Friday 29th February 2008

Cloudy, Rain, Light increasing to Strong Blustery S/SW


The view from the back door at 06.40


Engrailed ( Wombwell ) - Moth number 5, for the year
A double-brooded species on the wing ( generally ) in March/April and then again from June > August. The larvae feed on a variety of trees & shrubs.


Chaffinch ( Wombwell )


A mosaic of Peas
Set mine off today, using the length of guttering method. They will be ready for eating in about 10 > 12 weeks time. And as every year, they will be by-passing the pan of boiling water and will be eaten straight from the pod. YUM, YUM.

Thursday 28th February 2008

Cloudy ( Sunny Spells pm ), Light SW

The day got off to a good start, with my 4th moth of the year. A March Moth, which was found on the bathroom window. The males of this species are on the wing from mid/late February > April. The larvae feed on a variety of deciduous trees in May/June ;


Another LBJ

A full circuit of Cortonwood did`nt produce anything new for the year, with the highlights being : 3 Cormorant N, 10 Canada Geese, 1 hybrid, 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Bullfinch & 1 Yellowhammer.

Back at home for the rest of the day, but nothing different here either, apart from a couple of flowering things ;


Common Lungwort


Quince

According to the weather forecast, we`re in for an unsettled weekend. There`s just no happy medium in the british weather :(

Wednesday 27th February 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Light W

I`m not going to mention the obvious, as it`s common knowledge what happened this morning. So it`s straight to the days wildlife highlights ;

My Garden ( first thing ) : 1 Skylark singing overhead ( 39th garden bird species of the year ), 1 Cormorant NE, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Song Thrush singing + the Frog count has now risen to at least 50.

Wombwell Garden : 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Wagtail + my first Red-tailed Bumblebee of the year.

Blackbird ( female )




Robin


7-spot Ladybird


Cortonwood ( just the western edge today ) : 2 Song Thrush, 1 Bullfinch & 1 Reed Bunting.


another Robin

My Garden ( again ) : Skylark ( still singing ), another Sparrowhawk + my first Common Wasp of the year ;



I was really hoping for a Buzzard &/or a Butterfly, but both failed to materialize.

Jo, joco, if you`re reading this, the new layout looks fine. Looking forward to seeing more. Oh, and a very happy birthday.

Tuesday 26th February 2008

Sunny, Strong Gusty W

Before i get on with todays sightings etc. We all know that male frogs have a strong urge to pro-create, resulting sometimes in a mass scrum around a female. Well, this individual`s urgency to breed, resulted in a spot of Necrophelia, so much so, that it was still clung to the dead one this morning ;





Right, back to today.
Cortonwood - highlights : 1 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 1 Canada x Greylag hybrid, 14 Tufted Duck, 3 Goosander, + singles of Song Thrush & Willow Tit.


Dunnock

Again, nothing much from my garden, but i did get a pic of a Frog ( oh no!!!, not another one ) without using the flash. I`m not a big fan of the flash ( you can see the difference between this one and the top two ) ;



And finally, while i was at Cortonwood this morning, one of the residents whose house overlooks the lake, told me he`d seen an Eagle Owl around the pit top/spoil heap, for the last few evenings. Did`nt know what to make of it, so with it only being 10 mins away, i decided to have an hour around the area this evening.
Nothing whatsoever owl-like, but there were a couple of additions to this mornings sightings : 2 Grey Partridge, + singles of Kestrel & Yellowhammer.

Monday 25th February 2008

Sunny, turning Cloudy, Blustery S/SW

Birders often refer to small non-descript birds as Little Brown Jobs. Well, the moth world also has its fair share of LBJ`s. Take this male Dotted Border ( found at the Wombwell garden this morning ) for example. Not the most inspiring beastie, is it ?.
The females have vestigal wings and therefore cannot fly. The males however are on the wing from mid-February > April. The larvae can be found on a variety of trees & shrubs, from April > June ;



All the usual bird species were seen here + a flock of 17 Herring Gulls over, heading S.


Chaffinch


Robin


Spider sp - wrapping up its breakfast

Nothing new in at Cortonwood : 5 Canada Geese, 1 Canada x Greylag hybrid, 11 Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant NE, 2 Skylark singing & a single Bullfinch.

Nothing to report from my garden, other than the grass getting its first cut.

