Wildlife Blog 2022

Edited by Brian Fellows
in reverse chronological order


THURSDAY DECEMBER 15th 2022
Wildlife observations during work session
As I was walking down the gravel path by the river I spotted two Chiffchaffs busily feeding in the bushes by the path close to the S-bend in the river.   They were very active, but I managed to get quick a photo of one of them. Most Chiffchaffs are summer visitors to our country, but a few do overwinter here in the south of England. I have seen them before this winter in this location, so it’s worth keeping a look out for them when you pass.
I stopped to inspect the new disease resistant Ulmus-Lutece Elm tree which was planted on the west side of the centre meadow last week. It is a nice sturdy tree and is a valuable addition to the flora of Brook Meadow as well as helping to conserve this highly endangered species which has been so ravaged by Dutch Elm disease.
Ulmus lutece is a complex new Elm hybrid immune to Dutch Elm disease. It was tested for 20 years among diseased Elms in Bois de Vincennes, Paris with no losses. A total of 2,250 trees planted on the Isle of Wight have performed equally well.
I also had a look at the Oaks on the Seagull Lane patch which were planted in 2012 for the Queen’s diamond jubilee. The two which were damaged by this summer’s fire seem to have survived OK. The Oak I planted which retains its leaves overwinter looks particularly fine.  This is a process called marcescence.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 9 – 2022
Disease resistant Elm
We have a new tree on Brook Meadow – donated by Alan Phillips in memory of his wife Christine.   It is a disease resistant 4 year old Ulmus-Lutece Elm, 2.5m tall.   The tree was purchased from Frank Matthews Arboretum in Worcestershire who delivered and planted it in an open area on the west side of the centre meadow close to the main river path on 8th December. The Brook Meadow group considered this to be a welcome addition to the flora of the meadow as well as being a contribution to the preservation of this highly endangered species.

Alan and members of his family had a little remembrance ceremony the following day.

Thanks to Alan for the photos.


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19 – 2022
Mystery creatures
Malcolm Phillips sent me this photo of some strange looking creatures that he spotted in the river beneath the south bridge on Saturday.   After a bit of internet research I thought they looked like the remains of a Common Brittle Star which is a type of starfish usually found in rock pools near the coast. However, David Search provided what I am sure is the correct identification.   He says they are the remains of Ragworms (Nereis virons) or parts of a segmented polychaete worm that someone has discarded.  Ragworms are commonly used as a sea fishing bait.


THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17 – 2022
Wildlife observations during workday
Pam and Tony discovered a two foot Eel on the south path and managed to get it into the river. Eels do travel overland and this one may have been moving towards the river and no doubt appreciated a helping hand from our volunteers.
While they were digging out the wood chipping on the centre meadow, volunteers heard what was probably the call of our local juvenile Sparrowhawk which does often call from the tall trees in this area.
The ever vigilant Malcolm Phillips got a photo of a juvenile Firecrest near the south bridge – our first sighting of this rare bird on Brook Meadow this year. Well done Malcolm.
Malcolm also got a photo of a Moorhen carrying off a piece of apple which probably came from the Water Vole raft that Dan has moored near the south bridge.

There’s an attractive growth of the fungus called Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) on one of the tree stumps close to Frank’s seat.
I spotted a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) feeding on one of the remaining yellow flowers of Bristly Ox-tongue. This is one of the few hoverflies that can be seen all year round.  Photo below.
A few days ago I was surprised to come across a Holly Blue butterfly around the back of the Gwynne Johnson Rowan plantation. I don’t recall having seen a Holly Blue this late in the year. It over winters as a chrysalis.


TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 – 2022
Tree clearance
During my constitutional walk through Brook Meadow late morning, I came across three chaps from Cedar Tree Surgeons clearing away a large trunk of Sycamore that had fallen across the main path through Palmer’s Road Copse close to the observation fence. Fortunately, the tree had missed both the observation fence and nearby signcase, so no serious damage done. The workers did a good job in cutting up the main trunk into manageable logs as well as clearing debris that had fallen over the fence onto the river bank.

Where the offending trunk split off near the signcase
The observation fence is undamaged

Removing tree debris from the river bank

 


TUESDAY OCTOBER 18 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was such a pleasant autumn morning for a walk through the meadow. Starting in Palmer’s Road Copse, I stopped to admire a bunch of bright red Bittersweet berries on the observation fence. Pretty, but certainly not for tasting!
I also noticed several white fungal growths on a Crack Willow tree. I could not get close enough to examine them.
I stopped to admire our very grand Weeping Willow tree at the north end of the south meadow. It was planted by ex-volunteer Brian Boak in 2004 and was a fine tree it has become.
A Bumblebee was feeding on Dandelion flower.  I am not sure, but could have been a Queen Bombus terrestris which Bryan Pinchen says often start new nests in the autumn here in the South.
It was good to meet up with Malcolm whom I have not seen for a while.  He’s been a bit poorly, but is glad to get back on the meadow and . . .  he had a good day!   He showed me a photo he’d just taken of a Water Rail on the west bank of the river north of the S-bend. Water Rail is a regular winter visitor to the River Ems but this was our first sighting this  autumn. Malcolm also got a shot of a nice Red Admiral.

Jo Bray from the Bookends bookshop passed by  while I was talking to Malcolm. She was excited to show us both an excellent video clip on her phone of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on flowers.


TUESDAY OCTOBER 11 – 2022
Shaggy Parasol
On my walk through Brook Meadow this morning I came across a cluster of three mushrooms with pale cracked caps growing on the ground by the Seagull Lane gate. I think they are young examples of a fairly common fungus called Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes). In the early stages of its growth the caps are bun shaped with cracks in the skin, but later the cap expands and becomes convex. This fungus is easily mistaken for the edible Parasol mushroom but it is not wise to eat it.   The cap and stem turn orange red when cut. Although common this is a first for Brook Meadow!


MONDAY OCTOBER 3 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Leaves two young Oak trees on the Seagull Lane patch were badly burned in this summer’s fire. I trust they will not be serious damaged, particularly as the one I planted is one of them!

A Honey Bee was resting on the wooden handrail of the north bridge. Probably a drone from the nest in the tree just north of the bridge.
The red berries on the Rowan trees are still looking good,
Other plants to catch my eye included flowers on Common Comfrey, White Dead-nettle, Dandelion, Hogweed and Pepper-saxifrage. There’s still no sign of the Michaelmas Daisies on the east side of the Lumley area, but there’s plenty of buds.

The great mass of Butterbur leaves below the main seat contain a variety of colours and hues ranging from fresh green to dark reddish-brown.
A Small White (male) was the only butterfly I saw.
Walking up Victoria Road on my way to the meadow I always stop at the small bridge over the Westbrook Stream to have a look. Today I was rewarded with a nice view of a Kingfisher flying low over the stream going south. Kingfishers will be fairly common at this time of year as they move down to the coast and millponds from their breeding ground upstream.

Yesterday, I had a Sparrowhawk tearing a Feral Pigeon to pieces in my back garden. Awe inspiring to watch this powerful predator in action. A wonderful bird.  Probably a juvenile judging from the pale edges to its flight feathers.   It left some of the corpse uneaten which I think the local Fox must have taken later in the evening.


MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26 – 2022
Brook Meadow
On my walk through the meadow this morning I noted Red Clover still in flower.
A Speckled Wood butterfly was fluttering around on the edge of the Lumley area.
A blue bodied dragonfly flew past me without stopping – probably Migrant Hawker.

I was pleased to find a few Pepper-saxifrage plants standing tall on the east side of the Lumley area, one of which was still in flower!I captured a Syrphus ribesii hoverfly – feeding on an open flower of Perennial Sow-thistle, the latest of the yellow daisies to flower. This is a common autumnal hoverfly.
The Michaelmas Daisies on the east side of the Lumley area near the Lumley Stream are not yet in flower. They are late.
I met Malcolm on the meadow. He was not having much luck though he did catch a Common Lizard under one of the mats near the bug hotel.


SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25 – 2022
Bank Vole?
Nice autumnal morning for a walk through the meadow. I found a small dead mammal on the main river path. From its small size, snub nose, brownish coat and long tail my guess is Bank Vole. Our last sighting of Bank Vole on Brook Meadow was by Samantha Millington-Ringwood on 19-Feb-22 near the Gooseberry Cottage entrance from Lumley Road.


MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12 – 2022
Clouded Yellow
The patience and perseverance of Malcolm Phillips finally paid off yesterday with a sighting of a Clouded Yellow butterfly feeding on the freshly opened Michaelmas Daisies on the patch of land to the south of Gooseberry Cottage owned by Lillywhite’s Garage.   Although this area is not officially part of the Brook Meadow site, as it is adjacent to our site, I usually keep a record of any interesting wildlife sightings and this one certainly is interesting!
Michaelmas Daisies, that are so attractive to Clouded Yellow and other late flying butterflies, are always late to open on Brook Meadow on the east side of the Lumley area by the Lumley Stream – so hopefully the Clouded Yellow (or others?) will make its way to them also in the next couple of weeks or so.   Clouded Yellow has not been recorded on Brook Meadow since 2016.
I checked Lillywhite’s patch this morning and was pleased to find the Clouded Yellow still present, actively feeding among the Michaelmas Daisy flowers.
Clouded Yellow is a migratory butterfly from the Mediterranean area. Each year the offspring fly north through Europe to reach southern Britain in variable numbers – occasionally there is a big influx, rather like Painted Lady.   These migrants lay eggs which give rise to a single brood of autumn butterflies which is what we sometimes see on Brook Meadow. They are unable to survive British winters except in small numbers.

While on Brook Meadow this morning I also saw a Small Copper on the Lumley area and a Speckled Wood in Palmer’s Road Copse. Small Copper is a regular butterfly on Brook Meadow and can be seen in spring, summer and autumn, though usually only singly. Today’s insect was probably from the 3rd brood.

Yesterday, Malcolm also got a fine image of a mature male Southern Hawker.


SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a look along the Jubilee hedgerow on the west side of the Seagull Lane patch where I was pleased to find all three of our wild rose hips: Dog Rose, Sweetbriar with the long erect sepals and Field Rose with an elongated style.           

              Dog Rose                                                                  Sweetbriar Rose

     Field Rose

Along the north path I came across a growth of fungi at the base of an old Crack Willow on the river side of the path. The caps were soft and spongy and clearly had been out for some time as there was some damage. It had a rather sweet smelling aroma.  I am not ure of its identity.   Any help appreciated.

Here is a photo of the gills of a smaller sample of the fungus that I brought home. I gave this one to Dan for his opinion this afternoon when he delivered the signcase boards to me for the autumn update.


TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6 – 2022
Bracket fungi
I had a look at the cluster of bracket fungi with white edges growing on a old tree stump on the right hand side of the path leading down from the bottle banks in Palmer’s Road Car Park – as reported to me by Jennifer Rye.
They are a little away from the path edge, but are clearly visible. I think they are what are commonly known as Artist’s Fungus (Ganoderma applanatum). We have many records of them on Brook Meadow over the years, mostly on dead wood in Palmer’s Road Copse. They are very tough fungi and get their common name from the white underside of the caps which can be scratched with a sharp point to leave brown marks like artistic images.


SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4 – 2022
Wildlife observations during workday
Malcolm Phillips was on the meadow this morning wielding his trusty camera, but with little effect as he could not find any butterflies, just bees and Ladybirds. However, he did spot a small Common Blue butterfly with pure pale blue upper wings and a white fringe on southern circle on the north meadow – a very nice looking insect. This small area has a variety of wild flowers attractive to late flying butterflies.
A couple of weeks ago Malcolm got our first (and only) Painted Lady of the summer. There’s still no sign of Clouded Yellow which we are still waiting for.
I checked the two Oak trees on the Seagull Lane patch which had been scorched by the grass fire we had during the very hot weather a couple of weeks ago. Both trees have been badly affected with many burnt leaves on the lower branches, but there’s plenty of green leaves on the upper branches. Brian’s Oak is less affected than the Mayor’s Oak which looks in a rather sorry state. I trust both trees will recover in time.

Looking along the hedgerow on the western edge of the Seagull Lane patch I was pleased to discover hips with long sepals belonging to the rose Sweetbriar. There are also some hips of Dog Rose without sepals.

Using my microscope I examined the stems and leaves of the Sweetbriar where I found many stalked glands which emit the sweet apple scent that this plant is noted for.

THURSDAY AUGUST 11 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Pepper-saxifrage – I thought we had lost this valuable plant, but Colin Brotherston found a single plant in the usual spot in the north-east corner of the Lumley area. I had a look at it and noted it has some flower heads yet to open fully.

The group need to manage this area to help it grow and flourish, maybe by mowing the area fairly regularly from spring until early until the summer to prevent competing plants smothering it out.

Marsh Woundwort – is another plant that needs some help.  There’s no advance on the 7 plants that I recorded a week ago. It’s a very poor year for this attractive and interesting plant. Maybe this area needs closer management also to help this struggling plant.
Hoary Ragwort is now in full flower and certainly needs no help from the group.  I have not seen any Cinnabar caterpillars this season.
I have not seen any Common Ragwort on the meadow this summer.  Has anyone?

Juvenile Sparrowhawk – was still calling from Lumley copse

Southern Hawker (male) – is still about on the south meadow and will come close to inspect you.


FRIDAY AUGUST 5 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a morning walk on Brook Meadow starting at Palmer’s Road Copse where I inspected the kid’s camp on the river bank along with lots of rubbish in the river including a shopping trolley.
I saw two Common Darters over the river and two Speckled Wood butterflies in the copse. In fact, I saw several more Speckled Woods on the main meadow; they seem to be doing well this summer. I saw little else on the butterfly front but for Whites.
I heard what sounded like a Sparrowhawk calling several times from the Lumley copse during my walk. I think they may be nesting in the copse.

Southern Hawker
On the path from Palmer’s Road Car Park towards the south bridge I had a David Attenborough type encounter with mature male Southern Hawker dragonfly which hovered in the air no more than 12 inches away from where I was standing.   The insect remained steady in midair for a good 15 seconds during which time we looked at one another with seemingly direct eye contact.  This was not quite up to David’s Gorillas but was good enough for me!   I have had similar experiences with this dragonfly in the past which has a delightful habit of flying and hovering close to inspect you before returning to its regular beat which it did in this instance.   I did not have my camera ready but here’s a shot of a Southern Hawker in flight that a photographer friend of mine captured a few years ago.
Flowers
On the flower front, the tiny white flowers of Gipsywort are now showing on the west bank of the river and Stone Parsley by the south gate.
There’s a large area of Water Mint in the south east corner of the south meadow, all in flower and smelling great.
I seem to be seeing more bright red berries of Lords and Ladies around the meadow this summer.

I could only find 6 flowering spikes of Marsh Woundwort at the north end of the Bramble path in the south meadow. Last year I counted 97, but there’s still time for more to emerge.
There’s no sign of any Pepper-saxifrage in the usual spot on the east side of the wet Lumley area. Sadly, I fear we may have lost this interest meadow indicator.
But my spirits were lifted by the sight of some Amphibious Bistort in flower on the northern section of the path round the Lumley area.
This plant is fairly abundant on Brook Meadow, but rarely flowers – the last one I recorded was in 2016. There are, in fact, two forms of Amphibious Bistort: the terrestrial form which we have here on Brook Meadow which is much less floriferous than the aquatic one which grows in water – there used to be lots of this form around the lake at Petersfield.


THURSDAY AUGUST 4 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Malcolm Phillips has been busy over the past couple of days snapping some interesting insects.
The best was a Red-belted Clearwing Moth (Synanthedon myopaeformis) – a first for Brook Meadow and listed as ‘Nationally Scarce B’ by Butterfly Conservation.  They fly during the day, but are not often seen. The larvae feed on fruit trees.
Other insects of interest were
Ichneumon Wasp (Pimpla rufipes) – first recorded on Brook Meadow since 2017
Mint Moth – seen on Brook Meadow in most summers as well as in gardens.

Inane Hoverfly (Volucella inanis) – fairly common on the meadow.
Common Darter (male) first of the summer on Brook Meadow.  A common dragonfly.

Malcolm also found a kid’s camp with rubbish in the river north of the south bridge which will need clearing up.


THURSDAY JULY 28 – 2022
A rare moth
As I was walking through the south meadow early this afternoon, I happened to spot what looked like a Comma butterfly in flight close to the signcase. When it came to rest on some nettles I was surprised to see it had black and white striped wings. I got a quick photo before it flew off again revealing orange hind wings.   Clearly it was a moth and not a butterfly but not one I had seen before.   A little research indicated that it was a Jersey Tiger Moth which Brock (p.304) describes as ‘Rare, resident in parts of Devon Cornwall and Dorset and the Isle of Wight, otherwise a rare migrant’. It is certainly a first for Brook Meadow.
They fly on warm days from mid-July to September visiting flowers such as Buddleja. The caterpillars feed on various plants including Common Nettle, Hemp Agrimony, White Dead-nettle and Bramble all of which we have in abundance on Brook Meadow. Butterfly Conservation confirms it as ‘nationally scarce’. How exciting. Has anyone else seen one?

Brown Rat
It was good to meet Malcolm Phillips on the meadow today and good to see him looking so well.   Malcolm is a vigilant watcher and photographer of wildlife on Brook Meadow and regularly sends me photos. Today’s images included a Brown Rat, near and in the river.   I am including these images in this blog as a caution for observers to take care not to misidentify a rat as a Water Vole – of which we do not have any recent sightings as yet.
Just look at those prominent ears and the pointed snout.


WEDNESDAY JULY 27 – 2022
Brook Meadow – annual cut
It was so good to see Martin Cull back on Brook Meadow to carry out the annual cut of the grassland. Martin was met by Colin at the Lumley gate who outlined the areas of the meadow to be cut.
Brian had his traditional photo taken with Martin next to his sturdy red tractor.  We go back many years.   We used to be roughly the same height, but I am shrinking – or maybe Martin is getting taller?  Martin and his father Brian Cull before him have been doing this valuable job for Brook Meadow for the past 20 or so years. Thanks for all the excellent work.
Before he started Martin needed to trim back some of the trees that were overhanging the route to the cuttings dump.
Colin asked Martin to set the cutting blades higher than usual to avoid damaging the reptiles that we have recently had translocated onto the meadow from a building development site at Warsash.
I enjoyed sitting on the main seat watching Martin cutting the centre meadow. Here’s a video I did from the main seat of Martin at work . . .

While I was sitting there Tricia and Patsy passed by. Patsy was having some difficulty identifying the brown butterflies for her butterfly survey. Pam stopped for a little chat.

I returned in the afternoon as Martin was completing the cutting of the north meadow.  Looks very good.

Here is Martin leaving by the Lumley gate – see you next year!
Colin locks the gate after him
Wildlife observations
Chiffchaff was calling sweetly from the east side of the south meadow.
Water Mint is now in flower and smelling good.
Colin drew my attention to a very tame young bird flitting around on the main north west path. I followed it for a while during which time it flew into a nearby tree. I am fairly sure it is a juvenile Robin.
Colin and I stopped to examine the Bramble bushes on the north side of the Lumley area which looked in not good health. The flowers were brown and wizened with no sign of fruit. This is quite different from the large juice Blackberries on the Himalayan Giant brambles on the far north meadow.  Does anyone know what the problem might be?
Finally, I was puzzled by a discarded packet labelled ‘Original Shark Teeth Grinder No 1′ which I found in the ‘play area’ on the north meadow. I had no idea what this was so looked it up on the internet. This indicated to my great surprise that it was a small gadget used for breaking down cannabis into small bits for use in joints. Well, well, whatever goes on in our special children’s play area!


MONDAY JULY 25 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had two walks through Brook Meadow – first this morning while returning home after delivering my car to Lillywhite’s Garage for MOT and service and secondly again this afternoon from home to Lillywhite’s to collect the car.
I noticed that the handrail from the main seat down to the south meadow is wobbly due to one of the posts having rotted.   It needs attention.
The first Hoary Ragwort is in flower on the north side of the Lumley area. This is always one of the latest plants to flower. There will be lots more in the next week or so.
Strawberry Clover is barely hanging on along the edge of the path round the Lumley area, close to the Michaelmas Daisies.   I found just a few fruiting heads.
However, there’s no sign of Pepper-saxifrage which is another rare plant in danger on the east side of the Lumley area. I fear we may have lost it.
In sharp contrast there are masses of red berries on the Rowans on the east side of north meadow. Good for wintering birds.

Best of all was the first Marsh Woundwort in the usual spot below the weeping Willow on the south meadow.  Only one flower spike.  Hope for more

The nest of Honey Bees in the large Crack Willow tree to the north of the north bridge is very active with hundreds of bees flying around.  Does anyone know why they might be doing this?

