I have had a large number of reports from parishioners with very long lists of species seen.  Please forgive me if I have not reported all your sightings as they would have filled most of the magazine.
Roger Martin heard his first Cuckoo on the 12^th March the same day as I did, this was probably the same bird, it was only heard on a few further occasions.  Roger also reported a Blackcap on 5^th April and a Chiffchaff on the 7^th followed by a Whitethroat on the 30^th.
Stephen Mason also heard a Cuckoo by the Rookery ponds on the Flitch Way.

Andrew Goodey saw a Spotted Flycatcher at the junction between Shalford Road and Pods Lane and a singing Garden Warbler in the garden next to Waveney, School Road.  We had a Spotted Flycatcher in our garden at Goulds but only had the one sighting.  They used to nest regularly near my office which was a continuing distraction.  Andy has found Bee Orchids growing in the setaside near the Flitchway Way in an area of short grass.  It does show that land taken out of agriculture will eventually provide a good floral habitat.  Andy also had a Turtle Dove in the same area.

Trevor Rippingale, Dunmow Road has two Muntjac Deer that have taken up residence in his garden which will please his nearby neighbour Kings Tree Nursery.  Trevor also has regular visits from Green and Great Spotted woodpeckers and Red Legged Partridges.

Celia Murton has nest box of Blue and two boxes of Great Tits that have or are about to fledge.  Celia also has a visiting Jay and a pair of Magpies both of which are inveterate thieves of both eggs and young birds.  They may not be able to raid nest boxes but once the young leave the nest they will attack the young on the ground.  Celia also describes a Jay attacking one of the adult Great Tits unsuccessfully.  Celia also has Jackdaws, Crows, Greenfinches, Robins, House Sparrows, Dunnocks and a flock of 40 Starlings in the garden which show how successful garden feeding can be.  Celia had a Wren build a nest that was not used but males usually build several nests to attract a female who then decides which one to use.  Being a female she is usually very selective so there are always many unused nests.

Peter Lane Brunwin Road has Large Red Damselflies on his pond, this is a species first reported in the Parish only three years ago that continues to spread.
Neville Walker, a near neighbour of Peter also has Large Reds together with the more widespread Common Blue.  He also has 10 Goldfinches, 12 Collared Doves, Starlings, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, House Sparrows and Great and Blue Tits.  He has also had a male Lime Hawk Moth which is the first I have recorded for Rayne.  The female which can reach to over 70mm wingspan is not so bright green.

Ralph Buxton driving down Gore Road by the Village Hall saw a Waxwing.
Sheila Pilgrim has seen a young Song Thrush in the garden and a long list of bird species.  It's good to know that thrushes are fledging young as it often appears to me that they are not very successful in rearing offspring, are predators taking their toll.
Beryl Whiteside makes the comment that there appears to be a shortage of natural food this spring as she has recorded a large number of species including young feeding in their garden.  They have a nest of Wrens in ivy and honeysuckle that is growing on a trellis.  We have several Tit nests and it appears they are unlikely to fledge many young which indicates that parents are finding it difficult to provide enough natural food for their growing offspring.  If the parents are short of food they will feed only their strongest babies and the weakest will starve.  This does help the possible survival of the strongest.
Dennis Taylor has also had a Jay in his garden, though attractive to watch it is another predator for other birds to beware.

I watched a Pied Wagtail patrolling the bank of our lagoon and every so often flying out and taking dragonfly larva from the vegetation growing in the water.  It then carried these to its nestlings.  In one of our small ponds I watched many Great Crested and Smoot Newts lounging motionless about 150mm down in the water apparently enjoying the warmth of the sun.  I also saw a meter long grass snake in the same pond so we now probably have a few less tadpoles and newts.  I have to admit I caught the snake so I do know how long it was.  I cannot resist my childhood instincts but it did get its own back by exuding a foul smell over my hands.  We also have adult snakes in our compost heap and so does our neighbour Veronica Pollit.

Roger Jiggins Tel. 01376 324 311, email mailto:r.jiggins@btconnect.com (please put Wildlife as the subject)