Birds

2026 Calendars For Sale

/ Laura Tuke / Leave a comment

I am really excited to share with everyone, my first ever mass printed nature calendar for 2026 that I have been recently selling! Calendars are still currently available to buy. They make great gifts or help to bring a bit of colour into your home all year round!

My calendar features photos that I have taken myself over the last year, mainly in Dorset, which capture the magic and beauty of nature throughout the seasons, with no photo editing needed.

If you are interested in buying one of my 2026 calendars, drop me a message. I am selling them for £7.50 each, and adding postage if hand delivery cannot be arranged. I am always grateful for everyone’s support as I progress with my passion for photography.

Exploring Birds on the Farm 2024

/ Laura Tuke / 2 Comments

All my life I have loved nature and all it has to offer us, and over the years my knowledge of this aspect of our world has been ever growing. Within this, since 2019, I have been training as a bird ringer in Dorset, growing my passion for birds and enjoying experiencing and sharing this with others. I have had some really great experiences myself with birds in this way already, which has included exploring and beginning to ring the birds that call my family’s Dorset farm home, and giving me a new perspective of the wildlife on my doorstep.

In 2023, I had finally gained my bird ringing C permit with some restrictions, and could now ring endorsed species independently. With this under my belt, during that year I got to watch my local swallow population grow, take control of monitoring our barn owl population (under a Schedule 1 license), mist net in my garden on my own, and gain new endorsements. This all felt like such an achievement to me already.

Well last year, I was able to build on my previous years of bird ringing, and expand my projects on my family’s Dorset farm, to have the best year yet. I again monitored our farm’s swallow and barn owl populations, began monitoring my own tit populations, continued gaining more and more confidence solo mist netting, and worked towards increasing my permit endorsements. Check out how my year in birds on the farm went during 2024!

Swallows

Following a poor breeding season for my local swallows in 2022, with my own permit under my belt, in 2023 the swallows had a more positive season. From 10 nesting attempts on the farm and on my neighbours’ property, I was able to ring and watch 42 chicks fledge, alongside at least missing one brood of chicks being raised to fledging. It made me excited for what another year would bring for my local swallow population.

So moving forward to 2024, the swallows did not disappoint, with a long breeding season running from May to September. Across this time, 14 nesting attempts were made on the farm and on my neighbours’ property, more attempts overall than during the 2023 season. Of these 14 nesting attempts, 7 attempts were made by the same 3 pairs, with one pair managing 3 broods totalling 10 chicks in all. From all successful attempts, I was able to ring and watch 56 swallow chicks fledge, up by 14 for me on 2023.

Barn Owls

For many years my family’s farm has been a safe haven for breeding barn owls, which has been a real privilege to experience. In 2022, 2 pairs of barn owls bred on the farm, with both fledging 2 chicks each, and in 2023, just one pair was discovered breeding, but this pair successfully fledged 3 chicks.

At the very beginning of 2024, my dad put up an outside barn owl nest box, that I had bought him for christmas 2023, on the tree that barn owls had previously nested in. We did not expect it to be used for breeding during its first year up, but we were in for a big surprise. First, I was able to ring 3 lovely barn owl chicks from the barn nest box (following 3 chicks last year), and share doing so with my 7 and 4 year old nieces. One week later I was able to ring another 3 chicks, this time, fantastically, in our brand new field nest box. I was also able to share these chicks, this time with my Manchester buddy and fellow Zoology graduate, Emma Rogan. What a great year for barn owls on our farm!

Tit Nest Boxes

In 2024, I finally gained my cavity nesting pulli endorsement, which means I could now ring such chicks independently. Making the most of this opportunity, I added to the 4 tit nest boxes already set up on my family’s farm, and put up another 7 across different locations and habitats, to see how well they would do. Through May and June, I kept a close eye on all boxes, and ended with 6 of 11 being used to raise and fledge chicks successfully, all blue tit broods. In total, they gave me the opportunity to ring 44 blue tit chicks, with brood sizes ranging from 3 to 10, alongside one adult female caught at one of the nests.

Chicks Ringed For Training

In 2024, I was now working towards my full open nesting pulli endorsement for my permit. Blackbirds did well to add to my totals, with 4 nests being found easily around our farm and home (2 being attempts by the same pair). From these 4 attempts, I got the opportunity to ring and observe the fledging of 17 chicks, adding to only 4 chicks rung in 2023.

I also had a new chick species for me during 2024, in the form of the robin. Though I only found one nest during this time, I did get to ring 2 healthy chicks that were raised to fledging. Moving forward, in 2025, it would be my aim to try to further continue working towards my full endorsement.

Garden Mist Netting

During 2024, I mist netted solo in my own garden using 2 nets during both August and December, with 2 sessions completed during each month. In August, I caught a total of 28 birds, with 4 being retraps, and including house sparrows, dunnocks, great tits, blue tits, blackbirds, goldfinches, and robins. In December, I caught 74 birds, which was a greater number compared to August, due to them being more reliant on visiting the garden to feed. Thirteen of these birds were retraps, and species overall included house sparrows, dunnocks, great tits, blue tits, starlings, and coal tits. I really enjoyed being able to continue mist netting on my own patch during 2024, but as always I wished I had had more time to do so.

My Highlights and Hopes

During 2024, I had a great year with my ringing experiences at home on my family farm. I experienced our swallow population having their best year yet, with the same being said for our barn owls. Though we did not find tawny owls breeding on the farm during this particular year, I did get to do my first solo ringing of blue tit chicks, and ringed my first robin chicks too. I gained more confidence with mist netting on my own, whilst also gaining more experience with blackbird chicks.

Moving on from 2024, my main aims have been to increase my experience further with ringing open nesting species chicks, in the hopes of gaining my endorsement for my permit. I also hoped for an even better swallow year, to increase the number of tit boxes I would be monitoring during their breeding season, and to add some new nest boxes, such as kestrel to the farm. Overall, I just looked forward to being able to follow the bird breeding season once again.

Spring In Photos 2025

/ Laura Tuke / 2 Comments

“The beautiful spring came; and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also” — Harriet Ann Jacobs

As I learn to love how all the seasons in nature have something different to offer, I cannot help but still feel my heart sing when I see the first blooms of spring, hear the first chiffchaff echo across a field, or see the first butterfly flit past on a sunny day. Spring is a time for the renewal of hope, a celebration of colour and vibrancy, and a time that often feels like a collective sigh of relief. It is a season of optimism, and new possibilities, but also passes, like this year, in a blink of an eye.

