Wildlife sightings in Sambourne
Mid-March 2024 to mid-April 2024
The weather has been mostly wet and cool, but springtime has progressed as usual, with more birds arriving for their summer sojourn with us.
13th March. The Goosanders were still present by the ford in Coughton. We noticed a pair of Mallards in the flooded ditch along Wike Lane. A flock of thirty or so Redwings were in trees behind our garden, perhaps gathering for their journey back to Scandinavia.
17th March. From its behaviour, I think a Robin has a nest in a leylandii in our garden.
18th March. From our back garden we heard our first Chiffchaff of the year calling. A Brimstone and a Peacock butterfly were in the garden.
20th March. Chiffchaffs were calling loud and clear in Wike Lane.
21st March. Pete spotted Siskins and Lesser Redpolls from the hide at Hillers farm shop. We noticed a Roe Deer with a leg stuck in the top of a fence in Wike Lane. Fortunately, Janet and Roger came to its rescue and were able to free it.
23rd March. Our neighbour’s nest box would seem to be occupied by Blue Tits.
24th March. A coal Tit visited our sunflower hearts feeder.
26th March. Rachel saw a Weasel running across Oak Tree Lane – the first she’s seen and an unusual sighting. She also noticed a Red Kite flying over her garden.
27th March. Wild garlic was in bud and pussy willow in full flower in Wike Lane. Horse chestnut flower spikes were evident in Coughton Fields Lane.
29th March. A flock of about fifteen Siskins plundered our seed feeders. They wouldn’t stay still to be counted, so there might have been more. They were joined by Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, and a Lesser Redpoll.
Fiona was watching host of small birds in her garden on the village green when they were spooked by a Sparrowhawk. We heard our first Blackcap singing in Wike Lane.
31st March. Harrison informed us of a Mistle Thrush in his Perrymill Lane garden. His mum Natasha had identified it.
2nd April. Nine Fallow Deer grazed in a field off Wike Lane.
We had the unusual sight of a Song Thrush seeking food on our lawn, perhaps gathering it to feed nestlings.
5th April. Roy informed me that his Sambourne Lane neighbour had noticed a Brambling in his garden. I’ve failed to spot one this past winter.
6th April. We saw and heard the song of a Willow Warbler in Wike Lane. On our 30-minute walk from Coughton to Sambourne our phone app “Merlin” identified the calls of twenty-two different bird species. We heard two more that Merlin didn’t.
9th April. Chris’s Middletown Lane garden has been visited by Red-legged Partridges after an absence of several years.
11th April. Some warm sunshine brought a Peacock and an Orange-tip butterfly into our garden. Pete photographed an unusual spider in his Middletown Lane garden. My garden wildlife book and the “Seek” app identified it as a Nursery Web spider.
13th April. We walked to Coughton Court and beyond to their woodland trail. The bluebells looked to be at their peak, providing a lovely sight and fragrance.
Mid-February 2024 to mid-March 2024
Despite the uninspiring weather of late there are some real signs of spring around us, including willow catkins turning yellow with pollen and hawthorn sprouting leaves.
13th Feb. It was pleasing to see a male and a female Siskin on our sunflower heart feeder. I was amused by the behaviour of a couple of cock Pheasants keeping pace with one another while running along either side of our back garden hedge.
20th Feb. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming loudly in our neighbour’s garden this morning.
21st Feb. A large flock of Redwings arrived in an oak tree outside our garden.
22nd Feb. Four Siskins and two Redpolls squeezed into our sunflower heart feeder.
24th Feb. John and Pat saw two Red Kites overhead as they walked along Wike Lane.
25th Feb. Roy has found frogspawn in his Whitemoor Lane garden pond.
28th Feb. At breakfast time a flock of twenty or more Goldfinches and Siskins arrived at our apple tree to visit the feeders. Chris has noticed a pair of Stock Doves in his Middletown Lane garden.
29th Feb. Two Siskins and two Redpolls visited the garden feeders.
2nd Mar. A few Canada Geese grazed in the field behind us for the first time that we’ve noticed.
5th March. Our walk to the ford at Coughton was rewarded with the sight of a male and a female Goosander relaxing on an island in the river Arrow. These are quite striking ducks, with red bills and red legs. A Grey Wagtail landed close by.
6th March. The Goosanders were in the same place but accompanied by a Heron.
7th March. As we walked along Middletown Lane we enjoyed the song of Skylarks from the fields on both sides of the lane.
9th March. A Little Egret occupied the island where we had seen the Goosanders. We noticed our first Chiffchaff of the spring flitting around the branches of a tree overhanging the river.
10th March. A Greenfinch briefly visited the garden – the first I’ve seen here for several months. Pete mentioned having seen a Red Kite and a Raven flying over his Middletown Lane garden.
12th March. Sue noticed a small furry caterpillar on the frame of our patio door. The “Seek” app identified it as a Ruby Tiger moth larva. I have previously attracted adult Ruby Tigers to my moth trap.
Finally, a gentle reminder that it is good nature-friendly practice to not allow dogs to run through crops or through woodland undergrowth in springtime. Ground-nesting birds will abandon nests when disturbed by dogs.
Mid-January 2024 to mid-February 2024
There is still time for more winter weather,
14th Jan. Paul and Gail mentioned having counted up to fifteen Pheasants and noticed occasional deer in the field opposite their Middletown home.
16th Jan. A Great Tit showed interest in the nest box in our front garden.
17th Jan. A flock of Redwings was busy feeding in a field off Oak Tree Lane where horses had disturbed the surface.
18th Jan. After the coldest night of the winter, postman Richard spotted a butterfly (species unknown) on our porch.
20th Jan. We walked part of the Coughton Park bridleway but were turned back by the quagmire. We were rewarded with views of a Goldcrest.
21st Jan. A male Lesser Redpoll arrived to feed on our sunflower hearts and
Pete reported having seen about one hundred Lapwings near the lake in Wike Lane, and five Pied Wagtails on his Middletown Lane patio.
22nd Jan. Redpoll numbers visiting the sunflower hearts have risen to two males and two females. A Fox trotted purposefully across the field behind us about mid-day, and two Stock Doves were feeding in our garden.24th Jan. I spotted the first Siskin visiting our garden this winter. Angela (and Freddie) noticed thirty Roe Deer (probably) and one Muntjac in the woods.
27th Jan. I counted fifteen species for the RSPB bird count and was pleased that five Redpolls put in an appearance.
28th Jan. We had excellent prolonged views of a Kingfisher from the footbridge by the ford at Coughton.
29th Jan. Through the telescope we observed a Mistle Thrush near some Redwings behind our garden and noted how much larger is the Mistle Thrush.
7th Feb. From his Middletown Lane home Chris has been observing Crows and Rooks preparing for the breeding season, a Sparrowhawk on the greenhouse ridge, and has heard Tawny Owl calls at night.
8th Feb. At 10am there was a real frenzy of small bird feeding activity in our garden.
Mid-December 2023 to mid-January 2024
The shortest day was three weeks ago, some snowdrops, primroses and daffodils are flowering, but the weather is cold, so it’s a bit to early to start talking about spring.
19th - 24th Dec. Pete has been busy spotting up to three Red Kites on three occasions between Hillers farm shop and Sambourne.
20th Dec. We spotted a Mistle Thrush perched in a tree beside Wike Lane. We rarely see one these days.
Long-tailed Tit - LoveGardenBirds
Blue Tit - RSPB
Great Tit - RSPB
31st Dec. A small party of Long-tailed Tits joined the Blue and Great Tits feeding on our sunflower seeds.
1st Jan. A male Pheasant has taken up residence in our garden, taking advantage of the fallout from the small birds on the seed feeders.
2nd Jan. I noticed that about one hundred Starlings gather in trees across the field behind us and drop to the ground en masse to search for invertebrates.
3rd Jan. At 9am a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming loudly in a tree near our garden.
8th Jan. A few Redwings were mixed in with the flock of Starlings perched in the tree across the field. The woodpecker was drumming again and we were pleased to see a Greenfinch among the many Goldfinches visiting our seed feeders.
10th Jan. Having seen no Chaffinches in our garden for many months, I noticed two females below our feeders.
11th Jan. We had great views of a mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings in a field off Sambourne Lane near the cricket club.
12th Jan. On a morning visit to the Upton Warren nature reserve, we saw 100+ Lapwings, one Curlew, a Little Grebe, and an assortment of common ducks. I had a tantalising glimpse of what I think was a Water Rail, and we spent a few minutes watching a flock of Siskins feeding in an alder. We were pleased to be able to identify a Cetti’s Warbler singing in a reed bed.
Mid-November 2023 to mid-December 2023
I’m not a lover of Grey Squirrels. I do my best to make the bird feeders squirrel-proof and discourage them from visiting our garden. However, I had to admire the agility of one a few days ago. We have a couple of seed feeders on a pole that is fitted with a hemispherical plastic baffle to stop squirrels climbing the pole. I had left a redundant fitting attached to the pole below the baffle. The squirrel worked out that it could use this fitting as a springboard to leap past the edge of the baffle and just be able to grab the bottom of a feeder. It was then able to haul itself up and tuck in. Needless to say, I removed the fitting and so far the squirrel has been defeated.
15th Nov. Neighbour David had a charming encounter with a Robin which perched on his broom head while it was being used to sweep his path.
22nd Nov. A Woodpigeon narrowly avoided becoming a meal for a Sparrowhawk as the hunter zoomed around our apple tree seeking prey.
23rd Nov. The early morning sunshine lit up the burnished russet of the oak trees that we overlook from our breakfast room. Later in the morning a Red Kite flew over.
24th Nov. Around 6:30pm as we drove along Wike Lane, a Tawny Owl flew over.
25th Nov. Neighbour David saw a very dark Fox in Whitemoor Lane, then a regular one in the village.
28th Nov. We spotted our first Redwing of the winter near the ford at Coughton.
29th Nov. We noticed several Redwings in the same area.
4th Dec. I was pleased to see a Coal Tit visit our black sunflower seed feeder.
