Delightful holiday reading April Blog
- Steve Hooper
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
As an inveterate reader I scour the local charity shops for books. I came across this book. by Roger Deakin named Wildwood. We had been speaking to a friend about woodpeckers. I came across this writing in the book. It is so detailed and aware.
Wildwood, a journey through trees by Roger Deakin.
Every so often we passed dead beeches standing in ruins, much perforated by the woodpeckers we heard calling, questing for insects and larvae. Barry described how ingeniously a woodpecker is adapted to go vertically up trees. To keep its body braced close to the trunk, the keel of its breastbone is unusually shallow, the legs short, the feet and claws splayed, with sharp hooked toes pointing back in the opposite direction. The bird even ensures itself against falling backwards by digging in its short, stiff tail feathers against the bark. The tongue of the woodpecker is long and barbed at tip, with filaments that will hook larvae out of their galleries in the woods and into its Black and Decker bill.
British Woodpeckers: Fact File (British Wildlife Facts)
With thanks to Jack Perks Wildlife Media
On Thursday 24 and Friday 25 April we heard our first cuckoo of the year. Then we waited with our cameras set to video but of course didn’t do it again.
There is so much new spring growth. The cherry and crab apple are flowering. The rowan has finished already. The hedge by the track is flourishing. Even the shade tolerant grass we sowed last year is coping well with the conditions by the middle dyke.
Many thanks to David Dukes who has generously loaned us his petrol mower so we can manage the paths on site.
We read in the Suffolk Wildlife Trust newsletter just how beneficial stinging nettle is. Apparently stinging nettle supports 40 species. Just as well... as we have it in abundance!
Blue tits are nesting in the bird box buy the shed and also in the bird box by the bird feeders. Thank you Phil Rowley for making them for us.
Meanwhile, back in London, our state of the art high tech RSPB bird box with video camera remains totally ignored. We keep checking but so far no luck.
Saturday morning saw many people enjoying the River Yare and the delights of the Ferry House .
While the Ferry House is only about 100 metres away across the river it actually takes about 40 minutes to drive there.
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