Getting out of Worcester for Half Term/Pembrokeshire

This blog is not about the wildlife in and around Worcester because last week was the school half term holiday. This meant that we would be heading out of Worcester and off to Pembrokeshire for a few days camping. We arrived on Saturday morning, put our tent up and headed to the small town of Newport for a walk along the costal path. We had not got far from the carpark in the town when we had our first, and possibly one of the best, wildlife encounters of the whole holiday: a Sandwich Tern. It was a very special moment for me as it was a life tick and I do love terns. Unfortunately by the time I had the bird in my sights and got a positive ID it flew off, so no photo.

Newport

Razorbills

There are 12,000 breeding pairs of sandwich Terns in the UK, with their strong hold in Anglesey. They begin to arrive in the UK in March from their wintering grounds as far away as South Africa. They can live up to 30 years so they will get some serious miles under their belt in their lifetime. Not sure what this individual was up to as Anglesey is quite a distance from Pembrokeshire, but it certainly got my holiday off to an excellent start.

Fulmar on Nest

Stonechat on Gorse

Day two of the holiday we headed to the Island of Ramsey. It was our second visit and it is really becoming a special place for our family. Predictably it is full of sea birds: Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Guillemots, Razorbills. There were also good numbers of Stonechats, a few Wheatears and we got some good views of a Spotted Flycatcher. However, the stars of the show are the Choughs. They are great fun to watch flying around in the air and scratching on the grass. In addition to being great fun to watch they were also the subject of a photo my son took which has recently been shortlisted for the British Wildlife Photography Awards.

Choughs

Choughs are the rarest member of the crow family the lives in the UK. Despite there only being 300 breeding pairs in the UK they are increasing in number. This is down to some excellent conservation work taking place to ensure that they have the right habitat for breeding and feeding. They nest on ledges on rocky cliffs or in sea caves and then require rough grazed land to do their feeding, where they scratch around looking for invertebrates in the short grazed grass. It is the maintenance of this type of farmland on Ramsey that helps their continued success on the Island. With more wide spread management, of this type, on the farmland around our coasts we could see more of these beautiful little corvids.

Walking on Ramsey

  

Walking on Ramsey

Ramsey is also a breeding location for Manx Shearwaters. They are a seabird that nests in burrows under the ground. They return to the Islands from their wintering grounds in South America in March, where they will return to the same burrow to breed again, with the same partner. Burrowing in the ground makes them vulnerable to rats. This means they only really can be found on Islands that do not have rats.

Razorbill's

Stonechat

We were told that a good spot to watch Manx Shearwaters was at Strumble Head and they start flying past in the evening at around 7 o'clock when they return to their burrows. We arrived at around 6:30 and waited. Initially it was fun watching Auks, Gannets and Dolphins and the half hour to 7 went quickly. It was not long after 7 when we spotted our first small group of around 8 birds flying in. We sat watching them until 8 and must have seen around 300 Shearwaters. There are approximately 400,000 breeding pairs in the world, 90% breed in Britain and 50% in Pembrokeshire, so our 300 was really just the tip of the iceberg.

Harbour Porpoise 

Gannet

In total we spotted 74 different species of bird. However, the real highlight of the holiday was the truly beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. We really enjoyed the days walking along the cliff watching the seabirds and admiring the range of wild flowers. Here are some of the wild flowers my daughter photographed: 

Bird's-eye Primrose

Bladder Campion

Milkwort

Common Spotted Orchid

Sheep's Bit

Kidney Vetch

Red-tailed Bumble Bee on Sheep's Bit

Wyre Forest, Pearl-boarder and a Little Birding

Well managed and well resourced nature reserves are really important. Through the work of volunteers and trained staff they produce a range of habits that encourage a range of rare and wonderful species to flourish. The results in terms of wildlife can be magnificent. Recently we were in the Wyre Forrest, an area managed by the forestry commission. We clearly saw the benefits of wildlife management with the presence of the pearl-boarder fritillary. Such an amazingly beautiful butterfly.

