2009

Regular recorders are indicated by their initials:

DWE - Dave Emley
JAL - Andy Lawrence
MS - Mark Sutton
NC - Neil Carter
NDP - Nick Pomiankowski
ST - Steve Turner

19th November : A Peregrine was seen harassing a pair of Ravens between the M6 and the University DWE, JAL.

2nd November : Little Grebe has returned to the top lake after an absence of several years DWE.

14th October : Orange Sallow moth was found at Keele for the first time. Also, numbers of Redwings were seen for the first time this autumn DWE.

12th October : the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner has been found on campus for the first time. This first arrived in the UK in 2002 and has been spreading northwards. In extremis it can affect the tree DWE.

4th October : a Coot on the top lake - first record for many years MS.

15th September : A Wheatear on the Phase 3 site MS.

6th September : a Tree Pipit was seen on the Phase 3 site - a rare visitor to Keele MS.

19th August : A Hobby flew over Dorothy Hodgkin Building Stuart McBain

6th August : what a fantastic day for butterflies! A very warm day after weeks of rain encouraged large numbers to appear. A walk round the walled garden and the top lake revealed 200+ Painted Ladys, 30+ peacocks, 10+ Red Admirals, 2 Small Coppers, 1 Comma, 1 Small Skipper, 2 Gatekeepers, 1 Meadow Brown, Green-veined, Small and Large Whites plus a Silver Y moth.

11th July : flock of 40 Mistle Thrushes flew over the Medical School DWE.

4th July : A Spotted Flycatcher was seen in Clockhouse Drive MS.

30th June : Just 4 House Martins nests on campus compared with 9 in 2008 and 16 in 2007. The worst year ever NDP.

29th June : 2 Curlews in a field off Lymes Road NC.

23rd June : Green Sandpiper along Lymes Road NC, DWE, JAL.

3rd June : Yellow Wagtail and Yellowhammers on Lymes Road NDP.

1st June : Garden Warbler singing at the top of Clock House Drive DWE.

29th May : Painted Lady butterflies were seen by Keele Hall; part of a nationwide influx of this species NDP.

15th May : Yellow Wagtail and Whitethroat along Lymes Road MS.

11th May : Pair of Mandarins were seen on Lake 2; Waved Umber moth was a new addition to the Keele list DWE.

5th May : Three Oysercatchers and a Swift flew over the Phase 3 while 52 Stock Doves were on the ground NDP.

26th April : two Mediterranean Gulls flew over Drive Lodge; 2 Wheatears on Phase 3 site and 1 along Lymes Road MS.

25th April : 37 Stock Doves on the Phase 3 site MS.

19th April : female Wheatear along Lymes Road MS.

18th April : Male Brambling in song by Drive Lodge MS.

13th April : three House Martins at Larchwood NDP.

9th April : a Swallow over Union Square DWE.

8th April : A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker opposite Drive Lodge NC.

7th April : A Blackcap and two Chiffchaffs singing along the Terrace DWE.

1st April : pair of Bramblings at Larchwood remained to the 4th NDP.

31st March : a pair of Mandarins on the top lake DWE.

27th March : male Wheatear on Phase 3 site; two Bramblings by Drive Lodge MS.

22nd March : the bare building site that is Phase 3 is proving very attractive to birds. Today there was a flock of 200 Linnets that was being harassed by a Merlin. Also, there was a flock of 35 Stock Doves, a pair of Ravens and 8 pairs of Lapwings NDP.

20th March : a Comma butterfly was seen along Clockhouse Drive DWE.

19th March : a fine male Brimstone butterfly flew by the Moser Building and two more near Keele Hall DWE.

17th March : first Chiffchaff of the year singing in the Terrace wood DWE.

15th March : 4 Curlew displaying over fields adjacent to the Sportsfield MS.

13th March : a record flock of 15 Pheasants on the Phase 3 site NC.

10th March : 17 Lapwings displaying on the Phase 3 site JAL.

January 30th : flock of 100 Linnets seen from the Observatory JAL.

January 25th : an over-wintering male Blackcap was seen in the garden of Drive Lodge MS.

January 20th : a flock of 200 Lapwings circled over Lymes Road before landing close to the M6 services.

January 19th : A Mediterranean Gull was seen with other gulls in a newly manured field between Lymes Road and the M6 Services MS. This is a first for the Keele area.

January 8th : Woodcock seen by Stacy Plantation MJW.