Sunday afternoon was spent sitting in the rain at The Narrows. A good strong NNE wind and plenty of birds already having past before I got there, I managed to note a few between 14.00 and 17.20.
The highlights: 6 Red-throated Diver, 105 Gannet, 52 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 21 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 3 Bonxie and an immature Glaucous Gull.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Huge fungi specimens
After going from the tiny probable Phyllonorycter leucographella (Firethorn Leaf Minor) to the huge probable Humpback Whale in my previous two blogs, it was time to get the tape out to measure mushrooms on Saturday at Tophill Low NR.
Despite the wind, it was a good day with plenty on display. A walk along the River Bank turned up some rather large fungi.
This stand of probable Prince, found on willow and privet litter, measured around 55cm across, and one of the specimens collected had a stipe measuring 25cms.
Seeing the pair of bins, and the book, in the picture gives a sense of scale of the size of the cap of the largest specimen, but this picture taken by Richard Hampshire here gives a better idea of just how big the cap is. For notes, the cap measured 33cm in diameter.
Still looking at the list for the site, but it appears several new species could have been added in recent weeks, but we have to check the list to make sure none have been missed off in error.
However, Sceleroderma sepa, several groups found around one tree and none elsewhere, appears to be definitely new.
Very few milk-caps are on the site list, so the finding of a single possible Lactarius quietus last weekend, and several more this weekend, could prove to be an addition to the site fungi list.
Other species which are the first we have found this season included Weeping Widow and Blue Roundhead.
Birding wise the best to report was a flock of c200 Linnet just south of the site while on site, it is 'Rant time, as the annual movement inland kicks into gear.
As the odonata season closes, albeit slowly, a few species are still on the wing. Counts today of 11 Migrant Hawker, 1 Southern Hawker and c28 Common Darter. Perhaps a few more could have been found if the sun had been out longer.
This posed a week ago, photographed by Doug Fairweather and identified as Pine Weevil Hylobius abietis. First one we've seen on walking around over the last decade or so. Need to check the list to see if this one is new!
+P1070340.jpg)
And finally, a picture of some fungi taken today...
Anyone any ideas then please post a comment. Maybe Small Stagshorn???
Despite the wind, it was a good day with plenty on display. A walk along the River Bank turned up some rather large fungi.
This stand of probable Prince, found on willow and privet litter, measured around 55cm across, and one of the specimens collected had a stipe measuring 25cms.
Seeing the pair of bins, and the book, in the picture gives a sense of scale of the size of the cap of the largest specimen, but this picture taken by Richard Hampshire here gives a better idea of just how big the cap is. For notes, the cap measured 33cm in diameter.
Still looking at the list for the site, but it appears several new species could have been added in recent weeks, but we have to check the list to make sure none have been missed off in error.
However, Sceleroderma sepa, several groups found around one tree and none elsewhere, appears to be definitely new.
Very few milk-caps are on the site list, so the finding of a single possible Lactarius quietus last weekend, and several more this weekend, could prove to be an addition to the site fungi list.
Other species which are the first we have found this season included Weeping Widow and Blue Roundhead.
Birding wise the best to report was a flock of c200 Linnet just south of the site while on site, it is 'Rant time, as the annual movement inland kicks into gear.
As the odonata season closes, albeit slowly, a few species are still on the wing. Counts today of 11 Migrant Hawker, 1 Southern Hawker and c28 Common Darter. Perhaps a few more could have been found if the sun had been out longer.
This posed a week ago, photographed by Doug Fairweather and identified as Pine Weevil Hylobius abietis. First one we've seen on walking around over the last decade or so. Need to check the list to see if this one is new!
+P1070340.jpg)
And finally, a picture of some fungi taken today...
Anyone any ideas then please post a comment. Maybe Small Stagshorn???
Monday, 20 September 2010
Probable Humpback trundles past The Narrows
Decided to spend another afternoon down at Spurn Point at The Narrows.
