Wildlife Reports for March 2006

Robert Bucknall has phoned me on several occasions to say one or two Red Kites were circling overhead.  They are still in the area near Mounts Farm, Pudneys Farm and Saling.  Despite this privileged information I still have not seen them. Phil Monk also reported seeing a Red Kite from Shalford Road during late afternoon.  It was using the strong breeze to circle.  As both Robert and Phil commented they rarely flap their wings but use the air currents to glide on.  With a 1.45 to 1.65m (5.5 ft.) wingspan they do not want to waste energy flapping their wings.  Robert during the month also saw a Short Eared Owl sitting on a gate only 5-6m away.  The owl was just outside the Parish in Saling but he has confirmed that the owl, kites and Buzzards are still present on 15th March.  Ernest Sexton Old Hall Farm, has also seen the Red Kites and Buzzards on his farm.

Dick Stacey’s daughter Lynette sent in Dick’s report of birds seen in his garden on Dunmow Road.  A single male House Sparrow that had been in the garden for some time has now disappeared.  Dick is unlucky as most reports indicate that House Sparrows are very slowly increasing in numbers in the village.  Being a gregarious bird they are susceptible to virus diseases, which quickly spread through species that aggregate together.  Dick also had a Moorhen in the garden even though there is no pond nearby.  They often migrate looking for food especially round bird feeders when their water habitats freeze over.  Dick keeps his peanuts in a tub in the conservatory but this did not stop the mice finding them.  I will not report the fate of the six mice in the tub but I will repeat the tale of Dick’s mower that went in for service.  The workshop found a mouse nest and a store of about 2 lbs of peanuts in the mower.  I am pleased to report the mower worked much better after its service.

Andrew Goodey reported a Tree Creeper on the Flitch Way about one mile west of the station and another 100m east of Gore Road Bridge.
David Saltmarsh Brunwin Road, saw a vixen in his garden at about 10pm.  By the time you read this the vixens will have given birth to their young.  Every year I receive reports of foxes with young in people’s gardens.  Usually these dens do not become known until the young become active above ground and the smell from the den gives it away.  Vixens have learnt that living next to humans can usually be a safe place to have their young.
Jim Gepp saw three Little Egrets, two in Pods Brook and one on the nearby field.  There were also two Grey Herons on the river.  This was during the colder part of the month when much of the still water was frozen each night.

Barry Mouser in the same area saw a small group of Siskins on the Alder trees and an early Skylark, which had not yet started to sing.  Barry took this as a small sign of spring on its way.  That was before the snow!
Vicki Forster Medley Road, phoned for an identification of a hawk sitting close to their window with bright yellow legs and feet and a speckled thrush like breast.  This was probably a Kestrel and this is an example of how difficult it is to identify some raptors when you are not an experienced birder.  Normally one only sees a bird like a Kestrel at a distance but when one is very close in bright light its colour and shape can look quite exotic.  Bird books cannot capture the beauty of birds in all conditions.
Wayne, Penny and Jean Jones, The Street counted 31 Goldfinches in a tree at the bottom of their garden.  Several times they took off and circled around before landing back in the tree.  This is typical of a flock of Goldfinches and is how an experienced birder identifies birds by their ‘jizz’.  As I reported last month numbers of this distinctive bird appear to have increased in recent years in the Parish.
Ken Turner on the bridleway to Panfield saw a Little Owl calling.  This small owl is diurnal and if you shine a torch round the fields at night you will often disturb this bird feeding on worms which come up to the surface at night.

Sid James Brunwin Road has recently seen the Ringed Necked Parakeet.  It does not appear to have attracted a mate yet.
Mrs Digby saw a Fallow Deer jump a hedge then think better of it and jump back again, she has also seen Muntjac in the village.
Syl and I had a close view of four Roe deer on the way to Bardfield mid morning.  After crossing the road they decided to stand and look at the car for some time before speeding off.  As usual with all good photo opportunities I had no camera.  Roe deer have been resident in the Parish for many years but were not seen during the day, now most months someone reports seeing one in daylight.  They are certainly becoming habituated to humans.  They are my favourite deer though most people know my views on the large deer numbers now present in Essex and the damage they are doing to the flora in our woodlands.
Mark Giles has had continued close sightings of the Badger in Shalford Road.  I should add that he sees the badger when walking to the Swan and not on the return journey.  If you want a sighting please contact Mark direct.

Please keep sending the reports.   Roger Jiggins 01376 324 311