December Diary 2016 !

31st Dec -  Last day of the year and a female Reed Bunting appeared but to far for a photograph, other birds seen included a Buzzard perched in a tree in the grounds of Cobham Hall opposite the wood, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin Blackbird.

29th Dec -  As the year nears it's close I thought I would review some of the wildlife seen this year  in the compact little woodland and surrounding meadows. My observations are made during a relatively short walk each morning with my dog, a time span of between one and two hours usually early morning.

Bird species seen this year have crept up to sixty one not far of the total seventy one species seen at this site, the Marsh Tit remains very elusive having only been seen once this year and not recorded on camera as yet and remains my number one on my wanted list. Bullfinch's have been seen a couple of times, always very brief sighting, the Little Owls have not been seen since early summer, hope they return to their nesting tree soon , returned about the end of January this year. No Siskin or Redpoll have been seen as yet this winter. A Stonechat pair have been seen this last few weeks occasionally.

Butterfly sightings reached nineteen species this year, although no sign of any White Admirals or Brown Argus this year, and strangely Common Blue, and Large Skippers were quite sparse, a few sightings of Painted Lady were nice.

 Only four species of Dragonflies were seen Hairy Dragonfly, Broad bodied Chaser, Migrant Hawker and Common Darters.

Bee species reached nine with, Buff Tailed, White Tailed, Red Tailed, Carder, Early and Garden and Tree Bumblebees all being seen regularly,  a single sighting of the Tawny Mining Bee was the most memorable, and a nest of Honey Bees watched in the woodland.

Five species of Spider seen this year, Labyrinth, White Cross, Spotted Wolf, Nursery Web and a single sighting of a Crab Spider.

Mammals consisted of Rabbit, Fox and Grey Squirrel , not very exciting.

As for today a later than usual walk produced, Robin, Redwing, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Great Tit, a melanistic Blue Tit at the back of Two Ponds, Two Bullfinch at the top of a Silver Birch, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Jay Magpie, Wood Pigeon. a single Stonechat female at the top of the glades.

This blog will continue until the Marsh Tit is eventually photographed.

27th Dec- Hard frost this morning after a bitterly cold night, but the sun was shining again this morning, and I noticed a few Stock Doves taking in the warmth high up in the trees,

Stock Dove

 Lots Of Wood Pigeons around the woods. A flock of five Jays moving through the treetops and below in the woodland leaf litter, lots of Redwings, still wary and very difficult to get close to.

A few Mistle Thrushes and Song Thrushes around with Robins and Blackbirds, a single Wren, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Starling. Ring necked Parakeets could be heard calling but not seen this morning, no sign of the Stonechats, probably because I had my camera with me, but a Green Woodpecker flushed from the grass.

A trio of fungi on this stump, some candlesnuff and two unidentified fungi

In the Glades Carrion Crow and a single Rook in the cattle field with a couple of Magpies
26th Dec - A lovely Boxing day walk in some mild weather, the sun was shining, birds were singing and i'm sure I noticed some new buds on some of the trees. Song Thrushes were very vocal this morning, a Few Mistle Thrushes were seen  high in the tree, and a Nuthatch first noticed by its calls was seen high in the treetops. Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon were all seen in the dead sweet chestnut tree by the car park. Blue Tit, Blackbirds and Robins were also seen around the edge of the woodland.
As I walked down towards the glades two birds flew out in front of me and posed just in front in the sunshine, the pair of Stonechats, frustratingly no camera with me today. Jay and Magpie seen and an unidentified gull species overhead, In the cattle fields more Carrion Crows with a few scattered Starlings

23rd Dec - I could feel the wind picking up this morning, bending a few of the smaller trees, Storm Barbara hitting the north of the country today, according to the weathercasters not really affecting us in the south.

Bird sightings today included, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, two Ring Necked Parakeets over the glades, plenty of Woodpigeons searching for food in the leaf litter, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Robin, Chaffinch disturbed from the leaf litter under an oak tree with a Nuthatch, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit,and a single Magpie 13 species today and nothing really of note.

