Wet and windy Sunday

Spent an hour out in the squalls, with occasional sheets of drizzle blowing over Brick Kiln Hill. I walked to Millennium Wood, recording a few species but not too much of note. Several lesser black backed gulls headed east as an occasional yellowhammer called from the hedgerow. 4 mallards had left the fast flowing river and taken shelter on the large puddles in the field opposite the pub. Terriorial display was noted as one male ran across the field, chasing the two upstarts away. They took flight and were seen off south for at least half a mile before the vigilant male returned. My arrival at the wood was greeted by a "yaffling" green woodpecker and several calling great tits. I photographed the drilled out nestboxes. Usual vandal here is the great spotted woodpecker, but greens are also guilty. They do this both to make a nest site for themselves, but more frequently to eat the eggs and young of the unlucky incumbent.

Once damaged like the box shown, no smaller birds will use them box. Perhaps some new ones could be put up, employing metal gauze around the nest hole. The top photo depicts the swollen River Ash, looking north at the bottom of Brick Kiln Hill. The final photo is of the pond in Millennium Grove Wood. This looks like a super habitat for summer and early autumn dragon and damselflies. Here, the wild flowers and other vegetation should attract a good number of butterflies on warm summer afternoons. Hopefully some good photos of the insects will be taken here.