Colin received a photo of a tall Hogweed on the south meadow from a visitor who thought it might be Giant Hogweed.   Giant Hogweed is a toxic plant which would not be welcome on the meadow where the public might come into contact with it.   However, I am pretty sure this is simply a tall example of common Hogweed which can grow up to 3 metres.   In contrast Giant Hogweed is an absolute monster – growing up to 6 metres.
Giant Hogweed has never been recorded on Brook Meadow or anywhere else locally to my knowledge. However, I decided to check the Hogweeds today just in case. In fact, there are several very tall common Hogweeds on the south meadow, but no Giant Hogweed. There are also several very tall Hogweeds on the east side of the north meadow. Here’s a good example of a tall Hogweed.


FRIDAY JULY 22 – 2022
Little Meadow
I had a walk round the new Little Meadow grassland reserve on the north of Emsworth Recreation Ground for the first time since the death of Malinda Griffin its founder member. Malinda worked hard to get this project off the ground and was so looking forward to it development. Sadly, it was not to be.  But Malinda was very much in my thoughts as I walked round the reserve today.
I am pleased to hear that her husband Tom is keen that the Friends of Little Meadow project should not falter and wants to support it where he can.  It’s good that Anne Sayer who was one of the original members of the Little Meadow group has agreed to become the main contact for the project for the time being. Thank you Anne.

Here’s my report from this afternoon’s visit to Little Meadow.
There has been damage to the new fencing. Three posts have been yanked out on the north section and another post removed in the south west corner.

Acorns are now forming on the large Oak trees on the eastern edge of the site and conkers are also starting to ripen on the single Horse Chestnut tree.  That would have pleased Malinda.

Most of the grasses have succumbed to the dry weather and extreme temperatures of the past week or so, but the panicles of Smaller Cat’s-tail (Phleum bertolonii) are still remarkably showing well around the area.  This interesting and under recorded grass is a real feature of this new grassland.

Perennial Ryegrass is the only other grass with fresh inflorescence.  The patch of Meadow Barley near the southern fence has largely gone over along with other common grasses, including Sweet Vernal Grass, Yorkshire Fog and Creeping Bent.
Several White Poplar suckers from the are emerging on the west side of the meadow.
I noted a few wild flowers including Yarrow, Creeping Thistle and Spear Thistle.  Others were off the main site, including Great Willowherb near the northern fence and Common Ragwort and Common Knapweed near the Blackthorn to the west.
Several Meadow Browns were flying low over the grassland. I also spotted one Gatekeeper.


THURSDAY JULY 21 – 2022
Wildlife observations during work session
While the group assembled at the tool store I spotted a couple of bright red berries on stalks on the edge of the path leading to the store which I had not noticed before. One possibility is a rather stunted Lords and Ladies or maybe Stinking Iris?
Also close to the tool store the two new Greater Burdock plants are in flower and attracting Bumblebees. Greater Burdock is characterised by having a cluster of flower heads at the top of the stem, whereas Lesser Burdock, of which there are several nearby, has its flower heads arranged at different levels up the stem.

Stinking Iris?                                           Greater Burdock

Mystery red berries solved by Steve Hooper.  They are Lords and Ladies!!
Here is Steve’s solution in his words.  Good detective work!!
The first thing I noticed when I checked the blog just now was the photo of the single red berries on long stems. While doing some tidying up in the garden yesterday morning I found several identical stems, mostly with only one or two red berries on, but some completely bare. I was pretty sure that they were Lords and Ladies, but dug one up to be certain and found the tell-tale tuber several inches down. I had never seen any like this here before (they usually have about 20 – 30 berries on each stem) so when I’d finished I transferred a stem full of berries from another part of the garden to where I’d dug up the original plant, and went out again after dark to see if I could find the culprit. Sure enough, it turned out to be a mottled dull green Slug, about two inches long, which was quite happily munching it’s way through the berries. It’s been so dry here lately that I assume it was looking for a source of moisture as well as food.

Acorns are forming well on the young Oaks on the Seagull Lane patch. It looks like a good year.
While on the Seagull Lane patch I noticed that the bark of the Red Oak had scratches, presumably by some animal sharpening its claws. Could this be a cat or maybe a Red Fox?
Mugwort is now in flower at the western end of the north bridge. This is an aromatic plant which only grows at this spot on Brook Meadow.
Several volunteers asked about the red galls which are now prominent on the leaves of Crack Willow trees. These galls are produced by a Sawfly called Pontania proxima. The female insect inserts an egg into the leaf tissue where it hatches and eats the soft leaf tissue. It is this that stimulates the leaf to produce a bean-shaped gall, which starts as green, but gradually turns red. It is smooth with a thick wall and protrudes from upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. A single larva feeds in the cavity of each gall. They do not harm the tree.
I checked the reptile mats by the bug hotel on the north meadow with Dan and Reg, but found only a single Slow-worm under the left side mat. I have not seen the Grass-snake for several weeks.

We stopped to admire (and taste) the ripening crop of Blackberries on the brambles near the bug hotel. Still a little sharp to the taste, but it looks like a very good crop.
The far north of the north meadow is covered with a forest of Bristly Ox-tongue flowers, up to 6 foot tall.
Hemp Agrimony is now in flower near the curved river wall in the far north-east corner of the north meadow.
I stopped several times to admire the Timothy grasses which are widespread over the meadow and in full flower showing anthers.
Our patch of Giant Fescue grass is also in full flower and showing well at the southern end of the north eastern path.

Timothy                                            Giant Fescue

There was not much in the way of butterflies on the meadow today, but I did manage to capture an image of this female Large White. Only the female has spots on its upper wings.
Finally, yesterday, Malcolm Phillips got a fine image of a Broad-bodied Chaser. This dragonfly is regular on Brook Meadow, but not at all common.

Large White (female)                                      Broad-bodied Chaser (female)

Water Vole News
Dan reported to the group that he had seen a Water Vole swimming in Peter Pond near Gooseberry Cottage a couple of days ago. This is good news as the Lumley Stream runs into Peter Pond and so we could have some returning to the Brook Meadow site.
Dan also reported that Sarah Hughes confirmed that the Water Vole poo, which he collected from the feeding raft by the South Bridge is definitely the real deal. The camera there is up and running so we should get some good photos hopefully. Well done Dan. Keep up the good work.


THURSDAY JULY 14 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Another very hot day so my stay on Brook Meadow this morning was fairly brief with frequent stops in shady spots.
It was good to meet up with Jo Bray from the Bookends bookshop in Emsworth who was walking through the meadow on her way to work. She showed me several butterfly photos on her phone that she had got from various locations. We commented on the relative absence of birdsong though I did later hear a very loud Blackcap on the Seagull Lane patch.

While on the Seagull Lane patch I noted acorns developing well on the young Oak trees and flower buds clustering at the top of the stems on the new Greater Burdock plants near the tool store.

I met Malcolm Phillips who told me the sad news of the death of his brother’s wife after a long illness.   Mrs Christine Phillips was well known locally for the play/nursery school that she managed first in Horndean Road and then in Westbourne Church Hall for 40 years. All four of the Fellows children had a good start and grounding at her excellent little school. Thank you Christine.

Malcolm and I watched and pursued a Common Blue and a very active Small Skipper on the southern mown circle.  He also got a male Brimstone earlier on. This will be one of the summer brood from butterflies over wintering.

Malcolm captured one of the local Blackbirds feasting on the glut of red Rowan berries on the Gwynne Johnson plantation. I wonder if they will last into the winter?
Purple Hairstreak
I have saved Malcolm’s best photo until the end  – a Purple Hairstreak which is a real rarity on Brook Meadow!   This was only the second ever Purple Hairstreak recorded on the meadow, the first also by Malcolm was on 22-July-2013.   Although this butterfly gets its name from the inky purple upper wings, the adult spends most of its life perched with wings closed as in Malcolm’s photo.   The underwings are silver grey with a white streak and a single black-pupilled orange eye beside the tail.
Purple Hairstreak is mainly associated with Oak trees on which its larva feeds.   The adults feed mainly on honey-dew, obtained from Oaks and other trees and are not easy to see as they spend a lot of time feeding high up in tree canopies. But, in very hot weather, like we have been experiencing recently, adults will descend to seek moisture from the ground, which might account for the one that Malcolm found today.   There may be others around, so keep a look out. Good work Malcolm!


SATURDAY JULY 9 – 2022
Rare sedge?
I happened to meet Katherine a locally based ecologist walking her dog on the meadow this morning. I have met Katherine several times before on the meadow and am aware of her interest in grasses and sedges.   Today she was particularly keen to tell me about a possible rare sedge that she had discovered on the Lumley area. She has sent a specimen of this sedge to Mike Porter, the BSBI’s national recorder of sedges, who apparently thought it could be quite a rare hybrid!
I asked Katherine to show me where she found the sedges and she took me to an area on the eastern side of the Lumley area.   Despite the rampant growth of vegetation she managed to find two examples of the sedge in question. Both looked to me like worn specimens of Divided Sedge (Carex divisa) with missing bracts. They were both from the area where Divided Sedge grows abundantly in spring and early summer.
One of the specimens was about 80cm in height which is the maximum for Divided Sedge listed in BSBI Handbook p.90.   When I examined the inflorescences of the samples under the microscope I could clearly see the remains of a lower bract on each, in one case it had snapped off.  Now, although these photos suggest that the sedges are Divided Sedge, we shall need to wait for the verdict of Mike Porter as to whether they are rare hybrids and if so why.
Note: in my copy of the BSBI Handbook of Sedges (1982) it says for Divided Sedge (Carex divisa) ‘no hybrids have been confirmed’.   However, the book was published 40 years ago, so things may have changed.


THURSDAY JULY 7 – 2022
Little Meadow
This morning my wife and I had a very pleasant stroll around the new ‘rewilding’ grassland meadow on the north of Emsworth Recreation Ground. How exciting it is to see grasses coming to life and flowering, after having been closely mown and stunted for many years in the Recreation Ground cutting schedule.  Here’s a view of the new meadow from one of the seats looking west.
Currently, many of the grasses on Little Meadow are past their best, including Yorkshire Fog and Sweet Vernal Grass. However, it was good to see lots of Smaller Cat’s-tail (Phleum bertolonii) in full flower with anthers. Smaller Cat’s-tail is not easy to separate from Timothy apart from size, being overall much smaller than Timothy, but I am fairly happy with the identification. Seeing lots of it growing on one site gives me extra reassurance. Smaller Cat’s-tail also prefers the shorter thinner vegetation as on the Recreation Ground, whereas Timothy prefers heavier more fertile soils as on Brook Meadow. Smaller Cat’s-tail does not grow on Brook Meadow, whereas Timothy is abundant.
Smaller Cat’s-tail on Little Meadow          Timothy on Brook Meadow

My best grass of the morning was a large patch of Meadow Barley (Hordeum secalinum) growing on the southern section of the site near to the bowling club fence.   I often used to find small amounts of Meadow Barley on the Recreation Ground when it was part of the Emsworth Waysides scheme, and before the new grassland was set up, so I was pleased to see it had survived! Meadow Barley is a rare grass on Brook Meadow and I spend many hours each year looking for it. I have yet to find any so far this year so today’s discovery was specially welcome!
                                       Meadow Barley on Little Meadow
Finally, we were pleased to sit down on one of the two seats on the new grassland site beneath the mature Oaks and look across the new emerging grassland, imaging what it might look like in 5 or 10 years time.

