Amphibians

Bob's Nature Notes

Many thanks to Bob for sharing his Nature Notes from Plashett Park Farm with us.

These notes will always be a little slow in arriving on the site, but the latest 2 months will always be at the top of the table.

Month

2008

2007

2006

2005

January

Robin
Robin ©Owen Burnham

37 species of birds were recorded during the month.
Tawny owls have been heard quite frequently and the little owls have been noisy in the early evenings. Barn owls have also been recorded. The first robin was singing on 5th and a thrush was singing on 28th. Green and greater spotted woodpeckers have been much in evidence.
A dog fox has been heard barking on several nights and the weasel is still hunting in the bales and the pig sties.

36 species of birds were recorded during the month.
Sparrowhawks have again been very much in evidence and Green Woodpeckers (The Yaffle bird) have been very noisy.
Several pairs of robins have come through the winter well and are preparing to nest.
Curlews have been recorded passing over twice during the month.

On 25th January 33 species of wild birds were recorded plus six extra seen on the farm during the month.
Sparrowhawks and Kestrels have been frequently seen and on 9th a stoat was spotted in pursuit of a rabbit across open ground, the rabbit was some hundred yards ahead.

February

Snowdrops in a Ringmer lane

42 species of birds were recorded on the farm during the month. These include a kingfisher on several occasions along the stream. Three species of owls were recorded and the wagtails have returned to the yard. A thrush has been singing since the beginning of the month and the green woodpeckers have been very vocal throughout the month.

39 species of birds were recorded during the month.
A tawny owl was heard on 1st and 26th.
Twelve yellowhammers were seen together on 13th, also a large number of magpies.
Sparrowhawks have also been seen on numerous occasions

As spring approaches the wrens appear to have come through the winter well. Their song is very noticeable and we have at least three pairs preparing to nest.
The species which have been really scarce are tawny owls, lapwings and grey partridges.

March

Greylag Goose ©Owen Burnham

Greylag Goose stretching

39 species of birds were recorded during the month.
It was a much warmer month than usual and the hedges started breaking out on 18th.
Robins were nesting in the straw bales on 27th and the first bats were recorded flying on that evening.
The blackthorn was out on 28th as were the primroses and a wren was nesting in the woodpile.

The month was dominated by very cold winds both from the north and south, retarding growth of both grass and foliage. Activity on the bird front was also affected by the late spring.
A thrush was recorded singing on 11th and a blackbird on 30th.
Sadly a dead barn owl was picked up in the yard on 27th. It was a female in good order and the cause of death could not be established. It had been ringed in Plashett Wood in 2004.
Forty-one species of birds were recorded during March.

April

Sheep with lambs on the Downs above Ringmer

April was a really warm dry month with average temperatures 12 degrees above normal, rainfall two inches less than normal.
The swallows arrived in good time on April 6th and started nesting immediately and at least 4 pairs are nesting in the buildings. One must always marvel at these birds, travelling between 6 and 7 thousand miles twice a year and still arriving on time and full of vigour. A recent survey counted 26 swallow nests in the buildings although not all are occupied.
The cuckoo was first heard on 20th and they appear to to more numerous than last year.
43 species of birds were recorded in April including several sightings of goldfinches and a redstart for the first time.
I have never known the oak out so far ahead of the ash, so we should expect a very dry summer.

Our first lambs were born on 1st April; two sets of twins - a good start.
The first swallow arrived on 9th to be followed by five more by 16th.
The first cuckoo was seen on 16th and heard on 19th.
A pair of goldfinches were seen on 30th and a total of 36 species were reported during the month.
The ash was out a week before the oak. A sign of a wet summer!!

The first cuckoo was heard on 4th April.
The first swallow arrived on 16th April and 5 pairs are now nesting in the yard.
There has been a large increase in the number of bumble bees this spring.