It is with some regret that we have decided to close the Natural History Forum.
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Unfortunately it has become too big a task and no longer viable to maintain the constant monitoring which is required to sift through the hundreds of spam comments received every day in case there is a genuine comment amongst them. This is in addition to hundreds more spam comments received which are detected and sent straight to the spam folder.
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It would be a different situation if the Forum was used on a regular basis to discuss local Natural History matters, but that is no longer the case, as interest in the Forum is obviously simply not there, and the time has come when we must call it a day and let common sense rule. The advent of Twitter, Facebook and the plethora of social networking sites which offer virtually instant responses makes this type of forum obsolete and of little perceived value to the community.
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Until the Forum can be removed from the website, the threads and comments will remain visible but comments will no longer be accepted for moderation nor posted.
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Admin.
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If you have images and/or articles you would like to see posted in the Natural History News & Articles section then please send them to nhadmin@northwoodvillage.org.uk .
Welcome to the the Northwood Village Natural History Forum. This forum is to discuss, ask questions and report on all matters concerning the animals, plants and geology of the village of Northwood and the surrounding area.
This forum is moderated so your postings will not appear immediately.
Bird List rises to 81
Posted by Admin on 27 July 2011, 3:22 pm - 1 Comment
I have just updated the list of birds seen in Northwood and Medham to a new total of 81. Checking the recently published 2009 Isle of Wight Bird Report I noticed that a Nightingale was recorded at Medham on 1 April 2009. This was also the first record of this species for the whole island […]
more...Number of birds recorded reaches 79
Posted by Admin on 30 July 2009, 5:42 pm - No Comments
I recently acquired a nearly complete set of back issues of the IOW Bird Report. Having been through every record I am able to add three species to our list: ‘Tundra’ Bean Goose, Peregrine and Waxwing. This brings the total to 79. ‘Tundra’ Bean Goose: eight birds were feeding in a field near Skinner’s Farm […]
more...Results of 2009 Big Garden Birdwatch
Posted by Admin on 25 March 2009, 5:41 pm - No Comments
Did you take part in this year’s birdwatch? The results for the Isle of Wight are below. The number refers to the average number of birds seen per garden. Blue tit 3.32 Blackbird 2.78 House sparrow 2.47 Woodpigeon 2.41 Chaffinch 2.04 Long tailed tit 1.98 Great tit 1.58 Starling 1.51 Greenfinch 1.50 Jackdaw 1.47 Nationally, […]
more...Cattle Egret near Puckpool
Posted by Admin on 10 March 2009, 5:39 pm - No Comments
There is a Cattle Egret near Puckpool. It has been around for nearly two weeks. Twenty years ago people got very excited by the sight of a Little Egret, a bird which is no longer hard to see. Maybe in another twenty years we will be blase about the Cattle Egret. But for the time […]
more...New birdwatching film on YouTube
Posted by Admin on 11 February 2009, 5:38 pm - No Comments
I have uploaded a film showing my walk through Medham to the River Medina on Christmas Day 2008: The film is under 5 minutes long. Watch in High Quality for the best experience. The camcorder cannot give close views of the birds, but I do see a stonechat and some Mute swans. Two buzzards can […]
more...75 birds now recorded in Northwood and Medham
Posted by Admin on 16 May 2008, 5:37 pm - No Comments
