Hybrid goose

Above is a photo of a goose taken by Julie Lane on 4th May. I think it may be a cross between a Canada and a domestic goose as both are in the park but maybe its just a melanistic Canada goose. He/she was all alone so obviously not accepted as a partner by any other self respecting goose!

Ian Saunders has has emailed that in his opinion “Guess the Goose” in News – despite its slim build, I don’t think that Julie’s bird is a Canada hybrid, as all the ones I have ever seen have been dark, and look more like Canadas “gone off” than this mainly white bird (which would be albinistic, rather than melanistic).

Judging by its leg and bill colouration (which are both dark in Canadas), I would guess that it’s more likely simply an “ugly” domestic goose, or a hybrid between two (or more) domestic breeds.”

Ian invites other members to submit their opinions on the bird in Julie’s photo.

10May15 Julie’s response:
“In reply to Ian’s interesting and welcome contribution  I would just add that the reason I thought it might be a hybrid between Canadas and domestic geese is that historically those two hang around together in mixed flocks in the park and have done for many years. I thought that this might be the result of so much hanging around together!! He/she seems to be a slimline version of the domestic white geese (the ribbed affect on the neck is also a domestic goose attribute) with some dark feathers thrown in. I should have checked my terminology re the use of the word ‘melanistic’ which I was a bit worried about at the time, but when you think about it this goose could also be a very slim melanistic domestic goose or a albinistic canada goose!! Haha!!”

Hedgehog Awareness Week runs from 3rd-9th May 2015 and hedgehoggy events are being organised all around the country!

Hedgehog Awareness Week 2015 | BHPS News

BBC Earth is also publicising this event

Whilst on holiday this Easter walking the south coast path I came across this kittiwake in trouble. Whilst I couldn’t really do anything to help the poor bird other than move it off the path away from marauding dogs, I noticed it was ringed and sent the details in to the BTO. A few days ago I received this information (see below) about the bird which was really interesting. Kittiwakes spend their winters out in the Atlantic often as far away as the Grand Banks so maybe this bird was on its way back to breed on Scilly and got into trouble. It was easy to go on the BTO’s website and complete the form and good to get the information back from them. At least they can use this information and the bird’s life was not entirely wasted.

Ringing Scheme: London Ring Number: ET70368 Species of bird: Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

This bird was ringed by RSPB as age at least 3 years, sex unknown on 16-Jul-2010 time unknown at St Martins, Isles of Scilly, UK

OS Map reference SV9416 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 49deg 58min N 6deg 16min W accuracy 1.

It was found on 28-Mar-2015 time unknown at Branscombe, Sidmouth, Devon, UK

OS Map reference SY2088 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 50deg 41min N 3deg 8min W accuracy 0.

Finding condition: Sick or injured: fate unknown

Finding circumstances: Found Sick

Extra Information: Unable to fly

Some interesting facts discovered from BTO ringing data….

Oldest bird – Manx shearwater, 50 yrs 11 months

Furthest travelled – Arctic Tern from Wales to Australia 18,000 km

Strangest recovery – Osprey ring found in stomach of a crocodile in The Gambia!

Julie Lane

Hollington Wood will be open all day (1000-1800) for our traditional ‘Bluebell Day’ on the early May Bank Holiday Monday, May 4^th.

“We’d love to see you up in the wood this bank holiday, we’ve laid on some treats for you

The wood will be open 10am-6pm and we will be doing:

• Guided walks at about 11.30am & 2.30pm
• Bird-ringing (mostly in the morning but Nick may be persuaded to carry on into the afternoon);
• Bee observation hive with Jeff around to talk bee-keeping in the afternoon;
• Jess’s kids adventures at the bell tent all day;
• Admire the new privacy screen to our composting loos(!!!);
• Ro Bailey will be exhibiting his wonderful woodcraft;
• Our beautiful Indian firebowls and accessories will be on display and available to purchase on the day;
• Read/discuss/ comment on our new 10 year management plan;
• and, of course, wander and explore when the bluebells are at their absolute peak…
• Refreshments will include a wide variety of home-made/cooked fare (incl. nettle soup and primrose wine as long as it lasts) but more normal stuff like hot dogs and cakes will also be available;

Don’t rely on it but the weather even looks OK – mainly dry & bright they are saying – but it might be quite chilly and dodgy later in the afternoon.

