Wildlife Diary
Wildlife Diary March 2024
Blackthorn was blossoming in the Pennsland Lane hedge on the 1st, a week after the Blackthorn in the Kiln Close hedge started. Mowing of the winter bird food crop continued and whilst driving the tractor, David saw a Shrew and two Field Voles, one taken by a Buzzard....
Wildlife Diary February 2024
We very rarely see Rabbits on the LLP despite them being often seen on neighbouring land in the valley. Most of their signs are droppings on the path in the Main Field near the First Field Shelter. However, Mateo spotted quite a few at night with the thermal imager in...
Wildlife Diary January 2024
We began the month as we ended December – unusually mild, wet and windy with the first 4-days bringing a total of 106.6mm of rain. On the 7th the temperature dropped dramatically, and we had frost and ice. The ground at the top of the Main Field and through all the...
Wildlife Diary 2023
December On the 4th, 8 Redwing were seen in the Pennsland Hedge. There were 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Linnet, 20 Chaffinch and 20 Goldfinch moving between the hedge and the wild bird food crop. A Sparrowhawk passed over the crop and a...
Wildlife Diary 2022
December The first day of the month was dry and Matt showed Harry how to prune the apple trees in Forde Orchard and then marked out the area for the third Field Shelter. After last month’s almost continuous rain the first half of the month was almost dry, but...
Wildlife Diary 2021
December The month started damp and cold with 11.4mm of rain on the 1st and a mean temperature of 4.8°C on the 2nd. There was an amazing sunset then, and a small murmuration of Starlings was seen again at dusk from the top of the field flying further up the valley....
Wildlife Diary 2020
December A very wet month, 29 days with 229.1mm of rain. The mean for the month here over 14 years is 152mm. We had a mean temperature of 6.8°C - colder than the average (7.5° C). On the 8th Matt and Rick brushmowed, then brushcut and raked the orchid patch in Kiln...
Wildlife Diary 2019
December At midday on the 4th the following birds were recorded in the crop; c. 300 linnets, c. 40 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch (a site record), 8 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 5+ Wren, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Coal Tit were all utilising the crop, whilst a Yellowhammer was heard on...
Wildlife Diary 2018
December 2018 Our Dormouse license-holding volunteer Tony checked the boxes on the 4th, making sure they were in good condition and clearing them out ready for next spring. Another nest discovered, making a total of 7 for the year, whilst a Woodcock was accidentally...