Kestrel progress

I expected to return from Cornwall, to find the Kestrel box brimming with activity but the eggs don't seem to have hatched yet. I've got a few angles where I can see into the box from distance with the scope, and the view is usually just the female sitting.
I managed to watch a food exchange this morning about 7am. The male flew in with a vole and the female left the box to collect it from him. She took her time eating but eventually returned to the box.




















On Monday morning (7th July) I saw a Kingfisher in the garden!!!! It flew through quite high, from the direction of Barrow lodge, but I've no idea where it was heading and why it was taking the "overland" route. I'd have thought it would have followed barrow brook.

I heard the familiar yaffling of a Green woodpecker this week , and sighted it a couple of times too. On checking back on my blog I can see that the last sighting here was exactly a year ago, to within a couple of days!!! They don't breed on my patch, so this must be a post breeding dispersion.

Also saw my 3rd fox in as many weeks. I sometimes put out any meat scraps in the back field. Hopefully, I can encourage it to return more frequently. It had a bad limp on its hind leg, but then, so did one of the"springwatch" foxes and it seemed to get better.

I found this moth on the kitchen window last night, whilst fox and bat watching.
















I havent ID'ed it yet but I've asked the experts on birdforum.

I'd have loved to have got out birding this w/e but cant really justify the diesel cost to Leighton moss or even to Stocks res. I'll wait until I have an errand to run, nearer to a birding spot.

Sun haven camping/Jack Johnson gig, nr Newquay

Eden project, Cornwall

I'm not on duty at beacon fell today cos the Hen Herrier nest is empty! The 4 chicks have flown the nest meaning that the webcam has nothing to see.
Its great that this nest was successful and that loads of local folk are more aware of the harriers plight.
I'll be concentrating my efforts on my Kestrel nestbox now. I wont put a webcam in this year but will set one up next year before they nest.
I watched the box this morning for half an hour, not much action but the female is still sitting. I located my tawny owl today as well. Its new daytime roost is well hidden so I cant get photos as good as I could back in May. Click here for best owl shot this year.

We're off camping again from tomorrow. We're going to Cornwall to visit the Eden project
and to go to the Jack Johnson gig on the beach at Newquay. Obviously I'll be birding and sea watching too. Target species are dartford warbler and basking shark.

Kestrel nestbox survives gale force winds

On the drive back from Sherwood yesterday I suddenly remembered the Kestrel nestbox.
The winds of 60 mph might dislodge the box from the ratchet belt which straps it to a branch at about 30 feet.
On arrival, I grabbed the scope to check........and it was all ok....Phew!

The box is built from recycled old wood offcuts that would have been thrown away. My ramshackle design seems to have left a little window for the female to keep an eye on things.

(see circled in photo - click on pic to enlarge)


















I'm so glad that it withstood the gales.

Heres the female on her fav perch outside the box.

















I'm back on duty with the Hen harrier webcam project on Saturday, but fear that there may be nothing to watch as the 3 bigger chicks are all practicing flying now!

Heres a vid of them 12 days ago! Getting really big even back then.



Click here for Christines Hen harrier blog.

Hopefully there will still be something to see on Saturday.

Weekend camping at Sherwood forest

Jill and I have been camping in Sherwood forest this weekend. We camped at a small site run behind the redbrick house hotel and went to see the Forestry Commission Crowded House gig in the woods.



















We went to see the Jools Holland gig at Cannock chase last year and really liked the idea, so we went again.

We we lucky to get a light, warm Friday evening for the gig, but even though I drank too much red wine, I still got up at 4 am to go birding.

Target birds for this area were Barn owl, yellowhammer, green woodpecker, tree pipit, nightjar and woodlark.

I did see 40 odd species of bird , 3 of which were new for my UK 08 list (taking me to 139 species in the uk this year). However, it rained a bit on the Saturday and the gales from Saturday night onwards probably ruined any chance of seeing barn owl hunting or nightjar churring overhead.

I was delighted to get some digiscoped shots of yellowhammer....





































and this juvenile green woodpecker










































Whilst BBQing at my tent, I could watch the young swallows being fed.





































Other creatures seen were this fox...

















...2 roe deer, rabbit, hare and grey squirrel.

























I watched the fox hunting rabbit from the lane, really fast, but the rabbits just outran it every time. Great views though.

Even faster, were the many Hare, but the fox didnt even try for these!
























Jill found some tiny froglets in the campsites pond too.


















