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Wildlife Reports for November 2004
Andy Goodey saw a Common Redstart by the Flitch Way Centre at the end of September and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth flying round the light bulb in their dining room. Not the normal place to see one looking for nectar. As I have reported before this is a migrant but in recent years, eggs and larvae have been found and one assumes pupa and adults produced in this country. But I know of no over wintering reports yet. If our climate continues to become milder then it may become another breeding addition to our wildlife.Mark Giles walking past Greenacres, Shalford Road had a badger trotting down the road only feet in front of him one evening. There is a regular crossing point for a badger track near Greenacres, which then carries on to the School playing field. I have also seen badgers here snuffling along the road gutter picking up worms. Badgers continue to use their tracks no matter what humans may try to erect on them. Put up a fence and they will go through or under it as I have found out and only buildings seem to stop them. They certainly never use the badger flaps I have provided for them.
Elizabeth Miller and her son at Duckend Green watched a badger one afternoon cross Shalford Road by the allotments. It is unusual for badgers to be seen in daylight and I suspect it had been disturbed from its sett. I know of inexperienced rabbit ferreters that have had Foxes and Badgers run through their nets. It is surprising a Badger would be bolted from a sett as it could easily deal with any ferret.
Hugh Walker Brunwin Road, has had a Grey Squirrel burying walnuts in a flower tub in the garden. Does anyone in the Parish ever harvest a walnut or cobnut before the squirrels make off with them? He also had a Dragonfly flying in October. Though this is late for some species, a Migrant Hawker (now breeding widely in England) was recorded in Essex last year on 13th November. It is very easy to blame this on climate warming but with Dragonflies there is considerable variation in first and last dates seen. This is due to normal varations in the weather. Though with birds there does now seem to be a trend for migratory birds to arrive earlier and in some cases to leave these shores later.
Mrs. Delderfield had a Collared Dove that had apparently fallen from its nest before fledging, in November, which she was feeding in the garden. The parents will not feed the young once they leave the nest but the remaining bird will be if it stays put. The danger for the youngster on the ground will be from cats, foxes or any passing badger.
Robert Bucknell saw a Barn Owl sitting on one of the gateposts to Pound Farm barns, Shalford Road. He has seen Wheatears on the airstrip at Andrewsfield, Gt. Saling; and Buzzards on his farm, which adjoins Rayne. A buzzard was killed when it hit the power lines at Bluegate Hall, Bardfield.
Two Red Deer have been reported on the Parish boundary and about twenty Fallow came out of a wood also on our boundary. A neighbouring Parish had Seventy Fallow emerge from one wood. I cannot report the location of these last reports because of the widespread, illegal use of Longdogs chasing deer in the area.
Syl has just had a Kingfisher fly over her head as she was weeding by our pond; it was probably after the Sticklebacks.
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