Moth Year List - 3

Award

I know i`m far from being one of the best photographers out there ( there`s only so much you can do with a point & shoot ), but to receive an award from someone who is, oceansblog, is truly a great honour.



Thanks Ocean`s. I display it with great pride :)

Sunday 24th February 2008

Bright start, Clouding over, Light>Breezy W

A visit to Manvers this morning, produced my 85th bird Species of the year, with 2 Red-legged Partridge. Other highlights from this area, were : 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 drk Wigeon, 1 female Goldeneye, 4 Skylark & 2 Bullfinch.



Black-headed Gulls






Spent the rest of the day at home, but nothing different to the usual species.


Starling

No increase on the Frog numbers in my garden pond. Better still though, i did see my first Newt of the year.

Saturday 23rd February 2008

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Light>Breezy, SW

Had an hour down at Old Moor this morning. Not a lot doing, with the only notables being : pair of Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher & a Brown Hare.

Called home for a cuppa, then off to Cortonwood, where the highlights were : 1 Mute Swan ( no sign of Red PBZ ), 5 Canada Geese, 1 hybrid Canada x Greylag, 17 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard & a single Song Thrush.

Canalag




Wild Primrose - the first of the year


Frogs have increased to 27 in my garden pond. Probably many more yet to arrive. Which is a good job, especially after last years ovipositing female Southern Hawker. Her offspring will have to feed on something.

Friday 22nd February 2008

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Strong Gusty SW

Did`nt go out till this afternoon and wasted my time at the Wentworth Estate, with only 3 Great Created Grebe to show for it.

Did a Frog count at my garden pond this morning, and ended up with a total of 17 ;

Thursday 21st February 2008

Cloudy, Breezy W/SW

Nothing different from Cortonwood this morning, highlights : 2 Mute Swan ( inc Red PBZ ), 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, Coot ( pair, nest building ) & 3 Song Thrush.


Willow - starting to flower

Mute Swan - Red PBZ ( sightings/ringing details )
Colour ringed nearby at Manvers Lake on 3rd February 2002, last reported from there on 4th March 2003. No further sightings reported till mine, yesterday at Cortonwood. So where`s it been for the last 5 years ?

Wednesday 20th February 2008

Misty, Hazy Sunshine, Light SE
Quite warm this morning, with the temp at -4 C. ;-)

No sign of the Wigeon at Cortonwood, but a colour-ringed Mute Swan ( red PBZ ) was new in. I`ve emailed the ringer concerned, but not sure how long it`ll be before he gets back to me with the birds details ;



The only other notables from here, were : 7 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Willow Tit & 3 Bullfinch.

Black-headed Gulls




Nothing new from my garden, so here`s a painted Blackbird.

Tuesday 19th February 2008

Freezing Fog, Light SE

With the poor visibility, i was`nt going to bother with Cortonwood this morning, but considering the circumstances, i thought i`d better get as many visits in as possible.
Wise decision on my part, as i had my 64th patch species of the year, with a pair of Wigeon ( only my 2nd ever record ). Other highlights were : 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard + singles of Song Thrush, Willow Tit, Bullfinch & Reed Bunting.
I think the most interesting feature this morning was that it looked like it`d snowed. In fact, it`s known as Rime. A result of dense fog & freezing temperature`s, making everything look like it`s covered in snow ;









Thought this severely cold spell would bring something different into the garden. No, nothing, but the usual species. Also, a pair of Collared Doves were watched nest building again ( foolish birds ).

Starling


House Spuggies

Monday 18th February 2007

Hard Frost, Misty, Sunny, Light SE



The above pic is the true colour of the sky at 06.45 this morning. Taken from the back door.

By heck!!! it was painfully cold ( -8 C ) this morning. So much so, that i did`nt visit Cortonwood till 11ish, even then it was`nt too warm. Pretty much the same regards highlights : 14 Tufted Duck, c100 Black-headed Gulls, inc one bird sporting an alloy ring on its right leg, 3 Song Thrush & 2 Willow Tit.

Tufties




Been in touch, with the RMBC Biological Records Officer, who in turn spoke to one of his colleagues, regards the future of Cortonwood.
Bad news i`m afraid. Apparently, planning permission was approved about 10 years ago, to turn all existing vacant land over to both housing & warehousing. Not sure when the work will start, but it looks like i`m going to have to find a new patch.

