January started mild, but delivered a cold snap at the end of the month. The birding highlight of the month were large flocks of Golden Plover in the fields around Lye Way. With the mild weather came early flowering Snowdrops, a welcome sight after the gloom of the mid winter.
February is always a difficult month for nature, the days are getting longer, and if the sun appears there are signs of spring, but the cold is never far away. Around the patch there were lots of the winter thrushes, with Redwings the most numerous. This is also a good time to see the resident Red Kites as they patrol the roads, garden and fields around the village. The garden feeders were brightened through the month with male Siskins taking on their lemon green breeding plumage.
March saw the emergence of some early butterflies, with Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell being seen on the same day, the 9th. Chiffchaffs were around from the middle of the month, while in Old Down Wood the Tawny Owl was back in its tree for the sixth year running. Stock Doves were a surprise this spring with their whooping song being heard at several locations around the patch. From the middle of the month the country lanes were carpeted with the lovely yellow Lesser Celandine.
The highlight of April was the return ten days earlier than ever before of the House Martins to Reads Field. Swallows were also back and around the horse stables. This year was excellent for Holly Blue butterfly sightings, and a pair of Firecrests were seen a the pond, yet another location for this gorgeous little bird. Those two harbingers of spring appeared this month, the bluebells starting to appear, and the the bleating of lambs in the fields.
May sees the carpet of bluebells in Old Down Wood, a spectacle that never ceases to disappoint. In the garden the Blackbirds were busy raising their second brood, while at Swelling Hill Pond there was a first in the arrival of five ducklings. Unfortunately it seems that they did not survive for too long. A Tree Pipit was singing late int the month at the Mountains Plantation.
Old Down Wood in June replaces the blue of the Bluebell carpet with the spires of reddish pink Foxgloves. Butterflies were once again early, this time the arrival of a Meadow Brown eight days earlier than seen before. It took some time though to find the Marbled Whites. Their habitat seems to be shrinking, with very few meadows being left to grow these days. The long days of summer are an excellent time to see roding Woodcock in Plash wood, with at lease 4 birds being seen on one visit.
July is all about the butterflies. Old Down Wood was dominated by Meadow Browns, with hundreds being seen along the rides and paths. Specialties, though came in the form of the White Admiral, and Silver-washed Fritillary. It is also a good time for the moth trap, and I was treated once again to the beauty of the Elephant Hawk Moth.
My walks in August were limited due to our summer vacation. The butterflies continued to perform in Old Down, while the cereals ripened in the sunshine.
If visits were restricted in August they became difficult too in September, sadly I lost my Dad on the 16th. I did though manage to get out. Common Darters are best seen this month, and put on some spectacular flying displays along with Southern Hawkers at Swelling Hill Pond. While a fly through Hobby was a nice surprise towards the end of the month
October saw the only new bird species added to the patch list this year, a very unexpected Marsh Harrier that flew over the village heading south. Unfortunately there was no camera with me when I saw it! The month itself was very dreary and mostly overcast. Chiffchaffs and Swallow were with us until the middle of the month, with the Starling numbers building up towards the end of the month, the little groups to be seen flying around the houses just before dusk.
This year has been a very good one for the Red Admiral butterfly, and they were still about, on the wing in November. There were several sightings this month, with the last being on the 19th. Redwings were back this month too with their calls being heard at night as they passed through. This autumn though was not a good one for finding fungi, with very little about.
December saw a cold snap, and even some snow mid month, this brought lots of birds into the garden, with a record count of twelve Siskin at one time. Thee were also sightings of male and female Blackcaps, and the Redwings devoured the berries that usually stay until February. With the cold clear skies there were some spectacular sunsets.
Whilst I haven't been out as much as in previous years there has always been something of interest. I have been spending more time exploring the beautiful county of Hampshire, and of course our holidays further afield. You can keep up with these trips here on the "Away Blog". Here is my end of year video, the music is "Stand Still" by The Album Leaf
For now it only remains to wish you all a very Happy New Year
The time between Christmas and the New Year seems to be completely different time to that in the rest of the year. Knowing what day it is becomes a challenge, and everything seems to be totally confusing. Today though is Saturday, although it felt like a Sunday. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, on a Sunday, and that will be totally challenging! This morning though the weather was in complete contrast to that we have had this week. It was sunny and mild with a fresh breeze. Helen and I set out for a walk to try and clear out the cobwebs once again, and as we headed up Reads Field the wind was very strong. We had decided to walk to Weathermore Lane, and then through Newton Farm and back along Kitwood. Walking along the lane we came upon a flock of Long-tailed Tits with about a dozen moving through, calling all the time.
As we stood and watched the Long-tailed Tits a Nuthatch crawled up the trunk of a nearby tree, and then the mouse like Treecreeper appeared in front of me.
Amazingly this was a year tick for the patch, the first one this year.
The rest of the walk saw little about, we headed up Brightstone lane where a distant Great Spotted Woodpecker called. Then turned into Headmore Lane, and on past the golf course and down towards the farm. The one constant were the flocks of Long-tailed Tits. Almost every 400 metres we would come across a flock, there calls signalling there presence. This continued on the remainder of the walk, it makes you wonder how many there are in the area. At the farm there were at least a dozen Pied Wagtails around the barns, and these were joined by a few Meadow Pipits. In the bushes were Chaffinches, and despite scanning the trees and bushes for a possible Hawfinch I drew a blank. We headed down the Lye Way bridleway, walking carefully through the mud. At least two Buzzards flew over us, and then the "cronk" of a Raven as it flew over the path in front of us. Its difficult to know actually how many there are in the area.
