Snow Geese

 

In this country the Snow Goose is a rare vagrant arriving in the Autumn with Pink Footed and Barnacle Geese. However to further complicate things in addition to the arrivals from the Canadian Tundra there’s also a small feral population normally living in Scotland. Originally 4 Snow Geese turned up close to Leighton Moss in October 2010. In March they disappeared. In October 2011 3 of them returned. The fact that they’re following a migratory pattern and lack any rings suggests they are wild birds however nobody seems to know for sure.

Whatever their origin they’re certainly attractive birds and as of mid February 2012 they were still at Leighton Moss.

Safety in numbers. Snowgeese with the resident Greylags at Leighton Moss February 2012.

1st day of Spring

Whilst officially Spring doesn’t begin until mid March over the past couple of weeks its finally started to slowly arrive. In fact after spending a day walking around in the sunshine close to Morecambe Bay we’ve decided that this year Spring arrived on the 19th February. With the temperature forecast to reach the dizzying heights of 15C later on this week it might even be overtaken by summer.

Snowdrops at Gait Barrow NNR

Pollen bearing Hazel catkins at Kenworthy Wood

The far smaller and almost insignificant female flower of the Hazel again at Kenworthy Wood Scarlet Elfcup at Leighton Moss found between the causeway and lower hide on rotting Elder. There’s also a similar Green Elfcup fungi that can be found in the limestone woodlands around the Silverdale area. Historically due to the green colouration it gave to timber it was highly prized by cabinet makers and other craftsmen. Fortunately the insensitively named Jews ear fungi has been rechristened as Jelly Ear in the more recently published reference books.

Scarlet Elfcups at Leighton Moss.

Jews ear fungi on Elder at Leighton Moss

Rose-ringed and Amazons

Ring-necked Parakeet at Fog Lane Park, Didsbury. Currently there’s thought to be up to 20 of these Parakeets around the south Manchester area with Fog Lane Park, Alexandra Park and Southern Cemetery being amongst the more regular haunts. In contrast to the situation in London the number of birds up here have been fairly steady over the past 10 years. Even when it dropped to –15C last winter they didn’t seem to be affected. Originally within this country they were referred to as Rose-ringed Parakeets however the RSPB and BTO seemed to have adopted the less exotic name of Ring-necked Parakeet.

Home is where the hole is

Unmistakeable and normally heard before they’re seen.

The Orange winged Amazon.

Orange-winged Amazon at Fog Lane Park, Didsbury This particular bird has been roosting with the parakeets for the past couple of years. Again primarily a tropical species originating from South America and the Caribbean it appears to have adapted to life within south Manchester’s suburbs. Unfortunately the related Crimson Rosella another member of the south Manchester flock of parrots didn’t make it through last winter.

A Winter’s Day

 

Again took the opportunity of another break in the weather and headed up to WWT Martin Mere. I’d almost forgotten how busy it gets on a Sunday afternoon. Although its encouraging to see the sheer number of people with an interest in the environment trying to get a good, close up view of anything is far from easy.

Undoubtedly the highlights were a Willow Tit from the Janet Kear hide and approximately 8  Tundra Bean Geese from the Ron Barker hide.  Unfortunately the geese were too far out to photograph.

Willow Tit

Willow Tit

Tree Sparrow (one of the Mere’s specialities)

Ruff

Whooper Swan

A smart looking Drake Pintail. On the way back we made a quick detour off the M6 to Lowton, parked up in the Traveller’s Rest and walked down to Highfield Moss. Plenty of Golden Plover, a few Lapwings and Fieldfare in the fields. On the moss itself at least 7 Snipe at dusk followed shortly by a great display from 2 Short eared Owls.

Highfield Moss at dusk

A distant Short eared Owl

Quartering the moss in near darkness

Wood Mice

Finally after weeks of rain it stopped for a whole day and I was able to get out once again with the camera and binoculars. Although they’re far from rare it’s always good to come across a communal nest of Wood Mice. There was around 10 individuals in this particular nest unfortunately they’re far too fast for a precise count.

