Although the recent weather of late has been quite simply
amazing, some of our wildlife around the valley are still feeling the effects
of the 'beast from the east'. This freezing cold snap had a profound effect on
some species like our Barn Owls, and to a lesser degree, our local Kestrel
population. Some have failed to get back into breeding condition in time to
nest this year, whilst others are running a few weeks behind their normal
timescales. Those that have bred are rearing smaller broods than we’ve found in
recent years, although in the long term this ‘year off’ is likely to have
little effect on the overall population.
At this time of year we normally enjoy the antics of newly
fledged broods practising their hunting skills on the Ings, flying from bale to
bale and following the tractors cutting and turning the hay. However this year
it might just be adults to admire, like this fantastic looking male taking
advantage of the additional hunting and vantage perches at North Duffield Carrs
last week.
Yesterday on our way to North Duffield for a day of seed
harvesting, we visited one of our regular breeding sites near Skipwith village.
With not great news so far regarding occupied boxes and clutch sizes, it was
great to see a couple of healthy chicks on arrival. It’s a shame that some of
our regular pairs haven’t attempted breeding this year following the earlier
freezing weather in the spring, but it’s nice to know that at least another
couple of young Kestrels will be joining our local population in the next
couple of weeks as they wander away from their nest site. Having now ringed them we
might hopefully hear about them again in the future. A couple of our local
chicks have wandered down into Lincolnshire in previous autumns, and one
intrepid explorer made it as far as London!
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