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Latest Sightings February 2011

Click on the link to send in your sightings [email-masked]

For previous months sightings see Archive

The"Area Seen" refers to the 10 sections that the Brook has been
split into for monitoring purposes (see Wildlife page). .

All sightings unless stated by Eddie Napper

Birds

Click on any picture to see a larger image

26/02/11 The Kingfisher
was seen on the brook near Meadow Road this morning and a male
& female Brambling were seen at the FOTEB
feeders with approx 30 Greenfinch & Chaffinch
. 30 + Redwings were feeding by the
BMX track.

24/02/11

A late visit to Areas 4 & 5 today produced a male
Brambling at the feeders and a male Kestrel .

21/02/11 A Brambling
was seen again at the FOTEB feeders at the rear of Morrisons,
also 2 Long tailed Tits were seen. A Sparrowhawk in the afternoon flushed 12 Wood
Pigeons from a tree. 2 Goldcrests were seen
in trees to the rear of Emmview Close in Area 5. A Little Egret was seen at midday on the brook behind
Morrisons by Ian Paine. This brings the birds seen along the Brook this
year to 53 species

20/02/11 A
Fieldfare was seen in gardens in Arthur Rd this morning.

19/02/11 At the bird feeders in Area 5, this
morning 3 Brambling 2 male & 1 female
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Nuthatch
& Great spotted Woodpecker were seen. A Cormorrant was seen flying over Area 5.

17/02/11 A Sparrowhawk
was seen hunting this afternoon in Area 5

13/02/11

Todays early walk in light drizzle
paid dividends in Areas 4 & 5 with the Little
Egret perched in a tree above the balancing pond adjacent to
Smiths Walk before flying N. 4 Brambling 3
males & 1 female under the feeders and the highlight a pair of Treecreepers on the pollarded Willows in Area 5.

12/02/11

24 species were seen in Areas 4 &
5 this morning. These included, Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Long tailed Tit , Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Song
Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon. Robin,
Jay, Nuthatch, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker Great spotted Woodpecker
. Also seen were 25 Redwing, Carrion Crow,
Wren, Siskin , Herring Gull & Mallard. In Area 6 ( Clifton
Rd) a Kingfisher was seen by Paul Goulbourn.

10/02/11 Despite the rain Area's 4,5,7,8
& 10 were walked today during a 4hr survey along the Brook.
Highlights of which wereKingfisher reported
by a dog walker W of Forest Rd (Area 8) and possibly the same bird seen
perched above the brook behind the Loddon Rooms at Dinton Pastures CP
(Area 10). Bullfinch were seen at 2 seperate
locations at Dinton Pastures. A pair and a single male. A Little Egret was in the brook W of Forest Rd
before flying over the A329M. Jackdaws were
in Areas 10 & 8. A large flock of Redwings
were seen in Emmbrook Walk Area 7 with Song
& Mistle Thrush.

09/02/11 2 as yet unidentified geese were
calling as they flew over Area 5 at 22:30.

06/02/11 The Kingfisher
was seen flying up and downstream on the brook behind Morrisons
and 2 Red Kite were seen in the afternoon.

05/02/11

With the weekend & a bit more
time a leisurely stroll was taken along the brook today. Area 4 produced
a Kingfisher , Sparrowhawk & Song Thrush.
22 Redwing were seen in Area 5 and a male
Brambling was seen in the hedge behind the
feeding station. At 10:35 in Arthur Rd 15 + Waxwing
were seen in an a Arthur Rd garden with a Fieldfare . A total of 26 species were seen.

03/02/11 3 Great spotted
Woodpeckers & a Grey Wagtail were seen in Area 4 by Paul
Bright Thomas. The Little Egret was on the
Brook behind Morrisons at 11:00 & seen by Bob Loades.

02/02/11 The Little
Egret was in the brook again to the rear of Morrisons at 07.45
this morning.. A Kingfisher was seen eating a
a fish perched above the brook in Area 7 (Emmbrook Walk) by Bob Loades
today

01/02/11 Seen today in Area 4 by Paul Bright
Thomas 72 Wood Pigeons ,Lesser black backed Gull, Linnett, Siskin & Mistle
Thrush.

Insects

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24/02/11 With possibly the warmest day of
the year the moth trap was deployed with good results. 14 moths were
seen of 8 species Pale brindled Beauty, Oak Beauty,
4 Common Quaker, Small Quaker, 3 March Moth, Clouded Drab, Tortricodes
alternella and 1 as yet unidentified.

17/02/11

Seen flying and caught on my walk
home in Area 5 a Tortricodes alternella one
of the more common micro moths of the early part of the year. Another
Bombus terrestris was also seen.

12/02/11

The first Bumblebee of the year and in slightly bizarre
circumstances. On my return from a walk in Area 5 this afternoon a queen
Bombus terrestris was found crawling up the
inside of my trousers. In the ensuing melee no harm was done to either
party and the bumblebee flew off.

08/02/11

2 days of mild weather were enough to convince me that the
moth trap should come out overnight. However ony 3 moths of 2 species
were found. Pale brindled Beauty & Agonopterix
heracliana.

Other Wildlife

Click on any picture to see a larger image

Coarse Fish

Mammals

19/02/11 Numerous Squirrels and the first Brown
Rat for at least a year was seen in Area 4 & 5.

Plants/Trees

12/02/11 12 Hornbeam
(Carpinus betulus) trees have been planted in Area 4 of
the brook. See News page for more details.

06/02/11

The leaves of Lords and Ladies (Arum
maculatum) are just starting to emerge and can be seen along the brook.

Why do the leaves change colour ?

Autumn
Leaves click on the link to find out why.