A reminder that Lymington & District Naturalists' Society have a stand at this event and several members of our committee will be attending - come and visit us!
Field Meeting Report: Cadman's Pool - 19 August
 |
| Chaffinches CR |
On this warm but overcast morning 18 members with Pam as leader gathered at the side of Cadman’s Pool. Feeding on the pool side were a flock of Chaffinches, and a mixed flock of Coal Tits and Blue Tits and on the water were Mallard, a solitary Canada Goose and a couple of juvenile Moorhens.
 |
| Eyebright CR |
From
the pool we set off along the concrete remains of the old airfield across the
heath towards Holly Hatch Inclosure. Here we found all 3 types of heather
consisting mainly of Ling, with some Bell Heather and small patches of
Cross-leaved Heath. Along the track sides Cat’s Ear, Lousewort, Eyebright and Milkwort
were in flower as well as a small area of Wood Sage.
To the right of the track lies a small boggy pond where we found Marsh St. John’s-wort which was in flower, Marsh Pennywort, Round-leaved Sundew and the erect seed heads of Bog Asphodel. Looking across to the inclosure there was a glimpse of a Green Woodpecker and we heard the distant call of a Buzzard. Further on we had a good view of a male Redstart and a Roe buck with one antler and all around we could hear and occasionally see Stonechats.
 |
| CR |
 |
| CR |
 |
| Boletus SS |
 |
| Tubular Water-dropwort CR |
Eventually
we came to Holly Hatch cottage and the open lawn where cattle and ponies were
grazing. Here there are views across Rakes Drake Bottom and in the distance
Sloden Inclosure. Every year House Martins nest under the eaves of this cottage
and we were not disappointed as they swooped around and fed their young.
A Grey
Wagtail was spotted on the roof of an outhouse and in and around the stream
that runs through the valley, flowers of Tubular Water-dropwort, Lesser
Spearwort, and Greater Bird’s- foot-trefoil were seen together with Water
Plantain in seed.
Finally, we walked along the inclosure’s edge, with the stream to our left and mature Oak and Beech to our right. On a large Silver Birch several twisted bundles of twigs matted together were seen. These are known as witches brooms, they can be caused by bacterial, fungal or viral infections of the lateral buds. These bundles do not harm the tree. Then, whilst watching a family of Nuthatches, a female Blackcap was spotted and further on a Wren, Robin, Song Thrush and Blackbird were seen.
 |
| Devilsbit Scabious CR |
 |
| Saw-wort SS |
Eventually we returned to the heath again. As we
walked uphill, we found the small pink flowers of Lesser Skullcap and further
on Devil’s-bit Scabious, before we finally came back to the car park.
PP
Photos: © S
Skarstein and C Robinson
Field Meeting: Report Normandy Lane - 5 August
Leading his first Thursday group walk for nearly 2 years, Brian was joined by over 20 LymNats. Although "Birds" was the advertised subject, the walk began in the "wilds" of Woodside Gardens where wild flowers and insects dominated. The group spent over an hour independently exploring the delights of one of Lymington's hidden jewels.
 |
| Common Fleabane DP |
 |
| Large Tiger Hoverfly on Knapweed MF |
 |
| Water Mint GP |
Members of the group may have seen: Agrimony,
Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common and Lesser Knapweed, Common Fleabane, Field Bindweed,
Honeysuckle, Woody Nightshade, Wild Carrot, Corn Marigold, Great Reedmace,
Lady's Bedstraw, Gipsywort, Mugwort, Ragwort, Yarrow, Lesser Stitchwort,
Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Rosebay, Great Willowherb, Red Clover, White
Clover, Silverweed, St.John's Wort, Pineapple Mayweed, Water Mint, Hemlock
Water Dropwort and Hogweed.
 |
| Small Skipper CR |
Butterflies seen included Small Skipper,
Silver-studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large White, Painted Lady and
Red Admiral.
From Woodside we proceeded to do a circuit of
Normandy Marsh to deliver the advertised walk.
We saw immature Shelduck which would have
followed their parents to the lagoon immediately after hatching. The nest would
have been a down-lined cup in a burrow or hollow tree (as seen on
"Springwatch"). There was also a juvenile Avocet, still with some
dark brown where the adult is black.
 |
| Common Terns, with juvenile CR |
The number of white foreheads of the juveniles
amongst the black caps of the adults was evidence that the Common Terns had a
successful breeding season. A group of 30+ birds periodically took to the air
from a spit, with their harsh key-arr and kirri-kirri calls, and then landed
back in an orderly fashion, all facing front.
When an imperious Great Black-backed Gull took flight,
it was instantly mobbed by Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls - they clearly
recognised a predator that would probably have accounted for some of their
young.
 |
| Little Egret "JN" CR |
Little Egret "JN" was showing well
out on the marsh. Ringed as a chick by Graham Giddens in the summer of 2006,
"JN" is recognised by the BTO as holding the longevity record of this
species (I reported today's sighting to GG).
A very keen young ornithologist pointed out a
young bird that was eventually identified as a Redshank, possibly the sole
survivor of a late (July) brood, whose siblings may have been predated by the
GB-bG.
 |
| Golden Samphire CR |
From the seawall it was possible to see a variety of coastal and saltmarsh plants: Glasswort, Common Sea-lavender, Sea Purslane, Rock Samphire, Golden Samphire and Common Cord-grass (Spartina anglica).
 |
| Wasp Spider SS |
Also present: A handsome Wasp Spider, Black-tailed Godwits (still with
some summer colour) Dunlin, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Greenfinch, White
Campion, Bristly Oxtongue, Teasel and Polypody. Other LymNats may have seen
more and all just beat the rain back to Maiden Lane.
BM
Photographs © S Skarstein, C Robinson, M Fidkin, G Payne D Potter
Route:
 |
©Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey. Media 008/21 |
GPX
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)