Sightings
This is a page where visitors have posted their sightings of wildlife on the Trap Grounds. Please use the form at the bottom of the page to submit your own sightings. Post your own sighting.
This is a page where visitors have posted their sightings of wildlife on the Trap Grounds. Please use the form at the bottom of the page to submit your own sightings. Post your own sighting.
Norman Gregory
A “mallard” that left in a hurry from the willows east of Tim’s pond turned out to be a teal when seem from the platform. His female was further along close to the southern bank. By the time I had my camera ready they had gone.
Diane Wilson
16 crows at the top of the same tree, all SHOUTING at the same time. It went on a long time & I could still hear them as I left.
Adam Hartley
A Snipe, a Water Rail, and a male Reed Bunting all in the reeds near the pond
Mick Winter
A raven seen (and heard) flying low over the Trap Grounds
Alan Allport
Male Bullfinch displaying boldly in tree-tops around the Meadow.
Song Thrush in full song in NW corner of Trap Grounds.
vh
One Jay in the trees. And bird calling in the reeds at pond. So possibly the water rail.
Catherine Robinson
A fox in the reedbed, drinking from the stream.
Anon.
Am sending a small donation, with enormous appreciation of joyful hours spent with my grandson, wandering around this peaceful, fecund place. What an achievement!
Norman Gregory
A jay moving in the trees near the railway
Kim Polgreen
Two Water Voles swimming in the canal near Aristotle Bridge. Not on the TG, but surely relevant!
Alan Allport
A Water Rail calling with a loud ‘kipkipkipkip’ from the reeds beside the main pond. This was about 5 pm, well into the dusk, at the end of our day’s work party on the new bird hide.
Diane Wilson
Kingfisher darting across the pond
Diane Wilson
A tree-creeper creeping up a bent willow trunk.
Catherine Robinson
A Tree Creeper on a willow near the bat boxes
Polly Holbrook
A water vole swimming in the canal a few yards away from the Trap Grounds pond
Paul Klemperer
A grass snake (definitely), swimming in the big pond
Catherine Robinson
Several pairs of Speckled Wood butterflies, spiralling in dappled sunlight in the southern woodland.
Andy + daughter
Another snake (yellow) that didn’t look like a grass snake.
Joseph and Callum
A snake that didn’t look like a Grass Snake.
Callum and Joseph
Eight slow worms and one lizard at the south end of the meadow.
Mary Gregory
A slow worm, about 30 cms long, so probably not yet full grown. They can grow to 50 cms and live for 30 years in the wild.
Catherine Robinson
Sparrowhawk seen rising out of the western reedbed and heard persistently calling in the woodland on subsequent days
Nicki
sparrowhawk flying in/around trees at edge of trapgrounds and Stone Meadow approx 6.50pm
Mick Winter
Butterflies on the meadow: Green-veined White, Large White, Comma, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper
Mary and Norman Gregory
Two muntjac in the alley behind the school, heading towards the Trap Grounds
Catherine Robinson
One glow worm, in long grass in an open area close to the school fence.
Derek Summers
From boardwalk, kingfisher flying southwards over water and reed banks (mid afternoon).
Mary Gregory
Three very young moorhen chicks with parent on the main pond.
Jim Campbell
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogallum umbellatum) in flower to the right of the main path, just north of the fox hole.
Diane Wilson
Mother Duck with 11 ducklings, yes eleven, on the Frog Stream. Lots of orange tips flying, both male and female, other butterflies seen - speckled wood, comma, common blue, peacock. Heron flying over.
Alan Allport
Red Kite swooping low over the Trap Grounds; and Skylarks and a solitary Swallow on Burgess Field.
Diane Wilson
Lots of insects flying on a beautiful, sunny Spring morning. Several brimstone butterflies seen and 1 small white. Bees and hoverflies around too. Chiffchaffs chiffchaffing busily.
