Birds

31/03/25 An early evening walk around the car park field in Area 10, produced a singing male Blackcap , 2 singing Chiffchaff a calling Green Woodpecker and a Little Egret flew off the Emm Brook.

30/03/25 A Little Egret was seen flying downstream over the Emm brook at Toutley Road bridge in Area 8 by Paul O'Neill.

29/03/25 At Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A a male and female Reed Bunting were seen by Paul O'Neill.

24/03/25 Seen over Black Swan Lake in Area 10 by Dave Rimes were 2 Swallow and 4 Sand Martin .

23/03/25 Paul O'Neill was at Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A and saw a male and female Stonechat a male Kingfisher and a Little Egret . Also at the pond were Coot and Moorhen . At Ashridge Meadows also in Area 7A he saw a singing Chiffchaff a Skylark in a display flight ,another or the same Stonechat and 2 Little Egret .

19/03/25 On the beach at the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10 a White Wagtail was seen and photographed by Dave Rimes.

15/03/25 Heard during this mornings work party in Area 4 were 3 calling Chiffchaff at seperate locations and a drumming Great spotted Woodpecker .

14/03/25 On the beach at the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10 a Barnacle Goose was seen and photographed by Gill Holmes.A Grey Heron flew over the gardens at Brookside in Area 5 at lunch time.

13/03/25 Patrick Crowley visited Heathlake in Area 1. Seen today were a female Pochard and a Grey Wagtail in a small pond on the eastern edge of Heath Lake. .

23/03/25 Found in my rear garden whilst preparing it for Spring was what I believe to be the "Poo" of the European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus .

07/03/25 Robert Godden was in Area 1 around Chapel Green and Luckley Road and saw a Little Owl at its regular tree south of Luckley Road, despite a pair of Jackdaws showing interest in the hole. A singing Chiffchaff , 35 Jackdaw , 97 Wood Pigeon a single Ring-necked Parakeet , and a Raven . Meanwhile Paul O'Neill was at Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A and saw a Little Egret and 2 Mute Swan In a single tree on the Old Golf Course in Area 10 seen by Tim James were 3 Fieldfare , 4 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush .

06/03/25 In Area 7A at Skinner Drive balancing pond. A pair of Mute Swan were collecting reeds from the water and placing them on the bank.Probably ready for nest building, seen by Paul O'Neill. Another Sand Martin was seen over Area 10, this time by Nick Kightley.

04/03/25 In Area 7A a male Stonechat was sat on top of a tree next to Ashridge Stream.A Grey Heron flew off the ponds on Toutley Road opposite the Metro Centre.

02/03/25 A female Blackcap was feeding on the spilt seed under the Bird Feeders in my Area 4 garden.

01/03/25 On a branch above the river in Area 5 near Dragonfly Bridge , in the early fog this morning was a Grey Wagtail . On the pond a pair of Mallard were busy feeding. A Great spotted Woodpecker was drumming on an old tree and a Nuthatch was calling. At Skinner Drive Balancing pond in Area 7A a Common Buzzard was circling over the pond , a male Kingfisher was on the pond and an adult Little Egret was fishing, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were also circling over Skinner Drive balancing pond. All Skinner Drive sightings seen by Paul O'Neill.In Area 10 there were 12+ Fieldfare near the overflow carpark seen by Gray Burfoot.

Insects

29/03/25 Seen and photographed in the sun in Area 10 by Philip Giles were Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus the first of the year and Comma Polygonia c-album butterflies.

28/03/25 The patio light was on overnight on 27/03/25 and the wall checked this morning . A catch of 7 moth's of 6 species.Highlight was a Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata . With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2025 is now 28 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

27/03/25 I accidently left the patio light on overnight on 26/03/25 . On the French windows to the garden , this morning was the micro moth Early Diviner Semioscopis avellanella . A moth that I had not seen before. With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2025 is now 27 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

26/03/25 In the afternoon sun on my neighbours gravel drive a Peacock Aglais io Butterly was grabbing a few rays.

25/03/25 The patio light was on overnight on 24/03/25 . On the wall to the rear of the light was 9 moth's of 3 species. The highlight was a Nut-tree tussock Colocasia coryli . With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2025 is now 26 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/03/25 My afternoon was spent in Area 7 with kids from Emmbrook Infants School , Wave Rangers group. A mini Bug hunt produced a Comma Polygonia c-album butterfly, 3 , 7 - Spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata and 3 Buff tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris . A Hoverfly was also seen but not identified.

