Saturday 29th.November 2008

A very foggy , but dry , journey down to the Hogsback , just beyond Guildford , for another hedgelaying session with the Surrey Hedgelaying Group .

On arrival at the site , it was very gloomy and chilly , so getting going on the hedge to keep warm was the first essential .

The first arrival told me that a bird with a very large wingspan was on the ground halfway up the field when he got there , but hadn't seen it since .

Whilst laying , I noticed three Roe Deer in an adjacent field that was occupied by a few ponies/small horses .

When we stopped for a break , I took the camera and set off up the stubble field we were working in , to get a better view of the deer , and to look for the bird with a very large wingspan . As I walked up the field , a flock of about 25 Meadow Pipits rose out of the stubble and circled me , before settling down again a bit further away .

As soon as I had closed the distance by half to the deer , the male snorted a warning to the two females with him and all three took off to the furthest corner of the field . That was the last I saw of the male and one of the females , but the other female reappeared over a rise and gave an opportunity of a few shots .

Not very sharp shots , but given the fog and light conditions , best I could do .

I never did see the bird with the big wingspan , but from his description , I think it was probably a Common Buzzard .

Tuesday 25th.November 2008

Spent the day doing the last Dormouse survey of the year , up on the Greensand Ridge near Westerham .

Given the cold nights recently , we were not expecting much , and we were not disappointed . The boxes that had Dormice in them last month , were now empty and the nesting materials were cold and damp . Their occupants probably rolled up in a ball in a natural nest , at or very near ground level , to hibernate away the worst of the Winter's weather , and hopefully emerge again next Spring . In the past , on this last survey , we have found the odd torpid - semi hibernating Dormouse in a box , but it was not to be this year .

The first survey day next May will be to do maintainance , or even replace boxes damaged by the Winter's weather , or more likely , Grey Squirrels .

In fact the only animals we came across in the boxes were three Wood Mice , keeping each other warm in the same box .

The reptile surveys have already finished , but I must admit I couldn't help but look under any refugia that we passed . No reptiles were found , and the only living thing found was a Short Tailed Field Vole , who most definately didn't want to pose for the camera . It was under one of the refugia that was being used by the Great Crested Newt the other week .

Once again today , I didn't hear/see any Winter Thrushes , but did find two Siskins , my first this year , feeding high in the Alders around a pond .

I don't know if anyone read it , but the other day I commented on Warren's blog , about finding a sheep , lying on it's back , with all four legs in the air , seemingly in a distressed state . I eventually found someone on the site and told them .

Today , I was retelling the story , when I was told that sheep , once on their back , cannot roll back to stand up , and are at risk of drowning in their own fluids , or being attacked by Corvids , their speciality being pecking their eyes out . What I should have done , was to go into the field and basically pull the animal up onto it's feet . Apparently , in the Peak District it happens quite a lot , and people just pull over and right the animal . Worth knowing I think .

Although we didn't find one today , this is a torpid Dormouse that we found in a box last year.

Saturday 22nd.November 2008

Had a two hour walk around High Elms Country Park this morning . All bird species were in short supply , even the reliable Rose Ringed Parakeets could only muster a count of four . A single Mistle and Song Thrush were the only Thrushes seen/heard , where have all the Winter visitors gone ? Corvids were few and far between with the odd Carrion Crow , Jay and Magpie showing up . I only came across one Tit flock , and that was small and almost silent . The noisiest birds I passed were a couple of Wrens that I disturbed in the undergrowth . No sign of the Buzzard which has been seen often beyond Burnt Gorse over the last few weeks . The largest flock of birds I saw was 16 Black Headed Gulls , which flew in and settled on the fairway of the first hole .

So , I went looking for fungi , and although there isn't much of that about either , the Rhodotus palmatus that I found in the middle of the Golf Course is still intact after 2/3 weeks .

Along the path , above where the Silver Washed Fritillaries were ovipositing , a couple of Lepista nuda-Wood Blewits were poking out from the carpet of fallen leaves .

Amongst the fallen leaves is also the place to find Geastrum triplex-Earthstar .

Well hidden amonst the leaves in this picture is the spore sack of one - can you see it ?

