It was a blustery start to the day for our ongoing bird survey and ringing work, down by the brook near the As You Like It Wood.
The wind made things a little quiet on the bird front, with many of our feathered friends opting to stay hunkered down. Still, our dedicated surveyor managed to net a couple of Chiffchaffs – a lovely start despite the challenging conditions!While the wind may have kept some birds hidden, the sound of nature was still very much alive. Our surveyor noted “lots of singing Blackcap down there which is nice,” particularly near the longbarrow.
It’s always a treat to hear their beautiful songs echoing through the trees!
Further along, there were “a lot of birds on the thistle,” a sure sign of the abundant insect life in the area. And an exciting (though unconfirmed!) sighting: a “possible Green Sandpiper on the pool.” Our surveyor lamented forgetting their binoculars, so it’s not 100% certain, but we’ll be keeping a close eye out for it on future surveys!
Perhaps the most delightful news of the morning came in the form of our winged insects. It seems the blustery conditions didn’t deter the butterflies, with our surveyor exclaiming, “Sooo many butterflies too!” They spotted a wonderful variety, including:
- Gatekeeper
- Meadow Brown
- Admiral
- Lots of whites
It’s a fantastic reminder of the rich biodiversity we have right here at Soulton Hall. Even on a quiet morning for birds, there’s always something incredible to observe in nature.
We’ll keep you updated as our bird survey continues!
