Wild About the Valley 2010

Feb 19th

With spring just around the corner, lighter nights and hopefully warmer days, mother nature begins to shed her winter coat. With Snowdrops already out in a nice display at Lockeridge House and odd bunches in hedgerows along our country lanes, Crocus and Aconite begin to flower and Daffodils and Tulips begin to show their sword like spikes (I know Tulips aren’t sword like but I couldn’t find a better word). Catkins are out on the hazel nut getting ready to pollinate the little red female flowers, baby rabbits have already been seen along our country lanes, Rooks are building their nests and repairing old ones and Grey Partridge are already paired off. Mallard should be nesting at the end of February, the Song Thrush has begun to sing its melodious song claiming its territory and trying to attract a partner. The song thrush has more notes in its song than any other British bird. Bullfinches are attacking the unopened flower buds of the cherry and apple trees, two were in my garden four days on the trot—that’s only the second time they have visited in nearly 40 years!
Jumping, chasing and sparring, watch out for the Mad March Hare performing their mating ritual from the middle of March.
Spring is a wonderful time of the year. The heavy snow in January brought plenty of birds into the gardens, in my own I had 21 Blackbirds (some were continental), 11 Fieldfare, 4 Robins, 5 Yellowhammer, 1 Brambling, 8 Long Tailed Tits and one Song Thrush plus many other regulars.
On Jan 2nd two Goldcrests and on Jan 25th a Red Kite flew over. During the snow a Barn Owl was hunting on West Kennett Avenue whilst three Tawny Owls were calling at the end of Jan.

A list of the birds seen at the Lockeridge feeding stations:
30 Siskins (40 on Jan 9th)
 2 Mistle Thrush
 6 Grey Partridge at Devils Den
 8 Goldfinch
 7 Greenfinch
 1 Brambling
 1 Red Kite over East Kennett
 2 Tree Sparrows
 4 Song Thrush
 2 Tawny Owls

At Fyfield:
14 Longtailed Tits
 3 Tawny Owls
70 - 100 Fieldfare

 Derek Hartshorn 19th Feb