The Natural History of Keyworth Meadows

October 2010

Unusually, I think, for early November, the meanders and ponds remain dry and this has enabled a thorough search for Harvest Mouse nests and the disappointing news is that I haven’t found any. So the fate of the captive-bred release population is unknown. (None were found on a training day at Watermead in Leics either so perhaps they’ve had a bad year generally).

Fieldfares were back in numbers with a few hundred present along with four Bullfinches and a Woodcock.

The feeding hopper on Lings Lane is already attracting Tree Sparrows with six present along with other commoner species. Previously I have only ever seen (or heard) the occasional Tree Sparrrow there so the “Bed & Breakfast” scheme is having a benefit already. I think six is the most I’ve seen together since the 1980s when they were still fairly common.

Be on the lookout for Waxwings visiting your garden as there is a big influx this winter.