Some Car Parking spaces still available but these need to be booked in advance (through Philip 07762 441275).
Absolutely no parking on the grass verge of the farm road please – it caused us a big problem last year!

We all look forward to seeing you up in the woods on Monday.”

Hollington Wood, Olney, Bucks, MK46 5JH

Hollington Wood website

Discover sex’s most surprising secrets.

Source: 10 things you never knew about animal sex | Discover Wildlife

Martin Kincaid will lead a walk around Elfield Park on Saturday 13th June 2015. This is a site usually closed to the public and we have only had 2 previous society visits to it. See the Programme page for more details.

Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury is holding a Nature Detectives Exhibition from 25th July to 31st October and have requested that the society and its members take part in the exhibition whose purpose is to explore Buckinghamshire’s wildlife and the people who help record, conserve and promote it. To find out more about this exhibition and how you can become involved, click on the link and download further information and a form to send back to Mike Palmer at the museum.

We have a lot of expertise and enthusiasm in the society so hopefully we can make a useful contribution as a group.

The RSPB North Bucks Local Group is visiting Manor Farm on Wednesday 6th May 2015 at 10:00. See their Events page for more details.

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Sunday 3rd May  from 10:00-13:00 is a work Sunday at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre). Click here for more details.

BIRDS

(all data from Harry Appleyard)

Garden Warblers – Tattenhoe Park

Red Kites – Tattenhoe

Lesser Whitethroat – Howe Park Wood

Sedge Warbler – Howe Park Wood

Wheatear – Whaddon

Raven – Oakhill Wood

House Martins – Manor Farm

Common Terns – Manor Farm

Red Kite – Manor Farm

INSECTS

(data from Harry Appleyard, Brian Ellis and Paul Lund)

LEPIDOPTERA

Holly Blue – Oakhill Wood (Harry)

Red Admiral – Oakhill Wood (Harry)

Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae – Bancroft (27th – Paul)

Eggs of Brimstone butterfly Gonepteryx rhamni and Orange tip Anthocharis cardamines are on their food plants in Paul’s garden.

Speckled Wood, Male and Female Holly Blue (Brian)

ODONATA

Large Red Damselflies – Tattenhoe Park and Howe Park Wood – Large Reds have been out for a couple of weeks now (Harry).

Having got home late from the MKNHS plant sale/Amphibians evening I heard a strange snuffly grunting noise in my garden. On closer inspection this turned out to be a large hedgehog circling strangely around some ornamental grasses next to my back door. It ignored a tasty meaty snack I put out for him and continued to mess around seemingly having more important things on its mind. Eventually I went out again with a torch and a camera only to find that there were indeed two large hedgehogs in my garden in the process of …………. well the photo speaks for itself!!! I am delighted, as I try to so hard to make my garden wildlife friendly and even scraped a hole under my fence last year for hedgehogs to access the garden. It seems to have worked!! Maybe there will be some little hoglets trotting around my garden later in the year. Julie

The following have been added to the Publication page:

Top Trees
Top Orchards
Database of older trees across MK borough

In partnership with Aylesbury Vale District Council, Bucks Bird Club and local volunteers, a nesting platform was installed after two peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) were spotted flying around the town centre in 2007. Click here to read more…

Maps and driving instructions have been added to the events in the summer programme. Click on a grid reference to see a map of the location.

Click the Directions button on the map to get instructions on how to get to the venue.

BIRDS

1st Cuckoo heard by Di Parsons – Heath & Reach, 19th April

Peregrine x2 at Stadium:MK (just signed up for the Dons)

3 Lapwing nests at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve

Wader passage in full swing at Manor Farm, Old Wolverton. In the past week, Avocets, Curlew, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plovers and 6 Redshank.

Most warblers now back including Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers.

INSECTS

LEPIDOPTERA

Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip butterflies on wing.

COLEOPTERA

Great Diving beetles Dytiscus marginalis common in ponds at Linford Lakes.