6th Dec. I noticed two quite large bracket fungi growing on our apple tree. The “Seek” app couldn’t identify it for me and the nearest match I could find in a field guide was a “Hoof Fungus”, but it doesn’t look quite right. I hope it isn’t, as that tends to kill the host.
7th Dec. Chris’s Middletown Lane garden is being visited by a male Pheasant in fine plumage. He also mentioned that Blackbirds which have been absent for some time are now back in his garden, and he has been interested to observe the different approaches that different bird species have to access the kernels of seeds.
11th Dec. As we walked along Wike Lane we had our first sighting of a Fieldfare this winter.
12th Dec. Several Jays were flying between trees in Wike Lane. They are quite a common sight at the moment, probably making the most of the acorn harvest.
Don’t forget the RSPB’s 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on 26th to 28th January. I read that in 2023 the House Sparrow was in the top spot for the 20th year. We so rarely see one in our garden.
Mid-October 2023 to mid-November 2023
Autumn colours are very much in evidence, but I don’t know how long they will last after today’s rain and the forecast of rain and strong winds overnight and tomorrow.
I decided to treat the birds to some new seed feeders for the winter and chose heavy duty metal ones. I was impressed by the sturdy perches instead of the pegs on the previous feeders. My satisfaction with these new feeders was short lived when I saw that a Magpie found these larger perches ideal while the previous pegs were too small for it. Consequently, the sunflower seeds were disappearing at an alarming rate. I have found a possible solution in Botany Bay garden centre in the form of separate cages that slip over the feeders. I now have them in place and, so far, Magpies seem to have been deterred.
14th Oct. The first cold snap of the autumn has made a Nuthatch a regular visitor to our feeders.
19th Oct. We had a close view of a Nuthatch scavenging around our patio after first visiting the feeders.
22nd Oct. We hadn’t seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden for many weeks, but today one was visiting the peanut feeder. Peter told us of having seen a “mini murmuration” of Starlings from his Coughton garden on two occasions.
23rd Oct. Two Pheasants were perched on our neighbour’s pergola.
26th Oct. A spell of sunshine brought a Red Admiral to settle on our garden wall for a time.
2nd Nov. Pete spotted a Grey Wagtail on his conservatory roof in Middletown Lane. He also mentioned having just returned from a holiday in Scotland where he was fortunate enough to see two Golden Eagles. He also noticed Hooded Crows. These birds largely replace Carrion Crows in Scotland and are an attractive two-tone grey and black.
6th Nov. Two male Blackbirds took it in turns to feast on pyracantha berries than take a rest on our patio furniture.
10th Nov. A lovely male Pheasant strutted across our back lawn and inspected a border.
Mid-September 2023 to mid-October 2023
It’s always pleasant to stop for a few words with other villagers and hear what wildlife they have noticed in and around the village.
26th Sept. Acorns are plentiful at the moment. As we walked through the woods, Jays were quite vociferous as they searched for acorns. A squirrel was busy burying some in our lawn.
27th Sept. A rather dubious pleasure was twelve Wood Pigeons on our lawn, presumably seeking fallout from our sunflower seed feeders.
All too frequently these birds make the mistake of flying into the windows at the rear of our house, with quite a startling bang and leaving dusty silhouettes despite bird images stuck on the windows.
28th Sept. A Sparrowhawk paid an unsuccessful hunting visit to the garden, scattering the party of small birds on our feeders.
28th Sept – 6th Oct. We spent a week based in a hill-top cottage in Mid-Wales.
8th Oct. With the arrival of autumn, we noticed many Ladybirds climbing up the house walls and windows, presumably seeking out suitable nooks and crannies to hibernate.
10th Oct. Our attention was attracted by the chattering of about thirty Starlings perched on cables by the footpath to Astwood Bank, and as we stopped to look at them a Kestrel flew by.
Mid-August 2023 to mid-September 2023
The second half of August continued with the generally mixed weather theme, but early September brought a return of summer warmth.
14th Aug. Many Speckled Wood butterflies were on the wing in the woods. They all looked very bright, so were presumably a fresh emergence. It’s interesting to note that the species has a number of broods in a year while some other species, such as the Orange Tip, have only one.
16th Aug. On an evening walk to and through the woods we saw a Roe Deer and a Hare.
17th Aug. We had a breakfast time distraction when four Chiffchaffs appeared in our garden and were swinging around on the seed heads of ornamental grasses. They normally feed on insects, so perhaps they had found something living in the grasses.
23rd Aug. On an evening walk to the woods, we saw two Muntjacs and a Hare in a field,
24th Aug. We stopped for a brief conversation with a couple of Heart of England Forest volunteers who were carrying out a butterfly survey. They commented that in addition to the species that we have seen, they had previously noted Purple Emperors, White Admirals and Purple Hairstreaks in Coughton Park wood.
28th Aug. We noticed some Buzzards in a field by the woods where the crop had just been harvested. Several flocks of Swallows were chasing insects, and Richard (Postman) mentioned having seen 100+ Swallows perched on a rooftop in Jill Lane. Tilling of the field behind us brought in a large flock of gulls that consisted mostly of Common Gulls with a few much larger Herring Gulls.
7th Sept. I ran my moth trap overnight last night and the noteworthy catches were a Marbled Carpet moth (no – they don’t attack carpets!) and a Setaceous Hebrew Character moth. At first glance I thought I had caught two Hornet moths, the species being a fine example of mimicry. On closer inspection I realised they were actual Hornets, which I treated with great caution when releasing them. Chris reported having seen what he thought to be a Sabre Wasp in his Middletown Lane garden.
8th Sept. I spotted a Speckled Bush-cricket on an alloy wheel of our car. They turn up in some odd places.
9th Sept. A pristine Brimstone butterfly visited our garden and Pete reported that a juvenile Green Woodpecker had visited his garden, presumably to feed on ants.
Mid-July 2023 to mid-August 2023
The generally unsettled and cool weather of July has hardly been conducive to enjoying the natural world to the full, but there have still been some interesting things to see.
14th July. A rare visitor to our patio was a Song Thrush. At dusk it sang loud and long from a neighbour’s tree.
15th July. Not for the first time, I noticed a Pied Wagtail devouring a butterfly in our garden.
17th July. We saw many butterflies from the woodland bridleway. Species included Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Red Admirals, Commas, Gatekeepers, Large and Small Whites and Silver-washed Fritillaries. A Speckled Bush Cricket was on our washing line at home.
19th July. Another profusion of butterflies was apparent to us on a circular walk from Hanbury Hall,
24th July. Peter (from Coughton) mentioned Swans with cygnets on a pool at Coughton Court. We have subsequently seen them.
27th July. It was pleasing to note that the area of harebells that grow by the field path to Coughton appears to be expanding.
31st July. There were five Pied Wagtails in the garden today, perhaps attracted by the large number of butterflies. They won’t be popular if they take too many!
8th Aug. A Blackcap considered that the breeding season isn’t over yet as he was singing loudly in Wike Lane.
9th Aug. Our neighbour David had a close encounter with a Muntjac that was showing no road sense in Jill Lane.
10th Aug. I ran my moth trap overnight and found two species I’ve not seen before – an Iron Prominent and a Pebble Hook-tip. The Black Arches was a welcome repeat visitor.
11th Aug. We enjoyed a 7-mile circular walk from the Worcs Wildlife Trust Trench Wood reserve and along the canal to Tibberton. At one point a Red Kite flew overhead, and as we returned to the wood, we met a butterfly photographer. He mentioned the presence of Purple Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak and Wood White butterflies, but they all seemed to have eluded him so far that morning.
13th Aug. We had the pleasure of watching a large flock of Swallows swooping and wheeling over our garden on this warm evening. This was the most Swallows we have seen all summer.
Mid-June 2023 to mid-July 2023
The most unusual item this month was a report from Rob that he noticed a dead Dormouse near Wood Terrace. This is extraordinary because Warwickshire Wildlife Trust information suggests that there is only one known tiny population of the species in the county, although there are a couple of attempts at reintroduction.
13th – 15th June.
17th June. We heard a Cuckoo calling, and Angela has been hearing it daily up to this time.
18th June. Marbled Whites have now appeared by the Monarch’s Way, and a Fallow Deer was on the bridleway through the woods.
19th June. Delaying our walk for cooler conditions in the evening paid off as we had good views of two Hares near the woodland.
20th June. On an early evening walk along Wike Lane we noticed tiny froglets crossing the road. We helped as many as possible to the safety of the verge.
11th June. Janet mentioned that another brood of Great Tits had successfully fledged from the most unusual nest site of a traffic cone on the ground.
23rd June. Angela has continued to hear a Cuckoo calling daily until yesterday.
24th June. Overnight I had the first run of my moth trap and found it had attracted my most impressive moth yet – a Pine Hawk moth. What it lacked in colour it made up for in size and subtlety of markings.
25th June. On a woodland and Monarch’s Way walk we saw butterfly species including Silver-washed Fritillary, Comma, Marbled White, Small Skipper and Ringlet.
27th June. An Old Lady moth, normally nocturnal, was flying around our garden in the afternoon.
9th July. We noticed eleven species of butterfly, including Gatekeepers for the first time this year, on our morning woodland walk.
10th July. I was sad to see a Pied Wagtail consuming a Small Tortoiseshell in our garden.
11th July. Ann saw a Red Kite over her house by the village green. We watched four Goldcrests feeding in a tree in Wike Lane.
Mid-May 2023 to mid-June 2023
The previous month’s weather was mostly cool and wet, but in contrast the past month has been dry and, at times, hot. It seemed to be that we were not going to hear the call of a Cuckoo this year, but Nick heard one on 13th May and since then a number of villagers have been delighted to hear it from around the village. Angela has heard it almost daily up to the time of writing these notes.
18th May (late). Chris heard a tapping on his Middletown Lane window and, on investigation, found a party of Pipistrelle bats hunting moths attracted to the light.
24th May. We ventured away from Sambourne for a couple of days to visit with friends the RSPB’s St Aidan’s wetland reserve near Leeds.
25th May. Pete had a Roe Deer visiting his Middletown Lane garden.
28th May. He noticed a Red Kite flying overhead and has been continuing to hear a Cuckoo on most days.
