A very quick walk this afternoon as I was expecting a couple of home deliveries. No real highlights more "lowlights", with Tree Surgeons cutting down mature Sycamore Trees on behalf of a well-known and unscrupulous local Building Company.
But apparently all was above board according to one of the felling crew, as there was an ecologist sat by the wood for an hour to make sure there were no nesting birds. I think the word that sums up these people is "clueless". The area was quite extensive with lots of bushes, brambles and ground cover, so I'm sorry but I really don't believe this ecologist. There was no way he could really know. Rant over!!
Anyway what good things did I come across, well actually not a lot, as there was still that biting chilly wind and all the invertebrates that you would normally see at this time of year are yet to appear. So with the lack of insects, there appeared to be a lack of birds. The only birds of note were a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap both singing along the Old Quarry Lane and a Common Whitethroat singing in the Lower Horse paddock.
The only insects I came across were 2 Large Whites and a single Honey Bee. This is an awful Spring.
Here are a few images and a video from today:
It's always sad to see trees being felled. This woodland filled with mature Sycamores is being cleared for a housing development. Apparently an Ecologist was there before work started to ensure there were no birds nesting!!
Here is one of the dozen or so mats around the paddock. A survey to see what lives in the field before developers move in, surely not!!!!
This is the paddock right next to the development site behind me. Maybe I read to much into things but......
...........why is there a reptile survey in progress.
And first across the line, Ted of course.
Mammals Recorded: Bunny
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Large White
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)