Birds

29/10/23 A Kingfisher and male and female Pochard were seen on Heathlake in Area 1 this morning.

28/10/23 A quick visit to the Skinner Drive Balancing pond in Area 7A, a Kestrel flew across the pond pursued by 2 Magpie . Also on the pond were 2 Mallard and 2 Moorhen . In Area 10 at the Car park field a light passage of 10+ Greenfinch were heading south, 7 Skylark were also heading south, 3+ Redwing flying around and a further 7 Kestrel were seen heading south east by Fraser Cottington.

25/10/23 Stephen Graham visited Heathlake in Area 1 and saw a Little Egret , 46 Mallard 5 Great crested Grebe an adult and 4 first winter birds and a Kingfisher . In Area 7A a male and female Stonechat were seen at the East pond in Ashridge Meadows by Paul O'Neill.

24/10/23 In Area 8 a male Kestrel was seen hunting over Old Forest Road Meadows and in Area 7A a Kinfisher and a male Stonechat were seen at Skinner Drive Balancing Pond, with another male Stonechat seen at the East pond in Ashridge Meadows. All sightings by Paul O'Neill.In Area 10 a Barn Owl was heard rasping and briefly seen by Michael Hubbard flying towards the wet meadow and box area .

22/10/23 At the Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A were a Little Egret and a Grey Heron . At 19:00 in Area 4 a very noisy female Tawny Owl was calling from a neighbours tree.

20/10/23 A lunchtime visit to Heathlake in Area 1 today . On the central Island were 3 Little Egret , a Grey Heron and 13 Cormorrant . On the water were lots of Mallard queueing up for bread along with Black headed Gull ,Coot , Great crested Grebe and a Kingfisher flew across the lake.

19/10/23 A Sparrowhawk was chasing Wood Pigeon around my Area 4 garden this afternoon with no success. In Area 1 there were 2 female Gooseander on Heathlake in Area 1 seen by Patrick Crowley.

17/10/23 2 Great White Egret were seen heading South West with 7 Grey Heron flying over Paul Bright-Thomas's Area 4 garden. A Brambling was also heard to fly over. In the Area 10 Car park field a flock of 40 Redwing and a Skylark flew over seen by Nick Kightley.

15/10/23 With a dip in the temperature, I made sure that my Area 4 garden feeders were well stocked. This bought an immediate response with 3 Goldfinch , Blue Tit , Great Tit . Wood Pigeon , Collared Dove , House Sparrow , Starling and Robin all visiting.

10/10/23 32 Canada Goose flew in formation calling over Morrisons in Area 5 heading North at 18:00, probably to roost.

09/10/23 At 02:35 a female Tawny Owl was calling from trees near my Area 4 home and again to the rear of the house at 03:00. At 09:00 a Cormorrant flew over Morrisons Car Park in Area 5.

07/10/23 Seen during this mornings Litter pick in Area 4 and 5 were Jay , Nuthatch and Red Kite . In Area 1 a Nuthatch was seen in trees adjacent to Ludgrove School and 2 Ring-necked Parakeet were calling from fields South of Ludgrove School access road. Seen by Sean Stevenson.

05/10/23 Seen at the Skinner Drive Balancing pond in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill was a Kingfisher .

04/10/23 9 Linnet flew South this morning over Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden. In Area 10 seen by Andy Tomczynski were 5 House Martin heading South East.

03/10/23 In bullrushes by the Ashridge Stream in Area 7A a male and female Stonechat were seen by Paul O'Neill..

02/10/23 A Redwing returning to the UK for the Winter was seen flying over the Car Park field in Area 10 by Nick Keightly.

01/10/23 Fraser Cottington was watching from the Car Park field in Area 10 and saw 24 Swallow heading South East, 5 Meadow Pipit heading North, 50+ Greenfinch landed in bushes in front of the old Oak tree and a mixed flock of 40 Swallow and House Martin heading South East.

Insects

27/10/23 On what turned out to be a chilly night the moth trap was out at dusk on 26/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . Once again low on numbers, but good variety with 2 moths of 2 species caught. They were Figure of Eight Allophyes oxyacanthae and Yellow-line Quaker Epirrita dilutata agg both new for the year. With 2 new moths added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 242 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/10/23 Seen in Area 10 near the Dinton Activity Centre by Adam McTiernan was a Devil's Coachorse Ocypus olens A rove beetle.They are fast-moving, preferring to run along the ground rather than fly. They are well-known for curling up their abdomens like the tail of a scorpion when threatened, and emitting a foul-smelling substance from their abdomens.

