The monthly Bird Survey at Down House was due , so off I set . It was only 3C. when I arrived , and a cold wind was blowing down the valley below the grounds . Having seen the Redwings squabbling with the Mistle Thrushes on my last visit , I was quite expecting to see them again today , but it wasn't to be . In fact , the garden/orchard area was much quieter than usual , until I entered the walled vegetable garden , when the unmistakable 'chak-chak' call of Fieldfares broke the almost silence . A flock of 27 flew in from the direction of the cricket field , and seemed to be heading for West Kent Golf Course , an area abounding with Hawthorn and other berried shrubs . It was my first sighting of Fieldfares this season , and it probably heralds a period of colder weather . I have noticed in previous years , that when the Scandinavian Thrushes come in , at first they strip out the hedgerows of berries , before they can be found on the ground feeding on worms etc. Nothing fantastic to report , but a species count of 22 was quite respectable , but several expected species did not show . Of interest , along the Sandwalk , where Charles Darwin did a lot of his thinking , there was a flock of Long Tailed Tits numbering 15+ , it being very difficult to count as they were constantly calling and on the move .
As usual , Rose Ringed Parakeets were obvious from their continual screeching , and a conservative reording of 11 was made . Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also recorded . Apart from a flock of 50/75 Starlings flying in the same direction as the Fieldfares , the only other bird of interest was a single Yellowhammer .
For anyone who hasn't visited Down House , this is the seat , at the end of the Sandwalk , where 
Charles Darwin actually used to sit , contemplating his theories . Not the exact seat , but you know what I mean .
Charles Darwin actually used to sit , contemplating his theories . Not the exact seat , but you know what I mean . In the adjacent woodland , tree surgeons had felled a very dead tree , with a very large amount of Honey Fungus around the base of the trunk . The felling cut revealed how the rhizomorphs of 
the fungus had spread throughout the tree . It would have been nice to leave it as standing deadwood , but as members of the public are allowed to walk the Sandwalk , the dead tree had to go . Also in the same woodland was a good example of Xylaria hypoxylon-Candle-snuff or Stag's 
Horn Fungus .
the fungus had spread throughout the tree . It would have been nice to leave it as standing deadwood , but as members of the public are allowed to walk the Sandwalk , the dead tree had to go . Also in the same woodland was a good example of Xylaria hypoxylon-Candle-snuff or Stag's Horn Fungus . By the time I got back to the house and garden , I was chilled through , but warmed by the show of Waxcaps on the main lawn . The large number of Hygrocybe calyptraeformis , the rare pink 
species , had reduced from 30 to just 2 , one on it's last legs , and this one , just starting it's time . Also showing well were Hygrocybe coccinea-Scarlet Hood 
species , had reduced from 30 to just 2 , one on it's last legs , and this one , just starting it's time . Also showing well were Hygrocybe coccinea-Scarlet Hood Hygrocybe punicea-Crimson Wax Cap 
and Hygrocybe nivea-Snowy Wax Cap 
and Hygrocybe nivea-Snowy Wax Cap After lunch , a couple of shots out of the back bedroom window . The first , a strange pigeon type bird that has been around for a few days now . It doesn't have the white or green roundels on the neck that one would expect with a Wood Pigeon , nor the green roundel and dark outline of a
Stock Dove , but it does have the white wing bars of the Wood Pigeon , one of those strange ones . Not the best of shots because of the sunlight .
Stock Dove , but it does have the white wing bars of the Wood Pigeon , one of those strange ones . Not the best of shots because of the sunlight . The last shot , a Carrion Crow , on top of the garage roof , looking more like a Starling with the 
bright sunlight reflecting off it's breast .
the raised islands , many of them preening and washing . A few Cormorants were drying their wings , and a few Teal were feeding on the edge . There was also a large flock of Black Headed Gulls lounging and preening .
grey/brown juvenile colour . A single cob was patrolling in front of the hide . In front of the small 
island , two male Gadwall were following each other , with a couple of females some way off . The Grey Lag and Canada Geese were very restless and swimming left , arguing , then swimming back right before arguing again . Then , from behind the reeds on the right , swam , what I think 
is a Snow Goose , probably a juvenile . It followed the general ebb and flow of the other geese 
comparison . Then the cob Mute Swan came into the picture behind it . Eventually , it came quite close to feed and then preen in the shallow water just in front of the hide .