In the garden , the feeders are getting a right bashing from the Chaffinches , Goldfinches and Greenfinches . Regular visits from Coal , Blue and Great Tit , and at least once daily by Gt.Spotted Woodpecker . Robin , Dunnock , Blackbird and the occassional Wren , together with several Collared Doves and Wood Pigeons , clear up the bits and pieces .

The female Brambling hasn't been seen for well over a week , but the male and female Blackcaps fed constantly on the Callicarpa berries all day yesterday , but only the male today .

With not a lot to post , a couple of shots that made me smile , I'm not sure if this one is legal , but here goes . By the way , the Earthstar spore sack was in the top left hand corner of the shot .

Thursday 20th.November 2008

A few months ago , during the Summer , I remember mentioning that the shrub Callicarpa was good for attracting Blackcaps during the Winter .

When I got home from volunteering yesterday , Carol said that she had seen a female Blackcap feeding on the berries of the shrub in the early afternoon .

As I was not due up on the Common until 1000 , I watched the shrub over breakfast , to no avail . I got ready , and spent the last few minutes before leaving at the back bedroom window . There was plenty of activity on the feeders from Greenfinches , Chaffinches , Goldfinches , a pair of Coal Tits and a single Blue Tit . Underneath the feeders , Chaffinches and a pair of Dunnocks were 'clearing up' , but no sign of the Blackcap .

The sun was just starting to get onto the shrub , and I was due to leave , when a movement in the shrub made me reach for the camera . The female Blackcap had turned up for her breakfast , and almost immediately , she was joined by the male . I managed four shots before , together , they flew into cover in a conifer , a bit further down the garden .

The female always stayed in the middle of the shrub , whereas the macho male fed on the outer branches .

We have noticed this in previous years , where they don't gorge themselves like Redwings or Fieldfares , but just take a few berries then disappear for a while , most likely to digest them .

On the way to the Common I did pop in quickly to Keston Ponds , but could see nothing new there . As I looked around from the car , a juvenile Carrion Crow arrived and perched on the rail , no doubt looking for food .I think the Canada Goose had the same thoughts ,

as did the Black Headed Gull .
But they were unlucky , I was keeping my sandwiches for my lunch .

Sunday 16th.November 2008

Following my last post , regarding the Stag Beetle larvae , Warren asked if I had exposed the grubs .

A good while ago I came across a nice piece of Oak , that looked as if it might have been a seat earlier in it's life . I took it home , cleaned it up , and managed to aqquire a couple of Oak legs to return it to it's former use , and fashioned a rustic seat which we had on the patio . After some time , Carol noticed piles of wood dust under it and removed the seat which was just placed on top of the two legs , the weight of the seat holding things in place . She found seven of the larvae munching their way through one of the legs and also the underside of the seat above the leg . We carefully removed the whole thing from the patio , and reassembled it in the bottom corner of the garden , where it still remains .

To get yesterday's picture , I simply took off the seat and the larvae were in the top of the left hand leg in the picture . A close up of the top of the same leg shows how rotten the inner wood is .

I think the eggs were layed whilst in situ on the patio , and as the larvae take up to seven years to mature , it might have quite a stay in that corner of the garden . We have found adult females in the garden in the past , but not for the last 3/4 years .

Today , thankfully , before the rain I spent with a member of the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group and another surveyor , deciding on any changes to the refugia up on the Greensand Ridge near Westerham . Decisions were made to move , remove or leave each tin/felt . Nothing was expected to be found at this time of year , but under one of the tins was this Grass Snake .

I think it is the same one that I have had under that tin on my last three visits . The rest of the refugia produced absolutely nothing , until we got to the last two pairs , about 5mtrs. apart , on the edge of a pond . As we were approaching , Nick , the other surveyor was saying that he had recorded a Great Crested Newt there , either last visit or the one before . I told him about the juvenile that I had found under refugia , and mentioned it would be good to find an adult . The first tin was lifted , and there underneath was a male Great Crested Newt .

If you look along the spine of the back , you can see the crest , deflated now , as it's main use is in courting during the breeding season . All three of us got our shots , then he slowly waddled off into the vegetation . We all felt chuffed to see a rare amphibian . The felt next to thew tin had nothing . Jokingly , as we walked the 5mtrs. to the last pair of refugia , I said ' well , we only need the female now' . The last felt was lifted , and there was a female GCN . Unbelievable . She was a bit quicker to disappear into the vegetation , but I got a couple of shots first .

