Lichens Toft Wood

I 'upgraded' my android phone recently  (courtesy of eBay) as my previous one only had 32GB memory which was proving difficult to run the ID apps that are so useful for naturalists these days. Although still a 2019 model, this one has more memory and a much better camera so tried it out on some lichens in our local wood - the first four images including the first image which is two related species Lecidella elaeochroma and Lecanora chlarotera that are common on the ash tree trunks. Certainly the close up mode will be very useful for small specimens such as the minute Collembolids in a piece of rotten wood. The last four images are from the Lumix full-spectrum camera. The Hazel catkins are beginning to flower while the wood itself still looks very autumnal. 

ps. those who know Phil will be glad to hear he now has my old phone and so is officially 'Smart' .

Halloween and Autumn Colours

Yesterday was the annual carving of Pumpkins ready for this evening. Meredith chose a mouse for the second year running which is not the easiest design!!Sadie was more traditional. The leaves and fruits are fast disappearing from Toft Wood so a quick visit in the sunshine to record for this autumn.

? Hard Winter to Come

It is often stated that an abundance of berries and fruits in the autumn foretell a hard winter. However, despite a wealth of ancient folklore and proverbs linking a good year for berries with a hard winter ahead, there is no evidence that the two are connected. Probably it is a reflection of the statistical chance that these two events will occur in the same year as often as they do not. Certainly this year, in Toft Wood, there is a super harvest of Blackberries, Hawthorn and Apples though the Sloes and Dogwood berries are less evident possibly due to a late spring that favoured the flowering of the former group.

Marbled Whites and Southern Hawker Emergence Date

We recorded our first southern Hawker emergence from our pond and the first Marbled White in the wood meadow. This date 29th June is very close to the last two years - around 27th June; image taken with my phone so not great but a beautiful fresh male with creamy white and very dark brown markings. The garden has abundant Bombus hortorum at the moment

 

Spring Comes to Toft Wood

Yesterday for the first time I heard a Willow Warblers singing in Toft Wood and managed to photograph it in full song. The Woodland Trust has cut back quite a number of trees and bushes to widen the paths. On the walk round the fields back home, the view is now turning yellow with a lot of the oilseed rape in flower.

Frozen Lichens, Mosses and Leaves

Some further frosty images taken in Toft Wood.