Nature Notes

Tuesday 18 Oct. began sunny but by mid-afternoon the easterly wind and grey clouds brought a huge migration of red-wings and blackbirds from Scandinavia.

Summer is over and after a very good breeding season and swallows, house martins and swifts are on their way to Africa.

We recently had a hummingbird hawk-moth feeding on flowers in our garden. These day time feeding moths migrate from around the Mediterranean to Britain and Northern Europe.

Graham Bourne recently complained that he had ‘mole problems’ in his lawn. Sure enough there were the tell tale mole hills.

The dawn and evening chorus has come to an end this mid-summer week. It tends to be dominated by blackbirds.

For the past month I have been watching a queen wasp building its nest in my wooden garden shed.

Similar to last year, April’s weather has been dominated by a cool northerly airstream, but without the devastating frosts. Consequently cherry and magnolia blossom, daffodils and tulips have been good and long lasting.

The warm weather has brought out cherry blossom and spring flowers, and thrushes and blackbirds are in full song especially at dusk.

Roe deer are regularly seen around here. Last week I spotted a hind with two three-quarter grown young break out of Carriage Road Plantation and run across a field of rape into a copse.

Walking along Fleetham Lane on New Year’s Day I was surprised to see four hares cavorting around showing signs of mating.