If it turns out not to be a Snow Goose , I apologise , but I'm sure there will be confirmation , or not , from some of the experts . One of the Canada Geese also posed in almost the same spot a little later .
a pretty good strike rate , with most dives providing a small fish . No sooner had it resurfaced ,
then it was 'bottoms up' , and down into the depths again . I left the hide without my hoped for Kingfisher pictures , perhaps next time .
spill . I settled down off centre and waited . It wasn't long before the Nuthatch was back , and it 
seemed that having left the feeder , it was back between 20/30 seconds . You could almost set 
your watch to it's timing . It's speed coming in , getting the seed and flying off again was 
incredible . There was no way it could be eating the quantity it was taking , and a couple of times I caught sight of it 'stashing' the seed into the bark of the Willow that the feeders were 
suspended in . As I said , there were also lots of Blue and Great Tits , and most seemed to have 
been ringed . Eventually , I tore myself away and headed off to Bough Beech .
start . Looking across the scrape , a Grey Heron lokked like it was dozing on a fallen tree . Below on the water it was mainly Mallard , Coot and Moorhen , with a few Teal and a pair of Shovellor . In the orchard feeding station , there were loads of Finches and Tits , the odd Robin and another 
Nuthatch , which came to the nearest feeder . The Tits moved about constantly , but at times 
posed for a picture . A Goldcrest almost landed in front of me , but diverted to an adjacent 
Hawthorn Bush . I must have spent 20 minutes , just to get this one shot , so frustrating .
Snake , that also raced off , but I did get the going of him .
across the other member of the family H.crispa-White Helvella , only the second that I have found this year .
in France , rather than looking like purple jelly on a tree stump .
times recently , and this is how it gets it's second common name . The fungus spreads by rhizomorphs , looking like boot laces , under the bark of the infected tree and also under the ground , to infect further trees . This is a very dangerous parasite , and there is no cure , so once it is in a tree , that's it .
you get what it says on the packet .
wouldn't get anywhere near it , but I think it was cold , and just sat . I can't work out which one it is , it just looked very sorry for itself .
Goldfinches win and take over .
sleeve , when this spider lazily came out of it . I haven't bee able to ID it yet , any ideas ? We got to work , clearing more Hawthorn scrub and burning it off . Always the opportunist , I was followed by a Robin who didn't seemed phased by the chainsaw . As soon as I switched off to 
move material , he was in there . I think he thought it was his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one . I don't think he wanted to see us leave . Before doing so , we had another look for Broad Leaved Helleborines , and found 10/15 that we had not seen last week , making the running total about 70 . On the walk back to the car park , a bit of colour caught my eye on a log by the side of the path . It turned out to be a fungi that used to be quite rare , but since 
Dutch Elm Disease , it only grows on Elm , it has become quite frequent , according to the books , but I have only found it twice before in the last 8/10 years . It is Rhodotus palmatus , pink at the moment , but will turn peach/apricot as it gets older .
trouble surviving , I just hope he left enough food for the others . Also found in one of the boxes was another of the Mouse family . We find Wood Mice quite regularly , but this was a Yellow Necked Mouse . 
but already the slugs have started feeding on the stalk . Just one Slow Worm was all that was found at the first site .
jar came in handy again to get a few shots of the Pigmy Shrew . Reptilewise , things were very quiet with just one Grass Snake found .
I have since emailed a couple of shots to a herpatologist friend , who has confirmed that it was indeed a Great Crested Newt . This is only the second or third one that I have seen in the wild , and the first out of water . The rest of the visit was uneventful , but 14 Dormice , a Grass Snake , two Pigmy Shrews , a Yellow Necked Mouse and a Great Crested Newt wasn't a bad day's finds . On the way back to the yard , we did a repair to a broken stile , and on the outfield of a cricket ground nearby , was this show of a Wax Cap , Hygrocybe coccinea-Scarlet Hood .
