The lone survivor
While searching the area Kev nearly had a 'heart attack' when a Tufted Duck exploded from the vegetation nearby. This resulted in the nest being found containing 9 eggs.
Tufted Duck nest
Through the course of the morning some Mute Swans were caught, 3 new, 2 retraps and 2 cygnets, too small to ring.We don't ring that many Swans as the rings are too expensive! The retraps were both from last year.
Sharon and the Guvnor contemplating Sunday roast.
The two cygnets wondering what life is all about.
We then had a surprise when we visited a Barn Owl box, 2 newly hatched chicks were inside and a larder consisting of 5 Field Voles and 2 Shrews ! Quite a cache.
The banquet.
One of the Shrews.
The second Barn Owl box visited contained a Stock Doves' nest with 1 egg. On leaving the box Sharon picked up a superb Emperor Moth caterpillar. Several Blue tailed Damselflies and a few Brown Hawkers were also on the wing.
Emperor Moth
That's a Common Shrew and not a Water Shrew. It is too brown above, no clearly defined silvery underside, and crucially no white 'paddle hairs' on the hindfeet or tail.
ReplyDeleteThe Piygmy Shrew might be a juvenile Common Shrew, hard to tell from that angle.
Thanks for pointing this out to us, I can amend the blog and our data. Cheers Kevan.
ReplyDelete