CORTONWOOD
R.I.P

Sunday 17th February 2008

Hard Frost, Sunny, Light SW



Cortonwood - even less than usual, with the only notables being : 2 Cormorant W, 6 Tufted Duck, the usual Tree Sparrows & 3 Reed Bunting.


Cormorants


Mallard


Robin

Back at home, managed to finally get Canada Goose onto the garden year list, with 15 birds over heading NW.

Garden Year List - a pathetic 38.
That should increase ( i hope ) dramatically from March onwards.

Friday 15th February 2008

Overcast, Light E

Seem to be stuck in a rut at Cortonwood, with virtually the same highlights : 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 7 Song Thrush, 3 Bullfinch & a single Reed Bunting.

God!!! is`nt February a boring month.

Thursday 14th February 2008

Murky, Light NE
The theme for todays pics, is silhouette`s ;

Blackbird ( Wombwell )


Dunnock ( Wombwell )




Chaffinch ( Wombwell )


Cortonwood : Highlights - 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard & 2 Song Thrush + the usual c20 Tree Sparrows.
Just as i was leaving Cortonwood, i saw a guy along the pit-lane, doing some GPS readings with one of those tripody things. So, i questioned him about his work, and apparently there are plans to develop an area of waste/scrubland. Pardon my french, but " Fuck Me ", more habitat loss. Has if there is`nt enough tarmac, concrete & steel on my patch already. Not Happy :(

Wednesday 13th February 2008

Frost, Sunny, Light N
A few pics from the Wombwell garden this morning ;

Blackbird




Blue Tit


Episyrphus balteatus


Then onto Cortonwood, but i could only be bothered to do the western edge, with the best sightings being : 4 Song Thrush, 1 Jay & 2 Reed Bunting.

It`s been very quiet in & around the garden for a while now and the only notables from this afternoon were a group of 4 Goosander over, heading W.

Tuesday 12th February 2008

Frost, Mist, Sunny, Light SE
All the usual species were seen at the Wombwell garden, this morning. The best of which were : Green Woodpecker, 1+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper & 2+ Nuthatch.

Dunnock


Chaffinch

" He went that`a way "

7-spot Ladybird


A lot better visibility at Cortonwood today, enabling me to record the following highlights ;
6 Tufted Duck, 1 female Pochard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Bunting, 8 Song Thrush & 2 Bullfinch ;


Bullfinch ( beautiful )

Will have to make the most of tomorrows sunshine, cos it`s downhill ( weatherwise ) from there on in. Well, it was good while it lasted.

Monday 11th February 2008

Frost, Dense Fog clearing early afternoon, Light SE
Bit of a pea-souper this morning ;

Wombwell Garden





The Sun


" Diamonte " Spider`s Web

Called in at Cortonwood, but it was a complete waste of time, with visibility well below 50 metre`s.

It`s that time of year again, when it`s time to prepare for the veg growing season. First to go in are the Tatties " First Early`s ". These are my favourites. When harvested you can literally rub the skins off with your thumb. Prior to planting them ( Late Feb/early March ), it`s best if you chit them ( stand them in a light, frost free place, so that the eyes face upwards. This gives the sprouting shoots chance to get started ) ;


First Early`s " Arran Pilot "

My mouth`s watering, just at the thought of harvesting them :)

Sunday 10th February 2008

Hard Frost, Sunny, Light E
A mid-morning visit to Cortonwood did`nt produce a great deal, with the highlights being : 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Skylark singing & 1 N, 2 Reed Bunting, + singles of Bullfinch & Willow Tit.


Coot


Dogwood ( a nice contrast against the blue sky )


Willow sp

Spent an hour in the garden doing a bit of tidying up and found this, what i believe to be an Angle Shades larva ;



The Grape Hyacinths have started to flower. They will, over the next week or so provide some much needed nectar for any emerging insects ;



Still no butterflies, despite extensive looking :(

Saturday 9th February 2008

Sunny, Light S
God!!!, i was bored this morning. Jakki went to do a few hours at work, so i was left at home minding the children. Not much in the way of birdlife from the garden, with the best being : 1 Sparrowhawk W, 1 Cormorant W & a steady stream of Black-headed Gulls moving S, during the first hour of daylight.
All this sun has spurred my Corsican Hellebore into flowering ;



Aeroplane sp ( told you i was bored )


Soon after Jakki got home, my mate Mike ( top bloke ) Richardson turned up to take me Fungi twitching. He found a couple of decent species last week at Sprotbrough. The best of which, was this rare species for Yorkshire - Geastrum pectinatum ( one of the Earthstars ) ;





