Slime mould, Physarum nutans by Peter Hassett, Linford Wood, 30 October 2016
On a nice sunny autumn morning 15 members of the Milton Keynes Natural History Society and the Buckinghamshire Fungus group met for a joint walk looking for fungus in this ancient wood.
MKNHS members walk around Linford Lakes by Peter Hassett 9 July 2016
We have had a good summer of walks with much interesting wildlife spotted. Thank you to Gordon for organising our programme and to all of you who led walks. The photos below shows the mothing event at Linford Lakes nature reserve which was held after our annual BBQ.
MKNHS members mothing at Linford Lakes NR by Julie Lane9 July2016
BIRDS
Tawny Owls calling in Howe Park Wood at dusk
Red Kites over Tattenhoe and Kingsmead
Spotted Flycatchers passing through Tattenhoe
Hobby over Howe Park Wood (24th)
Female Wheatear in Tattenhoe Park (26th)
Great White Egret at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve
Great White Egret and Little Egret by Harry Appleyard, Floodplain Forest NR 23 August 2016
INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Small Heaths and Small Coppers in Tattenhoe Park
Large numbers of Small Tortoiseshells around Tattenhoe
Painted Lady in Tattenhoe Park (30th)
Odonata
Brown Hawkers ovipositing in Tattenhoe Park (30th)
Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers around many Tattenhoe Park ponds
Male Migrant Hawker by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 29 August 2016
Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed damselflies still in large numbers around Tattenhoe
LISSAMPHIBIA
Common Frogs and Common Toads in Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park
Common Toad, Howe Park Wood (30th August 2016)
(All sightings and photos Harry Appleyard)
Eighteen member turned up, testing our abilities to park creatively in the layby by the gate. We walked up past the old Fullers Earth works and into the sandy heathland of the Greensand Ridge, dominated by gorse and open plantations.
We soon started picking up fauna, with calling Green Woodpeckers, Long Winged Coneheads, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Shaded Broadbar, Mint Moth and several Common Blue. Some of the party spotted a hunting Barn Owl. At the rapidly drying ponds on the top of the site, we found froglets, toadlets and a juvenile newt of unknown species as well as several singing Linnets.
Over the open ground, we saw a couple hobbies hunting as well as a kestrel. Botanically, there was Toadflax, Calumagrostis grasses, Tree lupin, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Clustered Rush, Haresfoot Clover and Soft Rush amongst others.
Martin spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, but couldn’t relocate it. The rapidly descending dusk allowed only an hour and a half, but this is a site that we will want to visit again.
Report kindly provided by Peter Garner
Twenty four members met at Elfield Park on 23rd August 2016 for the Society’s penultimate outdoor meeting of the summer. Temperatures had reached 30C during the day and it remained extremely warm for the walk. This 3.8 hectare site close to MK Bowl consists of oak woodland, ponds and gullies, wildflower areas and scrub and is closed to the general public, used by The Parks Trust for environmental education and monitoring. For many members it was a first visit.
Spotted Flycatchers at Elfield Park by Peter Garner 16 August 2016
Martin and Lewis led the meeting dividing the party into two groups. With water levels very low following the long dry spell, we decided that pond dipping was off the agenda and instead focused on exploring the varied habitats at Elfield Park and concentrating on bug hunting. However, the first thing to catch our eye was a group of three Spotted Flycatchers who were catching insects from the oak trees over the first boardwalk. These were visible from the car park but we got even better views from the boardwalk with the flycatchers putting on quite a performance.
Spotted Flycatchers in silhouette at Elfield Park by Harry Appleyard 16 August 2016
Also seen in the oak canopy were Purple Hairstreak butterflies and Migrant Hawkers whilst beating the lower boughs of the oaks brought us a multitude of spiders, red spider mites and earwigs and a single lacewing larva, which looked quite fearsome through the hand lens! Although most of the wild flowers are past their best, Common Fleabane and Slender Bird’s-Foot Trefoil were plentiful and provide a good late nectar source for common blues and other butterflies and moths.
A very impressive specimen of Chicken-of-the-Woods Laetiporus suphureus was found on the footpath at the foot of the steps. This was identified and enjoyed by young Cade Webb. Elfield Park is known for its populations of amphibians and reptiles and these were searched for. Lewis and Martin had found a Slow-Worm earlier in the day but none were found this evening. However, one small tree stump was turned over and beneath it were a dozen or more Smooth Newts, including adults and juveniles. An exploration of the oak wood found the larder of a Song Thrush – a stone surrounded by fragments of snail shells, more sightings of purple hairstreaks spinning in the tree tops and a low swooping buzzard. Martin explained that buzzards had nested in the woodland for the first time this spring and at least two young birds were flying around, possible returning to their nest.
Sunset at Elfield Park by Harry Appleyard 23 August 2016
At the end of the evening, the two groups converged back on the boardwalk over the largest pond in the hope of seeing bats emerge to feed. Although conditions were perfect, few bats were seen with just a single Noctule and a single Common Pipistrelle in action. However, the beautiful evening sky gave a nice finale to the night with Mars and Saturn on view.
The Parks Trust Education Centre at Howe Park is a lovely focus for this event as it has a classroom where we could have our society display boards and a great little cafe for tasty snacks and drinks. Outside the centre is a lovely pond with platform set up for pond dipping, although I was rather disappointed to see the size of the signal crayfish the kiddies caught!! The green space around the centre was host to a range of local wildlife organisations including the Wildlife Trust stand where children were making fabulous stick puppets. Once the families had sampled the activities on offer around the centre the local scouts were on hand to direct them into the wood where the trail led them on to yet more fun things to do and see.
