Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [December 2023]

I’m not a lover of Grey Squirrels. I do my best to make the bird feeders squirrel-proof and discourage them from visiting our garden. However, I had to admire the agility of one a few days ago. We have a couple of seed feeders on a pole that is fitted with a hemispherical plastic baffle to stop squirrels climbing the pole. I had left a redundant fitting attached to the pole below the baffle. The squirrel worked out that it could use this fitting as a springboard to leap past the edge of the baffle and just be able to grab the bottom of a feeder. It was then able to haul itself up and tuck in. Needless to say, I removed the fitting and so far the squirrel has been defeated.

15th Nov. Neighbour David had a charming encounter with a Robin which perched on his broom head while it was being used to sweep his path.

22nd Nov. A Woodpigeon narrowly avoided becoming a meal for a Sparrowhawk as the hunter zoomed around our apple tree seeking prey.

23rd Nov. The early morning sunshine lit up the burnished russet of the oak trees that we overlook from our breakfast room. Later in the morning a Red Kite flew over.

24th Nov. Around 6:30pm as we drove along Wike Lane, a Tawny Owl flew over.

25th Nov. Neighbour David saw a very dark Fox in Whitemoor Lane, then a regular one in the village.

28th Nov. We spotted our first Redwing of the winter near the ford at Coughton.

29th Nov. We noticed several Redwings in the same area.

4th Dec. I was pleased to see a Coal Tit visit our black sunflower seed feeder.

6th Dec. I noticed two quite large bracket fungi growing on our apple tree. The “Seek” app couldn’t identify it for me and the nearest match I could find in a field guide was a “Hoof Fungus”, but it doesn’t look quite right. I hope it isn’t, as that tends to kill the host.

7th Dec. Chris’s Middletown Lane garden is being visited by a male Pheasant in fine plumage. He also mentioned that Blackbirds which have been absent for some time are now back in his garden, and he has been interested to observe the different approaches that different bird species have to access the kernels of seeds.

11th Dec. As we walked along Wike Lane we had our first sighting of a Fieldfare this winter.

12th Dec. Several Jays were flying between trees in Wike Lane. They are quite a common sight at the moment, probably making the most of the acorn harvest.

Don’t forget the RSPB’s 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on 26th to 28th January. I read that in 2023 the House Sparrow was in the top spot for the 20th year. We so rarely see one in our garden.

 

Phil J. 01527 892043 (12th December)

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [Nov 2023]

Autumn colours are very much in evidence, but I don’t know how long they will last after today’s rain and the forecast of rain and strong winds overnight and tomorrow.

I decided to treat the birds to some new seed feeders for the winter and chose heavy duty metal ones. I was impressed by the sturdy perches instead of the pegs on the previous feeders. My satisfaction with these new feeders was short lived when I saw that a Magpie found these larger perches ideal while the previous pegs were too small for it. Consequently, the sunflower seeds were disappearing at an alarming rate. I have found a possible solution in Botany Bay garden centre in the form of separate cages that slip over the feeders. I now have them in place and, so far, Magpies seem to have been deterred.

14th Oct. The first cold snap of the autumn has made a Nuthatch a regular visitor to our feeders.

19th Oct. We had a close view of a Nuthatch scavenging around our patio after first visiting the feeders.

22nd Oct. We hadn’t seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden for many weeks, but today one was visiting the peanut feeder. Peter told us of having seen a “mini murmuration” of Starlings from his Coughton garden on two occasions.

23rd Oct. Two Pheasants were perched on our neighbour’s pergola. A Coal Tit came to our black sunflower feeder.

26th Oct. A spell of sunshine brought a Red Admiral to settle on our garden wall for a time.

2nd Nov. Pete spotted a Grey Wagtail on his conservatory roof in Middletown Lane. He also mentioned having just returned from a holiday in Scotland where he was fortunate enough to see two Golden Eagles. He also noticed Hooded Crows. These birds largely replace Carrion Crows in Scotland and are an attractive two-tone grey and black.

6th Nov. Two male Blackbirds took it in turns to feast on pyracantha berries than take a rest on our patio furniture. Christine told us about two Carrion Crows that are regular visitors to her Sambourne Lane garden. One she calls “Poorly Leg” due to a damaged leg, while its partner she calls “Lady Bird”. She has also had close views of a Sparrowhawk perched on her garden seat. As we walked back down Perrymill Lane we paid the price for not carrying our binoculars. We’re fairly sure that a Ring-necked Parakeet was perched on a power cable, but it was a silhouette and a little too far away to be certain.

10th Nov. A lovely male Pheasant strutted across our back lawn and inspected a border.

Phil J. 01527 892043 (12th November)

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [October 2023]

It’s always pleasant to stop for a few words with other villagers and hear what wildlife they have noticed in and around the village. Recently Angela mentioned a flock of Long-tailed Tits she spotted in Wike Lane, Roy photographed a young frog and a newt (a Smooth Newt I think) in his Whitemoor Lane garden, and Chris mentioned the Red Admiral butterflies feeding on windfall apples in his Middletown Lane Garden. He also mentioned a dead Muntjac in Middletown Lane – a reminder of the need to drive cautiously along our lanes as it isn’t uncommon to find deer wandering casually across the road.

26th Sept. Acorns are plentiful at the moment. As we walked through the woods, Jays were quite vociferous as they searched for acorns. A squirrel was busy burying some in our lawn.

27th Sept. A rather dubious pleasure was twelve Wood Pigeons on our lawn, presumably seeking fallout from our sunflower seed feeders. All too frequently these birds make the mistake of flying into the windows at the rear of our house, with quite a startling bang and leaving dusty silhouettes despite bird images stuck on the widows.

28th Sept. A Sparrowhawk paid an unsuccessful hunting visit to the garden, scattering the party of small birds on our feeders.

28th Sept – 6th Oct. We spent a week based in a hill-top cottage in Mid-Wales. As one might expect these days, Red Kites were plentiful and it was a joy to see them at close quarters, particularly one very close view when a bird swooped down in front of us for a roadkill. We took the opportunity to visit the RSPB’s Ynys-Hir reserve beside the Dyfi estuary.

The highlights were a female Marsh Harrier hunting over the reed beds, and the presence of many Barnacle Geese. An information board indicated that there were around 300. These are medium-sized geese, rather smaller than our more familiar Canada Geese, with distinctive black and white markings. There was also a good number of Curlews and plenty of smaller shore birds were visible, but too far away to be identifiable. The only species of duck we saw was Teal, of which there were many.

8th Oct. With the arrival of autumn, we noticed many Ladybirds climbing up the house walls and windows, presumably seeking out suitable nooks and crannies to hibernate.

10th Oct. Our attention was attracted by the chattering of about thirty Starlings perched on cables by the footpath to Astwood Bank, and as we stopped to look at them a Kestrel flew by.

Phil J (12th October).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [September 2023]

The second half of August continued with the generally mixed weather theme, but early September brought a return of summer warmth.

14th Aug. Many Speckled Wood butterflies were on the wing in the woods. They all looked very bright, so were presumably a fresh emergence. It’s interesting to note that the species has a number of broods in a year while some other species, such as the

Orange Tip, have only one.

16th Aug. On an evening walk to and through the woods we saw a Roe Deer and a Hare.

17th Aug. We had a breakfast time distraction when four Chiffchaffs appeared in our garden and were swinging around on the seed heads of ornamental grasses. They normally feed on insects, so perhaps they had found something living in the grasses.

23rd Aug. On an evening walk to the woods, we saw two Muntjacs and a Hare in a field, then found a Slow Worm in the middle of the bridleway in the woods. I managed a quick photograph before it vanished into the grass.

