Birds

23/02/14 In Area 5 the Kingfisher was seen flying upstream towards the aptly named Kingfisher Bridge. In Area 10, 5 Redwingwere seen in the Lavells Lake car park field by Richard Price.

22/02/14 In Area 10, Fraser Cottington did an hour,sky watching in the Lavells Lake car park late lunchtime, and saw 6 + Red Kite , 2 Buzzard, a solitary Sparrowhawk a few Fieldfare and half a dozen Redwing .

21/02/14 In Area 4 Paul Bright-Thomas was out and about and saw 2 Long-tailed Tit 2, Skylark flying low S, A Kingfisher stopped on a fallen tree over the Emm Brook. 2 ,singing male Nuthatch and a solitary, singing Lesser Redpoll.

13/02/14 In Area 10 a Ring necked Parakeet was heard calling at the bottom of the car park field by Fraser Cottington. Calling Canada Goose were heard heading S over my Area 5 house first thing this morning..

08/02/14

Not having been able to get out and about for a while, today was a brief respite. Approx 50 Redwing were in Area 5 . At least 12Magpies were in trees alongside the river. A Robin was feeding on the detritus on the Emm at Ripplestram Bridge and a possible pair of amourous Blue Tits were in the Balancing pond in Area 4 by Smiths Walk.

08/02/14 At approx 15:30 today a Kingfisher was seen in Area 4 fying along the Emm from Barkham Rd towards the Meadow Road bridge from Barkham Road by Wendy Hayward. It saw her and did a quick about turn to fly back towards Barkham Road.

03/02/14 In Area 9 this morning at the end of Robinhood Way in Winnersh, a Kingfisher flew dowstream along the Emm. A first for the year. Meanwhile in Area 4, Paul Bright-Thomas saw 7 Black-headed Gull heading very high N, 3 Lesser Redpoll low over his garden (in song)and 2 Canada Goose heading SW.

02/02/14

A visit to Area 2 behind Tesco's wasn't over productive. Highlights were 4 Dunnock feeding on the muddy paths and 2 Egyptian Geese bathing in the flooded fields. In Area 5, 2 Red Kite were dancing in the skies , perhaps a sign of spring.

01/02/14

Following a very wet night the Emm was running at full capacity in Area's 4 & 5 this morning. The only thing on the Emm was 4 male and 1 female Mallard A Grey Wagtail flew up from the floods. A Sparrowhawk was hawking over the Balancing pond. In Area 3 to the rear of the Cala Homes site on Molly Millars Lane, 2 more Mallards were seen and the first Moorhen of the year was hugging the banks of the Emm.

Insects & Spiders

22/02/14 Another sunny afternoon and another Bumblebee in Area 5. A Bombus terrestris was moving around some Cyclamen in my garden.

07/02/14 A sunny afternoon lured the first Bumblebee that I have seen this year a Bombus terrestris out and about.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

15/02/14

3 of the 4, out of focus Grey Squirrel that were together on the ground near Dragonfly Bridge in Area 5 this morning.

Amphibians

06/02/14

A Common Frog Rana temporaria was seen in Area 5 today. No sign of spawning as yet though.

Fish

Fungi

08/02/14

In Area 5 near Dragonfly Bridge what I believe to be a Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica fungus was on a riverside tree. Its common names include Yellow Brain, Golden Jelly fungus, and Witches' Butter . It is a common jelly fungus in the Tremellaceae family. It grows in crevices in bark, appearing during rainy weather. Within a few days after rain it dries into a thin film or shriveled mass capable of reviving after subsequent rain.

Plants/Trees

22/02/14

In Area 5 Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria has appeared. The pretty, star-like flowers create wonderful blanket of yellow upon the ground. Its petals number between seven and twelve and appear all the brighter above the glossy dark-green of its foliage. The name 'celandine' itself is derived from the Greek chelidon meaning 'swallow' (as in the bird not the the bodily function!) Although the two do not return to the UK countryside at the same time (the lesser celandine traditonally flowers earlier, on the 21st February) the name does reflect its reputation for being one of the first signs of spring.

Why do leaves change colour in the Autumn?

Find out here Autumn Leaves

Molluscs

For a review of 2012 sightings click here 2012 Sightings

For a review of 2013 sightings click here 2013 Sightings