my local patch and wildlife - Ian McDonald

[ian mcdonald]

The black "smudge" on a branch.

Birds today were, gadwall, mallard, teal, meadow pipit, stonechat, robin, blue tit, great tit, marsh harrier, goosander, merganser, redpoll, tree creeper, shoveler, bullfinch, jay, chaffinch, long tailed tit, wood pigeon, coal tit, mute swan, wigeon, blackbird, pheasant, greater black backed gull, merlin, barn owl, water rail, grey lag geese and crow. Also seen were roe deer and a frog.

[David Nicholson]

Many thanks for your reports Ian, always something interesting and to learn. Long may they continue.

[ian mcdonald]

Thanks David, there is always something interesting to see. Sometimes we discover species previously not recorded there before. This is something most people can do if they are able to get out and about. It is easy to overlook a local site and spend time watching wildlife on TV but much better to see it for yourself. Most wildlife records come from "amateurs" who are interested in their "local patch."

[Chris Johnson]

Ian, good to see you out and about and finding rather more than I.

The small brown fungus is a Galerina and the small white one a Mycena.
The black 'smudge' could be Birch Woodwart, Jackrogersella multiformis, but can't see enough detail.

[ian mcdonald]

Thanks Chris, the woods are very interesting just now and look like the rain forests in miniature.

[Maggi Young]

Thought of the moment - when does a 'wood'  become a 'forest'? ( Odd how these  questions pop into one's mind!)

[ian mcdonald]

Maggi, I think a forest is a very large wood and you can,t find your way out of it?

[Maggi Young]

Maggi, I think a forest is a very large wood and you can,t find your way out of it?

Good answer - and jolly  scary too, Ian!

[ian mcdonald]

It is the strange noises I find interesting. The sound of something moving about but out of sight. An unusual bird call. No sound at all perhaps means there is something that wildlife can see but you can,t. On Wednesday we noticed there was hardly any sound in the wood at all and we were being quiet.

[ian mcdonald]

An up-date on the "new" water pump. It is still not working as designed, i.e. automatically. The site staff are having to switch it on and off manually. On Monday, last, one of us paid a visit to the site. She looked at a part of one of the woods which we have visited many times. On leaving the wood she found a clump of Harts Tongue Fern growing behind a birch tree. This fern is common in the district, especially in Limestone areas. It seems that the fern has not been recorded on the site, according to records, since 1907. It shows that because of the extent and diversity of the site there are many species awaiting discovery.



Harts Tongue Fern, Phyllitis scolopendrium.





A large tree, white willow, had fallen some time ago and verticle trunks had grown from the fallen tree.





Phellinus igniarius?

[ian mcdonald]

A colourful spider, the name of which will be provided. It has been tentatively identified as an Episinus species.



A fairly quiet day for birds. Those seen were, mallard, shoveler, goosander, marsh harrier, bullfinch, chaffinch, jay, great spotted woodpecker, redpoll, wood pigeon, robin, crow, pheasant, grey lag geese, teal, great tit, kestrel, moorhen and barn owl.

[Robert]

Ian,

Phyllitis scolopendrium

Very good news! 

I may have already asked, but are invasive species an issue at the site?

Here in California, invasive species often hamper the recovery of our native species. In other situations, invasive species even inhibit and/or overrun our native species.

[ian mcdonald]

Hello Robert, invasive species are not a problem on the site. We do get some species that are introduced with path building material. The material is supposed to be screened but this is not always the case. A plant of Nicandra physalodes was seen last year where material had been spread. Last year 13 species of plant were added to the site list. The insect list is growing steadily. With cleaner air more species of Lichen are arriving on site. We are a group of three people regularly recording on site and there are a regular number of bird recorders (as well as we three) visiting the site. Now that the Carr woodlands are not so flooded we are able to visit more areas and record. I went to the site today and saw what looked like a person standing on the main track, a bit unusual I thought as it was early. As I approached, the "person" moved and I saw two large stags watching me. They ran off in different directions before I got close enough for a picture. Something interesting every visit.

[ian mcdonald]

Today started out dull and cold, 2C. Later the sun came out but it was still cold. I went to look at an area where conservation work has been carried out to help the spread of a rare plant. The work consisted of scrub clearance and it is hoped that removal of the bushes and the heavy shade they cast will be an improvement. Monitoring the site later in the year should give an indication how successful the clearance has been. Fewer birds were seen today as the site in question is sheltered with limited views. Those birds which were seen included several flocks of pink footed geese, bullfinch, robin, marsh harrier, crows, kestrel, great tit, blue tit, pheasant, magpie, wood pigeons and a possible woodcock as we were leaving.

[Robert]

Ian,

Keep us posted on the outcome of the rare plant conservation project. You have reported many success stories. It is very encouraging to hear reports with good out comes.