24th Aug. We stopped for a brief conversation with a couple of Heart of England Forest volunteers who were carrying out a butterfly survey. They commented that in addition to the species that we have seen, they had previously noted Purple Emperors, White Admirals and Purple Hairstreaks in Coughton Park wood.

28th Aug. We noticed some Buzzards in a field by the woods where the crop had just been harvested. Several flocks of Swallows were chasing insects, and Richard (Postman) mentioned having seen 100+ Swallows perched on a rooftop in Jill Lane.  Tilling of the field behind us brought in a large flock of gulls that consisted mostly of Common Gulls with a few much larger Herring Gulls.

7th Sept. I ran my moth trap overnight last night and the noteworthy catches were a Marbled Carpet moth (no – they don’t attack carpets!) and a Setaceous Hebrew Character moth. At first glance I thought I had caught two Hornet moths, the species being a fine example of mimicry. On closer inspection I realised they were actual Hornets, which I treated with great caution when releasing them. Chris reported having seen what he thought to be a Sabre Wasp in his Middletown Lane garden.

8th Sept. I spotted a Speckled Bush-cricket on an alloy wheel of our car. They turn up in some odd places.

9th Sept. A pristine Brimstone butterfly visited our garden and Pete reported that a juvenile Green Woodpecker had visited his garden, presumably to feed on ants.

Phil J (12th September).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [Aug2023]

The generally unsettled and cool weather of July has hardly been conducive to enjoying the natural world to the full, but there have still been some interesting things to see.

14th July. A rare visitor to our patio was a Song Thrush. At dusk it sang loud and long from a neighbour’s tree.

15th July. Not for the first time, I noticed a Pied Wagtail devouring a butterfly in our garden.

17th July. We saw many butterflies from the woodland bridleway. Species included Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Red Admirals, Commas, Gatekeepers, Large and Small Whites and Silver-washed Fritillaries. A Speckled Bush Cricket was on our washing line at home.

19th July. Another profusion of butterflies was apparent to us on a circular walk from Hanbury Hall.  

24th July. Peter (from Coughton) mentioned Swans with cygnets on a pool at Coughton Court. We have subsequently seen them.

27th July. It was pleasing to note that the area of harebells that grow by the field path to Coughton appears to be expanding.

31st July. There were five Pied Wagtails in the garden today, perhaps attracted by the large number of butterflies. They won’t be popular if they take too many!

8th Aug. A Blackcap considered that the breeding season isn’t over yet as he was singing loudly in Wike Lane.

9th Aug. Our neighbour David had a close encounter with a Muntjac that was showing no road sense in Jill Lane.

10th Aug. I ran my moth trap overnight and found two species I’ve not seen before – an Iron Prominent and a Pebble Hook-tip. The Black Arches was a welcome repeat visitor.

11th Aug. We enjoyed a 7-mile circular walk from the Worcs Wildlife Trust Trench Wood reserve and along the canal to Tibberton. At one point a Red Kite flew overhead, and as we returned to the wood, we met a butterfly photographer. He mentioned the presence of Purple Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak and Wood White butterflies, but they all seemed to have eluded him so far that morning.

Phil J (13th August).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [July 2023}

The most unusual item this month was a report from Rob that he noticed a dead Dormouse near Wood Terrace. This is extraordinary because Warwickshire Wildlife Trust information suggests that there is only one known tiny population of the species in the county, although there are a couple of attempts at reintroduction.

13th – 15th June. We spent a couple of days based near Flamborough Head in north Yorkshire, where we visited the RSPB Bempton Cliff reserve and took an RSPB boat trip. These gave us fine views of the colonies of Gannets, Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots and Shags. We also saw a Peregrine that was known to have consumed at least four Puffins. On a walk, we heard the rasping song of a Grasshopper Warbler – the first time for about forty years.

17th June. We heard a Cuckoo calling, and Angela has been hearing it daily up to this time. We saw our first Marbled White butterfly of the year near the field path to Coughton.

18th June. Marbled Whites have now appeared by the Monarch’s Way, and a Fallow Deer was on the bridleway through the woods.

19th June. Delaying our walk for cooler conditions in the evening paid off as we had good views of two Hares near the woodland.

20th June. On an early evening walk along Wike Lane we noticed tiny froglets crossing the road. We helped as many as possible to the safety of the verge.

11th June. Janet mentioned that another brood of Great Tits had successfully fledged from the most unusual nest site of a traffic cone on the ground.

23rd June. Angela has continued to hear a Cuckoo calling   daily until yesterday.

24th June. Overnight I had the first run of my moth trap and found it had attracted my most impressive moth yet – a Pine Hawk moth. What it lacked in colour it made up for in size and subtlety of markings.

25th June. On a woodland and Monarch’s Way walk we saw butterfly species including Silver-washed Fritillary, Comma, Marbled White, Small Skipper and Ringlet.

27th June. An Old Lady moth, normally nocturnal, was flying around our garden in the afternoon.

9th July. We noticed eleven species of butterfly, including Gatekeepers for the first time this year, on our morning woodland walk. I can recommend the phone app “Merlin” for identifying bird songs. It identified a Goldcrest in our neighbour’s conifer.

10th July. I was sad to see a Pied Wagtail Consuming a Small Tortoiseshell in our garden.

11th July. Ann saw a Red Kite over her house by the village green. We watched four Goldcrests feeding in a tree in Wike Lane

Phil J (12th July).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [June 2023]

The previous month’s weather was mostly cool and wet, but in contrast the past month has been dry and, at times, hot. It seemed to be that we were not going to hear the call of a Cuckoo this year, but Nick heard one on 13th May and since then a number of villagers have been delighted to hear it from around the village. Angela has heard it almost daily up to the time of writing these notes.

18th May (late). Chris heard a tapping on his Middletown Lane window and, on investigation, found a party of Pipistrelle bats hunting moths attracted to the light.

24th May. We ventured away from Sambourne for a couple of days to visit with friends the RSPB’s St Aidan’s wetland reserve near Leeds. The undoubted highlight was watching a scarce Black-necked Grebe feeding its youngster in a pool. This is a lovely bird with tufts of golden feathers on the sides of its head. Other avian treats were a Black-winged Stilt and close views of singing Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings.

25th May. Pete had a Roe Deer visiting his Middletown Lane garden.

28th May. He noticed a Red Kite flying overhead and has been continuing to hear a Cuckoo on most days.

29th May. We saw many Common Spotted Orchids flowering in a meadow by the Monarch’s Way footpath. We noticed a Linnet near the footpath to Astwood Bank.

2nd June. Warmer weather is bringing the butterflies out. A Holly Blue appeared in our garden this morning, and we saw two Small Heaths on the Monarch’s Way. Here, we also saw a female (bronze-coloured) Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.

3rd June. A Small Copper butterfly briefly visited our garden.

4th June. I tried a first run of my moth trap overnight. I was slightly disappointed to find just one Heart and Dart moth and three Pale Tussocks, although the latter are quite attractive. It had been quite a chilly night. On a sunny afternoon walk along the footpath to Coughton we saw a male (blue) Beautiful Demoiselle and a Mayfly. I think it was the species known by anglers as “Green Drake”. A Reed Warbler was singing from the reedbed at Coughton Court.

5th June. As we walked along Wike Lane we were accompanied by continuous Cuckoo calls, and we spotted it in a tree on the far side of a field. In the meadow by the Monarch’s Way many more Common Spotted Orchids were in flower. Common Blue, Small Heath and Large Skipper butterflies were on the wing.

6th June. An adult Great Spotted Woodpecker visited our garden with a youngster.

7th June. A Pied Wagtail fed two young on our patio wall. Chris reported ten Swallows lined up on an overhead power line, and Toads in his garden. Pete saw a Fox in his garden.