Very little evidence of birds , apart from the odd Corvid calling . On the far side of the wood and looking South-west , the sky looked threatening , but only the odd spot of rain on the wind . On the power lines near Nash , a flock of about 100 Starling looked as if they were on parade in four straight lines . On the footpath behind the livery stables , the Holly trees are heavy with ripening berries . This quiet place is favoured by the visiting Redwings and Fieldfares , but no sign of them here yet . Where the footpath flattens out for a way before rising again , and somewhat sheltered from the wind , I disturbed two Rose Ringed Parakeets which flew off noisily . Also in the hedgerow were several Robins and Tits . Looking uphill across the field , a very large mixed flock of Corvids were feeding on the ground . They were mainly Jackdaws , but good numbers of Carrion Crow and Magpies were included . The field belongs to the owners of the farm lake , and has been ploughed and I suspect planted , to attract such a large flock . Along with the Corvids was a 100+ Starling flock , possibly the ones I had seen earlier , and a flock of mixed Gulls made up of Black Headed and Common . The gusting wind made all the birds very 'twitchy' , and would send them noisily into the air , to come back down some distance off . Whenever they caught sight of me on the edge of the field the same happened . By the time I reached the Bridleway at the top of the hill , nearly all the birds that were up there , were now down at the bottom by the footpath I had just come along . Apart from avoiding speeding cars on the lane leading home , the journey was quite uneventful . It was therefore a surprise when , as I was passing the horsefield , that a flock of 12/15 Pheasants decided to erupt out of a patch of Stinging Nettles , and fly into the field across the lane , narrowly missing a couple of passing cars . One female 
couldn't be bothered to fly and walked casually across the lane , but only made it with the curtesy of the third passing driver . Where a Horse Chestnut that blew down in the winds last 
year stood , a strong growth of Armillaria mellea-Honey Fungus has sprung up from the rotten stump . Further along the lane , I stopped to look at the Aleuria aurantia-Orange Peel Fungus that I posted a while ago . I was hoping that there would be a good display by now , but the 
original is discolouring , and the two smaller specimens do not seem to be growing any larger . The two smaller specimens are bottom right and just above the original , both still well down in the grass . Interestingly , if I hadn't known they were there , I wouldn't have seen them as the whole lawn was covered with Beech leaves . The rain was still in the air when I arrived home , but not enough to dampen anything .
Here on the left , it has opened up , raising the srore sack in the middle . But on the right , is another which hasn't even opened yet , and shows how the spore sack is protected as it pushes through . The splits are showing , that will form the star shaped collar . My second find was the superb Oudemansiella mucida-Porcelain Fungus . Superbly named , as it looks so easily broken , 
like porcelain . Sometimes , whole boughs can be found , festooned with this fungi .From the look 
Fungus . This one is Coprinus lagopus . Down amongst the leaf litter , and very easily 
overlooked , I found Helvella lacunosa-Black Helvella . The cap , if you can call it that , is more like a saddle , sat upon a stem that looks like a Cadbury's Flake , but smaller and black . There is another Helvella , H.crispa-White Helvella , which is more common . I found one whilst working on Hayes Common last week , but it was well chewed , and not worthy of a shot .
fungi , 35mm.cannister for comparison , and often found in arcs or rings , as indeed this one was a part of such an arc .
Took a photo from the roadside this time , with the ditch in front of the hedge . We are now well past the hedgeline at right angles beyond the National Trust sign , and have had several people stopping their cars on the road , saying how much they liked our work . Once again , the Buzzard landed on the dead tree , and I stopped what I was doing , and headed towards it , camera in hand , with fully charged batteries . About halfway to the tree , I saw a couple of the local Corvids heading straight for the 
Buzzard . I quickly took this hand held shot , just before it took off and disappeared towards Leith Hill Tower . Talking Corvids , several times throughout the day , large numbers of Corvids , mainly Jackdaws , but with Carrion Crows too , wheeled into the sky for several minutes , before settling down again . I could not be certain , because of the distance , but there were one or two very large specimens amongst them . Raven came to mind , but as I say it was too distant to confirm . On the way home , on the A29 , I caught sight of a Buzzard hunting over a roadside field . I threw the car onto the verge , jumped out , and managed this shot just before 
it headed over the roadside trees , and out of sight . Then I realised that the camera was still set on landscape mode , which I used for the hedge shot . Never mind , better luck next time .
still , everything was OK , but one movement and 'plop' it was gone .Whilst watching , I definitely saw two , with a possible third . I know why Steve can't stop photographing them . I would have loved to have got some shots of them swimming , but with their speed of movement and the vegetation in the waterway , it is not easy . Perhaps next time .
