Birds

30/06/22 A solitary Ring necked Parakeet was seen and heard calling as it flew over Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden.

26/06/22 In Area 4 this morning at 06:00 a bedraggled Red Kite visited my small back garden to pick up the remains of a Burger Bun , before landing on a neighbours roof.

23/06/22 My first Juvenile Robin appeared in my Area 4 garden today.

22/06/22 3 Swift were seen screaming above my Area 4 garden at 19:00. In Area 10 a Kingfisher was flying along the Emm by the Old Golf Course, seen by Anne Cronin. There were still 4 juv and a female Kestrel around Mathews Green Farm in Area 7A. There was occasional commotion as the adult female saw off the perceived threat from Red Kites, seen by Paul O'Neill.

19/06/22 On the Scrape at Lavells Lake in Area 10, there were 2 Green Sandpiper seen and photographed by Geoff Emmett.

16/06/22 In Area 7A a family group of Kestrel 1 Adult and 4 juvenile's were seen on the roof of a shed at Matthews Green Farm by Paul O'Neill.

15/06/22 At 04:50 a Raven flew over my Area 4 garden "cronking" as I was getting the moth trap in.

14/06/22 Seen at Ashridge Meadows , Area 7A at lunch time were singing male Yellowhammer , Whitethroat and Chiffchaff . 3 Buzzard were enjoying the thermals and a Black headed Gull was over the sewage works.

10/06/22 On the Balancing pond in Area 8 a Grey Heron was looking for lunch, 3 Mallard were sleeping off theirs and a Black headed Gull popped in for a bathe.

07/06/22 Seen and photographed in the Area 4 Balancing pond by Paul Hopcraft was a juvenile Robin trying to stay safe among the Nettles.

06/06/22 Now is the time that juvenile birds can be seen. Around my Area 4 Garden feeders today were juveniles of Blue Tit , Starling , Blackbird and House Sparrow. Some with parents in close proximity.

05/06/22 At least 12 Swift were seen screaming high over Queens Road in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill.

04/06/22 In Area 1 at Ludgrove 4 Skylark were seen at Grays Farm by Stuart Scott.

03/06/22 At 05:20 7 Canada Geese flew West over Area 4 .

02/06/22 Whilst in Area 4 putting up the posters for Saturdays litter pick a Grey Wagtail was seen in the Emm Brook by Kingfisher Bridge and a Little Egret in full breeding plumage was seen in the Brook at the Meadow Road Bridge. A solitary Swift was seen feeding over my Area 4 garden.

01/06/22 Garden Warbler were heard singing in the Area 10 Car Park field along with Chiffchaff .A Grey wagtail was seen in the Emm Brook from the bridge.

Insects

28/06/22 I put the moth trap out overnight on 27/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. The night temperature was only just in double figures which was reflected in a dissapointing catch with 18 moths of 15 species caught . The highlights were Double Square spot Xestia triangulum and the micro moth Agapeta hamana both firsts for the year. Also seen was Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius . With a total of 3 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 127 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. In Area 10 seen and photgraphed by Michael Hubbard were the following Butterflies. Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta , Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus , Comma Polygonia c-album , Meadow Brown Ourapteryx sambucaria Large White Pieris brassicae , Small White Pieris rapae , Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and a Marbled White Melanargia galathea in the Car park field . Also seen was a Painted Lady. Vanessa cardui by Allan.

26/06/22 With warm summer evenings, now is the time of year when you can expect to see a Summer Chafer Amphimallon solstitialis they are similar to the Cockchafer (May Bug) but smaller and hairier.

25/06/22 With the current warm weather not looking to end I put the moth trap out again overnight on 24/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. It was a bit of a dissapointing catch with 35 moths of 20 species caught . The highlights were Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria and and Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides both firsts for the year. Also seen was Peppered Moth Biston betularia . With a total of 4 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 125 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/06/22 Flying around my Area 4 kitchen this morning was a Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria .

22/06/22 Seen and phtographed by Paul Hopcraft in the Area 4 Balancing Pond were Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus and an immature Roesel's Bush Cricket Roeseliana roeselii .

20/06/22 The mothtrap was out overnight on 19/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. The warm weather continues and another reasonable catch with 42 moths of 27 species caught . The highlights were my first Anania coronata micro moth and Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis of the year. Also seen was Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis With a total of 5 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 121 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

17/06/22 The mothtrap was out overnight on 16/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Another reasonable catch with 50 moths of 30 species caught . The highlights were my first Green Silver Lines Pseudoips prasinana and Foxglove Pug Heupithecia pulchellata of the year. Also seen was The Miller Acronicta leporina With a total of 5 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 116 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

15/06/22 Once again I put the mothtrap out overnight on 14/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. Another reasonable catch with 35 moths of 22 species caught . The highlights were my first ever Small Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila porcellus much smaller than Elephant Hawk-moth with yellow rather than green markings and a lack of stripe down centre of the abdomen. and my first Blotched Emerald Hecatera bicolorata of the year. Also seen was Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana With a total of 5first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 111 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

14/06/22 At Ashridge Meadows in Area 7A my first male Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum Dragonfly of the year was seen.