11th June. During the “Shakespeare on The Green” performance, the Cuckoo could still be heard calling in the distance.  

Phil J (12th June).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [May 2023]

The rainy and rather cool past month has limited our opportunities for observing the natural world around us. The field and woodland paths have been so muddy that our walks have mostly been on tarmac.

I forgot to note last month that Peter (Coughton resident) mentioned having observed a couple of crows showing unusual interest in hole in a tree. After a short time, a Grey Squirrel popped its head out, and the crows were clearly taking exception to its presence.

16th April. Stuart and Jenny told us that they had seen a Red Kite flying over their Perrymill Lane garden last week.

17th April. A Great Spotted Woodpecker has decided on a change of diet and has switched to our sunflower heart feeder in preference to the peanut feeder. A female Goosander is still present on the river Arrow by the ford in Coughton.

19th April. We had a walk along part of the Worcester and Birmingham canal from north Worcester towards Droitwich and heard the loud song of a Cetti’s Warbler. Pete reported having had a Blackcap in his Middletown Lane garden for the past three days.

20th April. We saw the first Orange-tip butterflies today – three in Wike Lane then another by the woodland bridleway. We also saw a Peacock butterfly nearby.

22nd April. We first heard its song then saw a male Blackcap in the hedgerow along Wike Lane.

23rd April. Cowslips seem to be at their peak, with swathes of them on the embankments beside the A46 towards Evesham. Bluebells are also starting to bloom in the verges and woods.

25th April. A flock of about twenty House Martins was feeding near the ford at Coughton. A little further on along Coughton Fields Lane we observed a Chiffchaff at close quarters as it seemed quite unconcerned about our presence.

29th April. Aubretia flowers in our garden provided sustenance for an Orange-tip.

3rd May. We braved the muddy conditions of the field footpath from Coughton and were rewarded by a sighting of a Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly, and of two Whitethroats near Sambourne Hall Farm.

4th May. As we walked along Sambourne Lane towards the cricket ground we could hear constant Skylark song from above the adjacent fields.

7th May. As yet nobody has reported having heard the call of a Cuckoo locally, but at least our sister-in-law has heard one at Shapwick Heath on the Somerset Levels.   

Phil J (12th May).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [April 2023]

The past month has been typical of early spring with a variety of weather conditions. Warm, sunny spells have brought out some butterflies, and summer migrant birds have begun to arrive.

17th March. Our first Chiffchaff of the year was calling in a tree in Wike Lane. Pete from Middletown Lane also heard one on the same day.

18th March. We heard Skylarks as they performed their song flight off Sambourne Lane near the cricket ground. Sharon and Steve mentioned having seen a Sparrowhawk in their bird bath and a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding in their Sambourne Lane Garden.

19th March. Chiffchaffs were singing in several locations along Wike Lane, and a tree near the village green was being visited by a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, and Blue and Long-tailed Tits.

20th March. We watched two Grey Wagtails chasing insects by the ford in Coughton.

On many occasions we’ve noticed a pair of Mallards paddling in the puddly roadside in Sambourne Lane near the cemetery in Coughton, unperturbed by passing vehicles and pedestrians.

21st March. Pete mentioned having seen a Red Kite flying overhead and a Stock Dove in his garden. We also now have a pair of Stock Doves regularly visiting our garden.

23rd March. I was pleased to note six Greenfinches feeding in our garden.

29th/30th March. We had a short stay in Pembrokeshire and, although the weather was far from favourable, we did manage a couple of walks on the coast path. On our first walk we were not hopeful of seeing anything as it was quite misty, but to our surprise as we were on a grassy headland our attention was attracted by the very distinctive call of a Chough – very much our hoped-for species. We spotted a pair of them only about ten metres away, probing the ground with their long, curved, red bills for their invertebrate food. We later saw a pair of Stonechats on a gorse bush.

2nd April. A Roe Deer was in Wike Lane, and we saw our first Brimstone butterfly of the year in our garden.

4th April. Postman Richard told us that he had just seen his first Swallow of the year perched on a wire by the Green Dragon.

5th April. Now a rare garden species for us, a small flock of Starlings descended on our freshly cut lawn to probe for invertebrates.

7th April. Pete saw House Martins flying over his Middletown Lane home. Janet and Roger have seen a Swallow by their Wike Lane home. We noticed the welcome hum of busy bees visiting pussy willow and blackthorn blossom in Wike Lane.

11th April. An early walk to Coughton was rewarded with our first two Swallows in Wike Lane, and then the sight of a pair of Goosanders swimming and diving in the river Arrow by the ford. As we watched these birds, a Kingfisher came into view.

Phil J (12th April).

Nature Jottings from Perrymill Lane [March 2023]

We’ve seen more signs of springtime, with wild garlic sprouting in the verges and lambs bouncing around in the field beside Coughton Field Lane, but the recent frost and snow tells us that winter hasn’t given up yet.

12th Feb. Peter from Coughton described a diving duck that he’d noticed in the river in Bidford on Avon. The description fitted a Tufted Duck – a common resident.

13th Feb. On this sunny afternoon we noticed one Fallow Deer and a Peacock butterfly beside Coughton Park woods. Bats, presumably Pipistrelles, were flying over our garden at dusk.

16th Feb. Angela mentioned that when walking Freddie in local woodland they came across twenty deer – probably Fallow judging by more recent reports.

17th Feb. As we arrived at the Church room for the evening of wine-tasting, we heard a Barn Owl call nearby. Ann mentioned having seen five Blackcaps in her garden. It seems that more of these birds are now spending winter in the UK instead of heading south. Pete reported a Raven feeding on chicken bones in his Middletown Lane garden.

24th Feb. A party of three Lesser Redpolls spent much of the day in the garden devouring sunflower seed hearts.

26th Feb. As we walked along a Glebe Farm footpath, we came across a flock of about a dozen Yellowhammers in the hedgerow.

27th Feb. The Redpolls are now a constant presence in the garden. Four Yellowhammers were in the same spot as yesterday. We noticed a herd of twenty-four Fallow Deer emerge from the woods and run a circuit of the adjacent field before returning to the woods.

1st Mar. We have a dilemma over whether or not to keep an oversize apple tree in the garden. We counted six species of birds in it at one time today, so they seem to be telling us that it should stay!

3rd Mar. Bird numbers in the garden seem to be at a peak with feeders being emptied within a day. Roy watched a Red Kite flying over the centre of the village.

4th Mar. We spotted a large mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings in a field off Wike Lane and wondered if they were preparing to return to Scandinavia for the breeding season. Corin managed to capture video of about forty Fallow Deer running across a field beside Wike Lane.

5th Mar. We noticed two Siskins bathing in the brook where it passes under Wike Lane at the entrance to the village.

7th Mar. We spotted a Meadow Pipit perched on a power cable near Glebe Farm.

12th Mar. We saw our first lambs in a field in Coughton near the ford.

Phil J (12th March)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [February 2023]

Catkins are fattening in the hedgerows, pussy willow is becoming evident, and the first spring bulbs are flowering, so springtime can’t be too far away. However, there are still some winter treats to be enjoyed and we were fortunate enough to have a few visit our garden as we did our “Big Garden Birdwatch”.

12th Jan. As we walked along Wike Lane we noticed two Yellowhammers, some Meadow Pipits, a flock of Redwings and a mixed flock of tits and finches. Rooks are becoming active at the rookery beside Coughton ford.

17th Jan. On this frosty morning, a male and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker visited our garden peanut feeder. Next came our first Lesser Redpoll of the winter to join the tits and Chaffinches, before the garden was cleared of small birds by the appearance of a Sparrowhawk.

18th Jan. As we drove along Wike Lane in darkness we glimpsed a Tawny Owl then had a good view of a Muntjac crossing the road.