Wood Mouse near Chorlton Water Park, Manchester

Fairly typical food remains found close to the nest. It’s always seemed a little strange that they tend to leave the flesh of the various fruits and berries preferring to eat just the seeds. Over the past couple of months the local Kestrel has been out most days with the occasional siting of the Foxes and Weasels. It’ll be interesting to see how many wood mice make it through to Spring.

Bearded Tits

 

Unmistakeable, gorgeous little birds from a late October trip up to Leighton Moss. In total there must have been around 20 adults and juveniles “feeding” on the grit trays watched by a similar number of bird watchers.

Also a couple of Marsh Harriers, several Buzzards, 22 Snipe, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2000 Oystercatchers, 250,000 Starlings and 60 plus Little Egrets coming into roost. Unfortunately we missed the Otters. Had a quick look for the Silverdale Hawfinches but no luck however plenty of Nuthatches, Treecreepers, Bullfinch, Redwing and Fieldfare around.

Hopefully the next visit up north will be to Roudsea Wood and Mosses National Nature Reserve. 

Late Summer Highlights

A few of the late summer highlights from Septembers trip down south.
Nettle leaved Bellflower growing at the memorial entrance to DWT’s Kilwood nature reserve. Also occurs along the roadside verge at the base of the Hazel hedge. Unfortunately no sign of the Hazel Dormouse although nationally Kilwood is one of their strongholds. The other bellflower seen was the far more common Harebell. We did consider a trip over to Bindon Hill just east of Lulworth Cove for the Clustered Bellflower reputedly growing in the downland close to the top. However, at this time of the year the hill is accessible weekend only due to its location within the MOD firing range. Likewise the Fossil forest !

Nettle leaved Bellflower – Kilwood DWT, East Creech

Nettle leaved Bellflower – Kilwood DWT

Harebell – Bucknowle

In addition to the bellflowers the Teasel family also provided some late season interest with Durlston Country Park Field the venue for a specatacular display. Some quite impressive flocks of Goldfinch and a few Yellowhammers were seen taking advantage of the seedheads. Teasel – Durlston Country Park NNR Good to see plenty of Field Scabious on the south facing slopes of the downs. The photo’s below were taken just west of Corfe Castle.

Field Scabious – Bucknowle

Field Scabious – Bucknowle

Another speciality of the dry chalkland is the Carline Thistle. At first glance the brown and golden flower heads look like a withered daisy or a thistle that's gone to seed, however a closer inspection reveals they’re in full flower.

Carline Thistle – Durlston Country Park NNR

A couple of Sundews from a quick visit to the National Nature Reserve at Morden Bog whilst the wife was shopping in Wareham. To be honest I was really looking for Hobby’s, Osprey and Smooth snakes. Although I managed to get a good view of the first two without the SLR and long lens as Harry Callahan once said  “a man's got to know his limitations”.

Oblong leaved Sundew – Morden Bog NNR

The far more common Round Leaved Sundew – Morden Bog

Early Autumn Fungi – Part 3

 

The last few from September’s visit to Dorset.

Places visited included Arne, Kilwood Nature reserve (DWT), Morden Bog and Middlebere Farm (NT).

For a great link to help with the Lichens the following is highly recommended - Lichen identification

Common Funnel Cap

Ramalina fastigiata – Kilwood DWT	Parmelia caperata – Kilwood DWT
Slime mould - Arne	Cladonia polydactyla – Morden Bog

Parasol Mushroom – Middlebere Farm NT	Boletus sp. not sure which one – Kilwood DWT

Early Autumn Fungi – Part 2

More fungi from Arne and Kilwood Nature Reserve in East Creech, Dorset

Underside of the Bleeding Oak Crust Polypore – Kilwood DWT

Bleeding Oak Crust (above)	Bleeding Oak Crust
Giant Funnel – Kilwood DWT	Tawny Grisette – Arne

Slippery Jack – Kilwood DWT

Not sure about the ID of this one but possibly Cinnamon Webcap	The Deceiver -another common heathland fungi
Plums and Custard.	Primrose Brittlegill at Arne