29th May. We saw many Common Spotted Orchids flowering in a meadow by the Monarch’s Way footpath.
2nd June. Warmer weather is bringing the butterflies out. A Holly Blue appeared in our garden this morning, and we saw two Small Heaths on the Monarch’s Way. Here, we also saw a female (bronze-coloured) Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly.
3rd June. A Small Copper butterfly briefly visited our garden.
4th June. I tried a first run of my moth trap overnight. I was slightly disappointed to find just one Heart and Dart moth and three Pale Tussocks, although the latter are quite attractive. It had been quite a chilly night. On a sunny afternoon walk along the footpath to Coughton we saw a male (blue) Beautiful Demoiselle and a Mayfly. I think it was the species known by anglers as “Green Drake”. A Reed Warbler was singing from the reedbed at Coughton Court.
5th June. As we walked along Wike Lane we were accompanied by continuous Cuckoo calls, and we spotted it in a tree on the far side of a field.
In the meadow by the Monarch’s Way many more Common Spotted Orchids were in flower.
6th June. An adult Great Spotted Woodpecker visited our garden with a youngster.
7th June. A Pied Wagtail fed two young on our patio wall. Chris reported ten Swallows lined up on an overhead power line, and Toads in his garden. Pete saw a Fox in his garden.
11th June. During the “Shakespeare on The Green” performance, the Cuckoo could still be heard calling in the distance.
Mid-April 2023 to mid-May 2023
The rainy and rather cool past month has limited our opportunities for observing the natural world around us. The field and woodland paths have been so muddy that our walks have mostly been on tarmac.
I forgot to note last month that Peter (Coughton resident) mentioned having observed a couple of crows showing unusual interest in hole in a tree. After a short time, a Grey Squirrel popped its head out, and the crows were clearly taking exception to its presence.
16th April. Stuart and Jenny told us that they had seen a Red Kite flying over their Perrymill Lane garden last week.
17th April. A Great Spotted Woodpecker has decided on a change of diet and has switched to our sunflower heart feeder in preference to the peanut feeder. A female Goosander is still present on the river Arrow by the ford in Coughton.
19th April. We had a walk along part of the Worcester and Birmingham canal from north Worcester towards Droitwich and heard the loud song of a Cetti’s Warbler. Pete reported having had a Blackcap in his Middletown Lane garden for the past three days.
20th April.
22nd April. We first heard its song then saw a male Blackcap in the hedgerow along Wike Lane.
23rd April. Cowslips seem to be at their peak, with swathes of them on the embankments beside the A46 towards Evesham. Bluebells are also starting to bloom in the verges and woods.
25th April. A flock of about twenty House Martins was feeding near the ford at Coughton. A little further on along Coughton Fields Lane we observed a Chiffchaff at close quarters as it seemed quite unconcerned about our presence.
29th April. Aubretia flowers in our garden provided sustenance for an Orange-tip.
4th May. As we walked along Sambourne Lane towards the cricket ground we could hear constant Skylark song from above the adjacent fields.
7th May. As yet nobody has reported having heard the call of a Cuckoo locally, but at least our sister-in-law has heard one at Shapwick Heath on the Somerset Levels.
Mid-March 2023 to mid-April 2023
The past month has been typical of early spring with a variety of weather conditions. Warm, sunny spells have brought out some butterflies, and summer migrant birds have begun to arrive.
17th March. Our first Chiffchaff of the year was calling in a tree in Wike Lane. Pete from Middletown Lane also heard one on the same day.
18th March. We heard Skylarks as they performed their song flight off Sambourne Lane near the cricket ground.
19th March. Chiffchaffs were singing in several locations along Wike Lane, and a tree near the village green was being visited by a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, and Blue and Long-tailed Tits.
20th March. We watched two Grey Wagtails chasing insects by the ford in Coughton.
On many occasions we’ve noticed a pair of Mallards paddling in the puddly roadside in Sambourne Lane near the cemetery in Coughton, unperturbed by passing vehicles and pedestrians.
21st March. Pete mentioned having seen a Red Kite flying overhead and a Stock Dove in his garden.
23rd March. I was pleased to note six Greenfinches feeding in our garden.
29th/30th March. We had a short stay in Pembrokeshire and, although the weather was far from favourable, we did manage a couple of walks on the coast path. On our first walk we were not hopeful of seeing anything as it was quite misty, but to our surprise as we were on a grassy headland our attention was attracted by the very distinctive call of a Chough – very much our hoped-for species. We spotted a pair of them only about ten metres away, probing the ground with their long, curved, red bills for their invertebrate food. We later saw a pair of Stonechats on a gorse bush.
2nd April. A Roe Deer was in Wike Lane, and we saw our first Brimstone butterfly of the year in our garden.
4th April. Postman Richard told us that he had just seen his first Swallow of the year perched on a wire by the Green Dragon.
5th April. Now a rare garden species for us, a small flock of Starlings descended on our freshly cut lawn to probe for invertebrates.
7th April. Pete saw House Martins flying over his Middletown Lane home. Janet and Roger have seen a Swallow by their Wike Lane home. We noticed the welcome hum of busy bees visiting pussy willow and blackthorn blossom in Wike Lane.
11th April. An early walk to Coughton was rewarded with our first two Swallows in Wike Lane, and then the sight of a pair of Goosanders swimming and diving in the river Arrow by the ford. As we watched these birds, a Kingfisher came into view.
Mid-February 2023 to mid-March 2023
We’ve seen more signs of springtime, with wild garlic sprouting in the verges and lambs bouncing around in the field beside Coughton Field Lane, but the recent frost and snow tells us that winter hasn’t given up yet.
12th Feb. Peter from Coughton described a diving duck that he’d noticed in the river in Bidford on Avon. The description fitted a Tufted Duck – a common resident.
13th Feb. On this sunny afternoon we noticed one Fallow Deer and a Peacock butterfly beside Coughton Park woods. Bats, presumably Pipistrelles, were flying over our garden at dusk.
16th Feb. Angela mentioned that when walking Freddie in local woodland they came across twenty deer – probably Fallow judging by more recent reports.
17th Feb. As we arrived at the Church room for the evening of wine-tasting, we heard a Barn Owl call nearby.
24th Feb. A party of three Lesser Redpolls spent much of the day in the garden devouring sunflower seed hearts.
27th Feb. The Redpolls are now a constant presence in the garden. Four Yellowhammers were in the same spot as yesterday. We noticed a herd of twenty-four Fallow Deer emerge from the woods and run a circuit of the adjacent field before returning to the woods.
1st Mar. We have a dilemma over whether or not to keep an oversize apple tree in the garden. We counted six species of birds in it at one time today, so they seem to be telling us that it should stay!
3rd Mar. Bird numbers in the garden seem to be at a peak with feeders being emptied within a day. Roy watched a Red Kite
4th Mar. We spotted a large mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings in a field off Wike Lane and wondered if they were preparing to return to Scandinavia for the breeding season. Corin managed to capture video of about forty Fallow Deer running across a field beside Wike Lane.
5th Mar. We noticed two Siskins bathing in the brook where it passes under Wike Lane at the entrance to the village.
7th Mar. We spotted a Meadow Pipit perched on a power cable near Glebe Farm.
12th Mar. We saw our first lambs in a field in Coughton near the ford.
Mid-January 2023 to mid-February 2023
Catkins are fattening in the hedgerows, pussy willow is becoming evident and the first spring bulbs are flowering, so springtime can’t be too far away. However, there are still some winter treats to be enjoyed and we were fortunate enough to have a few visit our garden as we did our “Big Garden Birdwatch”.
12th Jan. As we walked along Wike Lane we noticed two Yellowhammers, some Meadow Pipits, a flock of Redwings and a mixed flock of tits and finches. Rooks are becoming active at the rookery beside Coughton ford.
17th Jan. On this frosty morning, a male and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker visited our garden peanut feeder. Next came our first Lesser Redpoll of the winter to join the tits and Chaffinches, before the garden was cleared of small birds by the appearance of a Sparrowhawk.
18th Jan. As we drove along Wike Lane in darkness we glimpsed a Tawny Owl then had a good view of a Muntjac crossing the road.
23rd Jan. A few Lapwings were feeding amongst the sheep in a field beside Coughton Lane in Coughton.
25th Jan. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming loudly in our neighbour’s garden. A Redpoll briefly visited our garden.
27th Jan. From Wike Lane we watched six Roe Deer run alongside the hedgerow before crossing the lane into the woods.
29th Jan. Our Big Garden Birdwatch resulted in a reasonable tally of fifteen species with the highlight being the arrival of four Lesser Redpolls just before the end of our session. They are not common visitors to our garden, and only ever appear in winter. I put out a tray of suet nibbles, but no birds showed any interest while we did our count. A couple of hours later the tray was mysteriously empty. Later that day, around dusk, a bat flew over the garden.
5th Feb. The mystery of the disappearing suet nibbles has been solved. I put out some more and soon saw a Carrion Crow land on the edge of the tray and clear the whole lot in one sitting! Later, I had a distant view of a Kingfisher from the footbridge beside the ford at Coughton.
7th Feb. As we walked the footpath behind Sambourne Hall Farm we noticed a male Linnet feeding on dried blackberries on top of the hedgerow. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming nearby. At home we watched three Robins interacting and posturing – presumably a territory or mating dispute.
Early December 2022 to mid-January 2023
The substantial rainfall over the past few weeks has turned footpaths and the woodland bridleway into a quagmire, so this month’s observations have largely been from the roads or garden. This doesn’t mean that there has been nothing to attract our attention.
12th Dec. It was pleasing to note that we still have regular visits to the garden by Greenfinches. On this frosty morning four fed on sunflower hearts.
14th Dec. We did manage a walk through the woods and came across ten Fallow Deer. There were five does, three mature stags with fine antlers and three with just antler buds.
18th Dec. A Redwing feasted on pyracantha berries in our garden. A Song Thrush visited the garden briefly.
20th Dec. We had a surprise encounter with a Little Egret that was feeding beside the brook that passes under Wike Lane at the entrance to the village. We stood just a few metres away and watched for several minutes.
