Besides all the insects down Greenway Lane, close to home I’m seeing a lot of other wildlife action. Most of the insect life has disappeared at the moment as it’s turned a lot colder only hardier species are out and about. There is the occasional Butterfly passing through especially in the warmth of the lane hedgerow. I’ve seen Brimstone, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blues all in small numbers and a few more of the Orange Tips.
It’s surprising what you can find in just a small area if you just linger awhile and watch, I’ve enjoyed just taking the time and looking. My husband Rod is a good spotter as well, if he’s with me at the time. There are certainly a few Blackcaps in various points down the lane they have quite a loud song and I’m just getting to know the sound of them.
Plenty of other little birds, extremely busy at the moment and as always not easy to photograph, many I don’t manage to get! It was so nice to spot a Greenfinch I hadn’t seen one in our locality for a while, a very handsome bird. The little Coal Tit gave me a lot of trouble he wouldn’t stay still but I managed an image in the end. I’m sure I’ve missed some, of course the House Sparrows are always making a din an the hedgerows at the back of the houses and there are Starlings nesting in the top of the electric post at the top of the lane. I know there are also Nuthatches but I’ve not managed to spot one in the lane recently.
We’ve had a small flock of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying around the houses lately making lots of noise, I’m still not sure what’s attracting them.
At the bottom of the lane there is a little spinney of trees on the edge of the river Stour I was pleased to see a Green Woodpecker there and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, I think the Green Woodpecker may be nesting close but I haven’t spotted anything as yet. We often see a Moorhen in the river but he is very timid and soon disappears in the growing reeds.
I’ve also spotted some fairly large Chubb in the river although difficult to spot as the river is still quite murky.
Always a few Grey Squirrels in the lane who can cause havoc to the nesting birds and cats lay in wait hoping for a fledgling, it’s a wonder the little things survive!
