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The
field at Dersingham First and Nursery School is proving to be a
haven for wildlife. The wildlife garden has been established for
two years now and the children have enjoyed pond-dipping, recently
finding a whole range of pond-based creatures and a wealth of mini-beasts
and bird life in the surrounding area. The insect hotel is now harbouring
lots of insects and they seem to be enjoying the habitat created
for them.
One
morning a total of 17 curlews were spotted by a village resident
grazing on the field and recently a number of oyster catchers have
also been seen scavenging the tops of our numerous molehills.
A
little more unnerving has been the increase in the number of wasps
buzzing around old tree stumps. The wasps seem much bigger than
the regular variety and much greater in numbers too.
We
are continuing to plant a variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and flowers
to attract wildlife for the children to observe and to enhance our
school site.
We
are grateful for the support and interest the local village horticultural
club takes in the work connected to the Wildlife Garden.
JACKIE
AUSTIN, HEADTEACHER DERSINGHAM FIRST AND NURSERY SCHOOL
I
have several 'Butterfly Bushes' in my garden in full bloom which
should be full of butterflies now, but I have not seen ONE yet.
Is it the weather? Is it GM trials (my greatest fear)? I have only
actually seen one bumblebee on the blossom and my neighbours say
the same so I have ruled out some cause in my garden. Watching the
butterflies and listening to the busy buzz of insects on a sunny
day is a joy. I feel absolutely bereft.
CAROL
CLIFTON, INGOLDISTHORPE
Yes.
The answer is that the butterflies that prefer buddleia (butterfly
bushes) are a bit later this year due to the weather - but the buddleia
has come out at the same time as normal - so the bushes and butterflies
have missed each other!
The butterflies will be coming back, so later flowering varieties
of buddleias may get more on them soon. However, the advice is to
cut your buddleia bushes back later so that they then flower later
in the future.
There
are also many more plants that attract butterflies and the Butterfly
Association can offer lots of advice at
(The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external
sites)
Free butterfly gardening information packs, including a garden butterfly
identification sheet, are available by sending an A4 SAE with 33p
in stamps to: Butterfly Conservation, Dept GDNPK, Manor Yard, East
Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP.
To
be tickled pink is usually nice but I get tickled to death if I
venture outside once the sun begins to disappear. Other villagers
have the same problem. As evening draws on, myriads of the most
miniscule flies come out. They gather in clouds around my head and
land on any available exposed skin and they tickle - and then they
nip! They will get in the ears, on the eyelids, in the hair and
the tickling is enough to drive you mad - well indoors anyway! It
is not possible to sit and enjoy a pleasant evening outside. Neighbours
say that insect repellents don't seem to have any effect. I don't
have a pond but there are lots of beech hedges and we are close
to pine trees, oak trees and birches. Does anyone know what they
are and can they be discouraged in any way?
TRUDY
WHITE, HIGH KELLING, HOLT
We
have lived at RAF Coltishall for almost three years now. In previous
years we have had at least three house martin nests in the eaves.
This year we have had no visitors so far, and I have only seen birds
on two occasions this year (two birds and one bird). Is it usual
to lose these visitors? What do you think has happened to them,
I'm sure that they were here by now in previous years.
THOMAS
MATHIESON, RAF COLTISHALL
Updated
May 18: At last, the air
is full of darting, dancing, agile acrobats, the house martins have
arrived!! Summer is finally here, at least in this corner of Norfolk.
Whilst sitting in the garden yesterday, having dinner al fresco,
we watched with delight as five of our favourite visitors arrived
and started inspecting their premises. Our window cleaner really
loves the next few months! My only question now is, are they late
this year or have we been anticipating their arrival a little too
eagerly, heralding as it does the start of summer?
THOMAS
MATHIESON, RAF COLTISHALL
Dawn
Balmer of the British Trust for Ornithology replies:
Many
birdwatchers throughout the region have reported the late arrival
of house martins this spring.
Each
spring a small number of them arrive early, in some years as early
as late February. Historically the earliest one to be recorded in
Norfolk is the 8th March. This year, the first house martin in Norfolk
was seen on the 27th March.
After
these very early arrivals, it is usually some weeks before larger
numbers start arriving in the country and the weather on the migration
route plays a huge part in the timing of arrival.
If
the weather is poor in Spain and Portugal, as it was for several
weeks this spring, then house martins along with many other species
get held up. Migrating birds like warm and dry weather for making
their journey north.
They
will wait in North Africa, Spain and Portugal until the weather
clears before continuing north to their breeding grounds in Britain
& Ireland.
This
spring saw the launch of the British Trust for Ornithology/BirdWatch
Ireland Migration Watch website ().