Pearl-boarder Butterfly

Pearl-boarder Butterfly

The Pearl-boarder was once widespread but since the 1970s their numbers have fallen by 60%. It can be seen in areas of woodland that have been cleared or have been coppiced. This is because it requires the plants that grow in such conditions, such as Bugle, Bluebells to provide its food. Then for its larva it will require plants such as Common Dog-Violet and Heath Dog-Violet.

Bugle

Bluebell

Overall I was really impressed with the diversity that I found in the Wyre forest. Along with the Pearl-boarder Butterfly we also saw a good range of birds. The highlights were Wood Warblers, Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers and several Dippers. We had lunch by the Dowles Brook and watched 3 Dippers flying backwards and forwards for well over an hour. Can you grow tired of watching them?

Dipper

Dowles Brook

By contrast Grimley, the area of gravel pits, a few miles north of Worcester where I have my local birding patch, is an area that is not managed at all. Due to it being an old gravel pit, with workings still taking place in the area today, the natural environment has been changed and destroyed by human involvement. Despite this destruction nature has found a way, as it always does. There is now an impressive range of species to be found there. On the recent Birding Spring All-dayer the team at Grimley counted a total of 88 species, my personal count was 71. Not bad for an area where the only human involvement is negative.

Common Sandpiper

Some of the highlights over the last few weeks have been the arrival of Sand Martins, Swifts, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Common Terns and Common Sandpiper's. There are always large numbers of Little Grebes, Gadwall, Teal and Tufted ducks. In addition, there is always the opportunity to catch a migrant passing through such as Yellow Wagtails, Whimbrel, Godwits and Whinchat. All recently been sighted.

Whinchat

Visiting Grimley and seeing areas such as Camp Lane Pits flourish really do show me that nature will always find a way no matter how badly we mess things up. But that does not give us a right to destroy our natural environment. It is vital for our future on the planet and destroying it is not a legacy I am happy leaving.

Cowslips, Speckled Wood and Redstarts - All in a Trip to the Hospital

On Monday my wife had a hospital appointment so I had a little wander around the area known as Worcester Woods Country Park. It is an area of woodland and meadows surrounded by roads and the ever growing suburbia of Worcester.

Welcome to Worcester Woods Country Park

It was a warm sunny spring afternoon and I had a short walk around the meadows. It was not long before I spotted some Cowslips, I think they are such beautiful little flowers. These were also the first Cowslip flowers I had seen this year. They only grow in open grassland and I am pleased that these meadows have 100's of them. They provide a good food source for many bees and flies, which were out in large numbers today. But they are also the larval host for the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Unfortunately, this was not seen, we can but hope!

Cowslip

When I came across a large nettle patch I was amazed to see 15 Small Tortoiseshells. They are a common butterfly but have experienced a decline of 65% since 1995. Seeing this many in one spot is reassuring and it also highlights the importance of nettle patches as they are vital for the health of our butterflies. Small Tortoiseshells are one of many butterfly species that use nettles as a larval host. They are often one of the first species of Butterfly to be seen each year. This is as a result of them overwintering in adult form, often in sheds and garages, emerging on the first warm days of spring. I saw my first in early March.

Small Tortiseshell

Whilst I have seen plenty of Small Tortoiseshell's this year I did have a butterfly first on my trip. It was a Speckled wood. Unlike the small tortoiseshell, they do not overwinter as an adult, but rather uniquely as both a larva and pupa. The one I saw would have over wintered as a pupa and hatched in the warm weather that we were having. They tend to favour woodlands but due to the close proximity to the woodland I was not surprised to see them in the meadow's.

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood

The real highlight of the trip, apart from my wife returning successfully from her operation, was a redstart. This bird will have been on migration from its wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa to northern Britain where it breeds in Oak woodlands. Sightings in Worcester are quite rare and confined to spring and autumn when is is migrating. They, like many species are in long term decline, but the Redstart's statistics are not as bad as some species and in recent years there has been a slight increase, there are currently 100,000 pairs breeding. 

Redstart 

The Playing Field 

Hen Harriers, National Bird and Some Worcester Wildlife.