23rd Jan. A few Lapwings were feeding amongst the sheep in a field beside Coughton Lane in Coughton.

25th Jan. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming loudly in our neighbour’s garden. A Redpoll briefly visited our garden.

27th Jan. From Wike Lane we watched six Roe Deer run alongside the hedgerow before crossing the lane into the woods.

29th Jan. Our Big Garden Birdwatch resulted in a reasonable tally of fifteen species with the highlight being the arrival of four Lesser Redpolls just before the end of our session. They are not common visitors to our garden, and only ever appear in winter. I put out a tray of suet nibbles, but no birds showed any interest while we did our count. A couple of hours later the tray was mysteriously empty. Later that day, around dusk, a bat flew over the garden.

5th Feb. The mystery of the disappearing suet nibbles has been solved. I put out some more and soon saw a Carrion Crow land on the edge of the tray and clear the whole lot in one sitting! Later, I had a distant view of a Kingfisher from the footbridge beside the ford at Coughton.

7th Feb. As we walked the footpath behind Sambourne Hall Farm we noticed a male Linnet feeding on dried blackberries on top of the hedgerow. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming nearby. At home we watched three Robins interacting and posturing – presumably a territory or mating dispute.

Phil J (12th February)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [January 2023]

The substantial rainfall over the past few weeks has turned footpaths and the woodland bridleway into a quagmire, so this month’s observations have largely been from the roads or garden. This doesn’t mean that there has been nothing to attract our attention.

12th Dec. It was pleasing to note that we still have regular visits to the garden by Greenfinches. On this frosty morning four fed on sunflower hearts.

14th Dec. We did manage a walk through the woods and came across ten Fallow Deer. There were five does, three mature stags with fine antlers and three with just antler buds.

18th Dec. A Redwing feasted on pyracantha berries in our garden. A Song Thrush visited the garden briefly.

20th Dec. We had a surprise encounter with a Little Egret that was feeding beside the brook that passes under Wike Lane at the entrance to the village. We stood just a few metres away and watched for several minutes.

21st Dec. Definitely the most noteworthy item this month was witnessed by Pete in his Middletown Lane garden. A chicken carcass that he threw out for corvids to scavenge received a visit from a Red Kite. The Kite returned a little later in the day. Kites are thought to have been scavengers in the streets of London up to the 18th century, but as far as I know this is a first for Sambourne.

23rd Dec. At 9 am the garden was so full of birds in a feeding frenzy I wouldn’t have been able to count them had it been the RSPB Big Birdwatch day.

26th Dec. Near neighbours Pat and John mentioned that they had excellent views of a Snipe in their garden shortly before Christmas. They commented on the beautiful markings in the plumage. The other main feature of course is the extraordinarily long bill used for probing for their invertebrate prey.

2nd Jan. I know we’re in mid-winter, but it’s good to see catkins fattening in the hedgerows, snowdrops blooming in Pat and John’s garden and a first anemone flower in ours.

5th Jan. A Sparrowhawk flew though our garden, pausing briefly on the back hedge before being chased off by two crows. Pete mentioned having witnessed similar harassment. Later, we spotted three Roe Deer grazing in a field off Wike Lane.

8th Jan. Pete was fortunate to have a male Bullfinch visit his Middletown Lane garden. The pink/red breast contrasting with grey, black, and white is something to behold!

9th Jan. A lady resident of Middletown Lane pointed out a single daffodil fully in flower in a Wike Lane verge. We later spotted a Treecreeper and two Goldcrests in trees nearby.

Phil J (12th January)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Dec 2022]

As I sit down to put these notes together there is the first real taste of winter with a hard frost outside. The birds are keeping me busy topping up the seed feeders and providing fresh water, although I fear that will soon freeze over again.

12th Nov. In a spell of fine weather Chris spotted a Red Admiral in his Middletown Lane garden. I read that although they do hibernate, they rarely survive the winter to emerge next spring.

17th Nov. As we walked along Wike Lane an unfamiliar bird call attracted our attention. We identified four Mistle Thrushes moving around in the trees. We met Angela walking Freddie along Wike Lane. She had noticed ten Fallow Deer, including a stag in the woods.

19th Nov. The call of a Tawny Owl was audible from our garden at 6pm.

20th Nov. We have now seen our first winter thrushes – many Redwings were active in the field behind us.

25th Nov. Redwings and Fieldfares were feeding in the field beside the Booking Office in Sambourne Lane, Coughton.

30th Nov. We paid a brief visit to the Upton Warren nature reserve. We spotted good numbers of Lapwings, ducks including Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, Grey Wagtails, a flock of Linnets and a Meadow Pipit.

3rd Dec. There was something of a feeding frenzy around the bird feeders in our garden. Four Long-tailed Tits and three Blue Tits crammed themselves into a peanut feeder, resulting in tails sticking out in all directions. Then six Long-Tailed Tits squeezed themselves into the cage holding a fat block with a similar result.

5th Dec. A Redwing was flying from tree to tree in Perrymill Lane.

6th Dec. Pete reported having seen a Red Kite flying over the Green Dragon this afternoon.

8th Dec. The first really hard frost of the winter filled our garden with birds this morning. My attention was attracted by a Fieldfare that spent a few moments on the lawn before flying to a pyracantha where it tucked into the bright orange berries. The sunflower seeds, peanuts and fat-block attracted many Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, Great and Blue Tits, a Pied Wagtail, Blackbirds, Robins, six Chaffinches and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. I’ll be refilling the feeders tomorrow morning.

It seems early to mention it, but don’t forget the RSPB “Big Garden Birdwatch, on 27th-29th January.

Phil J (8th December)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [November 2022]

Autumn has been delivering its usual splendour as the leaves change colour, with Coughton Park woods as picturesque as anywhere. It also seems to have been a good year for fungi. We came across some fine specimens of Parasol Mushrooms on a walk around the Croft Castle estate.

15th Oct. A flock of 20+ Linnets flew up from feeding in a Glebe Farm field. Later in our walk through the woods we encountered three Fallow Deer comprising a stag with an impressive set of antlers, a doe, and a youngster.

16th Oct. We saw a Goldcrest for the first time in a while, feeding with a small flock of tits in the woods.

22nd Oct. Tracy and Paul mentioned having heard squealing and witnessed a Stoat tackling a young rabbit near Sambourne Hall Farm. They have also seen an almost white deer in a field by the woods.

23rd Oct. As we walked in the grounds of Coughton Court we spotted a Kingfisher perched on a branch overhanging a pool. 

26th Oct. During a visit to see friends in Yorkshire, we were shown around the RSPB St Aidan’s reserve near Leeds. This 400-hectare nature park was formerly an opencast coal-mining area that was flooded in 1988. The first bird we saw was a Little Owl, perched on some mining equipment. We went on to see six more species of raptor comprising a Kestrel, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Peregrine, an Osprey, and a Marsh Harrier. Perhaps most exciting, as we have seen them so rarely, was the sight of two Bitterns. Many ducks including Pintail and Shoveler were on the lakes, Cetti’s Warblers were often heard, and a pair of Stonechats gave us fine views. We saw or heard more than fifty bird species during our visit.

27th Oct. Pete noticed what he subsequently identified as a False Widow Spider in his Middletown Lane greenhouse. From his photograph, a quick look at the internet suggested to me that it was one of the False Widows called a Rabbit Hutch Spider. I gather that while they are able to deliver a nip, they are non-poisonous. 

5th Nov. Chris emailed to say that he had heard a Tawny Owl from his Middletown Lane home. By coincidence, that same evening we heard loud and prolonged Tawny Owl calling from our neighbour’s garden.

6th Nov. Chris spotted two Muntjacs crossing Middletown Lane about five metres ahead of his car. We once had one come right up to my open car window in Wike Lane. They can be quite bold!

