2013

Regular recorders are indicated by their initials:

DWE - Dave Emley
JAL - Andy Lawrence
MS - Mark Sutton
NC - Neil Carter
NDP - Nick Pomiankowski
PH - Peter Hooper

December 3rd : a female Hawfinch visited a resident's garden on two occasions. This is the first record for the campus; though a pair was seen some in 2000 sitting in the Yew tree at the end of Keele Drive. A flock of 20 Golden Plover flew over the playing fields possibly heading for Apedale DWE, JAL.

October 30th : 6 Little Grebes, 2 Coot and 20 Mallard on the top lake DWE.

October 23rd : two small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare passed over in the rain. A male Pheasant has taken to visiting the Walled Garden allotment beds DWE. A Brambling was heard in Church Plantation at lunchtime NDP.

October 10th : the first Redwings of the winter arrived today. Several small flocks passed over the Walled Garden at 8am DWE.

October 4th : mild sourtherly winds resulted in a Four-spotted Footman moth turning up in the trap. The first county record since 1969! DWE. (See blog for picture)

September 24th : Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker and Common Darter on Phase 3 pools with several Chiffchaffs in neighbouring bushes. A Meadow Pipit flew over plus several Swallows DWE, JAL.

September 4th : Kingfisher again seen by lake 5 Huw Evans. Up to 70 House Martins were flying around the Chancellor's Building at lunchtime and Small Tortoiseshells were very common on Buddleias DWE.

September 1st : Kingfisher by Lake 5 P. Weston.

August 20th : family of Sparrowhawks flying around the terrace woods; calling too DWE.

August 1st : a Grasshopper Warbler was heard in the Walled Garden DWE.

July 25th : hot and humid weather has given Small Tortoiseshells a real boost. There were 20+ on Creeping Thistles in the Walled Garden DWE.

July 17th : White Satin Moth (last seen 1988) and Garden Tiger in the trap DWE.

July 14th : two Common Terns over Drive Lodge - first record for Keele MS.

July 9th : superb weather encouraged many damselflies and dragonflies on Phase 3 lakes. They included 2 Emperors, 1 Broad-bodied Chaser and numerous Common Blue, Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies. Butterflies included Large Skipper, Ringlet and Meadow Brown while Narrow-bordered Five-spotted Burnets were common DWE.

June 19th : a new moth for Keele - Mother Shipton - by the Sustainability Hub and a new plant - Smooth Tare DWE.

June 17th : New plant for Keele - Slender Trefoil - growing on the Terrace above the Walled Garden; it's an uncommon plant in the county DWE.

June 16th : A Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly was seen in a Horwood garden Deborah Goodall.

June 11th : Garden Warbler singing behind the Walled Garden DWE.

June 10th : Common Cornsalad found on a new allotment bed in the Walled Garden was a new Keele species - and a rare one in the county. Also Cut-leaved Cranesbill and Shining Cranesbill by the Sustainability Hub were also new for Keele DWE.

May 31st : Garden Warbler and Blackcap singing by the Sustainability Hub DWE.

May 20th : two Swifts circled over the Library; Blackcap nesting in the Walled Garden DWE and a Cuckoo was heard in Springpool Wood - a rare bird at Keele Clare Holdsworth..

May 16th : Whitethroat singing on Phase 3 site DWE.

April 30th : a pair of Whitethroats along Lymes Road by the silage heap DWE.

April 27th : Blackcap singing in Horwood Boyd Duffee.

April 25th : a Curlew flew over campus PH.

April 22nd : Blackcap singing in the Walled Garden DWE.

April 19th : a male Pied Flycatcher was in the copse by Lymes Road. The last record for Keele was in 1996; there was also a Willow Warbler there and House Martins flying over the campus DWE.

April 17th : a Willow Warbler was singing behind the Library and a Whitethroat was still at Home Farm JAL.

April 16th : a Whitethroat on Phase 3 / Home Farm site as well as plenty of Toads in one of the pools DWE, JAL.

April 15th : Ring Ouzel (first Keele record) on Phase 3/Home Farm site. Plus 2 Wheatears, Swallow, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Blackcap JAL, DWE.

April 12th : pair of Swallows circled over campus DWE.

April 11th : a Chiffchaff was singing behind the Walled Garden DWE. Woodcock by Drive Lodge MS.

March 19th : the pair of Canada Geese has returned to the top lake DWE.

February 24th : male Reed Bunting in song on Phase 3, plus a Brambling MS.

January 14th : 5 Little Grebes on the top lake plus 2 Moorhens and a Coot DWE.

January 6th : Jack Snipe was flushed from the Phase 3 site. This is the first record of this species at Keele. MS

January 1st : Kingfisher on Lake 7 MS.