Alan Allport
Muntjac Deer in the woodland. Two Greater Spotted Woodpeckers (rival males?) drumming in competition with each other.
Catherine Robinson
A treecreeper in the woodland south of the swamp.
Alan Allport
A Noctule bat flying in mid-afternoon over the wildflower meadow.
Mary Gregory
Two greater spotted woodpeckers. One was drumming on a dead branch and the second flew in; they moved around together in the canopy for several minutes before flying off. The male bullfinch was at the wildflower meadow again.
Catherine Robinson
Further evidence of otter activity on the blog page at http://urban-bushcraft.com/
Mary Gregory
Bullfinches again - a pair singing strongly beside the wildflower meadow; let’s hope they were establishing territory for nesting. 10 mins later a female bullfinch in the hawthorns on the way up the railway bridge.
Catherine Robinson
Woodcock reported to have been flushed by a walker on the Trap Grounds, according to the Port Meadow Birding website.
catherine robinson
Butterbur coming into flower in the woodland.
Rumi Mohideen
Otter tracks.. See my Blog
http://urban-bush-craft.blogspot.com/2010/10/urban-bushcraft-vandalism.html
Mary & Norman Gregory
Bullfinches - two males and one female in the bushes beside the wildflower meadow. Resplendent plumage!
Polly Holbrook
A pair of jays dancing and squarking in a tree at the south west corner of the Trap Grounds
Mary Gregory
Woodpeckers, one green and one greater spotted, seen from the wildflower meadow. Also a small flock of redwings, and a female bullfinch.
Paul Klemperer
A dead Pike, about 18 inches long, on the bank of the pond.
Diane Wilson
Female reed bunting among the bushes on the south side. Muntjac barking very close by, but not visible.
Mary & Norman Gregory
Redwings - a small flock flitting around in the trees at the south end of the site.
Mary Gregory
Green woodpecker moving around in the trees beside the wild flower meadow
Carey Hope
A Jay in the trees overhanging the swamp. (Not previously recorded at the Trap Grounds - CR.)
Peter Loudon
Two Water Rails calling in the reed bed - heard but not seen.
Norman Gregory
Peacock butterfly basking in the sun
Catherine Robinson
A Grey Wagtail on the boardwalk crossing the swamp.
Mary Gregory
A kingfisher flew across the pond from the reeds to the trees on the east side.
Martin Townsend
A single example of the micro-moth Acleris hastiana flying by day and landed on my arm during the site meeting.
Diane Wilson
Male common darter dragonfly darting back & forth over the open area, catching his lunch (small flies - yum, yum).
Speckled wood butterfly in the woodland.
DianeWilson
A male bullfinch in the small trees on the south side. Still a few butterflies flying in the autumn sunshine, several speckled wood and one comma.
Steve Lilley
Young slow worm on a pile of rubble in the meadow
Alex Walker
Five or six young lizards basking in warm sun on a pile of rubble in the meadow
Diane Wilson
A kingfisher flying across the pond, a flash of that brilliant turquoise.
Adam Hartley
A slow worm on the path at the southern end of the stream
Adam Hartley
A tree creeper near the pond and several bullfinches in the clearing this morning
Diane Wilson
Migrant hawker dragonfly hawking along the main path
Catherine Robinson
Lots of bats - Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, and Daubenton’s - identified on a walk led tonight by Hannah Bilston, of the Oxfordshire Bat Group.
Diane Wilson
Southern Hawker dragonfly, female, hawking back and forth on the main path.
Catherine Robinson
Spotted Flycatcher in the willows near Frog Lane; Hay Rattle in the meadow.
Catherine Robinson
“Thank you for looking after this nice jungle” - 3-year-old boy, taking part in a birthday-party treasure hunt on the TG.