Song Thrush

20th Dec-  Bird sightings have picked up a lot lately with all the usual sightings Carrion Crow, Common Jackdaw, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit , 15 species in all today, Treecreepers have not been seen lately and the Marsh Tit continues to evade my camera. ( Buzzard perched high in tree on edge of Shorne woods opposite Ashenbank woods) 

13th Dec - A wet,dank, misty walk around the woodland which still provided a few bird sightings, several Wren were seen moving through the undergrowth, a single Robin today, plenty of Blackbirds, a single Song Thrush, around the glades a single Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker, three Greenfinch a small charm of Goldfinch flying over, a single Redwing posed long enough for a quick photograph before it was off, just a single Starling today, no sign of the Stonechats and no Siskins in the alder trees yet.

Distant Redwing

Even more distant Greenfinch

12th Dec- The woodland provided a single Long Tailed Tit, 2 Great Tits and a few Blue Tits, Robin and Blackbird, Good numbers of Woodpigeons in the trees adjacent to the cattle fields of Cobham Hall and a pair of Mistle Thrushes chasing each other through the treetops
The Glades provided a surprise today with the sighting of a pair of Stonechats, two Redwing flying over, a single Fieldfare, Carrion Crow and a Ring Necked Parakeet a Green Woodpecker feeding in the vacant cattle fields, a flock of Starlings on the telegraph wires, ten Magpie in a tree, I believe this is termed a "Magpies weddings" when the birds are pairing up.

Stonechat

8th Dec- Three Green Woodpeckers disturbed from the fields on the edge of the woodland, Robin, Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbird seen in the woodlands, over the glades a Herring Gull, Woodpigeon Goldfinch and Starling.

Green Woodpecker

7th Dec- Bird sightings today included a small gathering of seven Woodpigeon on one of the cattle drinking troughs near the entrance gate, a Nuthatch could be heard calling unseen in the treetops, Blackbird, Wren seen along the trails, a few Goldfinch flying over the glades, a small flock of Redwing disturbed from the woodland on the edge of the glades, a flyover Ring Necked Parakeet calling noisily, Magpie, a Carrion Crow, a few Grey Squirrels seen around the woodland.
1st December -  Another cold night with a few pockets of frost still showing in the shadows from yesterday's low temperature.

Plenty of birds seen today, Robins seem to be stationed all along the woodland trails with at least seven seen today, a pair of Jackdaws outside this years breeding site near Two Ponds, which remains frozen over. A roving Tit flock contained Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits and Blue Tits. A pair of Nuthatch seen high up in the trees. Carrion Crow, Jay, Blackbirds also seen in the woodland.
A walk around the glades revealed  two Skylark, Magpie, two Redwing, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon and a few Goldfinch.
 Common Gull and a single Fieldfare were fly overs. no sign of the Bullfinch or of any Siskins around the Alder trees.
Eighteen species today that's the highest number of bird species seen over the last few months. Plenty of berries around the area at the moment, hopefully a few Waxwings may move down from the North.

November Diary 2016 !

30th Nov -  Winter arrived with a vengeance, -2.5 degrees this morning, but the sun was shining, bird sightings getting better, Common Jackdaw, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Jay and a Green Woodpecker seen in the woods, around the glades another Green Woodpecker, two Ring necked Parakeets, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, star sighting a lovely male Bullfinch, finished off with a small flock of Fieldfares flying towards the orchards. Checked out the alder trees where Siskins were seen last year, nothing yet.

Winters here !

26th Nov - Cold and misty today, Blackbirds continue to be prominent around the woodlands with two Robins looking very cold and miserable. A few Wood Pigeons around the glades, two Collared Doves, several Chaffinch, one Goldfinch, Jackdaw and small flock of Starlings

24th Nov-  A blustery walk this morning at least it was dry and bright, lots of Blackbirds seen this morning especially in the hawthorn trees, Common Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeon seen along the trails, three female Pheasants flushed from the woodland very close to me gave me shock, five Ring necked Parakeets flying over the glades, a Wren disturbed from the hedgerow, two Goldfinch flying over, and finally another cock Pheasant disturbed from the vacant cattle fields, a Robin near the car park serenaded me off.

