Deluge Continues

I love being out and about in the countryside with Dylan my dog, however, when you have day after day of cold wet weather, when your cagoule has to be fully pulled over your head and face, and there is little to see or hear, the fun goes out of it. Hence the lack of blogs for the last few days.
This morning there was a little respite. Seeing some small birds across the field, I applied my binoculars but first spotted a green woodpecker. Nothing unusual about that, I regularly see two or three on this particular field. But this male bird was acting in a very strange manner. It was swaying its head from side to side in a most pronounced manner.
Roving my eyes (through the glasses) a little to one side, I saw another green woodpecker. Whether this was a female or one of the immature birds, I could not be sure, but the male, I presume, was either courting it or threatening it.
The other birds turned out to be goldfinches.

Freak Storm

Saturday saw a storm that lasted for little more than ten minutes. The havoc it caused almost amounted to the total damage caused by the all the recent flooding and gales.
There was a strong wind and hail stones (apparently there were also some isolated tornadoes witnessed). Strangely whilst ivy clad trees of all descriptions have been brought down over recent weeks, this storm very largely affected conifers.  I would like to see an explanation for this though can offer none myself.
We were going to a Burns Night supper and had to manage in candlelight as five conifers had come down on the edge of the castle grounds. They managed to bring down power lines besides hitting a parked car. A number of roads locally were blocked on Sunday.

Spring Singers

Two unexpected birds singing today. The first was a greenfinch, which have become rare in this area due to disease. The second was a bullfinch which sings quietly, but was hidden in a hedge just a few yards from me.
It is very early for either of these birds to be singing, though for me the quintessential song of spring is that of the chaffinch. I usually accept that once that birds refrain has been heard, spring has truly arrived,
On the lake were tufted duck, pochard, and a pair of shovellers.

Tits Inspecting Boxes

I have both great and blue tits inspecting nest boxes in the garden. This is not that unusual for the time of year, but may be yet another indication that birds are gearing up for early nesting. As far as I am aware there are several factors that determine nesting times for many of our birds. There are some specific ones for specialised species such as ravens who breed when there is the greatest chance of carrion, that is with the birth of lambs,etc.
The length of daylight hours is important. This is because birds need as many hours as they can get to feed their young. The availability of their food is another factor, and this mild winter has meant that more food has continued to be available than is usually the case.
As far as the tits are concerned, their inspection of the nest boxes may be the beginning of their establishing a territory; it will be when they begin taking nesting material into the boxes that their real intent will become apparent.

Breeding Blackbirds

I reported yesterday that I had seen a blackbird carrying worms and conjectured that this could signify a breeding pair. This morning, I checked out the area and saw a group of magpies in an adjoining garden. One of them had something in its beak which could have been a chick. Two blackbirds were frantically flying around.
So, it is likely that the blackbirds did have a brood but this has been discovered by the magpies.
Saw two separate lots of flowering daffodils today.

Blackbird with Worms

Saw a blackbird today carrying what appeared to be more than one worm in its beak. One worm can be explained by the fact that it simply was taking it away from my presence to consume, more than one worm would signify that this was a parent taking worms to young. As it was close to home, I shall check this out tomorrow to see if there is any evidence of a very early brood.
The goldfinches today were feeding on knapweed. Would have made a good photo, but no camera to hand.

Goldfinches Displaying

Came upon a poacher with his ferrets in the wood today. No one seems to know who owns most of the wood so it does not concern me. What I did find surprising was what first attracted my attention to his presence. It was a strange clicking noise. I soon realised that he had a collar on his ferret and was tracking its progress underground. He had a boy with him about twelve years of age who should have been in school.
Came across a large flock of goldfinches. As some of them rose into a nearby tree, one of the cocks started to display. Moving its body (swaying) from side to side and repeatedly calling. Yet another indication that some of the birds think that spring is here already, although goldfinches are normally late nesting birds, waiting until May before going to nest.
Heard a blackbird singing.