Firstly they came upon the RSPB bird ringers and if they got their timing right they might have seen the mass release of a delightful family of long-tailed tits which had been caught in the nets and rung (as these gorgeous little birds travel around together it is important to release them at the same time). Next it was on to our society’s stand where they could have a go at leaf and bark rubbing, the tracks and trails quiz and, even more exciting, have a go at identifying the owners of real live poo!!! The latter activity went down very well as you can imagine especially with small boys, but we did ensure the poo was in sterilised containers and we had alcohol gel on hand just in case!! Also within the wood was a storyteller and other woodland activities.
There were also several wildlife walks on offer lead by our society members, Harry on dragonflies, Martin and Mike on insects and butterflies and Roy on plants.
It was lovely to have so many of the society members turn up on the day and chip in to help – thank you so much to all of you. There is something very special about seeing young children rushing around the place, accompanied by their equally enthusiastic parents, enjoying themselves and absorbing the magic of wildlife in such a beautiful wood.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Pictures and text kindly supplied by Julie Lane
A good turn out to this late addition to the programme, with a total of fourteen attending. The theme of the evening was insects, and so, armed with beating paraphernalia, we headed into the wood.
The first find of note was a long-horned beetle (Strangalia maculata). Further along the path, we started spotting Common Spotted orchids.
Moving off the path into an open, marshy area, the eagle-eyed amongst us noted some tiny orange/red dots amongst the mosses. On closer inspection, these turned out to be Eyelash fungus (Scutellinia scutellata) – cue grin on Martin’s face as this is listed as ‘scarce’.
Moving on down the path, we stopped to listen to distant calls of juvenile Tawny Owls (Strix aluco) and found an instar Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima). At the ‘hardstanding’ rolling back a log next to the pond revealed a female Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), a very confiding Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) and an instar Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema thallisinum) as well a a number of Mirid Bugs.
As it was getting dark, we headed back to the car park, where a lucky few saw a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) quartering the opposite field. Following a cookie-break, we walked the first section of the path to spot female glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca) and found seven of these bright green gems in all.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Great Crested Newt by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Eyelash Fungus by Peter Garner. Wicken Wood, 5 July 2016
Mirid Bug by Peter Garner. Wicken Wood, 5 July 2016
Glowworm by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Glowworm by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Oak Bush-cricket nymph by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Oak Bush-cricket nymph by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Large Yellow Underwing by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Small Skipper by Paul Lund. Wicken Wood 5 July 2016
Led by Matt Andrews.
Knocking Hoe is a 7.7 Hectare reserve near Pegsdon managed by Natural England.
Green Hairstreak at Knocking Hoe by Julian Lambley, 11 June 2016
This was a superb day out and members should not miss an opportunity to visit in the future. Matt led us 500m down a small farm lane there, listening to birds, to the farmyard below Knocking Hoe.
We saw here an ichneumon wasp and barn swallows then climbed the hill to the reserve itself. This consists of a prominent conical hill with several acres of chalk grassland behind leading to the down’s crest. There are old strip lynchet fields and a nearby long barrow.
Burnt Orchid at Knocking Hoe by Julian Lambley, 11 June 2016
As soon as we reached the reserve we saw a Green Hairstreak. As we climbed the hill we were stunned by the number of orchids and other rare flowers. The specials of the site are the Burnt tip Orchids, found in small mesh protected enclosures, but Common Spotted, Bee, Pyramidal and Fragrant were plentiful. We found the other reserve highlights – Pasque flower, Field Fleawort, Clustered Bellflower and Moon Carrot. Lunch near the hill’s apex proved difficult for fear of crushing the yellow rockrose which carpeted the hill. Scabious, horseshoe vetch, mignonette, houndstongue were also there.
Butterflies were seen mostly behind the cone and included small heath, painted lady, and common blue also Silver Y and Burnett moths. We ascended to a small inexplicable area of marsh near the crest of the down where there were
Pasque Flower at Knocking Hoe Down Reserve by Julian Lambley, 11 June 2016
common spotted orchids. Opposite, on the fence at the reserve margin we watched a Kestrel eat its yellow (hammer?) prey. Buzzards circled above.
A short distance from there we entered the wood on the hill crest, just outside the reserve where Matt’s promise of helleborines was fulfilled. We were thrilled to watch two spotted flycatchers darting off a branch in the depths of the wood.
Returning down the fence at the edge of the reserve we could see the field lynchets below. Leaving, we descended along the edge of a steep valley rimmed by woods where candytuft grew. The walk ended at the ‘Live and let Live’ which was remarkably located where we parked.
We greatly appreciated the Matt’s leadership at this impressive site.
Trip report by Julian Lambley
Despite black skies and torrential rain all evening (not to mention diabolical traffic), sixteen hardy souls turned up for the Society walk at Olney on 14 June, more in hope than expectation. However, our faith was justified as the weather improved, with just one brief, heavy shower to refresh us. We were rewarded with a splendid walk and some good finds. As Martin Kincaid gave a brief introduction to the walk at the car park, a Goldcrest was in good voice overhead.
