02 November 2017 Boldre Church and Roydon Wood

Butcher’s Broom flowers

© Richard Coomber

Orange Peel Fungus

© Mary Mawdsley

A group of 17 LymNats set off on a chilly and misty morning from Boldre church. It was initially very quiet, with the fog and no bird activity, apart from the group of Chaffinches first spotted on entering the car park. We spotted the damage that the caterpillarof the Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella moth does to the leaves of the Horse-chestnut, very rampant at this time of year. A sole Red Campion was in flower, and the Butcher’s Broom (right) was both flowering and in berry. 

With the moist atmosphere the cobwebs were very evident in the hedgerows.

As we turned the corner to enter Roydon Wood, Starlings were along the telegraph wires, and in the fields were a Jay, Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and Redwings.

A number of fungi species were noted, including Orange Peel Fungus (right) and Blushing Bracket.

Mike showed us the gravel quarry and explained the gravel there was of fluvio- glacial origin.

We noted birch trees with both squirrel and Sika Deer damage. (below)  There was then a group of 10 Fallow Deer in an adjoining field.

Damaged caused by a Sika Deer stag

© Mary Mawdsley

The rescued Merveille du Jour

 © Mary Mawdsley

A Merveille du Jour moth  (right) was rescued from the path and placed on an oak tree.


We then walked along the meadows by the banks of the Lymington river, where there were Long-tailed Tits and a red Common Darter dragonfly.

Back in the church yard we looked for fungi, and saw two types of lichen on the grave stones. A Red Admiral basked in the warm autumn sunshine on a bramble leaf. Finally a Nuthatch flew from the Yew trees.