Long Tailed Tits, Aegithalos caudatus, have formed winter flocks now and are roaming the countryside in twittering bands, hunting hedgerows, treetops and gardens. Our smallest bird One of the UK’s smallest birds the Long-tailed tit or ‘titmouse’ as it is also affectionately known, is one of Britain’s favourite birds, and it does have some veryContinue reading “The Long-Tailed Tit”
Tag Archives: #Birds
The Fieldfare
The Fieldfare, Turdus Pilaris, is a large migratory Thrush and the first Flocks of the winter may be seen now as they fly in from their summer breeding grounds in Russia and Scandinavia to overwinter in the British isles. Gregarious gatherings They are a very Gregarious bird, gathering in flocks of 2 to 3 dozen,Continue reading “The Fieldfare”
The Woodcock Moon
Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, (scolopax being the genus name and rusticola coming from the latin words rusticus, meaning ‘rural’ and colere ‘to live’,) are arriving by the tens of thousands in the British isles at the moment, by the light of the full moon. The ‘Woodcock moon’ as it is called is traditionally the last fullContinue reading “The Woodcock Moon”
Pink-footed Geese
The Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus visits us from October through to March and usually associates with other geese, often Greylag and Whitefronted. Every year over 400,000 fly here and head straight for the coastal marshes of the country, with about a quarter of this number over-wintering in Norfolk and the rest staying at various otherContinue reading “Pink-footed Geese”
The Tiny yet Tenacious Merlin
The Merlin, or pidgeon hawk, Falco Columbarius, falco meaning falcon and columbarius meaning dove, is one of the smallest birds of prey to be found in the British isles, similar in size to the Kestrel. It is also one of the fastest and most agile, flying very low to the ground at high speeds jinkingContinue reading “The Tiny yet Tenacious Merlin”
Golden Plover
The month of September marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn, a season of change and movement, when our days noticeably cool and our nights become longer. For many creatures this transition from Summer to Winter triggers ancient instincts which compel them to find safety and shelter from the cold and inclementContinue reading “Golden Plover”
The Grey Wagtail
The Grey Wagtail’s scientific name is Motacilla cinerea, Motacilla originating from the Latin word mota, meaning ‘move’ or ‘shake’, which is the root for words such as ‘motive’ and ‘mobile’ and cinerea coming from the Latin for ‘ashes’ or ‘grey’, being the root for ‘cinders’ and ‘incinerated’. Unlike a lot of scientific names which reallyContinue reading “The Grey Wagtail”
The Teasel
The Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, is a tall, distinctive looking and handsome wildflower found throughout the British isles wherever nature has been given free reign to do whatever it likes, for this reason some refer to it not as a wildflower, but as a weed. In the first year of its growth it is a fairlyContinue reading “The Teasel”
Northwest Nature and History 