nature notes II

[Enki]

Purely subjectively, they seem to have increased, as I didn't use to see them much; now I see/hear them everywhere, including London gardens.

As indeed are firecrests. I saw my first resident British(as distinct from migrant) firecrest in the 70s in the New Forest. It seems that there has been a large expansion of these beautiful little birds in recent years, primarily in the south of England. Of course they are regularly seen on migration in both Spring and Autumn, but, to my mind, they rival the Pallas's warbler(often called the jewel of the East) which is a scarce migrant in Autumn.

Hopefully I will see plenty of goldcrests(in fall conditions that might be several hundred), a few firecrests, and perhaps an odd Pallas's warbler this Autumn.

[floo]

This afternoon I saw four greater spotted woodpeckers sitting on a tree on the bridle path at the back of our house, normally you only see one woodpecker at a time.

[floo]

I have just seen a pied wagtail on the pavement by our home. I don't remember seeing one before.

[wigginhall]

Plenty of comma butterflies around at the moment, seeing them in London.   They are orange in colour, and have a raggedy edge to their wing, quite a stunning sight.   

If you are in Norfolk, head to Narborough railway embankment; on a good day (sunny) there are lots of different species, including some rare ones.  Near Kings Lynn. 

[floo]

When was the last time anyone heard a cuckoo? I don't think I have heard one in the last five years or so. Apparently the birds are getting a lot less common than theretofore. Maybe other birds are now repelling borders as the cuckoo lays their eggs in other birds nests.

[ekim]

I heard two last year but none this year.

[SweetPea]

A new book recently out, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohllenben

The author gives an account of how trees communicate through their roots, and eg. will even warn other trees of an insect infestation.

This was an item on BBC Breakfast, this morning, and one of the presenters asked how a tree would respond to tree hugging. Apparently trees are very 'slow' (this is how the author described them) and it would probably take days before a tree recognised the action.

[floo]

Apparently 2 billion crane flies (Daddy long legs) have invaded the UK. I have seen many more than usual this year, fortunately they don't worry me.

[wigginhall]

Well, the butterfly situation in Norfolk has been terrible, very few around in August, and I've seen more in London, which is crazy.   Some people think it's to do with wet June and July, I hope so really, as I'm worried that it's because of farmers spraying in fine weather.   You can smell the spray miles away, and they spray next to our fence.

[Enki]

watched a little grebe on a pond at Spurn today. Suddenly a small head appeared near it, and the grebe seemed very interested in it. The small head belonged to a grass snake which was attempting to go by the little grebe. The grass snake then showed its full length(I estimate about 60-70 cm) on the water surface. There was then a bit of a stand off until the grebe circled around it, and the grass snake continued its journey into the reeds at the other side, followed by what looked like the rather bemused little grebe. I managed to video the whole incident.

[L.A.]

Looking out of my office window this morning I saw a bird that really has me puzzled.

My first impression was of a Jay or Waxwing, it had that kind pf colouring, but when it turned it's head, I saw it had the head of a raptor.

Although it must have been about the size of a sparrowhawk there was no sign of the distinctive bands. Unfortunately it flew away before I could get the camera.

Anyone got any ideas.

[Nearly Sane]

Merlin?

[L.A.]

Merlin?

I just has a look at some images, and it's a possibility but the colouring over the breast seemed much smoother. I guess that there will be some variation?

[Nearly Sane]

Think there should be enough variation that it might appear smoother. Especially given it's a bit smaller so any mottling might at a distance be less clear.

[ekim]

Just saw an unusual and beautiful sight.  I counted 25 Red Admiral butterflies all feeding on a flowering ivy patch of about 3 feet by 1 foot in size, along a coastal path.

[Enki]

Just saw an unusual and beautiful sight.  I counted 25 Red Admiral butterflies all feeding on a flowering ivy patch of about 3 feet by 1 foot in size, along a coastal path.

