Sunny Bank Hoilday Sunday

A welcome bit of sunshine enticed me to the Farm twice on Sunday. On my first visit I arrived at 0630 and there were two cars in the car park - not often that happens so early in the morning. One of the cars belonged to 3 students from Falmouth Uni and I met them at the information centre - they had been looking for the fox cubs for an hour and a half. Luckily I showed them where they were and all 3 cubs were out. On my morning walk I saw Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and a Grasshopper Warbler.

I returned at about 1430 and the sun was shining. Whilst walking round I saw lots of butterflies and dragonflies. The list of odonata on the wing to date (in sightings order): Large Red Damselfly, 4 Spotted Chaser, Azure Damselfly, Broad Bodied Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Beautiful Damselfly. The Emperors should be emerging in the next week or two as will any Red Veined Darters that are present. Here are a few images (a bit soft as they were taken hand held).

Broad Bodied Chaser

Large Red Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

 

 

Butterflies seen to date are: Green Veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Orange Tip. As long as it is sunny our Marsh Fritillaries will emerge around the 6th June.

 

Small Copper

 

 

 

I also took some pics of an adder and a slow worm.

 



 



Green Winged Orchids and we are cute

I mentioned in my last post that you may be able to find Green Winged Orchids in early June - well found these today:

 

 

One of my friend also told me that he had seen 2 fox cubs. I waited for 20 minutes at the location and ...

 

 

then there were 3!!! They are so cute.

 

 

Great Day!!!!



 

 

 





 



Spring and early summer at Windmill Farm National Nature Reserve

 

Windmill Farm has something for everyone at this time of year. For the botanists amongst you the Three Lobed Crowfoot (picture below) is still in flower – this rare track loving plant can be found in the gateway on the approach to Ruan Pool.

The farm also has other rarities such as Pygmy Rush and Yellow Century. The first few weeks of June should welcome the arrival of Green Winged Orchids.

For reptile lovers there are many Adders, Slow Worms and Common Lizards to be found. Many live under the reptile sheets that I have put down over the years. Be careful when lifting the sheets as the Adders will be more scared than you!

 

As the temperature rises the reserve comes into its own in terms of Dragonflies. Windmill Farm is an excellent site for many species of Dragonfly (18 species have been recorded). I am leading a Drogonfly walk on Sunday the 28^th July at 10am. It is free and as long as it is not raining I guarantee you some fantastic Dragon and Damselflies. 4 Spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselflies are already on the wing at the Farm. This picture (of a 4 Spotted Chaser) was taken on the 10^th May.

May is a great month for migrant birds at Windmill Farm and most of our visitors have arrived. There are up to 3 Cuckoos around and good numbers of Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. There are also a few pairs of Grasshopper Warbler about. A Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler have also recently been present. Hobby’s hunt over the heath and ponds and there are often visits from Wheatear, Marsh Harrier and Short Eared Owl. The latter two may have moved out by now.

Pictured below are: Sedge Warbler, Whimbrel and Grasshopper Warbler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to all the above there are many other great animals to be encountered including; toads, frogs, common newts, field voles, common and water shrews, mice, stoats, fox, rabbits, the occassional Roe Deer and lots more. So come on down. See you there! Dougy.

 

 

 

Spring is trying to arrive and awakening Adders

The cold spell is finally gone - we all hope. This week has seen the arrival of Willow Warblers and many other migrants. The weather has also held back some species such as Golden Plover - there are many fantastic males around the Farm. I popped down the Farm last Friday after work and found a Little Ringed Plover - a rare bird for the Farm. It was feeding alonside a very wary Redshank and an even warier Water Pipit. The pipit has been around for a week and is a cracking summer male. I have struggled to get a decent pic of the pipit but have managed a few record shots of the LRP.

 

 

I also took a pic of one of my favourite birds - Wheatear:

 



Over the last few weeks I have found at least 4 different adders. I am aiming to photograph as many as I can to try and monitor numbers. Adders all have a unique head pattern. Interestingly the adders that I have found this year have all been females - correction - I think due to the black diamonds (rather than brown) they are males!! The first one certainly is. Here are a couple of them:

First Reptiles of 2013

A nice 14 degrees C and a bit of sunshine today. I have been looking for adders for the last 2 weeks to no avail but found 2 today (both males). One was very sleepy!

I also found 3 slow worms and a common lizard. Let's hope the weather is not too cold next week!

A quiet start to 2013

Well the year has started off rather quietly. Lots of Golden Plover, Redwing, Fieldfare and a few Woodcock around. I have seen the Short Eared Owl again but he was too quick for a pic.

The frogspawn that was laid in November became tadpoles in January and the ponds are now alive with mating toads. Newts are also braving the waters.

All the toads have not been so lucky - there are a couple of Carrion Crows that are always feeding on toads at Ruan Pool. Also last Sunday I tried to rescue the blighter below but I fear I was too late as he was extremely cold and a tad frozen! I broke the ice for him and returned an hour or so later and he was still on the ice with half a leg missing.

There is an interesting programme underway at the Farm involving the unearthing of the Farm's WW2 Pill Boxes. 4 previously overgrown and hidden Pill Boxes have been revealed.

There are now 7 Pill Boxes on show at the Farm. Hopefully the coming months will throw up a few early migrants and when the weather warms up the adders will be out. I have put a few new reptile tins down.

Good end to 2012

Well I paid my last visit of the year to Gates yesterday and had a great time. I got there about 1130 and kicked the visit off with a pasty and a flask of Earl Grey on the pillbox. I often sit on the pillbox as there are great views from there. Today I saw thousands of GPs on the airfield and a few flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare.

Post my pasty I conducted a circuit of the Farm. I spent 45 minutes in the hide at Ruan (and did not see a lot!). Just as I was contemplating leaving a Short Eared Owl jumped up out of the grass about 30ft in front of the hide. Before I could get a pic it went down again! It must of been there the whole time that I was. After 5 minutes it briefly popped up, flew about 15 ft and then went down again, I managed to get a couple of record shots. Great birds and I am glad one of them has chosen to have a kip at the Farm.

On my return walk I flushed a couple of Woodcock from the boardwalk (I find they are generally at the southern end of the boardwalk). A fantastic day all round.

Happy New Year to all.