Song Thrushes

I counted six singing song thrushes on my morning walk today. They were still singing when I went for my late afternoon walk. This tells me two things: firstly, there is a healthy population of song thrushes in the area; and, secondly, that the birds have begun to establish their territories in preparation for the breeding season.
A flock of around fifty redwings were quartering the ground on a horse pasture. They maintain the same distance between each bird and then move metronomically across the field. Two pied wagtails and a few chaffiches shared the field with them.
The winds have dislodged a good few dormouse nest boxes. I have tried to repair and replace some, and some I shall relocate to Wedge Wood. It has been interesting to find bedding in the bottom of some of these boxes, though I hope the mice have hibernated elsewhere.

Violets in Flower

Further evidence of the early spring (or very late winter); came with a sight of violets flowering locally. Alongside them were the flowers of a summer flowering plant, aubretia. Though it has to be said that, growing under a hedge as they do, these particular plants usually do flower earlier than normal, but, not this early.
A lot of fieldfares flying around in flocks at the moment. Their behaviour often amuses me as they appear to be heading with some purpose in one direction but then, some individuals will suddenly turn around and head back from whence they came. Quite what this behaviour signifies I do not know.
Visited another flooded sand quarry today, though there were indications that parts of this are permanently under water, with a few bullrushes growing. The path to the quarry had collapsed making a difficult descent and even more difficult ascent on my return. The amount of rain we have had is clearly undermining the fragile geological substrata.

Another Wet Day

At last the media seem to be picking up pon the fact that we have so far experienced an incredibly mild, though wet, winter. I have seen primsoses in flower amongst many other plants which are weeks and months aheaad of schedule. Driving along the M4 yesterday it was very evident that the fields were much greener than would usually be the case at this time of year.
I just wonder what is going to happen if and when the cold weather finally hits?

Otter Feast

Am I imagining things or does the river in flood make less noise than when at its normal level? That is certainly the impression I had this morning whilst walking beside the River Wye at Symonds Yat.
What I found on the bank, where the water had receded a little from the flooding, was  a pile of freshwater mussels. Some had been crushed and their contents consumed, and around them were prints which I hope were made by an otter.
At Wyewood Cottage, a huge number of birds come down to the feeders. These currently include great tits, blue tits, coal tits, chaffinches, siskins, and goldfinches. In addition blackbirds, robins, hedge accentors and thrushes, feed on the ground. This morning, with these birds I counted seven pheasants: three cocks and four hens. Given that there is no shoot nearby, I am not sure where these come from, but they certainly benefit from the food put out for them.

Resourceful Crows

It has been well documented that members of the crow family can tend to be quite resourceful in adapting their behaviour to help meet their needs.
Walking beside the River Wye near Symonds Yat, I was this morning surprised to see a largish black bird hovering above the river. As you might expect, at the moment the river is swollen and fast flowing. Earlier I had seen a comorant stood on the bank amongst a line of mallard duck; but this was no cormorant. Even though it was at first obscured by some bank side trees, I was confident that I had correctly identified the bird as a carrion crow.
As I approached closer, the bird flew from the river with a white object in its mouth. Flying into the branches of a tree, it consumed its catch. Could a crow be fishing?
What I think was actually occurring was the crow was picking from the surface of the water, pieces of bread. I can only surmise that someone up stream had been feeding ducks (perhaps at the Saracens Head), the bread was floating downstream to be picked up by this crow.
Watching carefully, I could see that the crow was not doing this without some risk. The bird would briefly hover above the river, though as it descended its tail and wing tips definitely entered the water. With the river flowing so quickly, the bird had to get its timing just right, each time it took a piece of bread (and I observed it take three pieces), there was a chance that it would end up in the water almost certainly leading to its demise.
At one point, another crow flew up the river, but it was quickly chased away by the resident bird.

Moles again. This time at Symonds Yat

Not surprisingly, the river is running high. In fact the island at Wye Rapids has disappeared. The only indication of an island is the trees emerging mid stream. I wonder what this will have done to the attempts made last summer to reinforce the island. A digger made its way to the middle of the river to stack up a shingle bank and then willows were planted in this embankment. The whole point of the island, which is man made, is to create the rapids for the canoeists.
The river has clearly over-flowed its banks and there is plenty of debris remaining to confirm this. What I am unable to offer a fully convincing explanation for is that within this flood plain, the moles have started to re-erect their hills. The original mole hills were not completely washed away, but now there are new mini hills atop these somewhat flattened and shrunken original structures.
My question is: how did the moles survive the flood? Assuming they were able to attain higher ground and thus escape drowning, how would they have known that they were in danger?
Intriguing questions.