This year though, I have really embraced the capturing of different light, colour and subjects during spring, giving myself the freedom to explore nature through a lens. As part of this, I also began to experiment with a new camera as part of my photography kit, and kept open minded during the process. It will take a while to sort through all the photos taken so far this year, but for now here is a snapshot of my spring 2025, through a lens, camera or iphone.

Spring In Photos 2025

The new addition to the Tuke family (Barley)

Walking through the Daffodowndillies

My Raven and her baby boy Jackdaw

One of my favourite first signs of spring, the Wood Anemone

The start of new life (here Blue Tits and Robins)

Enjoying the Bluebells from horseback (Dove)

Sunrise swimming in Appledore

Birdwatching on Lundy (Devon)

In my element, camera in hand and fantastic wildlife (Lundy, Devon)

The vibrancy of spring (A Speckled Wood Butterfly on a Rhododendron)

My suckler calves always love to pose for a photo (Orchid)

Herefordshire in the Golden Hour

This is just a very small snapshot of my year so far! More to come.

A Year in the Life of a Woodland – Part 2

/ Laura Tuke / Leave a comment

Throughout 2024, I followed in person a year in the life of an ancient, broadleaved woodland in the heart of rural Dorset. I followed its progress from certain points within its bounds, and observed the beauty the woodland had to offer throughout the seasons. It was really interesting to see what goes on during each month of the year within a classic english country woodland, and to be able see the subtle differences as time went on.

Previously on my blog, I left the woodland at the end of June after six months of colourful adventures. I watched as winter transformed into a vibrant spring and moved towards the summer months. From majestic skeletal trees and the unrolling of green to carpets of blue and flashes of beautiful butterflies, the woodland showed itself to be a master of changing its finery in dramatic style. To read more, check out Part 1 on my blog!

This time I delve into the second half of 2024 amongst the trees, as summer brings tranquil days, autumn comes with a riot of colour, and the woodland slips back into its winter slumber. How will these months differ to those of the first half of the year and what can we learn as the days regress once again. Here’s part 2 of my A Year in the Life of a Woodland.

July

Summer has arrived! Stepping into the woodland, humid warmth is replaced by a refreshing cool within the shade of the tall trees. All around the undergrowth is starting to die back, with flower heads dropping their spent petals and seeds beginning to be produced. Herb robert survives on though, with nodding heads of still bright pink flowers, whilst honeysuckle hangs from the trees, giving off their heady scent, and enchanter’s nightshade and bramble flowers start to appear. Amongst all this, ferns now stand tall along open tracks and wooodland glades, lush green and stealing the summer sunlight from any plants tucked below.

Birds of the woodland are now concentrating on feeding their young or are even coming to the end of this year’s breeding season. Distant chiffchaffs and wrens sing on though, alongside woodpigeons calling, and tits communicating up in the trees. Buzzing flies can also be heard on warmer days, whilst dragonflies dance along woodland borders on silent wings. A fox slinks by through the shadows of the trees, on silent paws, at ease, only turning its head as it walks by. With the woodland now full of new life, the excitement and activity of spring is ebbing away, and we welcome the days of the more relaxed summer season.

August

The woods are returning to their quieter state once again. The days are beginning to shorten in small increments, and the first whisperings of autumn can be felt. The start of August has been interesting with the woods seeing hot days broken up with spells of grey and heavy showers. As evening sun breaks through the still lush, but battered canopy, it’s noticeable that the woodland floor is picking up pace receding now. The hint of colour from flowers is completely disappearing, whilst the green undergrowth is beginning to show the brown leaf litter layer below.

Silence blankets the woodland, broken by wind up in the tree canopy, distant bird contact calls, and noise beyond the woodland altogether. The joyful bird song of spring has long served it’s purpose, and now the time has come when summer visitors are beginning to think of moving on to warmer climes, as the first signs of autumn have arrived. Plants hang with fat seed heads, hazel trees are laden with nuts that are already being pilfered, grey squirrels can be heard alarm calling up in the trees, and jays are popping up with their rough screaming calls. It’s a time of bounty and fruitfulness, a time to celebrate what nature has given us this year, and a time to prepare for the slumber to come.

September

The first breath of chilly air has arrived and rarer dry days have an edge to them. Another change in the year is coming, as the woodland floor dies back, leaving increasing patches of last year’s leaf litter open to the air once again. In places grass is crowding out other species on woodland rides, whilst ferns begin to turn brown, like fire catching their leaves’ edges. The first holly berries are beginning to redden, hazel trees are bedecked in green nuts, ripe blackberries are already beginning to soften, and oaks are growing their iconic nuts complete with their classic cups.

The mornings are now renewed with a gentle soundtrack of calling birds in the woodland, with residents claiming territories and migrants passing through on their way. Nuthatches, wrens, goldcrests and robins are amongst this cohort, creating a bubble of bird song. The afternoons are quieter, filled with lazily buzzing insects, and the odd animal sound. This afternoon though, the woodland soundscape is broken up with the sound of a great-spotted woodpecker moving from tree to tree and tapping to find food beneath bark. 

October

Nights are drawing in, temperatures are beginning to cool, and the dampness in the air is creeping in. Trees, such as oak, hazel and ash, are beginning to show changes to the colour of their leaves, adding yellows, reds, and oranges to their palette. As the trees signal the start of changing out of their finery, the ferns covering the woodland floor below are now fully on fire, curling up and browning away. As this dying off progresses, new life is symbolised through nuts, seeds and berries, such as the first ripe holly berries, shiny and red, waiting to be eaten. To buck the trend, ivy tendrils are sprouting clusters of green balls, their late flowers that will reach their peak in November.

Most of the summer avian residents will have begun their travels to warmer climes, leaving overwintering birds moving through and residents staying put. For example, our native robins are beginning to sing strong once again, needing to defend their important territories throughout the winter. Tits can be heard beginning to travel in small feeding flocks, whilst wrens and goldcrests flit in the branches currently going solo. Mammals do not make an appearance during my visit, but there are signs of the badgers, foxes, roe deer and squirrels that call the woods home. Times are bountiful for those who can find it, but harsher days are on their way!

