There have been so many unusual bird records recently I decided that I needed to formulate a rationale to explain their presence. What I discovered amazed me. We hear so much these days about rewilding but I was unaware that there are dozens of such projects in Devon and some are linked to captive breeding programs (CBPs). There have, of course, been such projects for a long time in our zoos where great care is taken to ensure the birds do not accidently escape. This is not always the case elsewhere. Look at what happened recently at Escot …
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I really should have known better. Having submitted the parish flora and fauna data to the Devon Biodiversity Centre was never going to be the end of it. A handful of wildflowers have since appeared: white clover, scentless mayweed, least lettuceand creeping St John’s wort and the parish bird list continues to grow now standing at 158 species. I may need to send an update! A major report in 2023 highlighted that native UK plants were in catastrophic decline with the UK now one of the most nature depleted countries in the world where one in …
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The spring migration has produced many interesting birds: Black Redstart , Cetti’s Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Garden Warbler, Marsh Tit, Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Tree Pipit and Hawfinch may even be breeding near Escot. Another aspect of having three birdsong monitoring devices around the village has been to discover the number of wader and seabird species migrating through – a staggering 40 species. I doubt anyone would have ever expected that this far inland. These have been by no means the only rarities. Tree Sparrows have been actually seen in …
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By the time you read this our birdsong monitoring project will have been running for a year. Despite missing the early migration period last year a staggering 97 species have been recorded and there have been so many wonderful surprises. Although living in an agricultural area it has become clear that we are on an important flight path especially migrants as we moved into spring. The presence of mature native trees and hedges and even more importantly water are doubtless major factors. What came as a huge surprise was the number of …
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It has been quite depressing to hear that there have been sightings of dead frogs. Let us hope that this has not been caused by Chytridiomycosis, which can devastate populations. We had been worried at the lack of mating activity in our pond but some did eventually turn up albeit about three weeks later than usual, doubtless put off by the recent icy conditions. Even more depressing is the news that some large clumps of Payhembury Daffodils have been dug up at Lower Cheriton. The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 makes it quite clear that …
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We hear a lot these days about rewilding but it seems to mean different things to different people. Some think it is a just a matter of letting nature look after itself without any human intervention, but this overlooks the many species which are plant and habitat specific and without human input face extinction – many butterflies immediately come to mind. Others believe it is simply a matter of planting more trees, overlooking the threat to existing rare habitats and driving ever more species to the brink. Those amongst us who have walked …
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I always write about the trials and tribulations at Yellingham, and a day never goes by without an incident or two…sometimes three. But this month, something different. I am an avid reader of farming books and novels, and I love reading snippets from authors who are not of my generation but who are farming people from generations past. Being one of the few farming families now in and around Payhembury who only farm 45 acres, we are often considered “uneconomic, too small to count” and, dare I use the word, “hobby farmers”. To us, farming 45 …
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Bullfinches have always been one of my favourite birds but a species that over the decades was elusive to put it mildly. They are quite shy and timid creatures and are prone to be pushed away from bird feeders by even smaller birds. All this changed when we moved to Devon since when we have regularly seen them in early springtime. Then this winter everything changed yet again as up to three birds have been around almost every day. I think that the reason for this may be because we planted out teasels last year and bullfinches simply love …
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My Bed and Breakfast diary is my bible, my life, my everything. It was looking a complete mess and had more lines going through the pages than Clapham Junction Station. New bookings, cancelled bookings, dietary requirements, allergies. It was a busy weekend with all rooms booked. A newly married couple in the large double, a new guest, a single lady, in the small double, and a regular couple in the twin room who been staying with us for years and are part of the family, particularly Geoff the husband who is a fantastic man who can mend and fix …
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