October Diary

26th October - No coat required today, back to some warm sunshine, the woodlands looking very good at the moment, especially with the sun shining on the gold and brown leaves.
There appears to be a good crop of Sweet Chestnuts and acorns.

Walked down to Henhurst lake for a change today, as we walked through the glades we could see some corvids mobbing a raptor quite high in the sky slowly circling over Jeskyns country park, I took a few photographs but very distant. A second bird appeared which was much lighter in plumage a probable juvenile Buzzard.

Buzzard

Juvenile Buzzard.

A distant Green Woodpecker on the telegraph pole was seen, seeing plenty of these around the country park at the moment, always distant though.

Green Woodpecker

A few Skylarks could be seen in the fields as we approached the lake, small bird flew up on to the barbed wire fence turned out to be a female Reed Bunting, the first I have seen at this site this year.
not a very good photograph but you can make out the features of a Reed Bunting.

Reed Bunting

Around the lake a few Coot could be seen with a lone Moorhen, two Pied Wagtails flew in,

Moorhen on Henhurst Pond

On the board walk around the lake a very late male Ruddy Darter was taking in the autumn sunshine.

Ruddy Darter

24th October - Overcast weather this morning, there seems to be a lot of undergrowth clearance and cutting back going on around the woodland, not sure if this is leading to a lack of bird sightings, still a few Wren, Robin,Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons around, Jays are still quite prominent, two Green Woodpeckers disturbed from the glades.
My first Fly Agaric Fungi for this year has appeared near Two ponds, quite scarce in this woodland.

Fly Agaric

20th October - Some late summer sunshine this morning, although the forecasters say that rain is on the way, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows  on the dead trees near two ponds, a few Wood Pigeons flying over, a Green Woodpecker  flushed from the cut grass meadows a Kestrel on the Telegraph wires looking intently at the grass below, a couple of Great Tits and a Chaffinch flew from one of the new plantations closely followed by a pair of Nuthatches, never seen them this far from the woodland. back in the woodland, a brief view of a Wren, a male Blackbird flew across the path in front of me and a Magpie seen near the car park. ( eleven species today )

19th October - Dry cold morning with a little more avian interest today, two Goldcrests were making there way along a hedgeline, Robin, Wren, &  Blackbird seen around the woodlands, Great spotted Woodpecker seen at the top of an old dead tree, two Ring Necked Parakeets flew over, Wood Pigeon and Jackdaw seen by two Ponds, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie & Jackdaws all feeding around the cattle opposite car parking area in good numbers. No sign of the Little Owl.

17th October - The temperature dropping fast now in the early mornings, bird sightings mainly revolve around Wren, Robin and the occasional Blackbird, where have they all gone ? Jays on the other hand are much more prominent now, gathering in the fallen acorns and hiding them away, three seen together this morning.
A Green Woodpecker was seen briefly on a fence post  in the glades , and that was all today, no sign of the Little Owl.

13th October - Bright sunny and cold for today's walk, Brief view of a Wren near Two ponds, and the first of Four Jays seen around the Woodland.
Most mornings I always give a second look at the  Little Owl haunt, which I have not seen for several months now, well today a surprise, a Little Owl could just be seen sheltering on the old tree in its usual position. A distant shot with the standard lens on the camera to record its return.

A few Jackdaws and Carrion Crows around the glades, A Woodpecker could be heard calling unseen in the woodland.



11th October -  The spell of good weather continues although there is a noticeable drop in temperature on my early morning walks, time to get the fleece out.
Bird sightings  remain the same  with the occasional sightings of Wrens and Robins.  Jays appear to be more prominent at the moment, Green Woodpeckers still quite common around the glades.

I noticed amongst the Rose Hips three 'Rose Bedequar Galls' or Robin's Pincushion, these are caused by the Gall Wasp laying eggs into an unopened leaf or terminal bud usually on Field or Dog roses, this apparently causes a chemical distortion in the bud which turns into the pinkish moss of the pincushion.

Its inside this pincushion gall that small chambers containing the larvae of the gall wasp are developing, to appear the following spring around May.

I must admit I haven't a clue what these Gall Wasps look like, some research required I feel, and careful look next year for them.

Robin's Pincushion

 Always on the lookout for different Fungi that seems to be appearing at the moment, the large Fungi I photographed the other day appears to have had most of the heads removed, maybe someone knows that they are edible, what ever they are.

I came across some nice Fungi which I believe is Common Funnel Clitocybe gibba

Common Funnel

Another nice fungi caught my attention, but very small to photograph, I think it needs some sort of macro lens to do it justice.  Xylaria hypoxylon, Candlesnuff Fungus, I think this is also referred to as Stag horn Fungus but I am not entirely sure on this one either.