Darters and two Migrant Hawkers . They were all in the Water Vole area . I think the cooler nights are taking their toll now .
tree , and even when I got past him and pointed the camera at him , he just carried on .
scrub , I found Lepista nuda-Wood Blewit .
Cap . The second was one of my favourite Wax Caps , Hygrocybe psittacina-Parrot Wax Cap .
dives with a small fish . The young themselves still look very downy . Also , on top of one of the
rubbish bins , was this dead crab . I don't know anything about crabs , but my first impression was that it was a Mitten Crab , an alien species from China . I have Googled the species , and one article stated that if you find a crab in fresh water , it is almost certainly a Mitten Crab . Has anyone else got any ideas ?
been hungry because they came quite close to a lady with a young child , thinking they were going to get some bread , but the slightest movemnent , and they would be gone over to the 
other side of the pond . When I tried to get closer over the other side , they saw me coming and just paddled back over the original side , most infuriating .
still call them that . Mum is bottom left in this picture . A couple of the youngsters are showing a green hue on the tops of their heads , probable drakes .
plumage .
one it is , is still in full flower .
growing on a fallen branch , it was Bisporella citrina . As I was photographing this one , I noticed another further along the branch . This one was Chlorosplenium aeruginascens-Green Wood-
cup . There are not many green fungi , and the fruiting bodies of this one are not often found . Normally , just the conspicuous blue/green staining of the wood is all that is seen . Interestingly , this fungi has a connection with Kent , as the stained wood , was formerly used in the making of Tunbridge ware . Different colours of wood blocks were used to give the required patern , 
compressed , then cut into thin veneer . The individual fruits are like small shells .
From the Orchid Bank , I set off to find a mature 'Plums and Custard' fungi , but without success . But I did find Tricholoma squarrulosum .
In the same area , I found another 15+ fresh specimens of Coprinus picaceus-Magpie Fungus . 
I know I have posted it before , but to my mind it is well worth another look . I I mentioned earlier that not many fungi are coloured green , well I came across another one , not far from the Magpie Fungus . This one was Stropharia aeruginosa-Verdigris agaric , more often found in grassland , but here found in the middle of woodland .
Still looking for the 'Plums and Custard' , I moved my search over towards Burnt Gorse , and there I was successful . Although a bit chewed , this specimen of Tricholomopsis rutilans , about the size of a saucer , shows 
exactly how it gets it's common name . Satisfied with the results of my search , I made my way back to the car , via the dipping pond . Just the Moorhens and a solitary Migrant Hawker were 
seen , so I decided to take a Quercus rubra-Red Oak , an introduced species , for it's autumn colour . As I did so , I heard a call I recognised , and in flew a Grey Wagtail , and landed on the guard rail of the dipping platform . It ran along the rail and just before it took off again -
The 35mm.film cannister , bottom left , gives a comparison for size . Eventually one of the 
refugia revealed some interest , not a reptile , but a Pigmy Shrew . Usually , they are gone like a 
rocket , but I managed to get three shots of this one , before he made tracks at speed . It was almost the last pair of refugia before I found the only reptile recorded , a good size adult 
made off at speed . Birdwise , it was mainly Corvids , but a Tawny Owl was calling in a Holly thicket , but the calls soon attracted three or four Jays , who noisily sent it on it's way . Several mixed Tit flocks were seen/heard , along with a pair of Bullfinches keeping in touch with their soft 'heu' call .
proportion in the 'wheel' and also in tandem ovipositing .
The brash , material taken out of the hedge as it is layed , on the right of the picture , will be collected up and disposed of by the landowner . 
