Signs of spring at the Trap Grounds today – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Patterns
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 […]
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 25 February at St Margaret’s Institute, Polstead Road, north Oxford, 7.30 pm. Come and hear reports of what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months, and enjoy an illustrated talk about some of the most significant wildlife sightings, featuring Nicola Devine’s superb photographs.
Work Parties, Spring 2020
Please join us for any or all of the following sessions. Tools are provided. Please wear boots and old clothes. Children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult. Sunday 26 January, 10 am to 4 pm. Saturday 29 February, 2 pm to, 5 pm Saturday 21 March, 2 pm to 5 pm Saturday 4 […]
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 […]