12/06/22 Paul Hopcraft was out in Area 5 and saw the caterpillar of the Knot Grass Moth Acronicta rumicis feeding on Nettles.

11/06/22 Making good use of the current spell of good weather I put the moth trap out overnight on 10/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. Another reasonable catch with 32 moths of 23 species caught . The highlights were my first Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula and Broad-barred White Hecatera bicolorata of the year. Also seen was White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda With a total of 13 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 106 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

10/06/22 I had a nice lunchtime walk in the sun around Old Forest Road Meadows (Area 8). Seen were a Female Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator who was laying eggs in one of the ponds. A Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Butterfly a first for the year and the day flying moth Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica which was in and around the Birds Foot Trefoil. Gets its English name from the fact that it is often found in company with Burnet Moths.

08/06/22 I put the moth trap out overnight on 07/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. It was bought in at 03.30 due to rain. A busy evening with 46 moths of 28 species caught . The highlights were my first Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana a micro moth and Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata of the year. With a total of 9 first's for the year added, this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 93 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/06/22 Back again to Area 10 after work around the Car Park field and along the Emm Brook . Highlights were copulating Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum Buff tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris . Also seen was the Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella opisthographa They spin a small web between leaves and don't hide away but rely on colour for camouflage. Predatory mainly on flying insects caught in its orb web.This one was trying to blend into Nettles. In the Area 4 Balancing pond Paul Hopcraft saw 5 species of Damselfly Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella , Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum eating an Insedt , Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens , Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo and Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula . Phoye courtesy of Paul Hopcraft

06/06/22 Another afternoon walk in Area 10 around the Car Park field and along the Emm Brook was very fruitfull. Seen was my first Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina Butterfly of the year, along with a 10 Spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata , Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis and a Cream-spot Ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata 3 species of Hoverfly were seen ,highlight being the UK's largest Hoverfly Volucella pellucens. Also seen was the very distinctive caterpillar of Dingy -Flat Body Depressaria daucella moth feeding on the Umbellifers.

03/06/22 Seen on a walk in Area 10 were the day flying moth Common Nettle Tap Anthophila fabriciana a vey mobile Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius and a Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Butterfly.

02/06/22 Despite predicted cooler overnight temperatures I put the moth trap out overnight on 01/06/22 in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning. A not particularly spectacular event with 25 moths of 15 species caught . The highlights were my first Oak Hook Tip Drepana binaria and Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum of the year. With a total of 2 first's for the year added this brings the FOTEB Moth list for 2022 to 84 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/06/22 A quick lunchtime visit to Area 10 and the bridge from the car park field over the Emm Brook looking for Dragon and Damsel flies, seen were Blue -tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans , Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum and Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens . ,

Plants/ Trees

10/06/22 Seen in the meadows off Old Forest Road in Area 8 , during my walk were Poppy Papaver rhoeas , Birds -foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus , Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare , Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi , Foxglove Digitalis purpurea and in one of the ponds was the magnificent Flowering Rush Butomus umbellatus .

08/06/22 A great find in Area 8 of a Common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii by Caroline Cochrane. A first for FOTEB. Photo courtesy of Caroline Cochrane.

06/06/22 In Area 10, the nuts on the Hazel Corylus avellana are starting to form.

02/06/22 In Area 5 Dog Rose Rosa canina is putting on a fine display.

01/06/22 Walking around Area 10 I was distracted by the heady and nectarous fragrance of Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum one of my favourites at this time of year.

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

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

26/06/22 Sat on an Area 4 fence post, seemingly enjoying the rain was a Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis.

25/06/22 At 01.45 a male Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was heard barking in Area 4.

24/06/22 An adult American Mink Neovison vison was seen devastating the young birds on the Breeding rafts in Area 10. Photo courtesy of Geof Slocombe.

23/06/22 Seen by Diane at the Dinton Activity in Area 10 was a young American Mink Neovison vison . The mink we have in Britain are not native here. They are American mink , which originated from mink brought here for fur-farming.

22/06/22 In the Area 4 Balancing pond , Paul Hopcraft caught brief glimpses of a Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus fawn.

Fish/ Crustaceans

Molluscs

03/06/22 Seen around one of my favourite Nettle patches in Area 10 ,was what I believe to be a Kentish Snail Monacha cantiana .