Goosander chicks at Olney Mill by Julian Lambley 14 June 2016
Biting Stonecrop and Ivy-leaved Toadflax at Olney by Martin Kincaid. 13 June 2016
We began by walking along Church Road where we stopped to admire Biting Stonecrop (and we did bite) and several other species growing on the church walls. Then into the water meadows. On last year’s walk, we managed to produce quite a list of birds and happily we saw many of them again. Olney Mill has become known amongst bird-watchers in recent years as a site for nesting Goosander – a species which typically breeds in the Scottish borders! Despite Martin’s warning that we were probably too late to see the young, almost immediately, the adult female appeared with no less than nine well grown ducklings! All enjoyed splendid views of this delightful family. At first, they swam away from us quite briskly but we were able to catch up with them several times over the course of the walk and they seemed less nervous. To successfully brood such a large family, she must be a super-mum! Unfortunately, the local Kingfisher family kept a low profile.
The recent heavy rainfall meant that the meadows had a very different feel to them from our last visit, with several shallow channels submerged and also some temporary ponds adding wildlife interest. This did mean one or two detours to the planned route but no one seemed to mind. Other birds seen along the Ouse were Little Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, a pair of Common Terns and Canada and feral Barnacle Geese. Martin picked out the distant song of a Yellowhammer and as we continued to walk the song got ever closer and eventually Linda Murphy spotted the handsome bird singing on a fence post, just across the river from us. We all took a moment to enjoy the song – sadly a much rarer sound than it once was. Skylark was also heard by a few and a Kestrel raced past.
Biting Stonecrop and Ivy-leaved Toadflax at Olney by Martin Kincaid. 13 June 2016
Although the cool weather meant insects were less evident than last year, we managed to see four species of damselfly – Red eyed, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and the always welcome Banded Demoiselle, including one unfortunate specimen whose wings seemed not to have set properly. Julian Lambley busied himself with finding insects for Martin and Steve Brady to identify. Particularly nice was a small China-mark moth. This was tentatively identified as Nyphula stagnata and has since been confirmed. We also saw several specimens of the small beetle Gastrophysa viridula identified by Steve and on a large nettle patch found the larvae of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies together with more damselflies. Julian also found a beautiful green Sawfly Rhogogaster spp.
With the river in spate, it was not easy to find some of the marginal plants found last time but we did note Greater Yellow-cress, Water forget-me-not and Skullcap among others. Roy decided against battling through the stinging nettles to look for Greater Dodder! Before heading back across the fields we paused to take in the dusk chorus with Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Wren and Song Thrush among the star performers.
A walk back along the ancient stone path brought us a final view of the goosander family as they settled down to roost on a gravel bank. We arrived back at the Museum car park just in time to see a large flock of swifts appear for their dusk flight. All in all, a very enjoyable Society walk and not the damp squib we were expecting.
A full list of birds recorded is given below:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose (feral), Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Wren, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer.
Trip report by Martin Kincaid
Willow Warbler by Harry Appleyard, Furzton Lake 4 May 2016
Sixteen of us met in Salcey forest this Tuesday and spent the evening concentrating on brushing up our birdsong ID skills. Martin Kincaid and Peter Garner were our experts and we had a great evening strolling along the rides listening to the evening chorus.
The thrush family were in full voice with mistle and song thrushes and blackbirds singing beautifully. As were the warblers with numerous chiffchaff, willow warblers, garden warblers and blackcaps warbling away in the undergrowth! But the highlights of the evening were a grasshopper warbler in full song in an area of scrubby willow, a male cuckoo calling and flying around and a female heard very briefly, and a group of about four ravens that we disturbed in an area of conifers.
We went home happy, having all learnt a bit more thanks to Peter and Martin.
Use this link if like to learn about grasshopper warblers and hear their song.
Julie Lane
Start of recording: 18.55 End of recording: 20.52 Weather: Cloudy, light rain
| Species | Seen | Heard | Total Seen/Heard |
| Wood Pigeon | 17 | 1 | 18 |
| Stock Dove | 1 | 1 | |
| Feral Pigeon | 1 | 1 | |
| Rook | 16 | 16 | |
| Jackdaw | 27 | 27 | |
| Jay | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Carrion Crow | 4 | 4 | |
| Great-Spotted Woodpecker | 2 | 2 | |
| Green Woodpecker | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Treecreeper | 1 | 1 | |
| Chaffinch | 1 | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 2 | 2 | |
| Robin | 9 | 9 | |
| Dunnock | 1 | 1 | |
| Blackcap | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Chiffchaff | 5 | 5 | |
| Blue Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Great Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Long-Tailed Tit | 1 | 1 | |
| Wren | 8 | 8 | |
| Blackbird | 6 | 6 | |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 1 | |
| Mallard | 2 | 2 |
Number of species recorded: 23
Total number of individuals recorded: 117
Mammals on same walk
We had a lovely evening in Hollington Wood – thank you Gordon for leading the walk. The bluebells were looking amazing and this little gem of a wood always has the touch of magic about it that you find in so many of our ancient woods. Philip Solt (the owner) took us round the wood introducing us to his wonderful Mangalitza pigs, pointing out a wild honey bees nest, an active badgers sett and also showing us just how tall the bluebells were this year, maybe as a result of the long growing season. We ended the evening sampling his home brewed beer and primrose wine which was exceptional, as was the sunset on the way back across the fields!!
