Spring observations

A much loved feature of the Embsay-with-Eastby News were the Nature Notes updates, where Andrew Wilson would publish his and other readers’ observations of the fascinating wildlife around us. Here is the first of what we hope are many more Nature Notes to help record the natural world in and around the two villages.

APRIL
A sparrowhawk has been a regular visitor to neighbouring Skipton Road gardens, probably a juvenile as its hunting skills were somewhat hit-and-miss to begin with, but it now regularly takes feral and the occasional wood pigeons leaving a tell-tale pile of downy feathers behind. One kill was by the Bow Bridge bus stop, all that remained at the morning rush-hour was a pile of feathers on the pavement.The Skipton Road gardens are full of nesting birds and so is a magnet for the sparrowhawk. Blackbirds, song and mistle thrushes, dunnocks, house sparrows, goldfinches, green finches have all been seen nesting. A lone male bullfinch has also been spotted recently with some male and female chaffinches. The crows, rooks, jackdaws and magpies are all looking magnificent in their breeding plumage but few starlings are around this part of the village. A lone curlew has been heard over Manby Castle while woodpeckers have also been heard in Rock Wood.

Garden ponds in the East Lane, Brackenley Drive and Skipton Road area have recorded plenty of frog spawn but as of yet no tadpoles. A number of newts have also been seen, probably common newts not the rarer crested variety. The very dry April has not helped the pond life as water levels have fallen.

If you have some observations and/or images for Nature Notes then please contact Andrew directly:

Nature Notes – Andrew Wilson – 01756 790 197 – andrew.wilson25@btinternet.com