We are recording some wildlife and other nature related observations
made in and around Widecombe. Please send us your own contributions.
| June 2012 |
Hawthorn in Blossom |
 The most beautiful hawthorn spotted on Hameldown in a sheltered spot. The only one in the area with the Beech Trees behind. Magical. |
| July 2009 |
Hedgehog Family |
A loud squeaking sound alerted us to something unusual one evening recently. We discovered a baby hedgehog wandering around in our vegetable patch. Some searching revealed the nest with mother and two other young. We returned the baby but next morning we found it tucked under the raspberries, apparently unable to find its way back to the nest, so again we returned it. That night we heard multiple squeaking noises so they were all on the move and had decamped. Yesterday we spotted a solitary hedgehog (the father?) in front of our barn. |
| March 2009 |
Love-Crazed Chaffinch? |
In recent days a chaffinch has been perched on our car rear-view mirror, jumping towards the car window and then back to his perch via a quick look in the mirror. This he repeats over and over again. He must be exhausted. We think he has mistaken the reflection for the mate that he sadly lacks, unless anyone can come up with a better suggestion. Picture to follow. |
| February 2008 |
Buzzard |
A buzzard is a daily visitor to our garden these days. He/she sits on a post waiting patiently presumably in the hope that he will catch one of the moles that appear to have invaded our grass. |
| January 2008 |
Long Tailed Tits |
We see these down by the marsh next to the Webburn, but very rarely do they come up to the house and feed from the feeders. A delight. |
| April 2007 |
Duck and Ducklings (Again!) |
We disturbed a duck and her ducklings when walking down on our marshland close to the Webburn. They scooted off but one duckling panicked so much it disappeared under the water. We thought it had drowned but a full minute (at least) later, it resurfaced and shot off to join the rest. Meanwhile the mother had come back looking for it. |
| April 2003 |
Fritillary |
 Spotted
by the side of our pond. Beautiful. Click on the picture for a larger
image |
| October 2002 |
Pheasants |
A young pheasant appeared to have wandered into our chicken
coop by mistake and couldn't get back out. The mother was nearby
frantically running backwards and forwards and trying to get through the
chicken wire. I managed to persuade the pheasant out (the chickens helped
- they are very jealous of their space when there is food around). |
| July 2002 |
Wild Flowers |
Repay closer study. Look here
at the Meadowsweet, prevalent at the moment, and there are many others we
will cover in future months. |
| June 2002 |
Duck and Ducklings |
A duck and her eight ducklings spotted making their way up
the East Webburn river in single file |
| March 2002 |
Heron, Buzzards etc |
Disturbed a heron down in the marsh. Saw two crows harassing
a large buzzard. Saw a deer cross the marsh and jump the wire into the
next field. |
| Early February 2002 |
Frogspawn |
Just spotted masses of frogspawn in our pond and an army of
frogs all going completely mad, making an enormous din. I guess it is that
time of year again (and just a little earlier than last year). |
| Late January/Early February 2002 |
Floods |
Back again, a bit later than last year. The enduring memory
will be of the horse fatalistically standing up to its belly in water, not
attempting to seek higher ground. |
| December 2001 |
Snow |
Again, snow falls on Christmas Day, in the afternoon. Boxing
Day and thereafter were glorious, perfect for sledging. |
| November 2001 |
Pheasants |
Three cock and two hen pheasants spotted in our garden
(several times) presumably grazing on the
acorns from the Oak trees. A few days later this was increased to five
cocks and two hens and they were happily grazing with our chickens and
some local wood pigeons. |
| October 2001 |
 Mushrooms
and other funghi |
Are everywhere at the moment. Have fun (?) trying to
identify them and deciding whether or not they are edible. Fly Agaric is
easily spotted. Clouded Agaric, field mushroom, parasol mushroom, inkcap
all common around us. |
| September 2001 |
Pony Drift |
The annual pony gathering has happened today (10th). Sad to
see them gathered up, many not to return. There is talk of the numbers
reducing still further. How can we do this to the symbol of the National