15th Nov - I made a concerted effort to look for birds today, exchanging my camera for a pair of bins, at Two ponds the Common Jackdaws were in their nesting tree and close by a pair of Mistle Thrushes, as I passed the Honey Bee nest which I watched many a time in the summer, I was surprised to see a few Honey Bees still entering the nest hole.
Further on A Great Tit, Dunnock and Wren made an appearance with a few Blackbirds taking Hawthorn berries, the distant thrushes I saw the other day, which I suspect were Redwings but to distant for a positive identification were nowhere to be seen today, a flock of Starlings flew over the Glades and a single Common Gull, in the plantations a Jay and Magpie were seen and a male Kestrel on the telegraph wires. just two Carrion Crows searching for a meal in the now deserted cattle fields. The usual Wood Pigeons over the woodland and a couple of Robins along the trails.
14 species in all, with nothing spectacular to report.

10th Nov- A brisk walk along the woodland trails did not reveal too many bird sightings of interest, the usual Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon and a lone Jay, Some Ring necked Parakeets could be heard calling from high up in some poplar trees, Robin, Goldfinch Dunnock were also seen today.

The muddy waters of Two Ponds

With the early arrival of the Christmas paraphernalia in the shops, unbelievably October in a few shops around here, it was nice to see a more natural sign in the form of some holly berries along the trails.

6th Nov - After a clear night which allowed hopefully most of the fireworks to be finished with, the car registered an outside temperature of 4.5 degrees celsius, but the sun was still shining, making another lovely autumnal walk. Still not much happening on the birding front with hardly any birds seen this morning. some more nice fungi appearing. and the woodlands looking spectacular.

5th Nov - This old tree stump has a probable girth of 12 to 15 feet, this magnificent fungi specimen has appeared out of nowhere in a very short space of time completely encompassing the tree stump from ground level up to about 24 inches high, not sure what it is at the moment.

3rd Nov - Temperatures have really dropped these last few days, and the first frosts of winter were seen early morning, but the sun still shines which makes for a pleasant autumnal walk.
No winter birds have been seen here in the woodlands at the moment, Robins Wrens and Great Tits have all been seen over the first days of November, a Green Woodpecker has been seen around the edge of the glades, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows seen in the dead Sweet Chestnut each morning,  Jays are becoming a regular sighting now.

Fungi has started to appear around the woodland on the dead wood, this Parasol Mushroom was the first seen this autumn.

October Diary 2016 !

31st Oct - October has quickly past, the trees are now starting to show some lovely colours, the night's fog is burning off in the warm sunshine and its a gorgeous day for a walk, the dogs enjoying a respite from the nightly tirade  of fireworks. A pair of great Tits moving through the trees were the only birds of interest today. Trying to find some inspiration from the autumnal woodland views.

28th Oct - A pleasant walk around the woodlands in some warm unseasonal sunshine, not much to see bird wise, a few Common Jackdaws , Magpie and few overflying Wood Pigeons, a distant Woodpecker could be heard calling and that about it, the woodlands are looking more autumnal now with more leaves on the floor, Braken changing colour now and Fungi starting to appear, still finding it difficult to identify, except for the obvious.

Hornbeam at Ashenbank

Lycoperdon pyriforme, commonly known as the pear-shaped puffball or stump puffball

27th Oct -  The old chestnut tree near Two Ponds held three species of corvids this morning, Rooks, Carrion Crows and Jackdaws which flew in from the pastures around Cobham Hall, a Ring Necked Parakeet flew noisily over the woodland but not seen. A Nuthatch was calling from high up in the trees but I could not locate it, Wood Pigeon and Blue tits seen along the trails.

22nd Oct - Another bright sunny morning with a distinct chill to the air, not much to be seen birdwise today, a few Robins flushed from the undergrowth, no sign of any Carder Bee today on the scabiosa flowers. Although the leaves are starting to fall there is no real autumnal colour to the woodland, the trees still look very green with just the odd tree here and there starting to change colour.

Autumnal bramble leaves showing some colour

20th Oct -  I suspect this will be the last time I can walk this year without the need of my trusty old fleece, the sun was shining but temperatures quite cool in the shade. I was greeted this morning by the "drumming" of a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in the old dead Sweet Chestnut tree near Two ponds,  a Wood Pigeon sat near bemused by the antics of the Woodpecker as it moved around the dead branches. A few Blackbirds were seen rushing through the undergrowth, a pair of Great Tits and a Chaffinch, Robin were the only other birds seen in the woodlands, the glades produced a Carrion Crow and two Magpies.
In the Hedgerow there were still a few late flowering Scabiosa flowers, two Carder Bees were seen searching for nectar, one looked like it was suffering from the low temperatures, this one was quite lively.