Otter Spraint in situ
A few hardy Society members braved the aftermath of Storm Katie to walk around Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, ably guided by Society Vice-President Martin Kincaid, an expert local naturalist employed by the Parks Trust who manage the Reserve.
Martin pointed out a number of interesting wildlife waste products on the way round.
Firstly otter spraints. Otters have been observed at LLNR in recent years, and the characteristic fish scales make up much of these spraints. They have a characteristic and rather pleasant odour composed of a mix of fish and new-mown hay.
Contrast with the next dropping the participants found, that of the introduced pest species, the American mink, which has had a serious impact on water vole populations across the country.
The droppings of a third mustelid (weasel family) found at LLNR were also found, the badger. These resemble smallish dog faeces.
Also found was the scat of another local carnivore, the fox. These do not in fact share the characteristic odour of this animal.
Finally the last faeces found was that of a small deer, almost certainly that of a muntjac although just possibly a roe deer.
The walk found more than just a load of faeces. Notable species seen in the flesh were the Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding at the bird feeders near the LLNR Centre.
A variety of waterfowl visible from the centre hides, such as a Great Crested Grebe.
A Common Toad found burrowing under one of the corrugated iron sheets put down by the Parks Trust to encourage lizards, snakes and amphibians. Martin informed us that toads appeared to be in decline due to lack of suitable spawning sites. They spawn in water a degree or two colder than frogs and for this and other reasons require deeper ponds than frogs do.
Thanks to Martin and the Parks Trust for this interesting tour of a valuable local site. To visit this site you will need a Permit, available at a modest cost from the Parks Trust by clicking this link.
All photos taken by Steve Brady
Mike LeRoy has kindly provided me with a copy of the briefing notes that he handed out on the walk that he and Gordon Redford led on 25th August 2015 around the Tattenhoe Park area.
Click here to read this very informative and interesting document.
Buff Arches 06Jul15
The Gallery of moths recorded at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve has been updated with Gordon’s pictures for July 2015.
To view the photos select Gallery, Moths at Linford Lakes NR or click this link
Members met at Linford Lakes, formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre and a former location for indoor Society meetings, on a warm and sunny evening.
A number of routes lead to the three hides. The Near Hide offers viewing of nesting Sand Martins at a site intended for Kingfishers. The Woodland Hide offers viewing of bird feeders and a log pile for small mammals. There is more bird activity at this hide earlier in the day.
People chose their own routes, stopping at the hides as long as they wanted and no-one got lost. Things of most interest to me were damselflies, my first Marbled White butterfly of the year, a nymph of Roesel’s bush cricket, a red and black froghopper Cercopis vulnerata and a stinging nettle, unusual in having three, rather than two, leaves at each node on the stem.
A Blood Vein moth was seen and some members who walked back along the access road were rewarded with a sighting of a Barn Owl.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
All pictures provided by Paul Lund
Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
Nymph of Roesel’s Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Marbled White Melanargea galathea
Aberrant Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica
19 members attended the Society walk at Pineham Park on Tuesday 11th August. Martin explained that the site we were visiting had been used as a motorsports track for the past twenty years, but following a closure notice from MK Council, The Parks Trust are now in the process of levelling off the track and will manage the site for biodiversity. We met by the BMX track, giving the slightly surreal experience of a Nat His meeting next to a group of racing BMXs!
A short walk along the Ouzel brought us to the M1. As we passed under this, we could hear bats squeaking from one of the drainage pipes set in the motorway. On the other side of the motorway, we soon came into an area of scrubby grassland and followed the dirt track. The meeting began in light rain but before too long the clouds lifted and we were treated to late sunshine and eventually a glorious rainbow. The sunshine brought the insects out in force.
We had good views of Roesel’s and Dark Bush Crickets, Long Winged Coneheads and three common grasshoppers. We also had a good look at several Common Groundhoppers and several ladybird species. Although we were a little late for the butterflies, Linda Murphy found a Blood Vein moth. The site produces some good birds and the highlight of the evening was a kingfisher which gave good views as it sped along the Broughton Brook.
Further along the track, we stopped at a straw bale which had been used as a crash barrier, strapped to a willow. A few taps of the bale resulted in hundreds of harvestmen which emerged and raced up the willow! Quite a spectacular site.
The walk proper finished at 9pm and whilst most members went home, five of us returned to the M1. A quick look in the pipe with a torch showed us that there were 30 or more Daubenton’s bats present. This was obviously a maternity roost, with female bats and there almost full grown babies. As dusk set in, the bats began to emerge and treated us to a fantastic display as they foraged low over the Ouzel. At times we had five or six Daubenton’s bats in the beam of the torch all at once and the sound through our bat detectors was a cacophony of noise! It was an unforgettable end to a very enjoyable evening.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Pictures from top to bottom:
Martin Kincaid giving his introductory talk.
Rainbow viewed from Pineham
Sunset
Looking at the bat roost
Looking at the bat roost
Daubenton’s bat by Rauno Kalda
Photos by Peter Hassett unless otherwise stated
The weather was wonderful – one of those still balmy summers evenings that are rare indeed!
We set off at a leisurely pace past Olney church and the Mill house and along the beautiful river Ouse. My one slight reservation about the walk was that the fields beside the river are full of rather large bullocks, but they are placid beasts and I wasnt particularly concerned. However what I didn’t count on was the presence of the farmer in his truck who had really stirred them up and at one point we had 50 plus huge beasts gambolling merrily around us – not an experience for the faint-hearted!! But society members are a sturdy breed and no-one seemed unduly worried.
