birdcount --- 28th September 2012

28 species is pretty low, but the weather was not great for bird counting.  Only two species stood out, namely Swallows ( 133) and House Martins (31).  Migration was in full swing.  Meadow pipits were also in evidence.

Otherwise things were just keeping hidden.  Lots of things must have been present, but we did not see them.



click here to see the spreadsheet


martin

birdcount --- 24th August 2012

Please find below link to the birdcount spreadsheet for august 2012

35 Species this month including Spotted Flycatcher, Stock Dove, Heron, Grey Wagtail and House Martin.

Birds are starting to move, for instance the swallows (19), and the numbers of mistle thrushes (29) is the normal post breeding gatherings.  They tend to be in Pines, which always surprises us, since the rowan berries look much more suitable.

The Grey Wagtail and Heron are presumably dispersals after breeding, and its not as is they have had to come far.

And on that score, where were all the finches. No goldfinches, Greenfinches, Linnets, or Redpolls.  Do they all buzz off for some harvest binge? And the woodlarks, skylarks and meadow pipits?

plase click here to see the spreadsheet


Martin

birdcount --- 26th July 2012

I think this is 37 species, which rather overstates the day, given that plenty of the records were of single events.  Birds just did not want to be seen.  The total numbers were bolstered by one flock of 45 tits.

Starling and yellowhammer are probably the most exciting.

I guess poor weather, and hiding for moulting are the reasons.


click here to see spreadsheet


martin

birdcount --- 20th June 2012

41 species again.

This time a garden warbler in the car park was the most interesting species.

Spotted flycatcher was again recorded.

Bullfinches, Redpolls, Crossbills at this time of year are pleasing potential breeders.

As always a number of species missing, that one knows are there somewhere.  Where for instance were the longtailed tits?



click here to see the spreadsheet


martin

birdcount --- 24th May 2012

Here is the bird count at Old Lodge for 24th May 2012

click here for spreadsheet

41 species all told.  Quite a nice total with most of the warblers included

2 Grey Partridge were taking advantage of the new fields on Old Lodge for the stud farm.  I assume this is a new species for the bird count.  There used to be strange red-legged partridge on the estate which appeared to be completely tame.  These 2 appeared wild and flew across the field really before we 'saw' them.

2 Spotted flycatcher were nice to see.

martin

Third Kingdom handout from Ray

Ray included the following document for those that have not seen it


click on the link below to see it


click on this link for document


Martin

List of Fungi on Foray 11th October 2012

Ray has sent me this list of species for the day.  It is an rtf file.  click the link below to get it.

It is possible that your browser will do interesting things with it.  Shout if you have problems.

click the link for the file


martin

John's Huge Fungus --- Ray's response

John brought up to Old Lodge a huge Fungus which he had taken off a copper beech in his church yard.

Ray corrected John's identification saying that it was a Giant Polypore ( Meripilus giganteus, not Grifola frondosa) and sent the following information on it.

'Dear Martin

First chance to get back to you on this cf. your friend with the Beech tree problem in the Churchyard.

This is being attacked by Meripilus giganteus , the Giant Polypore, an aggressive root-rotting parasite, which undermines the stability of the tree.

Roger Phillips notes: Not edible due to the sour taste and fibrous texture. It is not ‘Hen of the Woods’  Grifola frondosa which is smaller, less tough and occurs mainly at the base of Oak trees (and is considered edible, but should be viewed as a candidate for conservation as it is Uncommon).'

Please find a link below to the pdf of 'Hen of the woods'


please click on this link to see the pdf

Book ref:The Mushroom Guide & Identifier: Peter Jordan – who writes as a ‘forager’


Sorry if image comes upside down. I am sure you can sort out.

Ray indicates that this is a very aggressive fungus, and the tree is likely to be dangerous, unsaveable and best cut down immediately, possibly with council advice.


Martin

'greenish blob' on Fungus foray 11/oct/2012

One of the foray group found a 'greenish blob' or 'Myxophyceae Nostoc'

Ray has sent this information on the creature / thing

Ray Tantram
to me

This shows what this rather anonymous greenish blob really looks like!

