2026 Reported sighting in or near Stratford sub Castle 8 May Two swifts Seen but not photographed. Identified by their calls by using the Merlin app (see bottom of this page). 2 May Swallows https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/stratford-wildlife-sightings-in-may 26 April Flower crab spider https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/wildlife-in-stratford-on-a-sunny-april-day 19 April Cuckoo https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/first-cuckoo-2026 27 Marc

Jim Platt reports having seen four swallows near Parsonage Farm early evening on 2 May. One of them may be this one .... Image KMOC There are currently three pairs of swallows, one pair in each stable. Last autumn 12 of them assembled on a wire for their migration so there must have been six successful fledglings. Kerry O'Connor comments "We had at least TWO broods last year, some years it’s three. (I mean sequential broods per nest/ pair). All depends on how many flying ins

I think this is a Flower Crab Spider. Misumena vatia... The Wildlife Trust gives the following information: Unlike many spiders, flower crab spiders don’t spin webs to trap insects. Instead they ambush their prey, often laying in wait on foliage for unsuspecting bees, moths and other insects that come to feed on flowers. The flower crab spider has a globular abdomen, sometimes with spots or lines. They can change their colour to match their surroundings but often appear white

Last time I reported my first hearing of the year, it was a St George's Day, but this year it is 4 days earlier. Lying in bed this morning - there it was, the other side of the river, but loud-and-clear and repeated several batches of 3-or-4 calls. Spring is here! Richard Death Ed: The Common Cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus) is famously heard but rarely seen. So we must be content to use a library image to illustrate this newspost - unless one of our readers is fortunate enough to

Now that the groundwater has drained away and the paths have dried out along the walking route from Stratford sub Castle to Five Rivers Leisure Centre through the eastern part of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve, the route is walkable without wellingtons! Some of the scrub-land has been cleared by volunteers from the Salisbury Wildlife Group who manage the Reserve, leaving open areas where swathes of bluebells and cowslips are in flower. Using the material from the clearance,

Dates for your diary - News from RIchard Death I will be leading two free Guided Nature Walks this summer. Saturday 6 June: Devenish Nature Reserve, Little Durnford. Starts 2pm, expected to last approx 2 hrs. Includes steep climb up approx 90 steps. Meet in Reserve carpark off Beech Walk SP4 6AJ What3Words valley.regard.constants Image Google Maps Monday 29 June: Avon Valley Nature Reserve close to 5 Rivers Leisure Centre. Starts at 2pm, expected to last approx 2 hrs. More-o

These images were taken this morning near Castle Keep by Lesley Brown who has kindly agreed to share them with the village website. Are they Roe deer or Muntjac? How to distinquish Roe deer and Muntjac Source Cairngorm Reindeer ( text & images below ) Roe The dainty roe deer is another of our native deer species, and perhaps the one you are most likely to spot in woodland and gardens right across the UK, with some individuals becoming incredibly tame due to living in close

Image: Richard Death 12 March 2026 Little Egrets first bred in the UK in 1996 on Brownsea Island but they have extended their range and we have hosted a pair in Stratford for many years. However, I was amazed to see a small flock of 9 Little Egrets on Thursday 12 March. One or two Egrets are no longer a surprise, but 9 was totally unexpected. Has anyone else seen this number? As soon as I realised what I was seeing I dashed to get my camera and tried to hurry gently (?) to av

One of our readers has sent these two images to the website with the comment: " While by Stratford Road we saw an enormous bird being mobbed by a persistent and angry sea gull which was dwarfed in size by the larger bird. The larger bird then flew out over the river and on towards the opposite side of the valley towards Devizes Road, still noticeable in the sky with the naked eye even over such a large distance. The sheer size of it along with the long and slow wing movement

A notice displayed near the boardwalk gives details of a Conservation Group that has been formed to help with maintenance of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve. The Salisbury Wildlife Group would welcome volunteers over 18 years old to their planned activity days in January, February & March. See the notice at the bottom of this page. Whilst working at the Reserve, volunteers have the opportunity to observe and record wildlife for example this saprophytic fungi Variable Oysterl