Winter GMS

I am once again taking part in the Winter Garden Moth Scheme which started on 13th November 2015 and will run until 26th February 2016.

Last year (Winter 2014/15) I managed 15 empty traps and caught 3 moths that all visited on the same evening (14th February 2015).

The milder weather for this season has resulted in 3 Light Brown Apple Moths trapped on 26th November and a single Dark Chestnut moth trapped on 6th and 18th December 2015. This was a new species for the garden, so I was pleased and felt very lucky.

Dark Chestnut - trapped on 6th December 2015

Dark Chestnut - trapped on 18th December 2015

Bird's Nest Fungus

During a visit to Nosterfield Nature Reserve on Sunday 20th December 2015, I was shown a small clump of Bird's Nest Fungus on a bench by the reedbed screen. I had never seen this before and so I took a few photographs.

Scientific name:  Crucibulum laeve

Size:  Approx 5 mm in diameter and 10 mm deep

Distribution:  Found in many parts of the U.K.

Months seen:  June to October

Habitat:  Normally found on rotting wood and vegetable matter

Special features:  The bird's nest fungi is often overlooked on account of its small size.  It starts off as a yellowish, funnel-shaped growth. The top has a membrane which falls away to reveal the egg-shaped contents.  These 'eggs', called 'peridioles', are containers for the spores, and they're attached to the nest by a tiny thread.  When raindrops land inside the cup they get knocked out, and the spores get dispersed.

On the same bench was some Common Jellyspot Fungus (Dacrymyces stillatus). 

The view from the reedbed screen was great especially when the Bittern flew past!

Garden Birdwatch Update 29th November - 20th December 2015

It has been awhile since I last posted the bird records for our garden.

20th December 2015
Blue Tit 2
Feral Pigeon 4
Blackbird 3
House Sparrow 6
Goldfinch 8
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit 3
Dunnock 2
Robin 1
Woodpigeon 1
Jackdaw 4
Chaffinch 2
Starling 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Seed, Fat Balls and Kitchen Scraps
Water

13th December 2015
Blue Tit 3
Feral Pigeon 4
Blackbird 2
House Sparrow 8
Goldfinch 6
Great Tit 2
Coal Tit 1
Dunnock 2
Robin 1
Woodpigeon 2
Jackdaw 10
Chaffinch 2
Greenfinch 1
Starling 20
Magpie 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Seed and Kitchen Scraps
Water

6th December 2015
Blue Tit 4
Feral Pigeon 3
Blackbird 2
House Sparrow 9
Goldfinch 8
Great Tit 4
Coal Tit 2
Dunnock 2
Robin 1
Woodpigeon 1
Jackdaw 6
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 3
Starling 4
Great-spotted Woodpecker 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Wren 1
Magpie 1
Collared Dove 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Seed and Kitchen Scraps
Water

29th November 2015
Blue Tit 2
Feral Pigeon 4
Blackbird 2
House Sparrow 9
Goldfinch 8
Great Tit 1
Coal Tit 2
Dunnock 2
Robin 1
Woodpigeon 1
Jackdaw 6
Greenfinch 2
Starling 16
Sparrowhawk 1
Magpie 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Seed and Kitchen Scraps
Water

WeBS North Gare Sands - December 2015 - Final Count

If you haven't already done so, please listen to the audio file for the December WeBS count at North Gare Sands. Let me know what you think, it was certainly a new experience counting birds and also talking at the same time!!

I have listed below the final counts for the Waders, Seabirds and also Gulls.

5 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Cormorant
4 Curlew
22 Golden Plover
40 Grey Plover
111 Knot
249 Lapwing
466 Oystercatcher
1 Common Redshank
20 Turnstone
2 Black-headed Gull
2 Herring Gull

Number of Species = 12
Number of Individuals = 923

Whilst driving down the Zinc Works Road, to Seaton Snook a stopped for a few minutes to watch a Short-eared Owl hunting along the roadside. Sadly it didn't fly directly towards me for a good photo, so record shots only.

WeBS North Gare Sands - December 2015

This is my first attempt at sharing a WeBS count with my blog followers.

https://soundcloud.com/julie-mason-12/north-gare-sands-webs-count-december-2015

The photos below show how Storm Desmond had scoured the beach and removed the soft sand surface.