Catherine Robinson
Grass Snake basking in the sun in the Frog Lane ditch. Fish seven inches long (approx) in the pond.
christine Standing
5.30 am muntjac deer - singleton near the edge of the boardwalk
Peter Higgins
Sumer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu
Heard today at about 9.45am - sounded quite close to the pond
David Grieveson
Willow Warbler singing on Burgess Field, but not in full song yet. Recently arrived?
Alan Allport
On our May Morning birdsong walk we heard and/or sighted two dozen bird species. The dominant singers were Wrens (everywhere: so they have survived the cold winter), Robin, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and the Reed and Sedge Warblers. But no Willow Warblers - usually all around the willow carr. Has anyone heard them?
Alan Allport
A pair of Bullfinches busy in the Ash trees and feeding on Apple buds, to the North of the meadow - the male looking splendid in his garnet waistcoat and black cap.
Mary Gregory
A mallard duck was dozing in the swan nest. The brooding swan was showing no interest.
Catherine Robinson
Reed warblers very vocal in the reedbed: first time I’ve heard them this year.
Catherine Robinson
Baby muntjac (the size of a piglet!) running along the boardwalk; mother going frantic in the Railway Wood.
Michael Treacy
Several male (bright yellow) Brimstone butterflies, as well as a myriad of Peacock butterflies. One Comma butterfly was seen. All of these were on the perimeter path.
Michael Treacy
At least one male Orange Tip butterfly. I looked for, but did not see, any females. The butterfly was traveling fast, and my multiple sightings all along the perimeter path may have been of the same individual.
Diane Wilson
The duck family sailing proudly down the Frog Stream, Dad, Mum and 5 very young ducklings. Mrs Swan on her nest fussing about with bits of reed.
Mary Gregory
A green woodpecker, often heard recently, was seen today near the den swamp. A couple of woodpecker holes in the familiar tree nearby have been worked on.
Also in the trees a couple of long-tailed tits and a chiffchaff.
Catherine Robinson
Crows mobbing a heron over the reedbed. Swan on nest. Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.
Mary Gregory
A muntjac near the flight path moved off towards the swamp
Mary Gregory
A swan has been sitting on the nest for two days now, with partner on the pond.
Polly Holbrook
4.04 pm a beautiful kingfisher in Frog Lane Ditch - clearly seen from Frenchay Road Bridge.
catherine robinson
Small quantities of frog spawn in the Frog Lane ditch. I hope the ducks don’t eat it all.
catherine robinson
Swan Family survey: visitors please look out for the rings on our pair and record their ID numbers on this website so we can follow their progress over the years.
Catherine Robinson
Swans now building a nest in the traditional place on the west bank of the pond.
Mary Gregory
A pair of swans checking out the pond in bright sunshine this afternoon.
Mary Gregory
Two redwings crossing the glade; surprisingly late for them still to be around.
Mary Gregory
A muntjac buck at the north-east swamp.
Catherine Robinson
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the big willows this morning.
Diane Wilson
A large red-tailed bumblebee. A lovely sign of Spring on a lovely day.
Mary Gregory
A green woodpecker got up noisily from the reedbeds, flew across the canal and took up position in a tree at the bootom of a Hayfield garden.
Mary Gregory
A flock of long-tailed tits (10+) moving busily around in the trees just north of the wildflower meadow.
Catherine Robinson
First snowdrops in flower on the bank of the reedbed stream
Mary Gregory
Lots of deer prints in the snow along the Mill Stream, through the flight path, in the wildflower meadow and on the west perimeter path. Some were probably muntjac but others could be roe deer which are in Burgess Field daily at present.
kate wilson
A redwing in the trees in the trap grounds alongside the canal.
Anonymous
Snowdrop shoots are emerging esp where the main path turns south towards the wild flower meadow
Anthony Skillicorn
Another muntjac in broad daylight. They are getting bolder!
Mary Gregory
3pm a muntjac deer in the corridor behind the school playground.