Around 14.15, I was rather startled to notice a huge whale spouting c75-100 metres off the beach... in whale terms... it was showing well!!! It spouted and showed most of its body a couple of times then disappeared from view. After a couple of phone calls to folk at Spurn once I had a phone signal, I was joined by a couple of the locals, Adam Hutt, driver and another, (apologies I don't know every one's name). After no sign for several minutes, and a couple of seals playing just offshore, I was beginning to worry! However, it started spouting again and news was relayed to others via radio.
The whale eventually reached the seawatch hut, showing occasionally to those that had gathered, and continued north past Kilnsea and Easington Gas Terminal, Withernsea (Andy Gibson... who followed it up the coast) and from pager reports, had reached Tunstall after 7pm this evening.
The general view among folk (I don't know a great deal about whales... especially when one appears totally out of the blue and throws me completely) was that it was probably a young Humpback and this suggestion also came out on the pager message from the observer(s) at Tunstall. Unfortunately, I failed in all my attempts to capture the creature on camera. I'm not sure if anyone managed any, but I guess if any are available, then they may feature on the Spurn website. Link on the right.
The rest of the highlights 12.20-18.00:- (all south unless stated) 1538 Swallow, 72 Sand Martin, 58 House Martin, 6 Red-throated Diver, 53 Gannet, 1 Manx Shearwater, 21 Pink-feet, 17 Common Scoter, 8 Teal, 265+ Dunlin, 12 Grey Plover, 4 Golden Plover, 2 Arctic Skua, 7 Sandwich Tern, 47 Common Tern (birds starting to move just as I left), 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldinch and 2 Linnet.
A couple of Little Egrets on the Humber just to the north of the Narrows.
Other things of note included 2 Migrant Hawker, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell - taken quickly south by passing Swallow.
Another surprise for the day was a Hornet which flew south and appeared to land in the among the square shaped sea defences.
Once again, spending life in nature's playground turns up another surprise when you least expect it! And I fulfilled a long held ambition to find a whale from dry land. Better than a boat!!!
Around 14.15, I was rather startled to notice a huge whale spouting c75-100 metres off the beach... in whale terms... it was showing well!!! It spouted and showed most of its body a couple of times then disappeared from view. After a couple of phone calls to folk at Spurn once I had a phone signal, I was joined by a couple of the locals, Adam Hutt, driver and another, (apologies I don't know every one's name). After no sign for several minutes, and a couple of seals playing just offshore, I was beginning to worry! However, it started spouting again and news was relayed to others via radio.
The whale eventually reached the seawatch hut, showing occasionally to those that had gathered, and continued north past Kilnsea and Easington Gas Terminal, Withernsea (Andy Gibson... who followed it up the coast) and from pager reports, had reached Tunstall after 7pm this evening.
The general view among folk (I don't know a great deal about whales... especially when one appears totally out of the blue and throws me completely) was that it was probably a young Humpback and this suggestion also came out on the pager message from the observer(s) at Tunstall. Unfortunately, I failed in all my attempts to capture the creature on camera. I'm not sure if anyone managed any, but I guess if any are available, then they may feature on the Spurn website. Link on the right.
The rest of the highlights 12.20-18.00:- (all south unless stated) 1538 Swallow, 72 Sand Martin, 58 House Martin, 6 Red-throated Diver, 53 Gannet, 1 Manx Shearwater, 21 Pink-feet, 17 Common Scoter, 8 Teal, 265+ Dunlin, 12 Grey Plover, 4 Golden Plover, 2 Arctic Skua, 7 Sandwich Tern, 47 Common Tern (birds starting to move just as I left), 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Goldinch and 2 Linnet.
A couple of Little Egrets on the Humber just to the north of the Narrows.
Other things of note included 2 Migrant Hawker, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell - taken quickly south by passing Swallow.
Another surprise for the day was a Hornet which flew south and appeared to land in the among the square shaped sea defences.
Once again, spending life in nature's playground turns up another surprise when you least expect it! And I fulfilled a long held ambition to find a whale from dry land. Better than a boat!!!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Fungi is more than minor interest
During the fungi extravaganza that was Saturday at Tophill Low NR, Doug Fairweather encountered this tiny moth.
