Battle Farm survey

Sunday 30 August 2015

3 Yellow Wagtails, 80 Canada Geese and a flock of 35 Goldfinches the most noteworthy of birds seen. But beating all those were dozens of Small Heath butterflies - don't remember ever seeing more than ones or twos previously. On the darker side the RAF have taken to displaying their "trophies" ( dead Rooks, presumably shot) strung up on a compound fence. Nasty and meaningless if they think it will frighten off other Rooks.

New year bird for the Watercress Beds

Thursday 20 August 2014

At long last caught up with Coal Tit and that is my 65th species for the year - exactly the same as last year so still time to beat it.

Warblers and Butterflies

Sunday 16 August 2015

A good supply of warblers (for Ewelme) with lots of Blackcaps and the odd Chiff Chaff and Garden Warbler. After a couple of Painted Ladies yesterday a Clouded Yellow turned up today.

new bird

First new year bird for the cress beds for two and a half months - a Lesser Whitethroat feeding on Elder berries. First sign of Autumn!

And another

Friday 19 June 2015

Spotted a Pyramidal Orchid on our meadow this morning - another new one!

Orchids

Thursday 18 June 2015

Best year ever for Orchids on the Cress Beds with 18 counted of 3 species - Common Spotted, Bee and Southern Marsh, the latter new for the site.

Bee Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

Need a ladder?

Thursday 11 June 2015

Almost certain the Stock Dove is using the nest box but, if successful will the young manage to get out? It wasn't really designed for doves but I'm not sure now exactly what it was designed for.

Great to see (hear) a Garden warbler apparently holding territory on the lower site but still no Whitethroat!