November

The arrival of November is accompanied by shortening day lengths and biting northerly winds. Mostly the month begins calm in the woodland with grey or sunny days. As trees continue to take in the goodness of this year’s bounty of leaves, the green of summer has been fully taken over by bright fierce colours in the canopy, with the orange of oak, yellow of hazel, gold of field maple, and red of hawthorn, amongst others. The leaves also begin to fall from on high, twirling to the ground and beginning to form a crunchy leaf litter under foot. The trees are going to go out with a riot of colour!

The soft sunlight falling through the trees marks a slowing of time and activity for wildlife. Pheasants meander amongst the trees being released from local shoots. A raucous jay echoes through the still trees. Mushrooms poke up from the leaf litter here and there creating a more ethereal quality to the woodland during this time. It finally feels like autumn has arrived just at the point when people look towards the closing of the year in a month’s time. Time to savour the last hurrah of nature!

December

The year is rolling on to its close once again and winter is fully upon us. As I step back into the woodland for one last walk of the year, a cool breeze bites my cheeks whilst cheerful sunshine falls through the trees. Now I find myself surrounded by leafless forms once again, bare, skeletal, but magnificent, especially the ancient oaks. The last few hazel leaves cling to their branches, but most trees have now shed their finery, and a new carpet of leaf litter satisfyingly crunches beneath my feet. The trees are putting nutrients back into the earth as they now lay in slumber.

Up above my head, I can hear a soft tap, tap, tap. The sound of a great-spotted woodpecker moving from tree to tree once again, and tapping for food under their barks. Birds call all around me, from angry wrens, territorial robins, and hungry blue tits, to a raven passing overhead, blackbirds on the wing, and even a nuthatch going about its business. Badgers will now be sleeping more, whilst foxes are more active, thinking about breeding once again. There is still so much life to be found out in this Dorset woodland, even if all are just trying to survive through to another year. December is rolling on and a new year beckons!

Spring Camera Trapping 2024 – Part 2: Late May, June & Early July

/ Laura Tuke / Leave a comment

Late spring is a time of vibrant energy, spectacular colour, and nature being at its busiest. Days are lengthening, temperatures are rising, and life is bursting forth wherever you go. This is joined by plant species growing abundantly, migrant birds having all returned to their breeding sites, alongside our native species, and mammals having welcomed young or waiting to do so. Despite this, how much do we actually see of our local wildlife on a day-to-day basis, as they go about their secretive lives?

In the first part of my two posts on my 2024 spring camera trapping adventures (check out the first part here), March, April and early May saw me exploring many locations on my family’s Dorset farm and getting some wonderful surprises. I was able to watch as some species fed young, some introduced them to the world for the first time, and others were feeding up ahead of laying eggs or giving birth themselves. My adventures did not finish there though, as I continued to watch on, as these individuals moved into late spring activity. So what happened next?

Late May

Late May is a a great time to see badgers at their setts, as cubs now explore the area around their homes, and adults spend more time above ground during the daytime. My camera traps allowed me to observe the behaviour of badger families in their natural habitat during this time close to my home, and also gave me some priviledged views of their lesser seen lives. This included badgers foraging and playing during the day, climbing trees, grooming, sleeping, and socialising.

Badgers may have been captured more by my camera traps during late May this year, but foxes were seen less and less in some areas. This is a concern as unlike in previous years, fox cubs were not seen being born and emerging in the typical or usual locations and some adults also stopped bringing food to dens during the critical time. Unfortunately this may be due to more litters failing this year compared to previous ones.

Where foxes were unexpectedly seen less during late may this spring, roe deer on the other hand were captured less because of behavioural changes to their daily patterns. This is due to winter roe deer groups splitting up and individuals becoming more solitary as females near the end of their pregnancies, and choose to go it alone. Spring babies are on the way!

Species List: Roe deer, badger, fox, brown rat, blackbird, woodpigeon, magpie, great tit, rabbit

June

By June, with abundant food sources now available, lots of wildlife species have young on the ground, and this gives us a great opportunity to observe the unique bond between animals and their young. My camera traps this year were even able to delve into the lives of some bird species, capturing the lives of families of both blackbirds and robins. I was able to watch as adults interacted with their fledged young, whilst protecting them from predators, and still supplying them with food.

During late spring, as well as being a time of wildlife breeding, it is also a calmer time for individuals that are not breeding this year. For example, whilst adult foxes are still focussed on their cubs and breeding efforts, you can also get sightings of young and non-breeding individuals as they hunt and go it alone. This year my camera trap sightings on the farm included that of a small fox born last year, that felt safest staying close to our farm buildings to hunt and rest during the daytime.

Species List: Fox, hedgehog, woodpigeon, roe deer, pheasant, magpie, robin, badger, brown rat, blackbird, wren, woodmouse

July

Having spent the last few months exploring particular locations around my family’s farm and focussing on particular spots, I finished up my camera trapping adventures by revisiting some of my favourite spots for one final look in. At badger alley, the well-trodden footpath, by roaming animals, had quietened down with the end of spring. Grey squirrels and rabbits still frequent this spot in July, and glimpses were made of last year’s fox cubs, solitary male roe deer, a territorial badger at the edge of its territory, and a muntjac deer passing through for the fourth time this year.

In woodland, roe deer feeding was the only sighting, whereas the quarry field badger sett was still busy with the activity of the family of badgers living there and a brand new family of fledged blackbird chicks. This year it has been sad to have not seen any sightings of new fox cubs, despite targeting many different locations frequently used by adult foxes this spring and in previous years. As spring turned into summer, the sightings of adult foxes by my camera traps and by observation was also down on this time last year. We wonder if foxes had a tough winter, but hope they have more luck next year.

A camera trap positive though, was the frequent visits by hedgehogs to my family’s garden this year. In July, at least one adult was visiting, in particular one female that we knew to have bred not far from our garden. Also, some nights multiple adult hedgehogs would visit the garden at the same time, and even share the food that we put out for them. My camera trap allowed us to keep an eye on the hedgehogs, and learn new behaviour, such as hedgehogs being naturally dominant over brown rats, probably due to their size. It has been a joy to see this species grow in numbers once again in our area! Here’s to the end of another fantastic spring!

