April 2015 Nature Notes

Birds

I caught a shot of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) feeding from the seed feeder whilst standing on the bird table.

Plants

 We had a bit of luck in that we were able to keep a Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) alive all winter and it is now flowering. I have never seen one flower before. They usually die within the first couple of weeks of getting them home.

Some sort of strange daisy that appeared in my lawn. I dug it out and put it in the wild lawn where it won't get mowed.

Nature Notes: February 2015

Birds

The long tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) continue to visit the garden and seven of them were spotted at the feeders on the 8th.

We are also doing well for goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) with seven spotted on the 28th.
Two robins (Erithacus rubecula) were at the feeders at the same time which is quite strange as they are very territorial. Perhaps they were male and female getting ready to nest? I did see one collecting nesting material on the 8th which was a sunny day.

Our pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) has survived the shooting season and returns most mornings to peck around the ground under the feeders.

The early life of a pheasant is one of privilege and protection, all competitors are persecuted and food is served in the safe confines of your pen. Then comes the shooting season and life changes dramatically like a Romanov royal.

Nature Notes: November 2014

Birds

With the shorter days came less time for viewing nature. 

November was rather grey, wet and mild. 

However the cooler shorter days are bringing the birds back to the garden. All the usual species are back in at least low numbers, except the greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), which has only been spotted once this month. I also don't see them on my local walks either.

I did see a bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) at Junk Woods on the morning of the first.

A mixed flock of sparrows often dominate the bird table. They seem to be about 60% house (Passer domesticus) and 40% tree (Passer montanus). There is also the odd hedge sparrow or dunnock (Prunella modularis) which is a more solitary individual.

I spotted at least five goosanders (Mergus merganser) on the River Wharfe at Tadcaster, 

Goosander 

Three buzzards (Buteo buteo) at B woods, and a murmuration of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)at the flyover. I spent some time filming the murmuration on the afternoon of the 29^th. They started about 15:50 and it was all over by 16:30. They dropped out of the sky to roost in the shrubs around the pond. There must have been about 500 of them. Quite a spectacular spectacle.

Whilst this was going on there was a kestrel hunting in the field nearby.

Cock pheasant through the kitchen window

Mammals

A tortoiseshell cat was seen in the garden on the 1^st but after a couple of other visits has now disappeared again.

Although we used to have rabbits in the garden every day in the summer they are now a very rare occurrence, only one has been spotted in the last couple of months.

Plants

I took some photographs of plants that were still in flower on the last day of the month. I suppose this is testament to the mild weather.

Buttercup in perspective

Nasturtium

Geranium

Fungi

The wet weather has also been good for the fungi.

Part of the fairy ring?

The common name of Auricularia auricula-judae - 'Jew's Ear'-may have come from 'Judas' Ear'. This refers to a common belief that Judas hanged himself from an elder tree, the common host of this fungus.

Winter sunlight captured through a fallen sycamore leaf