Nature Fact

The Shaggy Ink-cap is also known as Lawyer’s Wig.   Readily recognized by the shaggy, narrowly conical cap which soon blackens from below and deliquesces into an inky fluid.   It is a good edible species when young, while the gills remain white, but must be eaten very soon after gathering.

Nature Notes September

September was recorded as one of the driest on record with very little rainfall.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Carrion  Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Stonechats, Willow Warbler, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Wren, Song Thrushes, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Plants in flower:   Ling Heather, Bell Heather, Low growing Gorse.
Insects:   Common Green Grasshopper, Wasp Spider, Ants, Crane Flies, Bees, Wasps.
Pond Life:   Pond Skaters, Water Boatman.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Meadow Brown.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox, Roe Deer, Wood Mice.

The majority of migrating birds have now left the site.
Pipistrelle Bats are still feeding on warm dry nights.

Nature Fact

Pipistrelle Bats are creatures of habit and tend to follow the same routes each night but will quickly change to a new hunting area if food becomes scarce.  When the bat’s stomach is full, it comes to rest on a tree and stays there until digestion has  progressed sufficiently to allow further feeding.

Nature Notes August

The weather during August was mainly mild and dry with sunshine.  However, the latter part of the month turned cooler with long periods of heavy rain.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, Stock Doves, Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed/Common Gulls, Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Robins, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Siskins, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Stonechat.
Mammals:   Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Wood Mice, Fox.
Reptiles:   Common Lizard, Grass Snake, Slow Worm.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Four Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied, Common Darter, Small Red, Red Veined Darter
Plants in flower:   Herb Robert, Common Vetch, White Clover, Low growing Gorse Lousewort.
Insects:   Green Grasshopper, Bog Cricket, Green Shield Bug, Robber Fly.
Pond Life:   Pond skaters, Water Boatman.
Butterflies/Moths:   Peacock, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Silver-studded Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Species of day flying Moths.

As the end of the month approached, several species of migrant birds were seen passing through on site.  Tree Pipits, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers all depart August/September.
Blackberries, Rowan/Holly/Bird Cherry  berries were observed being consumed mainly by Blackbirds.
Many Blackbirds were observed sunbathing, with wings outspread.

Nature Fact

Blackberries:   The main consumers of bramble berries are Marsh and Willow Tits, Bullfinches, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.  Among mammals, Foxes, Badgers and even Squirrels and Deer are fond of bramble berries.  The berries are sought for their energy-rich pulp, while the seeds within pass undigested through the gut and are conveniently deposited in a ‘ready-grow’ package of manure.