21st Dec. Definitely the most noteworthy item this month was witnessed by Pete in his Middletown Lane garden. A chicken carcass that he threw out for corvids to scavenge received a visit from a Red Kite. The Kite returned a little later in the day. Kites are thought to have been scavengers in the streets of London up to the 18th century, but as far as I know this is a first for Sambourne.
23rd Dec. At 9 am the garden was so full of birds in a feeding frenzy I wouldn’t have been able to count them had it been the RSPB Big Birdwatch day [27-29 January 2023].
26th Dec. Near neighbours Pat and John mentioned that they had excellent views of a Snipe in their garden shortly before Christmas. They commented on the beautiful markings in the plumage. The other main feature of course is the extraordinarily long bill used for probing for their invertebrate prey.
2nd Jan. I know we’re in mid-winter, but it’s good to see catkins fattening in the hedgerows, snowdrops blooming in Pat and John’s garden and a first anemone flower in ours.
5th Jan. A Sparrowhawk flew though our garden, pausing briefly on the back hedge before being chased off by two crows. Pete mentioned having witnessed similar harassment. Later, we spotted three Roe Deer grazing in a field off Wike Lane.
8th Jan. Pete was fortunate to have a male Bullfinch visit his Middletown Lane garden. The pink/red breast contrasting with grey, black, and white is something to behold!
9th Jan. A lady resident of Middletown Lane pointed out a single daffodil fully in flower in a Wike Lane verge. We later spotted a Treecreeper and two Goldcrests in trees nearby.
Mid-November to early December 2022
As I sit down to put these notes together there is the first real taste of winter with a hard frost outside. The birds are keeping me busy topping up the seed feeders and providing fresh water, although I fear that will soon freeze over again.
12th Nov. In a spell of fine weather Chris spotted a Red Admiral in his Middletown Lane garden. I read that although they do hibernate, they rarely survive the winter to emerge next spring.
17th Nov. As we walked along Wike Lane an unfamiliar bird call attracted our attention. We identified four Mistle Thrushes moving around in the trees. We met Angela walking Freddie along Wike Lane. She had noticed ten Fallow Deer, including a stag in the woods.
19th Nov. The call of a Tawny Owl was audible from our garden at 6pm.
20th Nov. We have now seen our first winter thrushes – many Redwings were active in the field behind us.
25th Nov. Redwings and Fieldfares were feeding in the field beside the Booking Office in Sambourne Lane, Coughton.
30th Nov. We paid a brief visit to the Upton Warren nature reserve. We spotted good numbers of Lapwings, ducks including Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, Grey Wagtails, a flock of Linnets and a Meadow Pipit.
3rd Dec. There was something of a feeding frenzy around the bird feeders in our garden. Four Long-tailed Tits and three Blue Tits crammed themselves into a peanut feeder, resulting in tails sticking out in all directions. Then six Long-Tailed Tits squeezed themselves into the cage holding a fat block with a similar result.
5th Dec. A Redwing was flying from tree to tree in Perrymill Lane.
6th Dec. Pete reported having seen a Red Kite flying over the Green Dragon this afternoon.
8th Dec. The first really hard frost of the winter filled our garden with birds this morning. My attention was attracted by a Fieldfare that spent a few moments on the lawn before flying to a pyracantha where it tucked into the bright orange berries. The sunflower seeds, peanuts and fat-block attracted many Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, Great and Blue Tits, a Pied Wagtail, Blackbirds, Robins, six Chaffinches and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. I’ll be refilling the feeders tomorrow morning.
It seems early to mention it, but don’t forget the RSPB “Big Garden Birdwatch, on 27th-29th January.
Mid-October to mid-November 2022
Autumn has been delivering its usual splendour as the leaves change colour, with Coughton Park woods as picturesque as anywhere. It also seems to have been a good year for fungi. We came across some fine specimens of Parasol Mushrooms on a walk around the Croft Castle estate.
15th Oct. A flock of 20+ Linnets flew up from feeding in a Glebe Farm field. Later in our walk through the woods we encountered three Fallow Deer comprising a stag with an impressive set of antlers, a doe, and a youngster.
16th Oct. We saw a Goldcrest for the first time in a while, feeding with a small flock of tits in the woods.
22nd Oct. Tracy and Paul mentioned having heard squealing and witnessed a Stoat tackling a young rabbit near Sambourne Hall Farm. They have also seen an almost white deer in a field by the woods.
23rd Oct. As we walked in the grounds of Coughton Court we spotted a Kingfisher perched on a branch overhanging a pool.
26th Oct. During a visit to see friends in Yorkshire, we were shown around the RSPB St Aidan’s reserve near Leeds. This 400-hectare nature park was formerly an opencast coal-mining area that was flooded in 1988. The first bird we saw was a Little Owl, perched on some mining equipment. We went on to see six more species of raptor comprising a Kestrel, a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Peregrine, an Osprey, and a Marsh Harrier. Perhaps most exciting, as we have seen them so rarely, was the sight of two Bitterns. Many ducks including Pintail and Shoveler were on the lakes, Cetti’s Warblers were often heard, and a pair of Stonechats gave us fine views. We saw or heard more than fifty bird species during our visit.
27th Oct. Pete noticed what he subsequently identified as a False Widow Spider in his Middletown Lane greenhouse. From his photograph, a quick look at the internet suggested to me that it was one of the False Widows called a Rabbit Hutch Spider. I gather that while they are able to deliver a nip, they are non-poisonous.
5th Nov. Chris emailed to say that he had heard a Tawny Owl from his Middletown Lane home. By coincidence, that same evening we heard loud and prolonged Tawny Owl calling from our neighbour’s garden.
6th Nov. Chris spotted two Muntjacs crossing Middletown Lane about five metres ahead of his car. We once had one come right up to my open car window in Wike Lane. They can be quite bold!
9th Nov. A local photographer told us that he had just spotted five Fallow Deer in the woodland, and had previously seen a herd of up to twenty.
Mid-September to mid-October 2022
We have just experienced our first frost of the autumn to remind us that winter is on its way, but over the past month we have still been able to enjoy walks in warm sunshine and have glimpsed some of the lingering summer migrants.
14th Sept. Postman Richard mentioned having see a couple of dozen Swallows perched on a power line in Sambourne Lane. We noticed a flock of fifty or more Goldfinches
in a paddock off Sambourne Lane.
It stopped to inspect a small gap in our neighbour’s hedge, then entered the garden for a look around. It browsed there for a few minutes then returned in the field and trotted off. As we walked along the canal towpath near Hanbury Hall we were surprised to hear a Chiffchaff making its onomatopoeic call.
21st Sept. As we walked along Wike Lane, an unusual bird call attracted our attention. We stopped to investigate and caught sight of a Peregrine flying away from a pylon. It reminded us that Clive once filmed a Peregrine devouring a pigeon in his garden by the village green.
28th Sept. Thinking that they had all set off for Africa, we were pleased to see a few Swallows hunting insects over the canal at Dunhampstead.
29th Sept. A Green Woodpecker spent a few minutes perched on our neighbour’s pergola. Peter from Coughton told us that he had watched a Heron and a Little Egret apparently comfortable with each other’s company while feeding in the river Arrow near the ford at Coughton.
4th Oct. As we walked along a footpath near Glebe Farm, we saw three Yellowhammers in the hedgerow and a Red Kite flew overhead. In the next field we watched three Skylarks performing song flights.
5th Oct. As we drove to and from Hillers farm shop, we had two sightings of Kestrels hovering by the roadside.
8th Oct. A Green Woodpecker and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited our garden. A Peacock butterfly basked in sunshine. On our afternoon walk we saw a couple of Skylarks, and a Peregrine was circling overhead as we walked the bridleway through the woods.
10th Oct. Near Glebe Farm we stopped to watch three Wrens in the hedgerow. One was singing loudly and it was interesting to watch its whole body vibrating as it delivered the churring call.
12th Oct. Lawyer’s Wig fungi have appeared in our gravel drive.
Mid-August to mid-September 2022
Red Kites continue to keep up a presence around the village. Christine informed us that she and Roger had watched from their Wike Lane home four birds circling leisurely over the adjacent field. David and Christine saw one flying over Sambourne Lane.
22nd Aug. A Cormorant and a Heron were perched in the same tree overlooking the lake in Coughton Lodge Farm.
25th Aug. While signs of autumn have appeared with ripening fruit in the hedgerows, a lone Chiffchaff was still calling in Coughton Park woods.
26th Aug. This month’s highlight was an extended view of a Wheatear as it perched on a fence beside the Monarch’s Way, presumably on its migration from moorland here for the summer and south to Africa.
27th Aug. I ran my moth trap overnight then returned indoors after inspecting the “catch.” A buzzing sound seemed to accompany me around the house. Eventually I noticed that I had a Hornet clinging to the front of my shirt. I know they are far less aggressive than wasps, but up close they look quite intimidating, so I made quick exit to send it on its way.
1st Sept. We always thought Wrens were sweet-natured little birds so were surprised to see two having a real set-to on our patio.
5th Sept. We identified two Whitethroats flitting around some bushes by the Monarch’s Way.
We’ve normally seen Whitethroats in the spring when their singing and aerial displays have attracted our attention.
4th Sept. We saw perhaps our final Swallow of the summer flying over a harvested Glebe Farm field.
6th Sept. We had prolonged views of a Nuthatch on our patio wall. Having fed on sunflower seeds, it explored the nooks and crannies in the wall, took a drink, then sat on the wall for more than ten minutes. This gave me time to fetch a camera and take some photographs.
8th Sept. The transition into autumn has been emphasised by the number of fungi now appearing. We spotted a group of greenish fungi growing near the Parsonage, but I could do no better than identify as of the boletus family. Pete sent me a photograph of one in his Middletown Lane lawn, but my sketchy knowledge of fungi failed to identify it.
10th Sept. We watched a number of warblers, we think we could identify Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler, chasing insects over the river at Coughton ford.
Mid-July to mid-August 2022
I do love the summertime, but I miss the birdsong and activity of the breeding season.
Many species are far less obvious than they were last month, although it is a treat to see Swallows and House Martins swooping and wheeling in pursuit of their insect prey.
