Birds and other
wildlife recorded in November 2025
Birds:
Red Kites soared regularly, and Common Buzzards were also seen;
Sparrowhawks were recorded twice. Two species of gull: Black-headed and
Herring. Woodpigeons were frequent but no Stock Doves or Collared Doves were
noted this month. Great-spotted Woodpecker was about but no Greens noted. Skylarks
flew and sang from adjoining fields, while, from within the woods there were
Dunnocks, Robins, occasional Song Thrushes, Redwing and – the first this winter
– a Fieldfare on the 13th.
A
Chiffchaff was heard – still in singing mode – also on the 13th. Goldcrests wee
about as were the common tits: Blue Tit in good numbers, Great Tit and the
not-so frequent Coal Tit. Small flocks of Long-tailed Tits have been recorded. Nuthatch
and Treecreeper were around the trees, the latter often very difficult to spot
in their sombre camouflage! And some of the corvids were present – Jackdaw,
Carrion Crow, Jay and Magpie – but no Rooks observed this month; keep your ears
and eyes open! Starlings were recorded
in some numbers and small flocks of some of the finches were noted mid-month:
15 Chaffinches, 10 Goldfinches and – a group of Greenfinches. It would be
rewarding to be able to add Bullfinch to these numbers; they seem very hard to
find nowadays!
Mammals:
Unsurprisingly – Rabbit, Grey Squirrel and Roe Deer.
A
single butterfly record was sent in – Red Admiral. It may feel like
winter, but several species of butterfly such as Peacock, Brimstone and Comma,
do overwinter as adults so you may still find them in flight or sheltering. Let
us know if you do!
Finally
- keep an eye out for winter flowering plants; White Dead-nettle and
White Campion are to be found. Some gardens are finding that flowers that
traditionally bloom in early spring are showing plentiful flowers now (My own
winter-flowering Clematis, normally blooming in January or February is in flower
and being visited by a number of noisy Buff-tailed Bumblebee queens). The old
woodland is of course known as “Bluebell Wood” and it is remarkable that Bluebell shoots have already been
recorded growing under the leaf litter in mid-November.
