Montpelier Station!

This morning a magnificent mixed flock of tits numbering 15+ flew one by one over the tracks and into the trees - Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits involved. Also a Jay and a Robin nearby. High-flying pigeons over the station in groups could have included Stock Doves but they were difficult to ID safely.

Montpelier Station!

A flurry of activity in the trees this morning - half a dozen Long-tailed Tits plus Blue and Great Tits, a female Chaffinch and 2 Blackbirds. Most entertaining.

Montpelier Station

Not much to report this morning other than 7 or 8 Long-tailed Tits, a few Blue and Great Tits, a Coal Tit and a Wren.

Orange-tip

An Orange-tip butterfly was flitting around the disused platform at the station this afternoon, accompanied by a Green-veined White. A Blackcap was singing vigorously nearby.

A pair of Blue Tits are using my nest box again. I replaced the crumbling old box with a new one in December and they have accepted it, which is good to see.

More tits!

Jim kindly sent me these pics of his nesting Blue Tits in his Montpelier garden. Thanks Jim!

A couple of Swifts over the station this morning - good to see. Also what I think is likely o be Charlock in flower on the disused platform.

Charlock

Tits

I took a couple of shots of my Blue Tits this morning but when an adult visited the nestbox with a caterpillar he or she did not actually enter the nest. I wonder if the brood has fledged? I couldn't hear the youngsters chirping when the food was brought to them.

 
Nearby there were flyovers from 2 Swifts and 6 Starlings.

Montpelier Park: The Return

This morning I watched a Blue Tit seemingly investigating a hole in the brickwork of one of the industrial units. I wondered if it had done any of the excavating itself but this is unlikely! It might also have been finding invertebrates in the hole. Also a Robin and 3 Blackbirds in the park and 4 Starlings nearby.

Blue Tit

Robin

Titbox success

This morning both parent Blue Tits were in and out of my nestbox with food every 30 seconds or so! I assumed they'd already raised a brood a few weeks ago as I thought I'd heard young in the box but I was obviously wrong as generally Blue Tits are single brooded. Perhaps I'd heard the adults in the box. Anyway, lets hope the young fledge successfully.

 Also in the front garden there was a Holly Blue butterfly nectaring and an Eristalis pertinax hoverfly basking on a leaf.

Eristalis pertinax

All quiet

The last couple of days have been rather uninspiring at the station - just a Jay yesterday and a Chaffinch today being notable, plus Blue and Great Tits and singing Robins.

St Pauls Park

Nothing much to report from the park this morning other than 4 Blackbirds, a Dunnock, 2 Robins, 2 Carrion Crows, Blue and Great Tits, half a dozen Goldfinches, a Woodpigeon and this Feral Pigeon whose ancestors were, I suspect, were quite ornamental.

Montpelier Station

Two Swifts seen distantly today from the station - good to see they are still around even though it is getting quite late for them now. Also a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and a mixed party of Great and Blue Tits.

Hoverfly heaven

At Fairlawn Road this afternoon I glimpsed a Volucella pellucens hoverfly but by the time I'd got my camera out it had disappeared. At the same location was an Eristalis hoverfly and an Xylota segnis hoverfly. There were also 2 Speckled Wood butterflies. Birds included a party of Long-tailed and Blue Tits.

Very quiet at St Andrews Park (in the rain!) other than a couple of Greenfinches flying over and a calling Jay.

St Pauls Park

In the park this morning there were 3 Dunnocks including a juvenile, a Blackbird, a Robin, 2 Greenfinches including 1 singing, a couple of Goldfinches, 1 or 2 Blue Tits and 3 Woodpigeons. Near the church was a micro moth which I haven't been able to identify yet but if I had to bet my shirt on it, I'd guess at Crambus perlella.


Possible Crambus perlella



New bumble bee for the patch!

Having spent the morning with some fellow naturalists in Arnos Vale where we saw several individuals of Bombus hypnorum, I saw one in Monty after minutes of getting off the train - it was in Station Road near the Period Fireplaces workshop. This bumble bee was first seen in Britain in 2000 but has spread north and west since then, often choosing urban habitats.

Bombus hypnorum

As for the Blue Tits, the parent was visiting the nest this morning but I didn't see any visits this afternoon. Have the young flown?

The Chiffchaff still singing near the Royal Mail office in Station Road. 

Wind and rain

At least 1 Blue Tit parent feeding the chicks this evening - visits every 90 seconds or so, therefore there must be enough food around. Thank goodness that the rain eased during the afternoon so that the young could be fed. They are getting louder too, so fingers crossed...

Nearby a Swift cruising just above roof-height over Richmond Road.

At the station this morning about 15 Starlings including young birds. This must be the highest number I've ever seen at this time of year, so definitely good news.

All present and correct

The poor weather limited much observation today but I can tell you that the Chiffchaff was still singing near the station, the adult Blue Tits were still feeding young this evening (and the chicks can now be heard clearly from inside the nestbox) and at least one adult Blackbird is still alive in the garden despite the cat next door. The Lord be praised.

Hot Dunnock action!

As I wandered down Picton Street this evening, I glanced down the little lane next to Richard's shop and noticed 2 Dunnocks on the path. I'm pretty sure I witnessed the male pecking at the female's cloaca to remove a rival male's sperm prior to copulating, but this was taking a while and I didn't see them copulate. While this was happening, the presumed female's wings were quivering and her tail was raised. The sex-life of Dunnocks is well-known - just google it and you'll know what I'm on about!

'My' Blue Tits seem to be still feeding young - both adults visiting the nest box this evening.

Nothing much new at the station this morning although a Marmalade Hoverfly was seen despite the cool overcast weather - this insect seems to tolerate cool temperatures more than other hoverflies.