Shovelers

Yesterday I drove twenty miles to Bough Beech to see interesting wildfowl; this morning I walked down to the local lake and within minutes saw a small flock of Shoveler Ducks. These ducks can be found here in small numbers in the summer, but it is likely that these birds are migrants form the north. They soon took to the air when their extraordinarily large beaks become very apparent. They are surface feeders, sifting the water for small invertebrates and some vegetable matter. On the same stretch of water, the number of Pochard had increased significantly. This small lake would be absolutely idyllic but for the fact that the M20 motorway runs nearby. With your ears covered, you could easily be beside one of the many small lakes in the Algonquin. The waterside reeds could hold a population of Bearded Reedlings but, unfortunately none have been found there as yet.

Bough Beech

As I approached the reservoir, I was welcomed by the evocative whistle of the Widgeon. These birds had probably flown down from Scandinavia, though this appeared to be a relatively small group, unlike the large number of geese present. The ones that I could positively identify were Greylag Geese.
How different these birds were to the ones found on the local gravel pit. These were clearly migrants and were truly wild. Walking beyond the reserve on the public footpaths, I got some good views, but, at one stage the birds were disturbed (possibly by the sight of Dylan (dog). A huge clattering sound ensued, as over a hundred birds suddenly took to the air. The birds soon settled back down and settled into very definable separate flotillas. The sound of their calling was reminiscent of wilder places than this Kent reservoir, but a magnificent sight for all that.
Walking across the fields I came across a mixed flock of Rewings and Fieldfares feeding on the Sloe berries. A buzzard floated over whilst underfoot was evidence of the passage of several deer. It was another grey day but enlightened by the delights of the natural world.

Mistle Thrush

Saw a Mistle Thrush chasing a Wood Pigeon. The pigeon was no threat to the thrush but at this time of year, the Mistle Thrush can become very territorial. They are the earliest of the thrushes to breed, and although it will be two or three months before they have eggs, this pair are clearly keen on establishing their territory even at this early stage in the proceedings. They get their name of course, from their habit of eating Mistletoe. This plant grows in profusion in this area though. for the most part, it is unreachable, often growing at a great height amongst the poplars. This is a common tree as it was used in past years by the fruit growers as a wind break. The thrushes will have no difficulty in reaching the white berries and when they pass the seeds through their digestive system, or, wipe their beaks to get rid of the sticky residue from the berry, they help to propagate the plant on new trees and branches.
These thrushes have not been doing well recently in the UK and so it is pleasing to see that a pair continues to occupy this area and is preparing for another breeding season.

Moles

Back in Kent and find that the moles have been very active in my absence. It may well be that the drier weather has left the soil in a better condition for their burrowing. The piles of soil they produce (mole hills). are there to allow air to be drawn into the tunnel for ventilation purposes. If you find an extra large mole hill in the spring or early summer, this could be where the young have been born.
I have a discovered more than one dead mole on the surface this year. I suspect that they have been killed by foxes. The fox will kill a mole but refuse to eat it. It is generally thought that this has something to do with the fur of the mole which apparently is unpleasant for the fox when it attempts to swallow the carcass.
The major enemy of the mole is man. In one nearby field, traps are regularly put out with a fair degree of success, which limits the numbers of moles in that particular field. I quite like them, and believe that they are important elements to our eco-system, particularly as they aerate the land. Some of them will shortly be making their annual migration to the woods where they seem to be better able to survive the rigours that winter brings.

Symonds Yat

The river flows quickly, forcing the Mallard to seek the little backwaters. Only the odd Cormorant is seen in the main stream.
The real interest at this time of year can come as evening closes in. Walking last night through the woods that skirt the river, I was regaled with a chorus of Tawny Owls. Now is the time for these birds to be establishing their territories and they repeatedly called across the valley. The woods here, both on the Gloucestershire side of the river and on the Herefordshire side, are old and mixed. They offer a range of nesting opportunities for the owls, whilst the wide forest rides afford a good environment for their main prey; voles. They may be hard to see, although one bird has a habit of nesting in a tree that overhangs the entrance to one of the many caves in the area, so listening to them on a cold night can be the main means of counting these birds. Driving round to Symonds Yat Rock this morning, hoping to catch sight of a a Peregrine Falcon, we witnessed a Buzzard on a road kill Pheasant. As the car approached, the bird tried in vain to drag its meal away. I am sure it quickly returned to its meal once we had passed,