On May 4 2008 Barry Sowerby heard a Mediterranean gull over Northwood. The day before I heard a garden warbler singing from some bushes just off the cycle track in Medham. The full list will be updated to reflect this as soon as possible. debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...Now 73 birds have been recorded in Northwood and Medham
Posted by Admin on 5 December 2007, 5:36 pm - 1 Comment
The number of birds recorded has risen from 68 to 73. Between 21 and 23 November 2007 I saw a redshank on the low tide mud at Medham, and a little grebe in the high tide water at Medham. (There were also good numbers of fieldfare and redwing about: the fieldfare were mainly inland, and […]
more...68 birds now seen in our area, with wheatear and house martin added
Posted by Admin on 27 September 2007, 5:34 pm - 1 Comment
On Tuesday 25 September I saw a wheatear in Medham. It was on the path and fence posts on Medham Farm Lane, about half way between the farm house and the cycle track. A stonechat could be seen through the same binocular sight! The wheatear is a new bird for our patch. It was a […]
more...European Bat Weekend 2007
Posted by Admin on 16 August 2007, 5:33 pm - No Comments
The August Bank Holiday weekend (24-27 August) has been chosen as this year’s European Bat Weekend. A quote from the organisers: ‘The celebratory weekend is being organised by the Bat Conservation Trust in an effort to help people understand more about these amazing, but often misunderstood, little mammals’. Local events have been organised, but sadly […]
more...National Moth Night 2007
Posted by Admin on 30 July 2007, 5:32 pm - No Comments
Hello, Saturday 11 August is National Moth Night. See the website for more information. http://www.nationalmothnight.info/ I cannot see any events listed for the Isle of Wight, which is a shame. If anyone wants to organise something let me know and I will advertise it here. The website gives tips on attracting moths to your garden. […]
more...Barn owl seen in Northwood
Posted by Admin on 16 July 2007, 5:31 pm - No Comments
In June a barn owl was seen in Northwood by a family who live in Pallance Road. It flew out of Ruffins Copse, flew down the tree line, then went back into the woods. It’s face could be seen very clearly. This is not the first report of a barn owl in our area, but […]
more...Doorstep Medina: guided tours for summer 2007
Posted by Admin on 12 June 2007, 5:29 pm - 1 Comment
A new series of guided tours for summer 2007 called ‘Doorstep Medina’ has been organised by Island 2000. They are designed to celebrate ‘the heritage and natural history of the Medina Valley’. All tours are free of charge but booking is required as numbers are restricted. Contact Island 2000 on 298098 or email suzie@island2000.org.uk Here […]
more...Report on the birdwalk in Parkhurst Forest
Posted by Admin on 5 June 2007, 5:28 pm - No Comments
Report on the Isle of Wight Ornithology Group local outing to Parkhurst Forest. Saturday 2 June 2007. I timed a weekend visit to my family on the Isle of Wight to coincide with this event. Those of us who attended were not disappointed. Weather conditions during the day were perfect (dry, clear skys, little wind). […]
more...Upcoming event: birdwalk in Parkhurst Forest
Posted by Admin on 15 May 2007, 5:26 pm - 1 Comment
On Saturday 2 June 2007 the Isle of Wight Ornithology Group are hosting an evening birdwalk in Parkhurst Forest. Meet at 8.30pm in the main car park off Forest Road. Birds which the group hope to hear and see include nightjar and woodcock. The walk will be lead by Derek Hale. I plan to be […]
more...New butterfly section for website
Posted by Admin on 30 April 2007, 5:25 pm - No Comments
The Natural History section has a new page on butterflies. It lists the species which have been recorded in Northwood and Medham. 14 have been recorded so far which leaves plenty of opportunity for you to get involved and add to the list. debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...Number of birds recorded in Northwood and Medham rises to 65.
