Wild Wanderings

Diary Entry 15th April 2018

Hectic Dunnocks'

The water level is now receding daily and the River is back within its banks again. My last two visits to the riverside have proved fruitless as far as wildlife sightings are concerned. The fields are thick and clinging with mud making the journey there a little difficult. The good news is that on each of my three walks to the river this week I have sighted Kestrels flying between the fields where the Kestrel boxes are sighted. Perhaps I am being a little to hopeful but maybe, just maybe, we will have some residents soon.

The paddock too has been difficult to manage this last week. It is the wettest I have ever seen it. But one big plus the bog area is doing ok.

The Trees are all starting to burst forth with blossom. The ornamental Cherry and the Fairleigh Damson are nearly showing their beautiful colours. The weeping Crab Apple is also doing well.

On Saturday, the sun shone and it felt like spring so I got on with mowing and tending the various needs of the plants. The first sighting of Butterflies this season with a couple of Small Whites and three Small Tortoiseshell. When I see the first Butterfly it always takes me by surprise and fills me with hope. Their colours are a welcome sight after the long winter months and it tells me summer is well and truly on its way. What a truly beautiful gift they are to the nature lover.

I have planted quite a few Butterfly friendly plants over the winter so I am hoping for some good photo opportunities. I am particularly interested in the Orange Tip. Its food plant is Lady Smock and Wild Rocket. I eventually managed to track down some Lady Smock and they are just beginning to flower with their tiny pink blooms. Lady Smock is also called ‘Cuckoo Plant’ because it flowers at the same time as the arrival of the first Cuckoos.

The Cuckoo is now a rare sight and sound in this area. How things have changed. Their distinctive call was always a part of my childhood. Church Bells, Cuckoos, Skylarks all seem to have been relegated to history. The happy memories though are comforting in this techno age.

All the birds are seeking mates and have homemaking on their mind. The Dunnocks’ are now very active. Chasing and darting through the hedge rows. They were called Hedge Sparrows which is a name I prefer. They are one of the only birds to be free and easy with their mates. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once, which is quite rare among birds.

This probably accounts for the hectic Dunnock activity I have witnessed recently. Maybe a summer of love is in the offing.

Reed Bunting have also been appearing in pairs more than ever recently along with Yellowhammers and of course the House Sparrows. Things are shaping up nicely.

Roll on summer

Till Tomorrow