9th Nov. A local photographer told us that he had just spotted five Fallow Deer in the woodland, and had previously seen a herd of up to twenty.

Phil J (12th November)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [October 2022]

We have just experienced our first frost of the autumn to remind us that winter is on its way, but over the past month we have still been able to enjoy walks in warm sunshine and have glimpsed some of the lingering summer migrants.

13th Sept. We walked through Coughton Park woods and were accompanied by the squawk of Jays as they feasted on this year’s bumper acorn harvest. Later I noticed a rather faded Small Copper butterfly in our garden, feeding on ice plant flowers.

14th Sept. Postman Richard mentioned having see a couple of dozen Swallows perched on a power line in Sambourne Lane. We noticed a flock of fifty or more Goldfinches in a paddock off Sambourne Lane.

20th Sept. From our rear bedroom window, I noticed a Muntjac trotting across the field behind us. It stopped to inspect a small gap in our neighbour’s hedge, then entered the garden for a look around. It browsed there for a few minutes then returned in the field and trotted off. As we walked along the canal towpath near Hanbury Hall we were surprised to hear a Chiffchaff making its onomatopoeic call.

21st Sept. As we walked along Wike Lane, an unusual bird call attracted our attention. We stopped to investigate and caught sight of a Peregrine flying away from a pylon. It reminded us that Clive once filmed a Peregrine devouring a pigeon in his garden by the village green.

28th Sept. Thinking that they had all set off for Africa, we were pleased to see a few Swallows hunting insects over the canal at Dunhampstead.

29th Sept. A Green Woodpecker spent a few minutes perched on our neighbour’s pergola. Peter from Coughton told us that he had watched a Heron and a Little Egret apparently comfortable with each other’s company while feeding in the river Arrow near the ford at Coughton.

4th Oct. As we walked along a footpath near Glebe Farm, we saw three Yellowhammers in the hedgerow and a Red Kite flew overhead. In the next field we watched three Skylarks performing song flights.

5th Oct. As we drove to and from Hillers farm shop, we had two sightings of Kestrels hovering by the roadside.

8th Oct. A Green Woodpecker and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited our garden. A Peacock butterfly basked in sunshine. On our afternoon walk we saw a couple of Skylarks, and a Peregrine was circling overhead as we walked the bridleway through the woods.

10th Oct. Near Glebe Farm we stopped to watch three Wrens in the hedgerow. One was singing loudly, and it was interesting to watch its whole body vibrating as it delivered the churring call.

12th Oct. Lawyer’s Wig fungi have appeared in our gravel drive.

Phil J (12th October)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Sept. 2022]

Red Kites continue to keep up a presence around the village. Christine informed us that she and Roger had watched from their Wike Lane home four birds circling leisurely over the adjacent field. David and Christine saw one flying over Sambourne Lane.

14th Aug. A Nuthatch entertained us by searching for insects in crevices in the patio wall outside our kitchen.

22nd Aug. A Cormorant and a Heron were perched in the same tree overlooking the lake in Coughton Lodge Farm.

25th Aug. While signs of autumn have appeared with ripening fruit in the hedgerows, a lone Chiffchaff was still calling in Coughton Park woods.

26th Aug. This month’s highlight was an extended view of a Wheatear as it perched on a fence beside the Monarch’s Way, presumably on its migration from moorland here for the summer and south to Africa.

27th Aug. I ran my moth trap overnight then returned indoors after inspecting the “catch.” A buzzing sound seemed to accompany me around the house. Eventually I noticed that I had a Hornet clinging to the front of my shirt. I know they are far less aggressive than wasps, but up close they look quite intimidating, so I made quick exit to send it on its way.

1st Sept. We always thought Wrens were sweet-natured little birds so were surprised to see two having a real set-to on our patio.

5th Sept. We identified two Whitethroats flitting around some bushes by the Monarch’s Way. We’ve normally seen Whitethroats in the spring when their singing and aerial displays have attracted our attention. I also used the “Seek” app to identify a common climbing plant with orange-red berries. I now know it to be Black Bryony.

4th Sept. We saw perhaps our final Swallow of the summer flying over a harvested Glebe Farm field.

6th Sept. We had prolonged views of a Nuthatch on our patio wall. Having fed on sunflower seeds, it explored the nooks and crannies in the wall, took a drink, then sat on the wall for more than ten minutes. This gave me time to fetch a camera and take some photographs.

8th Sept. The transition into autumn has been emphasised by the number of fungi now appearing. We spotted a group of greenish fungi growing near the Parsonage, but I could do no better than identify as of the boletus family. Pete sent me a photograph of one in his Middletown Lane lawn, but my sketchy knowledge of fungi failed to identify it.

10th Sept. We watched a number of warblers, we think we could identify Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler, chasing insects over the river at Coughton ford.

Phil J (12th September)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [August 2022]

I do love the summertime, but I miss the birdsong and activity of the breeding season. Many species are far less obvious than they were last month, although it is a treat to see Swallows and House Martins swooping and wheeling in pursuit of their insect prey.

14th July. When Greenfinch numbers have been hit so hard by disease, it was good to see six of them on our sunflower feeders.

21st July. Chris had five minutes entertainment from a Stoat as it ran in circles, jumped in the air and generally gambolled around in his Middletown Lane garden.
24th July. Pete photographed an unusual butterfly in a garden centre. I managed to identify it as a Zebra Longwing – a species of south and central America. Interesting, and presumably an escapee from a butterfly house.

1st Aug. I enjoyed a bit of a nature fest today. I had run my moth trap overnight and although I identified nothing unusual, there were several species, and it was only the second time I have seen a Black Arches moth. As I sat at the breakfast table, I noticed a Buzzard fly over and perch in a nearby tree, then a Heron flew by. On a later walk through Coughton Park we spotted a Treecreeper and a female or juvenile Blackcap (with a brown cap!). Over a field near Glebe Farm, we stopped to watch a flock of House

Martins then noticed a flock of more than 20 Goldfinches feeding on thistle seed-heads. There has been another Stoat sighting on land off Middletown Lane.

3rd Aug. I found a Speckled Bush Cricket on our front doorstep and transported it to the front border. The next day I again found one on the doorstep. I’m finding this difficult to explain.

10th Aug. Pete spotted another Red Kite passing over his Middletown Lane home.

12th Aug. Peter (from Coughton) told us that he has seen a pair of Kingfishers several times on the Arrow at or near the ford at Coughton. He also mentioned having been watching fish in the river from the bridge over the Avon in Bidford. He noticed one with unusual markings on its back which someone with knowledge of such things identified for him as a Jack Pike. I read that this is not a separate species, but a smaller example of a Pike.

13th Aug. It’s a sad reflection on this summer, but I was really thrilled to see a flock of five or six Swallows hunting above our house, with the pleasing sound of their constant twittering.

Phil J (13th August)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [July 2022]

The past month has been the month for Red Kites. The first report was from postman Richard, who saw two fly over near the Green Dragon. A day or two later we saw one flying over Perrymill Lane, then Pete reported three over his Middletown Lane home. One flew over the recreation ground as we watched the minifest evening football competition. Most remarkable were the seven seen by Ken over his Oak Tree Lane home.

13th June. Nick heard a Cuckoo calling by Coughton Park woods – the last report this year. Many Common Spotted Orchids were in the meadow by the Monarch’s Way.

15th June. I ran my moth trap overnight and attracted a Burnished Brass, Common Footman, and Heart & Dart among others. All common species and, I hasten to add, all released back into the wild.

16th June. Chris had a 6-spot Burnet Moth visit his Middletown Lane porch. 

