Will there ever be any let up from all this Covid? It has made for some quite miserable times, especially the unrelenting way in which it is reported upon by the media, but another new year brings with it hope for the future. There are many feel good factors in life for me to fall back on and two of my favourites are the sight of our spreading Japanese flowering cherry tree in the spring and the autumnal colours of our trees. Both are ephemeral, lasting at their very best for such a short time, but what enormous pleasure they bring. Now, as winter is upon us I am drawn back to the bird feeders and all the colour and glamour they can bring. As Simon Barnes says, I do not go birdwatching – I am a birdwatcher.
I have so many favourite birds here in Devon, Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Serins and the occasional Brambling to name just a few. So, when a pair of Bullfinches turned up it was a lovely moment, as they are such stunning birds. Mind you, I really do not want them here when the fruit bashes start to bud up in the spring!
Whilst the world has always undergone climate change and extreme weather events, these are now occurring far more frequently and it is this rate of change which worries the scientific community. Call it what you like, climate change or global warming little matters, mankind’s devastating adverse impact on the planet is obvious – there are too many people and our activities are leading to the destruction of many other forms of life.
On the other hand, there are some benefits. Certain species are expanding their range ever northwards and we are witnessing the arrival of many new species from continental Europe. I can still remember when Little Egrets first bred in this country in the mid-1990s and it was not long before their close cousins the Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets followed suit. Now Glossy Ibis are also breeding and they have recently been seen at Seaton Wetlands.
The project to record all the flora and fauna of the parish is underway and there have already been some excellent records: a patch of Yellow Archangel right here in the village and all those glorious banks of snowdrops, the best being on the back lane to Upton.
Paul 841696
