Birds

29/11/24 During conservation work a Herring Gull was seen harassing a Common Buzzard in the skies over Area 5.

20/11/24 In Area 4 a Raven was seen flying over Paul Bright-Thomas's garden heading towards Barkham Road.

17/11/24 In Area 10 a Raven was seen flying over the Emm Brook also 2 Kingfisher very briefly stopped on nearby posts. In Area 7A a Common Buzzard and a female Stonechat were seen at Copsewood Balancing pond by Paul O'Neill.

16/11/24 At 08:15 a Cormorrant was seen flying over my Area 4 garden. A Raven was also seen in Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas.

15/11/24 Paul O'Neill was out again in Area 7A at Copsewood Balancing pond and saw a Egyptian Goose that initially landed in an Oak tree, then flew onto the water also seen was a Grey Heron a Kingfisher and a Cormorant in the upper part of theOak tree,

14/11/24 A Kestrel was on the wires at the Old Golf Course in Area 10 seen by Alan Jackman.

12/11/24 Paul O'Neill was at Ashridge Meadows in Area 7A and saw 5 Ring-necked Parakeet heading North,a male and female Stonchat in the uncut area next to the eastern pond and a female Kestrel . At the Lavells Lake Car Park field in Area 10 a Chiffchaff was heard calling by Brian Crathorne.

11/11/24 A male Gooseander was seen in Area 1 on Heathlake at lunchtime. At Ludgrove School a Grey Heron was on the pond.

08/11/24 Chiffchaff In Area 10 at the Dinton Activity Centre Car Park a Goldcrest and a flock of Long tailed Tits were seen.

01/11/24 On my Area 4 garden feeders, my first Goldfinch of the Autumn appeared and a Ring necked Parakeet was heard calling. In Paul Bright-Thomas's garden a Firecrest was working it's way through the garden hedges.In Area 10 a Barn Owl was seen at the entrance to the box in the meadow by Michael Hubbard.

Insects

18/11/24 After a few nignts of no moths in the trap it has been put in the shed till 2025.

03/11/24 The unseasonable temperatures continue so on 02/11/24 the moth trap was out at dusk in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning . An ok catch of 10 moths of 8 species. Highlights were a Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta and Blairs shoulder-Knot Lithophane leautieri both new for the year . With 2 new moth's added ,the total for 2024 is now 233 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/11/24 A mild Halloween so the moth trap was out at dusk on 31/10/24 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning . A good catch of 17 moths of 7 species. Highlight was a Spruce Carpet Thera britannica new for the year . With 1 new moth added ,the total for 2024 is now 231 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

At this time of year the leaves on the trees and hedgerows start to change colour from green to a yellow/gold, find out why at Why do leaves change colour .

02/11/24 Still in flower in Area 5 on the river bank is Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria . A sweet-smelling flower with frothy clusters of cream flowers on tall stems.

Fungi

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

02/11/24 Found in Area 5 during the litter pick this morning was a battered looking Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria fungi. Also seen was the bright orange Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes on a decaying tree.

Fish

Mammals

08/11/24 Seen at lunchtime in the fields at Ludgrove in Area 1 was a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes .

Molluscs