April 2012 part 5

Still at the caravan park. Saturday afternoon the rain subsided a little so we went for a walk in the wood. Our first spot was a tree creeper flying to the bottom of the tree and moving upwards while spiralling round the trunk probing the bark for food. It uses its tail to steady itself.

Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris)  Generally it is a solitary but will flock together with other small birds. It breeds in coniferous and deciduous woods  throughout Britain and Ireland. Living on a diet of insects and seeds.

Tree Creeper

Mouse up a tree,

White belly

Close to the bark,

Curved bill

And tail support.

       Robin  Ivy

April 2012 part 4

27th -28th  At a caravan park in Northhampton. Rabbits are feeding as we arrive and are surprisingly tolerant as we set up the van. We have beautiful views of the countryside with tree bordering fields of green and yellow rapeseed , a splash of sunshine on a rainy day. Another caravan has a bird feeder up attracting blue tits, great tits, chaffinch, blackbirds and pigeons.
The next day begins with heavy rain. Rabbits of all sizes feed in the field and two do what rabbits do best.

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Introduced from the continent as a valuable source of meat and skin in the 2th century. Rabbits are sociable animals living in colonies in burrow systems known as warrens. They live in a higher archy with dominant males and females and subordinates. Most activity takes place at night. They stay close to the warren to graze on grasses and flowers. They have a good sense of smell and hearing to help them evade predators. Rabbits keep their fur clean with regular grooming with teeth, tongue and claws.
A rabbit may sometimes be seen rubbing the ground with its chin sent marking territory - called "chinning".
When danger threatens rabbits thump the ground  with a hind leg to warn others.
In one year a rabbit can produce 20 offspring which can breed themselves in 4 months. However only a quarter of all rabbits grow to adult hood. The breeding season runs from January to August, 3-7 young are born in each brood . They leave the nest after 3 weeks and are weaned by 4 weeks.

April 2012 part 3

17th 4 goldfinch, 2male, 1 female blackbirds, pigeons, 2 collared doves, 2 blue tits, great tit, 3 starlings 1 magpie, 2 robins, 3 house sparrows -1male 2 females and a dunnock.

A hedgehog visits later that night. It has been a day of mixed weather, every season, rain , sun and  hail.
18th A short trip to Peterborough I saw 6 red kites and 4 kestrels hunting at the side.
20th Back home to a day of aggression ; the robin is attacking the dunnock, the starlings are fighting each other, and 3 blackbirds are also fighting.
23rd  My first walk by the river for a long time  a blackbird is singing and a moorhen swims on the river itself, a white butterfly flits about in the distance, a magpie flies across from one bank to the other and at last the kingfisher flies on through. It was nice to see him after so long.
25th Rain all day but the plants and soil need it. The birds are still visiting; 2 blue tits, 2 great tits, 4 goldfinch, pigeon, magpies, 2 robins, and 4 house sparrows.

April 2012 part 2

1st sunny but colder than of late. Two hedgehogs in the garden. They breed in April not long after coming out of hibernation.
3rd Only one hedgehog tonight.
4th After some beautiful sunny days snow has returned today mixed with rain. I watched a heron by the river standing on the grass trying to catch the frogs I think.
5th Two hedgehogs again .

12th Four goldfinch in the garden regularly now. It hailed today. A small bird of prey flies quickly through.