PS We spoke to two other visitors to Little Meadow while we were there, both local, one with a dog. Both expressed their appreciation of the new project, in allowing grasses to grow to their natural maturity and so enhancing the wildlife value of the site.

Brook Meadow
Meanwhile over on Brook Meadow Malcolm Phillips got photos our first Gatekeepers of the year. Well done Malcolm. That takes the total number of butterfly species recorded on Brook Meadow this year to 20. Shall we get a Clouded Yellow I wonder?


TUESDAY JULY 5 – 2022
Hollybank Woods
This morning Jean and I had a short but very pleasant walk through Hollybank Woods from the north entrance, having crossed the very busy Emsworth Common Road from the parking bay on the other side of the road. Someone’s going to get killed crossing here!   We used to be able to park on the same side of the road as the entrance.

We walked down the main centre path where Sweet Chestnut trees were decorated with their attractive long yellow male catkins and Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were singing.
The tiny white flowers of Enchanter’s Nightshade showed up well against the dark leaves along the edge of the path.
There is also a good growth of False Brome grass along with some Spiked Sedge (rarely seen on Brook Meadow).

We turned right into the old Holly Lodge clearing where I was delighted to see my first ‘rugby-shirted’  Cinnabar caterpillars of the year savaging a tuft of Common Ragwort. There must have been a good 50 of them on this one unfortunate plant. Now let’s hope some Cinnabars find their way onto Brook Meadow where we have an excellent crop of  Hoary Ragwort.
We walked on a little way to check on the wild Lily of the Valley enclosure, just leaves no flowers.


SUNDAY JULY 3 – 2022
Wildlife observations during workday
Flower buds are now developing on the Greater Burdock plants near the tool store. These plants have been partly buried over the winter period by bags of gravel, so it is good to see they have survived. I rescued them as seeds from the threatened development housing site at the end of the Washington Road path.
I checked the reptile mats by the bug hotel. Just one Slow-worm on the left side mat, nothing on the right side mat.
Colin and I went down to the south east corner of the south meadow to have a look at the exceptional growth of Black Bent-grass (Agrostis gigantea). The best I have ever seen on Brook Meadow. Here’s Colin holding a plant to show its height.
There are also several patches of Creeping Bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera) in flower around the meadow. This grass has such lovely delicate inflorescences, one of my favourites. Bents always flower later than most other grasses.
Neil commented on the exceptional number of Ringlet butterflies on Brook Meadow this summer, almost outnumbering Meadow Browns. I agree, they are quite exceptional.   Brook Meadow is an ideal habitat for Ringlets for its rich variety of coarse grasses, including Cocksfoot, on which its caterpillars feed.
It’s easy to mix up Ringlets and Meadow Browns, which look very much alike when flying low over the grasses.   Ringlets are generally much darker brown Meadow Browns which vary a lot from light brown to dark.   When settled with closed wings Ringlets show a characteristic pattern of eyes or ringlets.
Dave Mead came through the meadow during the work session with his Portsmouth RSPB group (including Ros Norton).  They reported all was quiet on the bird front!

Malcolm Phillips was also on Brook Meadow today wielding his trusty camera. He had some interesting insects including the following: .
Common Red Soldier Beetle – aka the ‘bonking beetle’ – a very common beetle of mid summer on Brook Meadow – often seen feeding and mating on large umbellifers.  They have not really got into the mating swing as yet.
Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle – A very striking black and yellow beetle. Fairly common on Brook Meadow in summer. Malcolm’s was the first this year.  Its scientific name has changed from Strangalia maculata to Rutpela maculata.

Pimpla rufipes – This is an ichneumon fly (wasp) with no common name. Last sighting on Brook Meadow in 2017.


FRIDAY JULY 1 – 2022
Brook Meadow
During my walk on the meadow this morning I saw several Skippers. Here’s a Small Skipper feeding on Selfheal on the south mown circle and a Large Skipper inside a Bindweed trumpet.

I was surprised/delighted to see a bright yellow Brimstone butterfly flying strongly over the Lumley area. This must be the first of the summer brood emerging earlier than usual. It did not stop for a photo!
The yellow daisy-like flowers on the south mown circle are Smooth Hawk’s-beard – the only place they grow on Brook Meadow as far as I am aware.

Malcolm was on the meadow today and got a couple of nice photos: Peacock butterfly and a family of Long-tailed Tits. .

The silver car is still parked at the end of Seagull Lane blocking the gate to Brook Meadow. I happened to arrive just as the traffic warden was placing a second penalty notice on the car’s windscreen. She told me the car was taxed and MOT-ed so there was nothing else she could do. However, the police were aware of it. I had a peak through the back window where I saw a helmet and headphones on the back seat along with a Johnny Cash CD and a bag on the floor – almost as if someone had just parked it there and gone for a walk! Strange.

Grey Wagtail nesting
I often see a pair of Grey Wagtails near the Westbrook Stream where it passes under Victoria Road.   On the way home today, I stopped to watch the pair on the roof of a house adjacent to the stream.   They were calling and carrying food in their beaks presumably for nestlings. I suspect they were aware of my presence, so I just took a photo and a video and left them to it. I think the nest is in a hole in the wall of the stream.
Here’s a video clip of the Grey Wagtails on the roof, calling.


WEDNESDAY JUNE 29 – 2022
Brook Meadow
A silver car has been parked at the bottom of Seagull Lane for several days blocking the entrance to Brook Meadow.   This morning a traffic warden was there putting a penalty notice on the windscreen.   Two workers from Artec told me it was nothing to do with them and they had informed the police. Possibly stolen vehicle?
On the bird front it was particularly good to hear a Greenfinch churring from trees behind the play area. A rare bird these days.
Blackcap was still singing nicely in the north west corner of the north meadow.
Stock Dove was calling/singing from Palmer’s Road Copse. I think we have two singing male on the meadow. There’s another in the north-east corner of the north meadow.

I checked the two mats by the bug hotel. Found Slow-worms under each, but nothing else.

As for butterflies, Meadow Browns and Ringlets were numerous on the north meadow, but there’s still no sign of Gatekeeper. This Ringlet rested with open wings for a change.
There’s an excellent growth of Jointed Rush (Juncus articulatus) on the southern mown circle on the north meadow – the best anywhere on the meadow.   Selfheal is also flowering well in this area.
Note: Maybe best not to cut this area for a while as plants are starting to flower.

I walked through the main orchid area keeping to the casual path to avoid treading on any orchids. Most of the Southern Marsh Orchids are now going to seed, though some spikes are still in full flower.

I spotted a Bee Orchid with 4 flowers – not easy to find.  No problem finding the bright red flower heads of Great Burnet which stand tall.

There’s no sign of any Cinnabar caterpillars on the Hoary Ragwort plants.
Meadowsweet is flowering well around the main orchid area.
The bright pink flowers of Great Willowherb will soon be widespread.

Group of Timothy by the path through the centre meadow.
On the causeway, berries are ripening on the Alder Buckthorn and cherries are hanging on the Cherry Plum tree, edible, but a bit sharp for my taste.

I found a dozy Tree Bumblebee (B. hypnorum) ? on one of the large Butterbur leaves.
Walking up Lumley Road I noted Nipplewort and Feverfew in flower and a small amount of False Brome grass up by Rose cottage. It’s rare on Brook Meadow, but we have more on the north path on the main meadow.


TUESDAY JUNE 28 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Dan and I had a mooch around the meadow this morning mainly looking at grasses.
We found a good crop of Creeping Bent on the centre meadow which has just started flowering. We admired its delicate tree-like inflorescence.   Then we went down to the south east corner where Dan got a sample of the abundant Black Bent-grass for his handbook.
Back through the meadow to get samples of Meadow Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass and the Hybrid between them – for his book.  Here are the samples.
We checked the mats by the bug hotel but only found Slow-worms. We had a sit down together on the new seat in the play area. Very nice too.
On the butterfly front I got both Large Skipper and Small Skipper, the latter for the first time this year.

That brings the total number of butterfly species recorded so far this year on Brook Meadow to 19.   We are still waiting for Gatekeeper.


MONDAY JUNE 27 – 2022
Westbourne fields
I decided on a slightly different route for my morning walk – I went along the Seagull Lane path to the fields behind Westbourne Avenue leading to Westbourne.

It was a real surprise to see the first field on the way to Westbourne completely covered in  Common Ragwort. I have never seen this plant so abundant. The field had been clearly been recently grazed by cattle as there was hardly a blade of grass to be seen and there were many fairly fresh cow pats.   However, the Ragwort was totally untouched as were the Thistles. If anyone has any doubts that cattle avoid eating fresh Ragwort then they should have a look at these fields.   Ragwort is only dangerous if it is fed to animals in a hay cut.
I did not see any sign of Cinnabar caterpillars which usually feast on these plants.  Common Ragwort is rare on Brook Meadow! Maybe some seeds will spread here.
The subway under the main A27 road has lots of graffiti, but the lights are out so one could not see it well. But generally it looked very unimaginative in comparison with the rural scenes created by the last graffiti artist.

On the way along the path from the end of Seagull Lane, I noted the first Bristly Ox-tongue and Spear Thistle flowers.

Brook Meadow
Meanwhile Malcolm was on the prowl with his camera on the meadow and got the following photos: a Wren, a Song Thrush eating a snail on the main path and a very bright Comma.


SATURDAY JUNE 25 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a late afternoon walk through the meadow from the Seagull Lane entrance down to the south meadow and through Palmer’s Road Copse.
On the way up Victoria Road from home I noticed Maidenhair Spleenwort fern growing on the front garden wall of a house. Good to see.  Walls are such interesting habitats.
The first Creeping Thistle is in flower on Brook Meadow with lots more to come.  It’s a great late nectar source for insects.
Best sighting of the day by far was an excellent crop of Black Bent-grass (Agrostis gigantea) in the far south east corner of the south meadow – the best I have ever seen on Brook Meadow. The grasses have silvery inflorescences and stand tall above the tangle of other vegetation, so they are easy to see and identify.   Plenty here for Dan’s Flora Handbook.

