Page 8 - Ickford Informer Newsletter Spring Issue March 2021

by Chris Sandham , Photos: Henry Manisty
NATURE

NOTES

Grey Wagtail January 2021 - © Henry Manisty
Kestrel - © Henry Manisty
On the Wild Side

N OUR VISION FOR ICKFORD we set our objectives for of a Curlew, hopefully the fi rst of a
preserving biodiversity and ecology in the village and its small group that will nest here each
Isurrounding area. year. They are a seriously threatened
species and therefore it is vital that
Many of you contributed to our plan their habitat is maintained and
by taking part in a survey to identify protected.
wildlife you had seen and the results
were impressive, listing 15 diff erent I am pleased to say that a number
mammals, 30 species of butterfl y of local naturalists and conservation
and 46 bird species. Next year, with bodies are active in monitoring our
your help I hope we will do a further area and are always keen to hear
survey to enable us to monitor our about interesting sightings. Talking of
biodiversity. sightings, I saw a very early Brimstone
butterfl y on 23rd of February. This
With the new housing development in yellow butterfl y is one of the fi rst we
the village, we should all be vigilant to see in the year. It hibernates in ivy
ensure that the developers preserve and brambles, both of which are a
our natural environment and further large constituent of our local hedges.
enhance it by planting more hedging, Lapwings - © Henry Manisty Hedges are a very important part of
trees and providing green spaces The value of our surroundings our green infrastructure for so many
attractive to wildlife. for certain species is of National species, for example hedgehogs, and
importance. This winter the fl ood must be protected at all costs. v
meadows between Ickford and
Waterstock have hosted very large
numbers of wildfowl which migrate
to us. On one day we recorded vast
numbers of Wigeon, over 100 Teal and
good numbers of Mallard, Pintail and
Shoveler. Also plentiful counts of
Canada and Greylag geese and special
visitors, Whitefront geese from the
Arctic North. On another day I counted
15 Snipe, a delightful small wading
and fast fl ying bird. It was exciting

Otter - © Henry Manisty to hear on 5th March the lovely call © Henry Manisty

March 2021
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