There is currently a significant national vote approaching us on May 7^th. It's not the general election, but Britain's vote for our national bird. A few months ago we were asked to select 6 birds out of 60. This has brought the list down to a short list of 10 birds. We, the nation, now have to vote for our favourite. I have cast my vote and I voted for the Hen Harrier.

Photo: Andy Hay (www.rspb-images.com). 

The reason behind my vote is simple: they are being persecuted. Part of that persecution is historical, part is a misunderstanding and part is ignorance. But none-the-less the Hen Harriers are being shot and poisoned by grouse gamekeepers. It is the desire for the grouse moors to be as full of grouse as possible. So when beating takes place there are more grouse for the shooters to shoot at. This management of the moors requires the removal of natural predators of grouse. The Hen Harrier is a predator of grouse so gamekeepers will want to remove them from the moors, this practice is illegal but still takes place. A lot of people in the UK are unaware of the persecution and my vote for the Hen Harrier is to aid the raising of awareness.

picture copyright Barry O’Donoghue NPSW

I am also Voting for the Hen Harrier because it is supposed to be a fantastically breathtaking and stunning bird to see. However, I would never know as I have never seen one. I would love to see one but the odds of seeing one in England are stacked against me. The number of Hen Harriers in England is down to 6. This is needs serious action to turn things around.

To some this may not be important. But we need our biodiversity, it helps shape our natural world and boosts the productivity of ecosystems. In addition, all life has evolved with other species around it; no species lives in isolation. We have to try to conserve as many species as possible. Taking note of what we see is important and it will enrich our lives and our understanding.

Colt's-foot

On my walk around Worcester on Sunday two species stood out. First the Colt's-foot. A pretty little flower. It is an opportunist that will colonise waste ground and footpath edges where other species find more difficult. Clearly not as charismatic as a Hen Harrier but still valuable in its own way. In fact it can be used as a medicine to treat problems with the respiratory tract, cough's, colds and flu, but is also toxic in higher doses so can cause damage to the liver.

Comma - Taken March 2015

I also spotted my first Comma Butterfly of the year. I love these butterflies as they give me hope. They once suffered severe decline and were confined to the Welsh borders. Since the 1960's they have made a come back. Their come back is due to them changing their preference of larval food from hops to common nettles. My hope is that the Hen harrier can do the same thing and make a comeback, but they will need our help and support.

Comma - taken July 2014

Vote for the National Bird

Ban Driven Grouse Shooting Petition

The Start of Spring Migration

On Saturday I managed to get an opportunity to go to Grimley in the afternoon. Now it is March I knew that there was a chance of seeing some early migratory species. There is something quite exciting about the migration period. You never know what might turn up and there is always the hope of some rarities.

Robin

On this occasion I was only out of the car a few minutes when I heard a sound that I had not heard for a long time. A sound that, for me, is connected to the warm sunny days of spring and summer. I had to double check but it was defiantly the chaff chiff chaff chiff sound of one of the most recognisable warblers, the Chiffchaff. It did not take very long to get a sighting. Then there was another and another and another. I counted a total of 6 individuals, but there were possibly more.

Chiffchaff

My walk around Camp Lane Pits proceeded after the excitement of the Chiffchaff's and when I reached the main north pool a glance through the binoculars had small birds flying fast across my view. Sand martins.

I love the hirundines and their connection to summer, but today with a strong cold wind and temperatures barely into double figures you had to feel sorry for these little birds. Having just arrived in the UK after fighting for their lives crossing the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea on their 3000 mile journey. Not bad for a small bird that weighs about 14 grams.

Tree Full of Sand Martins - Taken March 2014

At the far north end of Camp Lane Pits I spotted a collection of Meadow Pipits. As I was watching them move across the grass bank I noticed something a little different. One was not a Meadow Pipit but a rather more handsome bird, a Wheatear. In fact there were two males. These are birds that are passing through on their way to their upland breeding grounds to the north and west. Wheatears winter in sub-Sahara Africa however, their breeding range is right across the northern hemisphere. They are indeed the only species to breed in North America and winter in Africa. They can breed as far west as Alaska. This makes their migration one of the longest of all bird species.