There’s also some Black Bent-grass  along the Bramble path, but, I have yet to find any Creeping Bent on the meadow!  It is always the last grass to flower.
Spear-leaved Orache is flourishing to the right of the signcase near the south gate.
A Brown Rat ran across my path through the south meadow.
Finally, Enchanter’s Nightshade is flowering along the path through Palmer’s Road Copse.


FRIDAY JUNE 24 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Grass-snake
On my visit to Brook Meadow today I was interested to check the reptile mats near the bug hotel following Christine Pilkington’s sighting of a possible Barred Grass-snake yesterday. Under the right side mat I found what is almost certainly the same Grass-snake that I saw on June 20.

Like that one it remained for a few seconds after the mat had been lifted and then moved quickly away.   I managed to get some photos and a video before it moved off. It certainly looked like a Common Grass-snake to me with dark body and a few bars on the flanks and a distinct yellow collar.

Both mats had at least two Slow-worms underneath which did not move when I lifted the mat.

Neil Botterill clarified the situation regarding the classification of Grass-snakes as follows:
Natrix Natrix, common name Grass-snake, is the European grass snake.
We often refer to ours in UK as this but technically should be Natrix Natrix Helvetica, or the British Grass-snake, a sub species of the European cousins.
However due to new mitochondrial DNA tests they’ve been reclassified as a species, rather than a sub species. So now all Grass-snakes in the UK are Natrix Helvetica, it’s a new name. Same old snakes. I like to think it’s our snakes being genetically sensitive of Brexit!
More info . . . https://www.arc-trust.org/grass-snake

Other observations
Buddlejas in flower outside the Seagull Lane gate and at the north end of the Seagull Lane patch.
Pineappleweed – first of the year outside the Seagull Lane gate.
Beryl’s seat has a companion with a nice new seat directly opposite, presumably made by Tim and Terry. It’s a nice height for a quick rest.
To the south of Beryl’s seat is a good collection of Meadow Fescue grasses with some turning into Hybrid Fescues (x Festulolium loliaceum). Please do not mow this area.
Butterbur leaves now totally cover the ground immediately below the main seat.
Giant Fescue is just starting to flower at the western end of the south bridge. Not much here, but more on the main centre meadow which is not yet out.
Two Blackcaps singing strongly near the south bridge.

There’s no more graffiti on the signcases. Let’s hope the artist has turned his attention to larger canvases elsewhere. There’s a fine example probably by our artist on the factory wall at the north end of Palmer’s Road Car Park.

The underpass leading from Washington Road to the Emsworth Recreation Ground is covered with similar graffiti. That’s the best place for them.


THURSDAY JUNE 23 – 2022
Brook Meadow
False Brome is out on the north path. This takes the total number of different grasses recorded so far this year to 22. There are still more to come, including the Bents which I have not found yet, though there are plenty on the new Little Meadow site on Emsworth Recreation Ground.

Common Knapweed is flowering on Lumley area with more to come
Meadowsweet is also now in flower on the orchid area.

Barred Grass-snake?
Christine Pilkington-?  phoned me this afternoon to say she had seen what she thinks was a Barred Grass-snake under one of the corrugated reptile mats by the bug hotel.   She said this was a new form of Grass-snake that had recently been identified.
From the internet I gather there has been some reclassification of Grass-snakes which means there are now two species: Common Grass-snake (Natrix natrix) and Barred Grass-snake (Natrix helvetica). Apparently, the Barred Grass-snake is more grey in colour than the Common Grass-snake and lacks the latter’s bright yellow collar.
Frankly, I did not know anything abut this, so I said I would pass on the observations. Do we know what species of Grass-snakes have been translocated onto Brook Meadow?
I am not sure what this makes the Grass-snake I photographed under the reptile mate on June 20.
Greenfinches in garden!!!
I just could not believe my eyes when I spotted two Greenfinches (male and female) feeding on the sunflower hearts feeder in my back garden this morning. They did not stay long, but long enough for me to get my camera out for a quick snap through the window. I have not seen them again.

These are the first Greenfinches I have seen in the garden for 4 years!   Not more than 10 years ago they were my number one garden bird. Then trichomonosis came along and their population was decimated. The following chart just shows how they have declined in my garden.


WEDNESDAY JUNE 22 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I popped over to the meadow briefly this morning mainly to see the fallen tree which was cut and cleared yesterday. It was carried out very efficiently with neatly stacked logs and piles of wood chippings.
The first Selfheal of the year was in flower on the Lumley area.
Terry and Tim Underwood from Southbourne man’s shed having a well earned cuppa after completing the new seat close to where Frank’s seat is located.  Thanks to Diane for the photo.


TUESDAY JUNE 21 – 2022
Little Meadow
I had a look at the new ‘Little Meadow’ grassland reserve on the Emsworth Recreation Ground this morning. The fencing is now complete around the grassland reserve and there’s a gate in the south east corner for access.

Looking north towards the new housing
Looking east toward the line of trees
The gate in the south east corner
I had a casual wander around, not a serious survey. The grassland seems very dry. Many of the grasses are on the wane, including Yorkshire Fog and Sweet Vernal Grass.
Creeping Bent is now out generally giving a purple haze to parts of the meadow.
Smaller Cat’s-tail is also now widespread. This is a smaller version of Timothy with pointed ligules.
I was hoping for Meadow Barley which I have recorded on this site in the past, but I did not find it today. There’s several patches of Crested Dog’s-tail still looking good.
The only wild flower of interest that I spotted was a small patch of Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Meadow Brown and Marbled White were the only butterflies during my visit.

Brook Meadow
Malcolm was on Brook Meadow today watching the tree surgeons cutting up the fallen tree on the north meadow. He sent some interesting photos.
Blue Tit seemingly taking nectar from a Bramble flower.
Meadow Grasshopper – they vary a lot on colour.

House Sparrow with a winged insect in its beak. How did it catch that one?
And finally a mystery in the Common Nettles. Anyone know what it might be. Animal or plant?

 


MONDAY JUNE 20 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a late afternoon walk through Brook Meadow.
Two new plants for this year’s list;
Corky-fruited Water-dropwort on the mown northern circle.
Water Figwort up to 7 ft tall – towering above the tangled vegetation immediately south of the main orchid area on the north meadow.  Tiny red flowers not quite open.
Slow-worms were under both of the reptile mats by the bug hotel. One large one.
CORRECTION.   Thanks to Neil for spotting this as a Grass-snake, the first we have seen since the latest translocation.


SUNDAY JUNE 19 – 2022
Brook Meadow
There is a large Crack Willow tree down on the west side of the north meadow close to the orchid area and is blocking the main western path. It must have come down in the strong winds yesterday.
Here’s a photo of my son checking it out.
I checked the reptile mats by the bug hotel and found Slow-worms under both and a Common Lizard under the right side one. I could not count the Slow-worms but there must have been at least three.

Under the left side mat . . .

Under the right side mat . . .
The Lizard under the right side mat


SATURDAY JUNE 18 – 2022
Friends of Wildlife visit
This morning the Friends of Wildlife Group (formerly Havant Wildlife Group) made their annual visit to Brook Meadow.  Here’s a photo of the group – including me!
It was very good to meet up with old friends and colleagues.  We go back a long time!  I distributed leaflets showing Marian Forster’s lovely pictorial map of the meadow – the original of which is in Emsworth Museum.

Onto the meadow where I led them in a line through the main orchid area, being careful not to tread on any orchids.

We stopped from time to time to examine the main orchid species including the newly discovered hybrid orchids – Southern Marsh x Common Spotted called Dactylorhiza x grandis.   These plants have a mixture of both flowers in the main spike and have spotted leaves.  
On the way we were delighted to find 7 Bee Orchids in the long grasses – the most we have seen so far this year on Brook Meadow which is not ideal habitat for this delicate orchid plant which prefers short dry grassland.
Several Meadow Browns were fluttering over the grasses.  Among them was a Ringlet butterfly which stopped long enough for a photo – first of the year on Brook Meadow.
I  came across the year’s first Timothy  grasses showing their smooth cylindrical inflorescences, south of the main orchid area.
We enjoyed a coffee break sitting on the large fallen Crack Willow tree on the dividing line between the centre and north meadows.
We had a quick look at the Lumley area, though very few orchids were visible. I pointed out the distinctive False Fox Sedge (Carex otrubae) with its sharply angled stem. ‘Sedges have edges’ is true in this case, but not for all sedges.
We walked back through the north meadow stopping to view the strange Oak with rounded leaves and also the distinctive fluttering leaves of Aspen.

Finally, we had a look at the Oaks planted in the Seagull Lane patch for the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012, noting the luxurious growth of the tree that I planted in contrast to the one planted by the then Mayor of Havant.   Prince Charles would have understood why this came about.

Thank you all for coming and see you next year – GW.

Late extras from Derek
A Comma butterfly

Honey Bee entering a nest in a pollarded Willow near the north bridge – that’s the one we thought initially was a Wasps’ nest.Footnote
The Friends of Wildlife is a group of local amateur naturalists who meet every Saturday in different locations. The group was started by Ralph Hollins in 1995 and is still going strong!   Here is a link to a short history of the group.
http://familyfellows.com/hwg-index.htm

Ralph Hollins died last year aged 90. I have preserved all his extensive wildlife diaries from 1997 to 2018 as pdf files when he closed down his web site. They are a real treasure trove of observations and reflections about local wildlife and nature in general.
Here is a link to a tribute to Ralph including links to his diaries. https://www.brookmeadow.org.uk/ralph-hollins-1931-2021/


WEDNESDAY JUNE 15 – 2022
Orchid Counts
I have finally collated the results of the annual count of orchids on Brook Meadow that was carried out on 10 June by Terry, Colin, Neil, Dan, Jennifer and myself (taking the photo).
All species of orchid were counted on the centre meadow (Lumley area) and the north meadow (orchid area). Following an exceptionally high first count it was decided to carry out a recount on the north meadow (orchid area) as a check using a slightly different system. The recount was slightly lower, so it was decided to use the recount of the north meadow area in the final calculation. There was no recount of the centre meadow area where the count was much lower.
Later I went through both areas to count the Common Spotted Orchids and the Common Spotted x Southern Marsh Hybrid orchids. These counts were subtracted from the total to give the final count for Southern Marsh Orchids – our target species.

