Coombes Valley

• About Coombes Valley
• Star species
• Seasonal highlights
• Recent sightings
• Events
• Facilities
• Accessibility
• How to get here
• Our work here

• Home >
• Reserves >
• Reserves by name >
• C >
• Coombes Valley >
• Recent sightings

Recent sightings

• 19 April 2013

  Oh, Deer!

  I have been growing ever more curious about the occasional deer sightings on the reserve. We know that we have three species moving around and through Coombes and Churnet valleys, but it's very rarely that they're actually seen.

  The carpet of snow deposited in recent weeks gave me new insight into their movements though. I then had a pretty good idea of where to put my camera trap. Eventually I managed to capture these clips, showing a red deer and then a muntjac.

  (Please visit the site to view this video)

  (Please visit the site to view this video)
  
  Still though, I felt that I wanted to discover more about them. How come I've never seen them around the place myself? Where do they spend their days?

  After finishing work on Monday I headed down to the point near the brook where my camera trap has been located. From there I started following tracks. I was sure that I wouldn't actually happen upon any deer, but maybe following their tracks would give me an insight, and if nothing else, somewhere new to set up my camera.

  I climbed to one of the top boundaries of the reserve and found an area well away from the public trails with plenty of space between the trees. To my (very) inexperienced eyes this place looked good. I thought 'if I was a deer, this is where I'd hang out'. Then, to my left, three big red deer crashed through the woods, following the reserve boundary downhill. They were gone as quickly as they came; It was a fleeting but brilliant encounter.

  So now I've seen them....but that was only the start.

  On Tuesday, I wasn't actually working but called into the office with a mate who I was out for a bike ride with. Over a cuppa, I told him and Holly about where I'd seen them, and not two minutes later, through the office window, he picked out six red deer heading down the other side of the valley, one stag and five hinds. We watched them for a good few minutes before they headed out of view and into the woodland.

  Two good sightings then in the space of two days. It would surely be a while before I was so lucky again? Would it?

  Tonight (Friday 19th), Holly and I went out for a walk. We headed towards the area where I'd seen the deer on Monday. They weren't there, but there was plenty of evidence of them. We headed back, moving back down the hill. A couple of interesting bird sightings had the pair of us stalking around, treading really carefully. We didn't realise that we were being watched.

  The sound of sudden movement made us both turn quickly. It was another deer! We're not sure which species this was as we saw it so briefly, but our opinion of it's size as it started away from us suggests that again it was a red. Again it was pretty close to the area that all the recent sightings have been in.

  So that's 3 out of 3. I'm on a bit of a roll :)

  I don't pretend to be any sort of expert, but the signs are definitely there if you take time to look for them.

  If you fancy a bit of amateur deer spotting, then next time you visit, stop for a moment on the patio area near the bird feeders and scan the other side of the valley. Keep your eyes open when you're walking round the reserve too. Have a look for trails and prints heading off into the woods, and for droppings. Take your time, listen out, and you never know.....

  I'll keep you all updated if I see any more myself.

  Posted by Mark Day

• 19 April 2013

  Tim's Spring Blog - Mid April

  Tim contributes regular blogs for us as part of his DofE Bronze award. Here's his latest report from his visit on Sunday 14^th April.

  My mum and I ventured out on what was a very unpredictable day.

  The weather was mixed, sunshine and showers which were changing all the time although the temperature is now what it should be, 13 degrees.

  Today it was very windy as well, so the birdlife was limited. The Robin though was still as friendly as ever and I managed to get a shot of it.

  

  The Jay could be heard from the bottom of the valley, where we saw a male pheasant. I think there had been more frogspawn laid on the main pond and the little one at the top.

  The trees have started to come into leaf such as the beech and bramble. The bluebells and celandine are coming into flower gradually.

  

  The Nuthatch is still around as well as the snow on the hills.

  

  We spoke to Heather in the visitor centre and she said that there would hope to be more unusual birds next week. Fresh moles hills scatter the field at the top and the grass is coming up nicely

  Just before we leave Tim's blog, I wanted to add in a couple of photos from his previous visit. They're cracking pictures of a buzzard which circled ever nearer to us as we chatted outside the visitor centre. Stunning pictures, thanks Tim

  

  

  Posted by Mark Day

• 27 March 2013

  Recent Sightings: Telltale Signs

  During the chilly Easter that we're experiencing, the dawn chorus that we've been delighted with has been relatively subdued. It's not only the lack of song that's been noticable; when the snow started falling and the winds picked up, a bird wasn't seen on the feeders for a good few days.  
  The weather may have slowed the progress of Spring, but the snow is handy as it helps identify telltale signs of some of Coombes more elusive species. When I was out for a walk over the weekend I saw tracks made by pheasants all over the reserve and a number of tracks made by deer.

