LowestoftNaturalist and Photographer

Back to The old patch

2011-10-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well after three years living in Beccles I have decided to go back to Lowestoft where the birding and Nature is much better and richer. I will be the Lowestoft Naturalist from 1st November 2011

Knoppers

2011-09-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

A great walk this afternoon with Heather and her kids to Ellough we saw plenty of plant galls including these bright Knopper Galls (Andricus quercuscalis.) on acorns.

Over 100 flowering plants seen including Amaranthus retroflexus. (Common Amaranth.)

The Slugs and Snails

2011-07-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more interesting for children this summer holiday to make a pet of the land molluscs namely slugs and snails. Keeping a few in a large jar covered with paper with breating holes and feeding them with lettuce or other succulant plants is a very interesting pastime. Slugs have no shell to speak of and can be tickled and you can see the response as if one was coaching a cat or a dog. By searching under logs and your parents or friends compsot heaps many different slugs and snails may be found to be studied. The large Slug Arion ater has some distinct colour froms and in my garden I find the variety called rufus in good numbers. For our large common garden snail Helix aspersa they too can be collected from garden vegetation and you children may be helping with pest control by taking them and rearing them. Try painting the shell different colours using a felt tip pen and locate them throughout the garden for the rest of the year.
Some Snail connoissuers feed them with lettuce for a few weeks to purge the snail of impurities and boil and eat them just like the french who call then "Escargot."

Bath Hills Norfolk

2011-05-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I enjoyed a walk from Bungay Common to the Bath Hills at Ditchingham.
The dried ground did not produce the very small plants on the common that are unusual.
But the Bath Hills produced many copulating Azure Damselflies (Coenagrion puella.)

several Cardinal Beetles (Pyrochroa serraticornis.) and Banded Demoiselles by the river Waveney. When I got home I saw this micro moth Pyrausta aurata. on our Thyme.

Adder Watching

2011-04-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Saw more Adders today in a North Suffolk Woodland edge along with a few Grass Snakes.

a few Green veined whites too.

at Home Two Waxwings were in trees opposite our garden.

Blackcaps and Snakes

2011-04-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

Another foray to my sites for Adders produced about seven but as I was nearing mid day I thought it a good count. After tea a walk around teh patch produced the first Blackcap of the year, a fine male in song. This morning we saw a brimstone at Barnby Bends. Finally this sunset last night was brilliant.

Adder Survey

2011-03-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Travelled to the Suffolk Sandling's to survey the Adders at only 8c and overcast conditions with a cold southerly wind only seven were found, I now have many photographs of Adders and will now start my own dossier on them as you can tell individuals by their head pattern.

Dull day produced Owls

2011-03-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Nest recording this morning for the BTO and found a Tawny Owl Nest and Little Owl. 1st singing Chifffchaff of the year locally too.

Spring moves fast

2011-03-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

After a long cold miserable winter and the dullest February in 18 years today I visited Sotterley. Saw six Hawfinches at dawn, the Galanthus nivalis flore pleno (double flowered.) were almost over but the Daffodils more than made up for it.

another fishing spot gone.(Childhood Memories of the River Hundred).

2010-12-19T11:33:00.001-08:00

The regular pre fishing visits to my local angling shop often produces reports on the local scene. Match weights don’t interest me at all it is the specimen fishing I enjoy. I am an all round angler as much as I am an all round countryside sports writer and Naturalist. My publications are varied as is my angling and planning my next trip is just as exciting as tracking Otters on the upper river Waveney or following the wildfowlers in the middle of a winter storm for those column inches that pay the bills. The information of Chub being caught in the mid reaches of my local river really gets the rods out as does reports of big Pike further downstream. There really is nothing better than your local tackle shop even if you just spend a quid on hooks the chat and the chat is second to none. (you don’t get that from online shops)
Now let’s go back to 1982. Now did my father purposely buy me a fishing set three weeks before the river season opened on June 16th yes readers all! Rivers and still waters, club or private were closed from 15th March to 16th June.
To an almost 13 year old boy the mounting excitement of that magical day was prepared for by reading the angling weeklies and walking the river banks fired with so much enthusiasm for my new sport I would spend hours there. Would the keenness have been there if I went to the river the day I received his lifetime gift. Yes of course but the anticipation of the 16th June was so stimulating I loved it (and still do.) There was nobody to teach me I was alone and as soon as that day arrived I was on my bike, new rod ste up for immediate fishing in hand and straight down to the River Hundred. The Kessingland Angling Club rented that stretch and here I cut my teeth on the fishing. It was my training ground and I landed some nice Rudd, Roach and Tench often by early morning or late evening visits sometimes I would be there all day.
Come the winter months I would fish for Pike catching a 15lb 6oz Pike in the autumn of 1985 with my late best mate Charlie. Soon into adult hood I moved away but the River Hundred never left me. I returned season after season catching a great number of species of many baits often trying out new rigs on the stretch.
Jump to 2010 and while waxing about the River Hundred in the tackle shop I was disappointed to hear that the club stretch has been given up. No more will village kids go down there and fish in safety but may be attracted to those terrible Carp puddles and the commercial angling waters.
These fish may be safe from sporting folk but it was so sad to hear one of my favourite waters was laying fallow for all time.
I have some good news, my nephew, the first in my family has taken up the sport of angling and I hope he will follow in my footsteps as an all rounder. I have witnessed the growth of easy angling in the shape of these holes in the ground and now although another stretch of wild river has been laid low there are still some Rivers and even ponds where monsters lurk.
Although I cannot write about contemporary visits I have enough in the cupboard for anecdotal stories. I hope these will be of interest and remind these Hundred anglers what they are now missing.
Colin.

Cold but bright

2010-12-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

A walk around Beccles South produced some fungi that had not really been affected by the cold, These were Lepista inversa seen in two different places. Not much in the flower line has recovered, only the hardy ruderals were present.

a Mahonia aquifolim in flower was a welcome bright addition.

Dark Days afore Christmas

2010-11-21T07:51:00.001-08:00

Although the weather is not guaranteed this time of the year my sometimes short field excursions paint a albeit dull picture of our countryside. Even in the Beccles area I have recorded 40 odd plants in flower. last week we had our second frost of the autumn and this Ivy was photographed in our garden.

Determination wins

2010-11-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Since the weather turned bad I was determined to get some of the winter birds that grace our shores. my first challenge was to walk a relatively cold miserable birdless walk to see a flock of wintering Twite. My second trip of the week produced 20 birds crouched below the shingle beach by some old dock plants. Woo hoo! a year tick!

On the way back with the wind behind me i stopped to see and note down Sea Mayweed Tripleospermum maritimum and Purple Glasswort salicornia ramossima

Next stop was Minsmere RSPB to see the Grey Phalarope, which was showing very close to west hide, so another year tick.

Windy Winter

2010-11-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

Well I have taken some holiday to do some winter birding, today it has been very windy but I wanted to locate the Sibe Chiffchaff at Sparrow's Nest Lowestoft. On arrival it was sheltered and there was a good flock of Long tailed Tits but the council were blowing leaves around (Unsuccessfully.)and the motor was drowning about any possible Chiffchaff calls. I then moved to Kessingland for the Snow Buntings, No luck I could hardly stand in the wind, but a bonus was c250 per hour southerly passage of Dark bellied Brent Geese and flocks of Wigeon. all flying very close inshore. Looking towards Lowestoft the birds were pushed into the large bowl once the cleared the south Pier. I spent two hours looking out of my mates bedroom window facing the sea in a centrally heated room. The sea was so rough I did see five Duniln too but due to poor vis only the geese and ducks were confirmed.

