Birds

30/11/21 Paul O'Neill was watchig Ashridge Meadows in Area 7A and saw a Little Egret in Ashridge Stream and a Green Sandpiper that flew over Ashridge Meadows from the East and landed in Ashridge Stream.

29/11/21 A Stock Dove appeared in Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden with 10 Wood Pigeons as soon as he put out some seed . 2 Mistle Thrush flew over my Garden and 3 Kestrel were seen in Area 7A at Ashridge Meadows by Paul O'Neill.

28/11/21 A wander around Ludgrove in Area 1 at lunchtime . The sun was shining but it was still chilly, seen were numerous Jackdaws a huddled up Grey Heron , noisy Ring necked Parakeet and a Siskin .

27/11/21 With Storm Arwen, battering the Country and lowering temperatures, I spent most of the day watching my garden feeders in Area 4 . It was the usual 15 species that were seen.The feeders were well stocked and this meant a visit from (maximum count) 40+ Starling ,10 Wood Pigeons , 10 Collard Dove and 15 House Sparrow .

24/11/21 In Area 4 a Peregrine was seen chasing Feral Pigeons .

23/11/21 In my Area 4 garden, Jay were enjoying the afternoon sun.Shame about the branch in the way of the photo. Paul Bright Thomas was in his Area 4 garden again where 40 Redwing went over in 2 flocks, a Goldcrest was heard 5 Ring necked Parakeet were seen heading South East , Kingfisher calls were heard again from the Emm Brook and 2 Raven were seen heading North

22/11/21 In Area 8 a Little Egret was seen perched on the Bridge on Old Forest Road by Bill Sheldon. My Area 4 garden Bird Feeders were quickly vacated by the diners this morning as a Sparrowhawk flew overhead . Over Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden were 25 Redwing in small flocks, a possible Teal 5 Brambling , Kingfisher calls were heard from the Emm Brook and using "nocmig" methods a Lapwing was recorded overnight at 02:24.Nocmig is nocturnal migration and is the nocturnal equivalent of visible migration watching, and typically employs sound recording equipment to capture the flight calls of migrating birds.

21/11/21 In Area 4 a Little Egret was seen circling over Ripplestream Bridge. In the Balancing pond it was the usual fare of Blue Tit , Great Tit Robin and Goldfinch all seen and photgraphed by Paul Hopcraft.

19/11/21 Hovering over the fields in Area 7A was a Kestrel.

18/11/21 Seen in and around Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden today were a Greylag Goose which flew in from the North East then back North West,with some calling , 2 Fieldfare heading West and 5 Ring necked Parakeet moving South.

17/11/21 Late afternoon I paid a visit to view the nightly Starling murmuratiom in Area 10. The birds rest in the trees on the banks of the Emm Brook, before taking flight and eventually settling down for the overnight roost in the reedbeds behind Lavells Lake Scrape. Numbers can be as high as 2,000. My visit was less spectacular, but well worth the effort. All visible from Bittern Hide. The Starling Murmurations on previous evenings in November videod by Alan can be viewed here . Whilst waiting for the spectacle I was treated to Great White Egret and a Grey Heron on the scrape,with numerous dissagreements over territory. In the reedbeds were calling Water Rail and Cettis Warbler.

15/11/21 Paul Bright Thomas was watching his Area 4 garden and the skies above this morning and saw at least 1 Brambling in a flock of approx 20 finches heading West, 2 Siskin moving North ,12 Fieldfare heading West and 25 Redwing heading West/North West. During an afternoon stroll in Area 5 I met a man who had just photographed a Male, Kingfisher sat on a branch above the river near Dragonfly Bridge.

14/11/21 In Area 10 a Little Egret was in the Emm Brook by the Car park field bridge seen by Adam Wigley .Near the Emmbrook on the Lavell's Lake scrape a Little Egret was in the company of a Great White Egret . A Mistle Thrush flew over Area 4 calling.

13/11/21 A Tawny Owl was heard calling in Area 4 at 19:10.

08/11/21 A Tawny Owl was heard calling in Area 4 at 03:10.Paul Hopcraft was out in Area's 4 & 5 today and saw a Little Egret in the Emm and a Grey Wagtail in the Balancing pond. Photo's courtesy of Paul Hopcraft.

07/11/21 In Area 10 several flocks of Long tailed Tit were in the riverside trees. Heard calling were Green Woodpecker and Ring necked Parakeet. Hovering over the roadside embankment in Area 7A was a Kestrel.

05/11/21 It was a crisp start to the day and when the sun hit my neighbours Silver Birch tree it was invaded by a roaming flock of Blue Tit , Great Tit, Long tailed Tit and 2 Goldcrest feeding on the Birch catkins. However star bird of the day was seen by Paul Bright Thomas whilst watching his Area 4 garden between 07.15 and 08.25. Seen were 2 Ring Ouzel heading South West, a Linnet ,4 Fieldfare , 40 Chaffinch in small flocks, heading South West, 120 Redwing moving South West and 200 Wood Pigeon moving South West with largest flock numbering 120 birds. Later in the day a Sparrowhawk and Ring necked Parakeet were added to his list. Photo courtesy of Paul Bright Thomas.

04/11/21 In a Hawthorn bush in the top corner of the Area 10 car park field 15 + Redwing were seen by Anna Cronin.

