A move to Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire

Posted on 19th April 2018 by Richard

After nearly 18 years down the Lane I have upsticked and moved to Bishop’s Waltham in Hampshire; closer to the family, turned 70 with parts of my body not doing what they’re supposed to be doing so well out in the Garden etc!!
A comfortable Flat and very close to two Reserves and a short drive to the River Hamble Estuary, Titchfield and the New Forest.

Young Mallards on the march

Yesterday was my first day having a couple of good walks around and about.
First, a walk takes me 200 meters down the Road to a footpath which was once the railway line. This carries on for about 500 meters then footpaths through Farmland, fields, woodland and finishing up on the Playing Fields behind me.
There’s also a couple of nice streams running along nicely shaded glens.

Sparrowhawk – Nuthatch – Speckled Wood

The second walk is at Claylands Reserve, about a 400 meter walk away. This one’s a bit hilly but gives a nice vista, a few fields and a boggy base.

Certainly a lot to look forward to.

Bullfinch

Spring has Sprung

After the cold weather with much rain of late, it’s suddenly got silly. From single figures last week, it’s now in the low 20’s.
This certainly seems to have woken things up a bit with many Summer birds turning up and loads of Butterflies darting around all over the place.
As well as the two photos show, I saw Orange Tips, Large / Small Whites, Peacocks and a plentiful number of large Brimstones.

Comma

Next plan of action is to have a good look round ground level for any Owl Pellets and Hedgehog poos.
It certainly seems good countryside for predators and I’ve already seen Sparrowhawks, Common Buzzards plus I understand that Red Kites pay regular visits.

The future is bright as they say!

Sparrowhawk strikes twice

Posted on 1st November 2017 by Richard

Fast, efficient and beautiful, the Sparrowhawk

Only the other day I said to someone how I hadn’t seen a Sparrowhawk thus far this year.
Mid evening yesterday, about 7.45pm with light almost gone, I walked out the back door to see something in the corner of my eye.

No more than six feet away was a Sparrowhawk with a Pigeon, having a right meal and determined not to be interrupted by my presence.
After about 10 minutes it took off with the remains of the Pigeon still in it’s mouth.

Low and behold the following morning I was walking back up the Lane after a quick stroll around the field with my Camera and right in the middle of the Lane there it was again, with another Pigeon.
Once more it wasn’t put off with me being there, except it did drag it’s prey over to the Dustbin and continued with it’s meal there.

It’s a hard one this one; one side of you feels sorry for the prey if it be a Pigeon or Blue Tit, but the Sparrowhawk is a magnificent creature and after all, it can’t pop down to the Supermarket to get it’s food, it’s self sufficient, but luckily for it’s survival, a finely tuned Predator.

The good news for the smaller birds around here is there is an ample supply of Pigeons residing in the derelict Windmill and around the Wood opposite, I remember last year when the surrounds of the woods were covered in carcasses and feathers.

One thing I have done to steer them away from the Garden Birds is to place my feeders in such a position that a Sparrowhawk can’t do any low level mor horizontal attacks, which they’re good at.

A beautiful bird.
[fblike]

Garden Wildlife early June

Posted on 11th June 2017 by Richard

I’m unsure how much wildlife and nature watching I’ll be doing in June. On the 13th (hopefully not unlucky) I’m in Hospital for an operation and by what I hear, June will be a month where I’m confined to Barracks.
However, a good opportunity to really watch what’s what around the Garden, so all is not lost.

Painted LadyAt present it’s the time of new birth; Sparrows, Tits, Wrens and Blackbirds, the Garden is heaving with youngsters getting to know the ropes of survival, busying themselves fetching food with the occasional punch up on the way!

Fledged Wren – Young Blue Tit – Young Long Tailed TitHighlights thus far have been finding a Grass Snake under one of the rubber mats I put down plus an enormous Painted Lady which sat and posed rather nicely for me.
Last year I only saw one Painted Lady, that being at Samphire Hoe, so I’m hoping for more. Magical Butterflies and a wonder they fly from North Africa to here.

Parent and young Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Parent and recently fledged Greater Spotted WoodpeckersOur Fox is still visiting daily and has had four Cubs. Regretably she hasn’t brought them up to show us yet, but they have been observed playing on the field below early mornings.
Being she has had a dodgy rear leg for quite some time we’re still feeding her. The Jam Sandwiches and Cat Food seem to be the winners for her, she’ll pick up a few and march off to give to her young, returning some minutes later for some more.
Interestingly, she feeds them first.

Speckled Wood – Ladybird Larvae – SparrowhawkA bit worrying when I was just outside the door and a huge pannicky rustle came from the nearby Laurel Bush, a Sparrowhawk.
Always a pity when a small bird gets snatched but it’s the old ‘I know an old lady who swallowed a fly’ scenario. Every creature has to live and all part of the chain.

The only other slightly worrying thing is the Invasive Ladybird and there’s quite a few Larvae in amongst the Stinging Nettles. The only good thing I suppose is they may eat any Aphids around my Vegetable Plants !

[fblike]

Dungeness end of July

Posted on 29th July 2016 by Richard

I love Mountains, hills, valleys and rivers, but there’s something aout Dungeness that never ceases to give me pleasure both in scenery and wildlife.
Now at the end of July virtually every meadow plant and flower is in full swing and today, I don’t think I have ever seen so many Butterflies, Dragon Flies and other Invertebrates.

After an hour sitting on the Beach at ‘The Patch’ patiently waiting for a Seal to appear but never did, I made my way up to the RSPB Reserve.
Bird wise it’s a very quiet time of the year but as always, something comes along, mainly by luck, seldom through judgement.

First on the Agenda was a Sparrowhawk flying overhead at the ARC Viewing Point, it was only when I got home and viewed my picture full size I realised it was holding it’s Prey. What, I’m unsure but from what appears to be a yellowish beak I’d say either a Blackbird or possibly a baby Coot.

Some of the Flora – Mother with Juvenile Coot – Sand Martin

Never challenge was to photograph a Sand Martin. Not knowing where they’re actually nsting my only hope was to catch one flying. I think I probably took 50 photos in hope that one may be any good, even show the bird at all!
I managed one.

Common Blue

The only other sightings were some Gadwalls, Mallards, 2 Marsh Harriers seemingly hunting together and a few flashes of a small bird passing me by.
But it was a pleasant day starting off with blue skies and quite hot but by 11.00am somewhat windy.
I knew then I should have done the Reserve first and the Beach second, this though is another learning curve and I shall study the forecast a little better next time!

Wildlife Diary

Recording wild life through the year around Hampshire, Kent and elsewhere

Tag Archives: Sparrowhawk