Dark days afor Christmas

2010-11-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

By 11am I was free to walk from Kessingland to the Sluice to collect some flowers and seed of Jasione montana for a biologist in Spain who wanted to extract chromosone numbers from them. I took the binoculars along but other than a single Kestrel over the caravan park and two Skylark on the beach, all was quite. On return I saw a wintering flock of Greenfinches on the beach. Of the flowers the Allium neapolitanum was still flowering in a pavement crack in Church road. Too late now for my WFS diary last day hunt.

Later I saw two adult Mute Swans fly over my parents house and I dipped on the Peregrine at Lowestoft grain silo. Hopefully having three dips the Richards Pipit will remain long enough for me to see on Friday.

Waxwing Joy

2010-10-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sundays is my day to catch up on all my paperwork, notes and records of the weeks sightings. At 11:40am I was watching birds from my front window, when I said to Eileen. " It will be a while until the Waxwings settle into a feeding pattern." meaning they would be flighty until they found enough berries to feed on all winter making them easy to see. Suddenly I saw a single 1st winter female perched on top of my Rowan tree, Oh what joy!!

Coastal Botany

2010-10-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

During the last week of October Eileen and I visited the coastal village of Kessingland to search for and record the flowering plants. We are members of the Wild Flower Society. (WFS) which holds a last day hunt for flowering plants on the 31st of each October. It is not really a competition with prizes but a fun way to look for and add these late flowering plants to our diaries which are submitted annually which lists all flowering plants seen that year.
Our visit was to recce out sites to revisit at the end of the month and to add more to my Kessingland North tetrad. Our first stop was to see a few pink flowers of the Himalayan Giant, Bramble. Rubus armeniacus. That grows on the west side of Green lane in the village.
Once on the beach we started to walk north where we found Blue Fleabane Erigeron acer both in flower and fruit, followed by Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum x silybum. That grows on the cliff side and has been recorded there since 1977. A relatively new plants growing there, well since the 1963 national flora atlas was the Mile a minute or Russian Vine Fallopia Baldschuanica. Most records are in the south east of the UK with a scattering of records in the north. It is a pretty late flowering plants with great swathes of white blooms soon covering hedges and trees by habitation. Due to the nature of beach flora the species are very small and often prostrate. These small plants can confuse the beginner as the books will sometimes give plant heights but this is only plants that are seen under normal circumstances.
Two such flowers we saw were again both in fruit and flower. The first which often needs fruits for confident identification was Annual wall Rocket. Diplotaxis tenuifolia. Growing only a few inches above the sand. Next was a small Mouse-ear Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. A common enough plant that has these furry white under-leaves. The flowers normally reach 12” but these flowers were only 3” tall. It was a pleasant walk and we found plenty to keep us occupied, even a few continental Blackbirds, Dunnock,s and Robins were seen.

An autumn afternoon

2010-10-23T04:55:00.000-07:00

Eileen and I visited the north end of Kessingland Beach to look for any plants we will need for the Wild Flower Societies last day hunt. Although I lived in Kessingland for 23 years I still found a few nooks and crannies that produced common but new plants for my Kessingland north square. On the beach we found Pilosella officianrum. Erigeron acer and Tamarix galica in flower.

Dead Badger

2010-10-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sadly on Sunday Eileen and I found a Dead Badger near Kessingland

Late Season Botany

2010-10-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

The 2010 botany season as I write is almost over. I have found many new plants for my Wild Flower Society Diary this year especially many garden escapes. On the weekend of the 9th and 10th October Eileen and I spent the two days exploring the area between Beccles and Kessingland for late flowers and to recce for the last day and week hunt of 2010.
We had often passed Ellough churchyard just south east of Beccles but it seemed to be bare of flowering plants. Well on the Saturday we decided to have a look round. Immediately as we embarked from our car the locally common Chicory ( Chicorium intybus.) was found and as is typical around here only a single plant was seen. We on entering the churchyard agreed it was rather barren but on reaching the middle of the vast rank grass we found three Harebells. (Campanula rotundifolia.) A real rarity now and sadly decreasing. Oh how often have we passed these “poor” sites only to stop one day and find something as lovely as the Harebell. Finally as we left we flushed a real life Hare!.

Private Foray yields great results

2010-10-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

An excellent morning with the lady who owns Geldeston Hall nr Beccles, who invited me to take a group around her land to find Fungi. We found 37 identifiable species which anyone can id in the field but I took fifty species home for microscopic determination.
The list of certain id's is here. I am still getting confirmation of the others.

Auricularia auricula-judae
Clitocybe geotropa
Coprinus plicatilis
Crepidotus variabilis
Ganoderma applanatum
Gymnopilus spectabilis
Gymnopus confluens
Laccaria laccata
Lactarius deterrimus
Lepiota clypeolaria
Lycoperdon perlatum
Macrocystidia cucumis
Macrolepiota procera
Macrolepiota rhacodes
Piptoporus betulinus
Pluteus cervinus
Pluteus luteovirens
Rhodocollybia maculata
Rhodotus palmatus
Rhytisma acerinum
Stereum gausapatum
Suillus granulatus
Tricholoma saponaceum
Trochila craterium
Xerocomus badius

Wild Flower Hunt In Waveney

2010-09-08T12:12:00.001-07:00

Wild Flower Twitching.
I recently received communication from a member who lives in North Yorkshire asking to accompany me in the Waveney area of Suffolk where I live and work for a day,s plant twitching. As nature guiding is one side of my Ecology consultancy business I offered him a day on 7th September 2010. Thankfully after the previous evenings rain and strong winds we met in fine weather outside my home. A week before I was sent a letter with a considerable wish list and thought that we could get a few.
First we walked onto Beccles Common to see the abundant Impatiens parviflora (Small Balsam) Still in flower with many fruits, which pleased my guest as he studied the features and took a voucher. Next we looked at the fruits of Rosa pimpinellifolia x R.canina = R. hibernica. (Hybrid Rose) first located in 2001 by The Lowestoft Field Club. Passing a few non flowering Rubus laciniatus. (Cut leaved Bramble) we walked on to the car and off to Weybread Churchyard for the large patch of Aristolochia clematis (Birthwort.) and then to Mettingham Churchyard for several Dipsacus pilosus (Lesser Teasel)
Our next stop was a bit scary as it was a small plant growing in a road train right on the brow of Haddiscoe Road Bridge in Norfolk (just) Our target here was a local rarity Brassica juncea. (Chinese Mustard.) there were both flowers and fruits showing the parents. Which is derived from the hybrid between B. nigra x rapa.
Buddlija globosa (Orange Ball) was on my new friends list and the very big specimen in a Corton hedgerow just North of Lowestoft which sadly produced nothing but vegetative characters for my guest.
Now one thing that the WFS is good at is locating good places for alien plants and garden escapes along with some new arrivals. From my Kessingland meeting I was able to show my fellow member Ulmus x vegata (Huntingdon Elm) Allium neapolitanum (Neaploitan Garlic) Both Conyza canadensis (Canadian Fleabane) and the new arrival in Kessingland C. sumatrensis (Guernsey Fleabane) a surprise not seen on my previous field trip was
Callistephus chinensis (Chinese Aster) growing in a pavement crack along Church Road in Kessingland.
It was not what I normally do on a Nature guiding trip but it was good to travel about and tick off old favourites and even find very new ones.
Colin Jacobs.

early Fungi

2010-09-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

A trip to Waveney Forest Fritton for early fungi produced a very early selection including Amanita muscaria, A. fulva and A. rubescens. Even the False Chanterelle Hygrophorus aurantiaca were particularly abundant. I would not suggest anyone eats this latter species as it will give you hallucinations.