Park? The nightly sound of hooves on the tarmac outside our bedroom window
will be absent for a while. |
| September 2001 |
 Feather
(click on image for a larger view) |
Found on the ground in the garden. Only 1.5 inches long and
the photo sadly does not do justice to the vivid electric blue colour. We
believe it is from a jay. Beautiful. |
| Early September 2001 |
Tawny Owl |
Seen on road at 10.00 p.m. picking at a small catch. |
| August 2001 |
 Heather |
Beautiful all over the moor. How many varieties can you
spot? |
| Late June 2001 |
Yellowhammer |
Spotted on a hawthorn bush close to Chinkwell Tor. |
| Late June 2001 |
Flycatcher |
Nesting under the eaves close to our bedroom window. |
| June 2001 |
Ragged Robin |
Plenty of Ragged Robin in the marshy areas. |
| Early June 2001 |
 Orchids
(Click on image for a larger view) |
Abound in those secret areas, not to be divulged! |
| Mid-May 2001 |
Bees |
We managed to take a swarm of bees and get them established
in a hive. This was our first swarm. Let's hope we keep them happy and
they develop into a large colony. |
| Early May 2001 |
Bluebells |
Are now the dominant flower in the woodland areas and along
the hedgerows. |
| Late Winter/Spring 2001 |
Deer & Pheasant (from Edward Lamb). Some locations
edited out. |
I have seen more roe deer this year than any other. Last
weekend I saw a male roe deer in the woods while out shooting. The
day after that we were out driving and we saw four in a field near Bellever,
which is very unusual. Also yesterday I was wandering around the
rough below the fair field and saw a male and female roe which are more than
likely the ones mentioned above. Some time in the middle of winter I
also saw a roe while shooting, which I followed for quite a while and
about 5-10 minutes afterwards I saw another pair run off from where I
first saw the first one. So there must have been three in the same area at
the same time. There are also a lot more pheasants around this year. |
| 20 April 2001 |
Cuckoo |
First one heard |
| 20 April 2001 |
Swallows |
Have returned (and there's more than one!). We've tried to
keep them from nesting in the barn this year. So now, if we leave the
kitchen door open, they fly around the kitchen and sitting room looking
for a nesting site!!. |
| Mid April 2001 |
Crows (Jackdaw) |
Two crows found in dining room!! Most unwelcome. Made their
way down the chimney. They have been very persistent recently trying to
find nesting sites. Apparently they drop twigs down chimneys until they
wedge and then they build up their nest. Sometimes they make a mistake! |
| Mid April 2001 |
Heron |
A large grey heron was disturbed whilst wading in the boggy
ground close to the Webburn. |
| Mid April 2001 |
Bank vole |
or similar, spotted in a rocky bank, quite unconcerned at
nearby human presence. |
| Early April 2001 |
Greater Spotted Woodpeckers |
A pair of greater spotted woodpeckers seen playfully chasing
each other in the trees at Dunstone. |
| Late March 2001 |
Deer |
A pair of Roe Deer were spotted in the boggy land close to
the East Webburn. |
| Mid-March 2001 |
Nuthatches |
Another pair has appeared. There are now at least three in
the vicinity. |
| Early March 2001 |
Bats |
A bat flew in through our bedroom window by mistake. We
opened all the windows and eventually it found its way out after flying
round and round for about twenty minutes. |
| Late February 2001 |
Foot & Mouth |
This outbreak has led to the effective closure of the moor.
No walking on grass is allowed and all the car parks are closed.
Everything is very quiet. Farms are completely cut-off as they try to
ensure that the disease stays away. |
| Late February 2001 |
Nuthatches |
A pair of nuthatches regularly feed at our bird-feeders.
Sadly one was found dead by a neighbour's house, believed it flew into a
window.
This is really sad, as they were a delight to watch. |
| Mid February 2001 |
Buzzards |
Seven seen gliding and soaring above the valley. Unusual to
see so many at one time. |
| Mid February 2001 |
Frogspawn |
Masses of it in our pond and lots of frogs leaping around
and croaking. |
| Early February 2001 |
Snowdrops |
Are out in force around the valley
|
| January 2001 |
Wrens roosting in the Nesting Box |
In the last few evenings, at dusk, we have noticed 14 (yes 14) wrens go
into the box and stay there, presumably to roost. They must literally all
be piled on top of one another, we suppose to keep warm. |
