by Alan Waterman
This was a Bioblitz type of walk originally set up to look particularly at the fungi it being that time of year but as it turned out we only saw about 4 different species. There was a very impressive bracket fungus growing on a dead Beech tree. There being no Fungi experts it was identified as a Ganoderma species, probably applanatum, commonly known as Artist Bracket but not 100%. Close by was the common Tametes versiclour and we also saw some puff balls, a Lycoperdon species. Initially we visited a pond which had a large amount of Crassula growing across it and was in need of some major clearance, the problem with this invasive species is that once it colonises you will never get rid of it so you have a job for life. The pond also had some marginal Flag Irises and Purple Loosestrife which no doubt look quite attractive in Spring and Summer. The woods were populated largely by mature Oaks with some Sycamore, not so many wildflowers out at this time of year but we did see come Enchanter’s Nightshade, Woundwort , Lemon Balm and Thyme-leaved Speedwell in flower, other plants were Dogs Mercury, Wood Avens, White Dead Nettle, Black Bryony and Herb Robert. Juliet spotted some Small Balsam in the wood? ‘I only came across it when I was mooching about after tea, but it was very abundant in the north west corner of the wood at least. That was probably the most unusual plant I saw’.
On the far side of the woods were open fields with a nice wide headland, from here we had views across open country and saw Buzard, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite, growing amongst the grasses along the headland were quite a few Red Bartsia plants also still in flower. The full Bird list compiled by Mike Daw is as follows.
Wood Pigeon
Nuthatch
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Goldcrest
Robin
Buzzard
Wren
Long-tailed Tit
Marsh Tit
Marsh Harrier
Red Kite
Jay
The day was dull and not so warm so we did not see any Moths or Butterflies but Guy Meridith was on hand and identified t many species often by virtue of their leaf mining activity. In the afternoon Guy stayed on and did pick up a few Butterflies as the day warmed up. Here are his records.
Moths
Checklist no., Scientific name, Common name(s), UK status, stage(s) observed, typical UK larval food(s)
Nepticulidae
4.014 Stigmella catharticella Buckthorn Dot / Buckthorn Pigmy Local (larval mine) Buckthorn
4.015 Stigmella anomalella Rose Dot / Rose Leaf-miner Common (larval mine) Roses
4.034 Stigmella tityrella Small Beech Dot / Small Beech Pigmy Common (larval mine) Beech
4.042 Stigmella plagicolella Blue-shot Dot / Scrubland Pigmy Common (larval mine) Blackthorn, other Prunus sp.
4.056 Stigmella speciosa Beautiful Sycamore Dot / Barred Sycamore Pigmy Common (larval mine) Sycamore
Tischeriidae
10.001 Tischeria ekebladella Oak Blotch-miner / Oak Carl Common (larval mine) Oak, Sweet chestnut
Gracillariidae
15.028 Parornix anglicella Hawthorn Parornix / Hawthorn Slender Common (larval feeding signs) Hawthorn, Wild service tree
15.039 Phyllonorycter quercifoliella Common Oak Leaf-miner / Common Oak Midget Common (adult) Oak
15.040 Phyllonorycter messaniella Ilex Leaf-miner / Garden Midget Common (larval mine) Oaks, Beech, Sweet chestnut, Hornbeam
15.043 Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae Common Thorn Leaf-miner / Common Thorn Midget Common (larval mine) Hawthorn, Pear, Quince
15.052 Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Hawthorn Leaf-miner / Hawthorn Midget Common (larval mine) Rosaceous trees & shrubs (f. betulae Birch)
15.063 Phyllonorycter maestingella Beech Leaf-miner / Beech Midget Common (larval mine) Beech
15.089 Cameraria ohridella Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Common (larval mines & adult) Horse Chestnut
Plutellidae
18.001 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth / Diamond-back Migrant (adult) Brassicas
Depressariidae
32.031 Agonopterix alstromeriana Hemlock Moth / Brown-spot Flat-body Common (adult) Hemlock
Choreutidae
48.001 Anthophila fabriciana Nettle-tap / Common Nettle-tap Common (adult) Nettles
Crambidae
63.031 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl Migrant (adult) Herbaceous plants
Geometridae
70.100 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet LC (adult) Bedstraws
Erebidae
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot LC (adult) Grasses (False brome, Tor-grass, Purple moor-grass)
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout LC (adult) Common nettle
Butterflies
Pieridae
58.007 Pieris rapae Small White LC (adult) Wild Crucifers, Brassicas (Cabbages), Nasturtium
Nymphalidae
59.023 Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral LC (adult) Common nettle
59.026 Aglais io Peacock LC (adult) Common nettle
59.031 Polygonia c-album Comma LC (adult) Common nettle, Elms, Hop
Juliet was on hand and made this list of Lichens which is shown below.
The Lichen list, from within the wood and from the boundary wall.
Juliet was on hand and made this list of Lichens which is shown below.There’s nothing exceptional on it, though several are rarely recorded so would appear rare on the maps.
On the trees
Alyxoria varia
Arthonia didyma
Arthonia radiata
Candelaria concolor
Candelariella xanthostigmoides
Coenogonium pineti
Diarthonis spadicea
Diploicia canescens
Glaucomaria carpinea
Graphis scripta s. lat.
Hypogymnia physodes
Hypotrachyna revoluta s. str.
Lecania naegelii
Lecanora argentata
Lecanora hybocarpa
Lecidella elaeochroma f. elaeochroma
Lepraria incana s. lat.
Melanelixia subaurifera
Myriolecis sambuci
Opegrapha vulgata
Parmelia sulcata
Parmotrema perlatum
Phlyctis argena
Physcia adscendens
Ramalina farinacea
Ramalina fastigiata
Xanthoria parietina
Telogalla olivieri
Vouauxiella lichenicola
On the boundary wall
Acrocordia conoidea
Bagliettoa calciseda
Bagliettoa parmigera s. lat.
Caloplaca aurantia
Caloplaca dichroa
Caloplaca flavescens
Caloplaca flavocitrina
Catillaria lenticularis
Circinaria calcarea
Lathagrium auriforme
Myriolecis albescens
Protoblastenia rupestris
Thelidium decipiens
Thelidium pyrenophorum
Verrucaria nigrescens f. nigrescens As we returned two Muntjac deer were spotted in the woods close to the buildings, and our visit was finished off with a welcome cup of tea or coffee and some chocolate biscuits. Many thanks.