Look at these.

Photos of a Tawny Owl chick with one parent - Kingsley 21.03.15 (by John Coe). This chick has appeared quite early for this species, which lay mainly during March with the eggs hatching 28-39 days. It is also notable for there being an only one as Tawny Owls typically produce 2 -3 eggs though a range of 1 - 5 is recorded http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob7610.htm. So maybe this pair only ever had one egg or other eggs or nestlings failed for some reason. Tawny owls are a single-brooded species, so once these parents have reared this youngster they can have a rest from childcare until next year! 

Preparing for the Breeding Bird Survey

This morning I was out near Oakamoor doing the habitat survey in preparation for carrying out the full bird surveys in April - June.

I took these photos.

Part of my route through Lightoaks. 

A mossy stone wall.

Western Hemlock plantation, Greendale.

Extensive patch of the liverwort Pellia epiphylla.

Two close ups of P. epiphylla showing the dark spherical spore-containing capsules.

A view from Hawksmoor Nature Reserve.

Butterfly sightings

I've seen my first active butterfly of this year - it was a Small Tortoiseshell fluttering around inside a church. This website gives a list of butterflies you may start to see from now on  http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_earliest.php. Please let me know what you see, on what date and where in the Churnet Valley you saw it. Email me on wendy.birks@gmail.com

Small Tortoiseshell in St Luke's Church, Endon 12.03.15

Recent mammal sightings in the Churnet Valley

All these below found by Nott Mott from the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust during a visit to assess potential sites for habitat restoration projects along the River Churnet.

Otter spraint seen 11.03.15

Otter footprints seen Wednesday 11.03.15

Harvest Mouse nest in Reed Sweet Grass near Crumpwood Weir (used for breeding last year) seen 11/03/15

Harvest Mouse nest from near Crumpwood Weir 11/03/15

100s of Gulls Following Ploughs

Yesterday near Wooton the fields were being ploughed in preparation for sowing or planting a crop and that is attracting 100s of gulls and 10s of crows to feed on whatever invertebrates are being turned up.

Meanwhile near the route of the former Uttoxeter Canal Dog's Mercury is starting to flower.