone, 2 Small White, 1 Coma, 3 European Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell 

Late news Garden Spot -Orange Tip Butterfly 

Thanks For Looking !

St James Park - London

***UPDATE*** - 

Sorry for the lack of posts, tweets etc! Our computer has been broken for 2 weeks, but all fixed and alot faster now so we are back. Currently we our completely revamping our garden, making it more wildlife friendly and planting better trees for the birds to feed and nest in. We will do a blog post when finished. 

Thanks for the constant views, they are greatly appreciated!

Date: 4th April - 1PM

Location:  St James Park - London

Observation:  I (Lauren) visit London monthly if not more frequently and have never heard about the Pelican's at St James Park, so a quick visit was in order! When we arrived it was like a WWT wetlands, with American Wigeon, Smew, Ruddy Ducks, Black Swan and so much more all present. There were loads of Grey Heron which were very much use to people and let you get within a few feet of them without flying off! Along with the 4 Great White Pelican's also present and ALOT bigger than I expected. I took some pics and put together video of them preening and moved on into London to do some Landscapes and night shots before heading home.

Pelican Preening

Weather:  Cloudy and Overcast - Warm

Other Species: Feral Pigeons, Grey Heron, Black Swan, Egyptian Geese (+ Goslings), Great White Pelicans, Ruddy Duck, Smew - Of Note

Thanks For Reading!