Species List: Rabbit, muntjac deer, grey squirrel, roe deer, fox, brown rat, badger, woodpigeon, pheasant, blackbird, hedgehog

Spring Camera Trapping 2024 – Part. 1: March, April & Early May

/ Laura Tuke / 1 Comment

Year-on-year, the landscape waking up after its winter slumber inspires me to re-explore the wildlife becoming active in my local area. In Dorset, my family’s farm is home to a wide range of mammal and bird species, amongst others, with new additions being observed every year. Despite this, on a day-to-day basis many species are often not seen, living more secretive lives.

A great, unobtrusive way to be able to observe wildlife on my family’s farm is to use a camera trap. A camera trap is a small waterproof camera that is triggered by movement. The camera then records either photos, video or both, and my cameras store these on a memory card (check out my How to.. guide for more info). By using a camera trap in the right way, you can get some really amazing views of wildlife, all without individuals being aware of the camera and being disturbed.

This year, from the 10th March onwards, I began setting up and changing the location of my two camera traps every week, to see what I could find and learn this year about my local wildlife. Over a few months, I used a variety of different locations close to home, and also revisited some over that time period too. Some locations, such as my Badger Alley site, have been used for many years now, whereas some, such as my Bridge Field site, were used for the first time this year. Lets now go back to early spring to find out what my camera traps learnt and observed this year!

March

As the landscape slowly wakes up and new growth begins to carpet fields, woodlands, and hedgerows, the local wildlife is also beginning to become more active as they go about their day-to-day lives. In early spring, roe deer are still living in non-territorial mixed-sex groups of varying size with groups sharing limited food sources. This year, across the farm, my camera traps observed many roe deer groups passing through the landscape during March, including males growing antlers covered in soft velvety skin, and females with growing pregnant bellies. In particular, this spring groups stayed together quite a while due to fluctuating weather affecting the growth and abundance of plants.

March is the peak time for fox cubs being born in Britain, and so typically during this month vixens stay below ground in their den to give birth and keep their cubs warm whilst still vulnerable. This means during early spring, foxes seen tend to be males hunting and providing for their mates. During this time this year, my camera traps often caught foxes carrying prey, such as pheasants and rabbits, and travelling the same tracks daily. These sightings are a wonderful sign that there is new life arriving somewhere out there in the local landscape.

March is the month of winter drawing to a close and spring beginning to breathe life into the land again. With my camera traps at the ready, and well-trodden paths often the best place to observe wildlife, I was able to capture a range of sights and surprises varying from grey squirrels digging up nuts buried in the autumn to badgers searching for food to territorial fighting of breeding woodpigeons. You never quite know what you will see!

Species Seen: Rabbit, brown rat, fox, badger, pheasant, roe deer, woodpigeon, grey squirrel

April

April marks the appearance of abundant new life, with leaves unfurling on trees, blossom dripping from hedgerows, and spring flowers popping up across the landscape. This month is also full of new life for many animal species local to me too, with signs of this being picked up on my camera traps. Being typically born in February, badger cubs now begin to explore the entrance to their setts and the immediate area. This year I was lucky to capture one particular family of badgers with their cubs beginning to explore above ground during April, and not just views of adults walking on by. To be able to watch any young animals playing and exploring the world for the first time is truly an incredible experience!

Though this year I was not lucky enough to capture fox cubs emerging in April for the first time, as in more recent years, my camera traps still picked up views of adult foxes frequenting areas that could have been home to possible den sites. Vixens during April will still be heavily relied on by their cubs, leaving the male to still be the main food provider and protecter of the den. My camera traps captured possible views of some very diligent dads in my local area this year!

During this month of spring, not all species and individuals are yet to have young relying upon them, with females instead feeding up ahead and males keeping to themselves. One species in particular that my camera traps observed doing this was the hedgehog, an abundant visitor to my family’s garden, typically emerging from hibernation at the end of March or early April. Other stars spotted were hares not in a hurry and some boisterous roe bucks.

Species List: Pheasant, roe deer, brown hare, fox, badger, carrion crow, brown rat, grey squirrel, blackbird, woodpigeon, magpie, jackdaw, hedgehog, house sparrow

Early May

As the spring season rolls into the month of May, the landscape is now a hive of activity. Plants abundantly grow and blossom into colour, and many species are focussed on having and raising young, and passing on their genes to the next generation. May is a great month to glimpse hidden behaviour of wildlife and take in a different side to many species. This year this included rabbits socialising, nosy roe deer, and foxes climbing trees.

As birds nest, hatch chicks and feed young, individuals are also at their most active. This often means my camera traps get some glimpses of such species on the go. This May these included many woodpigeons, robins finding food, and chiffchaffs flitting through hedgerows. It is great that camera traps allow me to observe some of our local feathered species as well.

My favourite surprise this May though, was multiple sightings of muntjac deer on our land once again. Though muntjac are non-native and can be a problem in many areas, on our land my family and I have never observed muntjac with our own eyes before. Therefore, my camera traps have given us an interesting and unexpected glimpse into the presence of this deer species on our farm, and their movement through our area.

Species List: Roe deer, pheasant, chiffchaff, robin, muntjac deer, rabbit, woodpigeon, brown rat, grey squirrel, fox

How to… Identify All Year Round Garden Birds

/ Laura Tuke / Leave a comment

Photographs will be updated in the future

In the UK, 633 wild bird species have been recorded up to 2024, from eagles and owls to kingfishers and thrushes. Between 2015 and 2020 though, almost half of all bird species in the UK were seen to have experienced a decline in number, adding to a steady decline over 50 years. Some of the biggest factors have been increased development, agricultural intensification, habitat loss, lack of woodland management, disease, and climate change, amongst others.

As bird species continue to lose access to habitat and food sources across the UK, our gardens, however big or small, are becoming an important lifeline for populations. ‘Garden birds’ refer to any species that visit and utilise a garden, and species will depend on what food, water, and habitat is available, and also the habitats that can be found around a garden. This often leads to variation in what people may see from garden-to-garden.