I also found some Birch Shield bugs (Elasmostethus interstinctus.) new to me at least

Great Fungal Foray

2010-08-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

An slow walk through Beccles Common Wood threw up several species of Fungi including some Ceps (Boletus edulis) But they were well over so no meal for me. Plenty of Blushers (Amanita rubescens) edible but I would not eat any Amanita's too risky.

I love the Sulphur Tuft (Hyphloma fasiculare) seen here in this image.

The Aliens are coming.

2010-08-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

Field botany may be slowing down but the pavement crack aliens are beginning to be found in Beccles. The Persicaria capitata in Puddingmoor is well out in flower now. Further south west we found a single Nicandra physalodes. I am sure there will be many more to be found in Beccles I will have to explore further.

Kessingland Flora

2010-08-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Eileen and I with Eleven Wildflower members and one prospective met in the car park at Kessingland to record the beach and dune flora. Typically we spent the first hour in the car park where there was much discussion on the identity of nothing less than a Sonchus. Was it asper or oleraceus? The field characters keyed out as asper but then it was decided upon oleraceus but finally we all decided it was a hybrid and I have sent a sample to the BSBI referee. Other plants were Erigeron glaucous (Seaside Daisy) and Solidago Canadensis. (Canadian Golden Rod) and finally Reseda lutea (Wild Mignonette).

Along the lane behind we saw the garden escape Lamium galeobdolon ssp argentatum (Variegated Yellow Dead Nettle) Next stop was a hybrid Elm that I had already keyed out the week before and set the group a test using Stace 3 and the Poland and Clement vegetative keys. Soon leaves were being measured and looked at through the hand lenses. It came to Steve Clarkson who was able to identify it correctly as Ulmus x vegeta (Huntingdon Elm.) It was a large tree with both smooth and rough leaves, sterile and in very good condition throughout. So onto the beach as planned. The amount of Lathyrus japonicas ssp maritima (Sea Pea) in flower was amazing, the shingle was almost covered in carpets of the plants in places. Next up was a swath of Linaria vulgaris (Toadflax.) followed by a dotting of Rosa rugosa. (Japanese Rose) Amongst the Leontodon saxatilis (Lesser Hawkbit.) we found . autumnalis too. By now we had found a text book S. oleraceus, asper and arvensis (Smooth, Rough and Corn Sowthistles.) We found plenty of Raphanus raphinistrum ssp maritimus. (Sea Radish) and Ononis repens (Rest Harrow) Soon we were by the Denes and the cliff face below the caravan park here we found lots of Lycium barbarum (Duke of Argyll’s Tea Plant) and even found some Goji berries which were rather tart and left a bad taste for some minutes. Fruit are uncommon but we found enough to share around. Next stop was a few Mulleins which were investigated fully using Stace 3 and other books. Soon we were picking at the flowers and investigating the reniform anthers keying out the eight plants as the garden escape Verbascum phlomoides (Orange Mullein.) Soon we were checking out Galium verum (Ladies Bedstraw.) We after checking key characters found bothG. verum and G. Verum ssp maritimum. Lamium amplexicaule (Henbit) was found by the former tip along with a single Petunia x hybrida (Petunia) and several plants of Atriplex prostrata (Spear leaved Orache) and A. patula (Common Orache.) Soon we arrived on the northern bank of the River Hundred recording Calamagrostis canescens (Purple Small Reed,) Carex otrubae (False Fox Sedge) and then we found a nice Erodium to key out, I had already identified it before but I wanted to see how the group would do it with Stace 3 or Poland and Clement. Soon books were opened and discussion ensued and after a while they came to the correct identification of Erodium moshatum (Musk Storksbill.) Soon we saw Althea officinalis (Marsh Mallow) Mentha aquatica. (Water Mint) and Stachys palustris (Marsh Woundwort) with its paler flowers. By the sluice gates we found Spergularia rubra. (Sea Spurrey.) Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) and Malva moschata. (Musk Mallow).

We did find the time to walk through the gate to Benacre Pits and in a small corner of the lake we found a good number of maritime plants. There was Junucus gerardii ( Salt marsh Rush.) Juncus maritimus (Sea Rush) Samolus valerandi (Brookweed) and Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain) We even stopped to study Verbascum Thapsus (Great Mullein) to compare with our former garden escape before walking back towards Kessingland Village.

In the dunes we found more than 30 plants of Jasione Montana (sheeps bit) which is decling here at an alarming rate. Once back in the village we found some pavement crack plants notably Allium neapolitanum (Neapolitan Garlic) Aethusa cynapium ssp cynapium ( Fool’s Parsley) and finally a single Antirrhinum majus. (Snap Dragon)

This brings the list for Kessingland South TM5284 up to 420 species of plant, so a big thank you to those who attended.

The Naturalists Autumn

2010-08-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

The excitement is mounting as the cool clear, but dewy dawns show us that autumn is soon to arrive. The call of the Dunnock, more noticeable now than the spring and summer really gets me going knowing that the change from an abundance of flora and insects will soon make way for bird migration, post breeding flocks and Fungi. Most mycologists have been the first to notice that the fungi season is not from September to October in the past but mid October.

Well this year we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater as the woods, fields and hedgerows have produced and abundance of species in August. Most frequent has been the Weeping Bolete, (Suillus granulatus) found under or near Pines. In the grounds of Beccles Hospital there have been troops of 20 or more.

Field Mushrooms have also been seen in the most unlikely of places such as behind a bin in Peddars Lane (Beccles)

Word soon gets around I am hunting for fungi and a colleague of Eileen's informed her of a good site (a field edge and sandy bank) at Gillingham which coincidentally is the last recorded site of the very rare (extinct?) Pepper pot Fungus.

Here we found several Field Mushrooms and a few rings of Marasmius oreades, The best find and most notable were the large agaricales of Brown Roll Rim (Paxillus involutus)

we found and photographed some with 8" caps and they were in the prime of health,

Deadly poisonous and look it too they are common and similar to the more acid loving Lactarius turpis (Ugky Milk Cap.)

What a great start to the fungi season and this is only the start, I wonder what goodies we will find in the area whilst trying to locate the Pepper pot!

Morning out in the Waveney Valley

2010-08-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Whilst Eileen and I were recording Diptera and Lepidoptera this morning at the Flixton Museum where in the Aidair walk we found an abundance of the flower Small Teasel Dipsacus pilosus.
been a good year so far for my WFS diary 723 species of plant in TM48/49

We have also been visiting black holes in Suffolk near us for Butterflies. Flixton was one and we found eight species today.

First Boletes today Suillus granulatus from South Elmham churchyard.

seen here.

Roesel's Bush Crickets

2010-08-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Searching for Orthoptera at Beccles Marshes I found a colony of Roesel's Crickets I know them from Benacre Broad Aldeburgh and Hen Reedbeds.
They seem as do many other insects, to be under recorded in Suffolk.

