Happy New Year!

Mark 23 Comments

Happy New Year!

What was your first wildlife sighting of 2016?

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23 Replies to “Happy New Year!”

  1. Just got home, too dark, but i’m sure I just heard a TO does that count? Happy New Year. Let’s catch up for a good chat sometime this year, I’d like that?

  2. My first sighting was common daisy ( bellis perennis,) I am doing the BSBI #NewYearPlantHunt then a blackbird.

  3. Happy New Year
    Having read your Facebook post in bed I thought that my first wildlife sighting might be a spider somewhere in the house, but it’s not – although there were cobwebs.
    My one hour walk to work (the car broke down on the way to the North Norfolk coast yesterday) through two villages, across an arable landscape and a walk up chalk downland will, hopefully, provide some interest.
    Starting in the dark at 6:45 I ignore lichen on the wall outside, which should be my first sighting but I can’t ID it in the dark (or light), I soon hear a Tawny Owl. The first sighting is as I cross the river that marks the county boundary and there is Ivy growing on the bridge and an ash tree growing out of the bank.
    The first bird seen is a wood pigeon clattering out of a tree as I disturb it walking past. Winter tree identification comes in handy in the dark to see oak, field maple, elm, beech and sallow.
    I expect my first mammal to be road kill but it isn’t. I don’t see anything until I’m on the downs and then the first mammal (not sure this counts) is a Bison in the zoo. My first flowering plant of the year is a sallow
    Only deer tracks and a blackbird, oh and a great dawn chorus as I get to the office ad it starts to get light.

    1. Wow, Jon, I’m amazed and envious… and in the dark too. Bit confused by bison in zoo, but presuming you’re not hung over. A lovely story, thank you.

      I live in a coastal town, so to be expected, first sighting was Herring Gull. Although really, if I’m honest, it was the tiniest insect I have ever seen when I decided to clean the toaster last night – which at 2am was technically today. I didn’t know the crumb tray of a toaster could be classed as a habitat, but clearly for this weeny beastie it was. Bit worrying that’s there’s livestock in the toaster though. Perhaps I’d better clean up more often.

    2. Once a work, on a guided walk I lead this morning we saw Germander Speedwell in flower as well as Daisy. Earlier on a visit to another site we had White Dead Nettle, Gorse, Hazel, Red Campion and Dandelion all in flower. All reported to the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt

  6. Northern Lights last night. Hope you did not miss them!! Amazing large arc from Carlisle to Lanercost with some dancing! Even learnt about a dying star. How small are we!! Happy new Year.

  9. Two robins, quickly followed by a soaring red kite. A fantastic conservation success story to start the New Year. I wonder what the big conservation success will be for 2016?

  11. Three song thrushes all together in Raunds around 7.30. Lovely to see considering the decline in numbers over recent years. Happy New Year Mark and to all of your readers.

    Sue & Chris Green

  12. Happy New Year Mark

    A Jackdaw heard calling while I was going outside to put the bins out was a most unexpected first species of the year, beating the odds-on herring gull by a few seconds

  13. My first wildlife experience of 2016 was at about 6am listening to the Jackdaw roost that has recently established in a young tree plantation around a fishing pool that is about 500m from my house. Then I went to Dove Dale in the White Peak (District). Saw lots of plants, fungi etc. but notably amongst the birds were 4 Dippers (on the River Dove); some singing, 2 Kingfishers perched and peering into the calmer backwaters of the river (which was flowing quite fast), Grey Herons fishing, Ravens calling as they flew over, a Buzzard, a couple of Kestrels hovering overhead, a Marsh Tit (heard only). Then when we got back to the car park at about 2pm lots of other people there, most of whom probably didn’t walk very far, but nevertheless had chosen to be out in the countryside on a Bank Holiday rather than in the shops or their houses watching TV etc. A pleasing sight indeed!

  14. Male hen harrier – about my sixth bird of the day. Beat that! Ringtail yesterday. Forest of Bowland not quite a hen harrier free zone yet. No sign of gamekeeper. Precise location not publicised on here for obvious reasons.

  15. Happy New Year Mark

    First bird of the day (1am) Tawny Owl heard but not seen. Stars also showing well in a fantastic night sky at that time too.

    Best seen bird of the day spectacular views of hunting Short-eared owls, not in the least bit as impressed with observer as observer was with their hunting & aerial manouvres overhead!

    Plants, how about some delightful Viola arvensis (field pansy) in bud & flowering!

    Hope to get Hen Harrier fix over the next day or so, excellent views recently on Thorne Moors.

    Here’s to an action packed 2016 ….

  17. Two roe deer in the half light of dawn then a Golden Eagle as it got light. On our way back in the afternoon crested tits and bullfinches. All in CNP.

  19. Eight Jackdaws scrapping for the seeds on the bird table. A few House Sparrows close by waiting for their chance. And primroses are in flower.

  20. Mistle Thrush singing 2 gardens away and the local house sparrows clan in our garden bushes – their favourite socialising spot, whilst going out to fed the chickens

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