14th July. When Greenfinch numbers have been hit so hard by disease, it was good to see six of them on our sunflower feeders.
21st July. Chris had five minutes entertainment from a Stoat as it ran in circles, jumped in the air and generally gambolled around in his Middletown Lane garden.
24th July. Pete photographed an unusual butterfly in a garden centre. I managed to identify it as a Zebra Longwing – a species of south and central America. Interesting, and presumably an escapee from a butterfly house.
1st Aug. I enjoyed a bit of a nature fest today.
As I sat at the breakfast table, I noticed a Buzzard fly over and perch in a nearby tree, then a Heron flew by.
On a later walk through Coughton Park we spotted a Treecreeper and a female or juvenile Blackcap (with a brown cap!).
Over a field near Glebe Farm, we stopped to watch a flock of House Martins then noticed a flock of more than 20 Goldfinches feeding on thistle seed-heads.
There has been another Stoat sighting on land off Middletown Lane.
10th Aug. Pete spotted another Red Kite passing over his Middletown Lane home.
12th Aug. Peter (from Coughton) told us that he has seen a pair of Kingfishers several times on the Arrow at or near the ford at Coughton. He also mentioned having been watching fish in the river from the bridge over the Avon in Bidford. He noticed one with unusual markings on its back which someone with knowledge of such things identified for him as a Jack Pike. I read that this is not a separate species, but a smaller example of a Pike.
13th Aug. It’s a sad reflection on this summer, but I was really thrilled to see a flock of five or six Swallows hunting above our house, with the pleasing sound of their constant twittering.
Mid-June to mid-July 2022
The past month has been the month for Red Kites. The first report was from postman Richard, who saw two fly over near the Green Dragon. A day or two later we saw one flying over Perrymill Lane, then Pete reported three over his Middletown Lane home. One flew over the recreation ground as we watched the minifest evening football competition. Most remarkable were the seven seen by Ken over his Oak Tree Lane home.
13th June. Nick heard a Cuckoo calling by Coughton Park woods – the last report this year. Many Common Spotted Orchids were in the meadow by the Monarch’s Way.
15th June. I ran my moth trap overnight and attracted a Burnished Brass, Common Footman, and Heart & Dart among others. All common species and, I hasten to add, all released back into the wild.
16th June. Chris had a 6-spot Burnet Moth visit his Middletown Lane porch.
21st June. We saw our first Marbled White butterfly by the Monarch’s Way and the first Silver-washed Fritillary in Coughton Park. A Comma visited our garden.
24th June. We were delighted to see a Hare Near Coughton Park.
26th June. As we walked the footpath behind Sambourne Hall Farm, three Swifts flew over – our first this year. Ken and Nicky (apologies if spelt incorrectly) had just seen Swifts, Swallows and House Martins by the path from Coughton. We went on to see our first Ringlet butterfly and Marbled White on this path.
1st July. As we walked along Wike Lane, a Roe Deer regarded us suspiciously from an adjacent field.
2nd July. A Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared to be feeding on ants in our lawn – an activity I normally associate with Green Woodpeckers.
We had a big thrill this evening when, at dusk, we noticed a Hedgehog traversing our back lawn. This came as quite a surprise as we thought it was inaccessible in order to keep rabbits out. It has appeared every evening since. It has taken advantage of a bowl of water and we’re thinking we’d better get some Hedgehog food. Ho hum – another mouth to feed!
3rd July. A family of Crows have now become regulars in our garden – up to two adults and two begging young. Unfortunately, the adults have learnt to perch above the sunflower seed feeders and flaps their wings, causing seeds to be shaken from the feeders. My attempts at deterring them have failed miserably.
4th July. As we sat at our breakfast table, we noticed a Kite fly over. We later saw another being mobbed by a Crow over the Monarch’s Way.
12th July. We saw yet another Kite flying above the playground in Astwood Bank.
Mid-May to mid-June 2022
We’re now edging into summer and so far, Cuckoos have eluded us in Sambourne.
Elizabeth and Steve have heard one from Sambourne Lane, Nick heard one near the ford at Coughton, Marjorie from Whitemoor Lane and Janet and Roger from Wike Lane.
We were treated to the evocative sound of Cuckoos calling when we paid a visit to RSPB’s Dinas reserve in mid-Wales a couple of weeks ago. Our trip was to see summer visitors such as Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Wood Warblers and Tree Pipits, and for much of the time Cuckoo calls were almost continuous.
Sambourne residents continue to be keen observers of nature.
Pete noticed a Garden Warbler in his Middletown Lane garden. He has been keeping an eye on nesting Buzzards close by, and his garden is regularly visited by a Tawny Owl.
Janet was sad to lose a nest of Mistle Thrush chicks to a predator.
Angela observed a flock of House Martins above the stream at the start of Wike Lane. Sadly, these seem to have become less common around here in recent years, so a really good sighting.
17th May. We noticed the colourful caterpillar of a Drinker Moth on the Coughton Park bridleway.
18th May. More butterflies are appearing, and we spotted a Small Copper by the footpath while heading home from Coughton.
30th May. A Brimstone Moth was active in the afternoon in the grass verge of Whitemoor Lane.
3rd June. A couple of walkers from Astwood Bank mentioned having recently seen a Weasel crossing Whitemoor Lane. They were also pleased to report having seen a Hare.
4th June. As we walked along the footpath beside Coughton Lodge Farm we heard a Yellowhammer singing from a hedgerow. We scanned through binoculars and soon saw the sulphur-yellow head of the male bird perched atop the hedge.
6th June. We noticed our first damsel fly of the year, a Beautiful Demoiselle, by a brook near Sambourne Hall Farm. Pat mentioned having recently visited Upton Warren where a number of Avocet chicks were visible.
7th June. I ran my moth trap for the first time this year. I only managed to attract one species I hadn’t seen before (a Small Magpie moth – common), but it was nice to reacquaint with the very attractive Pale Tussock and White Ermine moths. The “Seek” app on our phone has again been useful for identifying wildflowers in the hedgerows. On today’s walk we identified three species of cranesbill – meadow, split-leaved and druce’s (all common).
10th June. A number of common spotted orchids have appeared in a meadow by the Monarch’s Way footpath.
Mid-April to mid-May 2022
I’ve received some interesting reports from Oak Tree Lane residents this month.
Ken mentioned that a Ring Ouzel spent a few minutes in his garden. They are summer visitors to Britain’s uplands, so presumably this one was seeking a snack while on its migration journey.
He has also seen 40 or more Lesser Redpolls in the trees around his garden.
Rachel and family have been aware of several of the regular garden bird species nesting around their property. A parent Song Thrush was feeding four young, and a pair of Goldcrests are thought to be nesting in leylandii. Wrens have chosen a nest site above their back door, causing the minor inconvenience of not using that door to avoid disturbing them. Disappointingly the previously regular visiting Tawny Owls and Hedgehogs have been conspicuous by their absence from the garden.
As we’ve moved further into springtime, more of our summer birds have arrived.
On any walk along Wike Lane one is treated to almost continuous song from Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, but to date I have not heard or received any reports of Cuckoo calling.
We’ve also seen very few Swallows so far and no House Martins. I have read that poor weather in southern Europe has been a possible factor in slowing migration.
13th April. We heard our first Blackcaps singing in Wike Lane.
14th April. A Red-legged Partridge spent a few minutes on our patio wall.
24th April. Near Coughton Park farm we spotted two Lapwings and a Cormorant. In Coughton Park wood we noticed Speckled Wood butterflies enjoying the sunny spots and the usual carpet of bluebells was appearing. Ravens and Buzzards flew overhead.
27th April. A pair of Greylag Geese led a family of seven goslings on the pool at Coughton Lodge Farm.
29th April. As we walked along a footpath near Glebe Farm, we heard a Skylark singing. Nearby we noticed dog-walkers with their dogs running free.
30th April. Our walk took us along the “Monarch’s Way” between Astwood Bank and Cookhill. A Hare ran across the path near Botany Bay nursery. A little further on we stopped to look at a colourful meadow that contained many wild flowers including cowslips and vetch. I noticed a flower spike standing above the other plants, went for a closer look and found it to be a Green-winged Orchid. I have not seen one before and, although quite widespread, they are not common, so we were quite pleased with this find.
8th May. We spotted a Holly Blue butterfly on a footpath off Sambourne Lane.
10th May. We were amused to watch an altercation between a Carrion Crow and a Squirrel over fall-out from sunflower seed feeders in our garden. The battle swayed with attack and counterattack, the Crow ending up the victor when the squirrel fled up a tree. We have learned that two Tawny owlets are being raised in a box in the village.
Mid-March to mid-April 2022
The past month has brought more welcome signs of spring with a few more butterflies, flowers in the verges and woodland, and bird migration.15th March. A Brimstone butterfly visited our garden. As we walked along Coughton Fields Lane beyond the ford we noticed Butterbur flower spikes showing in the verge, a Skylark was singing, and several Chiffchaffs could be heard. Patches of violets are now showing in the verges
18th March. A pair of Siskins visited our garden to feed on sunflower hearts. A Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker also took advantage of our catering service.
22nd March. Near the ford at Coughton we paused to watch a selection of birds in the trees. We noted Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Treecreeper. In the early afternoon, as we waited in the grounds of Redditch Crematorium, we were surprised to see a bat (Pipistrelle?) hunting insects overhead.
23rd March. A Small White butterfly visited our garden.
24th March. On this fine sunny day Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were seen in our garden.
29th March. Three Dunnocks were posturing and displaying in our back hedge. A party of Fieldfares and Redwings landed in trees in Wike Lane.
31st March. There was a bit of excitement at breakfast time this morning when a male Brambling made a guest appearance in the garden. Later in the day as we walked the footpath from Astwood Bank to Sambourne we watched and listened to a singing Skylark.
5th April. A flock of six or so Meadow Pipits was feeding in a field by Coughton Lodge Farm.
8th April. We spotted our first Swallow of this year, perched on a power cable in Sambourne Lane.
10th April. An Orange Tip butterfly spent some time in our garden this morning – the first I’ve seen this spring. Two pristine Brimstones visited dandelion flowers in Wike Lane. We also had a close encounter with a Buzzard that flew low over us and perched in a tree close by.