Orthoptera

2010-07-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

orthoptera is poorly recorded here in the North so I have been out this week searching for them. There were plenty of Dark Bush Crickets, Short winged Coneheads and Speckled Bush Crickets at Waveney Forest today.

Bramble recording

2010-07-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Genus Rubi Recorded at Barsham TM3990 27/07/2010.
By Alec Bull and Colin A Jacobs.
Series four Discolores.
Rubus ulmifolius Schot. By far the most frequent.
R. armeniacus Focke. Rare. (Bird sown on edge of footpath)
Series Eleven. Glandulosi.
Section B.Corylifolii.
R. hindii. A.L.Bull. Rare.
R. tuberculatus. Babington. Occasional.
R. pruinosus. Arrh. Occasional.
R. conjungens Babbington (Rogers) Rare.
Section C.Caesii.
Rubus caesius. L. Dewberry. Frequent.
Series Two. Rhamnifolii.
Rubus boudiccae. A.L.Bull &E.S.Edees. Next most common species.
Rubus cantabrigiensis. A.L.Bull & A.C.Leslie. Rare
R. babingtonianus. Watson& Newbold. Rare.

This is a photo of R. Boudiccae

Summer Fungi

2010-07-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Considering the dry season I found two Bay Boletes (Boletus badius)under Birch at Belton Common this week.

Also these Sea Hollies were found at Kessingland Beach

Gatekeepers

2010-07-13T09:16:00.001-07:00

Found plenty of Gatekeepers on Bramble at Broome Pits and Mettingham Today including plenty of Large Whites which have been migrating westwards this week from the continent.

Chestnut leaf miners in Suffolk and Norfolk

2010-07-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Horse Chestnut Moth Cameraria ohridella is becoming very prevalant. I visit to Thorpe Abbots Churchyard to see the rare Ilex x altaclerensis Highclere Holly found the Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastaneum leaves were covered in the mines of the larval stage. It does seem more common in the Upper Waveney Valley but sadly it is one moth species that is not welcome. First recorded in 2002 in Wimbledon London it has spread all over the UK.
More details here.

http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/leafminer

Little Owl

2010-07-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Another unsuccessful visit to see the Frog Orchids today produced a nice Little Owl on the access road to the meadow in the Waveney Valley. Yellowhammers and Skylarks were in song despite the area being an arable desert.

Wool Alien Has Become A Pest.

2010-07-04T10:42:00.001-07:00

One of the benefits of being in the Wild Flower Society is that Eileen and I vist sites annually to record the more rare plants. On Sunday 4th July we decided to spend the morning at the popular RSPB reserve at Minsmere on the Suffolk coast. Our main reason was to check on the small but troublesome wool alien Acaena novae –zelandia Piri Piri Bur.
It is a small indistinct plant that has these hooks called burs that rely on passing animals to re seed. The staff at the reserve are trying to get rid of it and ask visitors not to brush against the flowers and spread it. I think it should be left alone and just managed so that visiting botanists can at least add it to their diary.

White Orchid

2010-07-01T01:36:00.000-07:00

Why do I always assume that a white Common spotted Orchid is a Lesser Butterfly orchid? well my fault is I just look at the plant and cos it is different I assume.
I should read the floras and get down to the nitty gritty before I make a fool of myself which is what I have just done. So the message is dont assume get it right.

Banded Demoiselle

2010-06-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

There has not been many of the bigger dragonflies around since the spring started. Today (Now summer) Eileen and I found some nice Banded Demoiselles at Ellingham Churchyard.

Rusty Plants

2010-06-12T12:41:00.001-07:00

On a Sunday 6th June Eileen and I decided to visit the Ted Ellis Reserve at Wheatfen on the edge of the Norfolk Broads. Concidentally it was also the annual public Swallowtail butterfly day, so to avoid the crowds we decided to explore Surlingham Wood and the dykes and marsh away from the main event. As soon as we arrived beside the wood Eileen noticed several non flowering Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa covered in a rust fungus, On closer inspection I found the leaves to be covered in tiny orange circles which bordered small pits where the spores would emerge. I immediately knew this to be the Arum rust Puccinia sessilis. This rust I had found on Wild Arum Arum maculatum in 2005 at Ditchingham but this was the first time I had seen it on Marsh Orchids. I then brought a voucher back for microscopic examination and they confirmed my find. My next step was to see how many East Norfolk records there were for P. sessilis through the British Mycological Society web site. There are only 64 records dating from 1866 to 2002 with only ten records for Orchids. The next step was to contact my professional Mycologist friends for more details and one correspondent informed me it was the first record since 1997 where it was recorded in Cambridgeshire. There have as far as I know been no further records published or otherwise. It was quite a find and although recorded in the past from Wheatfen I was pleased to add a 21st century record to Wheatfen where Ted taught me field mycology.

New Flowers

2010-05-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

My 26 years of study in Lowestoft and only Lowestoft really produced 635 species of flower. Now moving to Beccles I have 400 plus in one year. Some are very common here such as Fox and Cubs ans Meadow Saxifrage. It is always refreshing to find new species that I never found in Lowestoft too.

Meadowlands

2010-05-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Meadowlands.
Eileen and I decided to visit the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Metfield Meadow, also known as Wink’s meadow. It is, along with many ancient meadows a true oasis in a desert of monocultured arable crops removed hedges and little if any field edges.
In the days of the Lowestoft Field Club we visited the meadow frequently to observe and record the flora. There are seven species of Orchid to be found there and the club’s visits found most over the years. It has been a late flowering year for many trees shrubs and plants so our visit in mid May was a bit too early for the real rarity there. The majority of the Orchids were the Anacamptis morio. Green winged Orchid. As we stood at one end of the meadow we could see hundreds of flower spikes. A systematic walk through the grassland produced a few small clumps of the uncommon Ophioglossum vulgare Adder’s Tongue. And Primula veris Cowslip. The main Buttercup in flower so far was the Ranunculus bulbosa. Bulbous Buttercup. Easily identified by the downturned sepals the only spring and early summer Buttercup with this feature. The Crateagus monogyna ssp nordica Hawthorn was only just in flower which is late as on the first day of May we found full flowering trees in Newmarket. Many song birds were breeding in the thick hedgerow which is mixed with many shrubs like Euonymous europeus Spindle, although not in flower. We will now plan another summer visit to see the rare orchid and the six other species recorded here.
It may be the most difficult reserve to find but it really is worth the visit.

Green winged Orchids

2010-05-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

Visited a meadow north of Lowestoft to find the Green winged Orchids (Orchis morio) I was successful, finding one flowering spike and then we found some Twayblade (Listera ovata) leaves with the flowers just forming. we could not find any Adder's tongue Fern (Ophiglossum vulgatum)

Next we went to the Gunton wood known locally by some as "Gunton Gardens"
Here Eileen and I found the Wavy Bittercress (Cardmine flexuosa)which grows in damp habitats and in this case by a small water-filled ditch.
I know it from North Cove but nowhere else until this great find.
We then saw the Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranuculus auricomus) a native in the wood and there are actually two sites within.

Next stop was to see if we could find any Common spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fucshi)and we were lucky enough to find one flowering spike.

Devils dyke

2010-05-03T11:44:00.001-07:00

Since joining a national botanical group I have visited many sites for plants all over East Anglia. My favorite is the Devils dyke in Cambridgeshire. on Saturday we found some good numbers of Pasque flower, a very big and pretty flower.