  

  Badger tracks in the snow (Photo by Lizzy Ingram)

  It's pretty easy to know when you've come across a red deer track like Mark and I did on Monday 25th. Their prints are much bigger than the other 2 deer species (roe and muntjac) that we get at Coombes. Alongside the deer and pheasant tracks we also saw the occasional paw prints of fox and badger! Badgers are very rarely seen, so it's nice to be reminded of their presence.

  

  Great Spotted Woodpecker at Coombes feeder (Photo by Simon Gray)

  As the winds calmed and the snow started to take a break, the birds begain returning to the feeders. A great spotted woodpecker was among them! The resident grey squirrel was also back, but as usual was thwarted in its attempts by the feeder cages.

  

  Beginnings of Willow catkins down by the pond (Photo by Simon Gray)

  Just before we were engulfed by the cold snap there were signs that Spring was on its way. Willow by the pond was showing the beginnings of its catkins. Does anybody know what kind of willow species this is?
  
  If you see any signs of spring or of elusive animals, either at Coombes or near to where you live, then please let us know.  You can upload pictures to our facebook page or email them to us at coombes.valley@rspb.org.uk

  Posted by Simon

• 21 March 2013

  Is it winter or spring?

  In his two most recent visits, Tim has seen contrasting weather conditions. One visit felt very much like spring was in the air, but the other suggested that winter lingers on.

  Here's Tim to describe those visits in his own words

  Sunday 10th March

  Today was mother's day, and my mum kindly came on my walk with me. For the first time out of five visits the sun managed to stay out throughout the most of the walk. The river had risen slightly due to the recent snowfall and rain in the past week. The snow was everywhere but more so in the shaded areas.

  
  

  The buzzards and jay were extremely common today. I tried to creep up on one along the hedge line to capture a picture but I had no chance.  The snowdrops and fungi were new this week by Clough Meadow Cottage. The fungi was called scarlet elf cap and there was about 5 caps. They looked quite fresh and we found out that they were growing through the moss, which was covering through an old log. They grow in damp conditions and are seen throughout winter and spring. 

  Sunday 17th March

  Today, I was joined on my walk by my dad. The weather was not too bad as the sun came out occasionally and it was a reasonable temperature. As a result, the wildlife this week was quite active. As soon as we arrived, I spotted the male great spotted woodpecker in the tree next to the feeders near the visitor centre. 

  I have to say that the top part of the valley is a lot more active than the lower part, although my dad managed to spot some frogspawn on the pond by the bridge. That's a sure sign that Spring is progressing. Have you seen any frogspawn where you are yet?

  

  Lots of buds are starting to appear on the trees and on the ground. The Jay was common as usual, always being able to hear that screech as well as all the garden birds. The Buzzard was wheeling above Buzzard Bank and was visible from the bottom of the valley. I will be back for more next week. 

  

  
  

  Posted by Mark Day

• 16 March 2013

  The microscopic world of moss

  Visitors joining us on Saturday 9th March got the chance to take part in an informative guided walk on the subject of bryophytes.

  The word bryophytes is used as a collective term for mosses and liverworts that have no internal vessels. They extract all they need from the atmosphere, so generally are found in damp conditions.

  They're all around us in the natural world, and there is an incredible variety to be found in the British Isles. We set out to identify just a few of the 1200+ recorded species.

  You really don't have to travel far to find them. Our walk started right by the visitor centre where our expert guide was able to talk us through a handful of different species within a distance of just a few metres.

  If you've never looked in detail at a moss or liverwort before, get yourself a hand lens (from £5) and be amazed. It will reveal intricate detail that's been around you going unnoticed as you go about your day to day business. Personally, I found it fascinating and I often lagged at the back of the group so I could get photographs to share some of their amazing diversity and structure with you.

  Firstly, this picture shows Common Feather-moss (Kindbergia praelonga). When you examine this one closely it has differently shaped leaves on its stem to those on its branches (the former having a wider base). This moss is one of the commonest in lowland Britain and can often be found carpeting logs, branches and turf.

  

  You'll notice a visible difference between that and the next picture which illustrates Bifid Crestwort (Lophocolea bidentata). 

  It has bi-lobed leaves and is probably the commonest leafy liverwort we have in the British Isles.

  

  Finally for now, our third picture again shows something very different. Think of this one as looking a bit like a toilet brush.

