Talk: 28 November 2017: Fungi in the New Forest

On Tuesday 28 November Sara Cadbury will talk to us on Fungi in the New Forest. She is member of our Society and an expert mycologist, so this talk will give us an insight into the world of fungi which are pretty well at our doorstep.

Indoor meetings are held at The Lymington Centre on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month and commence at 7.15pm. Visitors are always welcome for a small charge (adults £5, juniors £1).

16 November 2017 Exbury Fungus Walk

Lym Nats at Exbury © Juliet Bloss 

Scarlet Caterpillarclub
Developing Piggyback Rosegill

On a fine late autumnal morning 23 members turned up at Exbury for a fungi walk in the grounds of the estate. Linda Runnacles, a staff member, and Juliet Bloss, the volunteer naturalist, were our escorts leading us around wooded areas, herbaceous borders, lawns and shrubberies. Although the fungi season was perhaps a little early this autumn, we still found and were shown a great variety of species, some of which are listed below. Linda and Duncan with their books along with Angela, Carol and Maureen  were keen to identify as many species as they could for the benefit of those of us who were less knowledgeable. Whilst fungi live off hosts, two species stood out as being of special interest. Scarlet Caterpillarclub lives on the buried pupa of butterflies and moths, whist Piggyback Rosegill is found on decaying toadstools such as Clouded Funnel.

Stump Puffball
We were looking downwards for much of the time so all credit goes to Chris who spotted a couple of Hawfinches when they paused briefly in a leafless tree before flying out of sight.

Our thanks to Linda and Juliet for making the walk such a successful insight into the world of fungi – thank you ladies!

Parrot Waxcap
Amongst the species noted were: Calvatia gigantea Giant Puffball, Clavaria fragilis White Spindles, Clavaria fumosa Smoky Spindles, Clavulinopsis corniculata  Meadow Coral, Clavulinopsis helvola Yellow Club, Clitocybe geotropa Trooping Funnel, Coprinopsis atramentaria Common Inkcap, Cordyceps militaris Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Helvella crispa White Saddle, Helvella lacunosa Elfin Saddle, Hygrocybe coccinea Scarlet Waxcap, Hygrocybe psittacina Parrot Waxcap, Hygrocybe punicea Crimson Waxcap, Hygrocybe russocoriacea Cedarwood Waxcap, Hygrocybe virginea Snowy Waxcap, Lepista nuda Wood Blewit, Lycoperdon pyriforme Stump Puffball, Peziza badia Bay Cup, Scleroderma citrinum Collared Earthstar, Tricholoma sulphureum Sulphur Knight, Volvariella surrecta Piggyback Rosegill and possibly Trichoglossum hirsutum Hairy Earthtongue. RC

Juliet points out another interesting species
  Other photos © Richard Coomber

05 November 2017 Keyhaven Bird walk


A pair of Brent Geese

Weather - dry, sunny, cold north-easterly wind.
Tides - springs, Hurst Point high water 10.40

It is said that 13 is an unlucky number! Not so for the 13 members and visitors (including Rosie Bowman from Bird Aware Solent) who assembled at Keyhaven for the first of our Winter bird walks. Why? Read on!
We set off at 10.10 along the ancient highway to the Lower Pennington Lane car park then on to the sea wall before completing the circular route at just after 12.30. The Balancing Pond gave us good views of several species of duck, such as Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail, newly arrived to spend the winter in our area.
Four Redshank, a Lapwing and a Ruff
From the car park, we were treated to having good views of two Cattle Egrets in the field adjacent to the caravan site. We were the first bird-watchers to see these to rare, but increasingly frequent, visitors from more southern climes. A first for Lym Nats!
The high tide forced a flock of Turnstone to rest on the old jetty jutting out into the Solent. Looking across towards Hurst from the Butts a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and two Eiders were seen through the telescopes. Birding along at Fishtail and Keyhaven lagoons was easier for the shorebirds were closer as they sought refuge from the tide and included two Ruff on Fishtail and at least 116 Curlew and 70-80 Grey Plover on Keyhaven Lagoon.
Cormorant
During the walk over 60 species of birds were listed and in addition to those mentioned earlier other noteworthy species included Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck (22), Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit (4), Dunlin, Redshank, Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Raven, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Long-tailed Tit, Dartford Warbler. Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Meadow and Rock Pipits, and Reed Bunting.
In terms of butterflies, we saw at least four Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and a Peacock.
DW with photos © Richard Coomber

Advance notice April 2018 LymNats coach trip to the London Wetland Centre

LYMINGTON & DISTRICT NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY

WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE BARNES SW13 9WT

THURSDAY  APRIL 12TH 2018

The London Wetland Centre is a beautiful wildlife reserve and international award winning visitor attraction just 25 miles from central London.  One of nine centres run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)  the London Wetland Centre is acclaimed as the best urban site in Europe to watch wildlife.  It supports a wealth of wetland biodiversity, including Bitterns, Kingfishers, a colony  of endangered Water Voles and migratory birds which arrive in large numbers from around the globe.  It is also a very user friendly reserve.  There are viewing hides, many benches and the paths are flat. In addition to the restaurant there is a gift shop and also a specialist binocular shop.

TIMETABLE


  9.00.am                   Coach departs Town Hall Car Park, Avenue Road
                                  Lymington.
 
11.15.am   (approx)   Arrival WWT London Wetland Centre.

  4.15.pm                   Coach departs.

  6.15/6.30.pm           Coach arrives Town Hall Car Park,  Lymington.


We envisage a brief comfort stop at Fleet Services on both journeys. Estimated times obviously depend upon traffic, weather conditions on the day etc.
                                                                                                                                   
Refreshments.  WWT say:- “You are welcome to bring picnics and eat at any of the tables around the site apart from those inside and directly in front of our restaurant.  Alternatively the restaurant serves hot and cold drinks and light refreshments all day  and hot meals between Noon and 3pm.
So please make your own arrangements.  We have not made any form of booking at the restaurant.

Ticket Cost:-                       Please check which category you fall into.  *

                    1.   WWT              Member                                 £ 22.00. per person
                    2.    Non WWT     aged over   65                        £ 30.00. per person
                    3.    Non WWT     aged under 65                        £ 32.00. per person

If you are a WWT member you must bring your membership card with you on the day.

Tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis on receipt of the completed application form below and a cheque.  We need your full details in the unlikely event cancellation or other emergency.

Ticket price includes    Cost of coach travel & entry to the WWT London Wetland Centre.

It excludes any form of meal or refreshment, or tip for the coach driver - for which we will make a collection on the return journey.

Please note:  Pricing is very tight and if you have to cancel we will not be able to make a refund of the ticket cost, unless someone can take your place.

For any further information please ring  Adrian Butterworth on 01590 622587



please detach————————————————————————————————————————
WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE   
VISIT APPLICATION FORM
THURSDAY  APRIL 12TH 2018

*I would like to apply for (        ) ticket/s at    £                 . each and enclose a cheque for £                .
drawn in favour of Lymington & District Naturalists’  Society.

Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Phone………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please return to A. Butterworth. Half Acre, Marden, Rhinefield Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire. SO42 7SQ