🦆 Cotwall End Valley nature diary: December 2024
December 2
Muntjac on Sandyfields Road and Cotwall End Road, both on grass verges in the early hours of the morning.
December 3
A walk around the lower end of the woodland. As far as birds were concerned, saw wren, a pair of long-tailed tits and a pair of chafffinches.
A muntjac crossed Bob’s Brook.
📹 watch
Late dusk dog walk in the immediate area, c.15 carrion crows (not together) all heading towards Baggeridge to roost.
December 5
Pied wagtail in flight across Straits Primary School.
December 6
Male sparrowhawk in flight across Straits Road and the fields beyond.
Great black-backed gull perched on pylon beyond Straits Road.
December 8
Two herring gull over golf course and c.15 black-headed gulls on fairway.
December 9
Walking along the lane at dusk, there’s a spot in the hedgerow where a lady puts out food every day at the same time for the foxes and, true to form, it was there eating.
December 10
Black-headed gulls c.20 on telegraph pole wires alongside High Arcal Road.
December 13
Two (separate sightings) very low ravens in flight over our home. Both calling.
December 14
Two moorhens the only water birds on the main pool.
December 16
Cormorant in flight over Straits Road/High Arcal Road.
December 17
Female blackcap on the feeding station in the garden. Returned several times.
📹 watch
An enjoyable (aren’t they all) walk in the valley late morning.
📹 watch
December 21
Three herring gulls over the western slope.
Lots of forget-me-nots coming through (leaves) in woodland ride off the lane.
December 22
Female lesser spotted woodpecker on the peanuts feeder in the garden.
December 23
Herring gull low in circular flight, landed on a bungalow in Longfellow Road.
December 24
Male and female blackcap on garden feeding station at the same time. The latter kept chasing the former away.
December 25
Eleven black-headed gulls on telegraph pole wires alongside High Arcal Road.
December 26
Male and female blackcap on the feeding station in the back garden at the same time.
December 27
Fox in woodland off the lane at dusk.
At dusk, five noisy ring-necked parakeets in flight south to north over my home.