The overall count showed a large rise in the number of Southern Marsh Orchids from 321 last year to 535 this year. As shown in the following chart this increase continues the exponential growth of Southern Marsh Orchids on Brook Meadow over the past 6 or 7 years. It is amazing to think we started with just two Southern Marsh Orchids planted on the north meadow on 17 June 2007 by Nigel Johnson.   Nigel’s orchids came from the Southmoor at Langstone where several thousand grew in the past. So, they were from a good stock and the future looks rosy indeed!
There was not much change in the number of Common Spotted Orchids which have been variable in numbers over the years.
The Common Spotted Orchids have provided one of the parents for a slowly growing number of hybrid orchids with Southern Marsh called Dactylorhiza x grandis. The hybrids are physically more substantial than their parents and contain a mixture of features from both; e.g. spotted leaves from Common Spotted and a mixture of both types of flowers on the main spike.
During the count we spotted just two Bee Orchids on the north meadow area. More should be coming up on the centre meadow area, but there has been an exceptional growth of other vegetation this year which will make finding them difficult.

For all the orchid counts see . . . https://www.brookmeadow.org.uk/plant-counts/orchid-counts/


MONDAY JUNE 13 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a very pleasant late afternoon stroll around the meadow. So peaceful.
I must ask the Thursday work party not to cut the grasses to the south of Beryl’s seat which is where the interesting Hybrid Fescues grow.

I found a small amount of the rare (on Brook Meadow) Plicate Sweet-grass (Glyceria notata) growing along the Bramble path in the south meadow. The path does need mowing, but I will need to supervise the cutting team to avoid these important grasses which only appear occasionally on the meadow.
Red Bartsia is flowering for the first time on the edge of the Lumley area, much earlier than in previous years. Soon it will be widespread over this area.

I checked all the signcases and found graffiti on two of them. The north signcase is fine. The Lumley signcase which Dan has recently cleaned is also fine. But the south signcase has some graffiti writing on it.   There is also some graffiti writing on the inside of the Palmer’s Road Copse signcase from which Dan has completely removed all the contents. At least the present graffiti is not all over the windows.

I was interested to see fresh cutting of a large tree that had been felled some years ago along the path leading into the copse from the north-east corner of the car park. It seems that a chain saw had been used to cut off a log from the end of the tree – for firewood or carving maybe?
I met Michael from the Environment Agency who was taking water samples from the River Ems beneath the south bridge. He checks the Ph level and oxygen content of the water. He says most chalk streams like the Ems are alkaline.

Michael thought the water quality was fine for a chalk stream. The water quality of the Ems is usually checked every month. He was very pleased to hear about the Eel that Malcolm photographed – a rare fish in the rivers these days. He agreed that the river was rather overgrown and promised to mention it to the people responsible for river clearances.

Meanwhile Malcolm went down Thorney today and got a nice Marbled White butterfly – pity it was not on Brook Meadow.  We have not had one on the meadow this year.


SATURDAY JUNE 11 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had an interesting session on the meadow. I did a quick check on the Common Spotted Orchids and the Hybrids to help in the final calculation of the Southern Marsh Orchid count.
I was pleased to see the first Common Knapweed in flower on the Lumley area. Soon there will be lots.
It was good to see Graham Petrie and his wife Christina on the meadow. Graham reported having seen a fair sized Pike in the river near the south bridge and a Jay in the copse – a relatively rare bird on the meadow.
Here are his photos – apologies for poor quality.
Malcolm Phillips was also on the meadow wielding his camera to good effect. Here’s a few of the images he sent me. Malcolm got an Eel in the river – our first of the year and a brown form female Common Blue butterfly.
I also met Paul and Carole Checksfield who were interested to see and photograph the orchids on the north meadow.  They said how much they loved the meadow, so I gave them a membership leaflet and urged them to join the group.
I also gave a membership leaflet to Katherine a locally based ecologist who had stopped with her black dog to examine the Tall Fescue grasses by the path on the north meadow.


FRIDAY JUNE 10 – 2022
Orchid count
This morning at 11am six volunteers assembled on Brook Meadow to carry out the annual count of orchid flower spikes;  Here are the counters: Terry, Colin, Neil, Dan and Jennifer – plus Brian the photographer.
We started with the orchid area on the centre meadow as this was the easiest to count with far fewer orchids than the main orchid area. We then moved onto the main orchid area on the north meadow which was a far more challenging task with large numbers of orchids and a burgeoning growth of bindweed and other vegetation making counting and moving difficult. However, we managed with Jennifer, Colin, Terry, Neil and Brian doing the counting and Dan keeping the scores.

The final counts are still to be calculated, but it has undoubtedly been a bumper year for Southern Marsh Orchids – a big increase on last year. Watch this space for the results.

Other observations
During the count of the north meadow orchid area, we disturbed a nesting hen Pheasant. This bird has been several times over the past month or so and was nesting in the long grasses. Malcolm managed to get a photo of the adult. He saw some chicks which looked OK.
We had a good sighting a Buzzard flying overhead and then swooped down towards the north meadow and went into the tall Crack Willows at the northern edge of the meadow. Neil wonder if it was checking out the nesting boxes that have been sited on the north meadow.

It was good to see several Meadow Brown butterflies fluttering over the main orchid area – the first sightings of the year. Summer has arrived!  Photo of male on an orchid  by Malcolm.


THURSDAY JUNE 9 – 2022
Brook Meadow
On the way to the meadow this morning from the Victoria Road bridge I noticed Water Figwort in flower for the first time this year in the Westbrook Stream. I will have to look out for it on Brook Meadow, usually south of the north bridge.

On to Brook Meadow where I saw several bees flying around the newly erected bug hotel at the far north of the north meadow. Some were going in and out of holes drilled in logs. One bee rested long enough on a stone for me to take a photo. My best guess is that it is a Leaf-cutter Bee of the genus Megachile (Brock p.494). These are solitary bees which nest in crevices mainly above ground, so the bug hotel would seem a particularly appropriate habitat for this insect to make its home.
I checked the two corrugated reptile mats and found a damaged  Slow-worm under the one to the left of the ‘hotel’ with a missing tail.   Slow-worms can shed their tails to avoid a predator as the tail continues to wriggle to distract the predator.   However, losing its tail can be costly to the animal as it needs to use up resources to grow another one.
Summer butterflies have not yet appeared. All I saw today were a Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell.
I was initially puzzled by what appeared to be an unusual white-tailed Bumblebee with a black and yellow furry thorax.   However, it had only two wings whereas Bumblebees have four, so clearly this was a fly, but a very good Bumblebee mimic. Checking Brock (p.394) I resolved that it was a female Volucella bombylans.  The male looks quite different.  Scrubby grasslands. Widespread in Britain. May to Sept.
We are planning to do the annual orchid count tomorrow, but with flower spikes partially covered by other plants counting will not be easy! Here’s a rather lovely example of Common Spotted Orchid that I could not resist.
In contrast to orchids  there would be no difficulty in counting the red oval flower heads of Great Burnet which are standing tall over most surrounding plants in the southern section of the main orchid area. The flowers are not fully open as yet, but on the brink, already attracting a Marmalade Hoverfly.
Reed Canary-grass is now towering over all other grasses near the Lumley gate.

Hedge Bindweed is in flower on the Lumley area to add to the Large Bindweed that I found yesterday on the Seagull Lane patch. The photo shows the green bracts below the flower which, unlike those of Large Bindweed, do not overlap. I am always curious as to why this plant regularly grows on the flat Lumley area as it is usually seen as a plant which, like a vine, climbs up hedgerows.
Another first of the year for Brook Meadow is Jointed Rush on the southern mown circle on the north meadow.
Malcolm was on the meadow and managed to get a few ‘bugs’ including this Harlequin Ladybird.
Finally, Malcolm told me that the signcase in Palmer’s Road Copse has been daubed with graffiti yet again, worse than before he says. How annoying. How much longer will this culprit persist?   Is it still our best strategy to keep cleaning the graffiti at the risk of damaging the perspex window?


Vapourer Moth
Following Malcolm Phillips’s discovery of a Vapourer Moth caterpillar on Brook Meadow yesterday, I came across another one as I was dead-heading the yellow roses in our front garden this morning.
This is only the second Vapourer  caterpillar I have recorded in the garden – the first was feeding on a Wych Elm leaf on 28-May-2009. The male moth is orange brown with a white spot on each wing. They are seen flying during the day and so can be mistaken for early brown butterflies.


WEDNESDAY JUNE 8 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I only got as far as the Seagull Lane patch on this morning’s walk, but nevertheless found some interesting first flowerings for this year:

Common Mallow flowers are out around the Seagull Lane gate. This is the only location for this attractive plant on the Brook Meadow site as far as I am aware, but it is common elsewhere. The stalked pink flowers have notched petals, marked with dark veins. It is an ancient introduction to this country and is now very well established – enough to be considered a native?   Do not confuse with Tree Mallow on Slipper Millpond which has similar flowers but is more like small tree.
The large white trumpet-shaped flowers of Large Bindweed are also out in the Seagull Lane hedgerow. As shown in the photo, in Large Bindweed the green bracts overlap, whereas in Hedge Bindweed there is always a gap between the green bracts. Our first Hedge Bindweed usually shows itself on the Lumley area.
The bright red round bur-like fruits of Wood Avens (aka Herb Bennet) show up brightly along the Seagull Lane path. If you look closely the heads have lots of tiny hooks which the plant uses as a means of seed dispersal.
I have previously mentioned the pink Dog Roses in the Seagull Lane hedgerow, but I think the white roses are Field Roses – which are not on the plant list for the meadow. A distinctive feature of the Field Rose is the style column in the centre of the flower which the Dog Rose does not have. It can be clearly seen in the photo.
Magnificent Spear Thistles stand tall and proud along the path and will be bristling into flower very soon.
Malcolm Phillips was on Brook Meadow for slightly longer than me today and got some interesting photos including this superb Vapourer Moth caterpillar – a first for Brook Meadow?
Malcolm also got a Scorpion Fly and a Ladybird larva which are prominent at this time of the year.

 


SATURDAY JUNE 4 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Malcolm Phillips sent me a nice selection of photos he took on Brook Meadow today. Comma, Red Admiral, male Green-veined White and a Small Tortoiseshell unusually showing its sombre underwings. It usually basks with wings open.

Malcolm also got a Marmalade Hoverfly.

Peter Milinets-Raby was on Brook Meadow yesterday and took over 300 photos of the orchids a sample of which he posted on Facebook. Here’s a Southern Marsh Orchid and a Common Spotted Orchid from Peter’s collection.