21st June. We saw our first Marbled White butterfly by the Monarch’s Way and the first Silver-washed Fritillary in Coughton Park. A Comma visited our garden.

24th June. We were delighted to see a Hare Near Coughton Park.

26th June. As we walked the footpath behind Sambourne Hall Farm, three Swifts flew over – our first this year. Ken and Nicky (apologies if spelt incorrectly) had just seen Swifts, Swallows and House Martins by the path from Coughton. We went on to see our first Ringlet butterfly and Marbled White on this path.

1st July. As we walked along Wike Lane, a Roe Deer regarded us suspiciously from an adjacent field.

2nd July. A Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared to be feeding on ants in our lawn – an activity I normally associate with Green Woodpeckers. We had a big thrill this evening when, at dusk, we noticed a Hedgehog traversing our back lawn. This came as quite a surprise as we thought it was inaccessible in order to keep rabbits out. It has appeared every evening since. It has taken advantage of a bowl of water and we’re thinking we’d better get some Hedgehog food. Ho hum – another mouth to feed!

3rd July. A family of Crows have now become regulars in our garden – up to two adults and two begging young. Unfortunately, the adults have learnt to perch above the sunflower seed feeders and flaps their wings, causing seeds to be shaken from the feeders. My attempts at deterring them have failed miserably.

4th July. As we sat at our breakfast table, we noticed a Kite fly over. We later saw another being mobbed by a Crow over the Monarch’s Way.

12th July. We saw yet another Kite flying above the playground in Astwood Bank. 

Phil J (12th July)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [June 2022]

We’re now edging into summer and so far, Cuckoos have eluded us in Sambourne. Elizabeth and Steve have heard one from Sambourne Lane, Nick heard one near the ford at Coughton, Marjorie from Whitemoor Lane and Janet and Roger from Wike Lane. We were treated to the evocative sound of Cuckoos calling when we paid a visit to RSPB’s Dinas reserve in mid-Wales a couple of weeks ago. Our trip was to see summer visitors such as Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Wood Warblers and Tree Pipits, and for much of the time Cuckoo calls were almost continuous.

Sambourne residents continue to be keen observers of nature. Pete noticed a Garden Warbler in his Middletown Lane garden. He has been keeping an eye on nesting Buzzards close by, and his garden is regularly visited by a Tawny Owl. Janet was sad to lose a nest of Mistle Thrush chicks to a predator. Angela observed a flock of House Martins above the stream at the start of Wike Lane. Sadly, these seem to have become less common around here in recent years, so a really good sighting.

17th May. We noticed the colourful caterpillar of a Drinker Moth on the Coughton Park bridleway.

18th May. More butterflies are appearing, and we spotted a Small Copper by the footpath while heading home from Coughton.

30th May. A Brimstone Moth was active in the afternoon in the grass verge of Whitemoor Lane.

3rd June. A couple of walkers from Astwood Bank mentioned having recently seen a Weasel crossing Whitemoor Lane. They were also pleased to report having seen a Hare.

4th June. As we walked along the footpath beside Coughton Lodge Farm we heard a Yellowhammer singing from a hedgerow. We scanned through binoculars and soon saw the sulphur-yellow head of the male bird perched atop the hedge.

6th June. We noticed our first damsel fly of the year, a Beautiful Demoiselle, by a brook near Sambourne Hall Farm. Pat mentioned having recently visited Upton Warren where a number of Avocet chicks were visible.

7th June. I ran my moth trap for the first time this year. I only managed to attract one species I hadn’t seen before (a Small Magpie moth – common), but it was nice to reacquaint with the very attractive Pale Tussock and White Ermine moths.
The “Seek” app on our phone has again been useful for identifying wildflowers in the hedgerows. On today’s walk we identified three species of cranesbill – meadow, split-leaved and druce’s (all common).

10th June. A number of common spotted orchids have appeared in a meadow by the Monarch’s Way footpath.

Phil J (12th June)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [May 2022]

I’ve received some interesting reports from Oak Tree Lane residents this month. Ken mentioned that a Ring Ouzel spent a few minutes in his garden. They are summer visitors to Britain’s uplands, so presumably this one was seeking a snack while on its migration journey. He has also seen 40 or more Lesser Redpolls in the trees around his garden. Rachel and family have been aware of several of the regular garden bird species nesting around their property. A parent Song Thrush was feeding four young, and a pair of Goldcrests are thought to be nesting in leylandii. Wrens have chosen a nest site above their back door, causing the minor inconvenience of not using that door to avoid disturbing them. Disappointingly the previously regular visiting Tawny Owls and Hedgehogs have been conspicuous by their absence from the garden.

As we’ve moved further into springtime, more of our summer birds have arrived. On any walk along Wike Lane one is treated to almost continuous song from Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, but to date I have not heard or received any reports of Cuckoo calling. We’ve also seen very few Swallows so far and no House Martins.

I have read that poor weather in southern Europe has been a possible factor in slowing migration. 13th April. We heard our first Blackcaps singing in Wike Lane.
14th April. A Red-legged Partridge spent a few minutes on our patio wall.

24th April. Near Coughton Park farm we spotted two Lapwings and a Cormorant. In Coughton Park wood we noticed Speckled Wood butterflies enjoying the sunny spots and the usual carpet of bluebells was appearing. Ravens and Buzzards flew overhead.

27th April. A pair of Greylag Geese led a family of seven goslings on the pool at Coughton Lodge Farm.

29th April. As we walked along a footpath near Glebe Farm, we heard a Skylark singing. Nearby we noticed dog-walkers with their dogs running free. It would be good if people would consider the risk of their dogs disturbing ground-nesting birds and thus causing nests to be abandoned.

30th April. Our walk took us along the “Monarch’s Way” between Astwood Bank and Cookhill. A Hare ran across the path near Botany Bay nursery. A little further on we stopped to look at a colourful meadow that contained many wild flowers including cowslips and vetch. I noticed a flower spike standing above the other plants, went for a closer look and found it to be a Green-winged Orchid. I have not seen one before and, although quite widespread, they are not common, so we were quite pleased with this find.

8th May. We spotted a Holly Blue butterfly on a footpath off Sambourne Lane.

10th May. We were amused to watch an altercation between a Carrion Crow and a Squirrel over fall-out from sunflower seed feeders in our garden. The battle swayed with attack and counterattack, the Crow ending up the victor when the squirrel fled up a tree. We have learned that two Tawny owlets are being raised in a box in the village.

Phil J (12th May)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [April 2022]

The past month has brought more welcome signs of spring with a few more butterflies, flowers in the verges and woodland, and bird migration.

15th March. A Brimstone butterfly visited our garden. As we walked along Coughton Fields Lane beyond the ford we noticed Butterbur flower spikes showing in the verge, a Skylark was singing, and several Chiffchaffs could be heard. Patches of violets are now showing in the verges.

18th March. A pair of Siskins visited our garden to feed on sunflower hearts. A Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker also took advantage of our catering service.

22nd March. Near the ford at Coughton we paused to watch a selection of birds in the trees. We noted Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Treecreeper. In the early afternoon, as we waited in the grounds of Redditch Crematorium, we were surprised to see a bat (Pipistrelle?) hunting insects overhead.

23rd March. A Small White butterfly visited our garden.

24th March. On this fine sunny day Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were seen in our garden.

29th March. Three Dunnocks were posturing and displaying in our back hedge. A party of Fieldfares and Redwings landed in trees in Wike Lane.

31st March. There was a bit of excitement at breakfast time this morning when a male Brambling made a guest appearance in the garden. Later in the day as we walked the footpath from Astwood Bank to Sambourne we watched and listened to a singing Skylark.

5th April. A flock of six or so Meadow Pipits was feeding in a field by Coughton Lodge Farm.