As you can see , she doesn't have the crest down her back . We left the area well pleased with what we had found . Throughout the 2/3 hours we were out , there was hardly any birds or calls , not even the Tawny Owl I usually get in the area . Also on the bird front , still no sign of the female Brambling .

Friday 14th.November 2008

Whilst working in the garden this morning , I had a look to see how the Stag Beetle larvae were gettin on , Getting bigger by the day was the answer .

After lunch , I went for a walk over the Common and on to Keston Ponds . In the sunshine , it was barmey , 15C. and warmer than many days this Summer .

It wasn't only me that thought so either , on the heathland part of the Common , I had a fly by Peacock butterfly and also a Buff Tailed Bumble Bee , frantically nectaring on the yellow Gorse flowers . Even a small moth was dancing amongst the Heather .

I hardly saw or hear a bird on the Common , but did find a nice specimen of Stropharia aeruginosa-Verdigris Agaric . When I posted this fungi before , it was in a woodland situation , but this was in a grassland situation , which is where I have seen it more often .

I got to Keston Ponds twenty minutes before the sun went out , and it was back to the grey cloud again . As I had a bit more time , I had a good look around for the Mandarins , as they were not obvious . Eventually I found them well camouflaged at the back of the bottom pond .You can just see two males and one female , resting on a half submerged branch . The other male and female were even harder to see a bit further back . At least I know that they don't actually disappear off site when I can't find them , just that they are good at hiding . On the top pond , a group of Mallards were taking communal ablutions , probably knowing that the sunshine was short lived .They took it in turn to have a good splash , followed by a good flap to get rid of the surplus water .

Then it was the Drake's turn .

Just before the sun disappeared , I noticed a large dragonfly , hawking along the far side of the pond . I followed it backwards and forwards along the bank . It was a male Southern Hawker , but despite my efforts to keep it in sight and get a shot , it disappeared as the cloud cover came over , not to be seen again , but it was my latest ever record for this species .

Answers to last night's birds and end of list :-

Bird 15 . Devil's Bird ---------------Yellowhammer

Bird 16 . Least Willow Wren -------Chiffchaff

Bird 17 . Gay Pie -------------------Jay

Bird 18 . Cuddy --------------------Moorhen

Bird 19 . Cock Up ------------------Pheasant

Bird 20 . Bellringer ----------------Long Tailed Tit

Tomorrow is hedgelaying alongside the Hogsback on the A31. in Surrey , doesn't sound like wildlife , but who knows .

Thursday 13th.November 2008

Three days with a chainsaw in the hand , has once again produced very little wildlife . Even the female Brambling has deserted the garden .

Before working on the Common today , I stopped at Keston Ponds . Things are pretty much the same in water fowl numbers , but 3 male and 2 female Manderins have reappeared .

It was and brush up time for a couple of the Canada Geese .

On Tuesday , I did manage to get shots of a male Pheasant ,

and a female Blackbird , both in some sunshine ,

and also a male Kestrel looking for his next meal .

Yesterday , in a break , I got a couple of poor shots of Fieldfare , very wary birds .

Apart from that , it was very quiet .

Answers to the last bird names posted :-

Bird 13 . Guernsey Nightingale or nettle Creeper ----Blackcap

Bird 14 .Mouse Falcon or Stannel Hawk -------------Kestrel

Last few birds with just single names :-

Bird 15 . Devil's Bird Bird 16 . Least Willow Wren

Bird 17 . Gay Pie Bird 18 . Cuddy

Bird 19 . Cock Up Bird 20 . Bellringer

Monday 10th.November 2008

Well , I wasn't going to post today as it has been wall to wall rain all day , at some times almost torrential . Consequently I haven't been out of the door , and I'm sure anyone logging on has had enough of the female Brambling on the feeders .

Then , just about 1400 , Carol was watching the latest downpour from the back bedroom window , I had just gone to the loo , when Carol calls out ' where are you , get in here quick , and be careful as you look out the window '. I crouch below the window , grab the camera which was nearby , and slowly stood up using Carol to hide my movement . I didn't know what to expect , the rain was torrential , streaming down the window and the light was terrible . Anyway , there sitting on the post behind the stone Squirrel was

what I believe to be a juvenile male Sparrowhawk . I was happy to have got a shot , as usually they are gone before you can focus , but this one just sat there looking around and very wet .

