Birds

30/01/18 In Area 6 a Little Egret were seen flying over Emmbrook Secondary school by Paul Bright-Thomas and the Barn Owl was seen in Area 10.

30/01/18 2 a Mistle Thrush were seen flying across the car park field in Area 10 by Fraser Cottington.

27/01/18 Another wet and gloomy day, however in Area 10 a Green Sandpiper was seen in the new Balancing pond area in the Lavells Lake meadow by Brian Bennett and in Area 1 a Raven was in the fields to the N of Gorrick Woods and a Little Owl was heard calling from the same fields, both reports by Alan Holmes.

24/01/18 The Barn Owl was seen in its box and a Woodcock flew over the meadow in Area 10 seen by Fraser Cottington.

21/01/18 Despite this mornings sleet and snow I visited Area 10. A Little Egret was feeding on the new excavations in the Lavells Lake field and 2 male Pheasant were at the back of the scrape bund.

17/01/18 I decided to visit Area 1 at lunchtime and walked from Luckley Road to Ludgove School. As befits its rural area, there were plenty of Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie and a few Rook. Both Buzzard and Red Kitewere battling against the wind. In the woods a calling Ring necked Parakeet was heard.

13/01/18 A Coal Tit was on my Area 5 garden feeders this afternoon. This brings the FOTEB year list to 42 species.

12/01/18 Approx 3 hours spent in Area's 4 & 5 this morning, with Mike and Malcolm clearing out the riverside nest boxes, paid dividends. A total of 23 species of birds were seen and heard. Highlights included a fine male Bullfinch,my first for the year.3 Mistle Thrush, approx 70 Redwing, a drumming Great spotted Woodpecker, numerous noisy Nuthatch and a calling Stock Dove.

11/01/18 In Area 7 a Little Egret was seen again feeding in Ashridge Stream where it meets the Emm Brook by Toutley Bridge.Seen by Paul O'Neill and a Hawfinch was seen in Lavells Lake car park field (Area 10 ) by Alan Rymer.

10/01/18 Another brief visit to Area 1 and Heathlake, this time in sunshine produced the following. A Kingfisher briefly sitting by the small pond by the footpath from Greenfield Way.It saw me then flew over the lake.Ducks were the usual Pochard, Gadwall, Tufted Duckand Mallard. Both Coot and Moorhen were seen. On the Island it looks like the start of a Heronry, with 6 Grey Heron sitting in the trees with 4 Cormorrant.

09/01/18 In Area 10 , 2 Treecreeper were seen by the Emm Brook by Bob Bennett.

07/01/18 Just before midday a Little Owl was seen in trees in Area 1 from the road/path to Ludgrove School by Peter Kendall.

06/01/18 A bit more time to spend on the river this morning in Area 5 produced a pair of Mallard on the river,along with 25+ Redwing, a singing Song Thrush and Blackbird. On my garden feeders were 6 Goldfinch and Nuthatch. In Area 7 a Little Egret was in the Ashridge Stream, a Ring necked Parakeet flew over Old Forest Road, and a Song Thrush was singing in the hedgerows. Its song included phrases of Ring necked Parakeet seen by Paul O'Neill.

05/01/18 A female Kestrel was seen flying over the M4 adjacent to Old Forest Road Meadows (Area 8) by Paul O'Neill.

04/01/18 The Barn Owl was seen again at the entrance to its box in Area 10 by Roger Stansfield.

03/01/18 At least it was only the biting wind to contend with today. A gust of 45.6 mph was recorded overnight in Area 8 courtesy of Storm Eleanor. A brief visit to Area 1 and Heathlake produced the following. Male and female Pochard, Gadwall, Tufted Duckand Mallard. Both Coot and Moorhen were seen. A pair of Mute Swan assumed I had food and came close enough for a picture.

02/01/18 A wet cold and horrible day. Seen in Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas was a Lesser Redpoll In Area 1 in the fields by Ludgrove school 16 Mallard were enjoying the flood. A Barn Owl was perched on a fence post in the car park field in Area 10 seen by Fraser Cottington. The Hawfinch were also seen in the copse in the middle of the field.

01/01/18 Area 10 was given a good look over today.Seen in the carpark field was a Ring necked Parakeet by Fraser Cottington and also 30 Siskin . A Kestrel flew towards the landfill. A Barn Owl was seen flying arond the meadow on Lavells Lake before flying over the Emm Brook.2 Hawfinch were in the copse in the middle of the field sen by Marek Walford.

Insects

04/01/18 Seen at lunchtime in Area 7 was the Bumblebee Bombus terrestris . It wasn't really flying, more like being blown along by the wind.

Plant/Trees

21/01/18

In Area 10 another Loddon Lily Leucojum aestivum is in flower.

20/01/18

A sure sign that spring is on its way is the emergence of Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna. These were in Area 5.

09/01/18

The male catkins of Hazel Corylus avellana are out. They will shortly be lengthening, and becoming floppy like lamb’s tails. When the catkins expand it means the male hazel flowers are opening. A close look at the expanded catkin will allow you to see the anthers for yourself.This is then followed by the bright red stigmas of the females peeking out. The stigma (pollen receptive area) is the only part of the flower that ever protrudes from the bud; the rest of the highly reduced flower, and particularly the egg cells, is kept protected from the weather in the centre of the bud. Once the lucky pollen grain has landed on the stigma, it puts out a fine tube which carries the male nucleus to fertilise the egg and produce the hazel nut we see in autumn. Also seen was the first Pussy Willow Salix caprea catkins of the year.

09/01/18

The first signs of Cuckoo Pint Arum maculatum are just starting to appear through the ground in Area 4, 5 & 10.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

21/01/18

A bit of a damp looking Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis was making the most of my Area 5 garden feeders at lunchtime.

14/01/18

A Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus was seen by Fran Stickler in Area 8 by Old Forest Road.

Fungi

12/01/18

In Area 5 today was what I believe to be the fungi Chondostereum purpureum .This fungus forms leathery, lilac to deep purple patches with a white edge. After starting as just a crust on the wood, the fruiting structure develops undulating intergrowing brackets up to about 3 cm broad.

Fish