Birds

28/02/23 I wandered around Area 1 at Chapel Green today. In the fields were 11 Common Gull , 15 Lapwing , 1 Egyptian Goose ,5 Redwing and 4 Canada Goose . Seen in Gorrck Plantation by Mark Collins were 2 Raven and 4 Rook . The Little Owl was also seen by Peter Kendall.

27/02/23 A Raven was seen with some display swooping, and a few quiet calls over Area 4 by Paul Bright-Thomas . In Area 1 at Chapel Green, 53 Lapwing 4 Linnett and a Little Owl were seen by Robert Godden.

25/02/23 A walk through Area's 4 & 5 this morning. Jay were very evident with at least 4 individuals seen. The birds are starting to sing again with Blackbird and Song Thrush the front runners . Robin is also in song . A flock of Blue Tit and Great Tit were feeding in the trees and very mobile. On one of the ponds by the weir pool a pair of Grey Wagtail were feeding. Heard calling were numerous Nuthatch and a male Great spotted Woodpecker was seen. 2 Siskin were seen in Area 10 at the Green Bridge by Trevor Guyatt.

24/02/23 2 Raven were seen together in the top of trees in the stand of Hemlock near the NW entrance of Gorrick Wood in Area 1 by Rick Dawson.Also heard were 2 Little Owl calling apparently from trees along the stream but neither seen.

21/02/23 A brief visit this afternoon to Area 10 a Grey Wagtail was feeding on the beach at the Dinton Activity Centre . A pair of Mallard were feeding on the Emm Brook and a Mistle Thrush was giving its rattling call from a tree on the Old Golf Course.

20/02/23 In the skies over Area 7A at Ashridge Meadows Skylark could be heard singing ,even above the constant background noise of the Motorway.

16/02/23 Roosting on the pontoon at the Dinton Pastures Activity Centre in Area 10 were 2 Oystercatcher seen by Tim James. In Area 1 at Chapel Green , Robert Godden saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeet , 4 Linnet , 25 Lapwing , 32 Common Gull and at least 25 Redwing .

14/02/23 At 16:20 a Little Owl was heard calling from trees at Chapel Green in Area 1 near Ludgrove School by Paul O'Neill.

12/02/23 Sitting on the ledge by Meadow Road Bridge in Area 4 was a Kingfisher seen by Malcolm Dunmore. The ever present and noisy Ring necked Parakeet were calling from the tree tops in Area 1.

10/02/23 The Barn Owl was seen at the entrance to its box by Dave Rimes. Photo courtesy of Dave Rimes. A Peregrine was seen in level flight low SW over Area 4 , scattering pigeons everywhere. By Paul Bright-Thomas.

09/02/23 Sitting on the bridge parapet on Toutley Road in Area 7A was a Little Egret seen by Bill Sheldon. 2 Barn Owl were seen leaving the box in the Wet Meadow in Area 10 by Nigel Hoult.

08/02/23 The Cattle Egret is still in Area 1 around Ludgrove and was easily visible today about 50m from the road to the School. It moves with the cattle. Photo courtesy of Andy Tomczynski.

06/02/23 A Cattle Egret was back by the cattle pens in Area 1 at Chapel Green , seen from road to Gorrick Wood by James Carson.

04/02/23 A Kingfisher was seen on a branch over the Ashridge Stream at Toutley Road bridge in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill.

03/02/23 Rick Dawson was in Area 1 today around Ludgrove and saw 44 Common Gull a Raven in a dead tree next to the cattle pens and the Cattle Egret was back on the edge of the copse East of cattle pens, seen from road to Gorrick Wood.

01/02/23 A bit of a disappointing lunchtime trip to Heathlake in Area 1 . Part of the lake was still frozen with 40 Black headed Gull standing on the ice with another 10 loafing in the water waiting for bread.2 Canada Goose were on the water with a pair of Tufted Duck , Moorhen , Coot , Mute Swan , Grey Heron and Mallard . Also in Area 1 but at Ludgrove School in the flooded field 7 Grey Heron were waiting for something. The Cattle Egret appears to have left the area after 5 days in residence in with the Cattle.

Insects

As you may have noticed its that time of year when Insects seem to disappear. Where do they go?, What do they do? Find the answers Where have the Insects gone? .

27/02/23 The current spell of cold evenings with predictions of more of the same is keeping the moth trap in the shed.

24/02/23 The moth trap was out between 17:00-24.00 in my Area 4 garden. Unfortunately not a single moth appeared in the trap. My first empty night of the month.

19/02/23 The moth trap was out between 17:00-24.00 in my Area 4 garden. Todays catch was 5 moths of 5 species in the trap . New for the year was the micro moth Tortricodes alternella . With 1 new moth species added to the 2023 FOTEB Moth list this brings the total to 8. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/02/23 With overnight temperatures in double figures, the moth trap was out between 17:00-24.00 in my Area 4 garden .However it only produced 2 moths of 2 species in the trap . New for the year was a Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi with an accompanying Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria 1 new moth species was added to the 2023 FOTEB Moth list , bringing the total to 7. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

13/02/23 The evening was a bit cooler than expected but the moth trap was out between 17:00-22.00 in my Area 4 garden. Another average catch for the time of the year with 4 moths of 4 species in the trap . New for the year were Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria and what I believe to be the micro Moth Agonopterix heracliana 2 new moth species were added to the 2023 FOTEB Moth list , bringing the total to 6. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

11/02/23 The mild weather was back so once again I put the moth trap out between 17:00-20.30 tonight in my Area 4 garden .A total of 6 moths of 3 species . They were a male Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia , 3 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria and 2 of The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii. No new moth species were added to the FOTEB Moth list . The total for 2023 stays at 4. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

02/02/23 Once again I put the moth trap out between 17:00-23.00 in my Area 4 garden.I was rewarded with just 2 moths . They were both male Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia The females of this species are completely wingless.The males are very variable. 1 new moth species was added to the 2023 FOTEB Moth list , bringing the total to 4. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/02/23 Another mild night so I put the moth trap out between 17:00-22.30 in my Area 4 garden .A total of 3 moths of 3 species were caught . They were Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria The females of this species are completely wingless.The males fly from January to March, searching for the females which have climbed up tree-trunks The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii and The Satellite Eupsilia transversa 2 new moth species were added to the FOTEB Moth list , bringing the total for 2023 to 3.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

21/02/23 In the woods in Area 10 by the Emm Brook Loddon Lily Leucojum aestivum are now putting on a fine display. The stunning white Loddon lilies are also dubbed 'summer snowflakes' or 'summer snowdrops' it thrives in damp habitats and alongside rivers.

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

Amphibians and Reptiles

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Mammals

26/02/23 Woken up again by a barking Red Fox Vulpes vulpes moving through Area 4, at 03:00.

20/02/23 The Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was heard barking again in Area 4, this time at 02:45.

01/02/23 In the early hours a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was heard calling in Area 4, waking me up.

Molluscs