I managed about 15 shots , then he made as if to take off . Well he did , but only to the roof of the birdhouse about a metre away , the one the Brambling has posed on .There he sat for another couple of minutes , whilst I took another 15/20 shots , albeit of poor quality . Eventually , he flew off down the garden at low level , and then reappeared in a Silver Birch in a neighbour's garden , three houses down . We watched him for a while , and the rain got even heavier , then he flew down , presumably to get shelter in a shrub or the like . We never saw him again , but feel privileged to have been so close for so long , even knowing why he came to the feeders . The only sighting on the feeders in the hour+ since he left , was a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the peanuts halfway down the garden , perhaps he is still about . Looking through the shots I got , I wish the light and weather conditions were better . Shooting through double glazed window streaming with rain is not conducive to good shots , but if conditions were good , then he probably would have been gone before the first shot was taken , and if Carol hadn't been at the window , we would never have known he was there at all .

Answers to last night's birds :-

Bird 11 . Tittling or Gowk -----------Cuckoo

Bird 12 . Tom Pudding or Arsfoot ----Little Grebe

Tonight's birds :-

Bird 13 . Guernsey Nightingale or Nettle Creeper

Bird 14 . Mouse Falcon or Stannel Hawk

Sunday 9th.November 2008

Spent a couple of hours this morning at Spring Park Woods , just above the pond on the City of London managed site . Two winters ago , I put a few Dormouse boxes in the woodland , at the request of the Keeper , and have monitored them whilst recording Butterflies and Dragon/Damselflies there during the season . A couple of the boxes were used as roosts by birds , probably Tits , but no evidence of Dormice was found . So this morning I took them down and relocated them in a different area , which wasn't suitable last times because it had been coppiced , but now that coppice is of a size to support Dormice , if they are present . Only time will tell .

I ran into the Keeper whilst I was there and discussed the management work being carried out on the pond . Marestail , two large Water Lillies and Reed Sweetgrass are strangling the pond , and work has started to remove much of all three . With the Blanket Weed growth , the water surface was sometimes not seen this year . Of course , removing the vegetation also removes some of the larvae which live amongst the roots and detritus on the bottom , but they are leaving the removed vegetation on the side , hoping that the larvae will return to the water . Lets hope so , as they had a bad enough time this Summer without this upheaval , but I understand that something has to be done to keep growth in check , especially as the pond is spring fed from further up in the woods .

I had a walk around the wood , but , apart from a couple of feeding Tit flocks , Corvids , Wood Pigeons and a single Mistle Thrush , it was very quiet .

On my way back to the car , the ground was carpeted with Autumn colour , mostly Sycamore with a sprinkling of Norway Maple .

I looked back across the playing fields at the woods and wondered if the Autumn tints would still be there after the forecast stong winds .Before I reached the car , the first spots were on the wind , and by the time I got to the car , it was raining quite hard .

After lunch , Carol and I did the same walk I did yesterday . Not much had changed , apart from fewer Winter Thrushes in the Holly tree , but a bit further along , my first Meadow Pipit of the Winter on the site . In other years , I have had good numbers on the phone wires across the bridleway . In the field with the grazing sheep , a large flock of Starlings had joined the Corvids .

Along the lane below the horse field , a young Grey Squirrel was sat on top of a fence post , seemingly oblivious to our presence , even when I approached with the camera , it didn't move .

When we got home , I took my coffee and watched the feeders for a while . The Chaffinches are up to a maximum of 25 , Goldfinches 5 , Greenfinches 4 . Whilst watching , a female Great Spotted Woodpecker fed for some time , and I couldn't resist the shot of the female Brambling with the Coal Tit . Blue and Great Tit , Dunnock , Wren , Collared Dove , Wood Pigeon and Jackdaw all put in an appearance .

Answers to last night's birds :-

Bird 9. Sheep Stare or Chepster ----- Starling

Bird 10 . Field Lark or Our Lady's Hen ----Skylark

Tonight's birds :-

Bird 11 . Tittling or Gowk

Bird 12 . Tom Pudding or Arsfoot

Saturday 8th.November 2008

Well , today started wet and dull , and that was how it finished , with just a little bit of brightness in between .