23/10/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 22/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . Low on numbers, but good variety with 8 moths of 7 species caught. The highlights were Green -brindled Crescent Allophyes oxyacanthae and November Moth agg Epirrita dilutata agg both new for the year. Three of the members of the genus Epirrita, (November Moth, E. dilutata, Autumnal Moth, E. autumnata, and Pale November Moth, E. chrystyi), can be very difficult to separate on markings alone,and unless examination of the genitalia has taken place are lumped together. The best of the rest were Chesnut Conistra vaccinii ,Blairs Shoulder-knot Phlogophora meticulosa and Red-line Quaker Agrochola lota all new for the year. With 5 new moths added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 240 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

22/10/23 Enjoying the afternoon sun on my Area 4 garden Buddleja was a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta .

17/10/23 Not to be deterred with yesterdays results the moth trap was out again at dusk on 16/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . Temperatures were near double figures which produced a catch of 13 moths of 7 species . The highlight was 4 Red-Green Carpet Griposia aprilina . The best of the rest was another Merville du jour Griposia aprilina . With 0 new moths added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is still at 235 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/10/23 With a definite reminder that we are in October the temperature finally returned to normal for the year. The moth trap was out overnight on 15/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . We barely avoided a frost in the garden last night, the trap was bought in early at 02:30 with 0 moths caught. With 0 new moths added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 remains at 235 species.

10/10/23 Seen on the pavement on the walk to school in Area 4 by Ed Day and Nathaniel was the caterpillar of the Sycamore Moth Acronicta aceris . The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) as well as Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Field maple (A. campestre). Photo courtesy of Ed Day.

09/10/23 With translucent wings and very long legs Cranflies are umistakeable. This is the time of year when they become more noticable, particularly in the garden. Tipula oleracea is one of the commonest and this male was in my Area 4 garden. ,

08/10/23 Following a lovely warm day the moth trap was out at dusk on 07/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . Another quiet night with 43 moths of 14 species caught. The highlights were Merville du jour Griposia aprilina new for the year and Dusky-lemon Sallow Cirrhia gilvago new for the year and the Foteb list. The best of the rest was a Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa . With 2 new moth added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 235 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/10/23 In Area 5 during this mornings litter pick were Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria , Large White Pieris brassicae and Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta butterflies enjoying the sunshine On an Umbellifer, by Dragonfly Bridge was a Ivy Bee Colletes hederae relative newcomers to the UK, first spotted in 2001.

05/10/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 04/10/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . Another quiet night as numbers tend to drop at this time of year with 35 moths of 12 species caught. The highlights were my first Pine Carpet Thera firmata of the year. The best of the rest was a Barred Sallow Tiliacea aurago . With 1 new moth added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 233 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. In the afternoon a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Butterfly was sunbathing in my garden.

01/10/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 30/09/23 in my Area 4 garden and was emptied this morning . A quiet night with 29 moths of 8 species caught. The highlights were a very worn Clancys Rustic Caradrina kadenii This species was unknown in Britain until 2002 when one turned up in Kent and has since become a fairly regular arrival in southern moth-trapping localities. and a Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata .Both new for the year, with the best of the rest being a Barred Sallow Tiliacea aurago . With 2 new moths added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 232 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

07/10/23 On the Spine Road and in Area 5 all the Wild Flower Areas have had their Winter cut back , courtesy of WBC .

04/10/23 Still in flower on the central reservation on the Spine Road in Area 5 is a solitary Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris .

Fungi

29/10/23 Another fungi for Area 1 and Gorrick Woods a False chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca found and photographed by Rebecca Rees.

28/10/23 A fungi foray into Area 1 and Gorrick Woods this morning produced Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria the classic fairy tale toadstool. Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare This poisonous fungus is easy to spot due to its bright colouring however it is variable in appearance and therefore can be difficult to identify. and Yellow Stagshorn Calocera viscosa Bright orange or orange-yellow, greasy and viscid, with antler-like branches often forked near the tips.

09/10/23 Just before mowing the lawn in an Area 5 garden Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris were found.

04/10/23 Growing on the dead Oak in the central reservation on the Spine Road in Area 5 is the Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus fungus.

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

Fish

11/10/23 In Area 10 an Electro fishing survey was carried out on the Emm Brook adjacent to Lavells Meadow at Dinton Pastures in conjunction with Reading University, WBC Countryside Services and Loddon Fisheries Consultative. Results to follow.

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

20/10/23 Unfortunately a European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus was seen on the Woosehill Spine Road in Area 5.

13/10/23 A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was caught in my car headlights at 20:30 in Area 4.

06/10/23 In Area 5 a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was seen running along Caroline Drive.

05/10/23 Seen on the front lawn of a house in Area 5 (Brookside) was evidence of an over night visit from Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus .

Molluscs