It has just struck me that this is the first anniversary of me taking over these nature notes following the sad death of my predecessor Alan. I still remember him with great affection – he simply loved all forms of nature and his enthusiasm was immediately obvious to all who spoke to him.
No two years are the same in nature – the ebb and flow of the different 
species is always interesting to note. The glorious birdsong so evident just a few weeks ago has largely subsided, although the local Chiffchaff appears to be announcing his territorial aims again. Could it be that a second brood is on the way? The explosion in fledglings all in one particular week was not as evident his year, but bird
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) Wiltshire
numbers appear to have held up well, with families of Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits and Treecreepers all making an appearance very recently. On the other hand, the owl and Great-spotted Woodpecker families have not yet appeared in the garden this year and they are sadly missed.
So far, touch wood, we have not been troubled by the deer, although Cherry and Andrew at Mousehall Farm have not been so lucky. They have reported the loss of a well-loved apple tree, which was ring barked by a young buck and it was not until they told me this that I realised that he had done the same to one of ours. What we have been troubled with this year are moles, at least four of them in different p[arts of the garden. I have used a sonic deterrent but all this seems to do is to give me a headache and to disturb the peace. These moles must be deaf! I have also tried using a form of mole 
pepper, but this just does not work and has been a complete waste of money. I am now following up a tip to use spent coffee grounds, and am half expecting to see super-charged demented moles full of caffeine all over the place. Our hedgehogs are doing well, although we have to report 
the sad death of one adult, down to unknown causes.
Last year a giant Privet Hawk-moth appeared on 1 July, my first record of this species. This year I had to wait until the 5th for only my second record of this wonderful moth. Finally, another Red Kite was reported by Cherry and Andrew and at last one put in an appearance directly over our garden.
Paul Lister
01404 841696
