 |
| Goldcrest near the car park © Richard Smith |
On a mild cloudy spring morning
18 of us set out from
Linford Bottom. The Forestry Commission had recently been working in this area,
clearing scrub to create more lawn and thinning woodland and rides to open up
the canopy. This has been done to allow more light in which should improve
plant diversity and encourage butterflies. This work however did not detract
from the walk itself for there was plenty of birdsong for us to identify as
we listened to the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers whilst we walked through the Great Linford
Inclosure.
The woodland here is mixed with fine stands of Scots
Pine, Douglas Fir and Norway Spruce and throughout there was constant calling
and movement of Siskin in the trees. In
a clearing stood a single specimen tree of Lawson Cypress, this was unexpected
because Lawson Cypress is rarely planted for its timber as the main trunk may
fork, thus reducing the value of the timber grown. Continuing on we came across
a Southern Wood Ant’s nest which had been damaged, a large number of worker
ants had piled out to do repairs, then further on a Chiffchaff was heard and
seen flitting about catching insects, this was a first for many of us this
year.
 |
| Wild Daffodil - just one of many © Richard Smith |
After leaving the Inclosure we turned back through an
area of old gnarled Oak, excellent territory for hole nesting birds, a Wren’s
nest was seen. Wood Sorrel and Bluebell leaves were emerging, a good indication
of really old woodland. Eventually the path opened out to a small area of
heathland which went down to Linford Brook. It was here, near the water we
found the large patch of Wild Daffodils
we had come to see. This area also has a few small streams feeding into the
brook. In this water long strings of toad spawn were found and, from the bridge
over the brook Minnows and Whirligig Beetles were seen.
Finally we followed the track through the gorse leading
up to Little Linford Inclosure, where we proceeded along the woodland edge and
crossed Linford Brook again to return to the car park. PP
Birds seen included:- Dunnock, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest,
Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Blackbird,
Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Jay, Wren, Chiffchaff,
Buzzard, Siskin and Mallard.
Flowering Plants :-Lesser Celandine, Wild Daffodils and Goat
Willow
Ferns : Common Polypody Fern, Male and Hard Ferns.
Fungi :- Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica on gorse.
Mammals:- Bank Vole