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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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 · 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.

22-04-2025 · We haven't seen many kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) here recently, so it was good to catch a glimpse of this one.

19-04-2025 · A female blackbird (Turdus merula) collecting nesting material from the ground near the house. Her nest is in a thick hedge close by.

24-04-2025 · Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and Snakes-head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) are spreading around this small pond.

25-04-2025 · A Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) on guard atop a conifer that lies between two Lombardy Poplar trees (Populus nigra 'Italica'). A pair have been building a nest in one of the poplars, the first time for several years.

30-04-2025 · Two of these delicate anachronous gilled fungi appeared in a small wildflower patch near the house.

03-05-2025 · After several recent sightings of a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) hunting around the area, this is the first time this year we've seen a pair. Landing on this old oak they have upset a Magpie (Pica pica). We are hoping they may nest somewhere nearby.