I went for a walk locally this afternoon in a bright spell , and caught two showers . It was more for fresh air than anything as very little was seen , I did put up a flock of about 10 Redwings and the same number of Fieldfares from a Holly tree , but apart from the usual Rose Ringed Parakeets and a mixed flock of Corvids in the field with the sheep grazing in it , that was it .

Two sightings of the Brambling on the feeders today , and the Chaffinch numbers have increased overnight . It's amazing , nothing on the feeders for ages , then in they all come together , Finches and Tits , then something spooks them , and they disappear again for an age . Still , I suppose it gives the Sparrowhawk less chance make a kill .

As it was so quiet , I am just posting a few more shots from earlier in the year .

Eiders on the Farne Islands .

Artic Tern on the Farne Islands .

Shag on the Farne Islands .

Gannets at Bempton Cliffs .

Answers to last night's birds :-

Bird 7 . French Pie or Woodnacker ------Gt.Sp.Woodpecker

Bird 8 . Bee Biter or Saw Sharpener -----Great Tit

Tonight's birds :-

Bird 9 . Sheep Stare or Chepster

Bird 10 . Field Lark or Our Lady's Hen

Friday 7th.November 2008

This morning , we had breakfast in the dining room , whilst the female Brambling , had hers , albeit very quickly eaten on the feeders . If I had gone for the camera , she would have been well gone before I got back . So , after breakfast , I was upstairs , and looked out the back bedroom window to see if she had returned . She hadn't , but on top of the conifer in my neighbour's garden , was this Grey Heron . We always see more around the gardens at this time of year , an un-netted fish pond is like a supermarket with the doors wide open .

As I was getting ready to go out , I had another look at the feeders , and the Brambling had just landed . I had the camera this time and started shooting , knowing she wouldn't be around for long . At least the light wasn't as gloomy as the previous shot , but the sun had not yet got round to the feeders .Looking up the garden records , we had a female last year on the 16th.Nov. , but other years , they haven't shown up until mid to late December , and usually in much colder conditions than at present .

Once again , she didn't stay long , so I set off for a look around Keston Ponds . The water fowl numbers seemed pretty much as before , except not a single sighting of the Mandarins . Even when a lady with bread appeared , and everythings noisily congregated around her , still no sign .The full inventory read , Coot (8) , Moorhen (6) , Mallard (27) , Muscovy type (2) , Aylesbury type (1) , Canada Goose (6) and Black Headed Gull (8) . Strangely , one of the drake Mallard is much bigger than the other males . The other males arethe size of the one in front . I had a look for fungi above the ponds , but there was very little about . I decided to have a look along the footpath up towards the Wilberforce Oak . This Oak , was where William Wilberforce and the then Prime Minister Pitt spoke , paving the way to the abolition of the slave trade . The original tree died , and a replacement was planted . What is left of the original tree can be seen around the replacement , and behind , the Vale of Keston mentioned in the inscription on the stone bench , and repeated on the modern day notice .

The stone seat to commemorate the occassion was erected in 1863 by Earl Stanhope , by permission of Lord Cranworth . I hadn't intended heading this way today , but , whilst there , I thought it was an apt time to be there , with the election of the first black President of the United States of America . The only bird I saw along the footpath , was a Green Woodpecker that I spooked out of another dead Oak nearby . Two specimens of jungi caught my eye on the way , the first Clitocybe geotropa ,

and the second Mycena pura .

As I was returning to the car parked at the ponds , I thought I saw a dragonfly , and then a second one . With the leaves on the ground and the wind blowing them about , it was difficult to locate where they had settled . Eventually , one of them took off again and settled on a leaf . Sure enough , it was a male Common Darter , and I can only assume that the other one was too . Not bad for almost the middle of November , and amazing to have survived those frosty nights and mornings . The wings have taken on a golden hue with age , who knows , he could still be around for Christmas .

Last night's birds :-

Bird 5 . Black Oxeye or Coalhead ------Coal Tit

Bird 6 . Whistling Dick or Mavis ------- Song Thrush

I know Warren got both of them .