The river bank was alive with banded demoiselles, red eyed damselflies and other assorted damselflies and we even saw a signal crayfish lurking in the water (not such a welcome sighting). The evening really stepped up however when we spotted three hares in the field on the opposite bank, followed by a bevy of 30-40 twittering house martins collecting mud from the river’s edge and then a sparrowhawk flying over hoping to catch out an unwary martin. Common terns patrolled up and down the river occasionally plunging down into the water for minnows and we saw one male goosander and a few of the resident barnacle geese.
We ambled on to the bridge over the river to Clifton Reynes and managed to locate Roy’s slender tufted sedge down by the water’s edge. The river is lovely on this stretch as the opposite bank is wooded and was alive with birdsong (thrushes, chaffinches, black caps etc ) as the evening drew in. The reflections of the reeds and trees in the river were perfect as there was not a breath of wind.
Eventually we turned for home having had a truly magical evening.
Julie Lane
Members met at Linford Lakes, formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre and a former location for indoor Society meetings, on a warm and sunny evening.
A number of routes lead to the three hides. The Near Hide offers viewing of nesting Sand Martins at a site intended for Kingfishers. The Woodland Hide offers viewing of bird feeders and a log pile for small mammals. There is more bird activity at this hide earlier in the day.
People chose their own routes, stopping at the hides as long as they wanted and no-one got lost. Things of most interest to me were damselflies, my first Marbled White butterfly of the year, a nymph of Roesel’s bush cricket, a red and black froghopper Cercopis vulnerata and a stinging nettle, unusual in having three, rather than two, leaves at each node on the stem.
A Blood vein moth was seen and some members who walked back along the access road were rewarded with a sighting of a Barn Owl.
Paul Lund (who took the photos below)
Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
Aberrant Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica
Nymph of Roesel’s Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Marbled White Melanargea galathea
About 25 Milton Keynes Natural History Society members assembled in the Coachway car-park for a visit to Atterbury and a small section of the Broughton Brook on 9th June 2015. It was a cool and windy evening which did not favour invertebrates but we saw 33 species of bird, a wide range of tree and plant species, a few mammals, an amphibian, and some insects. Both Buckinghamshire County Botanical Recorders were on the walk so they compiled a significant plant list of 117 vascular plants, aside from the 20 tree and shrub species identified by the tree group. We also had experienced birders with us who noted 230 birds of 33 bird species. Many joined one or other of the recording groups for the evening, covering: trees & shrubs (Gordon Redford), flowering plants (Andy McVeigh & Roy Maycock); invertebrates & mammals (Jo Handford & Julie Lane), birds (Harry Appleyard & Ian Saunders). Each of the recording groups compiled a species list and these are being forwarded to the Bucks County Records Office (BMERC) and to The Parks Trust. All the areas we walked are managed by The Parks Trust, which took ownership of the site from the Homes & Communities Agency in 2012.
Our route took us on a Leisure path across a bridge over the Broughton Brook, then alongside the Brook under the A5130 Wavendon to Northfield roundabout road. Here we saw a pair of Grey Wagtail (which were still there when we returned). We took a path from the bridge, behind the Regis office building which faces H6 and alongside a meadow. Here there were unusual tree species planted alongside the path, including: Quince Cydonia oblonga and Medlar Mespilus germanica. As we walked around the far end of this a Fox was sighted but it soon slipped through the fence into woodland. Our route was then a series of circuitous grass paths through the Atterbury site which is a complex mosaic of wet woodland, dense scrub, ponds and Willow carr. There were plenty of birds singing and calling. Bird highlights were a Little Egret perched high on a large Willow, clearly visible from the long boardwalk over a drying-out pond by Bressingham Gate. Another Little Egret was circling it above. Then our attention turned to a Kingfisher perched on a low branch, just visible through the reeds. In the pond in front of that there was a quantity of Yellow Iris (Flag) Iris pseudacorus and egg-yolk yellow Great Yellow-cress Rorippa amphibia. From the boardwalk we walked around the outside edges of the Atterbury site, which had occasional wooden posts along it with discs indicating that this is the proposed route of the Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal. We left this route when we reached the Broughton allotments and diverted into a recently-managed area of dried-out pond where Willows, that had grown out of the middle of the pond leaning at low angles, had been cut back to grow again. Here was our sighting of a single Common Frog Rania temporaria.
Our route was then in the more open areas alongside the Broughton Brook. On the west side of the Brook by a footbridge we spotted a large cluster of Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum. As this is an invasive plant on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 list of species to be controlled, its presence was reported to The Parks Trust. They have been aware of these plants and have been carrying out control measures each year, but it can take years to eliminate these plants from a site. They have reduced the number by about half over the last couple of years. Advice of the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat is that “Contact with any part of this plant must be avoided as even minute amounts of sap can cause blistering of the skin following exposure to sunlight”. We followed the Brook, first southward, then across a footbridge to the old Broughton village, then northwards, back to the bridge over the A5130, under it, returning to the Coachway to finish a very satisfactory evening visit.
The following links will take you to the records submitted to BMERC:
Plant List
Bird List
Invertebrates, mammals and reptiles list
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Photos by Peter Hassett unless captioned otherwise
Frog with ear infection by Julian Lambley
The Trip Report on the Society’s visit to Little Linford Wood on 19May15 has been updated with a list of plants in flower at the time of our visit.