Eventually it landed on a dead tree on the far side of the next field .
this little chap , who , a passer by told me , was only born about 10/14 days ago to one of the resident animals . I didn't know that cattle had young at this time of year , thinking they had their young like sheep in the Spring . Perhaps a 'country blogger' could put me straight . 
pretty sure that I recorded this female as a juvenile - 1st. year , earlier this year , but now that this year's young are about , she will be recorded as an immature - 2nd.year . With her under the felt were 5 of the 14 Slow Worms recorded .
having produced a head of yellow flowers during the Summer , is now producing a second flush of flowers at the leaf joints , the leaves themselves looking pretty dead .
I must have stood for 10 minutes photographing it when it appeared , and even when a couple passed to get into the hide , it wasn't phased . At one point , whilst waiting for it to reappear , I heard a Stonechat call , and watched a male and female on the other side of the ditch . Eventually , I made my way into the hide , just in time to get a good view of a Merlin , just before it took flight . Just Shell Duck , a couple of Godwits and a flock of Meadow Pipits were the only things to be seen . On my way up to Swale Hide , several more views of Marsh Harrier and a fly past of four adult Mute Swans . At the end of the last ditch before the hide was a Mute Swan family of two adults and four cygnets . From the hide large numbers of Wigeon and Teal were feeding and resting on the mud flats , that was until something disturbed them , and the all took off in unison . Unruffled by the disturbance , three Curlew , a juvenile Herring Gull , four Turnstone , a single Grey Plover and three Redshank carried on regardless . On the way back to the car park Bearded Tit was heard , but not viewed , also seen were Little Grebe , female Shoveller , Little Egret and several Coots and Moorhen . Starling numbers were vast and as I drove down the track away from the car park , a massive mixed flock of them and Lapwing , erupted noisily into the air , and away from whatever the danger was . Just before joining the road , I saw a small bird in a bush , and reversed for a better look . I'm glad I did because it turned out to be a Stonechat , and posed for a couple of shots .
weather connected name Clitocybe nebularis-Clouded Agaric . These were the first of this species I have seen this year , and I was surprised to see some of the older specimens had 
already split with age . Also first sighting this season for me was a very common fungi Xylaria hypoxylon-Stag's Horn or Candle-snuff Fungus . I must admit that I like the second common 
name best . These specimens are fresh , but when they mature , the tips will turn black , looking just like snuffed-out candles . 
Two Slow Worms and a single Common Lizard , which was sloughing - shedding skin , were also recorded .
Oak tree in the middle , probably to feast on the acorns that had been blown to the ground . One was like the 'negative' version of the other . Further down the bridleway , Linnets were heard flying over , and then a single House Martin , probably thinking about staying here whilst the Southerlies were blowing , they'll soon turn into the North , and he'll be on his way .
chattering away , but the closer I got , more of them flew off . By the time I was close enough for a shot , only six remained . Along the lane and down the footpath where I had the encounter with the young Robin a couple of weeks ago , I found a small bracket fungi , Daedaleopsis confragosa-Blushing Bracket . This fungi gets it's common name by the fact that if you rub the underside , the pores , they turn pink , as if they 
were blushing , as can be seen on the left of the fungi on the left . Normally the pores would be greyish , like on the right of that fungi . On the bottom lane , the usual mixed Corvid flock was foraging in the horse field . Most flew off as I approached , but two Rooks posed briefly , then 
they too noisily departed , to join the others in the tree tops . Almost home now , but in one of the front gardens near the horse field , I spotted what I consider the best common named fungi in the book .
This species likes Beech , and I can remember a large Beech tree in this garden , so the fungi must be on the dead roots of that original tree .
this time it was the Canada Geese , and with that long neck , diving was not necessary .
said before they are nearly as big as her now , and three of them were huddled together in that morning sunshine .
a small area at the Cuckoo Wood end , a small amount around the tree islands , and a narrow strip where it meets the woods . The resident Goldfinch flock were having to make do with these small areas of uncut seed heads . Two Green Woodpeckers were feeding on the flattened anthills , another minus to the tractor and cutter management . As I passed the Rose Ringed Parakeet nesting tree , there were at least ten birds present , and I saw/heard many more on the way round . On Burnt Gorse , out of the breeze , it was like summer again . The autumnal colours are starting , and on some was one of two Commas found here .
