Birds

29/12/24 A Cormorrant was seen swimming and fishing on the Emm Brook in Area 7 on Emmbrook Walk near the junction with Toutley Road by Will Day.

27/12/24 In Area 7A at Copsewood balancing pond a Mute Swan was on the water and 2 Cormorrant were in the Oak tree. All sightings by Paul O'Neill. In Area 10 a Kingfisher was along the Emm Brook to the south of the Activity Centre seen by Dave Rimes.

26/12/24 2 Fieldfare were seen near the entrance to the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10 by Alan Rymer.

25/12/24 For no other reason than its Christmas Day, a seasonal picture of a Robin.

22/12/24 In Area 1 at Gorrick plantation a Firecrest was seen in a holly bush amongst a Tit flock, a possible Woodcock flew over just above tree height and a Raven was seen. In the fields around Chapel Green were 80 Common Gull , 40 Lapwing and also a few Herring Gull . All sightings by Rick Dawson.

18/12/24 A Common Buzzard was drfting in the sky over my Area 4 garden at 15:30 today.

15/12/24 On Black Swan Lake in Area 10 a Barnacle Goose was seen in front of the Dinton Activity Centre by Marek Walford.

12/12/24 In Area 7A a Mute Swan was seen on the Copsewood Balancing pond by Paul O'Neill.

11/12/24 A stroll through Area 1 this morning. In the fields around Ludgrove School were the usual Rook and Jackdaw A male Pheasant was at Greys Farm along with a Jay . At Heathlake a Grey Heron was on the small pond , whilst on the lake were the usual Coot , Moorhen , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Cormorrant , Mute Swan and Black headed Gull A Nuthatch and Great spotted Woodpecker were heard calling from the trees

06/12/24 A Firecrest was seen in the thick bushes by the short alley up to Arthur Road in Area 4 by Paul Bright- Thomas.

04/12/24 In Area 10 in the Carpark field a flock of Redwing were seen by Alan Jackman.

02/12/24 A Kingfisher was seen near the the Green Bridge in Area 10 where the Emm Brook meets the Loddon by Alan Jackman.

Insects

25/12/24 To help Santa find the house and deliver all my presents, the patio light was left on at dusk on 24/12/24 in my Area 4 garden. On the wall this morning were 5 moths of 4 species. Apart from my presents, the highlight was a Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria new for the year, 2 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata with a Australian Orange-tip Tachystola acroxantha An adventive species, which was first noted in Devon in 1908, and was probably imported with Australian plants and a Light Browm Apple moth Epiphyas postvittana . With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2024 is now 236 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. .

18/12/24 Paul Hopcraft was out and about with his camera in Area 4 and came across a Giant Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus salignus . Giant Willow Aphids are dark brown with a peppering of black spots but can appear grey from a white dust which forms on them. It is an unusually large aphid, measuring up to 6mm long. Adults of the species have a thorn-like tubercle which protrudes from its back.

16/12/24 The weather forecast predicted that overnight temperatures would be in double figures, so the moth trap was back out overnight on 15/12/24 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 5 moths of 3 species. No real highlight's, but a December Moth Poecilocampa populi a Winter Moth Operophtera brumata and 3 Light Browm Apple moth Epiphyas postvittana . The total for 2024 remains at 235 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/12/24 With overnight temperatures in double figures the moth trap was back out overnight on 30/11/24 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 12 moths of 4 species. Highlight were 7 aptly named December Moth Poecilocampa populi and 2 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata with a supporting cast of a Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria and 2 Light Browm Apple moth Epiphyas postvittana . With 2 new moth's added ,the total for 2024 is now 235 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

At this time of year the leaves on the trees and hedgerows start to change colour from green to a yellow/gold before falling , find out why at Why do leaves change colour .

Fungi

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

18/12/24 A Glistening Ink Cap Coprinellus micaceus was seen and photographed by Paul Hopcraft in Area 4.The cap appears pleated and when young, is covered in fine, powdery granules that make it glisten. It later becomes bell-shaped, often with a split or sometimes rolled-back margin that is lined and grooved almost to the centre; tawny becoming cinnamon toward the middle.

Fish

Mammals

13/12/24 I topped up the garden Bird feeders and a Grey squirrel appeared from nowhere and proceeded to demolish the Sunflower hearts.

Molluscs