11th April. In the early afternoon we paused on the railway bridge in Coughton Lane to listen to a Nuthatch calling and were surprised to see another Pipistrelle bat hunting for insects in bright sunshine.
Mid-February to mid-March 2022
As we’ve moved from winter into spring, signs of the season changes have begun. Wild garlic is shooting up in the verges and blackthorn is now in flower to brighten the hedgerows. We’ve also noticed the start of the switch between winter and summer bird migrants.
18th Feb. I was pleased to see a Great Tit investigating a new nest box that I’d fitted just a few days earlier.
26th Feb. We paused in Wike Lane to listen to a flock of Siskins twittering in the trees and as we looked up, we noticed a Red Kite circling overhead.
27th Feb. After an absence of many weeks, it was good to see a Greenfinch in the garden feeding on sunflower hearts. Presumably their numbers are still being reduced by the trichomonosis disease. A Peacock butterfly settled in a sunny spot in the garden.
1st Mar. A Collared Dove spent some time in the garden – the first I’ve seen here for some months. Four Greenfinches were feeding on the sunflower hearts. Later, four Siskins fed from the same feeder, but departed when a Great Spotted Woodpecker swooped onto the feeder.
4th Mar. Recent rains have caused a small pool to form in the corner of the field behind our garden and we were amused to see two Mallards take up residence there for a while. The residents of the rookery by the ford at Coughton were very active and noisy as the breeding season approaches.
5th Mar. Peter (Coughton resident) mentioned that he has seen two Little Egrets near the ford.
7th Mar. Viewing from the footbridge over the river at Coughton we spotted three or four Chiffchaffs chasing around in the trees overhanging the river. We presume these are the first of our summer visitors. A Grey Wagtail was on the riverbank.
10th Mar. My attention was attracted by much bird chattering in an oak tree in a neighbour’s garden. Looking through my telescope I saw that it was a flock of Redwings, perhaps gathering in preparation for their return north to their breeding area.
11th Mar. A male Siskin visited our sunflower heart feeder.
12th Mar. Chiffchaffs were calling by the ford.
13th Mar. The flock of Redwings was back in the neighbour’s oak tree, chattering away.
Mid January 2022 to mid-February 2022
13th Jan. We decided to have a change of scenery, so paid our first visit for a couple of years to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Upton Warren nature reserve. It was very cold and misty when we arrived, but the sun soon began to break though. The shallow water of the Flashes was partially frozen, so a lot of birds were just standing around, mostly Lapwings, Coots and Moorhens, and one Meadow Pipit. The deeper water of the Moors was ice-free and contained many ducks including Teal, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Shoveler and Mallard. While we were watching from a hide, we were pleased to see a female Goosander fly in and land in front of us. On the lake surround we noticed a Heron, Cormorants, and four each of Common Snipe and Curlew.
15th Jan. A Lesser Redpoll visited our garden to feed on sunflower hearts.
16th Jan. The Harris Hawk is still in the area having been seen by Christine and David as it consumed a pigeon in their Sambourne Lane garden.
17th Jan. A Fox crossed the field behind our garden.
18th Jan. Two Nuthatches visited the black sunflower seed feeder in the garden.
21st Jan. As is our normal practice, we didn’t remove the seed heads from the various perennials in our borders and were rewarded by the sight of a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on them.
25th Jan. As we walked along Wike Lane quite loud bird “chattering” attracted our attention. A large flock of Siskins was feeding in the trees alongside the lane with much contact-calling.
27th Jan. Unusually, a Dunnock fed from our sunflower heart feeder.
30th Jan. We watched the Siskin flock again in the same area. Jeannie mentioned having seen a Red Kite over Astwood Bank. I did the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and was rather disappointed by recording only thirteen species. Not many years ago there were eighteen.
3rd Feb. Adam managed to capture some video of a Jack Snipe caught in his tractor’s headlights near Studley Common. He had recently seen another locally. These are winter visitors, far from common and difficult to see.
11th Feb. Back in Wike Lane a number Lesser Redpolls had joined the flock of Siskins. We had better views of them as they flew down and drank from the ditch at the roadside. They are usually silhouettes high in the trees.
Mid December 2021 to mid January 2022
A hard overnight frost last night reminded us that we are in the depths of winter, but there are encouraging signs of the approach of spring in the form of very obvious catkins in the hedgerows and wild arum sprouting in verges and in our garden.
16th Dec. We had a good view of a Muntjac crossing Wike Lane into the woods.
17th Dec. We heard that the Harris Hawk is still being seen around Middletown.
18th Dec. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker showed a preference for sunflower seeds rather than peanuts in our garden feeders. The remains of a Woodpigeon on our lawn suggested that a Sparrowhawk had dined there recently. Around midday a Sparrowhawk flew low over a garden and shortly afterwards we watched a Fox trotting up our drive.
22nd Dec. A Jay spent a short time in our apple tree. We’ve seen one or two Jays each time we’ve walked along Wike Lane in recent weeks.
29th Dec. Bob told us that he has been noticing Buzzards and one Red Kite over Middletown Lane.
4th Jan. A variety of strange calls attracted us to a Starling using a drainpipe on our roof as a song post. The calls included a knocking sound which the Collins field guide suggests is used by the male in the vicinity of a proposed nest site. I have a feeling it might have its eye on a gap under a roof tile.
6th Jan. A large flock of Redwings flew into a large oak tree in our neighbour’s garden. 9th Jan. As we walked towards the ford at Coughton a Little Egret flew overhead. On our walk back home, we had a fine view of a female kestrel near Station House. Chris mentioned having seen a Heron perplexed by the ice covering the pond in his Middletown Lane garden.
11th Dec. We spotted two Lesser Redpolls feeding in a birch tree in the Booking Office garden. Nearby we had another prolonged view of a female Kestrel – presumably the same one as on the 9th since it was in the same location.
12th Dec. A male Sparrowhawk perched on our fence for a couple of minutes.
Mid November 2021 to mid December 2021
Last month I mentioned that we had not yet seen the first winter thrush visitors. Just a few days after writing that we had our first sightings.
22nd Nov. A Fieldfare visited our garden on this very cold but sunny day. It posed on the top of the back hedge, perfectly lit up by the low sun to highlight just how spectacular these birds are.
24th Nov. On an afternoon walk along the bridlepath through the woodland we came across a mixed flock of birds feeding in the birch trees. Looking through binoculars we found that the majority were Redpolls, with a smaller number of Siskins, the first we have seen of either species this autumn. We also spotted three Treecreepers and at least two Goldcrests amongst the same party. Long-tailed and Blue Tits also put in an appearance.
25th Nov. A Dunnock and a Robin found something of interest on our patio. They are common garden birds, but still nice to observe at close quarters.
9th Dec. From the field footpath to Coughton we watched a male Kestrel hovering in search of a meal – the technique that earned the species the old country name of “Windhover”. On the topic of birds of prey, I am reminded that Jeannie noticed one in her Perrymill Lane garden. From her description I think it was a male Sparrowhawk.
10th Dec. We spent several minutes watching a flock of nine Redpolls feeding in a birch tree in the garden of “Booking Office” in Sambourne Lane, Coughton.
It seems very early to be thinking about the end of January, but don’t forget the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch on the 28th-30th January 2022.
Mid October 2021 to mid November 2021
We have entered what can be a rather gloomy time of year, but nature can brighten our days.
13th Oct. Although most leaves are still green, I look from an upstairs window and see the first autumn golden glow in neighbours’ trees.
23rd Oct. Gail informed me that Middletown has received a surprise, and perhaps unwelcome, visitor over recent days. First there was an unexplained disappearance of a chicken from a garden. Then there were reports of a chicken-stealing Harris Hawk in Astwood Bank. Finally, it was spotted perched on a pole in Wayne and Jenny’s garden. The Harris Hawk is a native of southern United States and parts of Central and South America, but is popular in Falconry in this country.
24th Oct. As we walked along Wike Lane and into the woods we noticed a number of Jays in flight. They become quite obvious at this time of year as they seek out acorns. We were entranced by the feature on MacGregor’s Bower Bird in David Attenborough’s “Mating Game” programme. Its mimicry of sounds including human voices was amazing and worth seeking out if you missed it.
27th Oct. Most years we have a Lawyer’s Wig fungus (Coprinus comatus) appear in our gravel drive and we spotted one today. The family is known as Ink Caps and a few days later it lived up to its name when we saw it had auto-digested into a black mess.
5th Nov. One pleasure at this time of year is encountering mixed flocks of small birds, mostly of the Tit family, feeding in the trees in Wike Lane. We stopped to watch such a party today. Later, we noticed a Nuthatch spending some time on our garden feeders.
7th Nov. We spotted a Red Admiral feeding on flowers in our garden.
9th Nov. We hear from the residents of Station House, Coughton, that their garden and pool are quite a nature reserve with visitors including a Cormorant, five pairs of Mallard, Herons, Greylag and Canada Geese, a Kingfisher, and a passing Barn Owl. They have also noticed the arrival of Fieldfares, which we have yet to see this autumn.
10th Nov. I had recently noticed that pyracantha shrubs in our garden were covered in berries, and had hopes for a visit from winter thrushes to feed. Today I realised that the berries were fast disappearing and soon saw a Blackbird wolfing them down.
11th Nov. From our back garden a Tawny Owl could be heard calling from the direction of Oak Tree Lane at dusk.
Mid September 2021 to mid October 2021
We now assume that all the summer migrant birds have headed off to their winter quarters, but we can look forward to the arrival of our winter visitors, which might include some surprises. I’ll never forget my mother telling me she could see a red bird in our back hedgerow. I dubiously scanned through binoculars and to my astonishment saw a male Crossbill. Let’s hope!
18th Sept. As we walked through the woods on this warm, sunny afternoon we were treated to a cacophony of Raven calls and the sight of a pair of them in flight. Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies were on the wing. When we returned into Perrymill Lane a neighbour pointed to a Roe Deer that was trotting down the lane and across front gardens.
