SP5595ish - First Foray

Today dawned bright and early. For some I'm sure at least; for me there was no intention of getting up at the crack of dawn as an evening on large whiskies and the constraint of a bi-daily visit from the District Nurse meant I was going nowhere early anyway. By the time I looked out into the garden, it was evident that the clear cold skies that prevailed into the night at the end of 2020 had been replaced by dank grey clag. I whiled away some time watching the garden feeders, and after the nurse had been I got ready to head out for a walk down the lane. I was not intending too go all out crawling through the undergrowth - I can't anyway as I'm still a physically restricted with regards to bending over (getting my boots on and laced up without help was a milestone!). I had my bins, P900, phone and dictaphone.

It remained steadfastly grey, in fact the conditions only worsened whilst I was out for a couple of hours. Before hitting the lane, I'd already picked up a fair number of plants heading out of the estate including some obvious escapes: Mahonia, Lesser Periwinkle, Sowbread, Buddleija, Spotted Medick and these ....

Purple Toadflax

Spotted Dead-nettle

Italian Lords-and-Ladies

In total I managed to record a modest 46 vascular plants. This includes trees, plants identifiable from their leaves or fruit and a handful of flowering plants. I clearly saw a lot more than 46 species; there are plenty to come as they develop and I can spend more time focussing on them.

I completely ignored any invertebrate life. Between the garden and walking about I saw 25 bird species and 1 mammal (the resident garden Squirrels). There were no avian surprises, and the light was shocking but that didn't stop me pointing the camera at a few to garner some rubbish photos.

Common Buzzard

Fieldfare - at least 60 feeding across a couple of fields

Redwing - only around 10 of these with Fieldfare

Common Gull - with camera pointing through a hedge giving the weird vignetting effect

With 4 fungi, 2 lichens and a moss noted, I've ended up on 79sp. - not bad for a couple of hours in dull and uninspiring conditions. By the time I was heading back up the lane to home a steady drizzle had set in.

Fieldfare

In most years I'll see both Fieldfare and Redwing around the garden - either in the trees briefly perched, feeding on the adjacent embankment or just passing over. Up till now I've had very few ever actually come down into the garden to feed. So in that sense I was pleased to see a lone Fieldfare in the garden this morning, and grabbed a few gainy shots in the early morning gloom through the windows. I was also pleased to see it feeding up, but this also brought home how hard it is in these recent conditions for some species that are much more likely to forage naturally than the garden tits and finches that come in all weathers. I was less pleased though to see the bullying tactics it used to stop everything else feeding!

Farely Chuffed

Yesterday I felt a bit crap, today I feel positively shite. I thought a bit of fresh air would be a good move to clear my aching head. It wasn't, and now I sound like I've had a bastard file rubbed over me tonsils.

I nipped over to Watermead CP South with absolutely nothing in mind. As I ambled about, I noticed a Fieldfare along the edge of some scrub and hopefully made toward it with the camera. All fieldcraft went to shit when there was a sudden loud blast of Rockit by Herbie Hancock - I really should change my ring-tone. It was a call from work, and all though the five minutes of work-related importance I kept my eye on the Fieldfare which, miraculously, was still knocking about and was now perched on a dead-log at ground level sunning its back. Phone call done and I edged close enough to fire off a couple of shots - not the best Fieldfare shots you'll ever see but certainly the best I've ever taken ....

Otherwise nothing interesting there bird-wise, but I noted a couple of things that stood out from the browns and greens.

Butterbur

Winter Aconite

The only other interesting bird noted today was down the lane as I drove back from dropping Isabelle off in Lutterworth. A Little Owl was prominently sat out on the previously regular tree. Hopefully it's one of the pair that was resident for a long while until evicted by Jackdaws last year, though I guess it could be a completely new bird moving into an uncontested territory. Owl-man Paul Riddle will no doubt work it out.

After posting the photos yesterday from the brief Ulverscroft mothing session, I forgot to mention my garden records for the same night (Thursday) when I ran both the Synergetic and an MV. That's probably because the catch was so instantly forgettable. Compelete rubbish considering the conditions, with just 2 of 2sp. - both in the Synergetic (the MV blanked).

0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1

Last night I ran no traps and scored just as many moths at lit windows:

0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1

I also forgot to mention that Ulverscroft was alive with Tawny Owls - I reckon at least 3 pairs within earshot including one very vocal and close pair to where we based ourselves. I also photographed some other stuff on tree trunks whilst we were there, which I think are:

Common Shiny Woodlouse

Lehmannia marginata

Time for some medicinal malt with ginger and a hot spicy curry from the local take-away - that should sort out my aching body and rasping throat!!

Perfect Antidote

It's been one of those weeks at work that, quite frankly, drive you round the bend and make you crave for an easier life. Today, the effect was exacerbated by the glorious blue skies and bright sunshine on show outside of the windows .....

Thankfully, I was able to leave work at 16:20 and head for home through the still-pants traffic as our main local route is still closed. I got myself sorted out and headed down the lane for some respite. Big groups of wintering thrushes still knocking about, with c160 Fieldfare + c40 Redwings today in one field. They seem very flighty lately though - they are up and off into tree-tops even when you are some way off.

A couple of Common Buzzards were on show, wheeling about in the clear blue. Whilst watching these I heard again a calling Yellowhammer - excellent. I eventually picked it up along one of the hedgerows running into the field - amazing how hard a bright yellow bird can be to see. I carried on, keeping an eye on the grassy verges for anything flowering and eventually found a few clumps of Common Field-speedwell - down in the shade of the hedgerow though so I'll try and get shots another day.

I carried on across the main A426 and and down the other lane towards Whetstone Gorse. Plenty of Red-legged Partirdges about, all seemingly in pairs. There it was again - calling Yellowhammer. And another! I loitered around the PYO farm and eventually saw or heard at least four different birds calling or singing. Managed to get a record shot, not the best but as the saying goes 'slowly, slowly catchee Yellowhammer' - I'll get a better one sooner or later.

Whilst stalking this bird, I heard another welcome sound - singing Skylark overhead for this first time this year. Great stuff. Lots of singing Blackbirds, Robins and Dunnocks along the lanes aswell, and plenty of pairs of Blue and Great Tits evident. By now the light was fading fast and it was getting chilly .....

To the east - bad moon rising

To the west - land of the setting sun

Probably not worth getting the traps out then

As I headed home, the resident Little Owls were brazenly sitting out. I watched them for a bit but there's only so much watching a motionless blob you can do.