All the Firsts
Wednesday, January 1st 2020
The first day of a new decade and our first event of the year, a New Year's Day Walk. Our route took in Risedale Beck, the lake, Sycamore Avenue and then across the moor, before heading back to the Field Centre for a cup of tea. We walked along the felled conifers and spotted what we thought were yellow leaves near the top of the hill, but had to go and investigate and the yellow leaves were indeed yellow, not leaves but petals of Primrose. A first flower to be put onto the January observation board and the first flower in that area.
Usually when we find Primrose in flower this early in the year there is only one flower, but there were several and more clumps full of buds.
We also recorded the first female Hazel flower. A Treecreeper was spotted and later in the ringing room two were processed.
Some members of the ringing team opened the garden nets for the first time this year and 128 birds were processed. It is always interesting to look at the species caught. Twenty two new siskin were ringed. Only one Chaffinch was caught, after the garden was full of them towards the end of last week. One of the Blue Tits retrapped was initially ringed in 2013. Long-tailed Tits also made an appearance in the ringing room.
It was a beautiful day for the walk and perfect for ringing. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and supported Foxglove today.
Down on Salisbury Plain,
Jack, another member of the Swaledale Bird Ringing Group, has also been ringing. He ringed some Linnets.
(0) Comments:
There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:
Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove
The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.
More DetailsUpcoming Events
Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve is now OPEN
Monday 4th November 2024 |
The security gate and it's safety features are to be working, so we're reopening to the public.
Please check the FAQs for further information on entrance procedures.
https://foxglovecovert.org.uk/about/frequently-asked-questions/
March Winter Worky Day
Sunday 2nd March 2025 | 10am - 3pm
Join Foxglove Covert staff and volunteers for the final worky day of this winter season on Sunday 2nd March.
Help out with winter habitat management tasks on the reserve. Tasks may vary but can include coppicing and pollarding willow carr, creating dead hedges, ring barking and clearing scrub.
Please bring along a packed lunch, come ready for all weather conditions, and bring your oldest outdoor clothes as tasks will be mucky.
Booking is essential for this FREE event.
Please note bookings close midday on February 28th.
Foxglove Covert is now taking bookings for events via Eventbrite.
Or visit foxglovecovertlnr.eventbrite.com
Undergrowth Newsletter
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- Ring Barking in the Conifer Plantation
- Creating a Woodmeadow
- Coppicing and Pollarding
- Wrinkled Club and Candlesnuff
- Wetland Work
- Does it Feel Like First Week of Autumn?
- Caught on Camera
- Behind the Barrier this July!
- Reserve Update
- Would You Like to be a Trustee?
- Damselfly Emergence - Exuviae Everywhere!
- Creating a New Path
- Bumblebee ID
- More Dead Hedging
- Dead Hedging
- Beautiful Bird Boxes!
- Completed Coppice
- Unconventional Scything
- Garden Birds
- Winter Fungi
- Winter highlights
- Happy 2024!
- Wonderful winter workers!
- Making A Start
- Visitor Information (Update)
- Autumn Crafts and Autumn Colours
- Weekend Waxcaps
- Meadows and Ponds
- Meet Foxglove’s New Ranger
- All Work and No Play?
- Field Centre open Sunday 15th October 12 noon - 4.00pm
- Paving the Way
- Getting further, faster - together…
- Brian’s Baler!
- Reserve closed Tuesday 26th September 2023
- The Revolution has begun!
- Learning to Scythe with Steve Tomlin
- A fine time was had by all!
- Bird Ringing
- Galls
- Late Summer into Autumn
- News from the North
- Thank you!
- A Quiet Walk
- Hanging Around
- Mipits
- Common Lizards Again!!
- Species
- Bird Ringing
- Keeping Your Eyes Open
- Weekend opening hours Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August
- We are recruiting!
- Thank yous and Bye Bye
- When the Sun Comes Out
- Weather and Flora and Fauna
- Volunteers at Work
- More Photos from the BBQ
- Jenga
- Volunteer and Bye Bye BBQ
- Summer
- Summer Work
- More Wildlife
- Wildlife
- A Good Growing Season
- Weekend opening hours Sat 22 & Sun 23 July 2023
- Moth News
- Butterfly Roundup
- More Moths
- Butterflies and Moths
- Weekend opening Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2023
- Watching
- Juvenile Birds
- Common Lizards
- The Scrapes
- Nesting birds
- Ooohs and Ahhhs at the Moth Traps
- Co-operative Plants and Animals
- Summer Maintenance
- Moth Update
- Warm Days
- The Bees Return!
- June Flowers
- Lots of Legs
- Sharing Ideas
- Questions
- Caught Chasers!
- Some Bugs and Beasties
- Snow in June?
- Chasing the Chasers and Other Insects
- A Lesson - Perhaps?
- Small Nest Box Time
- Half Term Trail
- A Winding Way Through the Reserve
- Checking the Ponds
- Around the Reserve
- Moths and…
- Wildlife
- Living Creatures
- Roe Deer
- Dippers
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2025
- Blog Posts from - 2024
- Blog Posts from - 2023
- Blog Posts from - 2022
- Blog Posts from - 2021
- Blog Posts from - 2020
- Blog Posts from - 2019
- Blog Posts from - 2018
- Blog Posts from - 2017
- Blog Posts from - 2016
- Blog Posts from - 2015
- Blog Posts from - 2014
- Blog Posts from - 2013
- Blog Posts from - 2012
- Blog Posts from - 2011
- Blog Posts from - 2010
- Blog Posts from - 2009