My World Of Wildlife

A chill in the air and the crunch of frost under foot, it was a beautiful morning at Old Lodge Nature Reserve in Ashdown Forest. Walking on the main path of the reserve, the first bird I noticed was a Raven. This massive member of the crow family flew past me, its deep, croaking call echoing throughout the woods. Among the trees were a few coal tits flying from twig to twig, feeding on the conifer seeds. A couple of goldcrests joined them, also feeding on the trees's seeds. Raven The cold weather had brought the robins out, with one perched very festively on some holly. Walking through the now rather dull looking heather, a pair of stonechat were perched on top of a surprisingly flowering gorse bush. When you stop and listen, you can really hear how the stonechat's call sounds like two stones being knocked together! Stonechat Stonechat Further round the reserve I heard the harsh call of the skulking dartford warbler, the same place I saw one last time! ...

Having been birding now for 5 years, with almost every weekend including some sort of time immersed in nature, I thought I would write a few of my thoughts. The first one is about birding or just generally having an interest in the natural world. Usually when I go out to a nature reserve for example, I am not the only birder. But I can guarantee you I will be the only young birder who is a girl there. Occasionally I may see another boy, who has an obvious interest in birds but other than that it is either men or older people, now why is that? Is it the fact that most teenagers are stuck indoors in front of a screen? Or is it that they genuinely don't know how interesting and thrilling the natural world can be? Or could it be that they don't have access to the countryside because they live in a city? Well for me it is a combination of issues. One of them is the stereotype of birding or having an interest in nature, I don't tend to tell new friends about my hobby because ...

On Sunday I finally got out birding and went to RSPB Pulborough Brooks in West Sussex. The weather was very autumnal, the orange, yellow and red leaves were being blown of the trees by the strong wind, the lasting mark of storm Brian. The jackdaws and crows were making the most of these gusts, tumbling and diving in the air, almost playfully. Soaring past them I spotted a beautiful red kite, being mobbed by a crow. The bright light only enabled me to see its silhouette but it was a great view never the less. Walking down the path, a kestrel was hunting in an adjacent field, hovering, then diving down into the grass with such speed and elegance. This time the kestrel was unsuccessful. Looking out of the first hide there was a relatively small group of wigeon and teal, bobbing along on the rather choppy water. A few lapwing were hunkered down from the wind around the edges of the lake and there were 100's of canada geese with a few greylag at the furthest point of the view. The...

First of all I would just like to say thank you to Haiths for asking me to review their products! I was lucky to receive a mini robin feeder and a 2kg bag of golden chorus mix. When receiving the feeder the first thing I noticed was its simple but quality design, the most important thing that it was so easy to put together, taking under a minute to assemble. I also liked the dome design of the feeder because if it rains the feed doesn't get too wet and therefore doesn't need to be replaced. The golden chorus bird food looked of great quality as well and it created no mess when I filled the feeder up. Hanging the feeder was also super easy, a loop on the top of the dome allows you to hang it on a branch and keeps it very stable.       I have now had the feeder up for a week or so, the birds took a few days to get used to feeding from it but we now have frequent visitors, mostly blue and great tits, who seem to enjoy the golden chorus mix! Althoug...

Its halfway through an even busier week for me, full of revision and end of year exams, but I have managed to squeeze in #30dayswild everyday! On Sunday I visited Old Lodge Nature Reserve in Ashdown Forest. Entering the reserve, we spotted the group of ponies that are allowed to roam across it, surprisingly it was actually the first time we had seen them! Also in amongst the heather was lots of spider webs, some of them holding lots of tiny, young spiders. One of the group of ponies that are allowed to roam free across the reserve It was quite quiet in the way of birds until we reached around half-way around the reserve where a tree pipit called at the top of its voice whilst perched precariously on the very top of a tree. Then I spotted an unusual-looking bird flitting from tree to tree and catching flies! This was indeed a spotted flycatcher. A bird that I have been trying to see for ages and my second lifer (elegant tern was my first) of 30 days wild! Spo...

After another day of great weather it's time to update you on how I've been doing for the second week of #30dayswild! Although it's been tricky to fit in because I've been busy once again, I have found it surprisingly relaxing to de-stress in nature after a hectic day at school for example. Just five minutes in the garden listening to bird song or a walk around my local park can really help! Day 9: A wonderful walk around Tilgate Park with a particuarly buzzy bee making an appearance! Day 10: A visit to the shops doesn't always mean no wildlife, lots of starlings chattered away in the trees and, my not so favourite birds, pigeons fed on food that had been dropped. Day 11: My most favourite day of 30 days wild so far and surprisingly my first ever twitch! We travelled down to Pagham Habour, West Sussex to try and see the elegant tern that had been reported there. After a long drive and walk I eventually managed to see it thanks to one of 100s of birders down...

Just a quick update on what I have been up to for 30 days wild, although I have been busy this week I have managed to fit time in for nature every day so far! Day 2- An afternoon walk around my local park, Buchan country park. I also took time to stop for a minute and listen to the melody of nature which is bird song! Day 3- A rather close encounter with a red admiral which kept on dive bombing me and then decided to land on my shoulder for photo! Day 4- I visited my nearest RSPB Pulborough Brooks with fellow young birder James McCulloch. It was quiet in the way of birds although there was plenty of insects around and therefore lots of swifts, house and sand martins on the wing. RSPB Pulborough Brooks Day 5- Having lots of homework to do doesn't always have to draw you away from nature as I found out the other day. Currently I have been studying Lucienne Day, who's work was inspired by nature, especially plants. For homework I had to create a do...