[Dave K]

We didn't have one last year not much worth reporting on really (though last year's early thrust into winter was a bit of a killer!).

We can perhaps keep an eye open for winter migrants such as redwing, fieldfare, waxwings although it's been so mild in Scandinavia they might be staying put for now. Some folks might be able to see migrant swans and geese too.

Those lucky enough to live in wilder areas can keep a lookout for changes of fur colouration for critters such as stoat and plumage on ptarmigan.

Then of course we have snowbells to look out for too, and insects making use of any late mild weather.

[Dave K]

^ ^ I meant snowdrops not snowbells of course...though mountaineers could look for the latter.

We have a few purple irises in flower, they always seem to be blooming in December, plus one bush rose pink bloom and a climber with red flowers (about 14 feet tall and still going!) plus a couple of violas. Hypericum is flowering too though that seems happy to flower all year round. In the wild and unkempt bit there are still two common mallow flowers in bloom which have been in blossom since end of June/early July.

This post has been edited by Big Dave's Gusset: 04 December 2011 - 11:45

[Les]

I saw a Red Admiral butterfly on 10th November from north Midlothian.It was a big ragged looking and a bit worse for wear but was still fluttering happily in its old age.I Bumble Bee buzzed passed me in Edinburgh last wednesday(30th November)attracted to a in flower Mahonia bush.In the same garden I came across a Forsythia with flowers on it,(yes I know I should of pruned it months ago)!

[Foxy2]

I wanted to say that the pipistrelle bast are still active in the evenings here. See them regularly and saw them on 2nd december about 4.30pm flying up and down the lane at dusk.

Wife saw a hedgehog too out and about on the lanes on 30th November. A reasonable flock of starlings about too at the moment. I don't see them any other time of year. Also large flocks of waxwings I think appeared in the last few days.

EDIT: I'll ad to that we have a few wild primroses in flower. Nothing particularly unusual in that but they look pretty nonttheless.

This post has been edited by Foxy2: 04 December 2011 - 12:57

[Dave K]

Foxy2, on 04 December 2011 - 12:50, said:

I wanted to say that the pipistrelle bast are still active in the evenings here. See them regularly and saw them on 2nd december about 4.30pm flying up and down the lane at dusk.

Wife saw a hedgehog too out and about on the lanes on 30th November. A reasonable flock of starlings about too at the moment. I don't see them any other time of year. Also large flocks of waxwings I think appeared in the last few days.

EDIT: I'll ad to that we have a few wild primroses in flower. Nothing particularly unusual in that but they look pretty nonttheless.

Neighbours house also has some primroses in flower, again seems to be nothing that unusual. One or two decorative shrubs in other gardens have some flowers but no idea what they are. The winter flowering honeysuckle in my garden has just a few flowers open, usually full of flowers in January but was late last year.

Whatever variety the non-native deciduous trees the council planted in the streets, they are the only non evergreens now with plenty of foliage left though the leaves are yellow and brown and close to dropping.

[Foxy2]

Winter jasmine flowering nicely. At end of November the frogs had begun calling a bit like spring! All quiet now. Tawny owls have been very active lately calling loudly all night - I think they pair up this time of he year. The femail calls 'kwick' and the mail's response is 'nooo nooo'!

[Paul Corfield]

Big Dave, on 03 December 2011 - 22:02, said:

We can perhaps keep an eye open for winter migrants such as redwing, fieldfare, waxwings although it's been so mild in Scandinavia they might be staying put for now.

A few weeks back on Autumn Watch they said all three of these birds were already turning up at various places. None down here in Dorset yet though.

Paul.

[Dave K]

Most of the flowers that were still out have been battered into submission by frost, wind and rain in the last week but still open: two purple iris, one white rose and a couple of red, some violas and just seen today some pink ones that may be diascia.

[Foxy2]

Saw a hedgehog out and about last night. Went to Ringwood to see friends yesterday. Drove home late arriving back after 1:00am. Just a few miles from home there he was at Stag Mill crossing the road. Quite cold at the time but too much breeze for any frost.

[Dave K]

The first few flowers now out on the winter flowering honeysuckle.

[akkan]

We've had fieldfares and redwings here since the end of November.
My hazel, which I coppiced in the spring, is still in full leaf. The stems are about 6ft high at present.

[Foxy2]

Green shoots of snowdrops just poking through patches of bare earth - about 15mm high!

[Nigel Bolton]

Foxy2, on 18 December 2011 - 16:55, said:

Saw a hedgehog out and about last night. Went to Ringwood to see friends yesterday. Drove home late arriving back after 1:00am. Just a few miles from home there he was at Stag Mill crossing the road. Quite cold at the time but too much breeze for any frost.

That's incredible. I never knew hedgehogs could drive. That's not a particlarly easy route even for us humans.

N.

[Dave K]

Nigel Bolton, on 20 December 2011 - 18:36, said:

That's incredible. I never knew hedgehogs could drive. That's not a particlarly easy route even for us humans.

N.

This post has been edited by Big Dave's Gusset: 20 December 2011 - 18:52

[Halo]

There's a little clump of wild strawberry in flower by the old air raid shelter nearby (I've seen some more somewhere else too). Also, noticed lots of buds of the dreaded ground elder beginning to poke through the soil.

[akkan]

This might be better off in the gardening thread because they're not wild sightings, but garden ones - my Mrs Popple fuchsia is still in flower, I'm hoping to get a picture of it flowering on Christmas Day, although the other fuchsias (Magellanica and Tom Thumb) have now stopped flowering. And the Stargazer lilly has sent up leaves in the past couple of days to add to the various other bulbs which have decided this is an appropriate time of year to sprout.

[Nigel Bolton]

And still some of the oaks are hanging onto thier leaves.....

N.

[Foxy2]

Nigel Bolton, on 20 December 2011 - 18:36, said:

That's incredible. I never knew hedgehogs could drive. That's not a particlarly easy route even for us humans.

N.

Yes, the local sub species has taken to driving to get its own back on us humans. Good job I was in a car or I would have been flatenned and left as an example to others.

{Oops, despite a PhD, the written word is not my strongest asset (he says with embarrasement)!}

[Halo]

Foxy2, on 21 December 2011 - 13:19, said:

Yes, the local sub species has taken to driving to get its own back on us humans. Good job I was in a car or I would have been flatenned and left as an example to others.

{Oops, despite a PhD, the written word is not my strongest asset (he says with embarrasement)!}

...or you'd have been bosted! (oh dear! Weak joke, sorry.)

[Modo]

I have 2 daffodils out in the garden - and this morning two fly agarics have appeared in a neighbouring garden.

That is a first for me, and I really doubt if it has ever happened anywhere before. Early and late yes but I expect even in exceptional years at least 6 weeks gap.