. . . is the Swallow. 

Bird of the week simply because come September and October these birds will start their migration. 

For now though,   they're still to be seen and enjoyed at Dove Stone . . .

The answer is slime mould. 

You might think that slime moulds,  also known as members of the group Mycetozoa,  are fungi.  In fact,  they did use to be classified as such but it is now recognised that fungi and slime mould are unrelated.  

Autumn is a good time to see slime mould.  And,  of course,  you can see them at Dove Stone.  One of the really interesting things about slime moulds is,  in the life cycle stage known as…

As you may have heard Peregrines have been in the news recently. 

Last week Jeffrey Lendrum pleaded guilty of attempting to take fourteen Peregrine eggs out of the UK and of stealing these eggs from four nest sites in Wales.  The Peregrine eggs destination was thought to be Dubai,  where falconry is a national sport. 

Lendrum received a two and a half year jail sentence. 

Luckily for these Peregrines,  eleven of…

If you've been down to see us at the Peregrine Watch at Ashway Gap or stopped off at our information point at the main Dove Stone car park then we might have asked you if you'd like to sign the RSPB's Letter to the Future campaign.  A big thank you to everyone so far who has given their time to talk with us about the campaign and who have lent their support through signing the campaign letter.  So far the RSPB…

This afternoon has given us good views of one of the young Peregrines perching on a ledge on Dove Stone rocks,  as well as some good aerial displays of two Peregrines together.  One of these birds clearly had food in its talons and there was some calling going on between these two.  

The young Peregrines will be about three months old now.  On Sunday early evening I saw one of the young birds fly onto a ledge on Dove Stone rocks…

Bit of indecision this week between Siskin and the Great Spotted  Woodpecker as the bird of the week.  I think it's got to be the Great Spotted,  simply because one of these guys - in this instance a young Woodpecker -  has been keeping us company all week throughout the wet weather by feeding on our peanut feeder at Ashway Gap and giving us some cracking views.

Elsewhere around Dove Stone this week we have had some really…

The weather got the better of us today and the Peregrine watch was rained off this afternoon,  which gives me sometime for a Dove Stone update. 

Prior to the rain arriving today we've had sightings of the Peregrines briefly plus a few of our usual suspects: Wren,  Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tit,  Goldfinch and Greenfinch,  Great Spotted Woodpecker ( good views on the feeder at Ashway Gap ),  Willow Warbler,  Pheasant and…

It's been a while since we've written a Peregrine update. 

Since the four young Peregrines have fledged if you've come down to Ashway Gap you might have caught sight of both young and adult birds flying together and giving us some really spectacular aerial displays.  Over the last couple of weeks we haven't been seeing that same behaviour.  It could be that the young birds have started to hunt for themselves…

Bird of the week this week is the Linnet.

Look out for them on the reservoir wall amongst the bracken and on the fence posts between the main reservoir and Yeomans Hey reservoir.

Sunday afternoon gave us spectacular views of Dove Stone's Peregrines.  At the moment it appears that the young birds aren't hunting for themselves.  We were able to watch the two adult birds flying with two of the young birds in pursuit of the prey that they held in their talons.  Each time one of the young birds got close to one of their parents the adult bird would up a gear and fly out of reach.  Probably what's happening…

Tuesday's misty,  rainy start gave way to a really lovely sunny afternoon.  

Over at Ashway Gap there was no sign of our last two young Peregrines on the nest ledge,  meaning they fledged either earlier on Tuesday or possibly on Monday.  A Pied Wagtail was making the most of the empty ledge. From where I was standing I could hear Curlews calling but there was no sign of the Peregrines on the crag. 

I didn't have to wait…

The run of good weather we've been having came to an end this morning with low cloud,  rain and poor visibility at Dove Stone this morning.  On the plus side,  rain is what we need at the moment as the reservoir levels at Dove Stone are very  low at the moment.