Posted by Admin on 16 April 2007, 5:24 pm - No Comments
Early in the morning of 16 April 2007 Barry and Pauline Sowerby heard a nightjar and long-eared owl from Horseshoe Close, with the calls coming from the direction of the school. These birds make an excellent addition to our list (which is now up to 65). In the case of the nightjar, a somewhat unexpected […]
more...Results of the 2007 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Posted by Admin on 27 March 2007, 5:23 pm - No Comments
Here are the results for the Island: (Position) (Species) (Mean/garden) 1 Blue tit 3.43 2 House sparrow 2.81 3 Woodpigeon 2.30 4 Blackbird 2.23 5 Starling 1.93 6 Chaffinch 1.92 7 Great tit 1.55 8 Jackdaw 1.43 9 Robin 1.37 10 Greenfinch 1.34 11 Collared dove 1.18 11 Goldfinch 1.18 13 Dunnock 0.97 14 Carrion […]
more...Just published: 2006 Medina Valley Bird Report
Posted by Admin on 5 March 2007, 5:21 pm - No Comments
The 2006 Medina Valley Bird Report has been completed and can be viewed at the Medina Valley Centre website: http://www.medinavalleycentre.org.uk/environmental_research_monitoring/long_term_monitoring_birds.aspx I have contributed some records from Medham. There are also records from Werrer saltmarsh and other locations in our patch. debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...2007 Big Garden Birdwatch
Posted by Admin on 18 January 2007, 5:20 pm - 1 Comment
The RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on the weekend of 27-28 January 2007. To find out how to take part visit the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ It only takes one hour to do: you never know what you might see! debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...Number of birds recorded in Northwood and Medham rises from 60 to 63
Posted by Admin on 10 January 2007, 5:18 pm - No Comments
Over Christmas and New Year I spotted three new birds to add to our list. This brings the total up to 63. All three were seen at Medham. At low tide I saw a kingfisher feeding in a muddy channel. It flew off to the jetty, stayed in place for a couple of minutes, then […]
more...No entries to Christmas Bird and Mammal Quiz
Posted by Admin on 9 January 2007, 5:17 pm - No Comments
Unfortunately there were no entries to the quiz. There are probably several reasons for this: I did make it harder than the previous quiz, and perhaps people did not have enough time to complete it. It seems that the quiz concept has run its course. I will continue to produce birdsearches for the Puzzles section. […]
more...Christmas Bird and Mammal Quiz
Posted by Admin on 21 December 2006, 5:15 pm - No Comments
Hello. Don’t forget to send your entries by 2 January, 2007. debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...Does anybody read Bird of the Month?
Posted by Admin on 15 December 2006, 5:14 pm - No Comments
Hello. I was wondering if anybody reads this monthly column. I have not posted December’s yet (I’ve been quite busy!) and then I wondered if anybody has noticed. I have never had any feedback on it. Please let me know if you read it. Do you want it to continue? Is there anything you would […]
more...Butterflies
Posted by Admin on 4 July 2006, 5:12 pm - 1 Comment
This is a great time of the year to be on the look-out for butterflies. Over the weekend I saw many marbled whites and meadow browns, several red admirals and a few others which I was not able to identify. Also, keep an eye open for dragonflies and damselflies: I saw a large and very […]
more...Number of birds recorded in Northwood and Medham hits 60
Posted by Admin on , 5:11 pm - No Comments
Thanks to the Neill family of Northwood for telling me about the two pairs of bullfinches which visited their garden over the winter. The number recorded has now reached 60. I am certain that this number will continue to grow as more people report their sightings. Debbie debbiepledge@hotmail.com
more...Bluebells
Posted by Admin on 15 May 2006, 4:50 pm - 4 Comments
Calving Close Copse may be private, but the ‘blanket’ of bluebells within, is worth a very careful and respectful look at this time of year. I for one, stumbled on them last week, on a walk down to Medham and could not resist taking a few snaps. I remember, many years ago, just about every […]
more...Have you seen any owls in Northwood or Medham?
Posted by Admin on 19 April 2006, 5:04 pm - 2 Comments
A lady stopped me on Easter Sunday morning on Medham Farm Lane while she was walking her dog and told me that she had seen an owl in the area around Medham Farm. She did not know which type of owl and I did not think to show her the pictures in my field guide […]
more...Fewer birds spotted in UK gardens
Posted by Admin on 23 March 2006, 5:09 pm - 2 Comments
The number of birds visiting British gardens is on the decline, according to a survey involving 470,000 people. See the article on the BBC website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4835208.stm Blackbird – 94.71% Blue tit – 84.44% Robin – 84.19% House sparrow – 67.71% Chaffinch – 58.99% Collared dove – 58.54% Woodpigeon – 57.28% Great tit – 57.10% […]
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