Birds and other
wildlife recorded in May 2025
Birds: Look
up as well as down when recording what is using the area of the wood – this
month we had Mute swans, 2 Greylag Geese and a Grey Heron flying over! Less
unexpected and actually quite frequent were Red Kites and Buzzards. A Pheasant
was around near the old wood; at least it’s safe from the shooting brigade even
if not exactly a native. Stock
Doves, Woodpigeons and Collared Doves were fairly regular usually nearer to
human habitation. Both common woodpeckers, Green and Great-spotted, were
recorded, and Skylarks sang in adjoining fields.
Dunnocks,
often quite shy, were around, as were Robins, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Several
warblers were also recorded: Garden Warbler (usually sounding a little frantic
and once described as a Blackcap on a high!), Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Lesser
Whitethroat. Listen out for Willow Warblers and their musical gentle descending
song. Goldcrest – usually associated
with conifers- was recorded as were Wrens and the common tits: Great Tit, Blue
Tit, Coal Tit (also in the coniferous areas) and the distantly related
Long-tailed Tit. Finally, the finches: Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Greenfinch –
once heavily declining because of easily transmissible disease, but may be
recovering slightly.
Mammals: “The
usual suspects” Grey Squirrel, Rabbit, and now quite frequent - Roe Deer
Butterflies: Those
taking on the Butterfly transects may well be able to add other species to this
list, but so far, the following records have been made: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Small
Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood. Look
out for Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites – they should be around soon.
