Friday 4th. November 2011

Firstly , many thanks to Rob for pointing out that the Sheild Bug which I ID'd as a Forest Bug on the post before last , was actually Picromerus bidens , a predatory species that preys on larvae of other species , especially caterpillars . A species that I have never come across before . Cheers Rob .The heavy overnight rain continued falling well into the morning , but a brighter spell , before showers started to move in , enabled me to get to Down House to do the bird survey , a very wet bird survey under foot it was too . Added to the weather conditions , the old detached house that adjoins the site , is in the process of being renovate by the looks of things , which meant much machinery noise , which didn't help . The results reflected the prevailing conditions , with just 15 species being recorded . Once again , not a sign of a migrant , either Summer or Winter was found , and the most excitement was when a large , probably female Sparrowhawk , appeared from nowhere on the edge of the large meadow and disappeared as quickly onto the footpath , no doubt hoping to flush a meal
from the overhanging trees .  thought the fallen apples in the orchard might have attracted a Winter

Thrush , but only this Rose-ringed Parakeet was enjoying a healthy meal . A mixture of ordinary and Jacob's Sheep are in the meadows , but the small meadow by the cricket field contained just six

Jacob's Sheep , five ewes and this 'silverback' ram , who seemed very enthusiastic about his duties . No sign again of the Roe Deer , but with the grass so short it isn't surprising . Very little fungi was found whilst walking around the site , until I got back to the main lawn behind the house , which

usually produces a good crop of Wax Caps , and so it did this visit ,  like this Scarlet Hood / Hygrocybe coccinea even though they are well behind normal , probably due to the warmer , drier

conditions in October . The same applied to it's relations H. ceracea , and Snowy Wax Cap

H. nivea . For me , the best specimen found on the lawn , was this Hygrophorus hypothejus , which

unfortunately doesn't have a common name . Different from the rest , this Cavulinopsis helvola , was

 found , squeezing it's way up through the grass . On my way back home , with threatening skies coming in again , I had a quick look around High Elms , and the effort was worthwhile , finding my

first Magpie Fungus / Coprinus picaceus , of the Autumn , this too having only just broken through the leaf litter . A member of the Ink Cap family , it will show how it gets it's common name when it

matures . And finally , a couple of shots from the back bedroom window , one of the local Blue Tits ,

and what must be a teenage Goldfinch , suffering from a bad attack of acne .