We've had a busy weekend on the Peregrine watch.  The two Peregrines that have fledged are still being seen regularly on the crag from Ashway Gap.  The remaining…

How does getting muddy.  making friends,  getting fit and learning about nature conservation sound ?!

The RSPB and United Utilities at Dove Stone are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to help with a whole range of tasks.  We're looking for people who will help us with practical work tasks such as felling trees, planting wildflowers and putting in fences; with face-to-face visitor work, including showing…

Sometime between yesterday early evening and this morning our second young Peregrine has fledged.  We've seen him or her ( most likely him ) sitting with the young bird that fledged earlier this week.  So,  two down,  two to go.  The remaining two Peregrines can still be seen quite clearly on the nest ledge,  looking like they'll be fledging anyday now really. 

Don't worry though,  even when these young Peregrines…

Exciting news:  the first of our young Peregrines has fledged.   

A few days earlier than expected,  one of the chicks was spotted last night perching below the nest ledge.  Today has seen this newly fledged bird flying over Dove Stone rocks and sitting across from the nest ledge feeding on food dropped by one of the adults.  There's still lots of calling going on,  which you can hear quite loudly from ground level.   

We're…

Bet you didn’t know that there’s a rare native plant living at Dove Stone that eats insects.

It’s called the Sundew. 

As mentioned it’s an insectivorous plant.  The Sundew supplements the nutrients it takes from the poor peaty soils by catching and absorbing insects.  Passing insects are attracted to the plant.  Once on the Sundew the insect gets stuck by sticky globules on the plant's leaves. 

It's incredible how fast the chicks are developing.  Two weeks ago they were all white down ; now most of the four chicks have more feathers then down.  I say most,  because two of the chicks seemed to have developed a little more quickly than the other two.  Will they be the first to fledge ?

Talking of fledging,  it won't be long now.  Sometime over the next week to ten days we're expecting them to take their first…

Why not join our wildlife experts for a  wildlife discovery and information walk over the high moorland plateau above the Dove Stone reservoir this weekend ?

The walk will be led by members of our information team to check out the wildlife that inhabits this exposed and often inhospitable environment and look at the moorland improvement work being carried out to restore the blanket bog,  improve your water supply and create…

. . .  seen at Dove Stone earlier in the week,  it's the Redstart. 

Redstarts like woodland areas and can also be seen alongside streams. 

Summer visitors to Britain,  look out for them until they leave in early September . 

The chicks will be about three weeks old now.

Not long until they start to develop their first wing and tail feathers. 

In the meantime here's some more fluffy shots !

Another few good days on the Peregrine watch. 

This photo of one of the chicks was taken during the ringing on Thursday.  The chicks will be about two weeks old now so not long before they start to lose the white down as their juvenile feathers grow.

Highlights this week have been watching the adult birds hunting with one of the Peregrines going into a short stoop yesterday.  We were also able to  watch both the male and…

Exciting news. 

Up until now we've been able to see two Peregrine chicks being fed on the nest site.  It wasn't until last night when the chicks were ringed that we discoved there are in fact four chicks - that's made my week really !

We're still getting some great views of both the male and the female birds as well as of the chicks being fed.  

Things are only going to get more exciting now as over the…

A big thank you to all who came  on our first wildlife discovery walk and an extra thanks to John for leading the walk and to Tia for assisting him. 

The walk was a great chance to tune into plenty of bird song,  pick up a few tips on recognising those calls and learn a bit about the history of Dove Stone.  Highlights included parachuting Meadow Pippits and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.  No Little Owls but maybe next time…

Whilst the blog’s in it’s early days I’ll introduce you to the team at Dove Stone. 

Our RSPB wardens at Dove Stone are Kate Hanley and Jon Bird.    Both Kate and Jon run work parties on Wednesdays and Fridays with volunteers.   You might  also see Mags and myself either in the main car park or at Ashway Gap,  talking all things Peregrine !  And not forgetting our volunteers and information assistants who are all…