The website is designed to track the arrival and flow of migrants
into and through the country. The pattern of arrival for house martins
can be clearly seen on the on the website.
You
can contribute your sightings of House Martins by visiting the Migration
watch website and registering as a recorder.
Last
week I saw two marsh harriers displaying near the River Waveney
- beautiful creatures. I'm also interested in seeing wild mammals.
What's the single best location in Norfolk for terrestrial mammal-watching?
Send us your suggestions
EMMA,
LOWESTOFT
In my garden I have a large pond fed by a small natural stream.
We have recently been intrigued by a water vole who has taken up
residence in the pond bank. His clearly visible, beautifully engineered
tunnel entrance has overnight become sealed with a mud plug. Is
there any significance to this? Is this normal behaviour when they
are breeding? Any informed answer would be welcome. Thank you.
GRAHAM
KIRKLAND, DERBYSHIRE
Helen
Perkins Water Vole Project co-ordinator Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
says:
Water voles do sometimes plug the entrance holes to nesting chambers
with soil or vegetation - probably to protect the young from predators.
It is likely therefore that the water vole that has taken up residence
in the pond is a female with young in the nest. I'd be pleased to
chat to Mr Kirkland about his water vole(s) and interested to know
where the pond is in Derbyshire.
I
have a pond and I think I have newt spawn in it - I don't know if
it is from the crested newt. How can I tell and what shall I do?
BYRON
PERERA
Val Bowers
of Norfolk Wildlife Trust answers:
Newt eggs are laid individually on leaves within a pond. Great crested
newt eggs are normally the size and shape of a grape pip and are
yellow-cream-green in a clear jelly - they are laid on the underside
of a leaf and are tightly folded into the leaf.
Do not unfold
them, as this leaves them vulnerable to predation. Smooth newt eggs
and those of palmate newt (which is not common in Norfolk), are
similar, but smaller and more grey in colour, they tend to be on
the under surface of the leaf and not so tightly folded into the
leaf. What to do - leave it and let it develop! Do not introduce
fish into the pond.
More
about the great crested newt
I
live in a residential area in a village outside Norwich. Many birds
visit the garden and currently there are blackbirds, thrushes, blue
tits, sparrows and robins all nesting in the hedges and boxes. However,
magpies and jays have become frequent visitors to the garden in
the last few years and have systematically destroyed the nests,
killing the fledglings and even taking an adult blackbird. Is there
nothing one can do to deter them? Each year there are more. Are
calling birds used anymore to trap them, and if so where can they
be obtained ? At the last count six magpies swooped into the garden
and caused havoc.
SALLY
CRICK, BARFORD
Jeff Baker
of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
replies:
Magpie numbers have steadily increased over the country due to the
decline in persecution, however their numbers have shown a slight
decline in the last couple of years.
Trapping Magpies
in Larsen traps using a live decoy is legal (providing certain conditions
are met) and requires no licence. This method of trapping is still
used extensively by gamekeepers and countryside landowners generally.
Many people
have suggested that the increase in Magpie numbers has had a direct
effect on the declining numbers of small urban songbirds in the
UK.
However, detailed
studies by the British Trust for Ornithology, Britain's leading
bird research organisation, indicate that nestlings and eggs are
only a small component of the Magpies diet, and that the increase
of this species has not affected the overall breeding success of
garden songbirds.
This
fact may be difficult to live with when one sees the nest of a small
songbirds being predated by a Magpie. However, the species is a
natural predator and has its place in our bird community.
The article on magpies is very interesting. We used to be plagued
with them and then along came the grey squirrels to live at the
bottom of our garden. The squirrels in fact raid the magpies' nests
and eat the eggs so we now have fewer magpies but more squirrels.
So nature has taken over but I wonder who or what will thin the
squirrel population down. Although I would never hurt one they are
a nuisance and a pest.
JOHN
KENDALL, LEICESTER
Does
anyone know where the bluebell wood Bill Oddie visited in a recent
programme is - I know he cycled down a lane and saw the name Great
Snoring. I am trying to arrange a visit to that area.
LYNNE,
BURNTWOOD, STAFFS
From
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Bill Oddie Goes Wild booklet:
"He
began at dawn at Salthouse Heath, listening for nightingales, then
moved on via a nearby bluebell wood to Cley."
