New species - Mistle Thrush

This is one of those species that I was expecting I might see at some point and today at last one has appeared. I spotted it because of an altercation it was having with a magpie who was presumably after its eggs or chicks. The altercation continued during the day with the thrush gamely chasing the magpie away on several ocassions.

Duckling drama

There was a duck with just two ducklings on the moat today. I was wondering whether this is the remains of the nine ducklings that were born a few days ago and taken away up the stream by the mother. Certainly the ducklings seem fairly disobedient paying the ducks commands little mind. I am always amazed at how different broods are and mothers are in the mallard world. Anyway I was watching them when dramatically a heron appeared and started circling and I wondered whether it was after the ducklings. Before I had time to get too concerned one of the resident crows attacked the heron and chased it away. The crow almost made contact a couple of times and the slow pace of the heron's wingbeats made the scene exciting as the crow accelerated towards it at high speed. Those crows fear nothing and will chase buzzards and whole gangs of rooks or jackdaws without a second thought.

Dryad's Saddle back, bigger and better

A beech stump I used as a seat had been occupied by a Dryad's Saddle for around three years but it seems to have gone as the fruiting body has not come back this year. However I found a large example with various fruiting bodies with the whole thing around two feet across on a tree stump by the moat so I guess that might be offspring......

Engaging with snails

I was shifting a wood pile and I came across three snails which I assumed were two different species. However a bit of investigation reveals that they all three are the same species and that this snail is highly variable in colouration and markings. Cepaea nemoralis is one of our commonest snails and all of the pictures above are of them. Only another 89 UK species to go.....

First ducklings of 2010

Nine ducklings hatched today. The mother led them from the moat and into the stream. The only reason I can think of is that there are four drakes that are hanging around and she may fear that they could harm the brood. I left her alone after taking the photo so I am not sure whether they will be coming back or not.

Early Season Butterflies

The two sunny periods over the last couple of weeks have brought out the early butterflies (Brimstone, Orange Tip, Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma). This weekend I saw my first blue - a Holly Blue (shown above). Their food plants are the Holly and the Ivy and we have lots of both so I am surprised I don't see more of this species.

Best Sighting of Grass Snake

I see grass snakes every few months outside winter but it is usually a fleeting glimpse. There was one swimming in the moat a couple of days ago as an example. Today I came up very close to one. I was in my boat clearing some vegetation from the moat when I saw one a few yards away swimming across the moat in their 'I'm in a rush' stylee head out of the water and pushing themselves in a straight line. I moved gently to where it would have made landfall and there it was coiled around a pieces of wood by the bank, head out of the water and regarding me with some suspicion. We looked at each other for a few seconds from about three feet distance then it uncoiled itself sliding under the surface and away. I would estimate it at about two feet long.