Late additions

 I can’t believe it took until December 15th to add Coal Tit to the bird list (84), with a singing male up at the Rectory.

But all the more remarkable was I took until December 27th to see a Red Fox (12) with one in the front field.

A Weasel

 Saw my first village Weasel for a few years when one ran across the road in front of me near Church Farm. (11)

Better late than never

 Didn’t think I was going to see a House Martin in the village this year but a party of 6 birds hawking above the Rectory on the 29th September just crept onto the yearlist (83)

Fall of migrants.

This morning saw an influx of migrant birds in the back field with around 30 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats and a Whinchat. Whinchat being my (82nd) village bird for the year.

Meadow Pipit

Stonechat (left) and Whinchat

Whinchat

New Birds

The Siskin irruption that is taking place all over the country has not evaded Hardmead and a small flock was seen around the Rectory on Tuesday. Today a Herring Gull was with a Lesser black backed flock up in the main road field. (81)

August 16th

A Kingfisher at the Home Farm pond was a very welcome addition to the village list today, (79)

New additions

This week has seen Garden Warbler added to the bird list (78) and Common Blue added to the butterfly list {21).

Young Swallows

A family of Swallows was around the Dovecote ponds presumably having bred in one of the nearby barns.

New Birds

 I failed to see a Willow Warbler in the village this spring but there were a few returning juveniles around today. Also a Meadow Pipit in the front field. (77)

Scarce visitor

I stumbled upon this Clouded Yellow Butterfly up at the Rectory today. A very rare migrant in this area.

Brown Argus has pushed the butterfly total up to (20) and Willow Warbler moves the bird total up to (76)

Skylark

Odd Bod

I found this Leucistic Starling in amongst a flock of 30 or so Common Starlings recently.

A few Butterflies

Small Copper 

Marbled White 

Small Skipper 

Small Heath

July 22nd

A magnificent Hobby cruised over the field in front of the houses this morning (75)

Hedgehog

Finally a village Hedgehog. This one in the garden, bringing the mammal total to 10

Also a flock of 8 Cormorants over this morning pushed the bird total up to 74

Latest additions

An egret presumed Little Egret flew over the garden on 13th. (73)

Small Skipper, Gatekeeper and Small Copper were new for the Butterfly list (18)

Little Owl

This Little Owl has been present at the Rectory for a few months now.

June 20th

A Grey Heron was the latest addition to the bird year list (72)

Breeding Moorhens

Moorhens are breeding on at least 3 of the ponds in the village.

The warm weather today brought out the butterflies with Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Marbled White and Small Heath all added to the village yearlist (15)

Red Admiral

Another addition to the butterfly list today (11)

Great spotted Woodpeckers

Great spotted Woodpeckers have nested in the churchyard. 

Back to school

At least one Spotted Flycatcher has returned to the School House.

Yellow Wagtails

A couple of pairs seem to have staked territories in the field near Dovecote Farm.

Male Yellow Wagtail 

Regular visitor

This male Indian Peafowl seems to turn up every year around this time  ( I’m including it on my bird list as it’s not really a captive bird (71)

Peacock.

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Orange Tip

It’s been a great year for this butterfly.

Orange Tip

May 8th

Two unexpected birds this morning.
I stumbled upon the local Barn Owl hunting over the paddock behind Home Farm.

Barn Owl

A singing Reed Warbler in the hedge up on the main road was the first I’ve ever encountered in the village. (70)

Whitethroats

It Looks like a good year for both species of Whitethroat.

Common Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Partridges

Britain’s two species of Partridge both occur in the village.

Red-legged Partridge

Grey Partridge

Hare

Hare

Greenland Wheatear

Female Greenland Wheatear

Found this beauty up near Church Farm today.  

Also added Yellow Wagtail to the yearlist (69)                    

April 25th

Added Field Vole to the village mammal list. (9)

More Migrants

Saw my first Swift, Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher of the year today. (68)

22nd April

First Bat of the year in the form of a Pipistrelle in the field in front of the house tonight. (8)

And Feral Pigeon snuck on to the yearlist (65)

Muntjacs

These 2 Muntjacs were getting rather friendly up  near the Rectory.

Female Muntjac

Muntjac Male

April 20th

I saw the female Peregrine again today. I actually flushed her from a kill on the ground, from where she landed in a tree to watch me until I moved off so she could return to her meal.

Peregrine 

April 19th

First Whitethroat of the year up at the top end of ‘Skylark Hill’ (64)

And 2 more butterflies Speckled Wood and Green-veined White (10)

First Swallows

April 17th brought the first Swallows to the village with one up at the main road and one near Dovecote Farm (63)

April 15th

A lone Canada Goose flew along the stream close to the village this morning. (62)

Robin’s Nest

Found this Robin’s nest up at the Rectory today.

Wheatears

I found 2 male Wheatears near Gorwelle this afternoon, (61)

Also there was a Smooth Newt in the farm pond (2)

April 11th More butterflies.

Comma, Large White, Orange Tip and Holly Blue were on the wing today. (8)

April 9th

I was awoken at 5.10 this morning to a Tawny Owl creating a racket on the top of the telegraph pole right outside the house. (60)

White Pheasant

White Pheasant

I discovered this unusual Cock pheasant around the north of the village today.

Yellowhammer

April 4th

Today’s warm weather brought out the butterflies with Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Peacock all seen. (4)

April 1st

A few Reed Buntings around today (59)

March 30th

I finally found a Pied Wagtail for the year list up at Home Farm today. (58)

March 27. Blackcap

male Blackcap 

The first singing Blackcap was in the School House garden today. (57)

First Butterflies

Today’s warmth brought out the first butterflies of the year. With several Brimstones around the village. (1)
 Also a Nuthatch finally showed itself at the Rectory (56)

First Chiffchaffs March 23

Saw my first Chiffchaffs of the year this morning.
Also Treecreeper and a couple of Red-legged Partridges were new birds (55)

Chiffchaff

March 14th

A Woodcock surprisingly flew over the village at 5:30 tonight (52)

March (of the ) Toads

It’s that time of year again when all the local Toads awake from hibernation  and start making their way up to the village ponds.I rescued over thirty from the road tonight.

Amphibians/Reptiles (1)

March 10th

A Little Owl was roosting in the bonfire at The Rectory today (51st species for the village this year.)

March 7th

A flyover Greylag Goose and a smart female Stonechat brought the bird list up to 50 today.

Female Stonechat