Winter Notes from the Commons

Our winter through December, January and February consisted of a cycle of a few cold days followed by milder days We had periods of spectacular hoar frosts but very little sleet or snow Mark Clements and I walked the Commons most days and our highlights are as follows

The Waxwings which turned up at the end of November were still present (01 Dec) and increased to 10 (02 Dec) They were last seen the following day (03 Dec) A rare visitor was found by Mark on Pill-box Hill (04 Dec) It was a Dartford Warbler, a nonmigratory warbler in the UK although it will do local migrations in the winter from its breeding areas A Kingfisher was noted by the main pond (06 Dec) and a ‘wintering’ Chiffchaff was seen, while a Water Rail was heard calling from the north-east corner marsh

Two Chiffchaffs were observed (07 Dec) eating

Willow Aphids

These aphids are the largest in the UK and are not normally eaten by birds due to a toxicity built up from feeding on willow sap It is possible that the ‘wintering’ Chiffchaffs have not encountered these aphids before and were trying them for the first time Redwings were noted flying over west with one flock of 56 seen A Snipe and a Woodcock were flushed from the central marsh (09 Dec) which coincided with a drop in the temperature and a Firecrest was found in the wooded area The first period of hoar frost occurred, and the Dartford Warbler was re-found at the northern end of the Central Marsh (13 Dec) just as a Kingfisher flew overhead The Dartford Warbler was still present the following day (14 Dec) and two Teal flew north With the cooler weather a cold-weather movement of birds was noted with Mark counting 91 Lapwing and

200 Redwing during the day (15 Dec) Another cold weather visitor, the Jack Snipe was flushed by John Furse and the next day (16 Dec) Mark flushed two Jack Snipe and two Common Snipe Redwing (150) and Fieldfare (13) plus 230 Pink-footed Geese also passed over that day. A Redshank was at the main pond (17 Dec) and again the cold weather had brought the wader to the Common Pete Geary spotted the Kingfisher at the main pond (19 Dec) and a Red Kite was noted (20 Dec) A flock of 15 Lesser Redpolls had a Mealy Redpoll with them (21 Dec) and a Firecrest was present in the wet wood to the south-west of the Common During the morning Mark also spotted a Little Egret heading east For the next four days the Kingfisher was at the main pond and the Dartford Warbler was noted to have returned to the Pill-box area (26 Dec) A flock of 12 Siskin and a Firecrest was present in the wet wood area (31 Dec) The Dartford Warbler remained mainly in the Pill-box area for the whole month of January and was periodically seen moving around A Woodcock was flushed (01 Jan) and two Chiffchaffs were noted plus a flock of 26 Siskin

Another Mealy Redpoll (possibly two) were found in a flock of 23 Lesser Redpolls by Mark (04 Jan) A Red Kite headed east (06 Jan) and 86 Pinkfooted Geese headed west Another Red Kite was seen by Pete Geary (08 Dec) as well as two Chiffchaffs

A Mediterranean Gull headed south (11 Jan) and the first Buff-tailed Bumblebee was seen (12 Jan) Dave Billham reported a sighting of a Barn Owl (13 Jan) and the Firecrest was still present (17 Jan) A male Reed Bunting turned up (18 Jan) and a female Teal headed south 25 Jan) A pair of Sparrowhawks was displaying (27 Jan), and a Woodcock and Reed Bunting were also seen Some 67

Magpies flying south-east as singles, pairs and occasionally in threes were counted towards dusk heading to roost (28 Jan). A Cetti’s Warbler was present in the north-east corner marsh (29 Jan) and two large flocks of Jackdaws (90 and 40) passed over north-west A Little Egret was reported by Dave Billham flying over (02 Feb) and Mark observed two Red Kites heading west and flocks of 30 Siskins, 15 Lesser Redpolls and over 320 Pinkfooted Geese (03 Feb) The Dartford Warbler was seen again around the Pill-box by Pete Geary (06 Feb) and the Firecrest was still present in the south-west corner (09 Feb). Mark spotted the Dartford Warbler in some Gorse north of the pond (15 Feb) and the first Primrose was flowering The first Adder of the year was out (19 Feb) and also two Red Kites drifted south The following day (20 Feb) Mark found four Adders basking and two Firecrests. The first Adders out are male, and they are usually found basking for around a month or more before the females emerge A recorder run overnight (22-23 Feb) picked up overflying Coot, Bewick’s Swan and Golden Plover Two Egyptian Geese headed east and about 20 Redwing were present in the trees (23 Feb) A Woodcock and two Snipe were also flushed from the central marsh Hairy-footed Flower Bees and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were noted (26 Feb) and the Dartford Warbler was again observed north of the pond alongside a Stonechat (28 Feb). The contractors were onsite for the end of February when they cut the grasslands and heathlands All the work went well and there were no casualties among the reptiles or amphibians which is always a concern during mild winter weather

For daily updates on wildlife sightings please visit www.beestoncommon.org.uk

Quick Quasimodo! Quintessential Quiz Questions Query!

What really gets Quasimodo's back up is puzzling over one or more of the 120 questions, all sounds or pictures, that come up thick and fast on the big screen at Briston's next PICTURES and SOUNDS quiz on Saturday April 29th

It all happens at the Copeman Centre, in Hall Street, NR24 2LG, where for just £6 you get the full quiz (ideally teams of four, but we can help you make up a team if you need), a jacket potato supper, loads of tea and coffee (or you can bring your own jungle juice and we will supply you with glasses), and loads of laughs thrown in too! There are prizes for the best and worst performing teams as usual, and the questions vary from very easy to very hard, some need a bit of lateral thinking, and some are just downright daft and funny - but everybody can join in the fun!

Advance booking is essential, so 'phone Carol now on 01263 860844 and get your places booked It all kicks off at 7pm, doors open at 6 30pm Profits from ticket sales and the wonderful raffle go towards the Copeman Centre's improvement funding, so everyone's a winner!