Woodpecker nest!

Yesterday, I went to Grattons LNR to do a weekly bioblitz, and I found a greater spotted woodpecker nest! So today, after school, I took my camera kit to the nest and took many videos of their behaviour, (over an hour and a half of waiting). I then stitched the best bits together and, well, here are the results...

I am very happy at the outcome. Both parents visited the nest and we think that there are two or more juveniles. The nest is in an urban environment, with a busy road 50 metres away and aeroplanes flying over every 5 minutes.

I hope they safely fledge soon.

Pulborough brooks; rabbits, damselflies and more

On the 14th of May my Dad and I went to RSPB Pulborough brooks. I saw many wildlife, including hobbies, rabbits, (up close), a tree creeper's nest, plenty of damselflies and four lapwings.

Here are some of my photos:

Head on shot of a damselfly

four-spotted chaser

Azure blue damselfly

Who could resist this cute baby rabbit?

I had a wonderful day.

One year anniversary coming up...

It has nearly been a year since I started blogging at the end of May last year. I have had some amazing experiences this year, and this post is dedicated to my top 10 moments:

10) At ten is my first images back from my trail camera at Buchan. It was amazing seeing the deer on the camera, and I was happy with the results!

9) Nine is the fox cubs at home, taken on my trail camera. They were very cute, and I also found out where my tennis balls go!

8) Eight has to be doing the RSPB Garden bird watch at both home and Buchan. I saw lots of different species, including a treecreeper.

7) How could I not include my sonnet poem? It is at seven, this poem is about the idea of a dark side to robins...

6) Six is all of the lovely birds that visit our garden, a post on the unusual visitors that I am very proud of.

A red squirrel on Brown sea island

5) The New Forest is at number 5, the one week holiday in a wildlife haven. I visited Brownsea island, captured hedgehog on camera and saw some great mushrooms and fungi.

4) At number four is all of the trips out I have had. I have been to so many different places, Buchan, Warnham, Pulborough, Titchfield Haven...

3) Three is my attempts to rear caterpillars, and the diary that goes with it. Despite not actually yet been successful, I learnt a lot trying...

2) Two is the wild patch at the back of the garden. It has helped me understand more about wildlife, and has also given wildlife a home.

1) What about number one? Well, all of the blog has been amazing. I have seen marsh harriers, a dark green fritillary and a mouse trapped in the bird food tub!

I am looking forward to next year...

Grattons LNR

Wildlife is all over my home town of Crawley, gold crests in my own garden, adders at Tilgate and kestrels at Buchan, but one place that I easily overlook is the Grattons local nature reserve, managed by Gatwick GreenSpace. It is not new, but in the last two years, it has had a transformation. It has now got a river meandering through a field, better paths and with it, more people.

A poster I made when there was lots of litter

The last time I did a post about the LNR, which was last July, I picked up litter that was in the river running through the field (see here). This time, there was a lot less litter, clearer and cleaner water, lots of pond weed (which is good), fish, deeper water and a more established ecosystem.

Today, I did a 30 minute bioblitz to see what species there were. I saw (or heard) :

Blackbird
Robin
Woodpigeon
Great tit
Greenfinch
Carrion crow (the common crow)
Magpie
Jackdaw
Wren
Grey wagtail
Blue tit
Some not ID fish

I didn't see any mammals, which is surprising, as there are rabbits, grey squirrels and foxes commonly seen there (it was too cold and wet for insects).

I hope to do more bioblitzes in the future. It is still establishing so I hope I will see more more wildlife in the future.