What have you seen
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@Bakers2 Yes that is a male Box moth and the female is a darker brown all over and yes they have been busy around here this year a lot more Box hedging has gone dead looking again same as about 3 years ago when we had a huge invasion of the caterpillars, we do not have any box here but next door has got a large box hedge either side of his long drive and the one side of it is looking tatty so looks if there have been the caterpillars about.
Not sure what that fungi is very unusual though.
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@RedKite thanks. There was one hedge in the village that was surviving. They drowned it weekly in sometime to curtail the caterpillars. Sadly I saw it gas been trimmed very low in the last week or so. To curtail the caterpillars? But it looks very sad. This us the 3rd year running there's been devasting attacks. Most folk have totally removed their box. One Georgianhouse one that has had their box balls for at least 50 years. They're out now. Nextdoor leaves his, there's a vague puck up early in the year before it looks awful and there's frass etc all over my plants.....
II'm glad you couldn't identify the fungus either. Not one I've come across before.
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@Wherenext thank you. DIL's mum in next village to both them and us has some box, untouched in June so she maybe glad of a tip. I know our garden help would be interested too.
Any idea on the fungus? You're usually good as such things. If not @nelliethehooker ?
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@Bakers2 - All I know is that it belongs to the Bracket fungi. I've seen something like it on Sycamore trees but I couldn't swear its the same as yours. The Woodland Trust do an ID of sorts on their website but I seem to have misplaced my Mushroom ID book, yes I do have one.🤣
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@Wherenext I'd assumed bracket family, because of how it's growing but I've not knowingly spotted one before. My library is missing a fungi identification book got most others...... Without a book how were we to identify unknowns? Google may be of help but it isn't always 🤐🤐🤐
HHopefully someone can tell me. I'll probably promptly forget 😒 but you have to make the effort!
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During last weeks' visit to Anglesey we walked past Cemlyn Bay Nature Reserve, a reserve that sits behind a shingle bank and is home for a few months to Sandwich Terns that breed there amongst other Terns and waterfowl. The Terns mostly disperse by mid August so we weren't surprised to find many had already left with only a few remaining but we did find the information board detailing the breeding numbers very interesting. I enclose a photo as the most important bit of information is contained at the bottom where it mentions that the very rare Roseate Tern managed to breed for the first time in decades. I only know of those at Coquet island in Northumbria that manage to breed and we have had the privilege of seeing one out fishing when walking alongside the river to Warkworth Castle.
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II think it may be Auriculariz mesenteric, commonly known as Tripe Fungus.
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Had a look down our field yesterday and saw a Red Squirrel and looked like it was burying something in the ground which after some rain is not so hard not seen one for awhile with the very hot weather and today saw about 40 to 50 swallows perched on some wires so they are on their way south they may have come from further north as not seen any for about 3 weeks now.
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There are signs everywhere that Autumnal migration has well and truly started around here. Some Ospreys that were further north have been seen in Dorset and Devon, the Swifts have gone, Wader numbers on the estuary have significantly increased, Butterfly watchers have reported migration of certain species, plus the biggest sign for us personally is the amount of Beechmast that rains done into our garden from the woods behind us.
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Have seen the odd Osprey going over here and had 4 Cattle Egrets fly low over me whilst hanging out the washing a few days ago. The trees here have suffered badly we have three Oak trees that have dropped their leaves already and more to come and whilst going to a small local town yesterday there where a lot of trees either drooped the leaves or ready to do so mainly Oaks but Wayfaring trees and Field Maple looks like Autumn two months early did not have this two years ago with very hot weather hope this is not going to be the norm.
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Well I'm asking you knowable folks on here for assistance again. @nelliethehooker thanks for the identification of my fungus post.
I regularly do a walk along the bridleway. Up to 5 times a week. The retired farmer keeps it well mown, like a lawn. It was about 15 feet from boundary to actual crop growing until this harvest, I notice its been lessened a bit by culitvating farmer. Said retired farmer, does similar all round this field. I've only spoken to him once, grumpy 😉 but in your 90's with very limited walking only to be expected? He spends his hours on his sit and ride on mower, huge grassed area in his garden, all verges near him too.... Then complaints it's the dog walkers causing the lack of wildlife 🤐. I digress 🫣🤣
I have been watching this area grow in size over the last few weeks. No idea what's 'digging' and baring the soil. There are a few holes. One appears larger and goes further underground, entrance on the boundary side another appears to to be a deep indentation. Lots of photos to show situation and context. Anyone got any ideas?
I do, especially when there's crop cover, see deer and hare. And once a stoat/weasel. Evidence of foxes too. Rare rabbit droppings along the path, regularly used by riders and walkers. But more often than not I see or meet no one on my travels. Of late, because of foot issues, I've been there and back rather than circular. If any of that helps???
Context, rest are in the shade of the hedge. Other side of hedge, grazing/hay fields - currently sheep, never seen cattle or pigs in there.
