After yesterdays extended walk, it was back to normal with a walk around my local patch. There are still a couple of Chiffchaffs about, one along Old Quarry Lane and the other along the Mermaid Track. The one along the Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) appears to have moved on.
What was noticeable today was an increase Blackbird numbers especially around the Wildlife Site were there 5 together.
Along Wakeham Railway Cuttings (east) there were 3 Siskins in a Sycamore tree.
And I came across a Honey Bee on a Lavender along the footpath which runs through Glen Caravan Park. This is the first one I have seen since 25 Oct, so they are still about.
Common Wasp numbers are dropping, but then there was definitely a nip in the air. No doubt if the wind died down a bit and the sun came out, I'm sure their numbers would increase. Yet again there were a few queens noted.
Mammals Recorded:
2 Grey Squirrel
1 Brown Rat
Two Grey Squirrels in Glen Caravan Park
Also in the caravan park a Brown Rat
Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
10+ Blackbird
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
3 Siskin
Goldfinch
A Blue Tit in the Wildlife Site
And sat above the Siskins was this Goldfinch
Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon
Well I keep saying I see them. So here's one in Glen Caravan Park, which looks like a good candidate for a Rock Dove. Sadly it isn't, but it's pretty close. The main difference is the size of the white cere which is much larger on these feral birds. Also the legs are a lot pinker, and if we could see the rump, and it was white then it could be a Rock Dove. However, the large cere and pink legs are two good indicators that this is a feral pigeon. More on these features Here, and some great examples of both rock and feral Here.
Feral pigeon
Bees Recorded:
1 Honey Bee Apis mellifera
A Honey Bee Apis mellifera on a Lavender Lavandula sp. in Glen Caravan Park.
Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
10+ Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies
10+ Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris and most likely a queen judging by the size of it.
And another possible queen Common Wasp
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies
Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
2 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
2 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea
Slugs and Snails Recorded:
Garden Snail Cornu aspersa
Black Slug Arion ater agg
2 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
2 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea
Two Common Green Shieldbugs Palomena prasina..............
............in their usual spot next to the smaller of the two meadows.
This Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea decided to land on my jacket.
Garden Snail Cornu aspersa
Black Slug Arion ater agg
A very small Garden Snail Cornu aspersa.
Black Slug Arion ater agg
Aphids, Psyllids and allies Recorded:
1 Brassica Whitefly Aleyrodes proletella
A Brassica Whitefly Aleyrodes proletella
Trees and Shrubs:
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Buddleia Buddleja davidii
Scarlet Firethorn Pyracantha coccinea
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster sp.
Dog Rose Rosa canina
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Other Plants:
Brown Knapweed Centaurea jacea
Hawkweed Oxtongue Picris hieracioides
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Ivy Hedera helix
Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba
Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris
These dead plants are Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare, but.....
........just a few inches off the ground it has blossomed again.
Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris AKA Yellow Toadflax and Butter-and-eggs
Ted:
Not to close to the edge Ted.
Ships today:
