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Dry Drayton Nature Notes - January

 

Here we will build a collection of monthly nature notes for Dry Drayton. At the moment the page has only minimal information but this will build over coming months. You will find here information about regular and more unusual sightings of Parish flora and fauna - what to look out for while walking in the village. At the moment the page contains only very basic information from which we will build. Please send us your sightings to add to these pages or send your local wildlife queries to us.

 

Dry Drayton Nature Notes for: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

 

John Clare, The Shepherd's Calendar 1827

The shepherd too in great coat wrapt
And straw bands round his stockings lapt
Wi plodding dog that sheltering steals
To shun the wind behind his heels
Takes rough and smooth the winter weather
And paces thro the snow together

Flora

Still some berries in evidence around the village. There are a few fungi to be found, including the Bird's Nest Fungus, King Alfred's Cakes and Jew's Ear.

Insects and Spiders  
Amphibians and Reptiles  
Birds

January and February are the months to feed the birds with nuts or other food. The RSPB run their garden birds survey this month. you can see the latest results and register here: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

 

Birds in the village this month might include: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotter Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long Tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Yellow Hammer. Some of these may be attracted into gardens by nuts and other food.

 

Ponds and wet places may give sightings of: Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting

 

One of the rarest bird sightings in the village ever - a Waxwing - was seen in Pettitts Lane on 30 Jan 2003.

Mammals

Muntjac deer can often be seen on the road verge between Madingley and Dry Drayton. Foxes are more often smelt than seen. Badgers are here, but a rarer sight. Squirrels are more easily spotted with few leaves on the trees. A small number of black mutations of the grey squirrel can be seen in the village. Rabbits much in evidence foraging on the roadside verges.

 

Dry Drayton Nature Notes for: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

 

Species Lists for Dry Drayton: Flowering plants and ferns | Fungi | Insects and spiders | Amphibians and reptiles | Birds | Mammals

 

Nature Notes on: The Dry Drayton Environment and Change | Flora | Insects and spiders | Amphibians and reptiles | Birds | Mammals