Tuesday 26 February 2013

Late winter or early spring at Whinney Hill

Today 26th February 2013 was spent surveying Whinney Hill, south west of Longhorsely.  Ancient woodland held ramsons, primroses, and the first evidence of bluebells. A male great spotted woodpecker was in full drumming mode on a dead branch. 

Arable land held small numbers of skylarks (4), 2 pairs of grey partridge, brown hares (3), roe deer (3) and flocks of both yellowhammers (9+) and reed buntings (5).  The first shoots of hare's tail cotton-grass and lesser spearwort were found on a small area of upland bog.  A small pond in an arable field held a good amount of frog spawn. 

The lake held 28 mallard, 9 goosander, 3 mute swan, a pair of gadwall, 1 moorhen and evidence of otterGreat tits were investigating nest-boxes

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