Despite differences, there are a number of birds that are more likely to be seen in gardens, and it is great to know what you may be seeing to help easily tailor your garden for their use, such as what bird food to offer. To help identify species, here you can find a helpful guide to 10 birds that can often be seen in gardens across the UK, even when their populations are decreasing in number. Take a look below!

Species:

Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)

  • Length: 23.5 – 29cm
  • Weight: 80 – 125g
  • Colour: Adult males are all black with a yellow beak, whilst adult females are dark brown with a more dull beak. Young start as a speckled version of the female and change to adult feathers through moulting their feathers
  • What To Feed: Mealworms, fat balls, or sunflower hearts on the floor or in a ground feeder
  • Breeding Season: March to Late July
  • Nest: A round cup made of twigs, grass and other plant materials, close to the ground in adequate cover
  • UK Conservation status: Green

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

  • Length: 12.5 – 14cm
  • Weight: 13 – 21g
  • Colour: Adult males and females look the same, both brown with an orange-red breast and white underside. The young start a speckled brown
  • What To Feed: Mealworms, suet, or seeds on a ground feeder, bird table or bird feeder with platform
  • Breeding Season: March to mid-August
  • Nest: A round cup made of grass, moss and leaves and lined with hair and maybe feathers, usually tucked in a hole, crevice or behind something
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

  • Length: 14 – 16cm
  • Weight: 23 – 35g
  • Colour: Adult males have a grey crown and cheeks, chestnut sides to head, black bib, grey underparts, rufous-brown back, and white wing-bar. Adult females and young (until body moult) have buff-brown upperparts, underparts grey, brown cap and cream supercilium behind eye
  • What To Feed: Will eat a range food, including seeds and grains from feeders
  • Breeding Season: March to August
  • Nest: In cavities, where dried plant material is stuffed in to make an untidy sphere which is then lined with softer materials, such as feathers
  • UK Conservation Status: Red

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

  • Length: 13.5 – 15cm
  • Weight: 9 – 13.5g
  • Colour: Blue crown, wings and tail, white cheeks, black eye-stripe, underparts yellow, and greyish-black central belly stripe. Their young begin with more dull feathers and yellowish cheeks
  • What To Feed: Fat balls, suet, peanuts, or sunflower seeds from hanging feeders
  • Breeding Season: March to June
  • Nest: Built inside cavities and formed of a cup of plant material, such as moss, lined with soft materials, such as feathers, wool and fur
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

Great Tit (Parus major)

  • Length: 13.5 – 15cm
  • Weight: 14 – 22g
  • Colour: Black head with white cheeks, moss-green back, blue-grey wings and tails, yellow underparts and black central belly-band. Males have wider, more defined belly-band. Young begin more dull and with yellowish cheeks
  • What To Feed: Suet, fat balls, peanuts, or sunflower seeds in hanging feeders
  • Breeding Season: March to July
  • Nest: Built inside cavities, formed of a cup of twigs, roots, moss, lichen and/or grasses, and lined with soft materials, such as hair or plant material
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

  • Length: 19 – 22cm
  • Weight: 60 – 97g
  • Colour: Black bird with long-pointed yellow bill, white spots dotted through plumage, a green-purple sheen to the feathers and pale pink legs. The young start with grey-brown feathers and change with body moult
  • What To Feed: Suet, peanuts or sunflower hearts in hanging and ground feeders
  • Breeding Season: March-July
  • Nest: In holes and cavities in trees and buildings, made up of a messy depression of plant stems, grass, and moss, and often lined with feathers or wool
  • UK Conservation Status: Red

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

  • Length: 12 – 13.5cm
  • Weight: 13 – 20g
  • Colour: Adults have a black and white head with red face, brown back, black wings with yellow bar, and black tail with white spots. Young lack colourful head until body moult
  • What To Feed: Sunflower hearts, niger seeds or mixed seed in hanging feeders
  • Breeding Season: April to August
  • Nest: A neat cup made of moss, grass, wool, and hair, relatively far off of the ground in tight tree branches, hedges or shrubs
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

  • Length: 14 – 16cm
  • Weight: 17.5 – 29g
  • Colour: Adult males have pinky-red cheeks and breast, and blue-grey crown and neck, whereas adult females and young lack the colourful head and instead have a grey-green one. All have a distinct pale rump and double white wing bars
  • What To Feed: Peanuts, sunflower seeds, seed mixes, or suet in hanging or ground feeders
  • Breeding Season: April to June
  • Nest: Deep cup of lichens, grass, roots and feathers, lined with plant down, feathers or wool, usually in the fork of a tree, shrub or hedgerow
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

  • Length: 29 – 33cm
  • Weight: 168 – 249g
  • Colour: Pale pinky-grey-brown feathers, black neck collar, dark eye, grey underparts, and reddish feet
  • What To Feed: Small seeds from ground feeders or bird tables
  • Breeding Season: March to September
  • Nest: Sparse platform of twigs and leaves in trees or high up in buildings
  • UK Conservation Status: Green

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

  • Length: 38 – 43cm
  • Weight: 325 – 620g
  • Colour: Grey-blue head and back, pinky-red belly, large white patch on neck, sides of neck iridescent purple and green, white wing patches and pink legs. Young are pale with no neck patch.
  • What To Feed: Only British herbivorous bird. Feed seeds on a bird table, ground feeder or the ground
  • Breeding Season: February to November
  • Nest: Simple platform constructed from sticks in trees, shrubs, vegetation or ledges
  • UK Conservation Status: Amber

Spring 2024: How It Happened

/ Laura Tuke / 1 Comment

Over the last few years, it has been noticeable that weather patterns and average temperatures have been changing and highly unpredictable, leading to the seasons, such as spring, varying from month-to-month and year-to-year, especially here in Dorset. For example, last year spring began a wash out, moving to cold and stormy spells, before ending with heat waves. This year was an equally odd series of spring weather events with a cold start to the season, followed by wet weather with northerly winds, and finishing with drier spells. It was on average warmer and wetter, but cold nights continued for a long time, and had a noticeable effect on plant growth patterns being seen.

Spring 2023 encountered trends for later spring events and a slow start to spring, which helped to create a mismatch between species and spring events. With a warmer, wetter winter before spring this year, and often above average spring temperatures, it is likely the trends this year may differ to those of 2023. It will be interesting to see if this has had an effect though, by looking at trends for some tree, shrub, flower, insect and bird species. How will spring 2024 have shaped up? Read on to see how my favourite season unfurled this year!

