Three buzzards, presumably two adult and a juvenile, have been seen regularly soaring on the thermals above Rock Woods and drifting east towards Kempley or north-west towards the reservoir. One buzzard was noted flying low from Bow Bridge, over Chris Windle’s ‘Thornfield’, home to innumerable rabbits, towards the railway station. Domestic cats are keeping the numbers of young rabbits down because as soon as they emerge from the warrens they are easy pay even for young cats. An adult stoat has also been seen taking very young rabbits, no doubt to feed a young family. The stoats seem to be living in part of the stone wall around Chris Windle’s field as both adult and juveniles have been seen by residents.
With the blackbirds and thrushes rearing their second broods the reappearance of hungry magpies does bode well for the fledglings. Many of the first broods were easy prey for the magpies and a number of blackbird nests were plundered for their eggs judging from the number of broken egg shells seen around the Brackenleys. There seen to be more breeding blackbirds than thrushes but as both mistletoe and song thrushes are more secretive it is difficult to be certain. However, the number of smashed snail shells found in local gardens would indicate they are thriving. One species that is thriving is the wood pigeon. There seem to be more than ever this year but the collared doves are down in numbers.
A lesser spotted woodpecker has been making forays into Skipton Road gardens from the Rock Woods no doubt looking for food for its growing chick. Very few swallows or swifts have been noted in this area of Embsay. Each year there seem to be less and less, no doubt an indicator of the low levels of insects on the wing. Again few if any butterflies have been seen other than the odd small tortoiseshell.
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Nature Notes – Andrew Wilson – 01756 790 197 – andrew.wilson25@btinternet.com
