Wildlife Report for January 2006

It always surprises me that at this time of the year most of the parish wildlife suddenly appears.  Thank you all for the large number of reports for the last month I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that many of you had a long holiday break over Christmas.  We may live in a rural parish surrounded by mainly arable land and concrete but we still have a varied flora and fauna though many of the reports this month refer to our birds.

Ken Fisher, Fairy Hall Lane identified a Fieldfare on his neighbours Apple tree, Holly Bush and Pyracantha.  Many birders will say we see them every year at this time but Ken is a ‘fledgling’ birder and I hope he identifies many more birds from his new RSPB bird book.  In a subsequent report he described how 4 Blackbirds dealt with the remaining berries on the extremities of the Pyracantha branches.  They did vertical take offs from the ground and grabbed a berry before returning to the ground.  I have also watched Blackbirds using this technique where the branches are too thin to support them.  Ken also sent me a good species list for the Christmas holiday.
Mark Giles saw a badger on Rayne Hall Green one evening this is the second sighting this autumn on the green.
Colin Kerr, Mounts Farm had Bee-Flies this autumn on a potted Hibiscus.  This insect is in fact a fly but looks like a bee and has a very long proboscis to reach the nectar in flowers.  It appears to be hovering while feeding but actually holds onto the flower with its front feet while the proboscis is inserted in the flower’s corolla.
Bob Chisholm Gore Road had up to twelve Goldfinches on his Niger feeder, I am still waiting for Bob’s full report.

Andy Goodey has sent me the results of the Common Bird Survey along the Flitch Way he carries out for the BTO. From 10 visits he found 33 species, the most common was the Wren followed by Robin, Dunnock and Blackbird but Andy was surprised not to find any Magpies.
Adrian Hastings, Kidder Road found the most interesting bird of the month a Red Kite.  It was seen flying and roosting in the Pods Brook valley and could be viewed from Shalford Road north of Mounts Farm.  He first saw it on the 27th Dec. and again on the 29th Dec. and when he logged the sighting on the Birdguides.com website there was already a sighting logged for the 19th Dec.  in the same area.  Andy Goodey had a record of a Red Kite flying over his garden in 1998 but this is the first one to ‘roost’ in the parish.  The Buzzards are still being seen in this area and over the border into Saling.
Barry Mouser on the 28th reported a Kingfisher on Pods Brook between the Sunlido fishing lakes and the pumping station, 3 Meadow Pipits amongst 30 - 40 Pied Wagtails on the filter beds at the sewage works and three sightings of Bullfinches a total of 28 species during a 2 hour walk.  Barry also later reported a Blackcap in his garden which was eventually chased off by a belligerent Robin.

David Whiteside had 6 Redwings on their variegated holly on the 1st Jan. most years the holly berries are cleared in November unless you have an unpalatable variety.
Allan Spooner had 4 Goldfinches on his two feeders with sixteen queuing.  He sent me a picture, his feeders only have 4 feeding holes.
Phil Monk had a Siskin on their nut feeder, I have yet to see one this year in the parish.  He also sent me a list of the maximum number of a species seen at any one time in his garden over the holiday.  The most notetable were 13 Blackbirds, 22 House sparrows, 15 Starlings, 12 Chaffinches and 10 Greenfinches.
Anonymous School Road described the behaviour of two owls, almost certainly Tawny’s, which were seen in the early hours of the morning flying from one tree to another, they were calling to each other with squeaks and a rolling call.  This was certainly pair bonding as owls are very early nesters.  The Tawny will nest in February though more often March and lays 2 - 4 eggs at 2 - 3 day intervals.  If food is scarce fewer young will survive to fledging.  This reporter wished to remain anonymous, as they were probably worried that they would be inundated with Owls if this location were advertised.

Trevor Rippingale, Dunmow Road, had a rare visit for him of 2 Goldfinches and saw a spectacular kill by a Sparrow Hawk of a Blackbird in his front garden.  The Hawk then flew off with its kill to the old Rookery by the Flitch Way.  He also has a Great Spotted Woodpecker excavating holes in a cherry tree, a potential nest site?
Neville Walker, Brunwin Road, had 4 Goldfinches feeding on dead Lavender heads in his garden.  Keen gardeners please note do not dead head everything till the spring, lazy gardeners now have a legitimate excuse to do nothing.  I have never seen Goldfinches feeding on lavender as in our garden the Short Tailed Voles nip off the seed heads and carry them back to their holes.
I have no room for my own reports but to maintain marital harmony I will give one from Syl.  She heard her first Song Thrush singing its spring repertoire on 8th Jan. in New Road and one started later in the day in our own garden.  This one started with a part song but by later in the afternoon had nearly perfected its full repertoire.

Roger Jiggins 01376 324 311   email, r.jiggins@btconnect.com