  For those who like to name things though, its common name is Bank Haircap (Polytrichum formosum). It's shoots appear in loose tufts that grow to 5-10 cm tall with leaves up to 1 cm long. It is typical of deciduous woodlands.

  

  We identified many more on the walk, and even brought some back to look at under a microscope which revealed even more minute detail.

  Naming these things won't interest everyone. You certainly don't have to do that to appreciate them. What you can appreciate though if you stop to look, is just how much diversity there is all around you, waiting to be discovered.

  Posted by Mark Day

• 14 March 2013

  Recent Sightings: Mosses and Muntjacs

  Despite the snow and chilly temperatures over the past week keeping most of our visitors at bay, there has been plenty to see as we move (slowly!) into Spring.  There are still many fungal fruiting bodies hanging on through the cold though, in the forms of turkey tail and birch polypore, of which I have seen some fantastic specimens lately!  Also brightening up the place in the dreary weather are the lovely lichens and marvellous mosses that carpet the trees and forest floor.

   

     

  Photos by Lizzie Ingram

   

  Another exciting spectacle has been the antics of one of our resident male sparrowhawks, which won a hard-earned lunch after pulling a very stubborn great tit off the feeder!  The same sparrowhawk was later witnessed scaring the living daylights out of an unsuspecting grey squirrel as it tried to steal nuts from the feeder (serves him right!).

  A pair of nuthatches and a pair of bullfinches have been spied alongside our usual collection of great tits, blue tits, willow tits and robins on the feeding platform.  Down in the valley, an eclectic mix of song thrushes, wrens, treecreepers, jays, greater-spotted woodpeckers and many more have been out and about, in addition to our field teachers and a visiting school group spotting a pair of grey wagtails by the brook!  Also exciting (if not a little unexpected) have been the tawny owl calls heard during the afternoons. 

  One of our more unusual sightings has come in the form of the tiny Muntjac deer, which was at first mistaken for a dog by Simon, one of our warden interns, as he ambled through the woods. The Muntjac is a species native to South Asia which has been spreading through the south of the country since the early 20^th century, after some escaped from a safari park!

   

   Photo by John Richardson, taken at RSPB Minsmere

   

  Has anyone spotted or heard anything interesting whilst walking around our woods?  Why not come and search for signs of spring, and tell us what you have seen!

  Posted by Lizzie

• 8 February 2013

  A brush with a fox

  I mentioned in my recent stargazing blog that I'm often out walking our dogs after dark. When not gazing at the night sky I keep an eye out for anything else that may be roaming in the darkness with me. Just occasionally I catch a glimpse of eyes shining out of the night when my headtorch beam crosses their path. Usually it's foxes on their nightly hunt for food. It's rare though to get anywhere near them.

  Earlier this week though I was within a few feet of one. It had seen me coming, and headed through a fence into a scrubby area where it felt more secure. It looked like a young fox, and while it was wary it didn't then flee the scene. I feel quite priveleged to have moments like this, it's as though I'm getting a glimpse into their world and I certainly don't see them as intruders into mine. On this occasion, I was the one who headed off, leaving the fox to get on with its business. The dogs, in case you're wondering, were well away from the scene - they'd obviously smelled something far more appealing than the fox - dropped food no doubt!

  Anyway, I digress.

  I've never actually seen a fox (vulpes vulpes) in the daytime at Coombes Valley. I don't think I'm allowed to count video from Nick's camera trap!

  Today I was working in the quiet of the residential volunteers accommodation, and every so often I'd have a nosy out of the window and see what was going on in the top meadow. Quite often this was after a commotion at the bird feeders, probably caused by the sparrowhawk calling for elevenses! On one occasion, strolling down the meadow was a fox. It looked in good condition and was large enough to suggest it was an adult. It was completely undisturbed and it's behaviour suggested it was really relaxed. As it headed further away from me, it seemed to drop away from view as it got to a ridge in the meadow. Only when it sprang forward did I realise it had been crouched in a hunting pose. It certainly took me by surprise, but I don't think it caught its quarry. It soon headed off and was quickly out of sight.

  Then at lunch time I saw another one! This time I'd walked out onto the reserve looking for signs of spring approaching to help with a family trail we're putting together for half term. I'd just started to head up the far side of the valley on the Valley Woodland Trail when movement at the back of Clough Meadow caught my eye. This second fox was a beautiful radiant colour, it's orangey red coat shining in the afternoon sunshine. This one saw me coming though and headed off into the tree line. Despite me walking as quietly as I could, I didn't catch sight of it again.