We also saw Dingy Skippers and lots of Brimstones.

Marshes at Beccles

2010-04-25T00:45:00.000-07:00

This morning I walked Beccles Marshes, on the River Wall I heard five Cettis Warblers and plenty of Sedge Warblers that were all singing singularly in the middle of leafless Salix Caprea trees. There were four Brimstones along the river bank and more than 10 of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. The first Common Whitethroat of the year (for me ) was heard too. The Tussilago farfara was also in seed heads now.
There was also plenty of Carex riparia along the river banks too.

Forget me Not

2010-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Whilst visiting Beccles Common today I found the perennial Myosotis sykvatica but with white flowers! the normal coloured flowers were in bud but the full flowers were pure white

New Norfolk Tetrad record

2010-04-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

On Sunday last I led a walk with Branch Y of the Wild flower society to Bath Hills at Ditchingham. Whilst at lunch in the garden with the estate owner she gave me a plant found in her orchard. It was immediatly identified as Ophioglossum vulgatum. Adders Tongue Fern. In the evening whilst checking the Norfolk Flora (Bull etal)I found that the plant is new to this tetrad and is quite distant from any other records.

Another Adder Day

2010-04-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

Met up with nine fellow reptile enthusiasts to survey the Adder site in the Suffolk Sandlings. Some of the group were beginners so a few points on finding adders was in order before we began searching. The grand total was 15 including two females.
We also say > 10 Common Lizards but no Grass Snakes or Slowworms.

One new flower for my WFS Diary was Viola canina (Heath Dog Violet)in the rides at this site.

Mining Bees

2010-04-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

What a great day on Thursday for Mining Bees. On Beccles Common I saw Tawny Mining bees with full pollen sacks on their legs make new burrows on the sandy edges of the common. soon they attracted the Cuckoo solitary Bee Melecta albifrons as seen here.

It seems a good site for mining bees I wonder how many more I will spot this year here.

Spring arrivals

2010-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of my regular sites is a small reserve in the upper Waveney valley. Today I found three basking Grass Snakes. a Brimstone and a Bloody nosed Beetle.
Willow warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were in song too

Field testeing Field Keys

2010-04-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Today Eileen and I visited Gunton and Foxburrow Wood in Lowestoft to try out John Poland and Eric Clements year old key to plants not in flower. We first tried to key one of the Limes (Tilia)by refering to the twigs and buds. It worked but we became stuck on what the author means by hairless or more or less so. Next I have always wanted to correctly identify a Blue Anemone which has been naturalised in Gunton Wood.
It keyed out vegetatively as Blue anemone (Anemone appenina) and flowers were confirmed in the botanists bible "Stace".
next we entered Foxburrow Wood that has several ancient woodland indicators. here we found Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and Wood Sorrel (oxalis acetosella)
I am looking forward to identifying some Salix species this week and see if the new keys are as easy as the authors say.

Swift Fest

2010-03-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Rather than rush around looking for these birds when reported the weekend. Eileen and I went to Westleton to see the Lesser Kestrel. We had great albeit distant views of the male bird. Afterwards we went to Kessingland Sewage Works where we saw the Pallid Swift high above the beds. had this been May I don't think it would have been identified properly.

Finally we joined a small group of Birders in the rain where we saw two Alpine Swifts, roosting together under the eaves of the flats just north of CEFAS.

A great morning where we got two lifers. and my fourth Lowestoft Alpine Swift.

These Twitchers were seen at Westleton this morning.

White flowers

2010-03-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Having decided not to join the birders at Kessingland for the rare Swifts I walked firstly around Beccles Common then Beccles Marshes. Along George Westwood Way in the town the verges were covered in Cochlearia danica (Danish Scurvy Grass)It is known as an halophyte which means it grows in salty conditions. The seed is mixed in with salt and grit from Russia and is spread by gritting lorries hence the plant can be found like white frost along the edge of the road very near the kerbs and on the outer edge of roundabouts. I am sure it will spread ore as we have just exprienced a long cold winter.

By the entrance to Beccles Tip I found the white flowered form of Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) with the pale lilac spur. These white flowers fascinate me.

Butterflies and Reptiles

2010-03-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Another survey site for Adders produced 14 males and 10 Grass Snakes.
Re found Henry as shown in photograph. his head pattern is distinctive and he has been seen here for four years. Also seen a Brimstone butterfly, three Small Tortoiseshells a Red Admiral and surprisingly two Small Coppers I found a very early single Small Copper at this site in 2006.

Adder Survey

2010-03-21T12:34:00.001-07:00

This morning I surveyed three sites in the Suffolk sandlings for Adders in site A,B & C a total of 27. Also found a singing Dartford Warbler, flushed a woodcock and found a single Common Lizard.

Searching for spring flowers

2010-03-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Visited my favorite site for spring flowers today, a small reserve by the River Waveney. The cup fungus Sarcoscypha austriaca (Scarlet Elf Cup)was plentiful and is a common fungus of Alder Carr. Both the Adoxa moschatellina (Town Hall Clock)
and chrysosplenium oppositifolium (Opposite-leaved Golden-Saxifrage)had flower buds but as yet were not fully open for inclusion into the WFS diary. The diary to me is a phenological study and it is so important to record correct flowering dates.
This Sarcoscypha sp is the more common of the two known in the UK although I did find both species in the broads.

Wayland way

2010-03-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

Spent a few hours systematically searching for Gagea lutea (Yellow star of Bethleham)
in Wayland Wood Watton Norfolk. I did not find any at all but saw two Brimstones, two Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock. Lots of Ladybirds too.
Finally a Common Buzzard was heard calling overhead.

The Blyth Valley

2010-03-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

The flowers are just not appearing this year. At one site in Blyford Eileen and I were looking for Butterbur but so far not so much as one flower spike. We visited several sites around Halesworth and Holton along with Wenhaston Blackheath. Nothing at all in flower and very bare. Only the churchyards were worth a visit but even after many visits they begin to pall. We found some more Galium eldwesii but we have had nothing new since 1st March. Just a day of sunshine could push a few plants to flower.
These Primroses were at Stoven Churchyard.

Snowdrop Species

2010-03-09T03:53:00.000-08:00

The Snowdrops are now in full flower and although later than usual I did find two Snowdrop species in a local churchyard. Along with the common Galathus nivalis I found G.elwesii and the rarer G.woronowii. This was the culmination of lots of churchyard visits in the Waveney Valley and it was this churchyard near Beccles that produced the goods. This photograph shows the green inner sepals of G. elwesii.

Wildflowers and nesting birds

2010-03-04T01:32:00.000-08:00

I spent a good few hours in Beccles on Wednesday to look for Long tailed tit nests for the BTO nest recording scheme but I did not find any as yet. Rooks were nest building on Boney's Island and there were plenty of Chaffinches and other common song birds.

Spring has sprung or maybe just today

2010-03-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

I had a great morning looking for flowering plants for the start of the annual Wild Flower society Diary. I amassed 12 species. a big surprise was a flowering Ranunculus repens. Some do overwinter but I did not expect one today as it has been a rum old winter. Rooks were busy nest building or repairing and at times it did feel like spring.

