December Update

Apologies again for the lack of posts recently, I have been away quite a bit with work, down in North Wales and Cambridgeshire and the weather has not been that conducive to getting out and about!  I did get out for a walk on Boxing Day before the rain set in. We went down past Lower farm through the woods and along the river and back up the steep steps, through the woods and fields (where we were greeted by four pigs), and then back to the village along Church lane.

Pig1

There were quite a few roe deer tracks on the woodland paths, although there was very little bird life around at the time; a few robins and wrens in the woods and a pair of mute swans and a few mallard on the fish ponds by the river between Bobbin Mill and White Lodge. 

Mute Swan1

There seems to be quite a bit of activity on the village bird feeders; John and Georgina have had a great-spotted woodpecker attending their nut feeder recently, seeing off the tits and chaffinches! A sparrowhawk has also been around hunting; John reported one with a collared dove the other week and possibly the same bird was sat on the roof eying up the feeders the other day.  On my own feeders there has been nothing unusual to report apart from tits, chaffinches and lots of house sparrows! We seem to have good population of house sparrows in the village, which is a good thing considering their national decline. 

We have had no snow to speak of yet this year, but I guess there is still plenty of time! Thinking of snow I remember seeing a beautiful barn owl in broad daylight at the top of the dale while driving up the hill back in February 2009. I got home grabbed my camera and rushed back, not expecting the owl to still be there, but luckily it was and I managed to get a few shaky shots from the car window. Snow is bad news for owls of course, particularly when it lays for long periods making it difficult for them to hunt. The heavy snow in recent years has taken its toll on local barn owls.

Barn Owl3

 Barn Owl2