Birds

27/02/17 In Area 3 on Molly Millars Lane, 8 Waxwing were in a tree.4 flew off towards Wokingham station.Seen by Chris Gent (Berks Birds)

26/02/17 At 07:15, 2 possibly a pair of Nuthatch were visiting the Sunlower hearts in my garden feeders on numerous occasions.

25/02/17 A pair of Mallard were on the pond in Area 5 this morning.On the field behind Morrissons approx 50 Redwing were moving from the grass to the trees everytime a dog walker came by.Also approx 30 Wood Pigeon were with them.I also got a report that a Tawny Owl was heard calling last night.

24/02/17 After storm Doris had subsided. The winds peaked at 38.7 mph in Emmbrook on 23/02/17, I walked to work this morning. In Area 5 a Green Woodpecker was heard. Flying over Area 4 were 3 Cormorrant that seemed to be trying to find somewhere to land.

18/02/17 Warmer weather appears to be on the way and in Area 5 this morning the dawn chorus is starting to take off. Birds are singing to estabish territories, singing Robin and Song Thrush were heard this morning.

16/02/17 With the lighter nights 2 Canada Geese were seen in Area 5 flying over Morrisons and calling at 17:30.

11/02/17 A cold start to the day with smatterings of snow flakes. Area 5 was fairly quiet, highlights were a Stock Dove in the trees to the rear of Morrisons and a male Blackcap and a Coal Tit on the garden feeders. In Area 1(Heath Lake) there were 20 Cormorrant , numerous Coot , several Pochard , a female Tufted Duck which had a nasal saddle on it bearing the marking N3. Nasal saddling of ducks is common in Europe. Extra reasearch has now revealed that the bird was tagged as a 2nd year female at Ampoigne in France on 14/06/16. A distance of 246 miles "as the crow flies". A Goldcrest was also seen in the pines.

07/02/17 In Area 4 today Paul Bright Thomas saw 3 Buzzard , 2 high and 1 circling to the E. In Area 5 a Song Thrush was giving a fine dawn chorus virtuoso performance.

05/02/17 I decided to visit Area 1 this morning and covered Gorrick Woods and Heath Lake. Gorrick Woods were quite productive. A flock of Long tailed Tits moving through the trees, also contained a few Coal Tits. Nearby were a few Siskin. Heath Lake itself had Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen and Grey Heron and at least 6 Cormorrant. The biggest suprise however was a male Gooseander which was quite happy on the lake despite a fair bit of disturbance from people enjoying the area. This bird is a first for the FOTEB list. In amongst the woods were Green Woodpecker, Siskin and a few small parties of Blue and Great Tit.

04/02/17 A bit of a gloomy start to the day in Area 5. A flock of 30+ Redwing were feedingin the grass area between Dragonfly Bridge and the play area. A Great spotted Woodpecker was drumming on a nearby Oak tree.They drum on trees and other resonant surfaces during early spring to mark out their territories.

03/02/17 A walk around around Area 5 in the rain this afternoon produced 6 Canada Geese flying over, a few Magpie several Wood Pigeon and a Kingfisher seen flying upstream from Dragonfly Bridge to the rear of Morrisons.

Insects

19/02/17 In todays sunlight in Area 5 a Buff- tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris was out and about a plume moth Common Plume Emmelina monodactylawas disturbed from the shrubbery.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

14/02/17 my A Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was seen eating spilled bird seed in my Area 5 (Brookside) garden today.

06/02/17 At 05:00 a Fox Vulpes vulpes was seen from my window scavenging in Area 5 (Brookside).

05/02/17 In Area 1 (Gorrick Woods) this morning. I had very brief views of a male Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus as its rear end disappeared behind the trees.

Fungi

11/02/17 Back at Area 1 and Heath Lake,on a branch overhanging the lake was Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica.

05/02/17 In Area 1 at Heath Lake,several of the bracket fungi Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulinus were on a Silver Birch by the lake. This large polypore develops from a small white spherical swelling on the side of dead or living birch trees. Barbers used to 'strop' or sharpen their cut-throat razors on tough, leathery strips cut from the surfaces of these polypores, and so they became known as the Razor Strop Fungus

Molluscs

Fish/ Crustacean

Plant/Trees

25/02/17 In Area 4 in the balancing pond to the rear of Smiths Walk the catkins of Goat Willow Salix caprea are appearing, these are also known as Pussy Willow or Great Sallow .Goat Willow is dioecious (shrubs with male and female flowers on separate plants).

17/02/17 In Area 8 off Old Forest Road Red dead-nettle Evernia prunastri is in flower.They have a long flowering season that can begin in February and last until November. This plant has many names"Bumblebee flower", "Purple dead nettle", "Sweet Archangel" or Bad mans posies".

05/02/17 The lichen Oak Moss Lamium purpureumalways looks good in the morning light. These were in Area 1 (Gorrick Woods).

04/02/17 In Area 5 Hazel Corylus avellana catkins can be seen. The yellow dangling catkins are the male flower spikes (or inflorescences).These appear before the leaves. Instead of using insects, lured by bright colours, scent or nectar, to do their pollinating these flowers instead use the power of the wind to blow pollen from the catkins to the inconspicuous female flowers, which resemble a tiny shock of red hairs protuding from the tip of the bud. Although obvious garden escapees these flowering Snowdrops are always a good sign that Spring is not far away