Up and out at 4.30am this morning to have a wander before it got too hot. It was well worth the effort.

Got final totals checked this morning from the #LadywalkNR team and we finished the day on 101. Nothing amazing with Med gull probably the best bird of the day but one I missed. Always good to get a 100+ birds and good that predominately it was breeding birds with not much passage #westmidsalldayer

A Siege of Bitterns! @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @mercianbirding.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

#Middletonlakes 3 Bittern in flight.

Interesting morning at #middletonlakes with plenty of Bittern activity #staffsbirdnews

Osprey hunting and successful catch.

Hooded Merganser Alvecote pools. I tried a bit of video. @mercianbirding.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Like many I have visited Alvecote pools for the Hooded Merganser. It has proved difficult to photograph. Always distant and usually silhouetted. This is about the best I’ve managed. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

#LadywalkNR Not sure what it found to eat whilst out marking its territory. But it was crunchy!

Close cousins and both Mustelids, Badgers and Otters use scent glands to mark territory and as a way of communication. Badgers are decent swimmers when they want to. This one doesn’t like getting its feet wet.

A lot of flood events @ladywalknr.bsky.social have made getting footage difficult. When water levels are lower, there is regular Otter activity on the cameras

Home from a long weekend in Dorset. A highlight for me was watching Dartford Warblers. Even managed a couple of decent pictures. They took some finding, but it was worth the effort.

Tame Valley Beaver records from WMBC Ladywalk Nature Reserve. To accompany article in the WMBC March edition. youtu.be/L5MqFkzMA_g

It's always a good day when I get to see Hares in action.

This spot looked promising when i spotted otter tracks there. Here is the female with what I think is a small fish. Then, being pursued by the male. She’s not quite ready for his attention yet. #LadywalkNR

I spotted some Otter tracks in a new spot at #LadywalkNR and decided to put a camera on it. Brief view of an otter and a very close call for the camera last weekend. The waterline was about an inch from the camera. (2.5cm for the metric minded)

Had some great sightings in the Forest of Dean over the weekend. I spent most of it looking for Boar. This is probably one of the weekend’s highlights. Fallow buck and a wild boar.

Back from a weekend away in the Forest of Dean. Plenty of walking. Encountered a few Fallow deer.

Two Males. Sibling pair maybe? They are comfortable in each others company and play chase each other about. There is a Vixen about, but I think she is now denning for cubbing.

Looking in fine fettle for the start of the birthing season. Most litters are born in the next few weeks.

Patch mega! HUME’S! 2nd patch record for the 3k @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2026 Strip of woodland between main reserve at #LadywalkNR and Lea Marston Church( now been gifted to manage as part of main reserve) Brief views but very vocal/flighty. Another top find @northwarksbirder.bsky.social

For most of the last 4 weeks this sandbank has been under various depths of water. You can get an idea from the footage. The otter loudly calling is doing so for breeding related communication. These calls help otters locate one another.

A better picture of the Merlin I saw last week. Surprised it turned out this well considering the distance.

I've tried a few times to see this bird. Success this morning. Merlin, the UK's smallest bird of prey. Very distant. Phonescoped.

Wishing you had gone to the UK Moth Recorders' Meeting last weekend? Never fear the recording is now available! #moths

3 Barnacle, 60 White-fronted Goose, 4 Whooper in field at Elford this morning. @mercianbirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Fly-Tipping blocking Roddige Lane at Whitemoor Haye this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

#LadywalkNR an example of a wildlife corridor. Used by many different species. I didn’t include the many rodent videos. @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social

@ladywalknr.bsky.social Work done today removing birch and willow adjacent to the meadow. Area on map has been removed more needed. Should be able to view the meadow from the track to B Hide.

The hazy effect isn't a filter. It's frost on the glass thats in front of the lens. Winter fox last night. @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social

Found some old #LadywalkNR footage from 11 years ago. What area of reserve was this @lastotw.bsky.social? youtu.be/FlJLBpPOhW8?...

A visit to Hurley to see if the Yellow Browed Warbler would put in an appearance. It certainly did and showed well the whole time I was there. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

At last! Fox on a fence. @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social

Peering over the fence to check the route is clear. @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social @staffswildlife.bsky.social

Getting a picture of a fox scaling a 6ft fence has proved harder than I expected. Still trying! @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social @staffswildlife.bsky.social

Earthworms are the staple food of the badger, making up around 80% of their diet. They sometimes eat hundreds of worms every night. However, badgers are omnivores, and will eat almost anything. #LadywalkNR @warwickshirewt.bsky.social @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social

A woodland classic: a good ol' great spotted woodpecker hanging around on a birch tree at @ladywalknr.bsky.social 🪶 #ukbird #wildlifephotography

Same location the Dog Otter passed through. Some serious territory marking. Clawing the tree using scent glands in its paws to leave a strong scent. Then rubbing against surrounding vegetation using the subcaudal scent gland at the base of the tail to confirm its territory @ladywalknr.bsky.social

The high river Tame levels during some of the November flooding pushed many mammals to higher ground. Even this Dog otter found it easier to walk through the woods than navigate the river. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ladywalknr.bsky.social @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social @warwickshirewt.bsky.social

December is the prime time for fox activity. You can hear their loud barks, shrieks and the famous vixens scream as she calls for mates during the hours of darkness. Foxes are often seen in pairs at this time of year. @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social @staffswildlife.bsky.social

Playing about with video over distance. There were 3 Pintail this morning. These 2 males and an elusive female.

A visit to #LadywalkNR this morning,

The Swan Goose was around today. Grazing with the Greylags #LadywalkNR

Some November Otter action at #LadywalkNR. Leaving and entering the reserve. Several records so far this month. @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social @warwickshirewt.bsky.social

I was pleased to see a few Crossbills on my walk this morning. not a bird I see very often. @staffswildlife.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Another view of yesterday's Sparrowhawk #LadywalkNR

Out and about at #LadywalkNR this morning. Had the thrill of a Sparrowhawk fly-by.

Natural England tried to price us out of taking legal action against Badger culling but it backfired when the High Court threw out NE's claim ⚖️ We continue. Substantive legal challenge against NE Badger cull licences takes place in December 🦡 Press release 🔽 wildjustice.org.uk/badgers/high...