Tried something a little different today which was a visit to Castle Vale Nature Conservation Area and meadows which at present covers an area of about 5.4 acres and is made up of a variety of habitats, bordered by 2 descent size disused paddocks, which have developed into open mixed grassland, huge meadows and have a lovely selection of wild flowers, trees and shrubs.
The downside is that most of the areas can only be walked on the periphery, which still leaves some great views of fields of Ragwort etc, but doesn't leave much scope to go and explore, the upside though is the wildlife, wildflowers, trees and shrubs are just left to their own devices and are none the worse for it, in fact apart from Colebank Nature Reserve I've never seen so many rabbits.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, House Martin, Pied Wagtail and Moorhen.
Obviously it's always great to see and hear House Sparrows, as well as juvenile Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and Magpie that were spotted. Talking to locals there are plenty of Green Woodpecker present but I didn't see any and in the Winter the paddocks are home to hundreds of Fieldfare and Redwing.
Wildflowers seen were, Chicory, Common Vetch, Birds Foot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Ragwort, Wild Blue Geranium, White Clover and Rosebay Willowherb, the paddocks and meadows also saw plenty Small skipper butterflies which could have easily numbered in the thousands.
It's not a place I will be regularly visit but I shall go back in the Autumn and Winter especially if there will be plenty Fieldfare and Redwing present.
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