Trees

During 2023, spring emergence dates for trees showed a trend for on average later dates, ranging from 1 to 28 days later. In 2024 though, the majority of spring tree dates were earlier, as seen with field maple, horse chestnut, english oak, and wild cherry, ranging from 1 to 22 days earlier from March through to May. Alder dates though were fractionally later, as were ash and sycamore flowering, and silver birch and norway maple budburst, but the other events for these species occurred earlier. The on average warmer and wetter weather will most likely be the reason for these trends, allowing trees to get a head start this year.

Flowers

Plants flowering during spring 2023 occurred on average later, varying from 1 to 16 days. During spring 2024 though, flowering has occurred earlier, as was the trend with tree species. For snowdrops, lesser celandines, primroses, greater stitchwort, wood anemones, early purple orchids, wild garlic, yellow archangel, cuckooflowers, oxeye daisies, and bluebells flowering occurred 1 to 32 days earlier between January and May. The exceptions were found with daffodils, flowering 6 days later during February, and cowslips, 4 days later during April. It would be understandable thus to think that the warmer, wetter weather of the start of spring will have had a heavy influence on these events, just like with trees.

Insects

Of 12 species that had the emergence date recorded during spring 2023, the majority emerged later than the year before, ranging from 2 to 46 days later. This year though, spring 2024 saw the occurrence of a 50:50 split for the 10 species that had their emergence date recorded, with some species from 2023 yet to be seen at all, such as painted lady butterflies.

Buff-tailed bumblebees, 7-spotted ladybirds, and orange tip, red admiral, and speckled wood butterflies all emerged earlier this year, ranging from 2 to 46 days earlier. Conversely, queen wasps, and brimstone, peacock, gatekeeper, and small tortoiseshell butterflies all emerged later than 2023, ranging from 8 to 47 days later. Though not complete for all, the split does tend to be due to March to April species emerging earlier this year whereas April to June species emerged later this year. This may be due to April being a cooler, wetter month this year, impacting insect species more greatly than plant species that were already making their advance and were less impacted.

Shrubs

Spring 2023 mainly showed a trend for later shrub budburst, leaf unfurling and flowering, ranging from 3-27 days from March to May. In contrast, for spring 2024, the majority of events for shrubs occurred earlier, ranging from 1 to 53 days earlier from December through to May. These included for blackthorn, dog rose, elder, hawthorn and hazel, with the only later event being for red female hazel flowers being observed. This trend shows similarities to those of trees and spring flowering plants, and would be similarly due to a warmer, wetter winter and start of spring, allowing events to occur earlier and shrubs to get a head start on the season.

Birds

Following on from the last two years (2022 and 2023), the dates of bird events during spring 2024 showed no clear trend, with a split between different species and events. Rooks began building their nests earlier, chiffchaffs and swallows arrived earlier, song thrushes and yellowhammers first sang earlier, and the first wrens fledged earlier. Conversely, blackbirds first sang later, the first blackbirds fledged later, blackcaps, cuckoos and house martins arrived later, and great-spotted woodpeckers drummed later.

Some of these event timing changes will be due to spring temperatures and weather conditions on short term and long term scales. Other reasons are less obvious currently, but the hope is that bird events will still have been timed right with other species to make the most of resources this year.

Conclusion

Spring 2024 was a thoroughly odd season, varying from month-to-month, but feeling like wet weather prevailed more than the normal. In the end it was vibrant and colourful, though missing the traditional spring feeling. This year spring was heavily effected by climatic changes and changes to weather patterns, and this may become typical during the springs to come. It is really hard to predict then how each season will play out, and it will be interesting to see now how all British species cope with such unpredictability as time goes on. Only time will tell!

Species List

  • Alder (Tree) Alnus glutinosa
  • Ash (Tree) Fraxinus excelsior
  • Blackbird (Bird) Turdus merula
  • Blackcap (Bird) Sylvia atricapilla
  • Blackthorn (Shrub) Prunus spinosa
  • Bluebell (Flowering Plant) Hyacinthoides non-scripta
  • Brimstone butterfly (Insect) Gonepteryx rhamni
  • Buff-tailed bumblebee (Insect) Bombus terrestris
  • Chiffchaff (Bird) Phylloscopus collybita
  • Common wasp (Insect) Vespula vulgaris
  • Cowslip (Flowering Plant) Primula veris
  • Cuckoo (Bird) Cuculus canorus
  • Cuckooflower (Flowering Plant) Cardamine pratensis
  • Daffodil (Flowering Plant) Narcissus spp.
  • Dog rose (Shrub) Rosa canina
  • Early purple orchid (Flowering Plant) Orchis mascula
  • Elder (Shrub) Sambucus nigra
  • English oak (Tree) Quercus robur
  • Field maple (Tree) Acer campestre
  • Gatekeeper butterfly (Insect) Pyronia tithonus
  • Greater stitchwort (Flowering Plant) Stellaria holostea
  • Great-spotted woodpecker (Bird) Dendrocopos major
  • Hawthorn (Shrub) Crataegus monogyna
  • Hazel (Shrub) Crataegus monogyna
  • Horse chestnut (Tree) Aesculus hippocastanum
  • House martin (Bird) Delichon urbicum
  • Lesser celandine (Flowering Plant) Ficaria verna
  • Norway maple (Tree) Acer platanoides
  • Orange-tip butterfly (Insect) Anthocharis cardamines
  • Oxeye daisy (Flowering Plant) Leucanthemum vulgare
  • Peacock butterfly (Insect) Aglais io
  • Primrose (Flowering Plant) Primula vulgaris
  • Red admiral butterfly (Insect) Vanessa atalanta
  • Rook (Bird) Corvus frugilegus
  • Seven-spot ladybird (Insect) Coccinella septempunctata)
  • Silver birch (Tree) Betula pendula
  • Small tortoiseshell butterfly (Insect) Aglais urticae
  • Snowdrop (Flowering Plant) Galanthus spp.
  • Song thrush (Bird) Turdus philomelos
  • Speckled wood butterfly (Insect) Pararge aegeria
  • Swallow (Bird) Hirundo rustica
  • Sycamore (Tree) Acer pseudoplatanus
  • Wild cherry (Tree) Prunus avium
  • Wild garlic (Flowering Plant) Allium ursinum
  • Wood anemone (Flowering Plant) Anemone nemorosa
  • Wren (Bird) Troglodytes troglodytes
  • Yellow archangel (Flowering Plant) Lamium galeobdolon
  • Yellowhammer (Bird) Emberiza citrinella

Breeding Birds on the Farm 2023

/ Laura Tuke / Leave a comment

In memory of Trevor Squire

My love of birds can be first originated with my grandfather, who enjoyed sharing his own passion with me when I was child, even before my own began. In time, my mum passed her own knowledge on to me, but it took me going off to university to finally realise how much fascination bird species hold for me. Once I returned home to Dorset after completing my Master’s, I then got the opportunity to begin my training as a bird ringer in 2019 with a very special local trainer, Trevor Squire.