Click here for the updated trip report.
Click here for the plant list.
Great Crested Grebe Long Tailed Tit
Grey Heron Willow Warbler
Cormorant Garden Warbler
Mute Swan Blackcap
Canada Goose (with young) Common Whitethroat
Mallard (with young) Chiffchaff
Tufted Duck Reed Warbler
Coot (on nest) Sedge Warbler
Moorhen Chaffinch
Oystercatcher (on nest) Goldfinch
Lapwing Greenfinch
Common Tern (on nest) Bullfinch
Pheasant House Sparrow
Woodpigeon Reed Bunting
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Swift
Swallow
Blackbird
Robin
Song Thrush
Dunnock
Wren
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Many thanks to Martin Kincaid for supplying the list of birds identified at the Society’s recent trip to Stony Stratford Nature Reserve
The day had been cold, breezy with some heavy downpours so it was nice to see 23 members turn up for the walk at our nearest BBOWT reserve.
Our walk leaders Joe Clinch and Phil Sarre gave an introductory talk on the history of the woods and an outline of what we were likely to see. You can find more details about the woods on our Little Linford Wood and Dormouse pages.
Phil explained that a timber contractor bought the wood and brought in heavy machinery to fell the old oak trees. “Luckily” the contractor felled a tree that was owned by a local farmer who went to court and gained an injunction to stop any more felling.
The farmer was a keen naturalist and suggested to Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust (now called Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) that they acquire the site. Money was raised to buy the wood and BBOWT set about the task of replanting.
It was also the **th birthday of our President, Roy Maycock and he was presented with a pile of birthday cards much to his surprise and delight.
There was a lot of Dog’s Mercury growing in the wood and Roy was able to point out the differences between the male and female flowers. This link will provide more detail. Roy has also provided a list of plants in flower at the time of our visit.
Simon Bunker managed to find first instars of Roesel’s bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) and striped bush cricket (Leptophyes albovittata).
Towards the end of the walk, in the ploughed fields bordering the wood we were able to see a pair of hares.
If you would like to read more information about the wood, please visit our Little Linford Wood and Dormouse Project pages.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Pictures from top to bottom:
Little Linford Wood Nature Reserve map
The pre-walk briefing
Roy receiving his birthday cards
The group sets off down one of the rides
Female Dog’s Mercury
Herb Paris
Ragged Robin
Raindrops
Saint George’s mushroom>
First instar Roesel’s bush cricket
White Bugle
Our secretary on a Deer shooting platform (gamekeeper turner poacher??)
Photos by Peter Hassett
Saint George’s mushroomThe trip report on the Society’s visit to Pilch Field on 12May15 has been updated with Roy’s list of plants in flower at the time of our visit.
Pilch Field is a SSSI managed by BBOWT with a rich mosaic of habitats, including 200+ plants. 27 members of the Society gathered on a lovely warm evening for our walk was led by Ann Biggins, Roy Maycock & Jenny Mercer.
Jenny has kindly provided this overview of Pilch Field:
Plants with specific requirements for calcareous/basic conditions or acidic conditions or neutral conditions have found their niches.
Care needs to be taken in waterlogged and damp areas as it’s all too easy to sink deeply into the very soft silts .
On the well drained ridge and furrow areas there were fine displays of Green Winged Orchids which need neutral and well drained conditions, and many cowslips.
Early Marsh Orchids in small numbers have appeared recently in damper areas.
The atypical fern Adders Tongue is locally abundant especially in the furrows and other damp areas.
Other plants of note in mid May are the Marsh Valerian, Purple Moor-grass, cuckoo flower, marsh-marigold, ladies bedstraw, meadow vetchling, salad burnet, birds foot trefoil, green winged orchid and common Milkwort (Milkwort only in Little Pilch – through gate in smaller field).
Later in the year the fields are very colourful – highlights being rest harrow, scabious and daisy.
Please note cattle are used to manage the fields from June to November. do not take dogs into the fields as cows and their calves are usually present.
Roy has kindly provided a list of plants which were seen in flower during the walk:
| Ajuga reptans | Bugle |
| Anacamptis morio | Green-winged Orchid |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Sweet Vernal-grass |
| Anthriscus sylvestris | Cow Parsley |
| Avenula pratensis | Meadow Oat-grass |
| Caltha palustris | Marsh-marigold |
| Cardamine pratensis | Cuckooflower |
| Carex flacca | Glaucous Sedge |
| Car ex panicea | Carnation Sedge |
| Conopodium majus | Pignut |
| Crataegus monogya | Hawthorn |
| Dactylorhiza incarnata | Early Marsh-orchid |
| Luzula campestris | Field Wood-rush |
| Polygala vulgaris | Common Milkwort |
| Poterium sanguisorba | Salad Burnet |
| Primula veris | Cowslip |
| Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup |
| Rumex acetosa | Common Sorrel |
| Taraxacum agg. | Dandelion(s) |
| Valeriana dioica | Marsh Valerian |
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Pictures from top to bottom:
Discrete sign for Pilch Field Nature Reserve
Jenny leading the group around one of the two fields
A group of Green Winged Orchids
Close up of a Green Winged Orchid
Salad Burnet
Drinker Moth Caterpillar
One of the many clumps of cowslips
Photos by Peter Hassett
The article on the Society’s trip to Howe Park Wood on 05May15 has been updated with the list of plants identified by Roy.
