Author: Walney Wildlife

We put a few peanuts and suet pellets down to see what they attracted, see the attached compilation of clips.

Bob and BriProject 2.avi

A lovely crisp morning with lots of Blackbirds at the feeders, many being this year’s models, see the attached video.

Bob and Bri
Lots of Blackbirds under the feeders.mp4

When we arrived at the feeders this morning the birds were already out in force, normally they only arrive after we have topped up, yesterdays cold wind must have depleted their energy.
Attached is a link to a video clip playing at half speed.
Birds at feeders 22nd Nov 2019.mp4

Bob and Bri

Not very much has changed over the past weeks,but the views are still spectacular. Occasional visit by a Swan, and a Heron, usual ducks, Mallards, Teal and Tufted. Lots of activity at the feeders, especially at feeding time, took some shots this morning on Geoff’s bench, but the light was not great.

Bob and Bri

The swans left about four weeks ago, a single one returned for a few days, possibly the remaining male from the original pair, but the water level in the ponds is very high at the moment and maybe the weed is difficult to reach.
A couple of Herons are regularly seen on the ponds, there is always plenty of food for them.
The duck population consists of lots of Mallards, a few Teal, a handful of Tufted and the odd Merganser, a poor show at the moment.
The feeders are well attended, with two Greater Spotted Woodpecker and three Jays regular visitors.
The new Coastal path was completed a month ago but the posts have not yet been fitted with any information.
Attached are photos taken over the last few weeks.

Bob and Bri

The Coastal path has been completed with the exception of the marker arrows on the posts. The work is to a very good standard but probably not necessary and the steps off the tip, which were removed to allow access for the vehicles, has been replaced with a very steep gravel path.
The farmer has now moved his cattle down onto the southern most area and also increased the number to between 30 and 40. One can be seen in the photo with a couple of Magpies on it’s back, probably removing big juicy ticks.
We have started with the feeders again and it hasn’t taken long for the birds to find them, a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were there yesterday.
Natural England have again cut and burned the Japanese Rose on the side of the long pond, this a repeat of what was carried out in October 2017.

Bob and Bri

The contractors are in the second week of installing the Coastal Path, attached are three photos as a sample of the installation, the steps from the tip leading down to the fishing pond have been removed for access and will be replaced on completion (including by special request a Stannah Chairlift). After it is all completed we will shoot the full installation.
Wheatears have been passing through for some time now but this morning we came across one that must have been a little exhausted, it just didn’t want to fly, see close up shots.
Also this morning a Holly Blue was spotted in the garden, this is the third time this year.

Bob and Bri

The two swans on the long pond,(female with blue ring), have now taken over from the last pair in which the female (white ring TYP) died. They are now the chasing and not the chased, see attached photo of the most recent pair to be harassed by them.
Hawthorn trees are doing very well, see photo of a couple covered in berries, is this a sign of coming bad winter?
Whilst checking one of the moth traps, we found a few Round Leaved Wintergreen, not seen these for a few years,
Also found a ring of large fungi.
Other photos of Natterjack tadpoles and toadlets, very late brood but look as though they are thriving, and a dosing heron on the long pond.

Bob and Bri

Best day this week, the air was clear and the hills looked really close, see photo.
Now the nesting period has officially finished, Natural England have been busy, carrying on where they left off, in February, cutting and burning Willow trees in the dip north of the butts, see couple of photos.
They have also cut the grass along the Airfield fence, part of the Coastal path, first cut for the visit of Country File in 2017, as can be seen, this will have to a annual task to keep it open. ( If you walk approximately 100yds along the path toward the channel, in a small clearing you will find a lonely Viper’s-bugloss.)

Also attached are a few other photos, one of a mating pair of Common Darters, there are are plenty to see at the moment, a pair of Common Blue and a Small Copper.

Bob and Bri

The Painted Lady butterflies are still very plentiful especially where there is any nectar.
Natural England were busy bruising the bracken in the area just after the second to last gate, see photos.
A Reed Warbler has started singing again, in the middle clump of reeds near the path, see photo.
Managed a photo of a male Emperor dragonfly, found patolling the northern most Natterjack pond.
Find attached a couple of photos of House Sparrows having a bath in a pool on the path near the tip.
Also see Power Turbines in a better light.

Bob and Bri