23/03/25 I couldn't resist another night with the moth trap, so it was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 22/03/25 and emptied this morning. Another good catch of 42 moth's of 14 species.Highlights were, the micro moths Diurnea fagella and Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla , the macro moths Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria and Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis .The English and scientific names of this moth are derived from the distinctive yellowish colour of the antennae. With 4 new moths added ,the total for 2025 is now 25 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

22/03/25 Back from a week in Cornwall and the weather has picked up, so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 21/03/25 and emptied this morning. A good catch of 28 moth's of 12 species.Highlights were, the micro moth Lichen Tortrix Acleris literana and macro moths Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana , Double - striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata and an Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia . With 4 new moths added ,the total for 2025 is now 21 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

17/03/25 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 16/03/25 and emptied this morning. The catch was 8 moth's of 4 species.Highlight was a Small Quaker Orthosia cruda new for the year. With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2025 is now 17 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

15/03/25 With the recent run of cold nights the moth trap has stayed firmly in the shed, however I did put the patio light on in my Area 4 garden overnight on 14/03/25 and checked the wall behind it this morning. On it was 1 moth of 1 species.This was, a Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria . With no new moths added ,the total for 2025 is still 16 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

10/03/25 I put the patio light on in my Area 4 garden overnight on 09/03/25 and checked the wall behind it this morning. On it were 3 moths of 3 species.These were, Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta new for the year , Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica and the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana . With a new moth added ,the total for 2025 is now 16 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

09/03/25 Another very mild night so the moth trap was out again in my Area 4 garden overnight on 08/03/25 and emptied this morning, a disappointing catch of 3 moths of 2 species.These were 2 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica and an Oak Beauty Biston strataria . With no new moth's added ,the total for 2025 remains at 15 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/03/25 A very mild night so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 06/03/25 and emptied this morning. A catch of 6 moths of 3 species.These were an Early Grey Xylocampa areola and Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica both new for the year and 4 Common Quaker Agriopis marginaria . With 2 new moth's added ,the total for 2025 is 15 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

06/03/25 Flying through my Area 4 garden at lunchtime was the first Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris of the year a Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Butterfly was also seen in Area 4 by Carol Woodman. A 7 spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata was found on my washing, on the line in Area 4. Its amazing what a bit of sunshine can do. The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 05/03/25 and emptied this morning. A catch of 3 moths of 3 species.These were the micro moth Agonopterix heracliana , a March Moth Alsophila aescularia , and a Common Quaker Agriopis marginaria . With no new moth's added ,the total for 2025 is still 13 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

03/03/25 The first Butterfly of the year was seen by Peter Scuadamore flying across Sandford Lane in Area 10 a Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni .

02/03/25 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 01/03/25 and emptied this morning. A catch of 3 moths of 3 species.These were a Grey Shoulder-Knot Lithophane ornitopus new for the year.The adults emerge in September and October, and overwinter, appearing again from February to April. a March Moth Alsophila aescularia and a Common Quaker Agriopis marginaria . With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2025 is 13 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. <

01/03/25 On a Lombardy Poplar near Kingfisher Bridge in Area 4 a female Ichneumon Wasp Ichneumon stramentor was warming itself in the lunchtime sun.

Plants/ Trees

Every year the leaves on the trees and hedgerows change colour from green to a yellow/gold before falling , find out why at Why do leaves change colour .

24/03/25 At Heathlake in Area 1 a solitary Primrose Primula vulgaris is in bloom. They are one of the first woodland blooms and an important nectar source for butterflies.

23/03/25 All along the Emm Brook at this time of the year Blackthorn Prunus spinosa bursts into a froth of white blossom. It is well known for its sloes, too - the blue-black fruits used in sloe gin.

15/03/25 Seen during this mornings work party in Area 4 were Sweet Violet Viola odorata a true harbinger of Spring.

06/03/25 Unsure if wild or escaped from a nearby garden, Snowdrop Galanthus are putting on a good display riverside in Area 4. Galanthus, or snowdrop, is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae.

01/03/25 In some of the grassed areas of Area 5 in and around the deciduous trees are Early Crocus Crocus tommasinianus . Many forming quite large patches.

Fungi/ Lichen

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

24/03/25 In Area 10 on a Blackthorn was Oak Moss Lichen Evernia prunastri . The English name is a real misnomer, as it’s not a moss and grows on a range of tree species besides oak! Also on the same Blackthorn bush was Common Greenshield Lichen Flavoparmelia caperata .

01/03/25 Seen and photographed by Carol Woodman in Area 5 during the litter pick was a Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha coccinea . As its name suggests, the scarlet elfcup is a bright red, cup-shaped fungus. It is widespread, but scarce, and can be found on fallen twigs and branches, in shady, damp places January to April.

Fish

Amphibians

26/03/25 Seen in a pond in Area 7 were several Common Toad Bufo bufo .

09/03/25 In the pond in Area 5 huge rafts of "spawn" can be seen along with mating Common Frog Rana temporaria .Photo courtesy of Paul Hopcraft.

Mammals

24/03/25 In the fields in Area 1 around Ludgrove School,2 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus were busy grazing.

23/03/25 Found in my rear garden whilst preparing it for Spring was what I believe to be the "Poo" of the European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus .Keep your eyes open for these nocturnal visitors.

Molluscs

P align=left>24/03/25 My afternoon was spent in Area 7 with kids from Emmbrook Infants School , Wave Rangers group. During our mini Bug hunt a White-lipped snail was seen . The White-lipped snail comes in different colour forms, but always has a white band around the opening of its shell.