Campus Walk 13.00 - 18.00

A view of Keynes Wood behined the Venue.

A fantastic afternoon was spent yesterday (29th) walking around the woods and farmland on UKC campus. Lots of species were around and the song of warblers filled the woods, the numbers recorded would suggest a good breeding population , for example the 16 Blackcaps recorded singing during the visit (a further 5 feamales were also observed). Other warbler species included 27 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 17 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser whitethroat and a single Garden Warbler. Many of the Whitethroats were recorded in the hedge rows on the farmland along with 7 Linnet, 1 male Bullfinch and 2 Yellowhammer, the fields supporting 7 Singing Skylarks and plenty of hawking Swallows. Other bird species recorded on the walk included 2 pairs of Mistle Thrush, 7 Greater spotted Woodpecker, 4 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit, Chaffinch, at least 20 Goldfinch, Goldcrest, 2 Little Owl and a species i have not recorded in this area during the last 3 years - Spotted Flycatcher. The farmland and woodland edge was most productive for mammals with 6 Hare and a Fox seen on the fields and 2 Stoat dens? found. One of the Stoats was watched climbing down a tree with a Magpie egg in his mouth! 4 Peacock butterflies were seen on the field and woodland edge along with 2 Orange tips and a Green veined White. The woodlands look really stunning at this time of the year and are carpeted with Bluebells, particularly behined the Venue. Other plant species seen were Red dead Nettle, Greater Stitchwort, Cuckoo Flower, Wood Anenomie, Broom, Red Campion and Field Forgetmenot. It really is an amazing time of year and the University campus is well worth a look!

Cuckoo Flower, A fair few stands at the edge of Brotherhood Wood and the farmland in the marshy area.