one swallow or three
04/05/13 16:12
Both swallows and swifts have been seen this week, together with flock of lapwings up on Saunder Height. A grey heron was circling over the Paddock/New Croft meadow this morning before landing in a neighbour’s garden. As there is no substantial body of water in the vicinity, perhaps the neighbour is now minus a few ornamental fish.
A number of queen buff-tailed bumblebees have been looking for somewhere to nest and a small tortoiseshell was seen flitting about in the field.
Nettles are beginning to come through the undergrowth. Apparently they like phosphate-rich ground and this might reflect the field’s previous use as a paddock. Their dense growth makes it more tricky to look for other species however. Other flowers include white spanish bluebells (probably an escape) and the ubiquitous dandelion…. I remember true bluebells growing in the field as a child but could find no sign of them this week.
On the fungi front, turkey tail were spotted on a decaying section of a split beech tree whilst a number of ash were carrying cramp balls, but still budding well despite this. All these were on the north side of the Paddock/New Croft, against the boundary wall.
turkey tail
![poss turkeytail 2 thumbnail](poss-turkeytail-2-thumbnail.jpg)
![poss turkeytail thumbnail](poss-turkeytail-thumbnail.jpg)
cramp balls
![cramp ball tree thumbnail](cramp-ball-tree-thumbnail.jpg)
![cramp ball on log thumbnail](cramp-ball-on-log-thumbnail.jpg)
![cramp ball detail thumbnail](cramp-ball-detail-thumbnail.jpg)
A number of queen buff-tailed bumblebees have been looking for somewhere to nest and a small tortoiseshell was seen flitting about in the field.
Nettles are beginning to come through the undergrowth. Apparently they like phosphate-rich ground and this might reflect the field’s previous use as a paddock. Their dense growth makes it more tricky to look for other species however. Other flowers include white spanish bluebells (probably an escape) and the ubiquitous dandelion…. I remember true bluebells growing in the field as a child but could find no sign of them this week.
On the fungi front, turkey tail were spotted on a decaying section of a split beech tree whilst a number of ash were carrying cramp balls, but still budding well despite this. All these were on the north side of the Paddock/New Croft, against the boundary wall.
turkey tail
![tree turkey tail detail thumbnail](tree-turkey-tail-detail-thumbnail.jpg)
![poss turkeytail 2 thumbnail](poss-turkeytail-2-thumbnail.jpg)
![poss turkeytail thumbnail](poss-turkeytail-thumbnail.jpg)
cramp balls
![cramp ball tree thumbnail](cramp-ball-tree-thumbnail.jpg)
![cramp ball on log thumbnail](cramp-ball-on-log-thumbnail.jpg)
![cramp ball detail thumbnail](cramp-ball-detail-thumbnail.jpg)