Candlesnuff Fungi

Not sure whether this is a Fungi or Lichen, it was growing on an old dead Hornbeam branch laying on the ground, the closest species I could match it to is possible a fungi called  'Rosy Crust'  Peniophora incarnata, It looks like Orange peel but I am sure that the Orange peel fungi is very similar in appearance to the scarlet Elfcups so I know its not that.

9th October -  Bright sunny morning, with a heavy dew on the grass, not much birdwise to talk about just a Green Woodpecker over the glades and few Wren in the new clearings near Two Ponds.

woodland management - opening up the wood

Another closer look at the fungi seen yesterday has still left me mystified as to what species it is, but still very spectacular.

At the bottom of the glades the heavy dew had coated hundreds of spider webs in the set aside knapweed alongside the woodland. The sun shinning through the Webs gave some interesting effects as the sunlight made a rainbow effect on the beads of dew.

White cross or garden Spider in Orb web.

8th October - Fine sunny morning for our walk today, I noticed three or four Wren in the cleared areas near Two Ponds today,  Two Robins in the Woodlands, Around the glades one Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over, and a single Yellowhammer seen, the first for a few weeks now.
One Speckled Wood Butterfly seen in one of the sunnier glades in the woods.

This spectacular Fungi was growing around the base of a standing dead tree, must have been at least two metres in length and half a metre in height, not sure what it is at the moment.

6th October-  A day of scattered showers, which we managed to dodge today, Jackdaws and Carrion Crow in the dead tree near Two Ponds, Wood Pigeon and a few Robin calling unseen from the undergrowth. Not much else seen in the woodland, Around the Glades a large flock of House Martins were feeding over the Poplar trees at the top of the glades,
Just one fine specimen of a Four-Spotted Orb Weaver Spider

2nd October - Fine weather continues into October, butterfly sightings are now few and far between, with only a single Speckled Wood observed today in one of the sunnier glades.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers were more prominent today with two seen flying over the Woodland, with one heard drumming distantly in the woodland.
 One Green Woodpecker seen flying over the glades. Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons and Carrion Crows all seen today. A female Kestrel seen on the wires above the glades looking for a meal.

The woodland management team have been thinning out  areas of woodland, with sycamore removal, to open up the woodland in their words, slightly worrying is the fact that the area they have opened up was a particularly good area for Scarlet Elfcups, lets hope this does not affect their development this year.

Still more Fungi species appearing, lots of Dead man's Fingers on moss covered deadwood on the woodland floor.

Dead man's Fingers Xylaria polymorpha

Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulinus

Shaggy Parasol  Chlorophyllum rhacodes

September Diary

28th September - Slightly extended walk today taking in the far side of Jeskyns country park, for a look at Henshurst Pond, which is looking great, a shame the same can't be said for Ashenbank pond which is very overgrown now.
A nice bird sighting in the form of a male Stonechat around Henshurst pond reminded me of the Stonechat seen back in March in Jeskyns glades, at Ashenbank woods end of the park, I wonder if it's the same one.

Stonechat

A flock of Skylarks numbering around nine birds were the first I have seen for a few weeks now.

Skylark

The usual Carrion Crows , Magpies seen around the park.
As  we approached the woodlands a beetle caught my eye and on closer inspection turned out to be a Lesser Stag Beetle, supposed to be common, but the first I have ever seen.

Lesser Stag Beetle

Another Spider on a leaf left me puzzled over its identification, I think it may be the The Woodlouse spider, Dysdera crocata, this is a species of spider that preys exclusively upon woodlice, not sure why it was up in the tree though.

Woodlouse spider, Dysdera crocata ???

26th September - Another gorgeous morning,with the sun shining, quite an interesting walk today starting off with a few Butterfly sightings, two to be precise, both taking in the early morning sunshine on the same little oak sapling.

Comma & Speckled Wood

Another surprise was the number of Hornet sightings around the woodland, it seemed that every sunny glade was a magnet to the Hornets, I must have seen at least ten plus, most were on the wing, but I did find one taking in the sun, a magnificent beast when seen up close.

Hornet

Bird sightings were limited to just one Green Woodpecker,  two Carrion Crows , a magpie and a brief glimpse of a Wren in the woodland.

As I walked up through the glades, the two environmental art sculptures caught my eye looking a bit eerie above the hedge line. these were designed and sculptured by an artist called Walter Bailey carved from a single tree with a chainsaw apparently.


25th September - Some more bright sunshine today, but there's a definite autumnal feel to the woodlands now, Sweet Chestnuts are beginning to fall, more and more leaves are changing colour and beginning to fall, and there's Fungi appearing on lots of the deadwood habitat.