Forest of Dean

Spent most of today in the Forest of Dean. Walked for miles, first in the Speech House woods and then in the Sculpture Trail. Failed to see any wild boar.
Everywhere you walk there is evidence of the presence of these creatures. They are incredible earth movers and wherever the ground is soft enough, they will have used their snouts to plough into it. Road and path side verges are particularly prone to their attentions. A close examination of one area revealed several large acorns and some sweet chestnuts, so, the motivation for their landscaping activities is very apparent. But although evidence for their abundant presence is everywhere to be seen, I have yet to set eyes on one. They are largely nocturnal and tend to lie up in hollows and areas of deep bracken  to avoid detection during daylight hours.
One thing I did see in the late afternoon sun was a flock of Crossbills. Known to frequent this area they were still a very pleasant surprise. The flock consisted of both males resplendent in their red plumage and rather more subtly coloured green females. I did not witness their unique form of feeding as these birds were more intent on flying down to a small pool to drink. They can be found breeding very early in the year and could well disperse into their pairs in the next few weeks. I hope to be back to witness their mating displays.

Journeying

The natural world impinges upon our lives, even in the most unexpected of places. Stopping at the Chieveley Services on the M4, we ate sandwiches in the car watching three rabbits feeding on a nearby plantation. Before long, a Red Kite flew over, though this did not disturb the rabbits in any way. Otherwise, it soon became apparent when taking Dylan for some exercise, that another form of rodent makes its home around the service area; rats. These unwelcome visitors were evident from a number of holes in the embankment and the numerous bait stations that were strategically placed. The amount of rubbish that collects around the periphery of the area is no doubt one of the attractions for these creatures, and it beholds the company to take more care of their immediate environment.
Two more Red Kites were seen low over the motorway as we continued our journey west. These birds have been introduced from Sweden and from once being an extremely rare sight, they are now commonly seen across many parts of the country.
As we got close to our destination, we came across a field presenting a most extraordinary sight. Dotted around the field must have been thirty to forty Mute Swans. Close to the river it may have been but such a collection of these birds is very unusual in my experience.

Greylag Geese

I took Dylan down to the lakes at dusk today and was immediately rewarded with the sight of skeins of Greylag Geese taking off from the water to seek out night time feeding grounds. Calling as they went, and flying towards the sunset, this was a truly wild experience.
A little later, mixed flocks of Jackdaws, Rooks and Crows flew in the opposite direction, the evocative contact calls of the Daws the only audible sound. The rabbits were emerging from their hiding places though these had been drastically reduced by the Park authorities who had mown many of the areas of rough ground. Tall grasses, and teazles were cut down to produce a sterile area. Some magpies and gulls were taking the opportunity to scour the ground to discover what tasty morsels the mower might have revealed. The behaviour was reminiscent of the birds in other parts of the world who pick off insects and small creatures escaping an oncoming bush fire. I trust that the herbage will regrow in time to provide cover for the Whitethroats which inhabit this area through spring and summer. The cuttings have been piled up to provide large compost heaps, which themselves should provide a habitat for some creatures.

Fieldfares

A flock of thirty to forty Fieldfares flew over today, by far the largest group I had seen this autumn. Whilst the ground remains unfrozen, these birds will generally feed on the open pastures, finding invertebrates. Seeing them moving across a field is like watching a group of clockwork toys. They tend to be evenly spaced and each bird will move approximately the same distance and in the same direction. That seems to be a very efficient way to cover an area of ground leaving few parts unexamined. These are quite large thrushes, similar in size to the Mistle Thrush and therefore considerably larger than either the Redwing or Song Thrush.
These birds were almost certainly from northern Scandinavia. I have observed them in Iceland, where they are birds of the tundra, nesting on the ground. Their plumage appears to be very colourful when set against our green fields, but in their breeding haunts, they blend well with the brown and grey background. I have also seen them breeding in Reykjavik, where they adopt behaviour very similar to our nesting thrushes. If you cannot identify them by sight, their characteristic chattering call is unlike any other bird and is uttered when either on the ground or in flight.
They have been recorded breeding in northern Scotland, but otherwise, are winter visitors to our shores.

