Beryl McDowall has photographed several species of birds sampling the delights of her feeders hung on trees close to the River Soar. Continue reading “Bird-feeders on River Soar.”
Category: The River Soar
Grass snake
Report from Beryl McDowall from the banks of the River Soar with her photographs.
The very hot spell we had fairly recently encouraged the grass snakes (Natrix natrix) to emerge from the protection of the compost heap and rotted tree trunks which have been spiked up to encourage wildlife. One snake sloughed (or shed) its skin in the grass. I was able to disentangle the skin, and photograph it. A slough is also the name given to the discarded skin.
A couple of years ago a small snake was spotted swimming across the river, and emerging from under the landing stage beside the boats. After a few minutes in the grass, it slid back into the Soar and swam (at a considerable speed!) to the cover of the tall grasses on the towpath side of the river.
Last year I saw three different grass snakes on three consecutive days: one plain green one slithering across the mown grass track to the protection of the nettles; a brown one with clear patterns, on the compost heap; a plain brown one on a soil path – all well camouflaged.
Beryl McDowall, August 2015.
Wildlife on the banks of the River Soar
The River Soar is not only a place for pleasure on the water but also a rich and developing source of natural life – plants, mammals, fish and birds. In this post Beryl McDowall shares a few of her own photos of some of the mammals and birds seen on the river banks in recent years, as well as one showing a pike (Esox lucius) in the hands of two skilled anglers. There are slightly surprising photos such as a mink (Mustela vison) on the moorings and a now all-too-rare hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) often come as a group of four or five to take advantage of feeders and buzzards (Buteo buteo) are regularly seen in the sky above Mountsorrel.
Mink (Mustela vison) on River Soar moorings opposite Waterside Inn, Mountsorrel
More wildlife photos to follow soon……………………….