I caught up with a Tit flock  by Two ponds consisting mainly of Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Jackdaws can be found in their favoured dead tree near the car park, The meadows and glades have been mowed, and the short grass is attracting the Green Woodpeckers, at least four seen this morning with one Great Spotted Woodpecker flying over.

A Kestrel on the wires above the glades looking for a meal in the freshly mowed grass, it's also attracting Wood Pigeons, Stock Dove and a few Magpies. 

Still some Swallows moving through the country park.

There are still a few wild flowers around mainly Common Ragwort and some late flowering scabiosa.

A female Common Darter was seen sunning itself near Two ponds.

Crane fly on Ragwort.

Some strange tracks left in the mud could be some small rodent of sorts

Many layered Polypore

possibly Common Bonnet

possibly Yellow Fieldcap

Common Puffball 

Stump Puffball

Shorthorn Cattle at ease in the Woodland.

23rd September -  Blue skies returned today and look set for the next week or so, bird sightings today included a single wren in the woodland, small flock of Jackdaws in the dead tree near Two Ponds and only one Swallow seen in the glades. a few more fungi found today although I can not be sure on the correct identification, the first  looks like another Russula species of fungi.

Possible Russula species ?

This one could possibly be the Shaggy Parasol, but once again I could not say with all certainty.

Shaggy Parasol ?

And the last is a complete mystery to me, it is funnel shaped, I wondered if it could be the Common Funnel fungi.

Finally the view of Ashenbank pond all but  overgrown now.

22nd September - Another wet walk in the woods, more and more fungi starting to appear, although some very difficult to identify. this Sulphur Tuft Fungi not being one of those difficult to identify, this decaying  tree was completely covered in Sulphur Tuft one of the very efficient wood rotting mushrooms.

Sulphur Tuft Fungi

The fungi below I believe is possibly  Rosy Brittlegill or Russula rosea, I found this one deep in the leaf litter within the wood.

Rosy Brittlegill

Very little of Ashenbank pond in visible now being completely overgrown with reeds, there was approximately twenty Swallows hawking over and around the pond today.

18th September - Another bright sunny morning, lots of Swallows and House Martins moving over the glades, more than I have seen all summer at this site. A Nuthatch heard calling in the woods.

17th September - We have had several days of heavy rain lately making the woodland walk near impossible, today the sun was shining, the woods had that earthy damp smell, the sun was permeating through the trees in places, looking very theatrical, the photographs do not show off the effect that well. but quite spectacular.

No butterflies or dragonflies seen today, in fact woodland still seems very quiet, Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons are still plentiful,  a few Wren and a single Blackbird.Woodpeckers can be heard calling but not seen today. Leaves are beginning to fall in places.

11th September - A warm sunny start to the day with a heavy overnight dew on the grass, a few bird sightings today a Grey Heron seen again flying over the woods, looked like it came from the Cobham Hall Estate opposite the wood, a Juvenile Green Woodpecker seen flying from a telegraph pole at the top of the glades, Wood pigeon heard calling unseen from high in the trees, and a few Robin scuttling around the undergrowth.

A Common Blue Butterfly seen, the first for at least a week now, Speckled Wood still around.

Common Blue

Spiders Webs were very prominent this morning coated in the early morning dew. most were the Orb webs of the Common Garden Cross spider Araneus diadematus.

Garden Cross Spider

I did find just one Four spotted Orb Weaver spider   Araneus quadratus , I 'm sure there are more but this one was obvious in a huge Orb Web next to the footpath.
A beautiful large female covered in dew, the banded legs and lime green abdomen showing quite well, and you can just see the four white spots through the dew.

Four-spotted Orb Weaver Spider

Some more Fungi appearing , this Beefsteak fungus was growing deep in a hole in the roots of a windblown tree,

Beefsteak Fungus

Some more possible Sulphur Tuft fungi growing on many of the damp dead wood trees around the woodland, beginning to look very autumnal.

Not sure about the identification on the last one yet, I think I need an I.D. book.

6th September -  The weathers improved, warm and sunny today, Butterflies seem to have disappeared, bird sightings were once again very sparse, although a Grey Heron was seen flying over the glades. Fungi sightings are getting better each day with a fine specimen of Stinkhorn seen today, these do not last long, another close by had already collapsed, and a rather unpleasant smell reminiscent of a dead animal, emanating from the general vicinity of the Stinkhorn Phallus impudicus. 

Stinkhorn.

An interesting insect sighting in the form of a Dark Bush Cricket seen resting on some bramble leaves.