Stag at Wedge Wood

I drove as slowly and quietly as possible down the forest ride on the approach to Wedge Wood and was rewarded with the sight of a magnificent fallow deer stag.
He was amongst the conifer plantation and it was not immediately apparent what I had seen; simply a shape moving amongst the trees. Stopping and using my binoculars, I was able to get a clear view. Soon afterwards he melted into the background and that was the last I saw of him.
On my previous visit to the wood I had seen little evidence of deer presence, this time, they had clearly returned in numbers. There were lots of droppings and places where it was clear that the deer had sat down leaving a depression in the ground. There were also areas where the leaf mould had been scraped away, though the reason for the deer doing this remains unclear. They certainly revealed a myriad of bluebell shoots, but there was no evidence of them attempting to eat these.
What this does mean is that come late spring, I shall be able to enjoy having a bluebell wood of my own. I wonder what other delights the wood will reveal to me?

Ducks on the new lake

I wrote previously of the new lake that has formed. The bed of a stream has collapsed causing the water to flow into a deserted sand quarry forming a large and deep lake where none previously existed.
Today I witnessed a small flotilla of pochard swimming on the lake. If there are any fish there, which could only have come from the stream, there would not be many and so, I presume the duck were there simply because it is in such an out of the way location as to provide them with the seclusion they prefer.
I look forward with great anticipation to how this scenario develops.
I used to watch redpolls on the alders beside the river Usk when I lived in that part of Wales. They proved to be very confiding birds, often feeding in the trees just a few feet above my head. I have not seen any of these little finches locally this winter until yesterday. Previously I have seen them once again feeding on the alders alongside the stream down by the village green; in this instance however, they were high in the branches of birch trees in the grounds of the local health centre. I cannot imagine a setting further removed from the tranquil setting of the Usk in winter.

Mole hill Construction

How is that some everyday events are rarely witnessed?
I have frequently been asked by people: "How do you manage to see so much wildlife?" My response to this question tends to be two-fold: Firstly, that I try to get out and about to observe as much as I can; and, secondly that I look about me a lot. Many people do not see things because they are constantly looking at little other than the ground before their feet, or are concerned with other matters, such as talking with those in their company. I try to keep my eyes open and particularly receptive to any movement.
This morning I glimpsed some movement about thirty paces from me. My brain suggested that what I had seen was a mouse or a vole running over a molehill. I moved closer to the said molehill in anticipation of seeing this small creature, particularly as the grass was short and the ground lay open. What I did see was the movement of the molehill. It was being constructed before my eyes, something which is an everyday event, yet, for me certainly, rarely observed.
Molehills, as I understand it, serve two purposes (except when the moles are breeding and a larger version can hold the breeding nest,) one is obvious: they need somewhere to place the earth they have excavated to create a tunnel. The hills also serve as a ventilation shaft, allowing fresh air into the tunnels.
I watched the activity of the mole for about ten minutes. It moved more earth onto the hill at the rate of about every thirty seconds. At no point did I see the mole. This leaves me with a question:
Does the mole push the earth up head first or tail first. In other words, does it push the earth ahead of it; or, does it reverse the earth back up the tunnel?

Birch log nest box - part 2

Invested in an electric saw today which has enablde me to considerably speed up the process. I currently have my first project clamped in the workshop, having glued the two halves together. Once the necessary 24 hours has elapsed, I shall test the strength of the fixer and decide whether or not I need to add screw fixings.
I have used a hole cutter to produce the entrance. This I have made a little on the larger side, to allow great tits to use this box. Some commercially produced boxes have their holes too small, and I have observed blue tits spending hours of their time and precious energy pecking at the hole to make them larger.
All that will be required to complete the box, is to fit a roof which I shall cover with felt. This hopefully will prevent woodpeckers gaining access by this route, which otherwise would be the most vulnerable part of the box.
I then intend attaching the box to a tree with the use of two nylon ties. These are now cheap and readily available, easy to fix and relatively straight forward to remove. Far better than fixing with screws.
If this design proves to be effective, I shall attempt to have the process filmed and p;laced on Youtube, then perhaps others will not be frustrated in thier attempts to make their own birch log nest boxes.