6 Blackbirds

The day started with some of the worst weather of the autumn so far, strong winds and heavy rain. As I sat in the warmth of the conservatory I was astonished to see six Blackbirds fly into our relatively small garden. Given that there was a great deal of chasing backwards and forwards, I suspect that the resident pair was desperately attempting to protect their territory. All in all, there were four cocks and two hens. I have never previously seen more than three Blackbirds together in the garden. It soon became apparent what was attracting these interlopers as they joined several Starlings in our Rowan tree and began to devour the berries.
It is very likely that some of these birds were migrants from the continent, temporarily boosting the numbers and exploiting the rich harvest of wild fruits that currently abound the hedgerows and gardens. They did not stay long possibly due to the defensive tactics of the resident pair.

Pochard

I went down to the Hotel lake today and saw a flotilla of about twelve Pochard. Amongst the usual crowd of Mallard, Coots and Moorhens, the Pochard stood out. This can be particularly said of the males with their beautiful red/brown heads in contrast to their silvery grey backs.
It was a lovely autumnal day with blue skies and a crisp atmosphere, the new ducks are a further indication that winter is on its way. These individuals have probably flown in from Russia and are likely spend the winter here. They feed mainly on small fish and crustacea and will probably find plenty of food in the lake.
Beside the lake is a flooded wood and the tangled mass of trees and their branches provides excellent cover for Mallard who seem to delight in dabbling amongst these dark shaded places.

Magpies

There are few birds around at the moment. The winter migrants have only just begun to show. I have seen a small flock of Fieldfare and a small flock of Redwings within the last week, but the Chaffinches which normally abound at this time of year have yet to appear and the flocks of goldfinches which just a few weeks ago were feeding on the thistles have dispersed.

One bird you can guarantee to see is the ubiquitous Magpie. The population of this species has mushroomed over the last twenty years. There could be numerous reasons for this, but in this area, I suspect that the fall in gamekeeper control has been a major factor.

The Magpie is in many ways an enigma. Seen in sunlight, the full splendour of its glossy plumage becomes apparent. No longer simply the pied bird with a long tale; the blues and greens give it a hint of the tropical. But, make no mistake, there is nothing romantic about this bird, which regularly predates the nests of other birds, taking both eggs and young. But, it does not stop there. This last summer I witnessed a Magpie attacking young Starlings. These were fully fledged birds in their first day or two out of the nest. The Magpie repeatedly flew at a youngster, aiming its beak at the head of the immature bird. As much as the young Starling attempted to escape, the Magpie pursued it relentlessly and the end result was inevitable. 

So, it may be beautiful, it can be very sociable amongst its own kind, but it is also an opportunistic killer.

Trout

The little stream that borders the wood, is running quite high but very clear at the moment. I was delighted this morning to see a trout in one of the slower moving sections of water. Not large, probably no more than 8 inches, it was nevertheless a very welcome sight. I have previously seen larger specimens  upstream of this point where the stream still flows through the sluices of a now defunct water mill, but none previously in this wooded section. As I also saw the Little Egret again, it appears that the stream offers a great deal of Crustacea and small fish to provide food for these predators.
The stream has some holes in its banks very reminiscent of the holes made by water voles. I have yet to see one here and it appears to be a most unprepossessing environment for these creatures. I have only previously come across them where running water flows through open ground and, in the wood, there is little opportunity for rushes and the like to grow. Although the voles can be quite catholic in their food tastes, there is little at all here on offer for them. Near the mill stream, there is reputedly a small population of voles, though I have yet to see one there. I shall continue to keep a watch out for them. The usual indication of their presence is when you here a 'plop' as they submerge. So, I shall keep my eyes and ears open.

Greenfinch

I saw a Greenfinch today. Nothing extraordinary in that you might think; for, this usually common finch has become a regular visitor to garden feeding stations. However, this was the first of its kind I have seen for some months. The reason for this is that the local population appear to have been decimated by the disease Trichomonosis. This fatal ailment is spread by a parasite that lives in the throat and crop of the bird and is spread through bird to bird contact and also through sick birds regurgitating food that then becomes available to others.
The spring and summer in these parts are usually the time when the nasal call of the male greenfinch becomes a general background sound, with dozens of pairs nesting in the locality. The male also engages in a courtship and territorial display flight which makes his presence very apparent. Alas, not one bird has been displaying in this way over the last summer months. It is only to be hoped that this attractive and accommodating finch will prove to be ultimately resilient to the disease and will rapidly re-colonise its old haunts.

