The unseasonably warm weather has confused the Indian Runner ducks that live on the lake opposite the cottage here at Shamley Green in the Surrey Hills. On 16th December five ducklings hatched to a mother who had been patiently sitting on her eggs since November. In the UK the normal time for any bi[...]
Archive for the ‘Wildlife News’ Category
December 22nd, 2011 - 8:12 pm § in Farming, Wildlife News
Mistletoe at Christmas
There is quite a lot of mistletoe growing on trees around our area of the Surrey Hills, which is unusual as it is much less common in the South East than it is in the Midlands. The mistletoe capital of the UK is Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with most of what is sold around the country bought [[...]
October 2nd, 2011 - 7:43 pm § in Wildlife News
Snake in the barn
An unwanted visitor has taken up residence in next door’s barn, but don’t worry it’s a grass snake and not an adder. Surrounded by heathland and water, both snakes are common in our area of the Surrey Hills and in the summer it is wise to keep your eyes open for adders, especially [...]
August 14th, 2011 - 6:18 pm § in Video, Wildlife News
Red-Backed Shrike spotted in the Surrey Hills
A Red-backed shrike has been spotted at Woodhill Farm House here in the Surrey Hills. This is exciting news as Red-backed shrikes are now effectively extinct as breeding birds in the UK, with only 200 or so sightings recorded as they pass through the UK in the Spring and Autumn. The RSPB have been n[...]
April 17th, 2011 - 8:18 pm § in Wildlife News
Heard a Cuckoo or Seen Any Swallows?
Have you heard a cuckoo or seen any swallows yet? We have here at Woodhill Cottage, near Shamley Green in the Surrey Hills. We heard a cuckoo for the first time last Sunday afternoon 10th April and the first two migrating Swallows arrived yesterday 16th April. The arrival of both birds from Africa a[...]
March 27th, 2011 - 7:55 pm § in Wildlife News
Fewer Toads Recorded in 2011 Migration
The 2011 Surrey toad migration that started on 24th February and has continued on and off for six weeks is coming to an end. Only 40 toads were collected and recorded by the volunteers last night, indicating that most of the toads making the migration have now already done so. The final count is jus[...]
March 13th, 2011 - 8:23 pm § in Wildlife News
The 2011 Toad Migration is on
The 2011 toad migration has started. Warm air has settled over the southern half of the UK over the last 48 hours, bringing an end to a cold spell that has lasted ten days or so, which delayed the start of the toad migration. Toads will not move when the temperature is below 8c. Last [...][...]
March 5th, 2011 - 12:47 pm § in Wildlife News
2011 Surrey Hills Toad Migration
Signs appeared up and down Woodhill Lane last weekend – “Slow – Toads Crossing“, indicating the start of the annual Toad Migration. Regular visitors to the site will know that Woodhill, Shamley Green and its surrounding countryside is home to one of the largest toad populatio[...]
November 29th, 2010 - 8:47 pm § in Weather, Wildlife News
Cold Snap Puts Robins at Risk
The cold snap is putting robins at risk. A major new study suggests that there are 27% fewer robins this year and that they are at their lowest levels since 1997. It appears that the birds suffered badly in last year’s hard winter when temperatures across the country were at their lowest for[...]
November 6th, 2010 - 7:36 pm § in Weather, Wildlife News
Autumn View From Newlands Corner
Looking out across the Weald from Newlands Corner this afternoon, we were treated to an amazing display of autumn colour from the trees of Blackheath, Albury Heath, The Hurtwood and Winterfold Forest. The diminishing daylight hours and falling temperatures in autumn induce trees to prepare for the w[...]