Martin, please forward this to at least the finder!

Thanks!

below is a link to a pdf that Ray attached



click here for pdf page

Sorry if it is sideways in your browser.



Martin

16th October 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Pat, Katherine, Alan, David p, Ray, Tim, Neil and Martin

Activities:

- lent Paul of Windy Ridge 4 large spades, 3 small spades and a mattock, to be returned next week
- cut down broken beech branch along the side of first cottage (Nina's) with pole saw to make path safe.  Arisings processed and added to wood pile
- filled in muddy dips in parking area opposite cottages with stones taken from behind tool store
- showed volunteers the amethyst deceivers
- two bonfires in wooded area below roller stand, burning brash from contractors' felling
- pulled birch saplings near bridge
- showed contractors the two leaning pines to be taken out, and a marked birch in the same area.
- disposed of the giant polypore in the ditch.  Not hen of the woods as originally thought
- found a hanging branch near bonfire.  Considered safer, (being away from public and likely to snag a foot lower if separated), than doing anything with it.

Observations:

- raven
- fly ageric
- kestrel
- two horses riding out of Old Lodge estate, along to cottages and back.  A first?

 Martin

9th October 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Pat, David a, Tim, Alan, and Martin

Activities:

- tidied up wood piles
- brought wood into tool store for a rainy day
- cleared bramble
- with mark, collected all piles of gorse, some piles of birch
- with rubens cut down  marked trees to the north of the swamp.
- turned off water to the troughs

Observations:

- buck with v large antlers
- 2 crossbills
- plenty of meadow pipits

 Martin

2nd October 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Alan, David p, Neil, and  Martin

Activities:

- cut  more gorse along road
- dragged down arisings to fire site
- bonfire of gorse and pine brash from nearby contractor felling
- informed fire service as usual
- covered east of stream  back to ryde junction for new bracken,  pine and birch saplings, noting areas that will need digging

Observations:

- 4 ravens
- 3 swallows
- meadow pipits
- possible hobby calling
- John brought amazing hen of the woods to show us

Martin

25th September 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, Tim, Neil, David a, Keith and Martin.

Activities:

- rounded up ponies and sent them to the South Downs
- packed up corral on trailer.  This is to be picked up by Monty later.
- cleared bramble from cedar wood-piles.  One re-stacked for easy access by Jonathan , and other two consolidated.
- cut more gorse along the road and dragged a lot down to the bonfire site near cuckoo pond
- pole sawed two small birch branches that got in the way of horse lorry tail gate.

Observations:

- sparrow hawk
- meadow pipits
- green woodpecker


Martin

18th September 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan, Mike, David a, David p, Alan, Tim and  Martin

Activities:

- bracken pulling along  M1 and Heath above west pond
- bonfire of cut gorse on old fire site near cuckoo pond
- cut more gorse along road

Observations:

- crossbill
- Buzzard, kestrel
- meadow pipits, siskins, nuthatches
- gorse mites
- frank cut the south bank of road


 martin

11th September 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan , Mike , David a, David p, Keith , Martin , joined by Mark and Rubens

Activities :

- mended brochures box again
- pulled bracken towards bridge
- pulled bramble on S heath
- moved log piles on beeches avenue  to behind tool store
- cut up birch trunks on beeches avenue and stacked . Also cut stumps down, including pine on bank
- bagged remaining bark at roller stand

Martin

4th September 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Martin, Mike, David a, David p, Pat and Ray

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- pulled brambles on south heath
- pulled ragwort either side of road
- pulled bracken along east boundary
- cut more gaps on gorse along road
- pulled bramble off log piles
- ring barked 4 pines near cuckoo pond
- felled small leaning birch there
- collected bark chips.  David p took large builders bag, and Pat two small coal bags of it.