North Downs

The Downs lie just a few miles east of the village. It would be a pleasant walk but for the fact that the M20 motorway lies in the valley between.
I usually walk on the downs when I make a visit to the allotment and need to walk Dylan. We cross rolling fields, which this year have been planted with oil seed rape. These fields are never ploughed between crops, but simply harrowed and sown, using a three crop rotation with wheat or barley and field beans as the two other crops. The rape this year has grown very rapidly in the mild weather, though seed germination appears to have been more spasmodic than is usually the case.
There was a cold wind blowing from the north today and I was thankful to be well wrapped up. As I approached the downs a buzzard, harassed by three crows, drew my attention. These birds disappear from the scene for much of the summer but as now, reappear in the winter. Until recent years, I would have had to travel to Wales or the west country to see these birds, but they have gradually spread further east with each passing year and they undoubtedly now breed in this area. With less persecution, an increased number of rabbits providing a food source, and the elimination of pesticides which weakened their egg-shells, these birds now prosper. It is great to see them effortlessly riding the up draft as the the prevailing wind hits the downs. The turf below them is short cropped due entirely to the efforts of the rabbit population and so the predatory birds should have no difficulty finding sufficient sustenance to see them through the cold months.

Little Egret

Two unusual things happened on my morning walk today. First of all, just a few days after writing that there seemed to be a dearth of hedgehogs this year, I found a second carcass. Sadly this was clearly a young animal and it is possible that it had not attained a weight sufficient to maintain it throughout its hibernation. The weather this autumn has been exceptionally mild, which may well explain why a hedgehog should be out and about well after their usual date for seeking a cosy place to spend the winter. The fact that this was clearly an immature specimen proves that the local population did manage to breed this year, which, given the fact that I had only seen one throughout the whole of the summer is a very pleasant surprise.
Walking beside the stream, I was astonished to see a spectral shape rise to the sky, almost spiralling upwards through the trees. The heron-like shape quickly enabled me to identify this bird as a Little Egret. These birds have, over the last few years, begun to colonise the UK and are, from my perspective, a most welcome addition to our fauna. However, I did not expect to see one so close to home and in a situation that does not appear to hold much attraction for such a bird. Clearly the stream has more to offer in terms of the creatures that live within it, than I had given it credit for.
This evening brought forth a most spectacular sunset.

Encounter with a Swan

Dylan has a tendency to chase any creature that will run from him (though as far as other dogs are concerned, he much prefers to be chased). On visits to the lakes, he sometimes has to be restrained to prevent him from chasing the Canada geese that congregate in large numbers. Recently, he saw something moving amongst the reeds that grow along the stream that meanders between the lakes. Without warning he leapt after what was probably a moorhen. He is no longer frightened of water, but generally prefers to paddle and has rarely swum. It was a shock, I suspect to both of us, when he plunged into the middle of the stream to be momentarily completely submerged. My only concern was that he would have difficulty scrambling up the far bank, but he managed this to emerge a cold and bedraggled dog.
Yesterday, having almost completed a circuit of some of the lakes, he sped off just out of sight. I went to investigate to discover him circling a large, though still immature swan. This bird, unusually, was on dry land and, it was not amused. With outstretched wings and furious hissing, it was keeping Dylan at a safe distance. The dog, for his part, considered it great fun and I doubt very much that he realised the true extent of the danger. Fortunately, the lure of the offer of a biscuit was enough to draw him to a safety.

Rabbits

The field adjoining the wood I habitually refer to as the 'rabbit field'. Apparently, it has been left uncultivated and without pasturage for some years, as it was purchased by a speculator, who then sold off small lots when there was actually no possibility of it being built upon. As such, it has many different owners and the local council is powerless to do anything about it. It is therefore, pretty much left for dog-walking and grazing by rabbits.
This past summer saw an explosion in the rabbit population. Some evenings, at dusk, I would see fifty or sixty rabbits all grazing together and when they moved towards a warren on the edge of the wood, it almost appeared as if the field itself was on the move.
Dylan is half border collie and half whippet. He is very interested in the rabbits, but, he is confused. He wants to chase them but also wishes to herd them. When he springs a rabbit from long grass he will give chase and is equal in speed to to his quarry but, if the rabbit should make a fast turn, as is their wont, the dog is immediately left wanting. Sometimes he even appears to be genuinely confused ("Where did that go?")
 I have seen evidence of myxamatosis amongst the rabbits and this is one of the means by which their numbers are

controlled. The local fox population and occasional visits by buzzards undoubtedly are the main reason why their numbers tend to plummet over the winter only to start up again come the warmer days of spring. This picture shows Dylan with his nose down a rabbit hole.

