Birds

27/02/25 At Heathlake in Area 1 this afternonn 2 Egyptian Goose were on the lake with the usual Mute Swan , several Cormorrant , Pochard , Mallard , Coot , Moorhen and Black headed Gull . In Area 7A a Reed Bunting and a Grey Wagtail were seen around Skinner Drive Balancing pond by Paul O'Neill.

25/02/25 Paul O'Neill was around Skinner Drive Balancing pond in Area 7A and saw a male Reed Bunting ,a female Stonechat and a Kingfisher.

22/02/25 In Area 10 a very early returning Sand Martin was seen by Fraser Cottington .

21/02/25 Alan Jackman was on the Old Golf Course in Area 10 and saw 5 Redwing ,3 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrush .

18/02/25 In Area 10 near the Activity Centre a Grey Wagtail was again on the "beach" , along with a Kestrel , Rook , 3 Greenfinch , Fieldfare and Redwing all on the Old Golf Course seen by Paul Etherton.

17/02/25 In Area 1 a pair of Raven were flying over the northern track in Gorrick Wood seen by Rik Dawson. In Area 10 near the Activity Centre 2 Grey Wagtail were seen by Alan Jackman, along with 8 Redwing on the Old Golf Course.

16/02/25 Seen by Brian Bennett in the Area 10 Lavell’s Car Park Field was a Greenfinch .A bit of a rarity these days.

13/02/25 A quick visit to Area 1 and Heath Lake produced a male Pochard , Tuted Duck , Mallard 3 Mute Swan , Cormorrant , Moorhen , Coot , Black headed Gull and Herring Gulls .

12/02/25 A male Firecrest was feeding along the River Loddon 50m north of the Green bridge in Area 10 seen by Brian Bennett.

11/02/25 On the Old Golf Course in Area 10 seen by Philip Giles were 50 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare .

07/02/25 A male Mistle Thrush was heard in song from oaks along the Emm Brook in Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas.

05/02/25 In Ashridge Stream behind Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A an adult Little Egret was seen by Paul O'Neill.

04/02/25 In Area 7A at the old dead Oak tree at Skinner Drive balancing pond 3 Cormorrant were resting.

02/02/25 At Lavell’s Lake Car Park Field in Area 10 seen by Fraser Cottington were 2 Mistle Thrush on the east side of the field.

01/02/25 A Goldfinch made a rare appearance on the Sunflower Hearts in my Area 4 garden. During the litter pick a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming away.

Insects

25/02/25 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 24/02/25 and brought in very early this morning due to heavy rain. A catch of 5 moths of 4 species.These were a March Moth Alsophila aescularia , 2 male Oak Beauty Biston strataria and a Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria all new for the year, also a Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria . With 3 new moth's added ,the total for 2025 is 12 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

22/02/25 It was still a mild night but with rain predicted I decided just to put the patio light on overnight on 21/02/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and I checked the adjacent wall this morning .It paid divends with a catch of 2 moths of 2 species, both new for the year.These were the micro moth Tawny Oak Tortrix Acleris ferrugana and another micro Hemlock Moth Agonopterix alstromeriana . With 2 new moths added ,the total for 2025 is 9 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

21/02/25 The overnight temperature was again in double figures, despite the fact that I had trapped yesterday the moth trap was back out overnight on 20/02/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 3 moths of 2 species.These were 2 of the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana and a Chestnut Conistra vaccinii . With no new moths added ,the total for 2025 is still 7 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

20/02/25 Finally the overnight temperature was in double figures so the moth trap was back out overnight on 19/02/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 3 moths of 3 species.These were Chestnut Conistra vaccinii a first for the year, Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula and another Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria . With 1 new moths added ,the total for 2025 is now 7 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

05/02/25 This has been a very quiet period thanks to the lengthy cold snap and the lights remained off for the majority of it. However I thought that I had seen a chance so the moth trap was back out overnight on 04/02/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 2 moths of 2 species.These were another Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia and a Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria . The total for 2025 is still 6 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. .

02/02/25 I left the patio light on overnight on 01/01/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and on the wall this morning was a solitary Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia a new moth for the year.The total for 2025 is now 6 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/02/25 A new month so the moth trap was back out overnight on 31/01/25 at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning .It produced a catch of 7 moths of 3 species.These were Common Quaker Phigalia pilosaria the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana and 5 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria . With 2 new moths added ,the total for 2025 is now 5 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. <

Plants/ Trees

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

25/02/25 Covered in bright yellow flowers at this time of year are the spiky , Common Gorse Ulex europaeus bushes. Seen in Area 1.

04/02/25 Another early flowering plant , Lords-and-ladies Arum maculatum is starting to appear in Area 10. It has waxy, arrow-shaped leaves that are sometimes spotted with black splodges. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

02/02/25 In Area 5 the first Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna are starting to emerge.A cheerful sight in spring with its bright yellow flowers, Lesser Celandine is a good source of early pollen and nectar for pollinating insects.

Fungi

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

Fish

Mammals

27/02/25 In Area 1 at lunch time 2 female Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus where feeding on the grass in the afternoon sunshine, despite distractions.

03/02/25 In the mud under the green bridge in Area 10 where the Emm Brook meets the Loddon was what I am reliably informed is the rear left footprint of an European Otter Lutra lutra . Photo courtesy of Keith Boseley

02/02/25 At 03:30, I was woken in Area 4 by a very noisy Red Fox Vulpes vulpes . Mating takes place in winter and this is when foxes are at their most vocal, barking and screeching loudly as they look to attract a mate and fend off rivals.

Molluscs