Carder Bee

                Not much else to be seen in the insect world, apart from a few ladybirds.

13th Oct- Grey Wagtail flushed from two ponds was a surprise this morning, as was five Ring Necked Parakeets flying over the Bronze age monument in the woodland, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling but not seen, Blackbirds, Robin, Magpie, Wood Pigeon all seen this morning.

Ray of Sunshine, winters coming !

11th Oct-  Some lovely autumnal weather at the moment, temperatures quite low in the early morning, but warms up when the sun shines through. I can't find much to photograph at the moment, a case of "Photographers block" maybe. A few more bird sightings now, Green Woodpecker flushed from the edge of the woodland, a few Carrion crows in the meadows, Wood Pigeon and Magpie and Jay, lots of Blackbirds around the woodland, there numbers being boosted by some incoming migrants, a few Robin, and a Nuthatch heard calling from somewhere in the tree tops.

6th  Oct - The first few days of October have seen the temperatures dropping, the woodland appears to be in a state of limbo, it's beginning to feel like Autumn, leaves are starting to drop, prickly sweet chestnut shells are littering the woodland floor, bird sightings are still quite sparse, the odd Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon seen flying over the woodland, the raucous calls of the  Jay are becoming more prominent, as Autumn draws on, more migrant Jays usally appear in the Woodland causing even more disturbance to the locals, Dragonflies and Butterflies have disappeared, although a couple of Red Admirals were seen around the garden ivy the other day. No fungi to be seen at the moment either.

September Diary 2016 !

21st Sept - Warm sunny morning, the usual Jackdaws and Wood pigeons in the dead tree near to Two ponds with a Stock Dove taking a quick drink from the muddy waters, a few Robins seen along the trails. Two Comma Butterflies seen on the brambles today.

Comma

Plenty of young Nursery Web Spiders basking on the nettles once again.

Nursery Web Spiders

This Devil's Coachman Horse Beetle caught my eye as it crossed the gravel track, took up its threat posture as I got too close for a photograph.

Folklore says that you can be cursed if the Devils Coachman points its tail in your direction.

Devil's Coachman Horse Beetle

19th Sept - After a short break in Cornwall it was back to the old routine, not sure if it was my imagination, but there seemed to be more birds on show, a Robin on the fence post near the car park, a few Wood Pigeon, Jackdaws flying over the woods, a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling unseen, Blackbird and Wren seen disappearing into the undergrowth. Leaves are beginning to fall

A few Speckled Wood Butterflies seen but not much else, there seems to be a re-growth of nettles, and the early morning sunshine has attracted a huge number of Nursery Web spiders  basking on individual leaves, and a few Garden or white cross spiders in there webs

White Cross or Garden Spider

Most of the Chicken of the woods fungi has faded away but still plenty of Beefsteak fungi breaking out through the old storm blown trees on the woodland floor. There should be plenty of new fungi starting to appear now as autumn approaches. This one is a bit of a mystery fungi at the moment.

?

3rd Sept -  Return to the morning walk, sun still shining and very warm, lots of Speckled Wood Butterflies in the woodland and a Small Heath in the glades, a few Common Darter Dragonflies flying around, not much else seen especially on the avian front.

The Cattle making headway through the brambles at the moment which was why they were brought into the woodlands.

1st Sept - An afternoon walk in the late summer sunshine did not produce any Butterflies of note, just a few Speckled Woods, Dragonflies  represented by Migrant Hawkers and a few female Common Darters, much the same as my early morning walks.
An interesting insect of sorts caught my eye, flying into the long grass, at first sight I thought it was a large Bee or Hornet but after further investigation and a closer look at the photograph, it turns out to be a Sexton Beetle, a type of Burying Beetle, the so called undertaker of the animal world.

Sexton Beetle

These Beetles fly well and locate decaying carcases of birds, mice by smell, they have flattened segments at the end of their antennae, which you can see in the photograph which enhances their ability to detect these odours of decay.
Its at these carcases where the male will hope to pair up with a female, other males turning up will lead to a trial of strength.
Once paired up the pair will dig under the carcase burying it gradually where the female will then lay her eggs, the emerging larvae will then feed on the rotting carcass. apparently another  common beetle, but the first I have come across.