Tonight's birds :-

Bird 7 . French Pie or Woodnacker

Bird 8 . Bee Biter or Saw Sharpener

Thursday 6th.November 2008

The work party up on Hayes Common was cancelled today because of the weather , absentees , our leader being knackered , so I took myself off to High Elms Country Park , hoping to find some Winter visitors .

The weather was overcast with the threat of drizzle in the air and quite wet underfoot . Straight away , the most predominant bird was the Rose Ringed Parakeet , they were everywhere , but very difficult to get a true count as they are so mobile . My estimate of seen/heard on my visit would be between 25 and 35 . Whilst crossing the first fairway , I had 6 in one tree , 4 in another , and had a fly past of 5 (difficult to get a good shot because of their speed and bad light conditions ) , and many more could be heard calling locally . The 'nesting tree' also had a good few squabbling as I went past , the whole place will be over-run if they have another good breeding season next year .

Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch were seen/heard , but it wasn't until I got to Burnt Gorse that I had the first Redwings , a fly over of just three , calling . As usual , Corvids and Tits made up the other species seen , with the odd Blackbird , Chaffinch and a couple of Mistle Thrushes . As I left the car park , I did see another small flock , 10/15 Redwings , but no sign of Fieldfares .Another specimen of Rhodotus palmatus was found , and this one , being more in the open , shows it's characteristic 'wrinkled' appearance .

The Chlorosplenium aeruginascens-Green Wood-cup still looks good , it is one of those few fungi that have a good fruiting period .

The second Geastrum triplex-Earthstar , the one bottom right , which hadn't opened last time I looked , is now fully opened , and a third , top middle appeared and has been well chewed .

I also found one of the Lactarius-Milk-cap family , L.turpis-Ugly Milk-cap , not very 'pc' in this age . All the Lactarius family exude droplets of white liquid-milk , which gives them their name .

What must be one of the last Coprinus picaceus-Magpie Fungus was just about still standing , it's cap , like all the Ink Caps , starting to drip the black inky fluid which gives them their name .

Back home in the garden , the female Brambling has been seen briefly three times today , I saw her once before going out and Carol saw her twice whilst I was out . I spent half an hour watching this afternoon , but very few birds came to the feeders , but the light was getting really bad too . Hopefully , she will get less tentative , and I'll get a shot of her in some sunshine . The only regular visitor was the Coal Tit , with his diagnostic twin wing bars .

The answers to last night's old/country bird names were :-

Bird 3 . Oven Bird or Sally Picker ------Willow Warbler

Bird 4 . Tongue Bird or Rain Fowl ------Green Woodpecker

Tonight's two are :-

Bird 5 . Black Oxeye or Coalhead

Bird 6 . Whistling Dick or Mavis

Wednesday 5th.November 2008

Once again , two days volunteering on the Greensand Ridge near Westerham , with chainsaws and chippers going , produced very little wildlife . Yesterday was a complete blank , and I thought today was going to be the same , but , when all the noise was finished with and we were clearing up , a call alerted me to a stag Fallow Deer with a superb set of antlers , strutting his stuff on the fenceline of the field we were working in . I dashed to get my camera , and on finding him again , just managed to see his rear end disappearing into a conifer plantation . Even if I was lucky enough to find him in there , the light was almost non existent , so I put the camera away and carried on clearing up .

Back at the yard , my eye caught white amongst the fallen leaves , and it turned out to be a fungi that I have posted before , but after the close encounter earlier , seemed quite pertinent .

It was Xylaria hypoxylon- Candle-snuff Fungus or it's other common name Stag's Horn , which almost mirrored the antlers seen earlier for real .

A quick update on the rescued owls , all are doing well , the female Snowy still hasn't finished her moult , and looks a bit tatty on the back end , but otherwise fine .

The male too is well and has put on weight , and has developed some serious looking talons .

When I got home , I was doing maintainance on my gear for tomorrow in the garage , but had the camera handy in case anything interesting arrived on the feeders or below . Several times , squabbling Goldfinches made me look , but that was all it was . Then I just happened to look over , and I thought , that's different , amongst the Goldfinches . A white rump , finchy sort of build , it had to be the first Brambling of the season . Apologies for the quality of the shots , but the light was terrible , and it was continually moving about . After no more than 30 seconds it was gone , together with the Goldfinches , but I shall be keeping a good watch on the feeders in the next few days .