Last year I posted on my blog all about the birds breeding on my family’s farm in Dorset throughout 2022, whilst working to apply for my C permit (check it out here). That year I encountered 2 broods of kestrel chicks, 3 broods of swallow chicks, 2 broods of barn owl chicks, and 2 great mornings ringing in my own garden to build my confidence with a range of species.

Moving in to 2023, I had now gained my C permit with restrictions, and could begin to ring with more independence whilst exploring the bird life on my family’s Dorset farm. Unfortunately, no kestrel nests were discovered on the farm during 2023, as our local population were hit hard by avian flu. There was still lots of bird fun to be had though, so read on to find out what I got up to.

Swallows

In 2022, the swallow population around my home had a tough year and a very poor breeding season, which may be because less pairs returned to start with. In total, I discovered 6 nests, but only 3 fledged chicks, 12 in total. So in 2023, with my new C permit now giving me the endorsement to ring swallow chicks on my own, I hoped for more luck for my swallows.

I began nest checks again on the 25th May and over the course of the breeding season I discovered 6 different nests in use, with 4 being used again for 2nd broods. I am very happy to say that I had the pleasure of ringing 42 swallow chicks from 11th June to 16th September. Knowing that some chicks even fledged before I had the chance to ring them, 2023 was a very good year for my swallow population in comparison to 2022.

Barn Owls

Those who follow my blog will already know that barn owls are a species that are very special to my family, with these birds being intertwined with farmland in Dorset. Barn owls are a great indicator of the state of nature on farmland, and have been followed closely on our land since 2019, helping to influence management. Check out my Barn Owl page for more stories.

In 2022, the barn owls had a good year on the farm, with 2 pairs nesting at opposite ends of our land, one in an annually used nest box and another in the same tree as a pair of kestrels. Both pairs went on to have 2 chicks fledge successfully, which was a big positive for the barn owl population in our area.

For 2023, I now had my C permit that had the inclusion of an endorsement for me to ring barn owl chicks on my own. We had high hopes for our barn nest box once again, having seen 2 owls hunting around the farm over the winter, and courting around the box in early spring. On checking the box on the 2nd June, we were happy to discover 3-4 young chicks. I used these chicks as an opportunity to gain confidence, and ringed 3 good sized chicks alongside my ringing trainer on the 7th July. We had hoped to discover a second pair breeding on our farm again in 2023, but we are very happy that at least 2 of the barn box chicks were seen to go on to fledge successfully. This is a definite improvement on only 1 chick in 2021!

Chicks Ringed of New Species

As on my newly acquired C permit I only have endorsements to ring swallow, kestrel, and barn owl chicks, in 2023 I aimed to ring chicks from other species alongside my ringing trainer to expand on my C permit in time.

On the farm in 2023, I got to ring my first brood of blackbird chicks (4), blue tit chicks (7), and starling chicks (1). The highlight though was one of our tawny owl boxes finally producing a healthy brood of 2 tawny owl chicks. A great start to increasing my experience, whilst I also got the opportunity to ring at other sites, such as checking tawny owl boxes with another ringing group.

Garden Mist Netting

In 2022, ahead of applying for my C permit, I got to spend 2 mornings mist netting and ringing in my own garden with another ringing trainer. This was an exciting first for me, made even greater by catching 192 new birds of 9 species, the highlight being some lovely starlings.

For 2023, I got to experience a new first, mist netting and ringing in my garden all on my own. Through June and July, I spent 6 mornings ringing in my garden, and managed the situation each time, so as to only catch as many birds as I could deal with on my own at one time. Over these mornings I caught 90 new birds of 11 species (1 robin, 7 chaffinches, 11 blue tits, 44 house sparrows, 1 blackbird, 13 great-spotted woodpeckers, 2 goldfinches, 3 dunnocks, 6 great tits, 1 starling, and 1 greenfinch), and learnt alot from acquiring this experience already. My highlight was definitely the greenfinch, as it was a beautiful adult male and my very first greenfinch ever ringed!

Here’s to 2024 being as interesting!

All birds were ringed under license and following rules to ensure the health and welfare of the birds handled at all times.

A Year In The Life Of A Woodland – Part 1

/ Laura Tuke / 1 Comment

In 2022, I followed the annual cycle of one particular oak tree as it went through its own life stages, and watched the landscape change from its corner of a Dorset field. The tree encountered hunting barn owls, howling gales, breeding kestrels, and even a family of foxes, and observed such a vibrant year in nature even just from one spot. So for 2024, I wanted to follow such a story again, but this time on a different scale.

This year I am following a year in the life of an ancient, broadleaved woodland in the heart of rural, rolling Dorset. I will follow its progress from certain points within its bounds, and observe the beauty the woodland has to offer throughout the seasons. I look forward to seeing what goes on through the year, and the subtle differences from month to month at its heart. To start, I bring to you the first half of a year in the life of a woodland (January-June).

January

Entering the woods again at the start of a new year, there is a distinct feeling that the landscape currently lies in slumber. Though in previous years January has experienced wintery weather with cold spells characterised by hoar frosts and sheets of snow, this year the bite is missing from the weather, allowing the first signs of new life to appear already. The low winter sun breaks through the sturdy trunks of dormant trees, shining weak rays on the green leaves of woodland plants beginning to pop up underfoot, wood anemone and bluebells included.

