The Rooks start their year.

 The Horse Chestnut tree outside my bedroom window has once again become alive with the activities of the Rooks which arrive at first light from their night roost over Bradford Peverall way. 

 Nesting Rooks.  Phto. John Elliott.

 Six pairs of birds are present, with four nests under construction so far, the more experienced birds seemingly well ahead. In past years new arrivals have sometimes taken several weeks to get the first stick to stay in place. having dropped many in the process. These, neither they or the other birds pick up again resulting in a very untidy front garden and footpath for a while.

All our pictures may be enlarged. Click on this one, can you find all the rooks?

Water Vole Survey.

 I have just received the results of the national Water Vole survey in which i have taken part for a number of years.

 

 The lowest blue dot is for the Martinstown survey, sadly no Water Voles were seen this year on the designated 500m. stretch of the South Winterborne which I cover. This starts at the milk machine bridge and then runs west. and was chosen to include as many previously know Water Vole locations as possible. As well as live animals, signs such as burrows, droppings and vegitation browsing are recorded. Nothing at all was seen this year on the survey, but there were two sightings of voles early in the year just outside the survey in the stream between the bridge and the Shepherd's Cottage bridge. There have been reports in recent years of voles in the stream between the Breweers Arms and West End, so we mauy hope that they will be able to work their way back into the village.