+332a+probable+P1070276.jpg)
After some time of looking through books and scouring the internet, the conclusion is that it is a possible Phyllonorycter species, none of which appear to have been recorded at Tophill Low NR. It is thought that it is possibly P leucographella Firethorn Leaf Minor.
+332a+probable+P1070276.jpg)
After some time of looking through books and scouring the internet, the conclusion is that it is a possible Phyllonorycter species, none of which appear to have been recorded at Tophill Low NR. It is thought that it is possibly P leucographella Firethorn Leaf Minor.
Remembering Bella the Labrador
As I blogged... whilst cursing as the Woodlarks at Skipworth, showing down to a few feet, took flight in disgust...
'and then along bounded a great big Labrador...'Bella! Get here Bella!' and then they all flew away! Good to know the Common is used as a fantastic habitat for the pet dog to show off its field skills at stick fetching rather than being a site primarily used for enjoying the wildlife!'
Must mention I showed great restraint in Houghton Moor woods on Friday when some stupid dog owner decided that it would be fun to enable his pets to run up, growl and jump up at me as I walked defenceless in the woods. In fact he, the owner, was so far away from, and in a total lack of control, of his animals, that it was pointless even trying to enter into any discussion with him that his well loved pets should have been on a lead as the SIGNS say. I'm sure if I'd have kicked one of his dogs, or entered into conversation with the idiot, I would have been seen as spoiling the fun.
Enjoy the read...
http://reservoircatz.blogspot.com/2010/09/twitchers-hail-new-motorway-snack.html
And I suggest adding the blog to favourites...
And I'll end with saying that in the dog owning world, from experience, IT IS THE MAJORITY of dog owners, not the minority, who enhance giving themselves such a bad name!
'and then along bounded a great big Labrador...'Bella! Get here Bella!' and then they all flew away! Good to know the Common is used as a fantastic habitat for the pet dog to show off its field skills at stick fetching rather than being a site primarily used for enjoying the wildlife!'
Must mention I showed great restraint in Houghton Moor woods on Friday when some stupid dog owner decided that it would be fun to enable his pets to run up, growl and jump up at me as I walked defenceless in the woods. In fact he, the owner, was so far away from, and in a total lack of control, of his animals, that it was pointless even trying to enter into any discussion with him that his well loved pets should have been on a lead as the SIGNS say. I'm sure if I'd have kicked one of his dogs, or entered into conversation with the idiot, I would have been seen as spoiling the fun.
Enjoy the read...
http://reservoircatz.blogspot.com/2010/09/twitchers-hail-new-motorway-snack.html
And I suggest adding the blog to favourites...
And I'll end with saying that in the dog owning world, from experience, IT IS THE MAJORITY of dog owners, not the minority, who enhance giving themselves such a bad name!
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Spectacular display
A carpet of Fairies' Bonnets or Trooping Crumble Cap - Coprinus disseminatus
As is typical of a Saturday, I wandered to Tophill Low NR and with the cool weather conditions - no moths of note, very few dragonflies - a rough estimate would be 10 Migrant Hawker and 4 Southern Hawker - Doug Fairweather and myself went looking for fungi.
Spending the afternoon combing the north end in search of mycological excitement was a worthwhile exercise with about 30 species noted... and a bit of head scratching at the end as we attempted to put names to some specimens collected that we couldn't manage to identify at the spot of growth.
The visual highlights included this display of Spectacular Rustgill.
This Blushing Rosette was discovered near North Marsh.
These Pholiota flammans brightened a dark spot near the car park...
and the first fresh Candle Snuff proved difficult to get a decent photograph of.
Some of the other species noted included probable Brick Tuft, Sulphur Tuft, Root Rot, probable Oak Milk-cap, probable Larch Bolete, Purple Pore and several Common Earthball... a Tophill tick for me!
Birdwise it appeared quiet though not much birding was undertaken. Gutted to read the pager saying an Osprey had flown over while we where 'deep in the jungle' but you can't really have it both ways! A high flying skein of 10 Pink-footed Geese 'wink winking' their way south east over the car park late afternoon was the birding highlight.
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