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| newly cut meadow - looking very different from final photo of my last post |
On arrival at the reserve about 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning it was immediately apparent that a lot had been happening during my holiday absence! The meadow had been cut by MWT's David Bellamy using an altogether tougher machine than usual and the resulting hay had been raked off by volunteers the following day. I staked out the compost heap as the freshly cut meadow hay often attracts Goldcrests and Wrens looking for insects but I saw none for the time being. A new handrail had also been constructed where the stream is piped into the reserve. In summer when the foliage is abundant it's hard to see that the stream is there and the rail should prevent potential accidents. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC209694 Snipe ( put up by my husband walking by); Pheasant heard not seen; 2 x juvenile Blackbirds foraging on ground along the gorse boundary; Great Tit. Wren. Blue Tit near the path Junction.
SC209694 ( from hide) Water Rail heard several times but not seen; Goldfinch x 2 drinking from the pond on the far side; Song Thrush; female Chaffinch; juvenile Blackbird; Robin.
SC208694 Long-tailed Tit x 3; Coal Tit; 3 x Goldfinch drinking and bathing in the stream near the boardwalk; Blackbird; Robin; male Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Wren ; Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Buzzard being mobbed by corvids.
SC209695 Wren; Goldcrest; Blackbird x 2;
SC210694 Robin.
Butterflies: ( it was not "butterfly weather", so surprised to see one at all)
SC209694 Speckled Wood
Other:
SC209694 Marmalade Hoverfly on Cushag/ Ragwort
SC209694 male Hawker Dragonfly over main pond.
SC208695 Brown Birch Bolete; more Pestle Puffballs have come through; Brown Rollrim fungi; unidentified clumps of fungi with split caps.
SC208694 several large funnel type fungi + other unidentified fungi
a pair of juvenile Blackbirds on the Gorse Boundary
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| juvenile Blackbird seen from hide |
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| possibly the same one later |
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| Buzzard being given a hard time by Corvids |
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| a direct attack! |
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| Song Thrush seen from hide |
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| Chiffchaff seen briefly near the boardwalk |
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| Goldfinch, also near the boardwalk |
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| Speckled Wood sheltering in long grass |
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| Marmalade Hoverfly |
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| Dragonflies are very hard to photograph |
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| Probably a Common or Migrant Hawker male |
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| Fungi Season is upon us ! A Funnel near the compost area |
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| biro gives scale |
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| they have very decurrent gills |
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| some have additional fungi growing on them! |
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| King Alfred's Cakes fungi on Ash |
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| Brown Birch Bolete - biro gives scale |
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| a very tall specimen - note biro |
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| Pestle Puffballs still going strong |
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| a new specimen |
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| and a very old one |
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| also Brown Rollrims in this part of the reserve |
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| I believe they are deadly poisonous! |
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| underside showing the rolled rim and staining |
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| these toadstools tend to split, giving a starry appearance |
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| unknown fungi under the willows |
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| more unknown fungi deep under the bushes |
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| Hawthorn berries much depleted since my last visit |
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| old and new Alder Cones together |
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| an "Oak Apple" caused by Gall Wasp Biorhiza pallida |
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| always a sense of anticipation when arriving after an absence! |
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| the meadow certainly looked very different |
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| the tractor mower had made short work of the encroaching brambles |
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| usual view of the boardwalk looking very different |
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| view from the boardwalk |
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| looking back towards the hide |
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| the new safety handrail |
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| and seen from the other direction |
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| all quiet at the dragonfly pond |
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| although I did see a Wren nearby |
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| usual view of the reed bed by the willows |
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| and the reedy bend looking a bit wider than usual |
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| usual view of the hide has changed considerably |
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| view from the ramp gives an idea of weather conditions |
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| I am still getting used to the new look pond |
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| the view through the shutters has changed considerably |
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| the view through the side shutter |
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| along the gorse boundary |
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| the glade |
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| glancing back before I left |
A pleasant morning's visit despite somewhat gloomy conditions and the odd spot of rain.
please click on photos to enlarge them
