We arrived at
Beachern car park in the pouring rain which thankfully stopped as we started
walking across the lawn in the direction of Beachern Wood. We observed a couple
of Swallows and several House Martins flying overhead. There were patches of Chamomile
and Lesser Trefoil growing in the lawn.
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| House Martin © Richard Smith |
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Lesser Skullcap © Richard Coomber
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Lesser Spearwort © Richard Coomber
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Walking
alongside an open damp ditch we observed many species of flowers: Lesser
Spearwort, Lesser Skullcap, Bog Pimpernel, Water Forget-me-not, white and
purple Marsh Thistle, Tormentil, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Eyebright, Marsh
St John’s-wort, Cross-leaved Heath, Bog Asphodel, Bog-myrtle and Water Mint. A
small red fungus grew in a patch alongside the damp area- Hygrocybe helobia.
We were lucky to see a family of Mistle Thrushes flitting around the adjacent
heath.
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| Hygrocybe helobia © Claire Kidger |
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| Mistle Thrush © Richard Smith |
As we made
our way towards Aldridge Enclosure to the east of the cottage at the woodland
boundary more flowers were observed: Common Cow-wheat, Yellow Pimpernel, bedstraw
sp. and Selfheal.
We watched Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies on the brambles. Crossing the
footbridge over Ober Water into the woodland on the east aspect of Aldridge
Hill we saw Hard Ferns growing along the bank. Beech trees were laden with Beech masts with
some small clumps of Foxgloves beneath the trees.
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| Green-veined White - female © Richard Coomber |
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Hard Ferns © Chris Robinson
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We tracked
along the edge of the woodland edge of Aldridgehill Inclosure to the south of
Ober Heath. Then the sun began to shine and Large Skipper butterflies fluttered
amongst the heathland plants. There were areas of Petty Whin growing within the
heather clusters. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the woodland and a
family of Stonechat’s seen on the Heath.
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| Intermediate Sundew © Chris Robinson |
We took a short break sitting on a fallen tree, with Sharp-flowered
rush, Intermediate Sundew and Marsh Pennywort growing at our feet. Silver Y moth was seen deeply
camouflaged on a dead branch. A small longhorn beetle dropped in for a snack!
It turned out to be White-clouded Longhorn Beetle Mesosa nebulosa.
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| Sharp-flowered Rush © Chris Robinson |
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| Silver Y - a migrant moth © Richard Smith |
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White-clouded Longhorn Beetle © Claire Kidger
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Making our
way back through the mixed woodland of Aldridege Hill Inclosure, and back onto
the lawn area of Whitefield Moor with Wild Thyme, Common Centaury, Harebells,
Yarrow and Red Clover. A charm of Goldfinches flew and perched on the Gorse
bushes.
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| Juvenile Goldfinch with Stonechats © Richard Smith |
Thank you
everyone for all your great observations. CK
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Our route
© Crown copyright 2023 Ordnance Survey.
Media 006/23.
The licence is valid until 31 December 2023 |
