Little Plot
F
B
Many
grasses growing in uncut meadow including Timothy,
Yorkshire Fog, Bent Grass & Cocks’ foot.
Several birds heard including House sparrow,
Chaffinch, Robin, Rook.
Firetops
Pignut
F
T
B
Another field with uncut grasses headed up. Here we found the above grasses
along with Crested Dogs’s-tail. In amongst
the grasses there was Sorrel growing, along
with the leaf of the yarrow. Also
Black Meddick was abundant. It resembles a
clover with its three leaflets, but the flower is yellow. (its name refers
to the colour of its seeds). Pig Nut grows
at the field edge. It is easily distinguished from other parsleys by its
leaf and its edible tubers although care must always be taken when handling
members of this family as some are extremely poisonous.
Native
bluebells were just coming to the end of their flowering period.
Lady’s Smock, & Germander Speedwell also found.
Many of the hedgerows had been replanted a few years ago by the present
owners and several shrubs in the hedgerow were showing flowers:
Hawthorn in full bloom,
Holly and
Spindle
just forming the flowers.
A thrush’s song was identified by its habit
of repeating its many varied melodies three times.
Square Field
artificial Otter holt
B
M
F
I
Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue Tit and Great Tit
,Wood Pigeon
Evidence of Moles (hills)
and Foxes
and Badgers
(droppings), and a
rabbit was spotted. In the corner of this field could be seen the
artificial otter holt that was built as an
exercise by Otter Spotters a few years ago. It remained in remarkable
condition, but it is not sure whether otters have ever used it.
The Buttercups
in this field turned it a beautiful yellow colour, shimmering in the evening
sunlight. Ground ivy
On an Oak
tree was found what at first looked like berries. These hung from the
tree like fruits and mystified us for some time, but on closer inspection
and dissection, turned out to be the home of a small
fly larva. Dock
beetles were seen mating.
Outer Moor
F
T
F
Bf
I
A
boggy area afforded us (along with wet feet!) both
Water Mint and Spear Mint, Brooklime,
and Hemlock Water-dropwort (one of those
very poisonous parsleys).
Willow was
growing in the hedge. Other trees included
Silver
birch, & Rowan.
On less wet ground was Red
clover and Rib
plantain.
One of the carpet moths was seen
flying but it was impossible to positively identify which one it was.
Damsel fly
Upper Home Park
Tea and biscuits and a lesson on
accessing the website ended the day
B
F
As
progress was made back to base we heard
Blackcap,
Greater spotted woodpecker, and saw
Swallows
flying.
Bugle was
growing along the pathway leading back to the homestead
* Amphibian Mammal Bird Flower / plant Insect Bf butterfly / moth Hedge Pond Woodland Tree River Rt Reptile FI invasive plants Archaeology (of hedges), Fungi etc