On 10th May, we finally saw evidence of frog and/or toads breeding in the Trap Grounds again this year. Huge numbers of small blackTadpoles were shimmying about near the bank of the ‘Swan Pond’, at the point where the swans like to preen. I have also been keeping an eye on our new swan pair, […]
Today, an amusing sight: a Brimstone butterfly had alighted in the meadow opposite the school fence. While taking some photos of the brimstone, we witnessed a middle-sized Fly (not sure what kind!) suddenly alighting on the Brimstone’s wing! The butterfly hesitated, then opened its wings and flew off, the fly ‘fell off’ and flew away […]
Very attractive soft jelly-like brown fungi on dead mossy branches. Jelly Ear, maybe? (Julie Dyson, 22 December 2020)
Beautiful orange fungi about 7 feet up on a tree (I think a willow); about 2 – 3 inches across in size. I don’t know what species this is. (Julie Dyson, December 2020)
Found the Coltsfoot buds pushing up under last year’s fallen leaves in Polly’s Glade. So easy to miss these tiny brown beginnings of the bright yellow flowers. (Clare Weiner)
First coltsfoot flower about to open! Photographed today just off Frog Lane path (Julie Dyson, 10 March 2021)
This little bird is only 14 cm long, weighs 14-19g, and is about to make its way all the way back to tropical Africa for the winter. It is on the UK Conservation List as RED, so Nicola Devine was thrilled to see this one on 12 September 2020 (the only recorded sighting on the […]
There are 33 known species of dragonfly and damselfly in Oxfordshire – and we’ve got 22 of them on the Trap Grounds. The latest discovery, by Nicola Devine and Adam Hartley on 7 September 2020, and verified by the County Dragonfly Recorder, is the Willow Emerald damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis). On 10 September Nicola saw two […]
Judith Middleton captured this vista of Wild Carrot and Tufted Vetch in evening sunlight in late July.
Two (or three?) generations of our iconic legless lizard, photographed by Nicola Devine on 3 July.