The Pheasant is dead

Not surprisingly, I discovered the carcass of a dead pheasant in the middle of the road this morning. It was almost certainly the same bird as seen flying down the road the other day. There is a mass slaughter of pheasants on our roads at this time of year. When, in the past, I travelled country lanes into work, I would regularly find dead birds, some of which would end up in the pot. The real waste comes when the birds demise occurs on a motorway, for, anyone considering collecting them as road kill would undoubtedly be risking their own lives, besides breaking the law.
Another waste this autumn has been due to the large quantity of fungi that has gone unpicked. It has been a very productive year; the mild weather combined with sufficient wet weather ensuring the growth of these fruiting plants. Yesterday I consumed a lovely horse mushroom for lunch, and, in earlier weeks I have enjoyed parasol mushrooms and one day collected so many field mushrooms from a nearby nature reserve that I have many of them in soup form in my freezer. Most of these mushrooms were discovered growing on the grass areas in the car park of the reserve and had clearly been fruiting there for some time without being picked.
It is understandable that people should be cautious about this matter, and in France, where collecting is a much more common occurrence, so are fatalities from poisoning. But, if you take care and try some simple tests and only eat the fungi you can be one hundred percent certain of identifying correctly, there should be no problem. Having said that, even after watching me eat them, Daphne, my partner, utterly refuses to partake.

Parakeets

As the village where I live has no allotments, I have to travel about four miles to another village. This means that my allotment is at the foot of the North Downs. I use the plot to grow fruit and vegetables, but, as I have only had it for just over a year and it had previously been uncultivated for several years, I have yet to harvest anything substantial other than potatoes.
This morning was dry and the sun struggled to show itself on occasion, so, I took the opportunity to visit the allotment and spent a couple of hours weeding my asparagus plot amongst other tasks. Usefully employed in this way, I was quite taken aback when I heard a sound which, though familiar to me, had not been witnessed for some time. It was strange, in that this familiar sound did not at first register, it was just a strange bird call, and it was only when two ring-necked parakeets flew across the allotments that the identification finally dawned. Having previously lived in a south London suburb, I was accustomed to the screeches of these birds, indeed they regularly nested in a neighbouring garden, and each dusk it became possible to see small flocks flying over as they headed for their communal roosts.
In many ways, they are delightful birds, adding a real splash of colour to our native fauna, but there is a major downside. Not what you might expect, for I have yet to see them feeding on fruit trees, but they are tree hole nesters and the population of starlings in south London plummeted with their arrival. This fall in numbers may have been due to other factors, but there is little doubt that the parakeets could easily bully the smaller starlings out of their normal nest sites.
It will be interesting to see whether this was just a visitation, (some thirty miles south of where I usually see the parakeets), or, as is more likely, that this is the advance guard of an invasion force.

Pheasants

The other evening as dusk was approaching, Dylan (the dog) and myself flushed a cock pheasant from high in the trees at the edge of the wood. This morning another pheasant (probably the same one) flew from the wood and down the road. It was flying down the middle of the road at just above car height. If a truck or bus had approached, the pheasant would have been killed and other consequences could have been substantial.
At this time of year, the local 'shoots' are in the process of releasing pheasants from the release pens. These birds have little or no idea about survival in the wild. They continue to be fed, and can easily become silly tame. They also wander from their release site. The wood lies well over a mile from the nearest shoot. They have been known to turn up in gardens even in the middle of housing estates.
I have to be careful with Dylan, as these birds tend to run and then fly low over the fields, he is a natural hunter (or, half of one anyway), and so gives chase. He has caught a cock pheasant in the past, but as I do not wish to be accused of poaching, I try to avoid a repeat performance.
These are not native birds of course, reputedly having been brought to the UK by the Romans. I personally doubt that without the regular replenishment of stocks that they would become a permanent feature in our landscape, not, at least in this part of the world. For, although I do sometimes come across broods that have clearly been wild-reared, the number of tooth and claw ranged against them in not inconsiderable.

Today has been yet another wet and blustery day. But the plus side of all this wet weather has been the mild temperatures that have generally prevailed. As a consequence, I have recently seen flowering plants of both red and white campions, evening primrose and even oxeye daisies. All of these plants would normally have gone to seed by now and be returning to their seasonal dormant state.
No doubt the small mammals such as the dormouse stand to benefit as the young in particular will have had more time to add the necessary body weight to see them through the winter. Bats too will have more nights in which to fly and feed. Unfortunately the last winter appears to have sadly depleted the numbers of hedgehogs, and whereas in recent years, several have been seen in the area including our back garden, this year only one male was seen and a few days later, a body (almost certainly the same animal) was to be found by the side of the road.
Just two days ago, I was able to pick one pound of blackberries. I have never done that before in November. Admittedly, these particular plants are unusual even this year. They grow mostly in the shade and the plants hang down from an overgrown (up to 20 feet high) privet hedge. I have yet to see any winter migrant birds, apparently because there is a good berry crop in their native lands; when they do arrive they should find plenty of berries here as the native birds are not consuming them, presumably this is because there are plenty of other foods still available to them.

