Birds

30/03/23 A Willow Warbler was seen and heard by Roger Stansfield and Brian Bennett in the copse in the middle of the Car Park field.

29/03/23 Returning Spring migrants were seen and heard in Area 10 today, a singing Willow Warbler was heard by David Rimes and a solitary Swallow with several House Martin were seen over Black Swan Lake by Fraser Cottington.

25/03/23 A singing male Blackcap was heard in Area 10 by Fraser Cottington.

24/03/23 A very recently fledged Blackbird was seen on Paul-Bright Thomas's lawn in Area 4. It has virtually zero tail length. He is keeping an eye out for a neighbouring cat .

21/03/23 Over the fields at Greys Farm in Area 1 at lunchtime today, male Lapwing were displaying, the Skylark were singing from on high and a male Green Woodpecker was heard calling.

18/03/23 A great find by David Rimes in Area 10 today was a superb male Gargeney which was on Black Swan Lake before relocating to Lavells Lake. It roosted on the bund in front of Bittern Hide. In Area 5 in the woods near Dragonfly Bridge a Chiffchaff was heard calling.Carol Woodman saw a Great spotted Woodpecker and a Blackcap in Area 7.

16/03/23 The first returning Sand Martin of the year were seen in Area 10 by Tim James.

15/03/23 In Area 1 there were 2 Canada Goose and 2 Grey Heron on the flooded fields at Ludgrove School. A Redwing was seen in the Car park field in Area 10 by Alan Jackman and 3 Grey Wagtail were seen in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill. Two males along Ashridge Stream at Toutley Road bridge and one female in the balancing pool at Old Forest Road.

14/03/23 In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas saw Male and female Blackbird .Both parents were bringing small worms to the nest, so presumabely the young have already hatched. A Male Blackcap was also seen.

12/03/23 Another sign of Spring. The first wave of migrants have arrived with at least 7 Chiffchaff seen and heard around Area 10 by Fraser Cottington.

10/03/23 Late news received yesterday from Simon Bartlam . A pair of Kingfisher have been seen along the Emm Brook in Area 10 at Dinton Pastures around the main car park area in the last few weeks.

09/03/23 A walk around Area 7 near Emmbrook School today, between the showers . A Grey Heron flew over the Brook and in the bushes were Wren , Blackbird , Robin , and House Sparrow .

06/03/23 In my Area 4 garden a Male House Sparrow was rummaging through the beds picking up nesting material.Seen again in Area 5 the Common Buzzard was criss-crossing the Spine Road,looking for lunch. In Area 10 a Great black backed Gull was seen flying over the Car Park field by John McGovern.

05/03/23 Ralph Watts was out around Gorrick Plantation in Area 1 and saw 3 Redwing ,20 Jackdaw ,30 Rook, 2 Blackbird , 4 Robin, a Great Spotted Woodpecker , 3 Ring-necked Parakeet , a Mistle Thrush and a Little Owl .

04/03/23 Seen before and during this mornings Litter pick in Area 4 & 5 were a Common Buzzard sitting in a tree, 2 Red Kite a drumming Great spotted Woodpecker, 8 Redwing , Great,Blue and Long tailed Tit , Nuthatch and a pair of Grey Wagtail near the weir pool. Paul O'Neill was in Area 7A at Ashridge Meadows and saw a female Kestrel hunting over the Meadows and a female Stonechat on reeds in the east pool.

03/03/23 In Area 10 a Redwing was seen in the hedge by the Emm Brook at the car park field bridge by Mike Watt.

02/03/23 Fraser Cottington briefly saw a Woodcock flying towards the Green Bridge at dusk in Area 10 and the 2 Barn Owl were seen in the Wet Meadow by Steve Clarke. Another Little Egret was seen this time in Area 4 gliding through the Emm Brook trees downstream from Kingfisher Bridge by Paul Bright Thomas.

01/03/23 The first day of meteorological Spring. In Area 7A at Toutley Bridge a Little Egret was seen in the Ashridge Stream before flying to the trees and then onto the Bridge railings. Seen by Bill Sheldon.