Brilliant, and all these are almost definitely migrants moving back to the continent. Clear and relatively mild weather with a lack of wind is perfect for them to migrate. Incidentally, there's a programme on the BBC next Monday on the migration of the painted lady butterfly, which has a most unusual migration,(involving several generations) extending from Africa to the Arctic. Some years in the UK they can number in their millions.

[wigginhall]

Talking about wasp spiders on another thread, reminded me that I saw some beewolves for the first time, at Minsmere.  They are wasps, which burrow into sand, then take bees, which they have paralyzed, and put them in the burrow, for their larvae.  It was amazing watching them burrow furiously into the sand, at a rate of knots, and the burrows can be a foot long.

We looked up and saw a stone curlew also, a bonus.

Looking forward to the programme on painted ladies.

[Enki]

The increase in the strength of the SE winds today meant a large fall of interesting migrants on the East Coast. I went to Bempton Cliffs and managed to see a mega rarity, an eastern crowned warbler, a beautiful bird from the far East, also a yellow browed warbler and plenty of chiffchaffs, goldcrests and robins. Unfortunately I dipped on another mega bird, a black browed albatross which was seen at Flamborough and Bempton a couple of times. These south easterlies are continuing, so who knows what interesting birds may result in the next few days.
Incidentally, on the butterfly front, I notice a camberwell beauty was seen at Landguard NR in Suffolk late this afternoon.

[Enki]

Got back about 2 hours ago from Easington(near Spurn). I got a breathless message from a birder friend that a really mega bird had been seen there, so I grabbed my gear and went. It was a Siberian Accentor from the Russian Urals presumably, and a first for mainland Britain.(the only other one was seen two days ago in the Shetlands), a magic bird which performed beautifully next to a dunnock(to which it is related). It has to be, for me and countless others, the bird of the millenium so far. This week, with all the easterly winds and rain, has been fantastic for long distance migrants on the east coast, with rarities and sub rarities galore. If you're a birder, it's a truly wonderful time. Tomorrow is going to be crazy with probably up to 1000 birders descending on Easington village. 

[Enki]

For those interested, it looks as though it is going to be an excellent waxwing autumn/ winter. They are coming in across the North Sea in some numbers as I write. For those who don't know what a waxwing looks like, just google 'waxwing'. They're a pretty bird, about the size of a starling with a prominent crest, and they like berry bushes. They can be often seen in suburbia, and especially around supermarket car parks! At the moment many are on the East Coast, but they steadily filter across the country, so they can be seen almost anywhere eventually. Usually they are fairly scarce, but every so many years they tend to irrupt, and in those years they are regularly seen throughout the winter months. This looks like it's going to be an excellent waxwing year. 

[ad_orientem]

Winter has come fairly early here in southern Finland. A couple of days ago we got our first snow and it's about minus five. A few days ago a couple of arctic foxes were spoted in Finland for the first time in about thirty years.

[Enki]

That's one of the countries where the waxwings come from!!

[ad_orientem]

Can't say I've ever heard of a waxwing before reading your post but I like things like that. I'll have to keep sn eye out for one. In Finnish it's "tilhi".

[wigginhall]

Watching the pink-footed geese every morning flying over the house, no doubt searching for fields with sugar beet and other crops.   It's great to hear and see them fly over, a touch of wildness.   On the coast, the Brent geese will be here now, and I saw some whooper swans fly over  near the Ouse; if you go to Welney, you can watch them being fed by flood-light in a super-duper heated hide!  Winter rocks.

As enki said, waxwings appearing - watch your local Tesco's as they like the ornamental berries that supermarkets often plant.

[Enki]

At last! Just been viewing circa 45 waxwings at Sainsbury's car park in Hessle. Beautiful birds busily eating berries from the surrounding bushes. Plenty of birders present. What a pleasant way to finish what has been an outstanding year, birdingwise. Anyway, anybody reading this, a good new year to you all.