Nature Diaries
A selection from the Nature Diaries:
Feb - small bird of prey flying low over the field - possibly female Sparrowhawk. Also Blue Tits seem to have a nest in, or near to the barn - lots of dashing about this morning.
March - we saw some Red Kites on a walk and a Heron by the canal.
March - can confirm the sighting of a Sparrowhawk and it was sitting on the gate today.
April - walking around Usk Reservoir saw Red Kites and heard a Cuckoo.
April - grey heron spotted on the field
Spring - after a very wet winter the primroses have appeared and the Tawny Owls are nesting
The Sparrowhawk is a regular visitor as we have so many small birds nesting. Unusually a Goshawk in the back field. Apparently not unusual as it has been back a few times.
Goldfinches and Swallows by the barn, but also saw Kites, Buzzards, Wheatears, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dippers and Grey and Pied Wagtails nearby.
There was a Heron in the middle of the field for ages this morning and heard a Cuckoo - the first one for years!
June - The hedgerows are a picture, full of cow parsley, oxe-eye daisies, foxgloves and buttercups.
July - walking along Llangattock Escarpment saw Willow Tits at very close quarters - very pretty birds, a real delight.
August - walking along the canal had my first ever sight of a Kingfisher. It flew in front of us several times and also landed twice giving us a brilliant view.
Sept - the Swallows had a second brood and very reluctant to leave - last sighting.
We record our swallows arrival and departure every year and it is amazing how close to the same date they are but in 2020 and in 2021 they arrived later in May rather than April - on the 2nd - same day as our grandaughter Tes! In 2022 they behaved very differently, perhaps it was the heat but they still left on the same day as usual.
Feb - small bird of prey flying low over the field - possibly female Sparrowhawk. Also Blue Tits seem to have a nest in, or near to the barn - lots of dashing about this morning.
March - we saw some Red Kites on a walk and a Heron by the canal.
March - can confirm the sighting of a Sparrowhawk and it was sitting on the gate today.
April - walking around Usk Reservoir saw Red Kites and heard a Cuckoo.
April - grey heron spotted on the field
Spring - after a very wet winter the primroses have appeared and the Tawny Owls are nesting
The Sparrowhawk is a regular visitor as we have so many small birds nesting. Unusually a Goshawk in the back field. Apparently not unusual as it has been back a few times.
Goldfinches and Swallows by the barn, but also saw Kites, Buzzards, Wheatears, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dippers and Grey and Pied Wagtails nearby.
There was a Heron in the middle of the field for ages this morning and heard a Cuckoo - the first one for years!
June - The hedgerows are a picture, full of cow parsley, oxe-eye daisies, foxgloves and buttercups.
July - walking along Llangattock Escarpment saw Willow Tits at very close quarters - very pretty birds, a real delight.
August - walking along the canal had my first ever sight of a Kingfisher. It flew in front of us several times and also landed twice giving us a brilliant view.
Sept - the Swallows had a second brood and very reluctant to leave - last sighting.
We record our swallows arrival and departure every year and it is amazing how close to the same date they are but in 2020 and in 2021 they arrived later in May rather than April - on the 2nd - same day as our grandaughter Tes! In 2022 they behaved very differently, perhaps it was the heat but they still left on the same day as usual.
