Birds and other
wildlife recorded in October 2023
Several
people have seen Red Kites over the woods – what an uplifting sight they are,
apparently effortlessly gliding overhead.
Buzzard has also been seen, occasionally “mewing” as it flies.
Woodpigeons are fairly common – and our UK residents may be joined by tens of
thousands of others migrating southwest to our warmer areas. No Stock Doves
recorded; they are easy to miss or confuse with the Woodpigeons. A Great-spotted Woodpecker was recorded but
no Greens. Our common corvids were regulars: Magpie, Jay (many on the 21st),
Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow - one day the Ravens will decide to take up
residence here!
In
contrasting size to most of the above, there have been several sightings of
Goldcrest, often in larches and conifers, but hard to hear as the human hearing
system deteriorates! Blue and Great Tits
were regularly heard, as were Long-tailed Tits, now all beginning to gather in
winter flocks – but no Coal Tits recorded. Chiffchaffs are still calling and
may well remain in the colder months ahead.
Treecreeper
and Wren have been recorded, as have Blackbird and Song Thrush, and Redwings on
the 16th. Now is the time to start looking out for these winter thrushes:
Redwings and Fieldfares. There will also be many Scandinavian Blackbirds
arriving too. Robins and Dunnocks were fairly frequently recorded, and several
House Sparrows were found near the Knaves Hill entrance at the end of the
month; look for them near housing, not in the middle of the wood! The only finch recorded this month was
Chaffinch.
One
not so welcome bird was a Rose-ringed Parakeet on the 16th. There are some
notable omissions, Stock Dove, Green Woodpeckers, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch
and Goldfinch. Look out for these as
well as the Scandinavian thrushes, Brambling and Siskin!
Other
non-bird sightings include a Hornet nest and several Red Admirals. Mammal records were Grey Squirrel and a
deceased Vole.
Our
weather recorder says this is the 3rd wettest October in 12 years of recording,
with 108mm of rain, compared with an average of 71.7mm. No wonder we have a good supply of mud!
Thanks
to everyone who sends in records – keep going!