Insects

28/03/23 A reasonable catch from the moth trap that was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 18:30-23.00 . On inspection it held 6 moths of 5 species. 2 new for the year were one of the commonest Plume Moth Emmelina monodactyla and a Double Striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata The supporting cast were 2 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi and a Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata . 2 new moth species were added to the FOTEB Moth list so the the total for 2023 is 16. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

26/03/23 With a dry evening forcast the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 18:30-24.00 . On inspection it held 4 moths of 3 species. A Small Quaker Orthosia cruda a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi and 2 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica . No new moth species were added to the FOTEB Moth list so the the total for 2023 remains at 14. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/03/23 In Area 5 by the pond the first Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris of the year was seen .

22/03/23 In Area 10 the first Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Butterfly of the year was seen by Alan Rymer.

21/03/23 Another mild day so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 18.00-22.00. On inspection it held 6 moths of 4 species. New for the year were 2 male March Moth Alsophila aescularia . The male has a distinctive way of resting, with the wings overlapping. Also caught were 2 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi a Small Quaker Orthosia cruda and the Micromoth Diurnea fagella . With just the 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list this brings the total for 2023 to 14. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

19/03/23 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 17:30-21.30 with not too much sucess . On inspection it held 4 moths of 2 species. New for the year were 3 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda and a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi . With just the 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list this brings the total for 2023 to 13. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

17/03/23 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden and run between 17:30-22.00 . On inspection it held 10 moths of 4 species. New for the year was a very worn Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata also trapped Oak Beauty Biston strataria Diurnea fagella and 6 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi . With just the 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list this brings the total for 2023 to 12. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

14/03/23 A warm afternoon with a predicted mild evening lured me into putting the moth trap out in my Area 4 garden. The trap was run between 17:30-22.00 and bought in before the temperatures plummeted overnight . On inspection it held 2 moths . Both however were new for the year. Oak Beauty Biston strataria and the Micromoth Diurnea fagella With 2 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list this brings the total for 2023 to 11. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

12/03/23 The recent run of cold and wet weather has forced the moth trap back into temporary retirement and the shed. Hopefully the weather will change soon.

04/03/23 The current spell of colder weather continues, but the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden more in hope than expectation. The trap was run between 17:00-22.30 . It only held 1 moth . This was a Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica It was a a first for the year. Its common name is from the black mark on its wing which is very similar to the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet Nun(]). With 1 new moth species added to the FOTEB Moth list this brings the total for 2023 to 9. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

02/03/23 In the midday sun an unidentified Hoverfly species was seen very briefly on Primroses in my Area 4 garden.Hopefully a sign of things to come.

Plants/ Trees

24/03/23 In the pond in Area 5 Marsh-Marigold Caltha palustris are in bud and ready to flower.The large, golden flowers of Marsh-marigold look like the cups of kings, hence its other name: 'Kingcup'. On the river bank by Kingfisher Bridge Loddon lily Leucojum aestivum was in flower. Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Rees.

21/03/23 A wander around Area 10 today. Now we are just past the Summer Equinox, you can see that Spring is moving on at a pace. Goat Willow Salix caprea also known as Pussy Willow ( as the male catkins look like a cat’s paws) is starting to flower providing an early source of nectar. Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna is brightening up the woodland floor with its star-shaped flowers.

09/03/23 Spring has finally sprung! Hedgerows are bursting with blossom and new green leaves are beginning to unfurl. But do you know which blooms you’re admiring? Hawthorn and Blackthorn are two of the most easily confused species. Hawthorn is also known as the May tree as its flowers blossom in May. Both trees have creamy-coloured flowers with five petals. They’re on display around the same time and are both valuable to wildlife, supporting hundreds of insect species. But there are some key differences: Blackthorn blossoms before its leaves start to show, whereas Hawthorn flowers after its leaves have emerged. This is one of the best tips for identifying the two species in spring. So this bush in Area 7 is a Blackthorn Prunus spinosa .

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

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

10/03/23 Whilst taking down the Information Board for repair by Wokingham Mens Shed in Area 7 a Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus was seen moving through the Brambles to the rear, Not sure if it was living in the Board.

02/03/23 Woken up again by a barking Red Fox Vulpes vulpes moving through Area 4, at 02:20.

Molluscs