For
more information about the booklet, visit
Hi
there, I am a watercolour artist by profession and I paint the coastline
from Snettisham to Weybourne, and I think it is the most beautiful
coastline for many reasons.Β I love the fact that on the whole the
coastline hasn't been spoilt and nature is still in charge.Β The
wide empty beaches, the sand dunes, the mudflats and marshes and
the estuary and marsh birds are my absolute favourites.Β The haunting
cry across the marshes of the curlew, the sandpipers and the oystercatchers
tugs at my inner being.Β Its mystery and its brooding skies pull
me back time after time.Β I ideally would love to live up there,
but unfortunately being an artist the cost of housing up there is
way beyond anything I could afford.Β Β Thanks for the opportunity
to put down a few thoughts on theΒ most beautiful coastline in the
world. Β
KATIE
Does
anyone know of locations in Norfolk where it may be possible to
see swallowtail butterflies?
KATHRYN,
OXFORDSHIRE
We have
a great Norfolk Wildlife Trust feature on the return of swallowtails
to Norfolk, including details of the foremost haven for swallowtails
- Hickling Broad. to find out all about these distinctive butterflies.
There is also a very useful video produced for the Broads Authority
called The Norfolk Broads and part two deals with swallowtails.
JOHN
KENDALL, LEICESTER
I'd
love to feed the few birds that visit my garden. I live in a residential
area of Norwich which has a large cat population. I am worried if
I put food out for the birds cats will also visit and kill birds.
Is it recommended to feed the wild birds in this situation or not?
LOUISE
REID, NORWICH
Lynette
Dear from the RSPB replies:
There is public concern that cats reduce the populations of garden
birds, and although cats kill millions of birds each year, there
is no evidence that they are causing any bird species to decline
in the UK. However, the RSPB does promote measures to reduce the
vulnerability of gardens birds to predation by cats. Cats usually
take the bird species that are most abundant in their area plus
the ones that would have been killed by starvation, disease or other
predators.
A
range of simple measures can be taken - attach a bell to a cat's
collar, keeping cats indoors when birds are most vulnerable (dawn
and dusk, particularly March-July and December and January) and
keeping the cat well fed to discourage wandering. The siting of
a bird table should be away from 'cat ambush sites'. These include
fences and trees from which cats can leap, and dense bushes where
cats can hide. Bramble clippings place around bushes will also prevent
cats lurking.
Hi,
just a quick question...we were taking a walk round the Denver Sluice
complex when to our surprise we saw a seal resting on the bank of
the 100ft drain... is it normal for seals to come this far inland?
RICHARD
HALES, KING'S LYNN
Reg
Land, Conservation Manager, Norfolk Wildlife Trust replies:
Seals
occasionally travel up the tidal rivers, e.g. the Ouse and Yare.
There are usually a few records a year. They can be of either species
- common or grey.
I
know of an area which has great crested newts, but the owners want
to sell the land and knowing that they are protected are worried
that if something is said they might not be able to sell. I am a
wildlife lover and do not want to see these little creatures disturbed
to much or worse killed!! I need help! Can I get some advice? Is
it possible to move them without disturbing them too much? I am
hoping someone in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will come to my aid... waiting hopefully,
Dan.
Helen
Baczkowska Biodiversity Project Officer, Norfolk Wildlife Trust,
replies:
Norfolk
Wildlife Trust might be able to help in a number of ways, although
it is English Nature who deal with the legal protection of newts.
They are the Government's conservation arm and you can call them
in Norfolk on 01603 598400.
NWT can help with the following: We could write to the owners and
tell them what the law is concerning great crested newts and send
them a copy of our great crested info sheet . I can do this, or
I can send the information to you and you could pass it on to the
owners.
Someone
could come out in a few weeks and verify the records; this will
then be held on a database and will be shown against planning applications.
Finally, someone could visit the pond with owners to reassure them
and any new owners - most people will do the right thing and be
excited by it if they have the right information and are usually
keen to know they have a rare species in their care.
I
live in Bucks, and enjoy feeding the birds, and I hope you may give
me any idea where I may purchase a type of feeding box I have. I
would like another one. My daughter bought one in Norfolk for me.
It is a coconut shell ,a whole one, with a hole in each side and
room for seed inside. There is continually a bird perched each side,
with others waiting on a branch for their turn!
JOYCE
SALEWSKI , AYLESBURY
I
am Headteacher at Dersingham First and Nursery School and we have
a lovely grassy area to the back of our school site. There are a
few trees to one side and our award winning wildlife garden bordering
the other side.
The
children are keen birdwatchers and in the short time I have been
head at the school I have been amazed to watch the variety of birds
on the school field from the classroom windows. My two best sightings
have beenΒ a woodpecker scratching about in the grass and a curlew
poking it's beak into the top of a molehill. We have some fine specimens
of pheasants too as their golden brown feathers catch the morning
sunlight. The children have been coming to school early this week
to be part of the RSPB Birdwatch. So many interesting birds right
on our school doorstep! Β
JACKIE
AUSTIN
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