Wheatear - Taken by Gabe Ison April 2014 

Now we are into the migration season I am excited about what might show up. It is important to get out and take notice of all that is around. Who knows what you might see and where you might see it. 

Spring and a bit of Mutualism

Saturday the 7^th March was the first warm sunny day of the year. Our plan was to have a morning walk around the city looking of some signs of spring. I gave the camera to my Daughter and we set off along the canal towards the River Severn and Cherry Orchard Nature Reserve.

Chapter Meadow - Worcester

Cherry Orchard Nature Reserve is an area to the south of Diglis in the centre of Worcester. It was once a landfill site and has now been handed back to nature. It can be amazing what turns up. On this trip we spotted 29 species of bird and 2 species of butterfly, the Brimstone and Peacock (this photo was taken approximately a year ago in Cherry Orchard Nature Reserve). 

Peacock Butterfly

However, the wildlife that got us excited was the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) often one of the first wild flower to be seen each year and a real harbinger of spring. It has evolved to flower early to take advantage of the lack of competition from other flowers and the presence of some early pollinators. As it is a low-growing plant it will also take advantage of the lack of vegetation in general. It has bright yellow flowers and it is quite beautiful to see on these early spring days. It give hope of an exciting spring ahead.

Lesser Celandine

In order for a plant to be successful it obviously needs a pollinator. The flowers are there to first attract the pollinator and then carry out the job of reproduction. Hence our second species of the day, the Tree Bumblebee.

Tree Bumblebee

The Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is a relatively new species that has colonised Britain in the last 15 years. It has done this under its own steam. Due to its colonisation being natural, the fact that is does not seem to be affecting native species and that it is a useful pollinator, conservationists do not see it as a problem. Clearly early flowering plants are benefiting from its arrival. Without the early flowers present there would be no food for the bees, and, the flowers need the bees to pollinate them. I love this simple example of mutualism and the way it underpins our natural world. No single species can survive in isolation. They all fit together in a complex web of life. When we start removing them we start to see problems and if we remove the wrong ones the whole structure will crumble.

Daisy 

Lichen

Grimley - My Patch

Most birdwatchers have a patch where they go to frequently to do their birdwatching. It is an area they know well and enjoy watching the birds, wildlife and generally the changing of the seasons. It is an area they love to be in. My patch is Grimley.

Grimley is an area a few miles north of Worcester on the banks of the river Severn. There is a mixture of habitats there, but the major areas are gravel pits and intensive farmland. The wildlife found there is extensive and some of the best birding in Worcestershire is found there. What appeals to me is that it is not managed for wildlife, yet wildlife exists in abundance.

So far this year I have only managed a few short visits, just an hour or two. However, the last two Saturdays I have managed to be able to spend a little longer and had two extensive walks around the gravel pits and along the river Severn. Both days over 50 species of bird were spotted.

There were two highlights over the two days. The first day the highlight was a Treecreeper. Not the most exciting bird species, but, for me one that I enjoy watching climb up the sides of trees and then flying down to the bottom of the next, foraging for small invertebrates as it goes. In order to assist this unique behaviour they have evolved long stiff tails to support them as the forage in the trunk of the trees. They also have large feet with sharp, arched claw. Additionally, they have a long curved bill that assists the removal of invertebrates from the tree trunk.

The Treecreeper I saw was very important as it was the first that I have ever seen at Grimley and my first of the year!

On my most recent trip I was on my own and as I was walking along the east side of Camp lane pits I heard one of the most evocative sounds of spring. Skylarks. And there in the farmers field were two Skylarks. One was undergoing its display flight. Hoping to catch the eye of a female by rising to as high as 300meters whilst singing its beautiful and loud song.

The skylark is a red listed bird due to the sharp decline that it is undergoing. The numbers have dropped by 70% since 1970. This is as a result of our changes in farming methods. The Skylark, like many birds, does not respond well to intensive farming methods and indeed the increase in Autumn sown crops. These crops are denser and prevent the birds from nesting. A lot of the area around Grimley is intensively farmed and the numbers of Skylarks has dropped. I was very pleased to see this skylark, my first of the year. I hope its not the last.

Note: not all of the photos above were taken on my two recent visits.