Birds

23/11/13 In Area 5 the cold weather has brought with it the first sizeable flocks of Siskin with 15 on the Alders to the rear of Morrisons.

18/11/13 13 Fieldfare were seen over Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas and a Brambling was heard calling flying over high west.

16/11/13 Flying upstream along the Emm Brook by Woosehill roundabout in Area 5 at 09:15 this morning was a Kingfisher , while 11 Fieldfare were seen over Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas .

15/11/13 In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas was watching from his backgarden this morning when approx 1,434 Wood Pigeon flew over in 15 mins. The largest flock was 300 in a broad front.

13/11/13 In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas saw approx 480 Wood Pigeon with several l flocks of 100. Also two Stock Dove in with one flock and 3 Siskin .

12/11/13 In Area 5 a Kingfisher was flying upstream by Ripplestream Bridge.

10/11/13 A brighter day in Area 5 with the afternoon warming up enough to entice 3 Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk circling on the thermals. A smaller movement of Wood Pigeon with just 70 over in small groups all headingly strongly south. A Grey Heron was eyeing back garden ponds and the resident Mistle Thrush was defending its favourite tree and chasing off allcomers.

09/11/13 Watching the skies over Area 5 this morning produced a solitary Ring-necked Parakeet flying NW , approx 250 Wood Pigeon heading S in 2 groups , 35 Redwing milling about and a small charm of approx 20 Goldfinch. Meanwhile in Area 10 Alan Rymer saw at least 20Fieldfare feeding in tree's along Emmbrook with 20 or soRedwing,2 Blackbirds and a Song thrush .

06/11/13 In Area 10 Fraser Cottington was watching the car park field for an hour . Out and about were 4Ring-necked Parakeet , 1Mistle Thrush , 3-4 Lesser Redpoll with Goldfinch. A Barn Owl was seen in the Barn Owl box by Lavells Lake on the 5th.

01/11/13 In Area 10 this morning a male Phesant was strutting through the Car Park field and a noisy Ring necked Parakeet was circling the car park. Approx 50 Redwing flew W and at least 2 Mistle Thrush were seen . A small flock of Lapwing were also milling about. In Area 8 off Old Forest Road, 4 Ring necked Parakeet were heading E calling. In a nearby tree was a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thush . In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas was watching from his back garden and saw 55 Starling over in 2 flocks, 3 Meadow Pipit's heading W and 1 Lesser Redpoll going S.

Insects & Spiders

02/11/13 Attracted to the light outside my front door was a Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata .

Other Wildlife

Mammals

24/11/13 No mammals seen today, but plenty of signs where they had been. Lots of new Molehills have appeared. Molehills or "heaves" are usually every couple of metres where the mole digs a vertical shaft, straight up to the surface, and pushes all the freshly dug soil up and out of it. A moles day lasts for about four hours. At least it's active for four hours, and then it sleeps for four hours.They can shift about 6 kilos (13lbs) of soil every 20 minutes. As the leaves come off the trees you can now see Squirrel'sDrey's The drey is about the size of a football, made of twigs, often with the leaves still attached. It is built fairly high in a tree and lined with dry grass, shredded bark, moss and feathers. A summer drey is usually quite flimsy and lodged among small branches. Sometimes the squirrel may make its nest in a hollow trunk or take over a rook's nest, constructing a roof for it. A squirrel may build several dreys.

Fish

Fungi

14/11/13 In Area 5, briefly before being trod on were these Shaggy InkcapCaprinus camatus .

02/11/13 I was wondering when they would appear, so I was glad to see that the Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria were back under the Silver Birch in Area 5. In the same area were what I believe to be Boletus cisalpinus andSepia Bolete Boletus porosporus .

Plants/Trees

01/11/13 At this time of year, the flowers that are out seem to be predominately white. These include White dead-nettleLamium album , Yarrow Achillea millefolium , with still some Meadow Sweet Filipendula ulmaria and Yarrow Achillea millefolium hanging on. However in Area 8 this morning there was a flower or two of Purple Clover Trifolium pratense visible.

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