by Tom van Zyl | May 1, 2024 | Wildlife Reports
The wildflowers on the bend of the river Frome came with a soundtrack of birdsong that took some dissecting: wren, song thrush, reed warbler, Cetti’s warbler with the odd honk of a goose. Unlike the reed warbler, our Cetti’s warblers don’t migrate to warmer... 
by Tom van Zyl | Apr 23, 2024 | Wildlife Reports
The common reed, our tallest native grass, is beginning to flower as the reed warblers begin to return from Africa where they over winter. Two birds arrived early and had an oratory duel in the reeds along north bank. Only one bird is now singing at that spot so... 
by Tom van Zyl | Apr 13, 2024 | Wildlife Reports
Bumblebees have been on the wing for several months, even on cooler days, but these are mostly the familiar stripy buff-tailed bumblebees. Now we are beginning to see the Common Carder Bee and the Tree Bumblebee both with rich ginger thorax. Tree Bumble Bee... 
by Tom van Zyl | Apr 6, 2024 | Wildlife Reports
The Butterfly Walk might be considered primarily of interest when the multi-coloured buddleia are in flower in mid-late summer, attracting butterflies such as Peacocks and Red Admirals. However, there is more to it than that. At the end of last month, the blackthorn... 
by Tom van Zyl | Mar 29, 2024 | Wildlife Reports
Visitors admiring the raven sculpture recently may have noticed the natural sound effects provided by a raven crowing from the top of the pylon just across the lake behind them. Both birds can be seen up there at times. Derek Ratcliffe in The Raven tells us ravens’...