Observations:

- dead adder on road
- crossbills
- marsh tit near tool store
- Ravens, probably 3
- tree creeper, chiffchaff,

Martin

28th August 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

David a, David p, Mike, Neil, Jonathan ,  Alan and Martin

Activities:

- lookered the ponies
- checked south heath fencing.  Re-stapled some and added 5 fence posts supporting some weak or broken ones
- did some gorse cutting along road, continuing some earlier work.  We make channels through to the fence  and then along the fence, producing island of gorse that can be grazed from all sides.  Arisings piled on reserve side of fence.
- scythed grass along path to car park
- re-mended lid of brochure box
- finished slashing path through bracken from level pond to central fence.
- pulled ragwort from both sides of cricket field.  Arisings hidden in brash pile away from grazing reach
- moved ten fence posts to tool store and use on south heath

Observations

- honey from nestbox is delicious
- swallows moving
- 2 buzzards
- goldfinch


Martin

21st August 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Mike, Jonathan , David a, David p, Alan, Ray and Martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- moved ponies from South Heath onto main reserve.  Went well
- pulled bracken on south heath
- pulled ragwort from ol1
- slashed bracken on path to level pond, and across to path down the stream
- dug up birch from crossroads down towards stream, and a bit above


Observations:

- crossbill
- buzzard
- 2 orchids
- dodder spreading
- bees inside nest box
- red kite seen by Monty and others recently
- flock of mistle thrushes
- small coppers, gatekeepers
- swallows moving
- large amount of bramble on south heath
- restarts, nuthatches , g s woodpecker, pheasant
- fallow deer
- b hawker, c darter, b b chaser
- yellow slime mould on s heath



Martin

14th August 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Keith, Ray, Pat, Neil, Jonathan  and Martin

Mike visited the site, and inspected the work.

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- checked ragwort on cricket field
- pulled ragwort along road
- cleared channels at causeway. Remade a path surface over both Irish bridges with extracted sods, bracken and dug clay and peat.  Water level has now fallen considerably.
- pulled bracken along beeches avenue at northern end.
- slashed bracken on path side of fence there
- pulled bracken along M1
- slashed half the deer track under the pylons

Observations:

- 7 buzzards in a thermal
- dodder still in flower
- couple of blue butterflies
- s hawker, b hawker
- bee flies
- checked the bee hive.  Thinking of allowing expansion into second nest box.
- flocks of house martins and swallows moving
- hobby
- blackcap, stonechats
- s wood, brimstone, m brown, gatekeeper, l skipper


Martin

7th August 2012 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Alan, Ray, Neil, and martin

Activities:

- lookered ponies
- pulling bracken and birch along the top to the bench and then on eastern slope of stream either side of bridge
- slashed bracken on path along stream, completing route started last week
- pulled ragwort in front of tool store
- tightened up barb on the heave gate behind the tool store
- scythed , dug and pulled bramble from behind tool store
- inspected the causeway.  Some grass clearance scheduled for next week

Observations:

- dozen crossbills
- kestrel calling from nest
- dodder examined.  It has spread a little west
- stonechats
- ravens
- longtail  tits
- tree creepers
- redstarts
- goldfinch


Martin

31st July 2012 ...weekly volunteers

Present:

John, Jonathan , Alan, David a, Pat, Keith, and Martin

Activities:

- mended pamphlet box with neoprene hinge
- dug a small ditch to soak away the excess rain from bottom of car park
- made some small channels to divert water as it comes down the car park
- recovered path to kissing gate with bark chips collected from roller stand
- pulled bracken along east bank (to burnt area) and strip on other side of path. On top heath, between pillow mound, Reynard's way and path behind cottages. And more work from bench down to stream.
- pulled ragwort from cess pit area, and on exit road.  Arisings taken for garden compost
- inspected honey bees in nest box near causeway, and started making contacts through Keith for their recovery.
- slashed the bracken back from path down and along stream.  More still to do.
- lookered the ponies.  They are not noticeably effecting quantity of grass on south heath yet.
- pollarded a birch on beeches avenue, where a branch was forcing visitors to detour around it.  Brash hauled towards bank.
- bramble along back of tool store given a scythe, and arising dumped in ditch

Observations:

- redstart
- redpoll
- raven
- poor showery, muggy day with wind
- tent finally given extra twist, and fitted into bag.  David a has taken for grandchild.
- the two small patches of dodder are flowering


Martin