HYMENOPTERA

Sawfly (Possibly Abia lonicerae)

ALL OTHER LIFE FORMS

MAMMALS

Roe Deer seen at Elfield Park and Shenley Wood (both 17th, Parks Trust staff)

Water Shrew found under tin – Linford Lakes (Martin K, 15th)

LEPIDOSAURIA

Grass Snakes – Tattenhoe

The April 2015 edition of the Magpie has been issued. You will find it on the publications page.

Eagle Nebula

In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of the towers of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula that came to be known as the ‘Pillars of Creation’. In  January 2015 an updated version of that now-iconic image was released at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington. Click here for some amazing photos.

The summer programme has been added to the website. You will find it under the Programme menu.

The RSPB North Bucks Local Group will be visiting RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk on 24Apr16. Click here for more details.

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

The BBC has published an article on why woodpeckers drum.

Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre) will be hosting a presentation and slide show on Wednesday 22nd April. Doors Open 19:15hrs for 19:30 hrs start.

“South East Africa: some observations of extremes, three months in city, savannah and slum”

Carys Miller will talk about her Gap Year experiences in Africa.

She is now studying English at Oxford.

Friends and Family welcome,

£2:00 each, includes tea or coffee.

BIRDS

Sand Martins investigating nesting bank at Linford Lakes.

Up to 4 Barn Owls hunting over Stanton Low fields at dusk.

Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Swallows now throughout MK.

2 Redshank, nesting Oystercatcher – Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (13th)

INSECTS

COLEOPTERA

Water Ladybird Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata found while clearing pond at Atterbury (1st April)

HYMENOPTERA

Large numbers of queen bumblebees investigating ditches in Howe Park Wood (13th April – M Kincaid/M LeRoy)

LEPIDOPTERA

Orange Tips and Small Toprtoiseshells seen in Brian Ellis’ back garden, Blue Bridge (9-10th April)

Exactly 100 butterflies (mostly Peacocks) counted on transect at Little Linford Wood – Julian Lambley

Holly Blues out at Kew Gardens! (12th)

DIPTERA

Bee Fly Bombylius major abundant in sunshine in Blakelands

ALL OTHER FORMS OF LIFE

LEPIDOSAURIA 

3 Adders at Stockgrove Country Park (11th – Di Parsons)

WILD FLOWERS

Good displays of Wood Anemone out in local woods now. Bluebells emerging in Howe Park and Shenley Woods.

Cowslips out at Linford Lakes, North Willen, Blue Bridge etc.

Rosettes of Early Purple Orchid at Howe Park Wood (13th)

The first ever dedicated survey for harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the River Thames was completed on Saturday 14th March. Click here for more information.

Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre) will be hosting an open day on SUnday 19 April 2015 from 10:00 – 16:00hrs:

The migrating birds are on their way back.
Come and spot some arrivals.
Many birds and bees are busy nest building also.
It’s a great time to enjoy the reserve.
Make use of the centre facilities enjoy the
Viewing gallery and static bird display.
Crafts for sale also bird seed and
Second hand books.
Refreshments and home-made cakes available.

The Guardian newspaper says the UK drew wrong conclusion from its neonicotinoids study.

Use Butterfly Conservation’s Identify a Butterfly page. Tick the selection boxes on the left to narrow down your choice of possible butterflies.

Large Red Male Damselfly, taken at Cothill Fen on 14Jun14 by Peter Hassett

The British Dragonfly Society have reported that a Large Red Damselfly has been spotted in Cornwall. You can keep up with all the latest dragonfly sighting here.

The Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula is usually the first dragonfly or damselfly to be seen each year.  It can be found across the whole country including both Orkney and Shetland.  Larvae develop in the water for two years and reach the final stage of development, final instar, at the beginning of the winter to emerge as adults as soon as the water warms in spring.

A useful identification guide can be found here.

The BBC has produced an interesting article on 7 reed bunting facts you need to know.

Butterfly Conservation report that the High Brown Fritillary, one of the UK rarest butterflies has recorded its best year for a decade thanks to 2014’s warm spring weather and work to restore its habitat. However other butterflies did not fare as well. Click here to read more.

Scarce Tortoiseshell

Butterfly Conservation have reported that a Scarce Tortoiseshell, also known as the Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell was sighted on Thursday 12 March from Holt Country Park on the north Norfolk coast. Click here to read more.

