Birds

30/04/23 Paul O'Neill was out and about in Area 7A today and saw a Hobby heading East just South of Ashridge Meadows. A male Whitethroat singing from telephone wires at Ashridge Meadows and a Little Egret flying down stream over Ashridge Stream off Queens Road.

28/04/23 In Area 7 a Sparrowhawk was sitting in Carol Woodman's garden.

27/04/23 A female Wheatear was seen on the roof of a house on Queens Road at junction of Bell Foundry Lane in Area 7A by Michael Hubbard. 2 Kingfisher were seen near the Green Bridge where the Emm Brook joins The Loddon in Area 10 by Nick Kightley.

26/04/23 I finally caught up with a Swift amongst a flock of mixed hirundines, mostly Sand Martin and Swallow around the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10.

24/04/23 Sitting on the wires to the rear of the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10 this afternoon , were both Sand Martin and Swallow. Photo courtesy of Fraser Cottington. Also seen was a Cuckoo in the trees at Lavells Lake. Photo courtesy of John McGovern.

23/04/23 In Area 10 a Kestrel flew south east over the Landfill towards Car Park field.Seen by Fraser Cottington

18/04/23 In Area 10 this afternoon a very obliging Grey Heron was sitting on the outfall at Black Swan Lake, undisturbed by the people walking past. On the lake itself Swallow were feeding just above the surface. Chiffchaff and Blackcap were singing from the lakeside bushes.

16/04/23 A Tawny Owl was heard by Carol Woodman at 03:45this morming in Area 7.

13/04/23 The first returning Swift of the year was seen in Area 10 by David Rimes. An influx of Willow Warblers were spotted with a maximum count of 13 seen and heard around Area 10, by numerous observers.

12/04/23 2 House Martin were seen flying low , just South of Ashridge Stream behind St Cecilia's school in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill this afternoon.

11/04/23 In Area 10 a Willow Warbler was heard singing by the beginning of the path to Bittern hide by Dave Rimes.

09/04/23 After a few days away dog-sitting it was good to take a walk around Area 5 in the sunshine at lunch time. Chiffchaff were calling from the bushes, a Nuthatch was busy looking for a nest hole. A Robin and a Wren were squabbling over the ownership of a log pile. The first Cuckoo of the year was heard calling in Area 10 this morning.

03/04/23 Sitting on the bridge over the Emm Brook in Area 10 was a Little Egret seen by Bill Sheldon. At the Dinton Activity centre a Swallow was perched on the wires seen by Colin Holmes and the Barn Owl was seen to leave its box at 20:15 by Alan Jackman. Paul Bright Thomas saw a Kestrel circling low in Area 4 and 2 Grey Wagtail were at Ripplestream Bridge seen by Angelina Taylor.

02/04/23 After I had topped up the Bird table and the feeders in my Area 4 garden this morning an unexpected Carrion Crow appeared on the fence. In Area 7 following the heavy rain a Grey Heron and Mallard were enoying the new area of water by Emmbrook Vale . Photo courtesy of Lynsey Queenborough

Insects

30/04/23 On my last chance for April the moth trap was put out at dusk on 29/04/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Totals caught were only 10 moths of 9 species. The highlight was a Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla a first for the year .The English name of this unusual little moth is something of a misnomer, as each wing is separated into 6 'plumes'. The scientific name is more accurate, meaning 'six-fingered'. It is the only British member of its family. Also seen was the micro moth Acleris literana , Great prominent Peridea anceps Early Grey Xylocampa areola and a Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea Only my second in 18 years. 6 new moths were added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year bringing the total for 2023 to 29.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

29/04/23 In a slightly bizarre moment a Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea was found on the path near the bridge over the Emm Brook in Area 10 by Alan Rymer.The water scorpion is not a true scorpion, but it certainly looks like one! An underwater predator, it uses its front pincer-like legs to catch its prey. Its tail actually acts as a kind of 'snorkel', rather than a sting, so it can breathe in the water. Who knows how it came to be on the path. In Area 4 at least 2 Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni butterfly were seen on the wing in the sunshine.

19/04/23 The first Seven-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata was seen in Area 9 this morning.

16/04/23 Well, that was rather a poor fortnight. Just 3 moths were added to the garden list during the first two weeks of April with several blank nights, thanks to either cold and clear nights with a bright moon or else cloudy nights which were very windy and wet! So with the weather improving the moth trap was out again in my Area 4 garden and run between 19:45-24.00. . On inspection it was found to contain 10 moths of 7 species. Highlight was a Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis , new for the year and a supporting cast of 1 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda . 2 White- shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella a very worn micro moth Dyseriocrania subpurpurella new for the year, an Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata , new for the year , Chestnut Conistra vaccinii also new for the year. With 4 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list the total for 2023 is 23. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

13/04/23 The first Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Butterfly was seen in Area 5 in a brief spell of sunshine.

09/04/23 Finally a reasonable sized catch from the moth trap that was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 19:45-24.00. . On inspection it was found to contain 10 moths of 3 species. Highlight was a Frosted Green Polyploca ridens new for the year and a supporting cast of 8 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda . and a White- shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . With 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list the total for 2023 is 19. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. My first Peacock Aglais io Butterfly was seen sunning itself in Area 5.

07/04/23 In the lunchtime sun a Queen Buff- tailled Bumblebee Bombus terrestris flew through my Area 4 garden. One of the first Bumblebees to be seen in the Spring.

06/04/23 Another disapointing catch from the moth trap that was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 19:45-23.00. I think hampered by the full moon . On inspection it was found to contain 2 moths of 2 species. One was a Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana new for the year and the other a Small Quaker Orthosia cruda . With 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list the total for 2023 is 18. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

04/04/23 My first Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni butterfly of the year flew through my Area 4 garden today.

02/04/23 A disapointing catch from the moth trap that was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 19:45-22.00 . On inspection it was found to be empty.However a White- shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella new for the year was found on my kitchen wall. With 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list the total for 2023 is 17. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

18/04/23 All along the Emm Brook ,Spring is on the move with Greater Stichwort Stellaria holostea in flower.It is sometimes known as Star-of-Bethlehem' due to its pretty, star-shaped, white flowers Also currently in flower is Ladys Smock Cardamine pratensis Ladys Smock or Cuckoo Flower is the usual foodplant of the Orange Tip butterfly. Females lay their eggs on this plant and males visit the plant looking for females. Both sexes also drink nectar from the flowers. Eggs are sometimes laid on other plants of the cabbage family.

16/04/23 In Area 5 Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata is in flower. Garlic mustard, also known as 'Jack-by-the-hedge', likes shady places, such as the edges of woods and hedgerows. It can grow to over a metre tall and has small white flowers that appear from April. It is a biennial plant, so takes two years to complete its lifecycle. It grows young leaves in its first season, which it keeps over winter, and then flowers in the spring of its second year.

01/04/23 Down by Dragonfly Bridge in Area 5 the catkins of Common Hornbeam Carpinus betulus are really noticeable. Hornbeam is monoecious, meaning male and female catkins are found on the same tree.After pollination by wind, female catkins develop into papery, green winged fruits, known as samaras.

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

10/04/23 On the landfill in Area 10 a Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus was grazing on the grass.

Molluscs