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' .

Windy Walk on Royston Heath

I walked across Royston Heath, through the Beechwoods and back along the edge of the golf course this morning admiring the winter trees and wind-swept clouds. As with my hunt for flowers in bloom in Toft on January 1st, I found only a single dandelion and small patches of Groundsel though the Hazel catkins are in full flower

 

Still No Hoverflies

Despite lots of sunshine today, still no sign of  hoverflies (or other flying insects) on a visit to Waresley (the wood is closed because of the wet conditions).

 

Toft Wood - Lichens, Catkins and Moss

Beautiful sunny day after early frost so a bit of photographic recording in our local wood - still intending to put together a book of the wood through the seasons.

 

 

 

Sign of Early Spring

Not surprisingly with the mild weather so far this winter, the hazels are already in full flower with the male catkins and the small female flowers. Image 2 is an in-camera focus stack. All our fields around Toft are waterlogged at the moment and the paths very muddy!!

Hardwick Wood Walk

I am still experimenting with my RX100 seeing how to get good macro shots etc - answer take lots of shots and one may be in focus or, better still, use a tripod!. The fields were very wet so the old caterpillar tractor could be put to good use at the moment. 

Hazel Flowering

Below images of the female and male Hazel flowers. The catkins in the bushes in our wood and hedgerows are at all different stages of flowering and led me to ponder how this diversity in flowering time is maintained in the populations. The male catkins release pollen before the red stigma flowers appear and so the latter are pollinated by adjacent bushes. It is obviously necessary for a wind-pollinated species where both sex flowers are produced on the same plant to prevent self-pollination.

Hazel Catkins

 It is great to see the Hazel catkins and female red flowers out in our Toft Wood.