On 15May15, 20 members of the Society gathered on a blustery evening for the first outdoor event of our 2015 summer season. A walk around Howe Park Wood led by Gordon Redford.
Gordon decided to give the walk a botanic theme. We were split into three groups. Each group had a notepad and a clicker to record the number of different plant species identified. There was a competition to see which group identified the most plants.
Martin Kincaid had arranged for the group to visit the Milton Keynes Parks Trust impressive new Education and Visitor Centre at the end of the walk for tea and biscuits.
Roy has kindly provided a list of plants seen during the walk:
| Acer campestre | Field Maple |
| Ajuga reptans | Bugle |
| Alopecurus pratensis | Meadow Foxtail |
| Anemone nemorosa | Wood Anemone |
| Angelica sylvestris | Wild Angelica |
| Anthriscus sylvestris | Cow Parsley |
| Arctium minus | Lesser Burdock |
| Arum maculatum | Lords-and-Ladies |
| Brachypodium sylvaticum | False Brome |
| Cardamine pratensis | Cockooflower |
| Carexpendula | Pendulous Sedge |
| Carey, remota | Remote Sedge |
| Car ex sylvatica | Wood Sedge |
| Carpinus betula | Hornbeam |
| Chamerion angustifolium | Rosebay Willowherb |
| Circaea lutetiana | Enchanter’s Nightshade |
| Cirsium arvense | Creeping Thistle |
| Cirsium palustre | Marsh Thistle |
| Clematis vitalba | Traveller’s-joy |
| Cornus sanguinea | Dogwood |
| Corylus avellana | Hazle |
| Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn |
| Dactylis glomerata | Cock’s-foot |
| Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted-orchid |
| Deschampsia cespitosa | Tufted Hair-grass |
| Dryopteris dilatata | Broad Buckler-fern |
| Dryopteris fllix-mas | Male Fern |
| Epilobium hirsutum | Great Willowherb |
| Ficaria verna | Lesser Celandine |
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet |
| Fragaria vesca | Wild Strawberry |
| Fraxinus excelsior | Ash |
| Galium aparine | Cleavers |
| Geranium robertianum | Herb-Robert |
| Geum urbanum | Wood Avens |
| Hedera helix | Ivy |
| Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed |
| Hyancinthoides non-scripta | Bluebell |
| Juncus effusus | Soft Rush |
| Lapsana communis | Nipplewort |
| Lonicera periclymenum | Honeysuckle |
| Lysimachia nummularia | Creeping-Jenny |
| Malus sylvestris | Crab Apple |
| Mercurialis perennis | Dog’s Mercury |
| Milium effusum | Wood Millet |
| Orchis mascula | Early Purple-orchid |
| Plantago major | Greater Plantain |
| Poa annua | Annual Meadow-grass |
| Poa nemoralis | Wood Meadow-grass |
| Populus tremula | Aspen |
| Potentilla anserina | Silverweed |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn |
| Quercus robur | Pedunculate Oak |
| Ranunculus auricomus | Goldilocks Buttercup |
| Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup |
| Ribes rubrum | Red Currant |
| Rosa arvensis | Field Rose |
| Rosa canina agg. | Dog Rose(s) |
| Rubus fruticosus agg. | Bramble(s) |
| Rubus idaeus | Raspberry |
| Rumex sanguineus | Wood Dock |
| Salix caprea | Goat Willow |
| Sambucus nigra | Elder |
| Senecio jacobaea | Common Ragwort |
| Silene flos-cuculi | Ragged-Robin |
| Stachys sylvatica | Hedge Woundwort |
| Stellaria holostea | Geater Stitchwort |
| Tamus communis | Black Bryony |
| Taraxacum agg. | Dandelion(s) |
| Urtica dioica | Stinging Nettle |
| Viburnum opulus | Guelder Rose |
| Vicia septum | Bush Vetch |
| Viola riviniana | Common Dog-violet |
| Fagus sylvatica* | Beech |
| Rhamnus cathartica* | Buckthorn |
| Symphoricarpos albus* | Snowberry |
*indicates an unconfirmed record
Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Pictures from top to bottom:
Start of the walk at the new Education and Visitors centre
Insect Hotel in the wall of the visitor centre
New pond dipping platform by the visitor centre
Map of Howe Park Wood
Bluebells and Greater Stitchwort
Dogs Mercury
Photos by Peter Hassett
Gordon Redford has kindly supplied pictures of some of the moths found at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (formerly known as Hanson Environmental Study Centre).
Click on any picture for a larger view. Click on the back button in your browser to return to this page.
Why not send in your photos so that we can all enjoy them on this site.
Twin-spotted Quaker by Gordon Redford taken at Linford Lakes NR 03Apr15
Pine Beauty by Gordon Redford taken at Linford Lakes NR 14Apr15
Purple Thorn by Gordon Redford taken at Linford Lakes NR 16Apr15
Streamer moth by Gordon Redford taken at Linford Lakes NR 25Apr15
Swallow Prominent by Gordon Redford at Linford Lakes NR
On Sunday 12 April 2015, 20 members of the Society caught the 8:40 train to Harrow & Wealdstone, where we changed to the London Overground to Willesden Junction. There we caught our third and final train to Kew Gardens station. The gardens themselves were just a ten minute walk from the station.The day was dry and sunny. There was a cool breeze but things warmed up nicely during the day (too warm if you ventured into the Palm House – it was fun to see the stream of members exiting the Palm House and heading for the lake to cool down!)
