- Birds & Wildlife Spotted at Mill Hill Farm
Across the site we have a number of different habitats from grass to arable land and lakes to woodland. These bring us a lot of both resident and visiting bird and wildlife species. Listed below are those spotted during the 2023 season
Whitethroat
Turtle Dove
Common Swift
Willow Warbler
Reed Warbler
Common Tern
Egyptian Goose
Little Owl
Hen Harrier
Grey Partridge
Starling
Little Grebe
Greylag Goose
Treecreeper
Pied Wagtail
Sedge Warbler
Common Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
Rook
Canada Goose
Barnacle Goose
Shelduck
Muntjac
Rabbit
Hare
Stoat
Grey Squirrel
Red Deer
Shrew
Field Mouse
Fallow Deer
Grass Snake
Fox
Mole
OSPREY
BLACK NECKED GREBE
Common crane
Black Headed Gull
Cormorant
Mallard
Redwing
Wren
Sparrowhawk
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Jackdaw
Song Thrush
Green Woodpecker
Fieldfare
Yellowhammer
Marsh Harrier
Garden Warbler
Brambling
Chiffchaff
Swallow
House Martin
Blackcap
Red Kite
Reed Bunting
Hobby
Bee Orchid
Southern Marsh Orchid
Spotted orchid
Brimstone Butterfly
Gatekeeper Butterfly
Red Admiral Butterfly
Tadpoles
Toad
SANDWICH TERN
GREEN SANDPIPER
RING OUZEL
WRYNECK
NIGHTINGALE
GADWALL
Robin
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tail Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wood Pigeon
Moorhen
Pheasant
Red Leg Partridge
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Mute Swan
Collared Dove
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Kestrel
Magpie
Lapwing
Tufted Duck
Snipe
Bittern (heard)
Grey Heron
Water Rail (heard)
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Common Sandpiper
Redshank
Common Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Stock Dove
Cuckoo
Kingfisher
Jay
Skylark
Lesser Whitethroat
Stonechat
Meadow Pipit
2024 started cold and wet, this may have affected early bee and insect movements . The geese returned and successfully raised goslings to maturity again, but the Oystercatcher did not nest here this year. We have been visited by the Turtle Doves who are pairing up and nesting. They receive additional seed feed which is intended to help them go on to make a second brood. A much needed boost for this endangered species. Plant life continues to thrive, Bee Orchid, Pyramidal and Southern Marsh Orchid bloomed well again this year. Many species of Dragonfly and Damselfly breed and live near the lakes. The grassland around Kingfisher Lake is managed to promote perennial wildflower species and looked very stunning when the Oxe-eye Daisy was in flull bloom.
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In 2023 we had a very successful spring for the Oystercatcher who raised all four of their chicks to adulthood, the geese returned and successfully reared six goslings to maturity. Tufted Duck have raised six chicks and Little Grebe also have bred here successfully. Turtle Doves have returned and the feeding programme designed to increase clutch numbers and additional brood efforts continues. Sadly, worldwide the numbers continue to decline. But we will continue to work with the RSPB to support this endangered bird. Two mega rare sightings this year are Montague's Harrier and a Night Heron which flew over the site. Locally, this year has been exceptional for quite rare birds, for example Black Winged Stilt, Bee-Eater and Kentish Plover have been seen nearby in large numbers. There is a large population of Grass Vetchling plants in the long grass and around Georges lake Bee and Southern Marsh Orchid continue to thrive. Bearded Tit were seen for the first time here, in October.
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In 2022 the geese returned and produced 6 goslings which eventually flew away to start a new life. The Oyster Catchers hatched off 4 chicks and we have seen one raised to full size. Swallows, House Martins and Shoveler Duck have also been spotted as well as Turtle Doves. The Shoveler Duck produced a brood of 8 chicks. Sedge, Reed and Garden Warbler plus Reed Bunting also successfully nested again this year. Red Kite and Marsh Harrier have been seen overhead. Unusual bird sightings in 2022 include Nightingale, Cetti's Warbler, Green Sandpiper, Osprey and Common Crane.
Duck success stories : Our continued feeding programme to encourage wildfowl has resulted in an increase in the Duck species range. Not only do we now support Mallard but other less common species, such as Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Teal. We would love to see them return again for the winter.
We are working on increasing the depth of the scrape in some places, whilst maintaining the nature of a scrape. The aim is to hold more water in some parts and protect against possible drought and prevent it totally drying out in the future.
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In 2021 we saw the successful raising of four goslings and a young Oystercatcher. The Oystercatcher family continued to fly overhead regularly for a while. The Turtle Doves returned and could be heard purring in the trees. Thriving hedgehogs were seen on a nightly basis on the campsite.