Wildlife Blog by Ron Allen – 28 February 2022
Spider cocoons, mammals and birds
It was warm on the 7th and I headed to Heath Pond to spot the kingfisher reputed to be there but with no luck. Instead, I headed to the adjacent heathland to look for the large silken wasp spider egg cocoons and was pleased to find plenty still present (image 1). Petersfield Heath is our nearest heathland habitat rich in heathland fauna and flora (image 2) and absent in Stroud.
We often see roe deer in the surrounding fields and foxes from time to time and it was good to see a badger out in early daylight (image 3). Other mammals we have seen this month include rabbit, mole (hills), squirrel, stoat, bank vole and field mouse (in the house). Palmate newts are abundant in our pond but no frogs yet.
The bird feeders have been attracting a range of species. Pleasing to see greenfinches that have been absent for a time (image 4) often accompanied by goldfinches (image 5). Squirrels raid the peanut feeders (image 6) and great spotted woodpeckers come down from time to time. The picture is of a male with the red band at the nape of the head (image 7), females lack any red on the head, and juveniles have a bright red cap. Other birds in the garden have been blue and great tits, chaffinches, wood pigeons, wren, jackdaws, blackbirds, dunnock and crow.
Buzzards and red kites are frequently seen around the village fields. Red kites in particular are usually flying high and we see them interacting in the sky (images 8 and 9). We have only seen kestrels from time to time and a barn owl was reported over the village green.