19th Sept. Keeping this log ensures that I’m more observant than I otherwise would be, so I had a browse around the garden borders on this sunny morning. Sedum flowers were alive with bees and tiny hover flies – none did I manage to identify. I photographed a Shield Bug and was amazed by the markings when viewed up close.
21st Sept. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drew my attention to the fact that the peanut feeder was empty by trying unsuccessfully to land on the sunflower hearts.
22nd Sept. A Devil’s Coach Horse beetle was an unexpected house guest this morning. On an afternoon walk along Wike Lane we came across a mixed flock of feeding birds including several Goldcrests with Coal, Great and Blue Tits.
4th Oct. We were surprised to see a Grey Wagtail perched on a gate at the roadside in Wike Lane, the brightness of the lemon-yellow underside suggesting it was a male. We then had a brief glimpse across the field of a wading birds. From the overall shape and the distinct white rump, we concluded that it must have been a Redshank – not a place I would expect to see one, so we assume it was just breaking its journey to more appropriate habitat.
9th Oct. The sunny afternoon brought a Brimstone butterfly into the garden. 10th Oct. I had perhaps the last run of our moth trap this autumn. Not many were attracted this time, but I did find our first Dark Chestnut moth and a first Caddis Fly.
Mid August 2021 to mid September 2021
A problem knee curtailed my activities in the early part of August, but we did manage to start walking again later in the month.
23rd Aug. In the evening a stag and a doe Roe Deer were standing in a field of wheat by the footpath to Coughton. On our return walk I noticed a deceased, but externally undamaged, rodent on the path. I tried the “Seek” app on our smartphone and that confirmed it to be a Bank Vole. These common animals form a significant part of the diet of Owls and Kestrels.
21st Aug. On this warm day there was an irruption of flying ants, which did not go unnoticed by a Green Woodpecker that used our neighbour’s pergola as a perch from which to observe our garden for the best source of ants.
25th Aug. I tried another run of the moth trap and caught many Large Yellow Underwings, Common Wainscots and a Setaceous Hebrew Character. The last named sounds exotic, but as with the others is a common moth. On a walk through the woods, we noticed two pairs of Fallow Deer and some attractive patches of Common Heather in flower.
28th Aug. An afternoon walk in the woods started well with a Fallow Deer then a multitude of Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper butterflies. We were then quite surprised to see a couple of Willow Warblers seeking their insect prey at ground level instead of in the tree canopy as usual. As we watched them our attention was attracted by movement above, which we found to be a party of four Spotted Flycatchers performing their graceful aerial feeding manoeuvres.
2nd Sept. We noticed a rather attractive patch of greenish fungi which the app “Seek” identified as a member of the Boletus family.
5th Sept. Many Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies were visiting the buddleia flowers and a Brimstone also appeared in the garden.
10th Sept. Three Nuthatches appeared on our patio – a family group perhaps. They then took it in turns to feed on black sunflower seeds. It was a treat to see such attractive little birds at close quarters.
Mid July 2021 to mid August 2021
The weather has continued to be rather mixed, but there have been enough sunny days to ensure that plenty of butterflies have been on the wing.
19th July. A pristine Comma butterfly visited our garden.
23rd July. A sunny day with many butterflies in the garden. These included Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Meadow Browns. Gatekeepers and freshly emerged Brimstone.
25th July. I read that Greenfinch numbers have fallen significantly in recent years, so it was pleasing to see at least eight queueing for access to sunflower seeds early in the day.
27th July. Our neighbour witnessed a confrontation between a Magpie and a Green Woodpecker in his garden. He has also seen the first Hedgehog in the garden for several years.
1st Aug. Buzzards were very noisy in the field behind us. I gather that at this time of year parents are trying to persuade juveniles to move on, so that could be the cause.
4th Aug. Three Wrens spent a long time exploring the pot plants on our patio. One seemed to be begging for food, so presumably it was a family party.
Buddleia bushes are now well in flower and today have attracted good numbers of Peacocks and Red Admirals. Several Gatekeepers were feeding on marjoram and solidago flowers.
7th Aug. A large party of Greenfinches were back to feed on sunflower seeds, and bird numbers were augmented by Blue & Great Tits, Chaffinches and Goldfinches. Unfortunately, the number of small birds attracted the attention of a Sparrowhawk, although we didn’t see which species it caught. At least it flew off with its meal so that we were spared the sight of it plucking and consuming its prey.
9th Aug. We had our first walk through the woods for a couple of weeks and noticed a few Silver-washed Fritillaries and some rather worn looking Speckled Woods. The warblers have at last fallen silent as the breeding season has ended.
Mid June 2021 to mid July 2021
The past four weeks have delivered rather variable weather, but the field and woodland footpaths have dried sufficiently for safe walks, and sunshine has brought out butterflies in good numbers.
18th June. Our evening walk through Coughton Park wood was enhanced by the fragrance of honeysuckle blossom and a view of a couple of Hares.
20th June. On an afternoon footpath walk to Coughton we found ourselves surrounded by low-flying House Martins. We had previously seen very few of this species this summer.
21st June. We had in the garden a pair of Carrion Crows feeding a juvenile with fallout from the seed feeders and whatever else they were able to find in the grass.
22nd June. Pristine Small Tortoiseshell butterflies appeared in our garden today.
24th June. I spotted my first Ringlet butterfly of the summer in the woodland.
25th June. Ringlets are now on the wing on the Monarch’s Way, and we saw our first Silver-washed Fritillary butterfly from the woodland bridleway. Chiffchaff singing was heard quite frequently.
27th June. A Muntjac was on the bridleway and the songs of Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were audible.
2nd July. As we walked the footpath near Sambourne Hall Farm, a Barn Owl appeared and set off on a hunt across the fields.
3rd July. Our neighbour Paul mentioned having seen a Marbled White butterfly on the footpath to Coughton. We then walked the path and counted about a dozen of the species – the first we had seen this year. We went on to see a Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshells, Small Skippers, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and Ringlets. One Six-spot Burnet Moth was also present. During the afternoon, a flock of Swifts were zooming around above our house. We were pleased to see them as they are now becoming quite a rare sight.
7th July. Our morning walk through the woodland was rewarded with our first sighting this year of a White Admiral butterfly. Silver-washed Fritillaries were also present, and I was pleased to be able to identify a female Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly).
9th July. In the woodland I had another sighting of a White Admiral.
13th July. By the footpath to Coughton up to twelve Marbled Whites were visible in one small area, and a Comma butterfly was nearby.
16th July. We stood with a couple of friends in our back garden watching a flock of Swallows hunting overhead when I noticed a couple of larger, dark birds, like giant Swifts, appear above them. I recognised these as Hobbys – a species of falcon that visits us in summer and feeds on large insects and birds such as Swallows and Martins. Quite a thrill and great for impressing our friends!
Mid May 2021 to mid June 2021
I would like to start these notes with a plea to dog-walkers. If you watched the recent “Springwatch” programmes you might have heard Chris Packham urging people to keep dogs on leads and not allow them to run through crops or across fields, particularly at this time of year, to prevent them from disturbing ground-nesting birds. Species such as Skylarks and Lapwings are very vulnerable to this.
17th May. Over a field beside Coughton Lane we noticed Lapwings chasing gulls, then spotted several Lapwings sitting on the ground, presumably on nests.
18th May. A Kestrel was hovering above a ditch in Wike Lane.
23rd May. Pete saw a Red Kite flying above Astwood Bank cricket club.
27th May. On an evening walk over the fields to Coughton we saw a fine Fox, a Hare, four Herons in flight, three Linnets, a Green Woodpecker, and a Roe Deer.
30th May. Peter, from Coughton, has seen a Great Crested Grebe with chicks near Coughton Court. We spotted three Hares near Coughton Park woods.
1st June. On an evening walk to Coughton we glimpsed a Fox, saw two Roe Deer, heard a Yellowhammer, and had fine views of two Whitethroats.
2nd June. A morning walk to Coughton delivered many damselflies, particularly Beautiful Demoiselles, and a Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly. Butterflies, including Orange Tip and Small Heath were also active. We noticed a Roe Deer watching us suspiciously.
3rd June. While we sat in the garden of the Green Dragon having our first post-lockdown beers, the pleasure was enhanced by a Swift and a House Martin flying overhead. This was the first time we had seen either species this year.
6th June. Roy sent a photograph of a young Fox standing on top of a fence and sniffing at a nest box in a neighbour’s garden. Chris reported having seen a Blackbird attacking a Jay that it presumably saw as a potential predator on its eggs or chicks. In the evening, as we stood by the woods watching and listening to a couple of aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, we noticed two Hares feeding in the field in front.
7th June. We had good, long views of a Red Kite soaring over the trees as we walked to Coughton. A Painted Lady butterfly visited aubretia flowers in our garden.
11th June. The Monarch’s Way footpath passes through a flower meadow to the south of Astwood Bank. Several Common Spotted Orchids are in flower there.
13th June. Two adult and two juvenile Carrion Crows spent more than an hour and a half probing our lawn for food.
17th June. David described some encounters on his dog walks not far from the Village Green, which included a fine Fox, some Hares, and a Mallard with her family of ducklings.
During the period of fine, warm weather this month I have had the first runs of my moth trap with reasonable success. Top prize would have to go to the Elephant Hawk, being so large and colourful, but just as interesting have been the Buff Tip moths that so resemble twigs, and the subtly marked Pale Tussocks. I’m still trying to identify some of the species, but so far they have all be quite common. Naturally, all have been released the following day.
Mid April 2021 to mid May 2021
The weather for the period covered by these notes included the cold and very dry end to April and the wet and still quite cold first half of May. Fortunately, the joys of spring have still managed to arrive.
18th April. An Orange-tip butterfly visited the garden and Speckled Wood butterflies were now in good numbers in the woods. Coal Tits were feeding in the birch trees.
19th April. A Yellowhammer and three Linnets were in the hedgerow beside the field footpath to Astwood Bank.
22nd April. Two Lesser Redpolls visited our frosty garden to feed on the lawn then sunflower hearts. Two Whitethroats were on the hedge by the driveway to Sambourne Warren.