Dark Bush Cricket

5th September - An overcast dull morning with some drizzle made for a miserable walk, a few more birds on show strangely, the Tit flock was found near the open pasture in the woodland, Great Tits, Blue Tits , Long Tailed Tits,  at least two Nuthatches were calling in the same tree as the the Tit flock but not seen. eleven Jackdaws sitting in a Dead tree near two ponds, one Swallow seen hawking very low over the glades.

4th September - Woodlands still very quiet, not much change over the last few weeks, trees are still loaded with berries, a few fungi specimens starting to appear. beginning to feel like autumn.
I noticed this Beefsteak fungi just breaking through on an old tree stump, I have noted this particular fungus on the same stump last year.

 Beefsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica

1st September - Not much happening in the woodland at the moment, Butterfly and dragonfly sightings have all but disappeared, there is a very autumnal feel to the air at the moment, which is probably why sightings are few and far between.
I have encountered a fair sized Tit flock on occasion, consisting mainly of Blue, great and Long tailed Tits, ChiffChaffs and a few Blackcap, always near the Elderberry trees, and not much else of note.

The Hedgerows are full of autumn berries at the moment which bodes well for the winter birds soon to travel to our shores. So who likes what, Blackbirds have found to be wide ranging when it comes to fruits ,typically taking  haws, rosehips, sloes, Dogwood, Buckthorn, Elder, Yew and Holly. although haws seem to be their preferred fruit. Song Thrush's prefer Yew, sloes, Elder and Guelder Rose and show a clear dislike of rosehips.  Mistle Thrush shows a strong preference for sloes over haws. The Redwing prefers to feed on haws as do  the Fieldfare.
The Blackbird, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush can feed on rose hips, the hips being too large for the smaller Song Thrush and Redwing

Heres a selection that I have come across, some familiar, some not so familiar.

Elderberry

The Elderberry this one is quite easy to identify and a common berry around the woodland. Elderberries seem very plentiful and attractive especially to Blackcaps.
 The berry laden trees seem to attract Chiffchaffs in good numbers, not feeding on the berries but fly catching around the berries.
These are quite popular with wine makers

Rubus fruticosus -  Blackberry

The bramble or Blackberry as many people refer to it, is actually a fruiting shrub of the Rose family, a fact I was unaware of, but when you think about it, there are a lot of similarities.
They seem to be in plentiful supply this year, relished by people and animals alike. although I had to laugh when  an old pensioner recently told me that he had just been scolded by another pensioner for picking the berries who had stated that these were for the wildlife.........
There seems to be plenty to go around for everyone.

Haws

Another easily recognizable berry are the fruits of the Hawthorn known as " Haws" these can stay on the tree until February or March, they are a favoured berry of Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfares, also eaten by Chaffinch, Starling and Greenfinch.
 These "Haws" are edible and liken to the taste of over-ripened apples,
 these are commonly made into jellies, jams, and syrups, used to make wine, or to add flavour to brandy, rather than eaten fresh. although I have never been tempted to try them. Widely recognized as a cardiovascular tonic, another fact that I was unaware of is that the "Haws" can be used as a medical remedy, especially in Europe, as an approved treatment for the initial stages of heart failure,with the goal of improving patients without the use of drugs.

Sloe's

Not so many of these around the woodland but I did find a few growing in the hedgerow and around the glades, I am pretty certain that these are the famous "Sloe" berry.

 Sloes are part of the same family as  plums, cherries and peaches. These berries are not usually ripe for picking until October or November, but uncommon weather conditions for the season have caused the sloes to ripen early.

Once prepared  the bitter tasting sloes are mixed with sugar and gin, left for several months to make a  delicious liqueur, I have yet to have the pleasure of tasting a Sloe gin liqueur, 

The rose hip, also known as rose haw or rose hep, is the fruit of the rose plant, they are particularly high in vitamin C, one of the richest plant sources available.
They can be eaten raw, but care is required to avoid the hairs inside the hip. ( hairs have been known to be used as itching irritant.
Because of there high vitamin C content they are traditionally used to make a rosehip syrup, apparently this was done during the war years. They have also been used to make Herbal teas, jams, jellies, rosehip soup ? pies,bread and of course wine. The rose hips are also attractive to small mammals like the Bank Vole.

Dogwood berries ( dogberries)

I am not really familiar with this one, there are a few bushes growing along the hedgerow, I think they are the berries of a Dogwood species, sometimes known as dogberries. It is said that the berries are regarded as poisonous, but not strictly true, just inedible.

Wayfarer tree berries.

These Wayfarer tree berries are very abundant , especially along the hedgerows in the glades., the berries are especially attractive to both birds and small mammals, not very good for humans as eating them can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.