8th April. We spotted our first Swallow of this year, perched on a power cable in Sambourne Lane.

10th April. An Orange Tip butterfly spent some time in our garden this morning – the first I’ve seen this spring. Two pristine Brimstones visited dandelion flowers in Wike Lane. We also had a close encounter with a Buzzard that flew low over us and perched in a tree close by.

11th April. In the early afternoon we paused on the railway bridge in Coughton Lane to listen to a Nuthatch calling and were surprised to see another Pipistrelle bat hunting for insects in bright sunshine.

Phil J (12th April)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [March 2022]

As we’ve moved from winter into spring, signs of the season changes have begun. Wild garlic is shooting up in the verges and blackthorn is now in flower to brighten the hedgerows. We’ve also noticed the start of the switch between winter and summer bird migrants.

18th Feb. I was pleased to see a Great Tit investigating a new nest box that I’d fitted just a few days earlier in the garden.

26th Feb. We paused in Wike Lane to listen to a flock of Siskins twittering in the trees and as we looked up, we noticed a Red Kite circling overhead.

27th Feb. After an absence of many weeks, it was good to see a Greenfinch in the garden feeding on sunflower hearts. Presumably their numbers are still being reduced by the trichomonosis disease. A Peacock butterfly settled in a sunny spot

1st Mar. A Collared Dove spent some time in the garden – the first I’ve seen here for some months. Four Greenfinches were feeding on the sunflower hearts. Later, four Siskins fed from the same feeder, but departed when a Great Spotted Woodpecker swooped onto the feeder.

4th Mar. Recent rains have caused a small pool to form in the corner of the field behind our garden and we were amused to see two Mallards take up residence there for a while. The residents of the rookery by the ford at Coughton were very active and noisy as the breeding season approaches.

5th Mar. Peter (Coughton resident) mentioned that he has seen two Little Egrets near the ford
.
7th Mar. Viewing from the footbridge over the river at Coughton we spotted three or four Chiffchaffs chasing around in the trees overhanging the river. We presume these are the first of our summer visitors. A Grey Wagtail was on the riverbank.

10th Mar. My attention was attracted by much bird chattering in an oak tree in a neighbour’s garden. Looking through my telescope I saw that it was a flock of Redwings, perhaps gathering in preparation for their return north to their breeding area.

11th Mar. A male Siskin visited our sunflower heart feeder.

12th Mar. Chiffchaffs were calling by the ford.

13th Mar. The flock of Redwings was back in the neighbour’s oak tree, chattering away.

Phil J (13th March)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Feb 2022]

13th Jan. We decided to have a change of scenery, so paid our first visit for a couple of years to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Upton Warren nature reserve. It was very cold and misty when we arrived, but the sun soon began to break though. The shallow water of the Flashes was partially frozen, so a lot of birds were just standing around, mostly Lapwings, Coots and Moorhens, and one Meadow Pipit. The deeper water of the Moors was ice-free and contained many ducks including Teal, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Shoveler and Mallard. While we were watching from a hide, we were pleased to see a female Goosander fly in and land in front of us. On the lake surround we noticed a Heron, Cormorants, and four each of Common Snipe and Curlew.

15th Jan. A Lesser Redpoll visited our garden to feed on sunflower hearts.

16th Jan. The Harris Hawk is still in the area having been seen by Christine and David as it consumed a pigeon in their Sambourne Lane garden.

17th Jan. A Fox crossed the field behind our garden.

18th Jan. Two Nuthatches visited the black sunflower seed feeder in the garden.

21st Jan. As is our normal practice, we didn’t remove the seed heads from the various perennials in our borders and were rewarded by the sight of a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on them.

25th Jan. As we walked along Wike Lane quite loud bird “chattering” attracted our attention. A large flock of Siskins was feeding in the trees alongside the lane with much contact-calling.

27th Jan. Unusually, a Dunnock fed from our sunflower heart feeder.

30th Jan. We watched the Siskin flock again in the same area. Jeannie mentioned having seen a Red Kite over Astwood Bank. I did the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and was rather disappointed by recording only thirteen species. Not many years ago there were eighteen.

3rd Feb. Adam managed to capture some video of a Jack Snipe caught in his tractor’s headlights near Studley Common. He had recently seen another locally. These are winter visitors, far from common and difficult to see.

11th Feb. Back in Wike Lane a number Lesser Redpolls had joined the flock of Siskins. We had better views of them as they flew down and drank from the ditch at the roadside. They are usually silhouettes high in the trees.

Phil J (12th February)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Dec-Jan 22]

A hard overnight frost last night reminded us that we are in the depths of winter, but there are encouraging signs of the approach of spring in the form of very obvious catkins in the hedgerows and wild arum sprouting in verges and in our garden.

16th Dec. We had a good view of a Muntjac crossing Wike Lane into the woods.

17th Dec. We heard that the Harris Hawk is still being seen around Middletown.

18th Dec. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker showed a preference for sunflower seeds rather than peanuts in our garden feeders. The remains of a Woodpigeon on our lawn suggested that a Sparrowhawk had dined there recently. Around midday a Sparrowhawk flew low over a garden and shortly afterwards we watched a Fox trotting up our drive.

22nd Dec. A Jay spent a short time in our apple tree. We’ve seen one or two Jays each time we’ve walked along Wike Lane in recent weeks.

29th Dec. Bob told us that he has been noticing Buzzards and one Red Kite over Middletown Lane.

4th Jan. A variety of strange calls attracted us to a Starling using a drainpipe on our roof as a song post. The calls included a knocking sound which the Collins field guide suggests is used by the male in the vicinity of a proposed nest site. I have a feeling it might have its eye on a gap under a roof tile.

6th Jan. A large flock of Redwings flew into a large oak tree in our neighbour’s garden.

9th Jan. As we walked towards the ford at Coughton a Little Egret flew overhead. On our walk back home, we had a fine view of a female kestrel near Station House. Chris mentioned having seen a Heron perplexed by the ice covering the pond in his Middletown Lane garden.

11th Jan. We spotted two Lesser Redpolls feeding in a birch tree in the Booking Office garden. Nearby we had another prolonged view of a female Kestrel – presumably the same one as on the 9th since it was in the same location.

12th Jan. A male Sparrowhawk perched on our fence for a couple of minutes.

Phil J (12th January)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Nov/Dec 2021]

Last month I mentioned that we had not yet seen the first winter thrush visitors. Just a few days after writing that we had our first sightings.

14th Nov. From the field footpath to Coughton we noticed a flock of Fieldfares moving from tree to tree. Mixed in with the flock were a few Redwings, with a male Yellowhammer looking rather out of place. Autumn colours seemed to be at their most vibrant on this day as evidenced by the vermilion glow of an acer in Martin and Sue’s Perrymill Lane garden.

22nd Nov. A Fieldfare visited our garden on this very cold but sunny day. It posed on the top of the back hedge, perfectly lit up by the low sun to highlight just how spectacular these birds are.

24th Nov. On an afternoon walk along the bridlepath through the woodland we came across a mixed flock of birds feeding in the birch trees. Looking through binoculars we found that the majority were Redpolls, with a smaller number of Siskins, the first we have seen of either species this autumn. We also spotted three Treecreepers and at least two Goldcrests amongst the same party. Long-tailed and Blue Tits also put in an appearance.

25th Nov. A Dunnock and a Robin found something of interest on our patio. They are common garden birds, but still nice to observe at close quarters.

9th Dec. From the field footpath to Coughton we watched a male Kestrel hovering in search of a meal – the technique that earned the species the old country name of “Windhover”. On the topic of birds of prey, I am reminded that Jeannie noticed one in her Perrymill Lane garden. From her description I think it was a male Sparrowhawk.