Birch log nest boxes

Have found matters very frustrating in my attempts to construct nest boxes out of birch logs. I did manage once before to make one by drilling multiple holes in the top of the log and then using a chisel to gouge out the wood. The fact that I write of only one of these, gives an indication of just how long it took.
I spent a not inconsiderable sum of money on a a hole cutter attachment for my drill. It proved to have minimal effect. I have spent hours searching the net to find the right tools or the best techniques, but without anything concrete. Other than making them out of concrete!
I have made a fresh start on my own idea. That is to saw out a major section of the log, then drill and chisel out the excess wood from the core and fix the two pieces back together. For this latter I am currently considering the use of glue, though I suspect I may have to reinforce this, either with wire or screws.
I have made a vertical cut down one side of the log (from the top) and have begun cutting down the other way (90 degrees). This has taken a while to achieve but is showing much more progress than the previous approach.
I trust the birds appreciate all my efforts and take up residence. I hope to place at least six nest boxes in Wedge Wood this spring.
I have two crocus breaking into bloom in the garden today.

Snowdrops

Down by the old mill house there is a tree beneath whose spreading branches grow a spring blanket of snowdrops. Today, I saw that not only are these plants showing above ground, but some are about to break into flower.
At the same time, I saw a kestrel in the old orchard. This is the first I have seen in the area, this winter. Normally, I would expect to see one hunting along the fringes of the dual carriageway bypass. They sit on the light standards watching for any movement below. Given the mildness of the winter so far, I would have expected these to birds to have been well provided for, so it is a surprise that this is the first one I have seen in this vicinity.
What I have seen lately is a number of instances where animals, foxes or badgers, have attempted to dig out the burrows of voles. In one instance, a nest had been excavated. This confirms that there should be plenty of food available for the kestrels.

Bird Bathing

Got out today hoping that the fresh air would help relieve the pressure on my blocked sinuses. Then got caught in a blustery shower and regretted it.
A familiar sight then surprised me. With the rain pelting down, a cock blackbird decided to bathe in one of the many puddles. I was surprised because my first response to question the intelligence of a bird that took to a bath in a downpour. Of course, the blackbird was able to better soak itself in this way.
This reminded me of a recent sighting of some bearded reedlings. This too was following a downpour of rain and I first saw two birds that were completely sodden wet such that it they appeared to be barely capable of flight. I assumed that the rain had caused this and that the surrounding reed beds failed to provide adequate shelter. However, I then noticed some other birds of the same species who were completely dry. So, again these particular individuals appear to have chosen to bathe in open water even though the rain would have given them a shower. A further strange thing about these birds is that they have not evolved to fully deal with their environment. Nests are susceptible to flooding and fledglings upon leaving the nest are prone to drowning. Placing their nest above water may prevent predation from some animals and birds, but it also signifies other dangers.

A gaggle or a Skein?

Was just about capable of taking Dylan for a walk down to the village green today (walking slowly).
I had noticed that a dead tree besides the stream had been earmarked (a red cross spray painted) for removal. Whilst I can understand the health and safety concerns of the local authorities, this tree provided a nesting hole for a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers last summer. Although many people use the green, I doubt that many were aware of the birds' presence. Anyway, the recent storms have brought down the tree and it has been washed partly downstream, so the chain saw will not be necessary.
Whilst throwing sticks for the dog a large (fifty) flock of greylag geese flew over, calling loudly. I made the mistake of muttering something about a 'gaggle' when I was quickly and forthrightly corrected by Daphne who informed me that it was a 'skein' and not a 'gaggle'.
Technically of course, she was correct, as the birds were in the air, however, this was no well-formed 'v' shaped squadron of geese, but a real mass of birds with no distinct pattern. They certainly appeared to be more of a 'gaggle' than anything else.

Cold/Flu

Unable to write today due to ill health.
I suppose that observing my symptoms is not too far removed from observing nature in the raw.