Last shot for this post , going back to the rescued owls , I am posting this shot for anyone in the Pittswood area who is desperate to see or hear a Tawny Owl before the end of the year .

Answers to the old/country names of birds posted last time :-

Bird 1. Crank Bird or Pump Borer -------------Lesser Spotted Woodpecker .

Bird 2. Peggy Wash or Washerwoman---------Pied Wagtail ( Spot on Warren )

Another couple to think about :-

Bird 3 . Oven Bird or Sally Picker

Bird 4. Tongue Bird or Rain Fowl

Remember , these names are just a couple of old/country that they were known by .

Monday 3rd.November 2008

What a miserable day , after that bit of sunshine yesterday afternoon , it was back to grey and damp .

However , the monthly bird survey on West Wickham Common was due , so off I set . From the start , I knew I was going to be struggling , and , sure enough , that was how it turned out .

13 species were recorded , and 6 of those were singletons . No sign of Winter visitors , and the best of the bunch were a Great Spotted Woodpecker , 6 Rose Ringed Parakeets and a Grey Heron . I thought I heard a Heron half way round , but wasn't sure . When I got to the houses , about three quarters of the way round , there it was amongst the chimney pots . As I know from the farm lake , they usually fly off as soon as they catch sight of you , but this one wasn't bothered at all . Certainly wouldn't want a jab from that dagger-like bill . On leaving the Common , I thought I would have a look around Highbroom Wood , a long thin wood , completely enclosed on the two long sides by houses , and a stream , The Beck , after which Beckenham is named , running the entire length , between West Wickham and Eden Park . The stream runs in a corridor of Alders , which always attract Siskins later in the season , and is the only place I know locally to have a chance of seeing Redpolls . Since my last visit , it appears that a 'Friends of ' group have been doing work tidying up the woods . I just hope that their efforts don't put off the Redpolls , as I noticed from their noticeboard that they are tidying up again next Saturday .

As I parked the car , for the third day running I heard the 'chak-chak' of Fieldfares , and a small flock of 7 flew parallel with the stream above the trees . No sign of the Siskins or Redpolls , and a meagre 12 species were recorded . The best , apart from the Fieldfares were 2 Rose Ringed Parakeets and a Nuthatch . On this miserable day , even fungi was hard to find , but I did manage a couple . The first Nectria cinnabarina-Coral Spot Fungus can be found on many dead , broad leaved trees , and often found on Sycamore .

The other , found on a log in the stream is Stereum hirsutum-Hairy Sterium . Most of the trees in the wood are native , but just on the way out is a stand of a North American introduced species , Robinia pseudoacacia-False Acacia , which in the Spring , produces panicles of mauve flowers , not unlike those of the Wisteria . These particular ones must be coming to the end of their time , as several have large fallen branches beneath them .

A friend of mine , loaned me an old book , listing the old/country names of common birds . I thought I would post a couple of the old/country names , and see if the reader can work out which bird they refer to . I only picked out two names for each bird , they were the ones that I liked best from the lists .

Bird 1 . Crank bird or Pump Borer

Bird 2 . Peggy wash or Washerwoman

I'll give the answers on my next post .

Sunday 2nd.November 2008

Found another small flock of 8/10 Fieldfares and a couple of Redwings , in horse paddocks adjacent to Jubilee Country Park , on the outskirts of Petts Wood this afternoon . They certainly have come in this direction in good numbers this year . I was checking out a hedge that I am helping to lay late this or early next year . Whilst there , the sky opened out into sunshine , most welcome , so I decided to call in at Keston Ponds on the way home .

The sunshine had brought many other people out as well , which was just as well , as once again I forgot to take bread to attract the Mandarin ducks closer , but fortunately many of them did .

The waterfowl population has grown quite a bit since my last visit . The Mandarins are down to 2 males and 2 females , from their height of 9 and 6 . The Mallards and Mallard type ducks are up to 31 , including the five youngsters I have mentioned before . The 2 white Muscovy types are still around , as is the Aylesbury type white duck . The Canada geese have increased in number to 8 , and the Coots have matched that number . Moorhens are up to 6 , and also on the water were 8 Black Headed Gulls . I must state again , that it was only because of other people's bread , that I managed to get the following shots of a usually shy species .