Above the trees was a large flock of Common Gulls, not sure where these had come from, or where they were heading.
Crossing the road to continue on the bridleway we came across another flock of Long-tailed Tits, and these were joined by Great, Coal, and Blue Tits.
We climbed the hill through the Kitwood Plantation, and then out onto the lane. A pair of Bullfinches were calling in the hedge, and then flew out but never stayed long enough in full view. We came down past the school, and then up Gradwell Lane. At the Cottages a pair of Jackdaw were inspecting the chimneys, probably enjoying the warmth from the smoke.
Turning into Brislands a Goldcrest moved through the branches of the hedge in search of any small insect.
We had seen a Red Kite from the house as we left in the morning, and as we came up Brislands one appeared again above us.
It circled around above me, showing off the beautiful forked tail.
It then drifted away, and we walked on. As we started to head down the hill towards Lymington Bottom I heard the call of a Rook, and looked up to see the Red Kite once again, this time being mobbed by the calling Rook.
There is never any aggression with a Red Kite when mobbed, unlike the Buzzard, maybe this is because it does not possess the talons that the Buzzard does. Instead it would twist and turn to avoid the attention of the Rook.
Eventually the Rook considered that the Kite was not a threat, and let it drift away. As we walked up Lymington Rise it came over us and headed towards the house, then moved away over the house and out towards the main road. I then picked out another one over in the direction of Blackberry Lane. Back home, the male Blackcap was about in the garden, and there was briefly a single Lesser Redpoll. There have been two birds about, lets hope they are still around on Monday, they are not always a guaranteed year tick. And that was the end of the year for me. I haven't give the patch the same amount of attention as I have in previous years. I have spent more time away around the county, where quite frankly the lure of more birds is too strong. I will still continue to records the wildlife in 2018, but it will probably be on a reduced level once again.
For the second time this month we awoke to snow. The evening before we were watching Gordon Buchanan in Finland where the trees were covered with sugar icing snow. For awhile here in Four Marks the trees looked very similar, but soon the snow fell as a combination of it being very wet snow, and the temperatures rising after sunrise. In the garden the birds were very busy around the feeders, and with a few surprises. The female Blackcap was present, but with a male this time. The male quite happy to feed on the lawn.
But as I watched it feed it became clear that it had a growth just behind the left hand eye. This could be a tick its not quite clear, but it did not seem to bother the bird as it fed happily and chased others off.
The Siskins continue to outnumber the Goldfinches, with at one time this morning sixteen birds being present. As I looked at the feeders though one bird was a lot browner, and it turned out to be a Lesser Redpoll. There had been one just before Christmas, but this time I was able to get a photograph.
The leylandii hedge continues to be a safe and warm place for the House Sparrows, and it also provides a source of insect food for the Blue Tits, that pick out the spiders from the ir webs.
The female Blackcap sat nicely for me.
Woodpigeons are definitely not my favourite bird, but every so often one will appear that I have to photograph, this one was walking on the roof opposite.
Here the Blackcap shows its better side.
It had been snowing all morning on and off, but around 14.00 the skies began to open up, and the sun broke through, albeit not completely, there was still cloud about.
I decided to head out for a walk to get some fresh air. It was very wet and slushy along Lymington Bottom and walking up Brislands. As I reached the junction with Gradwell a Red Kite appeared above me, and seemed to be interested in me.
I haven't had the chance to photograph them recently, so I took this unexpected close encounter.
Against the pearl white sky the red, that gives the bird its name stand out.
One more pass overhead before it drifted away.
The sky now was clearing, and to the west I could see the line between the cloud and the distant sky. While the roads were clearing, the snow persisted on the verge.
Looking across the road, the sun was still very watery in the cloud.
For the first time I can recall there were sheep grazing in the field to the north of the lane. It looks like root crops have been grown for them, and they are controlled as to where they graze. A familiar call from across the field announced a Raven flying past.
Looking across the fields there was still plenty of snow lying.
I turned into Old Down, and negotiated the muddy path, made worse by the melting snow. It was completely silent, not even the call of a Wren or Robin. Looking to the west there was a faint pink glow in the sky between the dark boughs of the beech trees.
Passing the larches there was no sign of any finches. As I approached the pond a Robin dropped out of the bush onto the wet slushy muddy snow, not really the Christmas scene
I walked around the pond, hoping to find a Snipe or Woodcock in the sheltered muddy spots, but with no luck. As I looked across the pond the pair of Mallard drifted across the water, with a white snowy background.
I walked on from the pond, and then turned down towards the school. Looking back the sky had still not cleared, and the sun was a white mass above the dark winter trees of Old Down Wood.
I walked into Gradwell Lane, and on the horizon was the familiar shape of a Roe Deer. It was watching something, but seemed to be unconcerned. It was a lovely silhouette against the sky.
Finally the sun broke through, a lovely winter light that turned everything a deep golden colour. The field opposite the recreation ground looked beautiful in the light.
Movement on the ground in the field turned out to be Redwing feeding in the wet ground. One turned into two, and then many birds moving across the field.
Looking down Brislands, the setting sun was picking out the water in the puddles and in the trees.
As I approached the church, the weather vein was lit up by the setting sun. It reminded me of a similar view about seven years ago when I first started this blog.
Much as been found since then, and a lot of the village has changed, some for the good, but in the main for wildlife unfortunately for the worse. I winder what is next for Four Marks? What new housing development will get approved despite all the good work in putting together plans. Will there be more large estates, growing up with houses and fields destroyed? It seems to be very likely, and no matter how much protesting takes place, it always seem that they go through. Back home the sun sank in the west with another fantastic sunset.