FRIDAY JUNE 3 – 2022
Brook Meadow
The signcase in Palmer’s Road Copse looks very good and back to normal with no sign at all of the graffiti which had been daubed on the window. Many thanks to Dan for an excellent cleaning job. Brasso certainly does the trick.
The first Hedge Woundwort of the year is in flower on the path through Palmer’s Road Copse. This is a superb flower, almost orchid-like in form. The much rarer Marsh Woundwort is not out until mid July.
I had a mooch around the low west bank of the river where I was pleased to find a good crop of Blue Water-speedwell.

The plants are quite young at present, so they could turn out to be the hybrid with Pink Water Speedwell ie, Veronica x Lackschewitzii. It depends on the length of the flower spikes. A good rule of thumb is if the flower spike has more than 20 flowers then it’s the hybrid rather than the pure Blue Water-speedwell. The hybrid is more common on Brook Meadow.

Also on the river bank were Water Forget-me-not and Water-cress  both in flower.  Also plenty of leaves of Water Mint and Gipsywort

Having a rest on the main seat overlooking the meadow it was good to be serenaded by a Song Thrush in the trees behind me.   On the way home along the main river path, I was stopped in my tracks by this cracking Red Admiral.   An early summer brood?
I had a look at the ‘Wasp’s nest’ in the tree by the north bridge which Neil doubts is a Wasp’s nest. I can see what he means. It is not as active as one would expect from a fully fledged Wasp nest and the insects look more like bees. Here’s a close up of some of the insects around the nest that Neil got yesterday.
Neil got more interesting shots as follows:
Five young Chiffchaffs sitting in a row on a Willow. Ahhhh ….
One of several Great Tits feeding young.
Wolf Spider hiding its egg sac.
Malcolm also had some nice shots today including this one of a Wren with juicy grubs in its bill for nestlings.
Finally, Dan’s trail camera caught a Roe Deer crossing the River Ems in Palmer’s Road Copse in the direction of the car park.   Deer are occasionally seen on Brook Meadow, but this is the first definite sighting since 2020.


THURSDAY JUNE 2 – 2022
Grasses session
Colin and I met on Brook Meadow this morning for a grasses identification session. It was good to see Colin getting to grips with these tricky plants. We were joined later by Neil.  . Malcolm was also present and took this photo of the three of us pondering the grasses on the edge of the Lumley area.
Neil drew our attention to an puzzling young Oak tree on the east side of the north meadow with unusually large fleshy leaves with rounded lobes.  We thought it must be a English Oak, though the leaves are unlike any we had seen before.
Malcolm sent me this nice photo he got on the meadow of a pair of Azure Damselflies mating.


WEDNESDAY JUNE 1 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Annoyingly, there is graffiti on the newly updated signcase in Palmer’s Road Copse. We have had this in the past but not for several years. The best way to clean it off is by using Brasso very gently to avoid scratching the perspex surface window.   Dan will have a go at it in the morning.
The first Bittersweet flowers are out behind the observation fence in Palmer’s Road Copse. These are not particularly good specimens, but will improve.As I was looking at the Bittersweet a Cetti’s Warbler sang loudly from the Ash tree above my head. We have a very mobile bird on the meadow this year.

 

Water Forget-me-not is starting to flower on the west bank of the river in the copse. The early flowers tend to be pinkish turning blue as the flowers mature.
From the south gate signcase I could hear the song of a Reed Warbler coming from the Bramble hedge around Gooseberry Cottage. They often do wander onto the meadow at this time of the year presumably looking for insects for nestlings. They don’t nest here.

Toad Rush is in flower around the “Lumley puddle”.

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is flowering just inside the Lumley gate. Unlike the native Honeysuckle the berries of the Japanese variety are black not red.
Brooklime is in flower on the little path leading down to the Lumley Stream from the main Lumley area. Brooklime also grows on the river banks in Palmer’s Road Copse.
A few stems of Crested Dog’s-tail have come up along the edge of the mown path round the Lumley area. That takes the number of grasses recorded so far on the Brook Meadow site in 2022 to 17.


MONDAY MAY 30 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Dan collected the four signcase boards from my house at 2.15pm.   All the displays are new and look good, so let’s the inks don’t fade like last time. I have used top quality ink and top quality paper!! But I can’t control the sun!

The north signcase display
The south signcase display
The Lumley signcase display

The Palmer’s Road Copse signcase display

I met Dan as he was cleaning and installing the first of the display boards at the north bridge.   He pointed out a new fun warning sign about the wasps nest in the tree north of the bridge created by his granddaughter. The Wasps are still active.
While I was there Dan pointed out some Hedge Mustard flowering under the signcase – the first of the year on the meadow.

Dan cleaning and  installing the north signcase
After leaving Dan I walked down through the meadow. found some more Hairy Sedge on the northern mown circle. It is easier to spot with the big female spikelets. Is this a good year for this unusual sedge?   I can see the first signs of Hybrid Fescues by Beryl’s seat along with the two parents – Meadow Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass. So, please no mowing around Beryl’s seat for the next few weeks.
Hybrid Fescue

Yorkshire Fog is now out generally on the meadow.  My favourite touchy grass.
I met Dan again after he had finished installing the signcase board in Palmer’s Road Copse. He pointed out the large Cultivated Plum tree (Prunus domestica) with plenty of unripe fruit behind the recycling bins in the car park.   Dan said he had a good picking from this tree last year and the fruit was very good.

Malcolm had a good sighting on the meadow today – a first summer brood Brimstone butterfly. What a beauty.
Finally, Maurice got a photo of the pen Mute Swan with her one remaining cygnet on Slipper Millpond.


SUNDAY MAY 29 – 2022
Little Meadow
This afternoon I had a walk around the site of the new Little Meadow grassland reserve on Emsworth Recreation Ground. Work has already started. The large fallen White Poplar trees have been completely removed. Malinda had requested some should be kept.
Also a start has been made in erecting the new fencing with wire mesh. So far it has been done on the east side of the site. I was surprised to see that the fence includes the line of trees. The original plan was to exclude the trees from the Little Meadow site. I would suggest a gap in the fence be made for football players to retrieve balls going over the fence.

A wide path has been mown around the northern and western edges of the meadow site, presumably for dog walkers.   The rest of the site has not been mown and lots of grasses are coming up as a consequence. I noted the following: Red Fescue, Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Crested Dog’s-tail, Smooth Meadow-grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Meadow Foxtail, Yorkshire Fog, Sweet Vernal Grass, Cocksfoot and Creeping Bent (behind the bowling club, but not yet fully formed). I also spotted the distinctive female spikelets of Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta) on the northern verge. All very promising.
Off the Little Meadow site I looked at the Oaks behind the playground. One with spiky leaves is probably Sessile Oak?


SATURDAY MAY 28 – 2022
Brook Meadow
A few observations from today’s walk:
Clustered Dock – centre meadow.  Grey Sedge – Plenty on Lumley Path and Lumley Road.
Malcolm Phillips sent some interesting photos:
Beautiful Demoiselle female and Small Copper  – 1st of year

Yellow-barred Longhorn Moth ??  We have not recorded this one before.
Peter Pond
Red Fescue – outside the wall of Gooseberry Cottage garden.  Reed Warbler – south east corner Peter Pond.  Peter Pond south bank: Common Mallow, Common Cat’s-ear, Yarrow and Purple Toadflax.  Dan showed me a single flower of Salsify on the Peter Pond south bank – not in flower at the time.
Nigel Osborne reports that the  Peter pond pair of swans are down to one cygnet. They had two.


FRIDAY MAY 27 – 2022
Brook Meadow
There is a Wasp nest developing in the first Crack Willow on the path north of the north bridge. Lots of Wasps flying around. Maybe there should be a warning sign as it is very close to the dog splash area where people get down to the river.

I saw several Holly Blues this morning. It is a bit early for the summer brood, so this must the tail end of the spring brood.
I also saw a couple of Red Admirals which might signal the arrival of migrants from the continent.

The orchids are growing fast and looking splendid.  Here are a Southern Marsh Orchid and a hybrid orchid on the main orchid area.


THURSDAY MAY 26 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was good to meet up with Colin and Malcolm this morning. Colin had a couple of interesting suggestions which it would be good to put into practice.
1. to make labels for some trees. e.g. for those trees which have been specially planted like the Oaks on Seagull Lane patch, the Rowans, the Black Poplars and the Aspen.
2. to give more information about the grasses of Brook Meadow e.g. in the signcases. Another good idea, which I shall try to do, though grasses do not photograph well. I suggested guided sessions on the meadow for people who would like to learn more about grasses, and brush up on what they know already! I am always available if needed!

Malcolm as always was wielding his trusty camera and sent me a nice selection of insects, including our first Beautiful Demoiselle (male) of the year. We have already recorded Banded Demoiselles, male and female.
Malcolm also got two butterflies: Speckled Wood and Red Admiral.

A Green-veined White posed for me as it fed on Garlic Mustard flowers, showing first its veined underwings and then its white upper wings and dark body.

I also had our first Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) on Dandelion.
I stopped to examine a large number of small spiders with pale rounded abdomens which were resting on Hogweed leaves on the path behind the Rowan plantation. They were very sensitive to my movements. Possible ID – Ozyptila species?

A Stock Dove was calling from the Crack Willows on the Seagull Lane patch. Unusual location. Maybe it is nesting?
Perennial Ryegrass is appearing on the north path. Soon it will be widespread.
Berries continue to form on the Hawthorn bush at the far end of the Seagull Lane patch.


WEDNESDAY MAY 25 – 2022
Ragged Robin Count
Ragged Robin is an attractive native perennial plant with distinctive pink ‘ragged’ flowers. It is a plant of marshes and unimproved wetlands and flowers in early spring. It has found an ideal home on the Lumley area of Brook Meadow which is wet and regularly floods in winter.  Each year in late spring we carry out a count of the flowering plants on the Lumley area and on the neighbouring area to the west.

This morning Dan and I did the count. Dan collected some sticks to mark out three sectors of the Lumley area for the counts.  I (Brian) took the two sectors near the north path while Dan did the rest.
This year’s total count came to 165 which was a fairly average one, not specially high and not specially low.  The chart below shows the maximum counts each year from 2002 – and they  have been very variable over the years from a high of 625 in 2010 to just 12 in 2013.  Counts have been fairly steady over the past 6 years with the exception of the bumper year in 2018.  We have no idea why numbers  vary so much from one year to the next.
Other observations
During the Ragged Robin count I came across the white Common Spotted Orchid that was in the same spot as in previous years.
A hen Pheasant flew up from the meadow and over towards the Lumley Road area. We have not seen one of these on the meadow for some time.