Another cunning wildlife watching trick I use whilst camping is this. Most campsites have a toilet/shower block that leave the lights on all night. In the early morning, I always check to see what moths and insects have been attracted.
Only one on this occasion, a "Heart and Dart" moth (Agrotis exclamationis)




















Other insects found were some cockchafer beetles (below), violet ground beetles under our tent and a few speckled wood butterflies.

Hi folks,

I've been way too busy recently. Havent posted for a week. Havent seen a new uk08 species for a month!

More garden birds fledging, here in Clitheroe.
GS woodpeckers, at least 3 young, very vocal , but I never did know the nest location.
Dunnocks and greenfinches have fledged.
Still more blue tits fledge (6 nest box broods at least)
Chaffinches still in nest on trellis.
Tawny owl still roosting near box, but no signs of breeding.
I'm giving the kestrels nestbox plenty of space but will post photos again next week.

I'm off to Sherwood forest this w/e to see forestry commission "Crowded house" gig in the woods.
We'll be camping nearby, in a place where there should be barn owls!

I'm back on duty with the hen harriers next w/e. The chicks were ringed this week.

Check out this link for details.

Heres the first shots of the Kestrels actually in the box! (with nestbox sponsors name advertised)
I watched them mating on Sunday night and knew then that they had definitely chosen my nestbox as their site.

A full weekend presenting the Hen Harrier webcam

Firstly, let me direct all those looking for more bowland hen harrier web addresses, to the "My links" section. Scroll down on this page in the right-hand column. That's it!

I've been on duty at the Bowland visitor centre yesterday and today. Heres a short video from June 3rd. The mother bird, "Olivia" (named by local schoolkids) shows her wingtags and her satellite tracking antenna in this clip.



The chicks are growing fast and looking strong. They were moving away from the nest into the heather to get some shade from the sun. Mum now leaves the chicks alone for long periods now!

The most popular (non hen harrier)topics of discussion in the visitor centre are
1. the eagle owls
2. liking/disliking Bill Oddie on Springwatch
3. grouse shooting/gamekeeping

I've had visitors from all over the country, mostly birders and lovers of the great outdoors. Its great just to sit and chat while we watch the webcam.

Of interest now, having watched the nest for 6 hours a day, is that I've never seen grouse as the prey species yet! Meadow pipits are a huge percentage of the diet.
Not that I believe Harriers taking grouse is an excuse for the gamekeepers persecution of this beautiful species, but this dietary evidence (taking no grouse) would make the persecution over the last couple of centuries even more unfounded!

(as usual, click on photos to enlarge)

















I saw a stoat on both days this weekend, in the same place, at the same time, Saturday then Sunday. Creatures of habit eh?
Also found this Wall brown butterfly near the Beacon fell car park.

Kestrels nesting

















I've delayed reporting this just in case I was "jumping the gun". After 2 years of thinking that the tawny owls were nesting in my nestbox, not just roosting near it, it appears that kestrels have moved into the box in the next field!


I went for a walk on Tuesday morning (I'm working nightshift this week) and when I was under to the large ash tree where I put the kestrel box......I was swooped upon by the male bird!
I quickly retreated, but with elation, not fear.
I'm so happy that they've moved in!
I've waited a bit before reporting this, in case I was wrong, but they are still there near the box now. The male would never have swooped on me unless he had chosen that tree as the nest site. He has also swooped on one of the juv carrion crows that fledged this week.
I placed the box with a clear aspect for the birds approach and this aids viewing into the box-front through my 'scope. I'll keep a keen eye on the box for more movement.

I must again thank Tyrone Morgan (a friend and tree surgeon) for erecting the box for me using his climbing and abseiling skills. Perhaps we could paint some advertising on the box for next year.

Maybe I'll call spring watch cos their kestrel box is empty!

The tawnies still roost near their box but no signs of usage (apart from the occasional squirrel eviction.)

Most of the (6) blue tit families have fledged this week, even the family that took up residence in one of my bat boxes!!!! I had a treecreeper nest in a batbox last year!

Not all made it though, I found this unhatched egg in one nestbox.


















The great tit box has fledged too, along with a longtailed tit family. I dont know where the longtails nested.
So the garden is really alive at the mo, with 50+ bluetits, 10+ longtails, 10+ starlings and 5+great tits! Both crow nests have fledged and I've found a new chaffinch nest.



















Goldcrest, blackcap and this song thrush continue to sing daily.

















Other wildlife news this week -
2 nice moths at work.
I rescued and released a Cinnabar moth from inside the factory on my nightshift
and then outside in the factory yard I found a very large hawkmoth attracted to the light.
I gently cupped my hands around it, but it escaped before I could ID it.
:( Possibly an Elephant hawkmoth.