This weekend

2010-02-21T13:40:00.001-08:00

Eileen e andou comum de Beccles, mas não havia muito ao redor, anteriormente nesse dia que eu tinha encontrado Starlings aninhamento, Torres e magpies foram reparando ninhos. Um Pica-pau-spotted grande foi ouvido drumming na Madeira e vários Tentilhão e Robins eram na canção completa. Agora estamos a sofrer geadas de Fevereiro, mas esperamos que a Primavera é apenas a esquina

Eileen and I walked Beccles Common but there was not much around, earlier that day I had found Starlings nesting, Rooks and Magpies were repairing nests. A Great spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in the wood and several Chaffinches and Robins were in full song. We are now suffering February frosts but hopefully spring is just round the corner

Nature Notes in Portugese and English

2010-02-21T13:30:00.000-08:00

Notas de natureza

Fevereiro

2010

Qual um início antigo funny ao ano. Houve alguns dias Nevados muito frios que, então, passou a diminuir antes que recebemos alguns mais muito frio. Pouco antes e durante estas passagens naturalistas pudemos visitar alguns abrir sites para observar o registro e se tão inclinada tick desativar alguns visitantes de Inverno muito incomum. Black queixado drivers, Shags e um Falcão peregrino em Lowestoft e três Buzzards legged áspero com até dez curtas orelha mochos sobre a floresta Waveney.

Para os botânicos tem sido uma luta real para localizar quaisquer plantas de floração e leitores podem ser surpreendidos, apenas não encontrou qualquer Daisies em flor. Pela médio de Fevereiro Snowdrops e Aconites de Inverno foram floração muito mais tarde, mas alguns Primroses foram floração precoce. Mesmo árvores como Hazel e Willow cabra se esforçavam para produzir flores.

Tem sido um funny Inverno antigo com nenhum verdadeiro rígido weather para semanas bastante poucos dias em que tenha sido frio e nevado. Um dia eu estava se preparando para viagem de gravação do próximo dia apenas para Despertai pesada neve ou chuva. Documentaram cuidadosamente todas as temperaturas e condições meteorológicas durante este 1 st período de Inverno, que poderia ser usado no futuro pelos cientistas para provar ou neguem o aquecimento global.

Esperemos que durante as primeiras semanas de Março ouviremos a canção do Chiffchaff e nigricapillus para nos dizer a Primavera é em seu caminho.

Nature NotesFebruary

What a funny old start to the year. There were some very cold snowy days which then became milder before we received some more very cold weather. Just before and during these spells we naturalists were able to visit some open sites to observe record and if so inclined tick off some very unusual winter visitors. Black throated Divers, Shags and a Peregrine Falcon at Lowestoft and three Rough legged Buzzards with up to ten Short eared Owls over at Waveney Forest.For the botanists it has been a real struggle to find any flowering plants and readers may be surprised I just could not find any Daisies in flower. By Mid February Snowdrops and Winter Aconites were flowering much later but some Primroses were flowering early. Even trees like Hazel and Goat Willow struggled to produce flowers.It has been a funny old winter with no real hard weather for weeks on end rather just a few days where it has been cold and snowy. One day I was preparing for the next day’s recording trip only to awake to heavy snow or rain. I have documented carefully all temperatures and weather conditions during this 1st winter period which could be used in the future by scientists to prove or disprove global warming.Hopefully during the first few weeks of March we will hear the song of the Chiffchaff and Blackcap to tell us spring is on its way.

Snowdrops Choir Boys and Waxwings

2010-02-14T08:38:00.000-08:00

a great day in the Waveney Valley, we went to Barsham Drain where we saw 30 odd Yellowhammers and flock of c300 Black-tailed Godwits and c200 Teal on Geldeston Marshes we then saw and photographed some Winter Aconites aka Choir Boys due to the bracts that look like ruffs on choir boys. Next up was a twitch to Carlton Colville where we saw two Waxwings.

New Customers on board

2010-02-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

My Ecology consultancy business got a boost with the University of East Anglia joining the books. This is to assist them with butterfly surveys.

As it is snowing this welcome customer has warmed me up.

A Norfolk Twitch

2010-02-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

Now I dont twitch very often but I had not been birding for a week or so instead I have been building my model railway due to cold wet weather. Eileen and I finally visited Whitlingham Broad near Norwich to see some uncommon and one rare bird.

We met Rob M a Lounge Lizard member who put us onto a Red necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver. We walked further toward the Island an met with Yarmouth Birder "Bomber" Harris, He soon put us onto the female Ring-necked Duck and american vagrant and a lifer for Eileen and I. My last lifer was the Corton Hoopoe! in April 2009.

Next up were two Red-head Smew and an immature Male Scaup. Finally we saw two female Gooseander. Phew what a morning. Eileen saw a Weasel here as it crossed an icy dyke and ran ahead of us for me to get good views too.

a Marsh Harrier flew north west towards Norwich as we left to go to Surlingham Marshes.

Here we found Galanthus nivalis and Ruscus aculeatus in flower. along with lamium album and Corylus avellana

Sunny Day and Great Birding

2010-01-26T10:52:00.000-08:00

Eileen and I visited three sites in Lothingland TM59 to search for January flowering plants. We at first visited Waveney Forest Fritton where we only found Poa annua (Annual Meadow Grass) and Ukex europeus (Gorse) but try as we might we could not find any more flowers to add to our Wild Flower Society (WFS)As we walked down along to the River we met with birding giant Malcolm F from the Saints near Bungay, he was in the wrong place for looking for the long staying Rough - legged Buzzard. We took him to the outer edge of the reedbed where we soon located this fine winter visitor perched on a gate pots c 1/2 mile from the Norfolk bank. As we shook hands with Malcolm we say three Bearded Tits fly over the reeds.

We were really on a wild flower walk so the Rough leg was a bonus. I had no idea we would see it so well from our vantage point.

Next stop was the very muddy Blocka Lane from the Fritton end. Again only Gorse was found in flower, not even a Common daisy could be found. We did see a nice flock of c30 Redwings.

Finally we reached Herringfleet Hills where we saw a flock of Siskins.

This fungus known as Phlebia radiata and has the odour of cheesy feet, this was on an Oak bough in Blocka Lane.

Harlequins

2010-01-25T07:55:00.000-08:00

Early or late Harlequin Ladybird larva found today

Square Bashing

2010-01-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Took a walk along the northern boundary of TM48 in Beccles, to start recording for the Wild Flower Societies 10km square competition and add any more January flowering plants for the winter months hunt. Big surprise was a flowering Senecio viscosus (Sticky Groundsel) and some early flowering Primula vulgaris ( Primroses)

Blow it no Bewicks

2010-01-23T04:31:00.000-08:00

Eileen and I decided to attempt the gloomy day and look for the reported Bewick Swans on Shipmeadow Marshes. we dipped and carried on around the Waveney Valley. Nothing notable except a few Norfolk and Suffolk year ticks.
This fungus Tremella mesentrica was found on Gorse at Broome Pits

Hurrah for Snowdrops

2010-01-22T04:43:00.000-08:00

Finally Eileen and I found some Snowdrops at Ringsfield Churchyard. They are rather late this year, Also at Stockton Churchyard we found some flowering Primroses.

