Well that's another month done and to be honest its been hectic! At work, four days out of five we've been busy on the reserves with some sort of loud machinery in hand. On the rough days its felt like the old days of contracting, slogging along in the rain, but its not been all bad though. Throughout February there have been some nature gems; seen two butterflies, both Red admirals one on the 18th (Swanwick wood) and another on the 20th (Taunton high street) and the first Yellowhammer of the year on the 12th.
 |
Red Admiral - Swanwick Wood (Feb 2015)
iphone |
Trying to squeeze in some bird ringing between other commitments and the weather has been tricky but we have managed to get out on a couple of sessions. We went on a 'quest for crests' (a hunt for Firecrests at Holly Hill country park in Walsash) on the 6th. We had great success ringing Firecrest (3), Goldcrest (4) and a Great tit.
 |
Firecrest - Holly Hill (Feb 2015)
Canon 5dmk2, 100mm, f/5.6, 1/80sec, iso125 |
 |
Firecrest - Holly Hill (Feb 2015)
Canon 5dmk2, 100mm, f/5.6, 1/80sec, iso125 |
We also went down to Manor Farm on the 15th, erecting six sets of nets with good results with a fine mix of species; Wren (1), Robin (4), House sparrow (17), Blackbird (2), Song thrush (1), Dunnock (4), Wood pigeon (1), Blue tit (1) & Chaffinch (1).
Warmer night time temperatures have turned my attention to the moth trap recently. I optimistically put the trap out in January with no success, when others were catching December and Winter moths, but unfortunately they all alluded me. Thursday night again I put the trap out thinking I would at least catch a Chestnut (first species caught in both 2013 & 14) but unfortunately I picked the only night in two weeks to have a frost with temperatures dropping to -2.5degrees, so yet again no moths.
With the first few buds starting to break on the Blackthorn, spring is just around the corner and I can hardly wait!!
No comments:
Post a Comment