Another unusual sighting in the hedgerow alongside the glades was this Hop vine complete with  emerging Hops growing through the blackberry bramble.

August Diary 2016

31st August - Well that's the end of August, the sun is still shinning here in the south of the country, in fact the countryside is looking like it needs a good soaking, Meadows are being cut now, berries are covering the trees, Butterfly sightings have not been that good considering the good weather, just a few Speckled Woods being seen, a few Green Woodpeckers have been disturbed from the glades.

In the woodlands " Chicken of the Wood" fungi appears to be breaking out on a lot of the old fallen trees. with a few Beef Steak Fungi also breaking through.

24th August - 

Blue skies over  the glades

Heatwave continues, summer is definitely not over yet, not much to be seen this morning, a few Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood. one Migrant Hawker.

In the Woodlands, birds are still conspicuous by their absence, very quiet. Bracket Fungi appearing all around the woodland which seems very early.

This bracket Polypore, which is possibly " Glossy ganoderma or shiny Polyporus" looks very fresh, if it is this type of fungi it's also known as Lingzhi mushroom used in chinese medicines. we will have to wait and see how this develops over the next few days.


Well after a few days, looks like ordinary polypore, the shiny glaze has disappeared and now resembles the usual polypore seen around the woodlands

Also quite a few Puffballs starting to appear in the woodlands.

23rd August -  The warm weather has returned, plenty of Butterflies out today, I checked out the Buddleia tree by the air raid shelters, although plenty of Red Admirals, Small White, Comma, and Small tortoiseshell there was no sign of the Painted Lady unfortunately. Around the glades Meadow Brown and a single Common Blue, no sign of any Gatekeepers now.

There seems to be a lot of bracket Fungi suddenly appearing around the woodlands at the moment, these caught my eye today.

Chicken of the Woods

Beefsteak fungus

possibly Dryad's saddle 

Dragonflies confined to one female Common Darter and several Migrant Hawkers

20th August - Strong wind blowing this morning, making it difficult to find any Butterflies, just five Meadow Browns and one Small heath seen.

Bird sightings still very quite, a small flock of six Ring Necked Parakeets flying over the glades, Blackbird, a few Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows, a Nuthatch heard calling from the woodland.

17th August -Slight chill in the air in the shady areas of the woodland and eerily quiet at the moment with very little bird song or calls even.

As I came out of the woodland and into the sunny glades, the chilly night had left a heavy dew highlighting the webs of the Orb spiders, always amazes me as to the number of webs that cover the wildflowers and undergrowth, usally unnoticed.

As I walked through the glades I was thinking how different a day can be, nine species seen the day before, today just one Meadow Brown.

That was to change, as I approached the old air raid shelter I thought I would check out the Buddleia growing at the back of it, it's in full flower at the moment, almost the first butterfly seen was a fine looking Painted lady, but as usual the wrong lens with me, so I had to settle for a distant shot heavily cropped.

Painted Lady

15th August -  Beautiful morning with the sun still shinning, Checked out some Buddleia growing near the old air raid shelters, Red Admiral. Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and a Small White all flitting around the flowers, some nice flowers of Old mans beard or Traveller's joy on show amongst the Buddleia.

Old Man's Beard

The grey fungi seen a few days ago has fallen allowing a look at the underside, not that it's helped anyway, I believe this may be a fungi known as Powdery Brittlegill.

Powdery Brittlegill ?

Butterflies were prominent this morning, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Gatekeepers still around in good numbers, finally started to see a few Common Blue's and today at least three Small Heath, that's nine species today,

Common Blue

Small Heath

Plenty of Migrant Hawkers around, patrolling along the footpath vegetation, just two Common Darters seen today.

Migrant Hawker

13th August - Dry warm weather continues although a stiff breeze kept the Butterflies down, with just a couple of Small Whites being seen and the usual Gatekeeper horde. I noticed this blue wildflower in a shady area of the woods giving a noticeable splash of colour , I believe there called Nettle-leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium

Nettle-leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium

Another unidentified Fungi has appeared on a fallen log, even with my new field guide I am still struggling to identify. It doesn't look very appetizing though.

?

Wayfarer Berries

Wayfarer berries are ripening to an  shiny red, eventually to turn black, attractive to the birds and small mammals not so good for humans, causes vomiting and diarrhea.