Sorry for the long winded and loads photo post but I'm intrigued 🤔
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@Bakers2 That ground looks like the local Badgers have been busy as we get the same here down the road from us and know it is not Wild Boar as much more damage usually.
A lot more Swallows and House Martins moving south and the Red Squirrel was busy yesterday with finding Walnuts off the tree in next field and saw him move across our field any bury 1 walnut still with green skin on at the bottom of the field near the wall and checking to see if anythings was watching where it was buried it great to see and it has a cream front from under its chin to the back legs underneath.
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@RedKite I did wonder, but not other signs of badgers and holes certainly not badger size - yet. Cultivated and grazing field, from what I can see, show no signs of badgers. Pretty certain not wild boar here! I do envy you a red squirrel. Only ever seen one at Hareshaw Linn, walking from the C&CC site at Bellingham. I've got a great shaky photo - my heart was beating so hard 🤣
Still lots of swallows and Martins over the fields. Swifts have been silent and absent for about a week. I did remark at home I was surprised to still be hearing them. Not seen swallows over the house at all.
Signs of a hedgehog in the back garden,in the way of calling cards. Now need to put some feed out the back. Definitely not coming from the front! Not seen signs of that one for ages 😪. I know the Peterborough hedgehog rescue is very busy. No sooner do they reopen their doors than they're full again. One of their big issues is being able to release the well ones because of the weather....
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Looks like Badger holes to me as well.
We're seeing Second brood Comma butterflies here quite regular this week.
I well remember having a Red Squirrel "lead" me up one the hills in the Lakes, him running up the brick wall. Thought maybe he was leading me away from his drey as he might have young there. Obviously once we'd passed a certain point he hopped off the wall and probably doubled back.
We've been quite lucky with sightings of them, Formby Reserve and Newborough on Anglesey spring to mind. We also saw one at Cae Mawr club site a few weeks ago, that also on Anglesey. Hope you get see more @Bakers2 but you'll need to travel.
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Wow I tell porky"s 😳 regarding red squirrels. Thank you @ wherenext, almost got a list up but it stuttered and disappeared so no red, I'd forgotten Formby.. Yes we saw several, but of course they have feeding stations..... Hareshaw Linn was completely wild
Badgers had crossed my mind but I'd sort of dismissed that idea. Time will tell
Thanks folks
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We had an interesting walk over the old slag bank this morning and these bushes and butterflies caught my eye. Buckthorn and Silverleaf, Large Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood, I think.
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There were still lots of Swallows and House Martins flying around the lanes near Levens village today, and the Damson trees are laden with fruit.
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@nelliethehooker same here still seeing Swallows and House Martins making their way south and we had a lot of Finches going over not close enough to see what they were also Warblers.
Damson none over here and that takes me to my childhood in Shropshire where a lot of trees around the edge of the fields and my mum used to make a lot of Damson Jam for the winter use, we have a lot of wild Plum trees about with purple plums and this is a good year for them.
The Jays and Magpies are flying around the Oak trees looking at the acorns but they are not very big yet.
And the Red Squirrel still finding Walnuts to bury.
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Won't let me edit...…
We also still have swallows, fewer this morning.
OOur Weather is feeling autumnal. We've had beautiful starts to the day but clouded over and grey mid morning onwards for the last few days. We've had rain showers but my waterbutt is still not half full, one side of garage roof input.
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Driving onto the drive this afternoon we saw a "Butterfly" flying onto the wall above our front window. It was sunny so we assumed it was making the most of it. After getting out and approaching it we were delighted to see our Butterfly was a rather elegant Red Underwing Moth, which very conveniently was showing its red underwings. Of course it was in an awkward position to photograph it but it was patient and we eventually managed a fairly decent one. About 10 minutes later whilst I was getting something out of the car it had moved (to a more awkward position) and folded the 2 outer wings over the inner ones making it look like a very miniature Stealth Bomber. Too awkward for a photo unfortunately
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We had a good day out visiting Staveley Nature Reserve, where old gravel/sand pits are now smallish Lakes. There were lots of Lapwings, a few Crested Grebe, and a Great White Egret among the various ducks, mainly mallards and Gadwell. Over on the largest of the lakes there were well over 1000 Greylags! It was obvious that Autumn was now beginning from the number of trees laden with fruit, the red berries, Hawthorn and wild Roses, Guilder Roses and Spindle, the black berries of the bramble and Common Dogwood, along with crab apples, sloes and damsons. The wild flowers are dying off but there are still a few in bloom, in particular Balsam and some Purple Loosestrife.
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I omitted to say that we nearly walked into a very dark red coloured Roe Deer which was grazing beside the footpath, and then it calmly walked off into the undergrowth. While taking a break we sat and watch a Spotted Flycatcher, along with a couple of smaller Warblers feeding in an Apple tree.
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I couldn't resist taking this photo having seen your's from the other day @Wherenext, from our walk along by the R.Tees near Rokeby Hall today.
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There were lots of Red and Fallow Deer about in the Park at Raby Castle today, with the Bucks and Does, including some white ones, in separate groups.
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