29th April. Cowslips were in flower in a field beside the Monarch’s Way. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat was singing. We had clear views of a couple of Whitethroats by Astwood Bank cricket ground.
30th April. The verges of the Evesham Bypass had its annual display of cowslips to brighten a journey.
1st May. A Garden warbler was singing in Coughton Park Woods. The “Seek” ap on our phone identified Greater Stitchwort flowers for us – a common plant now flowering in the woodland and verges.
2nd May. Two Swallows flew over our garden – the first we have seen this spring. I spotted a Blackcap that was singing in the garden of Perrymill Farm.
5th May. We saw more Swallows over Coughton Lane and perched on wires over our garden.
7th May. I was surprised to see a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on aubretia flowers in our garden. We have rarely seen one in our garden and I read that they don’t normally appear on the wing until June.
9th May. I was amused by a male Chaffinch attacking its own reflection in a neighbour’s car door mirror.
10th May. Nick reported that at 6am he watched a Muntjac trotting down Perrymill Lane and exploring each garden. He went on to say that at 7.30am, from his garden, he heard a Cuckoo calling – the first report this spring. A few minutes later we heard a Cuckoo call near Sambourne Hall Farm. Heather reported hearing (presumably) the same bird a short time after. Later in our walk we spotted a pair of Bullfinches in Oak Tree Lane.
11th May. From our back garden we heard a Cuckoo calling nearby.
14th May. A rare sight in our garden these days, a small flock of young Starlings sought a meal in our lawn.
Mid March 2021 to mid April 2021
Although the weather this month has been unseasonably chilly, there have been some beautiful calm spring days to coax out the butterflies and encourage the birdsong.
22nd March. From the footbridge across the River Arrow at Coughton we noticed a couple of ducks in the water some distance upstream. One was distinctly black and white. Before I could get binoculars on them they took off, but Sue was quicker and could see the other bird had a distinctly brown head. The only conclusion then was that it was a pair of Goosanders – not a species we’ve ever seen before in the area. I contacted the county bird recorder who told me he was not surprised to hear this as birds have recently been seen between Bidford and Welford on the River Avon.
24th March. As we walked along Coughton Fields Lane beyond the ford we spotted an interesting plant growing in the verge. I used the “Seek” app on our phone and it informed me that the plant was Butterbur. I read that its name comes from the fact that in the past its large heart-shaped leaves were used to wrap butter in warm weather. The song of Chiffchaffs could be heard for most of our walk to and from Coughton. A Brimstone butterfly was present in our garden.
25th March. We noticed many white and purple violets in Dark Lane, Astwood Bank.
27th March. We spotted two male Yellowhammers in Coughton Lane, Coughton.
29th March. A Peacock butterfly was on the bridleway in Coughton Park wood.
30th March. Primroses seemed to be at their peak in the woodland. We were delighted to see a Hare in a field beside the wood. Peacock butterflies appeared in our garden today.
2nd April. On our walk along The Monarch’s Way and through the woods we saw and stopped to listen to three Blackcaps singing in the bushes. Many Chiffchaffs were singing, and we watched one foraging amongst blackthorn blossom. We also had our first Orange Tip Butterfly sighting of the year. Many tadpoles were swimming in a large puddle in the woods.
3rd April. Two Siskins visited the sunflower hearts feeder in our garden. We spotted two Linnets in the hedgerow beside the footpath to Astwood Bank.
7th April. I noticed Cowslips in flower at the edge of the recreation ground. It would be interesting to know if these were self-seeded or part of recent plantings by parents and children.
13th April. We heard a Whitethroat singing near the ford at Coughton.
14th April. A Willow Warbler was singing in the woodland. Pete reported having seen House Martins over his Middletown Lane garden and Buzzards nesting in a tree nearby.
17th April. The early morning sunshine brought more butterflies out on the wing and we saw several Speckled Woods and a Green-veined White on our walk through the woods. A party of four Fallow Deer crossed the path ahead of us.
Mid February 2021 to mid March 2021
This has been the month when the transition from winter to spring has become apparent to bring us much cheer from the gloom of the pandemic.
21st Feb. Several Song Thrushes were singing and were audible from Perrymill Lane almost to Coughton along Wike Lane. A field off Wike Lane had 30+ Greylag and Canada Geese grazing. Adam mentioned having seen a Kingfisher by the brook below the end of Perrymill Lane – the first he’s seen there since he was a boy (only yesterday!)
22nd Feb. In Coughton Lane, at the start of the drive to Coughton Lodge Farm, we spotted a flock of around six Yellowhammers, and a Cormorant was perched in a tree near the farmhouse.
23rd Feb. Justin mentioned having seen four Little Egrets in a field off Sambourne Lane. Frances later reported the same.
24th Feb. Celandines are adding some colour to the verges in Wike Lane.
25th Feb. A mixed flock of Siskins and Redpolls were feeding in birch trees in Wike Lane. A flock of Fieldfares and Redwings were feeding in a field off Coughton Lane, Coughton.
4th March. After a lengthy absence from our garden, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, three of each, have visited the sunflower seed feeders today.
7th March. As I pottered in the garden my attention was attracted by the mewing call of a Buzzard. Five were circling overhead at a variety of altitudes – one quite low and the highest hardly visible.
8th March. A Kestrel was perched in a tree at the Alcester Heath end of Coughton Lane.
9th March. Pussy willow is now becoming apparent in the hedgerows.
13th March. More Greenfinches and Goldfinches were visiting the garden feeders and a Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the peanuts.
14th March. In Wike Lane Sue heard the first Chiffchaff of the spring, but unfortunately my inferior hearing couldn’t pick it up. A Muntjac crossed the road in front of us. We watched a Skylark preforming its song flight by Coughton Lane.
15th March. Blackthorn is now coming into blossom in the hedgerows.
16th March. Although still not audible to me, Sue could hear more Chiffchaff singing beyond the ford at Coughton.
17th March. Having presumably been temporarily woken from hibernation, a Peacock butterfly has now settled in a very vulnerable location by our utility room door.
18th March. Eight Lapwings were feeding in a field off Coughton Lane. These birds are no longer a common sight around us having suffered a significant decline in numbers. Pussy willow is now starting to develop it’s lovely yellow display of pollen. A brief spell of sunshine this afternoon raised the temperature a little and resulted in the welcome sight of a pristine Brimstone butterfly in our garden.
Mid January 2021 to mid February 2021
I have read recently how numbers of our common garden birds have been dwindling and this was really brought home to me when I carried out a count for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. One benefit of keeping these jottings is that I can now look back over several years and I see that in the 2018 birdwatch I recorded 16 species in the garden. This year I managed just 10 and those were in much smaller numbers than 2018. It is a worry.
19th Jan. As we walked into Coughton along Sambourne Lane a Fox emerged from the hedgerow and trotted down the lane before disappearing by the cemetery.
20th Jan. A Sparrowhawk surveyed the garden from our fence before flying off in search of a meal elsewhere
27th Jan. A walk along Wike Lane often provides a variety of birdlife in the line of trees and bushes. Today in one spot we found Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, a Treecreeper, and a Nuthatch.
5th Feb. Peter reported having seen three Cormorants near Coughton Court and Matt mentioned having seen a Red Kite over his Coughton Lane home. A couple of other Coughton residents have mentioned seeing a Red Kite overhead recently. Catkins are becoming more obvious in the hedgerows and we spotted the first signs of wild garlic in the verges.
6th Feb. A fellow walker in Wike Lane mentioned having had her attention attracted by distinctive bird song farther down the lane. From her description I’m sure it was a Song Thrush, and it was in an area where we have often heard one singing. We spotted five Yellowhammers on a hedgerow in Coughton Lane. We arrived home from our walk to find a male Sparrowhawk perched comfortably on our garden fence. It stayed for at least half an hour before moving on.
9th Feb. A small flock of Siskins was active in the stand of larch trees by the entrance to Coughton Lodge Farm.
10th Feb. The cold weather brought a Redwing into our garden where it spent a few minutes feeding on the lawn.
14th Feb. We were pleased to see a Song Thrush in our back garden hedge, from where it moved into the flower border to search for food. Sadly, they are now quite rare visitors to our garden.
Mid December 2020 to mid January 2021
Our involvement with the natural world has inevitably continued to be limited to the lanes around Sambourne and Coughton, and our own garden. However, there is still great pleasure to be obtained from observing the more “everyday” species.
22nd Dec. Several Yellowhammers occupied trees by a barn in Coughton Lane.
31st dec. A mixed flock of more than 100 corvids (Jackdaws, Crows and Rooks) were feeding in a field beside the footpath to Coughton. We stopped to watch a Dunnock in the hedgerow. Easily dismissed as “little brown jobs” they are most attractive birds when viewed in good light that shows off the contrasting grey and brown plumage.
2nd Jan. For the first time this winter I noticed two Siskins visiting our sunflower heart feeder. They soon departed and were replaced by a party of Long-tailed Tits.
5th Jan. We had another Yellowhammer sighting in Coughton Lane.
9th Jan. A Song Thrush flew from a tree in Sambourne Lane and a Great Tit was calling clearly in Wike Lane.
Chris described the technique of a Blackbird in his Middletown Lane garden using a fatball as a pendulum, taking a peck each time the fatball swung towards it.
13th Jan. A flock of about 10 Starlings were feeding in the field behind our garden. To my mind this is worthy of comment because Starlings are no longer a common sight for us.
15th Jan. A sad occasion caused us to head south to Somerset on an essential journey. The journey was slightly brightened in both directions by the sight of a Red Kite flying overhead near Beckford.
17th Jan. A few Meadow Pipits and Yellowhammers were visible in the trees by the barn in Coughton Lane.
18th Jan. After a period of intermittent visits to the garden by a Great Spotted Woodpecker, today we had a male and a female feeding on the sunflower hearts and peanuts, and having a peck at the bark of our old apple tree.
19th Jan. We had a good view of a Mistle Thrush and a Song Thrush close together in a tree in Wike Lane. This gave a great opportunity to compare the size and the markings of the two species.
Although the time for the Big Garden Birdwatch will have passed by the time you read this, I hope anyone interested will have taken part. What better way to spend the enforced time at home than taking an hour to see what visits your garden?