Another first for me, came in the form of this Scarlet Elf Cup ;



The only other notables from here were ;


Velvet Shank


( wild ) Spring Crocus

Mike then took me to an undisclosed site for another first, in the shape of Green Hellebore ;



3 lifers in one day. Does`nt get much better than that, now does it :)

Friday 8th February 2008

Sunny, Light > Brezzy S/SW
Very spring-like ;

Blackbird


Nuthatch


Drone Fly


Buff-tailed Bumble ( my first of the year )


7-spot Ladybird ( another first of the year )




Bergenia


Daffs


A butterfly would have rounded things off nicely.

Thursday 7th February 2008

Sunny & Patchy Cloud, Breezy SW


Nuthatch ( Wombwell )


Great Tit ( Wombwell )

Nothing new at Cortonwood : 2 Skylark ( singing ), 5 Song Thrush, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard & 4 Goosander, were the highlights.

And last but by no means least, another proud parenty ( just made up a new word ) moment, with Storm & Saffie making into the latest edition of the "Pony Mag" ;





The look on Storm`s face when she saw herself in the mag, was a very special moment indeed. Well done girl :)

Wednesday 6th February 2008

Sunny, Light > Breezy NW

Coal Tit - Wombwell Garden


All the usual stuff here, Great Spotted Woodpecker ( drumming ) & 2 Nuthatch, being the best. I also had my 2nd moth species of the year, with a single Agonopterix heracliana. Unfortunately, it would`nt settle for the camera.

Too knackered to visit Cortonwood. I must stop thinking i`m a teenager, especially when i go to see a band. Like hell!!! :), you only have one life, so live it.

D M`s

Dropkick Murphys live @ the Leadmill, Sheffield 5th Feb 2008

The best band to come out of America, since the Ramones ;

















Not easy, photographing when you`re being knocked from pillar to post, in a hall full of bouncing bodies.

Tuesday 5th February 2008

Sunny, ( Showery pm ), Blustery SW

Long-tailed Tits ( painted ) - Wombwell Garden ;




odd plumaged individual





Cortonwood : managed to see my first Lesser Redpolls of the year, with at least 2 birds feeding with a mixed flock of Siskin & Goldfinch.
Other highlights : 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 3 Goosander, 6 Song Thrush, 2 Skylark, Grey Partridge ( calling ), 2 Bullfinch.

CORTONWOOD - 63
DEARNE VALLEY - 84


Live tonight at the Leadmill, Sheffield

Monday 4th February 2008

Sunny, Light S/SW

Wombwell Garden : all the usual woodland species. Nice to hear the Chaffinch`s singing again. + a single Pale Brindled Beauty.

Blackbird


Pale Brindled Beauty




Hemingfield ( Smithy Bridge ) : 1 Water Rail ( DV year tick ).
Cortonwood : 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Skylark, 6 Song Thrush.

DEARNE VALLEY ( year list ) - 83

I`m on another musical high. Off to see the Dropkick Murphy`s tomorrow at the Leadmill, Sheffield. Can`t wait.

Saturday 2nd February 2008

( Overnight Snow ), Thin Cloud, Sunny Spells, Light W/SW


Pre-sunrise ( Dearne Valley )

Fancied a bit of a change this morning. So i set off along the canal from Brampton > Elsecar, nothing out of the ordinary encountered, with the best of the birds being : 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Goosander, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Teal, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit & a single Green Woodpecker.
Then a walk around Elsecar Res`r could`nt produce anything better than : 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pochard + singles of Kingfisher & Nuthatch.

Then onto Cortonwood, where there seemed to have been a bit of a cold weather movement, in the form of 3 site year ticks : 2 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail & 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. The best of the rest were : 13 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 3 Goosander & a single Meadow Pipit.


Coot

Back at home, the best of the birds were my first Fieldfares of the year from the garden, with 17 over, heading S.

Year Lists latest : CORTONWOOD - 62, GARDEN - 37

Just get this month out of the way & the Inverts should start appearing. Almost forgot what a butterfly looks like.

Friday 1st February 2008

Sunshine & Wintry Showers, Strong Gusty NW

Long-tailed Tit - Wombwell Garden.
At least 4 birds coming to the feeder, but i could only manage the one pic ;



The forecasted snow has`nt materialised yet. Maybe it`ll be white over come morning.