23-03-2025 · It was quite a surpise to glance out of the loft roof window and see a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) flying right outside. Half an hour later we watched it hunting over farmland a little way up the hill.

23-03-2025 · So many rocks have washed down into this part of the brook that a new meander has started to form as the flow is forced over to one side.

23-03-2025 · In the wettest part of the meadow a male blackbird (Turdus merula) has flown down to forage in the dewy grass.

23-03-2025 · I was crouching down watching a distant bird box when a Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) flew across in front of me and landed on the far side of a wild cherry tree a few paces away. Then it moved to a birch tree low down and generously posed for long enough for me to take a couple of photos. Its camouflage against the tree bark is almost perfect.

23-03-2025 · Along the northern edge of the meadow wild daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) and celandines (Ficaria verna) are flowering nicely amongst the Silver Birch trees (Betula pendula). A few days ago I saw briefly a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) on a celandine flower, taking advantage of a sunny spell.

22-03-2025 · Two days ago we heard the first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) of the year, about a week earlier than last year. Their call is so distinctive but the bird is usually very hard to locate in the foliage, but the trees are still bare and we were lucky to be able to locate this one about two hundred yards up the hill from the meadow.

26-01-2025 · A few days after Storm Éowyn passed through we had the tail-end of Storm Herminia, with more very heavy rain and a hailstorm. On its way to the village of Dalwood the brook, swollen to the highest we've ever seen, raced past our meadow, taking-out some livestock fencing on the far side and remodelling the banks. Short video of the brook in spate. (opens in a popup or separate tab/window).

12-01-2025 · For some years field voles (Microtus agrestis) have been living under a large rock a short distance from the house, taking advantage of spillages from the bird-feeders. This vole was waiting until various ground-feeding birds had moved away then hurrying out to snatch a morsel and racing back to safety.

04-01-2025 · Spot the Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)—it was extremely hard to see, flitting around the orchard trees on a gloomy January day.