The other day whilst surveying birds for the consultancy we came across one of the most invasive non-native plants in the UK. We had already seen it and lots more during the pre-survey recce and habitat survey we completed in December so the owners of the site will find out about it when they receiveContinue reading “Day 17 – Japanese Knotweed”
Tag Archives: nature
Day 16 – Mute Swan
Just over halfway gone for my initial target of a one species per day for the month of Janaury (also stayed off alcohol too in this period as an aside). Today it’s back to birds. Yesterday, adjacent to the Yew was a pair of Mute Swans who had swam over the lake and presumably sawContinue reading “Day 16 – Mute Swan”
Day 15 – Yew
Not a female sheep today but an evergreen shrub/tree. One of the UK’s only native conifer species (the other being the Scot’s Pine) it is a species steeped in history. So without further ado… What: Yew Taxus baccata L. When: 15th January 2020 Where: Poynton Pool, Cheshire, UK Who saw it: Me How did IContinue reading “Day 15 – Yew”
Day 14 – Brown Hare
I’ve done some paid wildlife surveying today! I assisted a local ecological consultants in a site survey for wintering birds. Not many birds to be frank, other than on the adjacent Ribble Estuary so I’ve gone for the highlight of the survey, not a bird but a mammal. What: Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Pallas 1778Continue reading “Day 14 – Brown Hare”
Day 13 – Coot
Today Storm Brendan approaches and whilst it won’t be as windy here in North West England as elsewhere (Ireland in particular) it is still a pretty windy day. Nevertheless I’ve managed to get out for a walk around my local park, so I have another species! I’m realising this blog is rather bird heavy atContinue reading “Day 13 – Coot”
Day 12 – Holly Leaf Miner
Today’s species sighting dates from last year but I’ve only just worked out what it is thanks to someone posting a photo the same species in a Facebook group I’m a member of. There seems to be a Facebook group for every niche possible! What: Holly Leaf Miner Phytomyza ilicis Curtis, 1846 When: 13th NovemberContinue reading “Day 12 – Holly Leaf Miner”
Day 11 – Lapwing
Today I’ve been to watch the British Dodgeball Open in Cannock, Staffordshire so I’ve not really been outside. But I did see a few things on the journey down so one of those is today’s subject. What: (Northern) Lapwing Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) When: 11th January 2020 Where: Astbury, Cheshire, UK Who saw it? Me,Continue reading “Day 11 – Lapwing”
Day 10 – Raven
Today has been a struggle to think about what to write about. Sure there are common birds in the garden I could write about but I’m not sure I want to write about the easier birds too quickly, if I carry this on after the end of this month I’m quickly going to be runningContinue reading “Day 10 – Raven”
Day 8: Starling
Today I’ve spent the day writing my tax return when I should have been volunteering with the RSPB at Dove Stone. Maybe I could have been writing about something a little bit more exotic than usual but alas no, the taxman calls. What I have seen is a large amount a species of bird inContinue reading “Day 8: Starling”
Day 7 – Black-headed Gull
Day 7! A whole week’s worth of daily posts. Getting easier to remember to do it but I suspect it will get harder to think what to write about; guess that’s the challenge really. It’s all for me really, all about me actually writing things down so I can discipline myself to write regularly, andContinue reading “Day 7 – Black-headed Gull”
A Species a Day 