We gathered in Acre’s Down car park on a mild, overcast day to walk across the down and over to Wick Wood and back. A short climb up the farm track brings us out onto the edge of Acre’s Down where we pause to enjoy the view across the valley and scan the horizon for any raptor activity. No Goshawk today but a distant Buzzard circled above the tree line.
Woodlarks were heard and one was spotted singing in flight, the short tail and almost bat like appearance as it flew identifying it, together with the descending notes of its song. It perched obligingly for some time, allowing further good views. Walking across the down we heard several more Woodlarks calling amongst the heather and bracken. A Meadow Pipit was also seen in flight and Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard drumming.
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Woodlark © Chris Robinson |
Descending from the Down, we noted Butchers Broom growing amongst the Holly that line this path, before turning into a small clearing of large Beech trees where Great Tit and a Treecreeper were seen.
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Treecreeper © Chris Robinson |
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| Beech tree callus © Richard Smith |
There were a few fungi species found including Holly Speckle as well as lichens such as Dog Lichen identified by Sue.
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Holly Speckle - © Sue Skarstein |
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Apothecia of Dog Lichen © Sue Skarstein (above) and © Claire Kidger (below)  |
Branching right we cross The Knowles on a muddy ride, passing a Beech tree marked with the small circular NTSP tag 2, identifying it as a candidate for seed collection for the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst3. Crossing over a footbridge at Bagshot Water brings us back onto the path running north through Wick Wood where we stopped for coffee. There has been quite extensive recent felling here, mostly of softwood and some birch. Feeding amongst the leaf litter and beech mast, we saw good numbers of Chaffinch as well as Marsh Tit and Coal Tit and a Redpoll was also spotted amongst a group of finches.
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Tree tag © Richard Smith |
A little further along the track, we re-cross Bagshot Gutter, and here a Grey Wagtail flew up and perched obligingly for a short time. The surrounding woodland had several of what again sounded like Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the trees but not showing themselves. No sounds of the softer and more prolonged drum of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, though this is an area where they can be seen and heard in early Spring.
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Grey Wagtail © Richard Smith |
Rejoining the gravel cycle track, we returned after a short walk, back
to the car park.
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Acres Down route © Ordinance Survey |
References
1 https//gardenerspath.com/plants/fruit-trees/burr-knots-and-crown-galls/?fbclid=IwAR25l3A2To79FrtfiFcPZTcz74EyblhBwzvo7He7A7tn6N2usoPc6mEskhY
2 https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/projects/uk-national-tree-seed-project
3 https://www.kew.org/wakehurst/whats-at-wakehurst/millennium-seed-bank