 |
raynevillage.info |  |
 |
| HOME | < LAST MONTH | NEXT MONTH > | RETURN TO WILDLIFE | FEEDBACK |
Country Matters 8th August 2002
I would like to thank all the people who have contacted me with various sightings and observations on Rayne’s wildlife.Andy Goodey has had Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, Common Buzzard, Widgeon and Red Kite flying over his house or the village in the past. This year he saw an Osprey and Hobby overhead. Along with many other people he has reported Great Spotted Woodpeckers coming to the nut feeders, Green Woodpeckers feeding on insects in the lawn and resident Tawny Owls. At Goulds Farm we have a pair of Little Owls.
I reported I only knew of one House Martins nest in the village how wrong I was. Not surprisingly many people reported the nests on the Welsh Princess. Sylvia Morris in the Maltings has two nests and they have been nesting on the house for at least 10 years though there were more nests in the past. Mrs. Carson living in Hance Lane has a nest on her house and also one on their neighbours. As I write this I have counted 79 martins on the wires in the farmyard, the largest number I have seen for many years on the farm. This congregation is a prelude to their migration to South Africa next month. The adults leave first while the juveniles continue to feed and build up fat reserves and eventually they will follow their parents. I hope this improvement in their fortunes will continue and they will make it back to Rayne next year.
Wendy Moss has given me a long list of wildlife sightings including a pair of partridges in Pods Lane. These are probably Red Leg partridges that were introduced to this country many years ago. There was always a pair of the native grey partridge along Pods Lane that nested on the bank but a vehicle killed one of the adults 2 years ago and I have not seen one since. There are still reasonable numbers in Suffolk and Norfolk where shooting estates have provided habitat that suits the Grey Partridge. Changes in farming elsewhere have meant their numbers have declined. Wendy also comments that she has no garden bluetits despite feeding. I wish some of ours would move house as they cost more for food than Syl and I. Has anybody else got this problem?
Pat Hoath at Kings Farm has had her Mullein (Verbascum) literally eaten to the ground by caterpillars of the Mullein moth. Andy also lists Privet, Elephant, Small Elephant, Poplar and Hummingbird Hawk moths. These large and spectacular moths are rarely seen, as except for the last named all are nocturnal. If you do find their caterpillars they are voracious and impressive the Elephant is 80-85mm long. Betty Stacey had one on a large fuchsia some years ago and it ate virtually every leaf on the plant.
The new fence round our garden has kept out deer so far but the badgers now come under the fence some 3m from one of the special entrances that we have provided for them. Like humans they rarely read the instructions despite a trail of peanuts to encourage them to conform. One of the consequences of the nightly visits from these animals is that we now have virtually no hedgehogs in the garden. Though some foxes can deal with these prickly meals I think it more likely that it is the badgers that are enjoying a hedgehog feast. Keep the reports coming.
To Top of Page
For corrections or changes, please email :-