  

  Image - copyright RSPB Images

  Foxes will move around during the day, but we're far more used to seeing them around urban areas in the evening. They've exploited a niche incredibly well where a tight concentration of urban houses can provide a regular food source. Like many species, there can be occasions where they cross our path and we complain about it, primarily when they have a good root through our bins. Personally I see this as just a fact of life; it's hardly a matter of life and death to us. To them though, perhaps it is. 

  Posted by Mark Day

• 1 February 2013

  Recent Sightings: The Big Garden Bird Watch in the Snow

  The snow has gone and the excitement is over. The weather closed our reserve for 11 days. We re-opened this Tuesday just gone but then had to close again the day after due to high winds. Fortunately that was just for one day. We seem to be back to normal now!

  The snowfall had also put a stop to our planned birdfeeder making event on 26 Jan. This was on the first day of the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch weekend. With seven inches of snow fallen overnight there was no way we could go ahead with the event even though that morning it had already begun to melt.

  During our severe weather we had put out extra birdfeeders in the trees by our office. They had attracted a huge variety of birds during the week. This had set the stage perfectly for me to take part in the world’s biggest wildlife survey: the Big Garden Bird Watch!

  I spent my birdwatching hour on Saturday morning looking out of the office door whilst Mark was out in the car park shovelling snow. It must be a manual, manly, man thing that compelled him to do this. I wasn’t going to bother as it was beginning to melt but Mark, like Nick the week before, couldn’t be stopped. He came back with some results of what he’d counted while he was at it, as well as aches and pains.

  Great tits were by far the most numerous birds. Flitting about between the two trees with feeders in, they were tricky to count especially mixed in with the blue tits. I counted 12 of the former and 8 of the latter. Mark spotted 6 long-tailed tits. They can often be seen moving as a pod (a small group) around the trees in our car park. I saw 3 by the feeders and one even landed on the ground looking for food, which is unusual for this species. Not as plentiful were coal tits, just two and one willow tit. A willow tit is often seen on our peanut feeders but I’ve only ever seen one at a time.  

  Mixed in with the tirade of tits were 5 chaffinches. They darted between the branches and the ground. Three robins shared the floor, it must have been tense for them and they kept their distance from each other. Blackbirds, also territorial and good at seeing each other off, warily shared the space with each other too. A shy song thrush bobbed in and out of view occasionally. This is a bird that never strays too far from cover. We saw one nuthatch between us and 3 dunnocks. I thought it had been a good turn out that morning but later in the day we noticed a bullfinch, a goldfinch, a jay and a pheasant hen! The jay and the pheasant had been there feeding from the ground earlier in the week too.

  In its 34^th year, the BGBW is an important survey that allows the RSPB to monitor trends in bird populations and helps us understand how birds are doing. The format of the survey has always been the same so this means that the scientific data can be compared year on year. With half a million people taking part regularly, the RSPB are able to see a snapshot of bird numbers across the UK. The valuable results help us spot problems and are the first step in putting things right, which is why it’s so important to count the birds in your garden.

  You can submit your results here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/birdwatch/survey/

  Posted by Audrey

• 25 January 2013

  Recent sightings: The buck stops here

  The whole week has seen the reserve covered with deep snow. On days like this you really get a sense of how much activity there is that we never see. There are mammal footprints everywhere!

  The highlight of the week has been getting more pictures of the elusive roe deer. Here is a doe, showing off the distinctive white patch on the backside that helps distinguish them from the commoner red deer.

  

  Being from down south, where we see them daily, I wasn’t surprised at all to see this species appear on our camera trap. However, it turns out it is a very scarce species in Staffordshire and the wider area. Derek Crawley, chairman of the Staffordshire Mammal Group said: “Roe deer are rare not only in Staffordshire but to a lesser degree in our surrounding counties. The number of records since 2000 can be counted on one hand, so to see both bucks and does is great as this population will hopefully spread across the woodlands of Staffordshire.”

  You can see that the antlers on this roe buck (male) below have a velvety covering. This is actually skin that has lots of blood vessels carrying the nutrition needed for the antlers to grow. The antlers are the fastest growing bone in the deer’s body, growing and being dropped every year after rutting, which in roe deer happens in late summer. So when the antlers are fully grown this covering falls off, the bone dies then falls off after rutting and the cycle starts all over again.

   

  (Please visit the site to view this video)
  

   

  I’m going to put my neck on the line and say that the bit where this buck licks the snow off his lips is really cute. There, I did it! I may have to live with that for a while. I challenge you to disagree though...

  Due to the icy conditions in the car park and on the trails the reserve remains closed for your safety. We apologise for this but will let you know as soon as it is safe to re-open the reserve. 

  Posted by Nick Godden