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Latest Sightings January 2012

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 under Monitoring ). .

All sightings unless stated are from personal observations by Eddie Napper

Birds

Click on any picture to see a larger image

27/01/12 Bulfinch &
Green Woodpecker were seen in Area 10 adjacent to Lavells Lake
car park by Richard Marsh today .

26/01/12 Seen today in Area 4 by Paul
Bright-Thomas a Bullfinch .

22/01/12 In Area 4 today whilst trying to
photograph this House Sparrow the Kingfisher flew around Kingfisher Bridge. Also seen
wereBlue Tit, Great Tit & Long tailed Tit
, Red Kite , Redwing,Song & Mistle Thrush in all a total of
25 species were seen.

19/01/12 This afternoon 2 Red Kite were seen soaring and tumbling together in
Area 5.

16/01/12 Seen at 09:30 by Les Steele this
Little Egret was seen near the Balancing Pond
in Area 4

15/01/12 Once again the female Brambling was seen at the feeders in Area 5 at
08:00 this morning. 4 noisy Mallards were on
the brook near Ripplestream Bridge.

14/01/12 Today was a tale of 2 Areas. A
quick top up of the feeders in Area 5 on a very frosty morning produced
a female Brambling . A walk around Area 2 (
rear of Tesco's) turned up plenty of farmland birds. Rook, Jackdaw & Pied Wagtail were seen in the
Horse fields. Redwing , Mistle Thrush &
Fieldfares were feeding in the fields & trees. Great spotted & Green Woodpecker were also
seen. This brings the total number of birds seen on the Brook this year
to 43 species.

12/01/12 A Grey Heron
was seen going to roost in Area 5 today at16:00.

11/01/12 During this mornings walk in Areas
4 &5 a total of 29 species were seen. Highlights were a Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail & Red Kite was seen
going to roost in Area 5 today at16:00.

09/01/12 In Area 10 at Lavells Lake Nature
Reserve the Kingfisher was seen on the Brook
before flying under the Sandford Lane bridge.

08/01/12 In Area 1 at Gorrick Wood Goldcrest & Coal Tit were seen . In Area 4
& 5 it was a Big Bird day with Red Kite &
Buzzard with Little Egret also seen.

07/01/12 With the Emm now back to its
usual level following the recent rain the Grey
Wagtail was able to feed on the banks by Dragonfly Bridge. A
large but mobile flock of approx50 Redwing
were in Area 4 & 5. These small Thrushes migrate to the UK
each year from Scandinavia. Despite the mild weather the feeding station
is still proving popular with Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Great spotted Woodpecker in daily
attendence

05/01/12 Another very windy day. Any birds
seen flying today were struggling against the wind. However those
masters of the air Red Kite seemed to be
allmost revelling in the challange over Area 5.

03/01/12 A wet and windy day and not
particullary condusive to bird watching. However the numerous singing
Song Thrushes along the Brook didn't seem to
care.

02/01/12 In amongst the Finch flock feeding
in the Alders to the rear of Morrissons this morning were 6 Lesser Redpoll and a few Siskin
. 2 Little Egret were flushed by a dog
walker from trees near Ripplestream Bridge. Redwing
were feeding on Sloes still on the Blackthorn bushes. At 11:30 a
Kingfisher was seen flying over Ripplestream
Bridge and then downstream by Pam Small.

01/01/12 An early start this morning paid
dividends with a Buzzard flying N over Area
5. Approx 100 Wood Pigeon were milling about
and 4 Great spotted Woodpeckers were seen
with one drumming. Winter Thrushes were represented by Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush & Mistle Thrush
.

Insects/ Spiders

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08/01/12 The first Bumbebee of the year was
seen in Area 1 at Gorrick Wood. A queen Bombus
terrestris was seen flying amomg the Pines .

Plants/Trees

15/01/12 In Areas 4 & 5 at the moment
the Catkins of Hazel & Alder can both be
seen. The Hazel has yellow dangling catkins which are the male flower
spikes (or inflorescences) . Instead of using insects, lured by bright
colours, scent or nectar, to do their pollinating these flowers instead
use the power of the wind to blow pollen from the catkins to the
inconspicuous female flowers, which resemble a tiny shock of red hairs
protuding from the tip of the bud.

Why do leaves change colour in the Autumn?

Find out here Autumn
Leaves

Other Wildlife

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Fungi

Mammals

08/01/12 At the moment Mole hills seem to be
appearing everywhere in Area 5 Moles must be
working like demons.

Amphibians

Coarse Fish