10th Dec. We spent several minutes watching a flock of nine Redpolls feeding in a birch tree in the garden of “Booking Office” in Sambourne Lane, Coughton.

It seems very early to be thinking about the end of January, but don’t forget the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch on the 28th-30th January 2022.

Phil J (10th December

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Oct/Nov 2021]

We have entered what can be a rather gloomy time of year, but nature can brighten our days.

13th Oct. Although most leaves are still green, I look from an upstairs window and see the first autumn golden glow in neighbours’ trees.

23rd Oct. Gail informed me that Middletown has received a surprise, and perhaps unwelcome, visitor over recent days. First there was an unexplained disappearance of a chicken from a garden. Then there were reports of a chicken-stealing Harris Hawk in Astwood Bank. Finally, it was spotted perched on a pole in Wayne and Jenny’s garden. The Harris Hawk is a native of southern United States and parts of Central and South America, but is popular in Falconry in this country.

24th Oct. As we walked along Wike Lane and into the woods we noticed a number of Jays in flight. They become quite obvious at this time of year as they seek out acorns.

We were entranced by the feature on MacGregor’s Bower Bird in David Attenborough’s “Mating Game” programme. Its mimicry of sounds including human voices was amazing and worth seeking out if you missed it.

27th Oct. Most years we have a Lawyer’s Wig fungus (Coprinus comatus) appear in our gravel drive and we spotted one today. The family is known as Ink Caps and a few days later it lived up to its name when we saw it had auto-digested into a black mess.

5th Nov. One pleasure at this time of year is encountering mixed flocks of small birds, mostly of the Tit family, feeding in the trees in Wike Lane. We stopped to watch such a party today. Later, we noticed a Nuthatch spending some time on our garden feeders.

7th Nov. We spotted a Red Admiral feeding on flowers in our garden.

9th Nov. We hear from the residents of Station House, Coughton, that their garden and pool are quite a nature reserve with visitors including a Cormorant, five pairs of Mallard, Herons, Greylag and Canada Geese, a Kingfisher, and a passing Barn Owl. They have also noticed the arrival of Fieldfares, which we have yet to see this autumn.

10th Nov. I had recently noticed that pyracantha shrubs in our garden were covered in berries, and had hopes for a visit from winter thrushes to feed. Today I realised that the berries were fast disappearing and soon saw a Blackbird wolfing them down.

11th Nov. From our back garden a Tawny Owl could be heard calling from the direction of Oak Tree Lane at dusk.

Phil J (12th November)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane October 2021

We now assume that all the summer migrant birds have headed off to their winter quarters, but we can look forward to the arrival of our winter visitors, which might include some surprises. I’ll never forget my mother telling me she could see a red bird in our back hedgerow. I dubiously scanned through binoculars and to my astonishment saw a male Crossbill. Let’s hope!

18th Sept. As we walked through the woods on this warm, sunny afternoon we were treated to a cacophony of Raven calls and the sight of a pair of them in flight. Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies were on the wing. When we returned into Perrymill Lane a neighbour pointed to a Roe Deer that was trotting down the lane and across front gardens.

19th Sept. Keeping this log ensures that I’m more observant than I otherwise would be, so I had a browse around the garden borders on this sunny morning. Sedum flowers were alive with bees and tiny hover flies – none did I manage to identify. I photographed a Shield Bug and was amazed by the markings when viewed up close.

21st Sept. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drew my attention to the fact that the peanut feeder was empty by trying unsuccessfully to land on the sunflower hearts.

22nd Sept. A Devil’s Coach Horse beetle was an unexpected house guest this morning. On an afternoon walk along Wike Lane we came across a mixed flock of feeding birds including several Goldcrests with Coal, Great and Blue Tits.

4th Oct. We were surprised to see a Grey Wagtail perched on a gate at the roadside in Wike Lane, the brightness of the lemon-yellow underside suggesting it was a male. We then had a brief glimpse across the field of a wading birds. From the overall shape and the distinct white rump, we concluded that it must have been a Redshank – not a place I would expect to see one, so we assume it was just breaking its journey to more appropriate habitat.

9th Oct. The sunny afternoon brought a Brimstone butterfly into the garden.

10th Oct. I had perhaps the last run of our moth trap this autumn. Not many were attracted this time, but I did find our first Dark Chestnut moth and a first Caddis Fly.

Phil J (13th October)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane - August/September 2021

A problem knee curtailed my activities in the early part of August, but we did manage to start walking again later in the month.

23rd Aug. In the evening a stag and a doe Roe Deer were standing in a field of wheat by the footpath to Coughton. On our return walk I noticed a deceased, but externally undamaged, rodent on the path. I tried the “Seek” app on our smartphone and that confirmed it to be a Bank Vole. These common animals form a significant part of the diet of Owls and Kestrels.

21st Aug. On this warm day there was an eruption of flying ants, which did not go unnoticed by a Green Woodpecker that used our neighbour’s pergola as a perch from which to observe our garden for the best source of ants.

25th Aug. I tried another run of the moth trap and caught many Large Yellow Underwings, Common Wainscots and a Setaceous Hebrew Character. The last named sounds exotic, but as with the others is a common moth. On a walk through the woods, we noticed two pairs of Fallow Deer and some attractive patches of Common Heather in flower.

28th Aug. An afternoon walk in the woods started well with a Fallow Deer then a multitude of Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper butterflies. We were then quite surprised to see a couple of Willow Warblers seeking their insect prey at ground level instead of in the tree canopy as usual. As we watched them our attention was attracted by movement above, which we found to be a party of four Spotted Flycatchers performing their graceful aerial feeding manoeuvres.

2nd Sept. We noticed a rather attractive patch of greenish fungi which the app “Seek” identified as a member of the Boletus family.

5th Sept. Many Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies were visiting the buddleia flowers and a Brimstone also appeared in the garden.

10th Sept. Three Nuthatches appeared on our patio – a family group perhaps. They then took it in turns to feed on black sunflower seeds. It was a treat to see such attractive little birds at close quarters.

Phil J (12th September)

Nature jottings from Perrymill Lane [Nov/Dec 2021]

Last month I mentioned that we had not yet seen the first winter thrush visitors. Just a few days after writing that we had our first sightings.

14th Nov. From the field footpath to Coughton we noticed a flock of Fieldfares moving from tree to tree. Mixed in with the flock were a few Redwings, with a male Yellowhammer looking rather out of place. Autumn colours seemed to be at their most vibrant on this day as evidenced by the vermilion glow of an acer in Martin and Sue’s Perrymill Lane garden.

22nd Nov. A Fieldfare visited our garden on this very cold but sunny day. It posed on the top of the back hedge, perfectly lit up by the low sun to highlight just how spectacular these birds are.

24th Nov. On an afternoon walk along the bridlepath through the woodland we came across a mixed flock of birds feeding in the birch trees. Looking through binoculars we found that the majority were Redpolls, with a smaller number of Siskins, the first we have seen of either species this autumn. We also spotted three Treecreepers and at least two Goldcrests amongst the same party. Long-tailed and Blue Tits also put in an appearance.

25th Nov. A Dunnock and a Robin found something of interest on our patio. They are common garden birds, but still nice to observe at close quarters.

9th Dec. From the field footpath to Coughton we watched a male Kestrel hovering in search of a meal – the technique that earned the species the old country name of “Windhover”. On the topic of birds of prey, I am reminded that Jeannie noticed one in her Perrymill Lane garden. From her description I think it was a male Sparrowhawk.

10th Dec. We spent several minutes watching a flock of nine Redpolls feeding in a birch tree in the garden of “Booking Office” in Sambourne Lane, Coughton.

It seems very early to be thinking about the end of January, but don’t forget the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch on the 28th-30th January 2022.

Phil J (10th December)