BIRDS

Peregrines mating at Stadium:MK

Blackbird chicks well developed in nest at Blakelands (Steve Brady)

Kestrels nesting in box at Passenham

Linnets – Tattenhoe Park

Yellowhammers – Kingsmead

First Swallow of the year at Linford Lakes (Harry Appleyard, 27^th)

Many waders at Manor Farm quarry including 1 Ruff, 2 Ringed Plovers, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers. Also a Wheatear (29^th)

2 Female  Goosanders and 1 Male Goosander seen on Great Ouse, and flitting along the bank nearby a Grey Wagtail just 500 metres from Wolverton Mill.  Further up,  a Little Egret and happily a good number of Mallards. Brian & Val Ellis 24th

MAMMALS 

Water Shrew and American Mink at Linford Lakes (Harry/Martin 27^th)

Otter reported from Stony Stratford (26^th)

“REPTILES”

(technically Lepidosauria – “Reptilia” is no longer generally accepted by zoologists as a valid taxon)

Grass snakes seen at Tattenhoe, Walton Lake and Linford Lakes.

2 Adders at Rammamere Heath (Di Parsons)

WILD FLOWERS 

Common Dog Violet in flower throughout Milton Keynes

Wood Anemone in Linford Wood

First Bluebell in flower at Howe Park Wood! (Harry Appleyard, 26^th)

Lots of Celandine on the banks of the Great Ouse at Wolverton Mill and WhiteViolets alongside the canal. Brian & Val Ellis 24th

The video that Paul Manchester showed at the Society’s meeting on 24 March 2015 has been added to the post on Starling murmurations in Wolverton.

The video can be view here.

The original post can be viewed here.

The BBC has produced a useful guide on How to identify early spring blooms.

Mike Killeby has written an excellent article describing his investigations into the Harvestmen in the woods of Milton Keynes. Click on the Publications menu to read all about. it.

An article by the The Independent newspaper about plans for the Lynx to be reintroduced into wild in Britain.

Lynx to be reintroduced into wild in Britain after a 1,300-year absence – Nature – Environment – The Independent.

Plantlife produce a number of interesting guides to wildflowers. Here is their guide for March.

Starling Murmuration, Wolverton, 14Mar15 by Martin Kincaid

Starling Murmuration, Wolverton, 14Mar15 by Martin Kincaid

Starling Murmuration, Wolverton, 14Mar15 by Martin Kincaid

Starling Murmuration, Wolverton, 14Mar15 by Martin Kincaid

Some updates:

20Mar15 The number of startling is estimated as 20-30,000.
24Mar15 Paul Manchester advised that there are fewer starling now and they are spreading out more.

BIRDS
Stonechats – Tattenhoe Park (Since 7th)
Red Kites – Tattenhoe and Westcroft
Siskin – Howe Park Wood (8th)

AMPHIBIANS
Common Frogs – Howe Park Wood and Westcroft
Smooth Newt – on Railway Walk, Great Linford (19-15hrs, 11th)

INSECTS – LEPIDOPTERA
Brimstones, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and Commas – Tattenhoe (7th)
PLANTS
Common Whitlow grass, Germander speedwell,Hairy bittercress – all in flower, March 7th

Red kite

An interesting research paper into the increased sightings on Red Kites in towns.

INSECTS

Peacock butterfly – Tattenhoe Park (Friday)

AMPHIBIANS

First Smooth Newts and Great Crested Newts of the year found at Elfield Park (23^rd Jan) Martin Kincaid

BIRDS

Yellowhammer – Tattenhoe Park ( Harry Appleyard Friday 23rd)

Red Kite – Emerson Valley (HA – Saturday 24th)

Marsh Tit – Tattenhoe Park (HA -Sunday 25th)

Fieldfares – Tattenhoe Park

Bittern at HESC (Mike LeRoy – 25^th)

Pair of Stonechat still showing on fields approaching HESC (Michele Welborn)

9 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (MK – 23^rd)

Up to 3 Great White Egrets reported from Summerleys Nature Reserve.

1 Shelduck and 7 Goosander – Manor Farm (23^rd)