14/4/2024 at 02.22-02.35hrs and 3.06hrs. 

Our hedgehog nest box was moved to one side but not opened.

They are typically here about 20th but often see odd one before that maybe passing through.

https://www.naturespot.org/species/garden-snail 

You might find this BTO cuckoo tracking project of interest, four.

"We’ve been satellite-tracking Cuckoos since 2011. We’ve learned lots of vital information, such as how the different migration routes are linked to declines, and some of the pressures Cuckoos face whilst on migration, but there is still much more to discover."

Cuckoo Tracking Project

https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 

Otter at Canary Wharf

I have to take measures to prevent them reaching my potted hostas.

Trump would have proverbial kittens if he knew just how many species reproduce this way.

I'm working on a slide show that includes Sea Kale. This plant has 'perfect' flowers and would thus presumably be on his list of plants facing

the final solution.

But no sign of an egg yet...

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/2416-the-major-problem-mdash-one-of-the-major-problems-for-there-are 

Buying a bat detector

https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/bat-detectors-1/buying-a-bat-detector 

Lincolnshire Bat Group

https://lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ 

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 

A large quantity of nest material was brought in yesterday - followed by a lot of work getting it "perfick". Just now I saw an  osprey - the male I think - roll onto his back in the middle of the nest and squirm to get the lining nicely shaped.

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 

I've just been to Girona for a few days and made some fantastic recordings with my favourite being a three way birdsong battle between a blackcap, a European serin and a nightingale. 

My birdsong appreciation has been massively enhanced by hearing aids! It's astounding how much I have been missing. It's years since I really appreciated nightingales [in Umbia], which really filled the night with their singing.

Yes I've recently got hearing aids and they really make a difference, I have quite bad tinnitus and they really help with that. I was amazed at both the abundance and variety of birds I recorded in Girona - this was in woodland literally 5 mins walk from the old town. Nightingales, serin, blackcap, cettis warbler, grey wagtail, parakeet, Iberian green woodpecker, to name a few picked up on the recordings as well as lots of more common birds. Also saw lots of hoopoe and the skies were full of swifts. Wonderful 🙂 

It’s been a complicated start to the season with no fewer than four combinations of osprey pairings appearing on the nest!

    NC0 & New Male

    New Male & Unringed Female

    LM24 & Unringed Female

    LM24 & Dark Female

And this is to say nothing of other individuals that have been spotted on the reserve in recent weeks.

After a lot of careful reviewing and analysis of the rapidly changing dynamic, it looks like LM24 and the Dark Female have finally become ‘top ospreys’ at the Lowes nest. They appear to be settled as a pair and have been dominant for over a week at the time of writing.

Check out the video for the best bits of the season so far. You can use our handy guide below to keep track of which bird is which!

Loch of the Lowes ospreys – the season so far

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2025/04/loch-of-the-lowes-ospreys-the-season-so-far/ 

Petition to add hedgehogs to schedule 5 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/709054/ 

Just added mine Roger. Thanks for the link.

On a different note Bess & I heard our first swifts the day before yesterday- very early for us. They didn't hang around- screamed a bit then flew north. 

I've not seen any swifts or hirundines yet, Bertie, other than sandmartins which are always early. We have lots of Ring Ouzels coming in now. I reckon to see my first swallow first week of May. I've not heard a cuckoo yet but local friends have.

I like this BTO cuckoo tracking link. I expect you will have tried it.

https://www.bto.org/cuckoos 

There is a popular dog swimming area in the corner and the theory goes that the use of pet flea treatment is a major reason for the decline in aquatic insects. No one has done survey yet here. I think it’s proven that river fly levels are low downstream of sewage treatment works. Flea control chemicals don’t break down fast it seems. Farmers can’t use these insecticides but it’s still ok for pet use. In fact vets are known to encourage their usage to increase income for the practice (allegedly). Prophylactic it appears and not if the pet actually has fleas.

Birds I’m no expert but I’ve seen several swallows but the sand martins are yet to arrive. No house martins either.

At Kimmeridge the other day several visitors mentioned red kites near Chapman’s Pool. I will listen out for the nightingales if I get down to the beach in the dark. They should be here soon if not already.

Another report on the BBC about puffins, highlights the decline of puffins on the Dorset coast to probably zero birds. The sea eagles though are increasing and were seen regularly at Kimmeridge over the winter months. 

Bees are up in number in my garden this year from bumbles to honey ones. That is a dramatic change upwards after the past few years. I got one of those bee hotels yesterday, a small one. We have a large one at Kimmeridge which is buzzing and it’s not safe to approach in sunny weather. It’s going to get a rooftop garden soon. Welcome to the Kimmeridge Bug Hotel complete with roof garden. It has to be hidden though from visitors as we have a number of adders round the back to guard it. They occasionally come indoors which is interesting to watch.

Badger Info:

https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/badgers 

https://www.aigas.co.uk/badgers_aigas/ 

I hadn't seen that site Roger and I'm grateful for the link; love the birds' names (see McSporran has already made it to Scotland). My son heard a cuckoo locally the other day and my dad has seen swallows (these nest in his cottage porch about 1 year in 2). But ring ouzels I've never seen, possibly because they prefer higher ground?

I'm not convinced about these swifts you know, but Bess is adamant. I thought it might've been the squawking of another versatile starling but I know when not to argue...

I've wondered about this too, this spring, after the news articles last year at the decline of bugs, we didn't get so much bug, butt, splattery, but this spring has made up for it and I noticed because we have spent a lot of time travelling back and forth to my mums. Must be perfect conditions for them to multiply. A lot of last spring was wet and cool/cold IIRC.

https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats/common-pipistrelle 

The same here. I mentioned flea treatments in another post and their effects on aquatic insects. I'll try to find out from contacts in the fisheries field about recent riverfly surveys. I'm working on some stonework today and tomorrow near the bee hotel on the coast. I've got watch out for two species. Bees and adders. And the sun looks powerful too, so its suncream and hat, plus plenty of liquids.