Spent much of today in France and Belgium. The weather was terrible, with rain and a cold wind. The only bright note was the sight of a field almost covered in Lapwings. These birds have become uncommon in the UK so to see a flock of around 500 all feeding together was something to take especial note of. Seeing these birds took me back to my childhood days in Lancashire. I lived with the Pennines behind the house and the Lancashire/Cheshire plain in front. The local dairy farmer would reseed one of his field each year (a different field each time). Whilst the field was awaiting the new shoots of grass, the lapwings would nest. In a three acre field you could expect to find three or four nests. Discovering the nests was extremely difficult as, although they are merely a shallow scrape in the ground with just a minimal lining of dead grasses, the eggs are very well camouflaged. The other problem was that we would be bombarded by the adult birds who came very close to our heads in their attempts to drive us off the field.
I recently read a scientific paper which suggested that the ideal nesting site for lapwings was a field with a certain degree of slope; I can testify that each year the lapwings bred successfully on a completely flat field. Today in the UK, these birds are mainly considered to be wetland species, but in essence they used to thrive on farmland and it was in such an environment in mid-Wales that I first saw young birds fresh from the nest. These balls of fluff on long legs, are very difficult to spot, and it only becomes possible should they move. I hope to see the return of this species to its former haunts but suspect that there needs to be a significant change in farming practices for that to happen.

The lakes

The British weather is notorious for its variety. Last night brought a veritable deluge and I awoke this morning to another grey dismal day, but within a couple of hours, the sky cleared to a beautiful sunny spectacle.
A five minute drive from the village lies a series of lakes. Only one of the them is of any real size, as they originated as gravel pits. Whilst the largest is utilised for water sports, the remainder are left to nature and the anglers. There is a stream flowing between some of the lakes and this had flooded its banks in places. Some of the footbridges over this stream only just managed to remain above the water level. The area between the lakes are partly left as scrub, and at the right time of year, these can abound with warblers including nightingales. For the moment, the only birds in this area were a few goldfinches, some green woodpeckers, the odd jay and the usual assortment of crows and magpies. The larger stretches of water held some small flotillas of tufted duck, otherwise, there were large numbers of coot, seagull (black headed) and the odd great crested grebe.

Sometimes there is no need to leave your home in order to enjoy what the natural world has to offer. This morning was a case in point. First of all, as I sat eating breakfast in the conservatory, a large heron flew across my view. Landing on a nearby rooftop, it was reminiscent of the storks I have seen in the Czech Republic. These birds often come into the village as a number of gardens, including mine, have small ponds, and, including their natural prey, of frogs and small native fish, they are able to supplement their diet with goldfish. The old gravel pits that lie nearby offer far greater opportunities for these birds, but this one was obviously seeking new sources of food.
Shortly following this encounter, my attention was drawn to a large black bird being chased across the sky by a seagull. It is quite possible that the bird in question was a raven, for, outside of the breeding season, they are sometimes to be seen in this area which is certainly not their natural scene. I can only presume that the bird being chased was carrying food and was being harassed by the seagull in the hope that it would jettison whatever it held. I have not seen this behaviour inland before but can see no other likely explanation.

Woodpeckers

A family of Green Woodpeckers have been around the common for the last few months. There appear to have been four young in the nest and these immature birds, with their dull plumage have remained near their nest site. The wood does not hold many woodpeckers, or nuthatches as the majority of the trees are relatively young and do not provide suitable timber for boring nesting holes. But clearly, one pair have again managed to raise a brood. Most people think of woodpeckers as arboreal creatures, but you are far more likely to see a green woodpecker on the open ground, though they will quickly fly into a tree once disturbed. The reason for this is because their main source of food is provided by the ants which nest in the ground. So these birds spend hours hopping around on their short legs looking for these small creatures and other invertebrates. It will be some time yet before they adopt the more colourful plumage of the adult bird, and then it will become an easier matter to sex them. The red on the head of the male a clear indication.