11th August -  A few more bird species being seen of late, four House Martins were hawking over the glades, a small flock of Stock Doves and the local Jackdaws appeared to be having a disputer over ownership of an old dead chestnut tree. the Usual Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crow seen around the glades, Green Woodpecker seeing flying towards the woodlands, Robin and a Jay heard calling unseen in the woodland.

Not many species of Butterfly seen today,but Gatekeepers around in good numbers, one Migrant Hawker passed me in the glades and a glimpse of another female Common Darter seen in the woodland.

Common Darter

8th August - Another warm sunny morning, lots of Dragonflies around the Woodland, mainly Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers but very active.

Butterflies as seen before, mainly Gatekeepers a few Meadow Browns, no more sightings of the Common Blues, seem very scarce on this site this year.


Another Fungi seen this morning, some type of Puffball.

7th August -  A pleasant walk through the woodlands revealed another fine looking " Chicken of the Woods " fungi. the only notable bird sighting was a Green Woodpecker disturbed from the long grass in the Glades. Just Two Common Darter females seen in the usual patch of bramble today, no sign of any Common Blue's today, Gatekeepers and Meadow Brown by far the commonest butterfly sighting today.

Chicken-of-the-Woods fungi

Meadow Brown ( F )

6th August -  Bird sightings still sparse at the moment although a fine looking Common Whitethroat appeared out of nowhere and promptly disappeared again. Finally caught up with the Migrant Hawkers on their favoured early morning patch, with just one female Common Darter seen.

Migrant Hawker

Gatekeepers are by far the most numerous Butterfly sightings at the moment, well over fifty plus seen this morning, a few very faded Ringlets, a single Comma, and a few Red Admirals, and for the first time this year a Common Blue was seen briefly on the a short grass in the glades.

Red Admiral

Gatekeeper

As I was looking for dragonflies I found myself being checked out by several of these Drone Flies that hovered almost motionless around me.

Drone Fly

Still lots of activity around the Ornate tailed Digger wasp site.

Ornate-Tailed Digger Wasp

4th August - Dry warm weather has returned and plenty of sightings to stir the interest, as I walked down towards Two Ponds, the small herd of young British Shorthorns were making good headway through the bracken.

The unidentified Red Fungi seen two days ago has been decimated by the wildlife, a view of the underside had initially left me bewildered as to its identity, I don't think its a Waxcap now, the gills of a waxcap are spaced relatively wide apart and nothing like the underside of this one.

I have found a photograph of a very similar looking Fungi called a Ruby Bolete, described as a small bolete of intense colour, found in deciduous woodland or open parkland usally in grass, this all seems to fit, also described as occasional to common, the underside is identical to the one in Ashenbank, colours and appearance all match, so not too unusual,  but the first one I have seen.

Ruby Bolete in Ashenbank Woods

A great spotted woodpecker was seen high up on the dead branches of a chestnut tree, Robin, Blackbird and a Jay also seen in the woodland.

A bramble patch held a good variety of Hoverflies, flies and Bumblebees, White Tailed Bumblebee, Red Tailed Bumblebee and a very small Early Bumblebee.

Red Tailed Bumblebee

White Tailed Bumblebee

Early Bumblebee

The Bramble patch that seems very attractive to a few Dragonflies held a few Male Common Darters this morning and several Migrant Hawkers, A couple of heavily cropped photographs of a Migrant Hawker.

Migrant Hawker

Butterflies seen were mainly Gatekeepers which seemed quite variable in size, some really small , deceptive until the open wing pattern is seen.

Gatekeeper.

A Green Woodpecker flew fast over the glades towards the woodland and out of sight.

2nd August - A cooler, damp walk following overnight rain, Butterflies were few and far between,  a few Gatekeepers, some very small looking individuals, Meadow Brown and Ringlet

Ringlet

Dull conditions did not look good for the hoped for dragonfly sightings, although Common Darter female was seen on the bramble patch, no Migrant Hawkers around today.

Common Darter

Another  fungi showing today near Two ponds growing through the grass, I could not identify  in all certainty, maybe a type of Waxcap or Brittlegill the stem of this fungi was the same colour as the cap.

Reidentified as Ruby Bolete

Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling in the woodland, over the glades a small flock of Swift hawking for insects, at least 8. a few Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeons, not much else at the moment.