Eventually , the bread ran out , and the Mandarins went back to the most inaccessible part of the lake , well out of camera distance . Whilst there , I had a look round for fungi , but it was in very short supply . A few False Chanterelles and a few Polypores were all that was found , until walking back through a grassy area , I spotted Clavulinopsis fusiformis-Golden Spindles ,growing amongst the blades of grass . I posted it's white relation C.vermicularis-White Spindles a little while ago . On the way home , I called in on the Common , to see how the Rhodotus palmatus which I posted a couple of weeks ago . The smaller specimen has been well chewed , but the larger one has turned from it's original pink colour , into it's Apricot/Peach mature colour . As I have said before , many fungi species only last a few days at best , but this one , if not damaged or chewed , seems to go one for quite some time .

Saturday 1st.November 2008

I was 'excused billhook' today , as only 20/25 metres of hedge was left to be layed at Leith Hill , the lads who live locally were going to finish it , and still have an early day . As it turns out , with the wet weather coming in earlier than originally forecast , their early day might well have been earlier than they anticipated .

Anyway , I was having a wash and shave this morning , when for the second day running , I heard the 'chack-chack' of Fieldfares . I dashed to the back bedroom window to see a flock of about 25/30 , mostly Fieldfares and a few Redwings circling my neighbour's Catoneaster shrub , which is heavily laden with red berries . The shrub is only about 25 metres from the back of the houses , and the birds were naturally wary . They finished up landing in adjacent trees , and surveying the picture from a distance . Eventually , one or two of them got brave and flew into the Cotoneaster . The majority flew off once again , heading up towards the Common . Further smaller flocks flew over , some stopping to look , some landing and some flying straight on . Even the ones that landed on the Cotoneaster didn't stop long , as , although it was quiet enough down there , I think the berries , although red , were not ripe enough for them , which would make the tannin level high . In all , I estimate I saw 75+ Fieldfares and 25+ Redwings , whether they were the same ones going round and round , I don't know .

As I was not sure what I was going to do today , I 'did a Warren' , and had a two hour garden , feeder , sky watch from 0800-1000hrs , during which time , I recorded 22 species .

Corvids included several Jays flying backwards and forwards between the gardens , no doubt creating Winter 'stashes' . This one settled momentarily on a neighbour's children's climbing frame . A couple of Carrion Crows and three Magpies were constantly arguing with everyone else , including the Jackdaws , and talking of which , I think we are going to have to get larger feeders if they all catch on like this one .

The strange looking Pigeon was back again , clearing up under the feeders , and I managed a clearer shot . As you can see , it has the white wing bars of a Wood Pigeon , but no roundels on the neck . Also helping to keep things tidy on the ground were anything up to six Collared Doves .

There were singletons of Blackbird , Starling , Robin and Dunnock , and Finches were

represented by 15+ Chaffinch , 8 Goldfinch and 4 Greenfinch .

A flock of about 15/20 Rose Ringed Parakeets , the largest flock I have seen for some time , flew over noisily , and at the same time , higher up 4 Common Gulls lazed over .

Blue Tits were continually visiting the feeders as was a single Coal Tit . At one point , Tit numbers increased dramatically , with a passing feeding group of Blue , Great and Long Tailed , and , for the first time in the garden , Marsh Tit .A terrible picture I know , but with the light conditions and the speed it took seed , it was the best I could get . After a cup of coffee , I set out to see if I could find any of the 'Scandinavians' before the imminent rain started . I went through the woods and out onto the bridleway through the farm . I did see two flocks , one of about 30 birds , the other about 20 , mainly Fieldfares , but no chance of getting within camera distance of them . I don't know if they were the ones I had seen earlier or new arrivals . Wlilst out , I did manage to add 3 species , being 1 Wren , 2 House Sparrow and 3 Linnets . That should have been the end of this post , but about 20 minutes ago , whilst in the middle of writing it , Carol shouted up that there was a Greater Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders near to the house . They usually stay down on the furthest ones , so I grabbed the camera and shot downstairs . He was still there , looking as if someone had just taken him out of a box .

Once again , the light conditions didn't do him justice , but it was a nice way to reach 25 species on a miserable , mirky day .