An hour in the park this morning produced c20 Redwings, 10 Goldfinches, a Jay, a Coal Tit, Blue Tits, a singing Great Tit, a couple of Collared Doves, some Woodpigeons, several Blackbirds and a Dunnock.
Wild Monty
Wildlife sightings in the Montpelier, St Andrews, St Werburghs and St Pauls areas of Bristol, UK
Sunday, 31 January 2021
Sunday, 3 January 2021
St Andrews Park!
St Andrews Park was hopelessly crowded so there were very few birds of note today apart from 10 Starlings, 20+ Goldfinches, 2 Jays, a couple of Blackbirds, a fly-over Chaffinch, a singing Dunnock and a few Woodpigeons and Collared Doves. It was good to see the first Snowdrops in flower. I escaped to the more peaceful environs of Montpelier Station where there were good numbers of House Sparrows, a couple of Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits, several Starlings, a Grey Squirrel and 4 or 5 Collared Doves. A Pied Wagtail was feeding in Station Road.
Monday, 30 November 2020
Starlings and Slime-moulds!
A dismal and rather uninspiring afternoon in St Andrews Park produced 20+ Starlings, 10 Goldfinches, several Magpies and Carrion Crows and the ever-present Herring Gulls overhead.
Starlings |
Magpie |
Goldfinch |
Apart from the paucity of bird life there was a Slime-mould on the dead wood habitat which is my first I've ever seen! Slime-moulds are very strange organisms once thought to belong to the fungi but are closer to amoebas. - more information can be found here.
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Slime-mould |
Saturday, 7 November 2020
St Andrews Park
Despite millions of people in the park I did manage to find a quiet spot behind the park-keeper's depot where some birds were hiding. Highlights were a Goldcrest, 3 or 4 Blackbirds, a calling Dunnock, a singing Wren, a few Goldfinches, a pair of Magpies, several Woodpigeons and a singing Robin.
At Montpelier station there was a very impressive mixed party of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits and at least 2 Coal Tits - the total numbered at least 20! A Jay was feeding nearby and a couple of Chaffinches were a welcome sight. There was a supporting cast of Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, House Sparrows and Goldfinches.
A Common Wasp was on the wall and a Red Admiral was in Station Road.
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Chaffinch |
Common Wasp |
Blackbird |
Hiding Jay |
Red Admiral |
Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Wasps 1, Moths 0
Well I'm afraid the wasps from the nest are now a serious threat to future trapping outside my widow, as they are now somehow getting into the flat, attracted by the UV light. As a result this morning I waited too long before checking the trap in an attempt to allow any wasps to escape, but many moths also escaped by then. I might be able to trap in the front garden but this presents a logistical problem. Anyhow the list is as follows:
Jersey Tiger 5
Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
Large Yellow Underwing 3
Willow Beauty 1
Marbled Green 2
Marbled Beauty 1
Common Carpet 2
Straw Dot 1
Grey/Dark Dagger 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Ash Bud Moth (?) 1
Tachystola acroxantha 1
Ermine sp. 1
Apple Leaf Miner 1
Also a few Harlequin Ladybirds and Birch Shieldbugs in the trap.
Friday, 7 August 2020
Lesser Earwig (and some moths)!
Some super moths in the trap this morning, but they were upstaged by my first ever Lesser Earwig! The full list as follows:
Jersey Tiger 8
Flame Shoulder 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 4
Brimstone 1
Ruby Tiger 1
Uncertain/Rustic 1
Copper Underwing sp. 1
Marbled Green 5
Buff Ermine 1
Mint Moth 3
Ermine sp. 1
Cloaked Minor 1
Knot Grass 1
Common Rustic 1
Large Yellow Underwing 1
Light Brown Apple Moth 1
Blastobasis adustella 1
Acrobasis advenella 1
Chrysoteuchia culmella 1
Apart from the guest appearance from the Lesser Earwig, there was a Honey Bee, a tiny crab spider, several Common Wasps, a tiny beetle (probably a Bradycellus sp.) and a Birch Shieldbug in the trap together with the usual hoards of Caddisflies and Harlequin Ladybirds.