150 Redwings at Beccles Common and a Woodcock again.

A Glaucous day

2010-01-11T05:25:00.000-08:00

Dipped on the Glaucous Gull at Aldeburgh but the snow was Glaucous in places. A Chinese water Deer crossed the road at Shadingfield and Three fallow Deer at Henham were of note. This Lapwing was seen on the marshes at Aldeburgh

Beccles Area Produces the goods

2010-01-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

A snow covered walk produced some great new year ticks, along a ditch a Jack Snipe, Woodcock and Grey wagtail were seen along with some Snipe.
On Beccles Marshes there were 12 Snipe on the grazing marsh.

I would have walked further but the heavy snow showers and cold wind made it difficult

Winter Magic

2010-01-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

The best thing about being your own boss is that you can choose your own working hours. Today I visited Kessingland Beach for the Shore Larks and Snow Buntings. I managed 70 odd Snow Buntings below Coastguard Lane TM538861 and found a single Shorelark by the large pool below the Red House at TM538870. Two Meadow Pipits flew in off but otherwise no seabird movement until I saw three 1st win Gannets following a ship offshore.

Next stop was Chedgrave Marshes and the New Cut at St Olaves to begin the long walk to see the Short eared Owl which was seen hunting in the distance. There was an impressive skein of c2000 Pink footed Geese and a huge skein of c6000 over Berney Marshes they looked a sight in the sky at distance. Occasionally I flushed two Snipe and at the end of the walk had flushed six pairs. Interspersed with the Geese were 60 Greylags and a few Golden Plover and Lapwings.

Of the other raptors I saw a female Marsh Harrier, male Sparrowhawk, Kestrel (Mobbed by SEO)but no Rough legged Buzzard or Hen Harriers.

It was another great winters day.

Winter Birding is Brill

2010-01-04T09:01:00.001-08:00

Another great day but the back roads, where us birders like to travel were very frozen and dangerous. Today it worked out great. I had just seen a male Sparrowhawk in the hedge at Sotterley and as I reached the fields between Uggeshall and the A12 Wangford Bypass I saw a huge raptor tearing at a Woodpigeon. I soon scoped it and was watching a juvenile Rough legged Buzzard I was so pleased to find my own rarity.

At Minsmere along many treacherous icy roads I re found the Green -winged Teal amongst a hundred or so Common Teal.

A single Water Pipit and four Sanderlings were present along with a Drake Pintail.

Another excellent winters birding in Suffolk.

Back to Lowestoft

2010-01-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

On the way back to Lowestoft to see the Black-throated diver we stopped off at North Cove to look for the Little Owl. We dipped but did see and enormous mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares numbering c 200. We then stopped off at ASDA by Lake Lothing and saw albeit distantly the Black-throated Diver, also there were four Shags and three Little Grebes.

Afterwards we stopped at Haddiscoe for the Rough legged Buzzard and dipped on that too.

Here is a cold image of the River Waveney from the bridge at St Olaves

Back to Patch

2010-01-02T10:30:00.001-08:00

Re visited my old Lowestoft patch today for year listing and managed to get the Lowestoft rarities.

1st up was the Rock Pipit at Hamilton Dock then a Red throated diver flew south.

There was sporadic sea movement with 24 Cormorants flying south offshore Seven Eider and seven Bar tailed Godwits in off. The best bird was a Dartford Warbler found my Andrew E and Rob W. the Lowestoft Birders who never seem to fail on finding good birds.

We saw an adult Med gull and on the way back Eileen and I saw a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks at Ness Point

"Bright" day in Suffolk

2010-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

Eileen and I started the New Year and Decade at Slaughden after staying overnight in the top Hotel in Aldeburgh. First bird of the year was a Collard Dove followed by Blackbird and Blue Tit. At Slaughden we saw a few Redshank and a lone Ringed Plover. There were lots of Shoveler in Thorpness Mere.

At Minsmere it was overshadowed by famlilies with noisy children and people obviously non birders wearing ridiculously bright un suitable clothing and footwear. They then complain they have not seen anything for their fiver. Ratty one of the volunteers were there, she is so called cos she has buck teeth and greasy hair and looks like a fat Rat.

There should be a reserve protocol. bright clothing equals a non visit to the reserve.

Cold Weather movements

2009-12-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

147 Lapwings at Henstead and flocks of Redwings over Beccles Common. First few flakes of snow in Beccles at 8am.

More Flowers and Fungi

2009-12-14T09:03:00.000-08:00

Continuing with my Wild Flower Society winter flowers competition I added Henbane from a garden in Beccles and three Primroses in Stockton Churchyard. Nothing new in the fungi line but a fresh flush of these Spotted Tough Shanks (Collybia maculata)

Winter Fungus

2009-12-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

The winter fungus is common on elm and many other deciduous tree stumps and is also known as Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) and these were found at Gunton Wood Lowestoft. sadly the place has been over tided by so called conservationist and the wod has been almost stripped of vegetation, however the light and wet conditions (cly soil) has produced and excellent fungus flora

Pink Knotweed

2009-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

This was our first trip out this month after Eileen and I suffered influenza.

Two aliens were recorded. The first was a life tick Persicaria capitata Pink Knotweed growing from a pavement crack in Puddingmoor Beccles. and another more common alien Campanula trachelium Nettle-leaved Bellflower. More will be added to the WFS December flowering list

Berries for the Birds

2009-11-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

We have a Rowan tree outside our home that has been watched from flower to fruit this last year. the flower to fruit took 12 weeks and by August plump red berries had formed. The tree was visited by Chaffinches and the Tits but they found more interest in the invertabrates.

By late September the first wave of continental Blackbirds and Song Thrushes attacked the berries. The peak count was of c15 Blackbirds and three Song Thrushes but the Thrushes only arrived to feed one at a time the other two would wait in a nearby Willow until the present Incumbant came back fully fed.

I soon observed that once I had placed a net of peanuts in the branches a parade of Tits would visit on a daily basis. Now I have only ever witnessed this once and that was back in the winter of 1989. Each member of the Tit family was queuing up to feed on the bag.

Great Tits would begin followed by the Blue Tits. Occasionally, at least once or twice a day a roving mixed tit flock would arrive from the north east after flying the circuit of trees and shrubs of the large car park which housed the Rowan. The impetuous young of each species would attempt to gatecrash the larger vistor so a fight would ensue. The Great Tit being the larger of the species would take control and after a day or so even the new young birds knew the pecking order. Within this flock there would be 10 or so Long-tailed Tits and these would attend the nut bag last, of course being the smallest of the tits present.

At the time of writing the tree has been stripped of berries by the Thrushes and the Tits have moved to pastures new.

One is preparing for a hard winter and the nut bag has so far remained untouched. I will miss my daily observations at this Rowan but perhaps the forthcoming winter may attract the Tits back if nothing else.

Alien Confirmed

2009-11-24T03:26:00.000-08:00

Eileen and I walked to Kessingland Sewage Works again and found several aliens from the Toamto, Sweet Alison and an unknown, Shown here John Peacock identified it as Niger/Nyjer (Guizotia abyssinica).

I must buy a field guide to aliens.

