Country Matters February 2007

I am sitting in the office typing this on one of those mornings that make living in England so enjoyable.  I must admit I would rather be outside but I'm a day late with this already.  Despite the beautiful day I am not happy, I have just found a lime tree which we have nurtured from a seedling badly barked by a Muntjac stag.  Its sharp little horns have gouged the tree's bark and to add further insult there was a heap of still warm droppings deposited quite near the house.  My immediate thoughts were to start a deer hunt as it was probably still holed up in the garden and watching my every step.  It would have made a welcome addition to the deep freeze as I'm told they are excellent eating.

But Syl pointed out she had found Muntjac slots either side of our Fritillaries, the deer having jumped over them.  Normally the Frittillaries are netted against the deer and rabbits as the growing flower buds are usually irresistible.  So as it did not eat them I have given up the idea of a deer hunt and settled down to write this before the Editor sends me another email.

On the 10th March I saw a Humming Bird Hawk Moth trying to nectar on flowering Chinodoxa in the garden.  As they were an unproductive food source it quickly flew away.  I have written before about this migratory insect that flies here from Europe and even North Africa.  Last year we had a large influx but some years there have only been a few records.  In the past it has been rarely recorded over wintering as an adult in the south west.  This one must have over wintered and is probably another indication of our warmer winters.  It is said to be the messenger of good tidings in Italy and Malta, if so we should welcome it as another addition to our resident fauna.

I have been planting a hedge along the verge of Shalford road and it is surprising what I have dug up or found in the undergrowth.  There were several bottles of various drinks some with their seals still intact but it was the items of clothing that will no doubt be of considerable interest to future archaeologists.  Among the items of female attire was a nearly new brassiere and not far away a pair of panties.  Unfortunately they were not a matching pair.  What were they doing on a section of open road with no gateway to park nearby and if they were discarded for the obvious reason why no male attire nearby; or is that just a sign that they are more reluctant to part with their underwear.  Also found were the steel heel and toe plates from the soles of working boots and the expected discarded plough shares and points from agricultural implements.  I am sure TV's Time Team would find more items of interest trawling along our roadside verges than they do on some of their programmes.

While planting the trees I was talking to Harold Giles near Pods Lane and we watched three and possible five hares chasing each other around, it was quite clear what the chasing males had in mind.  Though hares breed virtually all the year round it is only in the spring that one witness's this intense courtship behaviour.  They were totally oblivious of us watching as they ran past less than 15m away.

I recently saw a Barn Owl flying along the verge of the A120 near the Canfield roundabouts.  Roadside verges are good foraging habitat for voles, the owls preferred food, unfortunately vehicles are probably the main cause of deaths to Barn Owls.

Roger Jiggins

Wildlife Reports for February 2007

Andy Goodey reported a Kingfisher at the bottom of Fairy Hall Lane and a Treecreeper singing by Rookery Ponds off the Flitch way.  The latter is pleasing news as a Creeper was present last year.  Andy also observed an "indignant Blue Tit" one evening flapping around the entrance hole to a bat box on his house.  A loud hissing noise was coming from the box.  The Tit appeared to be venting its fury on something inside the box.  This continued for some time before the Tit disappeared inside the box.  Since then Andy has seen a Blue Tit go to roost in the box on several occasions.  The entrance is only about 20mm so the Tits have a very tight squeeze to get in.  The hissing sound must have come from a Tit already resident inside.

Beryl Whiteside The Maltings had a Great Spotted Woodpecker in her garden and Harold Giles had a pair on the Shalford Road allotments where they have nested in the past.
David Sykes, The Street had his first frog spawn on the 5th March he had about 40 frogs in a 6ft by 3ft pond and has kept records since 1984 listing spawning dates.  Andy Goodey also had spawn in his pond on the same day.

Andrew Goldsmith sent me photos of at least 16 Fallow deer that he saw one afternoon on the land east of Shalford Road between Old Hall and Mounts Farm.  This sighting was subsequently confirmed by Robert Bucknall who saw 17 in one group and a total of 22 along the Pods Book valley, and Harold Giles who reported over 20, all on separate occasions.  Robert also saw five Muntjac in a group and a group of 26 Fallow on the other side of the valley in Shalford parish.
Trevor Rippingale, Dunmow Road has noticed that the Robins have learnt to copy the Tits and are feeding on the Tit feeders and the fat balls.
Phil Monk had a single Grey Wagtail in his garden about 2m from his back door, he assumed it was attracted by the garden pond.

Roger Martin said he has heard more Skylarks singing this spring than last.  There was a period when Roger never heard any at all but they are hopefully now increasing again.  He is now regularly seeing Little Owls again after a period of absence.  My impression is that this owl has managed to cope with habitat changes better than many bird species.  I have always seen it feeding on worms on arable fields during the winter and its main restriction is probably suitable nesting sites.  It will use holes from ground level to high woodpecker and rot holes in trees.
Betty Childs, Dunmow Road sat in her bay window with her son and watched a Sparrow Hawk that was 3ft away sitting by her bird feeders waiting for lunch.  She has had several more close sightings since which suggests that the Hawk has found a good hunting site.  Betty has nine feeders so she has a large number of birds visiting.
Jim Gepp reported a Little Egret that stayed for several days where the stream crosses the Flitch Way near Graunt Courts.  Yvonne Marsden also saw a Little Egret on Pods Brook near Rectory Lane and remarked how tame it appeared.  When we had the cold period Ken Turner saw five Little Egrets on Pods Brook.

Roger Jiggins Tel. 01376 324 311, email r.jiggins@btconnect.com (please put Wildlife as the subject)