Birdwise , the gardens around the house were quiet , with just 9 species being recorded here , the only species exceeding a single was the Starling , with a flock of about 25+ flying off as I approached them . I had hoped that the fruit trees in the orchard where I photographed a small flock of Ring Necked Parakeets on my last visit , might hold either Fieldfares or Redwings , but it wasn't to be . Close to that tree though , I did find Clavulina rugosa-Wrinkled Cub , growing
amongst the short grass . The large meadow only contained , Carrion Crow , Magpie , Green Woodpecker , RRParakeet and Woodpigeon , once again , lacking the Winter Thrushes that often are found on the Holly trees around the perimeter . Eventually , I did find a small flock of Redwing in the small woodland between the three meadows , and whilst watching them feed on Holly berries , I noticed a movement lower down at ground level . When I finally managed to get the binoculars on the scene , all I got was the white back end of a minimum of 5 Deer , one a positive stag . They disappeared into the woodland , and I came across a stand of Clitocybe 
nebularis-Clouded Agaric , darker than usual in the conditions in which they were growing . I recorded Blue , Long Tailed and Great Tit in the woodland , before crossing into the cricket field .
As I did so , I disturbed three of the Deer herd , who had taken sanctuary in the field . Two immediately bolted away from me to the far corner , and I could see , now they were out in the open , that they were Roe Deer , all three female . The third went in the other direction , and tried to get back into the woodland , but couldn't initially find the gap in the stockfencing . She 
did eventually find the gap , without getting too fretful , and disappeared from view . The Cricket field , unusually , was almost devoid of Wax Caps , just a few Meadow , Snowy and an odd Parrot species , broke up the green grass . A small flock of 13 Jackdaws lifted from their perches around the hedgeline , but nothing else was recorded . By the time I got back to the gardens , a dismal 17 species was all that had been recorded , but the lawn behind the house , was sporting a colourful array of Wax Caps , but , not the rare pink species , Hygrocybe calyptraeformis , which I had 
hoped to find . Unlike the Cricket field , the lawn had good numbers of Hygrocybe coccinea-Scarlet Hood , a real blood red specimen . One specific specimen looked absolutely perfect , and I
had to photograph it on it's own . Also amongst the short grass , I found Clavulinopsis 
corniculata , looking similar to the Golden Spindles that I posted previously .
Leaving Downe , I had to almost pass Keston Ponds , so stopped for a look as the light once again
deteriorated . Almost straight away , I found the female Grey Wagtail , and she seemed to be accepting me now , as she came really close , before being frightened off by a passing car . Checking the Mandarin , I counted 7 at the usual roost on the bottom pond and 3 on the middle pond . one out in the middle , and a pair , unusually , out on the bank , but they entered the 
water and swam to the middle as soon as I got this shot , and I was still a good distance from them . The Mallard type numbers have increased again , and the only other things of interest were , what looked like a family group of 4/5 Bullfinches alongside the middle pond , 
and a Grey Heron , fishing on the far side of the bottom pond .
Tomorrow it's back to hedgelaying back up on the Greensand Ridge . You never know what might turn up , or not !
found on a fallen limb of Scots Pine . 
A very common species , found particularly on dead Beech is 
Cap-H.
Fewer specimens of the normally more abundant Meadow Wax Cap-H.
By the side of a tee , close to the car park , I found a really large specimen of Field 
The same 
( male on the left ) , Common Gull , Goldfinch , 
Chaffinch , 
Wax Caps , and this year the show of this fungi was even better . They start off green , like this specimen , but as they age , they become yellow , with a greenish tinge . Also found in the same area were Snowy Wax Caps and just a few Meadow Wax Caps . Another find was this freshly 
emerged specimen of Shaggy Ink Cap / Lawyer's Wig-
sunshine , that turned out to be a troop of 32 specimens of 
turned up for his .