Polly Holbrook
At 10.15, beside the sycamore habitat piles, a very pretty chestnut brown deer about 2ft 9ins at the shoulder and a cream blaze surrounded by a black stripe between its eyes. Possibly pale spots on its sides? We watched each other for about 5 minutes.
Polly Holbrook
A slow worm about 15 inches long on the path near the south west corner of the site.
Mary Gregory
Honeysuckle in bloom beside the western path towards the wildflower meadow
Diane Wilson
2pm A fox by the path down by the stream. Quite a small animal, maybe a vixen or a youngster. It fled away silently when it saw me.
Mary Gregory
Lots of delicious blackberries!
Norman Gregory
A muntjack deer near the western end of the Frog Lane path.
Catherine Robinson
Young sparrowhawks stopped their ceaseless demands for food from the parent birds today
Diane Wilson
Dragonflies - 2 brown hawkers hawking over the pond. They look like gold in the sunshine.
Peter Higgins
Humming-bird Hawk Moth - not quite on the Trap Grounds but close. It was feeding on the Buddleia by the canal just north of the Frenchay Road bridge.
Catherine Robinson
Red Kite circling over the Trap Grounds and Hayfield Road
Peter Higgins
Suddenly a few more butterflies about. Several commas, red admiral, peacock and several painted ladies. Not a particularly hot day so I wonder if they have just emerged?
Andrew Stalewski
Glow Worm (one) at about 22:00, between the NE corner of The Glade and the perimeter path. (My first ever Glow Worm. Thank you, Catherine).
Diane Wilson
Leopard Slug (Limax Maximus) in a fox hole on the northern edge of the meadow.
Clive Hambler
Adult Slow Worm near the southern end of the main path
Norman Gregory
Pyramidal Orchids at the southern end of the main path; Common Spotted Orchids on the streamside path
Mary Gregory
One common toad near the swamp - not a common sighting at least for me
Fiona McAnaney
A group of long tailed tits, just inside trap ground, beside canal entrance.
Catherine Robinson
Six (?) newly hatched coot chicks on the pond
Mary Gregory
Six mallard chicks on the pond
Peter Higgins
Not exactly a sighting, but at about 12.20 Sunday 10 May we heard a cuckoo calling. Difficult to tell but it seemed to come from the south west of the Trap Grounds
Adam Hartley
Reed and sedge warblers singing in the reeds, blackcap, garden warblers, willow warblers and chiffchaffs all singing elsewhere. A water vole skulking around the west side of the reedbed.
Mary Gregory
A second coot nest is now occupied on the west side of the pond. The first nest was used only spasmodically and seems to be abandonned.
Catherine Robinson
Orange-tip butterflies in the reedbeds and scrubland, enjoying warm sunshine on Easter Monday afternoon.
Adam Hartley
A kingfisher on the west side of the pond, a female bullfinch in the trees and a singing chiffchaff near the glade.
Catherine Robinson
Frogspawn in the Frog Lane ditch (where else!)
David Gosling (Environmental Artist)
A parakeet flew over the children on the art project.
Alan Allport
Chiff-Chaff just arrived, and singing in the woodland. There is also a Daphne mezereum in flower on the South edge of the meadow, among the goldenrod. (This species is not currently listed in the TG wildlife booklet.)
Mary Gregory
A coot sitting on a nest at the edge of the reeds on the south margin of the pond. Also a swan sitting on a nest in the reeds, in a different position from Catherine’s sighting a couple of weeks ago.
Alan Allport
Kingfisher perching on Willow branch overhanging the Frog Lane ditch.
Catherine Robinson
Swans nesting on the south bank of the pond, at the opposite end from previous years. (New swans, new nest-site.)
Alan Allport
A pair of Snipe in the reedbed; pair of Teal in the stream; flock of 8 Redwing foraging in willows and scrub.
Adam Hartley
A snipe flew off to the north. Also several reed buntings by the stream to the north of the Trap Grounds, within the Waterways area.
