Birds

28/02/22 Paul Bright-Thomas saw 3 Siskin in Area 4.

27/02/22 In Area 4 a Common Buzzard and 2 Red Kite were esoaring in the same thermal.

26/02/22 In Area 10 Dunnock were singing from the tops of trees and shrubs as Spring approaches. The Tawny Owl was sat out enjoying the morning sun, seen and photographed by Steve Beasant . A Grey Heron was at the ponds by the Wet Meadow.

23/02/22 In Area 4 a Little Egret was seen in the Emm Brook near Barkham Road bridge by Peter Burden.

20/02/22 I was in Area 10 again today, 2 Goldcrest were picking through the Ivy, with a Wren . 2 Redwing were also seen. A Grey Heron was wading across the Emm Brook. In the car park field a Kestrel was on the wires and fence. It was constantly hunting and eventually got lucky catching a Shrew. A Ring necked Parakeet was heard calling from trees on the Old Golf Course.In Area 7A at Ashridge Meadows, Will Day was walking his dog and saw a Yellowhammer sheltering amongst the shrubs and Gorse on the embankment at the western end by Twyford Rd a Skylark singing high above the meadows at the eastern end, 2 Little Egrets in / by the Ashridge stream and a Grey Heron in one of the ponds.

19/02/22 In Area 10 a Tawny Owl was seen in its usual tree.Photo courtesy of Fraser Cottington

18/02/22 In the Area 10 Car park field a Kestrel was defying Storm Eunice and hanging onto the wires despite the howling gale, seen by Alan Rymer.

14/02/22 In the Car park field in Area 10 a Kestrel was seen by Alan Jackmam. I was wandering around in Area 7A this morning 2 Fieldfare were seen and at the Balancing pond 2 Blue Tit were busy investigating the Reed mace.

11/02/22 Fieldfare and Redwing were on the Old Golf Course in Area 10 seen by Alan Jackman and a Kestrel landed on the climbing wall, seen by Fraser Cottington.

09/02/22 In Area 1 a Firecrest was seen feeding in an Ivy clad tree by Rick Dawson.

08/02/22 A Buzzard was circling over Area 5 this afternoon.

07/02/22 Robert Godden was in Area 1 and saw 3 Grey Heron on the flooded field near Ludgrove School, 2 singing male Mistle Thrush east of the School and 26 Lapwing on last year's Strawberry crop on Gray's Farm. In Area 7 a Green Sandpiper was seen on Ashridge Stream at the junction of Old Forest Road and Toutley Road by Rick Dawson and a Kestrel was sat on the wires in the Area 10 Car park field seen by Alan Jackman.

04/02/22 Along the Emm Brook the sights and sounds of Spring are just starting to emerge. The Dawn chorous is starting to swell. In Area 5 this morning at least 6 seperate singing male Song Thrush with their beautiful and loud song of repeated phrases were heard, presumabely setting up territories ahead of the Breeding season , as was a drumming Great spotted Woodpecker.In Area 8, plenty of Robin and Blackbird was also heard.

03/02/22 In Area 10 a pair of Bullfinch and 4 Lesser Redpoll were seen in the car park field by Nick Kightley. Ralph Watts was exploring Area 1 around Ludgrove School and saw 3 Jay , 3 Great Tit ,7 Blue Tit , 30 Jackdaw, 2 Moorhen , 11 Mallard , 7 Robin , 1 Wren and a Red Kite .

02/02/22 As I wandered around Area's 4 & 5 today, a pair of Bullfinch were seen near Windmill School in the Brambles, and a Little Egret flew over Ripplestream Bridge.In Area 7 a Green Sandpiper flew from the stilling basin into the Ashridge Stream and a Grey Wagtail was also seen.

01/02/22 A Little Owl was seen sitting on its "usual" tree at Chapel Green in Area 1 by Rick Dawson at lunch time.

Insects

As you may have noticed its that time of year when Insects seem to disappear. Where do they go?, What do they do? Find the answers Where have the Insects gone? .

26/02/22 I put out the Moth trap overnight (25/02/22) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. 2 moths of 2 species were caught . These were a Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria new for the year list and a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi . This brings the FOTEB 2022 list to 11 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

23/02/22 The wind finally dropped so I put out the Moth trap overnight (22/02/22) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. A total of 2 moths of 2 species were caught . Both new for the year. This brings the FOTEB 2022 list to 10 species. They were Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica this common species has a distinct black mark on the forewing that is unique among spring-flying moths and a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi . Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

17/02/22 The weather has recently not been condusive to moth trapping. The forecast was very mild albeit with a gusty wind from Storm Dudley. Undeterred I put out the Moth trap overnight (16/02/22) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. A total of 2 micro moths of 2 species were caught . They were Tortricodes alternella a first for the year and a Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana . This brings the FOTEB list to 8 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

08/02/22 Another mild cloudy night was forcast and so I put out the Moth trap overnight (07/02/22) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning.The overnight temperature was in double figures and 5 moths were caught . They were 3 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana , the highlight, however was the Satellite Eupsilia transversa. This was another new moth for the year and brings the FOTEB list to 7 species. Also lured in by the light were 3 as yet unidentified Caterpillars. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

02/02/22 I put out the Moth trap overnight (01/02/22) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning.It was a mild night and 5 moths appeared. Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia is quite common at this time of year and a very variable species, with males varying from almost black-and-white to a drab greyish and rather plain appearance, as the 2 caught demonstrate. Also caught was a Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria and the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana which can be found on the wing any time from September through to April. This was another new moth for the year and brings the FOTEB list to 6 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

14/02/22 In Area 7A today I noticed that the first buds and flowers of the early blooming Blackthorn Prunus spinosa are starting to appear. Blackthorn trees have clouds of snow-white flowers and are a good early source of nectar for insects.

02/02/22 On the banks of the Emm in Area 10 today were the first Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna of the year.Its bright, yellow star-shaped flowers were not quite yet out. Once more on the banks of the Emm , this time in Area 4 were Harts Tounge Fern Asplenium scolopendrium and what I believe to be Hard Fern Blechnum spicant side by side.

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified by a qualified professional, some are DEADLY when ingested (all species MUST BE cooked).

20/02/22 Not really a Fungi, but a Lichen, which is a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga.This one is a Oak Moss Evernia prunastri .

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

24/02/22 A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was running through Area 4 at 04:00 barking.

11/02/22 In Area 10 a Field Vole Microtus agrestis was seen by Keith Milner. Photo courtesy of Keith Milner. A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was running through Area 4 at 22:30 barking.

02/02/22 In Area 5, Common Mole Talpa europaea have been busy. Male moles extend their territories in preperation for the breeding season which starts in March, as a result the fruits of their labours can be seen.

Fish/ Crustaceans

Molluscs