Now that the breeding season is over, sparrowhawks are becoming much more conspicuous and can be seen hunting around the school grounds or flying high above the treetops. This week, I heard a report from a lady who had been horrified when she walked into her garden and found a sparrowhawk plucking its victim. You are unlikely to get a good view of the markings on these birds, so watch for a small bird of prey with wings which are rounded at the ends, rather than tapered like those of the kestrel, and with a rather long tail with a squared end. This is the time of year when I often record sightings of moles moving around above ground. I believe that this is probably because young moles are forced to travel some distance to establish territories of their own. They will cross roads and I have seen a mole struggling to overcome the barrier presented by a high kerb. The mole looks quite ungainly on this type of surface and has to roll slightly as it uses its legs, so that it moves with what looks like a swimming motion. Watch out for moles during September and October. |