Up in the naked boughs of the trees, birds fly from branch to branch, including blue tits, great tits, and goldcrests, buzzards whirl in the skies above, and pheasants make their raucous call now and again. Remaining holly and hawthorn berries provide a spot of colour against ivy and plentiful moss, but with the first lush greens and pastel yellows popping up, such as hazel catkins dangling from the trees, the woods are hinting at change. These are the first whisperings of spring in the stillness of the woodland, with more signs being found at night, such as tawny owls loudly defending their territories, and badgers and foxes increasing their roaming amongst the trees.

February

As a new month begins, the landscape feels like it is very much still in the grips of winter. A grey gloom hangs over the woodland, with the overcast sky threatening an endless possibility of rain. Where February 2023 was a cold, dry month, February 2024 is reflecting continued milder and wetter weather than average, with sunshine being much in demand. It is still not warm enough for any further advancement in the signs of spring from the previous month though, with the woodland floor still being mainly dressed in warm browns. Despite this, those first whisperings of new life can still be seen, with the slow marching growth of shoots of well known species, such as bluebell and stitchwort.

The mosses and lichens are also now joined by the much needed warm yellows of primroses and celandines, along with the red gems that are female hazel flowers. The slumbering woodland is currently the backdrop for the day-toiday life of its winter residents, but with the addition of blackbirds and song thrushes now starting to sing their melodious songs ahead of breeding in the spring.

March

As March begins, the start of blackthorn winter brings biting winds from the north, creating a break in 2024’s trend for warmer and wetter weather, which continues for the rest of the month. A rare calm day though sees the woodland bathed in soft, early spring sunshine, as it begins to finally switch from its shroud of brown to greens, with a carpet of new growth. Bluebell leaves are marching on in their advance of growth, making the most of increasing temperatures, whilst spear-shaped wild garlic leaves now carpet areas around the ambling streams through the middle of the wood. Hazel catkins are now fading to a creamy yellow, and their red female flowers are joined by swelling leaf buds. Though spring is advancing quickly, the woodland still waits for more flowers to keep company with the primroses and celandines.

A difference lies up in the trees. The woodland is coming alive with the sound of bird species that have wintered here in the UK and do not have to travel as far to return to their breeding territories. From great tits and blue tits, to wrens and goldcrests, a range of calls and songs can be heard, cut through by the sound of great-spotted woodpeckers drumming near and far. Mammals are beginning to become more active too, with grey squirrels fighting for territory and roe deer groups roaming through and around the woods. Spring is on its way!

April

As spring unfurls, the weather of April feels reminiscent of 2023, with cooler, damper weather dominating due to persistent north winds and plenty of rain. In the woods growth continues to move forward, but at a noticeably slower pace than could be expected. The month opens with tree buds swelling, hazel and hawthorn leaves bursting forth, and trees dripping with blackthorn and willow flowers. The woodland floor is coming to life now with a never ending mat of purple dog violets, pale green moschatel, yellow celandines and primroses, white stitchwort, the beginnings of purple-blue bluebells, and the fantastic starry heads of wood anemones. Wild garlic leaves continue to grow around the bubbling streams, smelling noticeably pungent now and beginning to show the whites of flower buds, whilst ferns unfurl their hairy coils across the woodland.

As the woodland bursts into life, it is accompanied by an intensifying soundtrack. In the background a rich tapestry of bird song can be heard, as migrants make their return, from great tits, blue tits and wrens, to chiffchaffs, blackbirds and robins. These include the continued crow of pheasants, the cat-like mewling of buzzards circling overhead, and the barks of grey squirrels. Listening more closely though, buzzing can now be heard as bees and flies make the most of flowers now blooming. The woodland finally feels alive after the first three months of the year taking its toll, though it waits for the return of some warm spring sunshine.

May

On a quiet afternoon at the start of the month, stepping amongst the trees is like stepping into a whole new world compared to the start of the year. Sunlight falls soft through new green leaves, dappling the woodland floor with warmth and light. At the base of the trees, the floor is now a lush green carpet of plant life. The cooler weather of April has meant that some April events have continued on into May, such as the bluebells, whilst the wind now coming from the south bringing warmer weather is beginning to promote much needed new growth.

Bluebells are just going over their peak after a spectacular show of rich purple-blue that has been breathtaking. Amongst hanging bells, stitchwort is continuing to open new flowers, alongside shocks of pink from herb Robert. New flowers appear in the forms of early-purple orchids, and red campion. Yellow archangel that took some time to arrive is becoming bleached to a creamy yellow, whereas wood anemones are bidding their final farewell. Wild garlic persists as do bright yellow celandines, adding to the show. Things move on though, as the ferns begin to overshadow the bluebells with their green fronds. Spring marches on.

With plant life becoming abundant, the woodland is now abuzz with insects of many kinds, whilst spiders make their homes between the flowers. Midges are particularly prevalent this year with a damp spring too! A highlight right now though, is the woodland’s bird life, with the continued singing of many species that call the woods home and are breeding right now, the chiffchaff really standing out in particular. Somewhere in a hole in a tree, maybe a tall oak, a female blue tit will now be sat tight on her eggs, growing the next generation of blue tits. 

June

As I step into the woodland on one of the first dry days in a while, my surroundings move from bright light to light spots and shadows. The tree canopy is now nearing completion and lush green oak, ash and hazel blanket out the light. Below on the woodland floor, a change has occurred. Spring stars have finally made their leave, and riotous bluebells, early-purple orchids, and wild garlic have been replaced by a dense green carpet of leaves. Herb Robert has taken over, with pink flowers creating a joyful pop of colour. Also these flowers are joined by white pig nut, purple germander speedwell, and pink foxgloves, and the lst yellow archangel, stitchwort and vibrant dog violets. The green seed pods of previous flowers remain, and a bluebell here and there when lucky, but now ferns stand tall above the woodland floor, unfurling their final leaves and making a canopy of their own.

As the spring season bids us farewell, it’s now the time of new life and growth, which is currently evident in the woodland. The drone of insects has lessened as flowers go over, but can still be found with flashes of blue damselflies, battling speckled wood butterflies, and striped flies. The first young of mammals, such as foxes, and birds, such as tawny owls, are also now venturing out to explore their new world. This can be heard up in the trees with the songs of birds and the alarm calls of protective parents. Summer and lazy days are on their way!