Corrections and clarifications
Apparently cattle can jump over walls and fences, particularly if they have escaped from a cattle shed and gone berserk. John spoke with the local farmer about the possibility of a red deer on Liddells and was told how two bullocks had got out and rampaged around the local countryside. Ah well - at least they add to the species recorded on Liddells, and John’s initial instinct that the hoof prints were from cattle was correct.
John has been editing and organising some of his many videos and found the following. Readers might like to see if they can correctly identify the succession of birds. Answers at the end of this post.
1st February
Today is the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc which celebrates the beginning of Spring, so here are some springy hares.
2nd February
John is interested in the next trio of videos, all of which show the old buck ‘anointing’ in the Scrub - anointing is when the buck uses the glands situated on his brow at the base of the antlers, and also the inner canthus of the eye, to leave his scent on a branch. The buck is seeking to mark territory by leaving his scent. The buck anoints branch, then returns to anoint a different branch about an hour later. He then returns to this second branch within two hours of his first visit. John says that some observers suggest that the territorial activity of bucks begins in April. There are other theories which propose that territories are already well established by that time. These videos would support the latter view.
3rd February
The old buck is captured anointing in the Pit Wood this time.
Clare finished checking stakes and tubes for trees planted on the Wetland and on the Top Grazing.
A fox seems uncertain about the red light on the trail camera in the Scrub.
5th February
The roe deer continue their territorial activity This time the young buck marks exactly the same branch. It is highly likely that this buck was sired by the older one.
7th February
Dave came to log the Sycamore that has fallen to the force of storm Arwen in the Top Strip. John and Clare have decided to leave the stump and mound with the exposed hollows between the roots, as it offers habitat for burrowing creatures.
John began work on straightening the Necessarium ready to be fixed back in place.
The first snowdrops have appeared in the Top Strip.
Tim sent photos of a Long-tailed tit and a Nuthatch from his recent visits to the hide.
8th February
The Necessarium had blown over again in strong winds overnight.
John had a reward for all his frustration when he saw a Barn Owl quartering over the Wetland.
10th February
John and Clare wondered if they would see the Barn owl again however it proved to be too cold and windy. They were delighted to see all five roe deer. First the large doe appeared then each of her three kids. She leapt the fence and went down the wall on the neighbouring land. The large buck appeared shortly after and stayed close to the wall before jumping the fence and following the doe. The three kids seemed hesitant to follow her and eventually jumped the wall into Liddells. John says that the doe will be in the process of separating from her kids now.
Clare completed bird box maintenance ready for this year’s occupation.
11th February
John righted the Necessarium again and was able to fix it in place, although with more high winds forecast he is hesitant about the permanence of its position. Clare saw the Barn owl over the Wetland. A hare seems to be unusually hesitant about the trail camera in the Scrub, given how many times a day it is recorded going past the camera.
John saw the lame doe making her way up the Crag before leaping the wall at the top. Although she is limping, she is clearly feeding and getting around successfully.
Clare changed the camera disc after her visit to see the Barn Owl and both she and John were hugely delighted at footage on the disc she left. They had both been keeping their fingers crossed that this bird, which is notoriously secretive, might appear in front of the camera one day.
12th February
Janet and Peter arrived to plant three more trees, this time Wild Service trees, which bear chequers. Janet had named her trees Check Up, Check Out and Checkmate. The trees were panted near larger Wild Service trees in the Pit Wood in the hope that the older specimens will act as mother trees to the new one.
Clare planted two Oaks kindly donated by Margi.
The doe is intent on grooming the buck kid (frustratingly not quite in front of the camera although its buttons are clearly visible). She has not been recorded dedicating as much attention to the doe kids. Footage from September last year also shows her grooming the buck.
“I see no ships!”
One of Margi’s Oaks with its protecting gorse cushion.
15th February
The weather has inhibited much activity on Liddells so this year the tradition of putting up bird boxes on Valentine’s Day has had to be postponed. Also, neither trail camera captured any Valentine-related activity on 14th, however maybe the footage of the hares captures post-Valentine-related activity. It is always good to see a pair and keeps Clare’s hopes alive that one of the cameras will capture them boxing one day.
17th February
A stoat makes its way springily through the Scrub.
18th February
The young buck appears right in front of the trail camera - so close you can see how much its buttons have grown.
19th February
A pheasant appears to be acting as sentry in the Scrub; the hare is not allowed past.
21st February
The deer family are still together.
The Scrub camera has captured footage of a pair of Red-legged Partridge going through. This is another first for Liddells. Here Clare was amused by the hare rushing past one of the birds and thought ‘the hare and the partridge’ sounded as if it ought to be the title of a fable. She was delighted to discover that it is. Her investigations also provided further learning - ‘Partridge and Hare’s Ear’ is the name of an anglers’ fishing fly: ‘An old time classic wet fly or soft hackle the Partridge and Hare is fished under the water surface. The fly is a well known fly with its roots set firmly in English angling history. It is an impressionistic pattern fished successfully during Caddis hatches and spinner falls. The Partridge and Hare is traditionally a trout and grayling pattern but may be used for other aquatic insect feeding species.’ (epicflyrods.com) Here is the best image Clare could find.
Two hares speed their way through the Scrub again. Still no boxing.
22nd February
Good enough weather and a visit from Juno combined today so she was able to help with putting up the two bird boxes she had made with John last autumn.
The painting
The labelling
24th February
The badger appears to have been captured just as he has finished marking territory.
25th February
The big buck races through the Scrub.
Clare went to check on how the bees were going through their fondant and was pleased to be able to see through the plastic box that there were plenty of bees taking food in both hives. Thus far both colonies seem to have survived the winter. It is still far too cold to open the hives, however on warmer days the bees are out foraging. There is plenty of gorse in flower on Liddells now, as well as bulbs flowering on Liddells and in nearby gardens.
While Clare was there she could hear at least two thrushes singing non-stop for long stretches of time.
27th February.
A Jay returns to the Scrub. A general knowledge question in a recent Guardian quiz asked which was the most colourful of the corvids - the answer is, of course, the Jay.
Last hare footage of the month - another illustration of a sudden change of mind/direction.
Bird table at the hide - cast in order of appearance:
Marsh tit, Blue tit, Chaffinch (male), second Chaffinch (male), Nuthatch, Chaffinch (female), Coal tit, Chaffinch (male).