Cladonia lichens
| A fine morning with just the occasional bout of fine drizzle. We started off by seeing mostly woodland birds with a pair of Nuthatches putting on a great display flying in and out of a hole in a tree. Later on a Green Woodpecker and a Treecreeper were also seen but not by the whole group. Out on the heath a few Buzzards were seen as well as a lone Raven but there were very few birds in the heather. One Stonechat gave us very good views but sadly there was no Dartford Warbler under it, as is often the case (they use the Stonechats as sentries!). A close look at the heathland floor revealed hundreds of red-topped spore bodies of the lichen Cladonia. |
© Kay Mantripp/Nature Portfolio
Cladonia lichens |
© Kay Mantripp/Nature Portfolio
Wood Ants Nest |
The pines here gave us the chance to sort out the differences between Coal and Blue Tits, with the daffodils growing under them initiating a great deal of discussion about the features of Wild Daffodils compared with the cultivated varieties. Also under the trees was a very active Wood Ant nest, with its occupants making the most of the sunny spells by warming themselves up on the top of the nest. |
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Birds Little Grebe Mallard Gadwall Tufted Duck Buzzard Wood Pigeon Lesser/Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard) Green Woodpecker Song Thrush Blackbird Robin Stonechat Nuthatch Treecreeper Great Tit Blue Tit Coal Tit Long-tailed Tit Chaffinch Greenfinch Siskin |
© Kay Mantripp/Nature Portfolio
Scots Pine |