A stoat ran within 2m of where I was supping hot Ribena on the edge of the SSSI this am. Also some very cute baby rabbits feeding on edge of field 67. Fortunately for them they were a good way away from the stoat........
Good numbers of Broad-bodied Chasers, Four-spotted Chasers and Large Red Damselflies at Astley Moss, along the edge of Rindle Wood and the SSSI this morning. All that was missing was a Hobby to come along and chase them.
Around the loop path by Astley Moss SSSI this afternoon single Brimstone patrolling up and down by the scrapes in the old carrot field, 2 male Orange Tips, 12 Peacock, 9 Small Tortoishell and a few whites I didn't get a good look at.
8 Rabbits 2 Grey squirrels 5 Brown rats And due to the amount of bugs flying about 2 Noctule Bats and at least 20 Pipistrelle around the srcapes and the edges of Bedford moss.
7 Brown rats including 2 young on the feeding track, they don't mind the birds but do react to any bird giving out an alarm call. Grey Squirrel in Rindle woods Water vole swimming down the full length of the ditch. Small Shrew seen in the grass Toad and 4 adult Frogs near the SSSI
2 Weasels running across 12 Yards road Grey Squirrel in woods beside 12 Yards road 4 very well fed Brown rats on the feeding track at Rindle 2 Small tortoiseshell butterflies 1 small white butterfly, I'm not really sure of its id.
I watched a Stoat dancing in the snow this afternoon. It was at the edge of the potato field near to the path next to the SSSI and when I first saw it jumping about I thought that it was hunting nearby prey. I have seen Stoats before try to mesmerize Rabbits by jumping about , while getting closer and closer to the Rabbit before the attack. This was very different in that the Stoat crawled on its belly in the snow,then rolled over a couple of times, them jumped and ran about and then back to rolling about in the snow. It danced about for about 4-5 minutes and it did seem to be enjoying itself.
Also there was plenty of tracks in the snow around the mosses this afternoon including;
Rabbit, all over the place Small dog, along the paths Stoat, in three areas Squirrel, Rindle woods Brown rat tracks at the feeding track and some that I did not recognise.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 7th of June 2014 06:21:09 PM
I watched a Stoat in the field between Rindle woods and Rindle road this afternoon. At one point it stood upright as it watched the many Fieldfare working their way across the field.
Stoat near green sheds on Astley Road. A juv Pied Wagtail was mesmerised by it until some lads came along on scooters and the stoat scarpered, only to reappear when they had passed. A few dragonflies also
Chat moss Stoat hunting around two piles of bricks opposite Red Challis farm.
Also on Saturday [12/5] evening a Buzzard was perched on a fence post beside field 69. A couple of young Rabbits were feeding on the grass close by. One Rabbit got too close to the Buzzards post and the bird just dropped on the rabbit and very quickly killed it and carried it off to the trees beside the rail track.
2 Rabbits Plenty of Buff tailed bumble bees about Lots of Frog spawn in the ponds and the ditches and a small amount of Toad spawn with one dead Toad found near the scrapes
6 Brown rats all under the feeders on the Rindle road feeding track including 2 which had a disagreement and started a fight, lots of jumping about and I was able to get very close to watch.
5 Rabbits in f69 2 Pipistrelle bats over Bedford moss 3 small rodents caught by a pair of Kestrels following the plough in f67 Plenty of Frogs and two Toads on Rindle road.
This evening around Astley moss Brown rat and Rabbit on the feeding track A quick glimpse of what looked like a Short tailed field vole alongside the potato fields. Mouse
This evening wandering around Astley moss with a big torch
4 Brown rats along the Rindle road feeding track. A Stoat seen running beside the ditch between the potato fields. What sounded like a Elephant running towards me on the track next to Rindle Hedges and nearly gave me my 2nd Heart attack of the evening when a large Hare ran past me at speed. Lots of Frogs and 5 Toads found, some of which were crossing Rindle road. A large Beetle with a light green colouring on its back on the remains of the wood chip path.
Astley moss First time that I have watched a Stoat hunting during a hail storm. It was working its way up the wood chip path between Astley and Bedford moss. A Grey squirrel was giving out an alarm call in Rindle woods
I also found two dead Moles and what looked like a dead Bank vole
A rather sickly looking rabbit feeding by side of Rindle Road near to the wood yard last Wednesday. Animal didn't make any attempt to run off as i went near it.
A Weasel seen hunting around the mass of plastic drainage pipes near the metal barn on Croxdens peat works this afternoon. Also seen were 2 Black dragonflies and I found a dead Bank vole on the track that leads down to 12 Yards road.