semi torpid male in one of the boxes . He was awake , but not charging around , so making a photograph quite easy . We popped him back into his box once he had been sexed and weighed . About half a dozen boxes further on , the photo opportunity was even easier , with a fully torpid 
male being found . Interestingly , the two animals were different in colour , this one an almost grey/brown , whereas the previous one was much more of a gingery/brown . The torpid animal started to react to the warmth of my hand , so we quickly returned him to his box as well . Coming towards the end of the 50 boxes , I slid the lid of this particular one , to find an eye 
looking up at me , it was a Yellow-necked Mouse . It seemed to be of the opinion , that if he kept his head under the leaves , I would not see him . Unfortunately for him , he was evicted from the
box and scampered off across the fallen leaves , only to stop some distance away , to check on what exactly was happening , before heading off to look for new accomodation . No other animals were found in the remaining boxes , nor at the other site where there are 20 boxes , but several nests were found , but they were all cold , showing that they were not in use now . Whilst 
walking through the vegetation , I was surprised to disturb a moth , which flew off a short distance , then settled again on the underside of a leaf . I managed a shot , now all I need is for someone to identify it , please . Driving between the two sites , I spotted a flower on the roadside verge , and stopped . It turned out to be what I always think is the first flower of the new year , even though we haven't finished this one yet . It is 
Winter Heliotrope-Petasites fragrans , a member of the Daisy family . The flower is very similar to Butterbur-P.hybridus , but this will not be in flower until March , by which time the Winter Heliotrope will be finishing .
False Death Cap .
The third , also amongst the grass , one of the Wax Caps , Hygrocybe nivea-Snowy Wax Cap .
And finally , the Boletus that I found last weekend , has now been identified as Boletus queletii .
pair , but still a striking bird . The female , even more striking , with it's white head and even 
more colourful plumage . As I have said before , the introduced 
numbering 15/20 , especially when scraps were thrown out . The New Zealand 
one , high in the Gum Trees , or , secreted amongst the thick vegetation , down by the stream . A few insects found around the garden , included this 
This one , a female , identified by the 
enough to find an adult , although our daughter said she saw the adults quite often . One of the many Spiders found around the house , not surprising as the house is 
built on sloping land to the back , giving ideal habitat for the Spiders underneath . And finally , one of the 
attracted to each morning for it's breakfast .
above water level , and a single male , looking rather dishevelled , on his own in the open water . It wasn't long before all was explained , as I had arrived whilst he was in the middle of his 
morning ablutions . Taking no notice of me , he continued , watched by the other two 'Ms' on the pond , Moorhens and Mallard types . I'm sure that sometimes they moved close to him to get 
their morning shower . He finished off with a 'walking on water moment' , as he seemed to stand on the surface , and with a good flap and a shake , got rid of all the surplus water . I did get a shot of it , but he was so active , it came out very blurred .The middle pond was devoid of any birds , not even the Grey Wagtail , and the top pond held just 2 Moorhen . In fact , very little bird call was heard at all , except for Nuthatch , Great Spotted Woodpecker , a few Corvids and a few Tits . So I headed off looking for fungi , and soon came across what would have been a really good sized Amanita muscaria-Fly Agaric , but someone/thing , had smashed it into three pieces . 
Almost alongside , was another , just having emerged , but already having been a snack for something . The white sack , that all members of this family emerge from , can be seen clearly in the ground . My next find was a member of the Boletus family , but as yet , I'm not sure which
one . As can be seen by the photographs , the stem was as wide as the cap , and on site , I thought it might be Satan's Boletus-Boletus satanas , but on checking up from the reference
book at home , it is too late in the year for that particular specimen , I shall keep looking . In all , I found four specimens of the fungi , all had been kicked/pulled from the ground .
of the same family , L. laccata-Deceiver . It gets it's name , as it is very variable in appearance , and therefore difficult to recognise at first sight . On the open grassland area , above the ponds , 
I found Clavulinopsis fusiformis-Golden Spindles , I like it when they look like their common 
name , and close by , under Beech , Russula atropurpurea-Blackish-purple Russula .
some , like this one , man made , and others formed by tree roots and the like . On the
bank sides , in the shaded areas , I found Liverworts , one of the lowest classes of vegetation .
