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Latest Sightings November 2010

Click on the link to send in your sightings [email-masked]

For previous months sightings see Archive

The"Area Seen" refers to the 10 sections that the Brook has been
split into for monitoring purposes (see Wildlife page).

Click on any picture to see a larger image.

All sightings unless stated by Eddie Napper

Birds

28/11//10 Not as exiciting as yesterday the
only new species not seen yesterday were Sparrowhawk
, Pied Wagtail & Grey Heron . Bringing the weekends total to
36 species

27/11//10

A cold and frosty start to the day along the Emm in Area 5
(behind Morrisons) produced 2 Snipe Mandarin Duck, & Kingfisher. on the Brook and
Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch,
Blackbird, Starling, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Magpie, Redwing, Jay,
Carrion Crow, Robin, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit,
Nuthatch, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Mallard, Herring Gull, Black headed
Gull, Siskin , Collared Dove, Red Kite, Moorhen, Wood Pigeon a
Treecreeper was seen moving up the Willow
trees behind the BMX track. A male Blackcap
was at the garden feeders today. A total of 33 species.

26/11//10 Seen today at a garden Sunflower
Heart feeder in Area 5 probably lured in by the cold weather a female
Blackcap

24/11//10 Seen today at lunchtime the Kingfisher was flying by Dragonfly Bridge. Seen
earlier in the day in Area 4 by Paul Bright-Thomas Goldfinch, Fieldfare, Black headed Gull & Herring
Gull.

21/11//10 A gloomy & overcast weekend
was brightened by a close inspection of the wooded area to the rear of
Morrisons. 4 Bullfinches ,15 Redwings 2 Green Woodpeckers,
also Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Red Kite
were seen .

19/11//10 A Firecrest
was seen this morning in trees by the footbrdge over the Emm from
the Sandford Lane car park into Lavells Lake in Area 10. Sighting from
Berksbirds .co.uk .

1711//10 Red Kite,
Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Black headed Gull were the pick of
today's birds in Area 5.

1411//10 On a gloomy overcast morning I
decided to go on a litter pick in Area 4 & 5. A total of 2 full bin
bags were collected. On the bird front not a lot to report. The Mallard population on the balancing pond has
increased to 35. 2 Moorhen and a male Mandarin ( a first for the FOTEB list ) was seen
sitting on the Willow branches near the outfall into the Emm. Following
the rain in the afternoon the grass area to the rear of Dragonfly Bridge
had 2 Song Thrushes, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush
3 Jays and 4 Blackbirds all hungrily looking for worms.

1311//10 This mornings intended quite walk
along the Emm was anything but with the daily fly over of calling Herring Gulls setting the scene. 5, Mistle Thrushes were calling from the top of the
tree with their distincitive rattling call and with the Blackbird population swelled at this time of year
by migrants 8 were alarm calling on the grass to the rear of Dragonfly
Bridge in Area 5. The supporting cast consisted of a 30+ strong mixed
flock of Siskins & Goldfinches noisly
calling as they moved from tree to tree. 2, Redwing
& a Song Thrush also joined the band. On the flooded
balancing pond in Area 4, 25 Mallard's were
happily quacking away.

0711//10 Today was very much as yesterday with
another 25 bird species seen. Between 07:00 and 09:00 visible migration
was very in evidence as I stood at the top of the hill by the Acorn
Centre next to Morrissons. In the 2 hours approx350
Wood Pigeons,25 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings & 2 Skylarks flew
South across Area 5. The largest flock was of 100+ birds.

However the real highlight of the day was a Short eared Owl seen by Paul Bright-Thomas high in
from the W and then flew SE over Area 4.

06/11//10

Between 07:30 & 09:15 this morning walking around Area
4 & 5. I managed to encounter 25 species of birds. These were Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird,
Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Robin, Dunnock,
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Green Woodpecker,
Mallard, Herring Gull, Kingfisher, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Grey
Heron and the highlight for me a Ring-necked
Parakeet which flew East over the Woosehill Lane area calling at
08:15 allowing me to grab a fuzzy photo.

05/11//10 A Ring necked
Parakeet and 5 Stock Doves were seen
in Area 4 this morning by Paul-Bright Thomas.

04/11//10 Heard at 07:30 in Area 4 this morning
by Paul-Bright Thomas the distinctive call of the Goldcrest in his garden.

03/11//10 A group of 3 noisy Herring Gulls flew over Area 5 calling this morning
at 06:50.

01/11//10 Seen today in Area 5, Goldcest, Bullfinch,Sparrowhawk & Long tailed
Tit.

Insects

13/11//10 An unidentified Bumble Bee was seen gathering nectar from a
Mahonia japonica in Area 5.

06/11//10 At this time of the year insect
activity is fairly quiet. However you can still see Winter Gnats which gather in large swarms and dance
up and down to attract females in the sunlight.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

04/11//10 At 17:00 in Area 4 on my walk home
from work 2 Pipestrelle Bats were seen
hunting for food around the Oak trees. A record shot was taken. Whilst
waiting a Munjac Deer was seen running
towards the Emm. Eventually even its white tail was lost in the gloom.

02/11//10 With the leaves falling fom the
trees, things once hidden now become obvious. The grey squirrel builds
itself a nest, or drey, about the size of a football, made of twigs,
often with the leaves still attached. It is built fairly high in a tree
and lined with dry grass, shredded bark, moss and feathers. This one was
seen in Area 5.

Fungi

01/11//10 One of the most beautiful sights of
autumn is a group of firey red Fly Agarics
shining in the sun, brilliant against the damp green grass and
the fallen leaves of the Birch with which it is allways associated. 10
were seen this morning in Area 5. An extract of this poisonous fungi can
kill flies which may be where it got its common name.

Plants/Trees

Plants

28/11//10 Despite it being November some plants
are still in flower White Dead Nettle & Yarrow
can still be seen.

Trees

02/11//10 Planted by FOTEB as part of the
National Tree Week earlier in the year this Field
Maplehas survived and was starting to show its autumn colour.

Why do the leaves change colour ?

Autumn
Leaves click on the link to find out why.