Ink Cap . Skirting the golf course , I spent a nice five minutes watching a family of 5/6 Goldcrests , busily feeding and communicating amongst the trees . On the course itself , a large tree stump produced a fungi that I had problems identifying a couple of years ago . It is 
Schizophyllum commune-Split-gill , and it does what it's name says .
platform makes a good look-out post for this male . One thing did make me smile whilst there . A bird must have been preening above , and a small feather was floating down , when a male Common Darter grabbed it , took it over to a Buddleia , and tried to git it into the ring .
He was still trying when I left . 
Here , a lawn must have been renewed/replaced , and the old turf just dumped in the woods . It got no better when I reached the fields beyond the wood . What should be a pleasant hay 
meadow , has become a dump for old tyres . The red arrow shows where the tyres have been stacked , access being gained from the lane beyond the hedgerow .
Blue Tit (5) , Jay (5) , Great Spotted Woodpecker (4) , Robin (5) , Nuthatch (2) , Magpie (8) , 
Wren (4) , Great Tit (5) , Dunnock (1) , Wood Pigeon (11) , Green Woodpecker (2) , Pheasant 
(7) , Kestrel (1) , Chiffchaff (1) , Rook (2) , Starling (11) , and Grey Heron (1) . I would have got a nice shot of the Kestrel , only the Carrion Crow chased it off as soon as it alighted on the telephone pole . Along the back lane , the Wild Hops which were clambering over everything in the hedgerow , have now grown to full size . 
Along side the horse field , the Horse Chestnut has dropped most of it's conkers , and with them , 
most of it's leaves , leaving it's 'sticky buds' open to the elements , waiting for next spring . The weather on the second half of the walk improved significantly , and by the time I reached home , it was quite warm , and every Ivy that was in flower , had good numbers of Honey Bees and Hover Flies feeding on the nectar .
cap , but this was an orange specimen , without any white blotches , just holes where it has been chewed . Also found was a smaller , brick coloured fungi ,Gymnopilus penetrans . 
Very little else was found , but I was surprised , after a few cold nights , to find one Small Copper 
still on the wing , trying to warm up in the brief sunny spells . On the way back to the car , I had a quick look at the Oaks with the Purple Hairsteak eggs on the buds . Most are still in place , but 
it will be later , when the leaves fall , they will be most vunerable to predation .
the wonderfully common named Tricholompsis rutilans-Plums and Custard . This specimen has only just emerged , but I shall go back in a few days and photograph it when fully grown , when the common name really comes to the fore . They grow on and around conifer stumps , so will have to hope it doesn't get chewed in the meantime . On the Orchid Bank , as if confirmation was required , Michaelmas Daisies , an introduced species from North America , was in full flower , 
one of the few flowers I saw today . Again today , I found the slime mould Tubifera ferruginosa ,
When I got home , I was having a cup of coffee , when all hell broke out on the road outside , between two particular Jackdaws , and about another 10 aiding and abetting . I dashed upstairs to get a shot from the front window , and got there just as a workman across the road , threw something to break things up . It worked , but not before I got this shot . 
One second later , the rumpus was over and all was quiet .
in almost mint condition , and one most definately not .
or are very good at hiding . The female Mallard still has her five youngsters , they are a good size now . Before Warren gets on , I know the white and grey one isn't a young Mallard , the fifth one is dabbling with his head under water . There seems to be a strange pairing on the water with 
this male Mallard and a white Aylesbury type duck . They follow each other around , never more than a metre between them . On the far side of the top pond , two contractors were installing a guard rail on the edge , and despite digging and banging and chain saw noise , the best bird of the 
day , a Grey Wagtail was strutting the concrete dam wall , looking for breakfast . The Mallards , Coots and Moorhens were all tucked up on the nearside edge .
specimen . I have trawled through my two books , and my stab at ID is Lacrymaria pyrotricha , a relation of Lacrymaria velutina-Weeping Widow . If I am right , it will be a new one for me .