02/11/21 Paul Bright Thomas was watching his Area 4 garden again this morning , with some sucess. Seen were a Grey Heron , a Mistle Thrush over heading towards the East, a Siskin , 1 Lesser Redpoll over South,4 Stock Dove heading South with a total count of 170 Wood Pigeon , 15 Chaffinch . and 15 Black-headed Gull .

01/11/21 It is during the autumn and early winter months that the Jay is at its most conspicuous, the numbers present often increased by the arrival of birds from further afield. For this most colourfull member of the Crow family Acorns are the staple food ,birds may travel some distance to find a supply. This one was in Area 5.

01/11/21 Near the Emm Brook in Area 10 a Great White Egret was seen by Don Broadbridge.

Insects

30/11/21 With the start of the "Metrological Winter" on the 1st December rapidly approaching and my last 2 attempts with the moth trap producing no moths, I shall be putting my trap away till next year, when it will return.

24/11/21 The general rule of thumb for "Winter Mothing is that there are still a few species out there to be found despite much lower numbers, some of which you won't see at any other time of the year. Provided that the temperature is a few degrees above freezing at dusk, even if a frosty and clear night is forecast there will still be moths around for the first few hours after dark. With this in mind , I put out the Moth trap overnight , (23/11/21) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning.Caught was just 1 moths of 1 species that was a solitary December Moth Poecilocampa populi . Might need a rethink of my theory.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

19/11/21 As it turned out overnight temperatures were in double figures, so I put out the Moth trap , (18/11/21) in my Area 4 garden and emptied it this morning.Caught were 8 moths of 4 species. Highlight of the moths caught were 2 December Moth Poecilocampa populi my first for the year,1Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria ,4 Lignt Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana . and a Silver Y Autographa gamma .Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

14/11/21 With colder nights forecast next week I took the opportuity to put out the Moth trap overnight (13/11/21) in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning.An unspectacular catch with 7 moths of 3 species. Moths caught were 4 Red Green Carpet Agrochola macilenta ,1 November Moth agg Epirrita dilutata agg and 2 Lignt Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana . Also caught was a Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea this is a lime green, delicate insect, with translucent, intricately veined wings. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

11/11/21 I slightly misread the forecast and the Moth trap was out overnight in drizzle(10/11/21) in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning.A usual sized catch for the time of the year with 6 moths of 5 species. Moths caught were a Yellow- line Quaker Agrochola macilenta , November Moth agg Epirrita dilutata agg , Winter Moth Operophtera brumata , Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and a Silver Y Autographa gamma .

09/11/21 On my cars windscreen this morning was a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis .

07/11/21 A warmer night was forecast so the Moth trap was out overnight (06/11/21) in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning.A miserable catch of 3 moths of 3 species. Moths caught were a Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria , Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and a Silver Y Autographa gamma . Also caught was the Caddis fly Limnephilus lunatus Its distinguishing feature is the dark edged pale 'half moon' on the rear margin of the wing - from whence the Latin 'lunatus'. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

05/11/21 Found inside a house in Area 5 by Pat Taylor before being placed outside was a Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale they overwinter as adults, ready to emerge again in the Spring. Photo courtesy of Pat Taylor.

01/11/21 Atracted to the porch light, left on for Haloween at my house in Area 4 and found this morning was The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii a Moth.

Plants/ Trees

As the leaves on the trees and hedgerows start to change colour to a yellowey gold, find out why at Why do leaves change colour .

20/11/21 In Area 10 a solitary Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, was seen . Meadowsweet is a member of the rose family that favours wet habitats, such as ditches, damp meadows and riverbanks. Its leaves are sometimes covered with a bright orange rust fungus. It normally blooms from June to September, with sprays of tiny creamy-white flowers standing atop tall stems. But this example clearly didnt know the rules. Its sweet smell encouraged people to display it in their houses in past times.

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified by a qualified professional, some are DEADLY when ingested (all species MUST BE cooked).

07/11/21 In Area 10 on Sycamore leaves was Sycamore Tarspot Rhytisma acerinum . Tar spot is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum. It is seen most commonly on sycamore, but can also affect a number of other Acer species. The spots are unsightly, and the disease can cause slightly premature leaf fall. It has no long-term effect on the vigour of affected trees, however. -

Amphibians and Reptiles

Mammals

23/11 /21 In the last few days a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes has been seen enjoying the sun ,sleeping on the cut reed mound in Area 10. Photo courtesy of Caroline Moore

21/11 /21 Paul Hopcraft was out in the Area 4 Balancing pond again this morning where a female Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus was seen along with a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Photos courtesy of Paul Hopcraft.

08/11 /21 It was a bumper day for Paul Hopcraft in the Area 4 Balancing pond today with a sleeping Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and a young male Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus .Males (bucks) have small antlers, which have three tines or points each when fully grown. Antlers are described as ‘pearled’ or ‘bearded’ when they are heavily textured with lots of nodules. Photos courtesy of Paul Hopcraft.

03/11 /21 The trail cam was out around my Area 4 home overnight and picked up this Red Fox Vulpes vulpes .

02/11/21 At 03:30 in Area 4 a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes . could be heard calling.

Fish/ Crustaceans

Molluscs