Kessingland Way

2009-11-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Visted my childhood home for a walk with Eileen around Coopers Lane. 23 Lapwings were seen the fungus Volvariella sepciosa in winter wheat, and Lepista inversa under Elms.
Four Chiffchaffs were in bushes by the sewage works. Here is a pic of L. inversa

Birding at Barsham

2009-11-22T04:06:00.000-08:00

Eileen and I spend a day a month recording the natural history subjects of the parish of Barsham for the owners of Barsham Hall. Today there was a strong but mild southerly wind. We saw 57 Skylarks and c40 Jackdaws. Fungi were Clitocybe nebularis and Lepiota procera. We found a single flower of Linseed in the arable crops

Suffolk Flora Atlas

2009-11-22T01:22:00.000-08:00

Pre publication offer now open for publication in March 2010.
some of my photographs will be in the book too.
Vist this site to pre order.
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sbrc/Flora.htm

Puccinias

2009-11-19T02:49:00.000-08:00

Not much Bird life just the usual so looked for some micro fungi. Found three Puccinias Puccina smyrnii on Smynium olusatrum (Alexanders) P. malvacea on Malva sylvestris (Common Mallow) P. urticata on Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)

The 12 Pied Wagtails remain on the rugby pitch

Routine Visit

2009-11-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

The normal routine around the patch produced nothing notable. The mixed Larus flock remain stable on the football pitch and the mixed Corvids remain on the marshes at Worlingham and Boney Island. New fungus for my Beccles List called Lactarius brittanicus this is my 115th species but only my 50th Agaricle.

Now the rains have come I expect to find more Ascomycetes and Discomycetes.

Found some Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Common Spangle Galls) on fallen Quercus rober (Pedunculate Oak)shown here.

Woodpigeon immigration

2009-11-13T10:20:00.001-08:00

The inclement weather did not attract me out today but at my parents from their conservatory I witnessed hundreds of Wood Pigeons flying south west off the sea over Kessingland

Common Gull Increase

2009-11-12T04:03:00.001-08:00

An uneventful walk around the patch this morning The overwintering Common Gulls are increasing and today I counted 28 ad winters and 46 ad winter Black-headed Gulls.
a small flock of Goldfinches and a smattering of Robins with a few in song. The mixed Corvid flock was there with mainly Rooks but there were a few Jackdaws Carrion Crows and elsewhere a few Jays and Magpies, the area is ideal for Corvids. No great migratory movements today and the recent common passerine influx has dispersed.

An abundance of Fungi

2009-11-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

A single Lesser Redpoll was found whilst I was studying a Goldfinch flock feeding on Picris echiodes seeds and the single Redpoll was with them, that lifted the spirits during a dull and dismal day.

The Common and associated woodland had produced loads of fungi including great troops of Laccaria laccata and Flammulina velutipes.

here is the Winter fungus or Velvet Shank on an Ulex stump.

Winter Birding

2009-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Took the opportunity to visit Benacre Broad today. I walked from kessingland and met another Birder Steve on Kessingland Beach just as the Snow Bunting flock passed over my head, luckily they landed on the beach behind me and I soon had the scope up and found the two Shorelarks reported on 7th November. they then alighted and flew straight towards Steve who although saw the flock of birds saw them land some 800 yards inland a bit near the Little Tern colony fence.

We then walked the beach and stopped at Benacre Pits to see a Little Egret. We then walked up t Beach Farm where we scoped at least five Tree Sparrows in the hedgerow near some Millett game cover. So far it had been a great day with three year ticks in one day. On Benacre Broad we saw a Chinese Water Deer a Black tailed Godwit and three Dunlin. On the return journey six Brent Geese flew south. Steve and I agreed we had had a good day

Hooray for Fungi

2009-11-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

No longer is September the start of the Agaric season it seems late October and early November. Lots of Amanita muscaria, and Marasmius species I am still trying to identify.

The Waveney Valley is now alive with Fungi I am never sure where to go next.
Lots of Chanterelles as seen in photo this year

2008 Wildlife Crime Results

2009-09-03T12:21:00.001-07:00

682 reports of shooting and destruction of birds other than birds of prey.
210 reports of shooting, trapping and nest destruction of birds of prey.
42 reports of taking, possession or sale of birds of prey
36 reports of egg collecting incidents
27 reports relating to illegal disturbance or photography of schedule 1 birds in the same year.

How many do not get reported?

Thunder, Gordian and Horsehair Worms

2009-09-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

Recently I met my dear friend and plantsman Keith Nichols for a mardle, he lives in Kessingland and recently observed a long thin hair like worm wrapping itself around one of his plants. He was at some loss as to what it could be and turned to me for an answer.
Without a voucher specimen to hand I knew that Keith had found a Horsehair Worm.
I soon returned home but did not turn as usual to the internet but spent a useful and very productive afternoon in my library looking through my Victorian literature on these strange creatures in my collection of books. These slender up to 15” long thin worms are also called Gordian worms, related to nematodes. When immature they are parasites of many insect species and other invertebrate animals but never Humans.
Us Naturalists are not sure how immature horsehair worms infect hosts but a telephone call to some more eminent scientist friends of mine believe that they encyst on vegetation near water and are eaten by the host. The cyst breaks down and the larva penetrates through the intestinal wall and into the body cavity. Other Naturalist friends tell me that the larvae randomly penetrate the body of any spider or invertebrate that passes nearby
Horsehair worms are often seen in puddles of water and other pools of fresh water, swimming pools, water tanks and as well as on plants. They are especially common after a rainfall. Horsehair worms may even be found inside homes in toilets. This can cause considerable concern as people often worry that they may have found some type of human parasite!.
My ancient Suffolk dialect books tell me that the name Thunderworm is a frequent name for the worms too due to their appearance in puddles after rain.

Thunder Storm Carp

2009-08-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

An afternoon session on my local mixed fishery produced just two fish before a tremendous thunderstorm and heavy rain. As soon as I huddled under the brolly a Common Carp of just under 4lb came to the nest after taking my margin fished bait. This was followed by a small Bream before I packed up due to the rain. Earlier I had a screaming run on the float rod but with just 4lb line I was unable to stop it before it took me into the weed and shook the hook free.

Well that will be my last weekday session as the school holidays are almost over. I have had a great holiday with some of the best fishing so far this season.

This 4lb Common Carp fought well.

Mixed Bag

2009-08-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

a two hour session on the Mid reaches of the River Waveney produced and excellent mixed bag of Skimmer Bream, Bronze Bream, Roach, Perch and Dace.

The swim I chose was thick with ribbon weed in front of me and I lost at least three Perch in the weed, So once the fish were hooked I had to haul them over the weed instead of through it. Every cast produced a bite or fish and my special Maggot additive scored again. By far the best session this season.

This Perch was about 6oz and the best one of the session.

Stop the cull.

2009-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Beccles Town Council want to apply for a licence to kill the breedng Lesser black Backed Gulls at Beccles just because they are too noisy. Please could you email Beccles Town Council to object to this cull

Email
info@beccles.info

Thanks

Hurricane tail end Dace

2009-08-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

A morning session on the river produced some Dace for my rod but as I had forgotten by capped feeders I had to use a bomb rig. It was actually a lesson in reading the water for fish rather than using a swim feeder and attracting them to the baited hook.

I really enjoyed casting in the slacks for Perch and the main flow for the Dace.

I will return in the morning armed with some secret bait and my capped feeders.

The flow was still slow but it was enough to raise my baited hook off the river bed to avoid the crayfish.

Dunwich

2009-08-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

What a great walk. Found two sites that held a good colony of Graylings, which are very scarce this year. On Westleton Heath and Dunwich Heath we saw several that were camouflaged on the ground or in Heather and Bell Heather. It was very hot but a great walk, one I had not done for several years. This circular walk is a great way to enjoy the wildlife of Dunwich.

This Grayling is in typical closed wing stance