Nicola has been photographing patterns on the TG recently. Can anyone identify any of these lichens? Linda Losito managed to identify this fungus as ‘Witches’ Butter’ (Tremella mesenterica), previously recorded on Shotover and at Radley Lakes.
Buzzard up to no good
This handsome (but not entirely welcome) Buzzard, photographed by Nicola Devine, was hanging around the Trap Grounds for long periods on 29 and 30 January, to the dismay of the smaller birds.
Slime Mould
Nicola Devine found this rare slime mould on the Trap Grounds on 25 January 2020. Only 5 previous records of Badhamia utricularis in Oxfordshire in the last 100 years, and only 2 records in the last 40 years, both around Shotover. Rufus the Frog Lane robin obligingly posed for the photo, to give an idea […]
Fly-past
Clare Weiner writes: This morning a Jay did a fly-past for us, showing off its beautiful pink and blue feathers, then hopped about in the grass feeding. We also saw the first snowdrops flowering in a sheltered spot beside the boardwalk (many more to follow in other places), and the Coltsfoot in Polly’s Glade and […]
Reed Buntings
Access to the Trap Grounds from the canal towpath is still denied while the resurfacing work continues. But Nicola has taken some lovely photos of Reed Buntings in the wildlife corridor immediately to the north of our site.
New Year’s Day
Winter Heliotrope in flower Clare Weiner writes: We spotted Winter Heliotrope flowering beside the path to the Bird Hide from the Boardwalk today – the first signs of flowers in the Trap Grounds this year! This plant, which grows in damp meadows and woodland, can be confused with the Butterbur, which also grows in profusion […]
New Year’s Day
Resurfacing work on the towpath has restricted our access to the Trap Grounds for nearly 8 weeks, but Nicola managed to get in via the back entrance today and was pleased to be greeted by Rufus, the Frog Lane robin, and by a member of ‘The Welcoming Committee’ consisting of Hedge Sparrows who shelter in […]
Fungi
It’s been a miserable month of rain and more rain. But at least the fungi like the damp conditions. Nicola photographed a clump of Straight Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta) on 9 November and described it as ‘like gothic spires on a hillside’. And a beautiful Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystine) on the same day.
Autumnal Sunshine
After three gloomy weeks of torrential rain, last month’s golden autumnal sunshine seems like a distant dream. But here, as a reminder of those bygone days, are Nicola’s photos of a Jay, a Grey Wagtail, and a Chiffchaff. (The level of the Mill Stream has risen by at least one metre since the Grey Wagtail […]
Ethel
Clare Weiner writes: Like many parents at this time of year, Ethel, the Trap Grounds swan, is preparing her offspring for independent adult life. She leaves the two cygnets alone on the water for increasing lengths of time, and will soon be teaching them to fly. Their wing feathers are well developed and (see photo) […]