Mary Gregory
A pair of swans now daily on the canal headed for the pond at dusk
Diane Wilson
Kingfisher seen at 2.15 and again at 3.15 by the Frog Stream
Adam Hartley
two foxes within the woods
Mary Gregory
Snowdrops coming into flower beside the main path in the northwest section
Norman Gregory
The foxhole in the wildflower meadow is back in use with the entrance cleared
Mary Gregory
Muntjack buck in the wildflower meadow; moved off into the scrubland
Adam Hartley
A snipe and three teal along the still unfrozen west bank of the Mill stream.
Mary Gregory
A snipe flushed from the western edge of the Mill Stream zigzagged across the reed beds.
Norman and Mary Gregory
Red kite over the Trap Grounds - seen from our kitchen window on Woodstock Road
David Grieveson
Red Kite seen flying lazy circles over the Trap Grounds.
(Seen and heard south of the Trap Grounds - a single Ring-necked Parakeet).
Adam Hartley
A water vole seen at close quarters in the reeds along the north side of the pond.
Catherine Robinson
Woodcock flushed from scrubland today. Drake Teal in the stream. Green Woodpecker in the woodland near Frog Lane.
Mary Gregory
Kingfisher sitting on a branch at the edge of the reed beds, then flew south along the Mill Stream
Adam Hartley
A water vole along the north side of the pond. A singing chiffchaff near the glade and a goldfinch flew over.
Catherine Robinson
Water Vole colony confirmed by BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer: signs of activity on northern bank of pond and eastern bank of stream.
Adam Hartley
A kingfisher on the west side of the pond
Rupert Sheppard
Brown hairstreak butterfly, in good condition.
Mary and Norman Gregory and Varga
One water vole, a youngster, near the notice board at the pond
Polly Holbrook
FOUND ON FROG LANE ‘Kood’ UV Filter (46 mm) tel. 01865 511307
Mary and Norman Gregory
One glow worm still glowing, at the corner of the path towards the school fence
Peter Loudon
3 or 4 sparrowhawk, including two juveniles, calling and chasing a jay and a magpie around the Magic Kingdom. Also muntjac, 2 green woodpecker, 2 great spotted woodpecker.
Mary Gregory
Two glow worms still glowing - will they survive into August?
Catherine Robinson
Water Vole colony identified by the BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer: evidence of activity found on the banks of the stream and the pond
Mary Gregory
One reed warbler flitting among the reeds at the edge of the pond.
Mary Gregory
(Probable) one lizard on the path near the slow worm habitat; scuttled off into the undergrowth
Catherine Robinson
Water Vole colony confirmed by BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer in July 2008. Signs of activity along northern boundary of pond and on eastern bank of stream towards the south.
Mary and Norman Gregory
A badger trotting along the concrete strip behind the school fence at dusk.
catherine robinson
A day-flying bat flitting over the wildflower meadow at 3.30 pm
Peter Loudon
4 siskin, 2 kingfisher
Peter Loudon
2 water rail sharming in the reedbed
Peter Loudon
Water vole - chewing thru reeds on the edge of the main pond. Also kingfisher
catherine robinson
Adult Slow Worm under a piece of slate on the meadow
Brinny
Common lizard on rocks in the clearing
Peter Loudon
Kingfisher
Norman and Mary Gregory
Four Glow Worms near the Pyramidal Orchids on the meadow
Peter Higgins
Common Spotted orchid near the swamp on west bank of stream
Alan Allport
3 Bee Orchids (one on main path, one on wildflower meadow, one near the school fence).
catherine robinson
20 Pyramidal orchids on the wildflower meadow where we cleared the brambles in February. Also a juvenile Slow Worm.
Catherine Robinson
Water Rail in ditch north of Trap Grounds
Peter Loudon
Water Rail in reedbed stream
Rupert Higgins
Water Rail on icy pond
Peter Loudon
Two Water Rails, one in reedbed, one on west bank of stream