Once we had paid our entrance fees (half price as we had travelled by train) we had a drink in the café and consulted the maps of the garden before setting off. Some of the group decided to do their own thing and other followed Martin Kincaid’s expert tour of the garden.
The first stop was at the gallery of botanic art, stopping to watch a Goldcrest on the way. Next we headed towards the Pagoda where we saw a couple of Green Woodpeckers in a hole in a tree. Plenty of rose-ringed parakeets were also evident.
We then headed west in the direction of the Thames in the hope of seeing Bluebells and Snake Head Fritillaries. There were some lovely Cherry trees in full bloom by the Japanese Gardens and a couple of empty benches so we stopped for lunch and enjoyed a picnic.
We decided to take in Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, which meant passing through one of the children’s play areas. The entrance was flanked with a willow sculpture of mushrooms (Magic Mushrooms?).
Kew has an interesting Badger sett, it is scaled up so that humans can explore the sett and see how the badgers live. A number of our group decided to explore the sett – poor Arthur managed to bang his head on the roof a couple of times.
We saw another Goldcrest at Queen Charlotte’s Cottage but we were too early for the Bluebells. When we reached the Thames there were great views of Syon House. We walked north and were rewarded with great views of Snake Head Fritillaries in bloom.
The next stop was the White Peaks Café. After tea/coffee members split up and wandered around the grounds. I decided to go on the Treetop Walkway. The walkway sways a lot in the strong breeze and, at times, I had to hold onto the handrail – this made me think of the Millennium Footbridge over the Thames. The climb to the top of the walkway is worth it with great views over the park and London. The structure of the walkway itself is interesting and the design of the supports has been chosen to blend in with the trees.
We saw Holly Blue, orange tip and Comma butterflies. In addition to the Goldcrests we were treated to the spectacle of two Sparrowhawks in flight chasing a duck. There were plenty of waders in evidence. These included a pair of Egyptian Geese with four goslings, a pair of Little Grebes, Long-tailed tits, Tufted Ducks and a Red-crested Pochard.
We all met up at 4:15pm at the entrance to return to Kew Gardens Station. This was an unfortunate choice of meeting place as there were shops nearby. Martin had to go and extract some members of the group from the shops so that we could make our 4:40pm train. We had a good journey back to Milton Keynes arriving at 6:40pm, very tired, but glad that we had such a great day out.
I would like to thank Martin Kincaid for organising the event and for keeping smiling whilst leading the group (the popular expression “herding cats” springs to mind). Paul Lund for providing timetables and everyone who attended for their company and shared knowledge on the day.
Please look at the gallery for more images taken on the day.
Peter (admin) Hassett
First stop for tea and cake.
Pagoda
Japanese Garden
Lunch by the Japanese Garden
Arthur exiting the badger sett
Snake’s Head Fritillary
The sun was shining as a group of 8 members gathered in the car park of the Black Horse pub, Great Linford. They then crossed Wolverton Road to Stanton Low, walking past the ruins of St Peter’s Church to Haversham Mill, thence back via the Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (formerly called the Hanson Environmental Study Centre) and its lakeside hides. After three hours our intrepid walkers were happy to enjoy a bit of rest and refreshment in the Black Horse pub.
Notable sights in the Spring sunshine were a profusion of early butterflies: Peacocks, Commas (or Commae?), Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstones. Also a Buzzard, boldly seen out of its airspace by a Kestrel, Green Woodpeckers and nesting Herons. From the HESC hide numerous Cormorants, Mute Swans, Great-Crested Grebes, Coots, and the rather misnamed Common Gull were on view, as well as Tufted Ducks, a Lesser Black-Backed and several Black-Headed Gulls, and Herons.
Al in all a pleasant excursion into the springtime sunshine, whetting our appetites for the evening walks programme beginning on Tuesday May 5th.
The intrepid walkers go forth
The Heronry on an island in the HESC’s lake
A Buzzard patrols the sky overhead
An interesting fungus
A colony of ants (probably Myrmica rubra), warm their overwintered larvae under a HESC corrugated iron snake/lizard refuge
Cormorants, one drying its wings, on the HESC Bund
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Common Gull, and Canada Goose
One of many overwintered Peacocks basking in the sunshine
A Toad poses for a Society photographer
The weary wanderers wend their way back to the pub
(All pics by the Author of this Post – the Ron Arnold Society Photograph of the Year Shield is unlikely to await any of them!)
INSECTS
Peacock butterfly – Tattenhoe Park (Friday)
AMPHIBIANS
First Smooth Newts and Great Crested Newts of the year found at Elfield Park (23rd Jan) Martin Kincaid
BIRDS
Yellowhammer – Tattenhoe Park ( Harry Appleyard Friday 23rd)
Red Kite – Emerson Valley (HA – Saturday 24th)
Marsh Tit – Tattenhoe Park (HA -Sunday 25th)
Fieldfares – Tattenhoe Park
Bittern at HESC (Mike LeRoy – 25th)
Pair of Stonechat still showing on fields approaching HESC (Michele Welborn)
9 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (MK – 23rd)
Up to 3 Great White Egrets reported from Summerleys Nature Reserve.
1 Shelduck and 7 Goosander – Manor Farm (23rd)