A Chiffchaff serenaded us with its thin sweet call while we were doing the count. Later it broke into its familiar ‘chiff-chaff’ song. Still no sight or sound from Whitethroat alas.

I looked at the untufted Fescues on the centre meadow all of which were standing erect with reddish inflorescences. Possible Red Fescue?   Tall Fescue tends to grow in large tufts.

I found another Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta) on the centre meadow just north of the red leaved Cherry Plum tree. We had a look at the Hairy Sedge that I found yesterday and Dan took a sample for his Brook Meadow Flora Handbook.

Dan also took a sample of the Remote Sedge which has just started to flower on the side of the main path through the south meadow just north of the signcase. This takes the list of sedges found on Brook Meadow this year to 9. Two more to come!

Dan pointed out the distinctive 5 leaves of Creeping Cinquefoil (not in flower) on the steps leading down from the main seat to the south meadow.

We had a look in the far south east corner of the south meadow where we noted masses of very aromatic Water Mint plus some Water Forget-me-not in flower.

Red Campion is flowering on the side of the path down to the south bridge. This was planted several years ago by Havant Borough Council to enhance the area!

There’s a single white capped mushroom (unidentified) on the western path on the north meadow.


TUESDAY MAY 24 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a wander through the main orchid area on the north meadow which is now peppered with pink orchids, mostly Southern Marsh, but also some Common Spotted and hybrids. You need to walk carefully, but the orchids are fairly easy to spot. There’s also a good number of orchids on the Lumley area. So, it looks like another good year!!
Here’s some photos from the main orchid area: a little group of Common Spotted Orchids, an emerging Southern Marsh Orchid and a well established Hybrid.

Brook Meadow is famous for its grasses and I found a really nice crop along the casual east-west path through the centre meadow just north of the main causeway. In addition to Meadow Foxtail and Tall Fescue which are widespread over the meadow, I was pleased to find a good display of Soft Brome and some newly emerging Yorkshire Fog – just run your fingers down its stem for sheer pleasure!

Yorkshire Fog . . . . Soft Brome

Even more excitement was to come when I stumbled across a small patch of Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta) on the centre meadow, in the triangle where the two paths diverge going north from the main seat. Although Hairy Sedge is fairly common on wet meadows, it is rare on Brook Meadow and I always have a devil of a job to find any. The centre meadow is the best area to find it.   Look for its hairy sheaths and leaves (it is the only British Carex species with both leaves and sheaths hairy) and its erect chunky female spikelets which have long leaf-like bracts.

There’s a good clump of flowering Wintercress on the main path going north from the main seat.
I met Malcolm on the Lumley area and we both reflected on the absence of butterflies. Just after I left him I got a Small Tortoiseshell though it would not open its wings to show off its fine colours. A little later while looking for grasses on the centre meadow a male Banded Demoiselle happened to land in front of where I was standing.

Malcolm also got some nice shots including this beautiful Grey Heron in flight over the meadow.


MONDAY MAY 23 – 2022
Brook Meadow
A Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) rested on a nettle leaf long enough for me to get a few shots.
This bee colonised Britain in 2000 and is now common and widespread. It has a distinctive pattern of black head and abdomen, ginger thorax and white bottom. It sometimes nests in tree holes and occasionally under the eaves of roofs where its presence may alarm residents, but the bees are not a danger. The queen may produce 50-75 workers.

 

The Yellow Flag is looking quite splendid in the south east corner of Brook Meadow with bright yellow flowers with three wings or flags.
There’s a clump of what I think is Common Couch grass on the path behind the Rowans by the most northerly of the trees.   This is a surprisingly rare grass on Brook Meadow though very common elsewhere!

We have been concerned about the health of the tall Aspen tree on the east side of Brook Meadow, but this year it has lots of leaves and looks in good shape.

This lovely tree was donated to Brook Meadow by members of the Haskins family in December 2005 in memory of their mother who used to live in Lumley Hall.

I could not help but include this excellent Beaked Hawk’s-beard in full flower next to the pay machine in North Street car park.
I met Malcolm Phillips on the meadow. He was happy to tell me that at last he has a laptop computer and broadband so is fully functional again.  To prove it he sent me a couple of photos this evening – female Large White and his favourite Grey Wagtail near the south bridge.


SUNDAY MAY 22 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I walked over to Brook Meadow in time to meet Dan collecting the final signcase board from the north bridge.  Dan delivers all four signcase boards to my house for updating with new displays.  I shall use a genuine ink this time to try to avoid the awful fading of the photos that happened last time.
We have a chat about the 3 Slow-worms Dan found under one of the reptile mats on the north meadow.  I took a photo of a Froghopper that had settled on Dan’s jacket.
Dan tells me there are two Swan cygnets on Peter Pond.

I spend time with my Oak tree on the Seagull Lane patch – acorns starting to form. Berries are also forming on the Hawthorns.

Dog Rose is flowering in the Seagull Lane hedgerow.


Water Vole survey
Dan forwards the report by Jane Reeve of the Water Vole survey on the River Ems on 18th May 2022.
Here’s a link to the report . . . Water vole survey at Brook Meadows 18 May 2022

Conclusion
While confirming evidence of water voles was absent at this time, at the end of the summer when water vole populations are at their highest, there may be some signs that water voles have moved in. The habitat at Brook Meadow along the banks of the River Ems is good and there would appear to be enough variety quantity of vegetation to support them. There is a monitored mink raft on site and therefore American mink, a significant predator of water voles, appear to be absent. Records of water voles through the River Ems are patchy and there are concerns about the abstraction rates and water levels through the year higher up the river catchment. This may be the reason that water voles are not present, not because anything is wrong on Brook Meadows, but because the River Ems water vole population levels are low.

Overall recommendations
There are areas where the River Ems is quite shaded by the dense foliage of the willow branches that overhang the water. Some lifting of key branches to let light in on the banks would help to improve plant diversity.

Removal of Hemlock Water Dropwort (HWD) by digging it out along the banks would help to encourage other riparian species to colonise. On the meadow areas where HWD is encroaching, cutting off the flower heads once the flowers have peaked would be advised to slow down seed production.


FRIDAY MAY 20 – 2022
Field Vole
We were delighted to have a visit from wildlife photographer Jacq to Brook Meadow on Wednesday 18-May. Our thanks to ecologist Jane Reeve for forwarding Jacq’s photos to Dan for our records.

Jane thinks they are Short tailed Field Voles ‘as they were quite high on the bank’. The short tail, shown in the second photo, is certainly distinctive of Field Vole. The very similar Bank Vole, which we have already recorded this year (see blog for 20-Feb), has a much longer tail.


Drilus flavescens
The identification of this nationally scarce beetle, which I saw and photographed on Brook Meadow on Tuesday 17 May, was confirmed by Hampshire Beetle Recorder, Jonty Denton. That’s a good sighting for Brook Meadow.


Blue Tit nest
David McVittie got a nice video clip of a Blue Tit entering a nest in a Willow on the north path.   . . .


WEDNESDAY MAY 18 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Dogwood is in flower in the hedgerow on the Seagull Lane patch.
I found some cuckoo-spit on the flowers of Broad-leaved Dock courtesy of Froghoppers.

The two Kingfisher nesting tunnels on the railway embankment have been covered with soil, leaving the entrances clear.  .There’s also a new green nest box on the branch of the large Ash tree which I have not seen before. Anyone know what it is?

I was pleased to see so many orchids appearing on the two main wildflower areas. Southern Marsh Orchids are numerous on both areas. I saw a small cluster of 5 Common Spotted Orchids on the east side of the north meadow orchid area.
The chunky hybrid orchids are all on the north section of the north meadow orchid area. Maurice Lillie counted a total of 35 orchids in flower on the two areas this morning.
The north meadow orchid area is covered with a sea of Meadow Buttercups.
The area we call the “Lumley puddle” near the Lumley entrance is always interesting for unusual plants not found elsewhere on the meadow. Today I noticed the first Marsh Foxtail with distinctive bent stems in this area along with leaves of Toad Rush

Some of the Ragged Robin plants on the Lumley area bear multiple flowers, so when counting it is important to count just the plants and not the flowers.
The Haskins Aspen on the east side of the north meadow which I was worried about last year is looking good with a healthy growth of leaves. Maybe it’s OK after all.
Tufts of Tall Fescue grass are now prominent around the meadow with their panicles drooping down on one side.
The two mown areas on the north meadow need regular mowing.

Painted Lady
Neil sent me a photo of a Painted Lady taken in Dan’s garden today – the first one I have heard of this year. Maybe it will come over to Brook Meadow – that would be nice.

Painted Ladies are migratory butterflies, originating in N. Africa and breeding on the way. So this chap will probably have come from a brood in Spain or France. They will breed and produce another brood while in this country and give us, hopefully, an autumn spectacular. But they cannot survive our winters, so virtually all will perish, though apparently some do try to make it back across the channel.

Great Spotted Woodpecker nesting
My friend Peter Milinets-Raby got a good video of a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding young at Warblington Cemetery yesterday. See . . . https://youtu.be/fPT4zz3kj2o


TUESDAY MAY 17 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a very short walk through the meadow this morning during which I got photos of some interesting insects including Marmalade hoverfly and Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle.

I also had a more interesting mystery beetle which at first I thought was another Cardinal, but it was too dark, slightly hairy and had heavily comb-like antennae.  Based entirely on visual similarity I have tentatively identified it as Drilus flavescens. (Brock p.160)

I was surprised to learn that Drilus flavescens  is the only British species of ‘False Firefly Beetle’ in Britain!    It is also described a ‘very local on chalk grassland and woodland in the southeast.   I would appreciate the views of others as I could be wildly wrong.

Finally, I met Dan and Kathy putting the finishing touches to a quite magnificent bug hotel assembled with the help of young ‘ecowarriors’ from Emsworth Primary School.

Late news
Neil Botterill sent me photos he got today of a Common Blue (first of the year) on Ragged Robin and a Froghopper.


MONDAY MAY 16 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Here’s some observations from this morning’s stroll through the meadow, starting at Palmer’s Road Copse where a Green Woodpecker was yaffling loudly – unusual location for this bird.
Elder is in full flower in the north corner of Palmer’s Road Car Park behind the recycling bins.
Yellow Flag is in flower both on the river bank in Palmer’s Road Copse and in the south east corner of the south meadow. More flowers to come.
There’s a small patch of 15 flowering Ragged Robin plants to the west of the main Lumley area close to the red leaved Cherry Plum tree. We shall need to include them in the count.
There’s also some good looking False Fox Sedge in this area.

I found the first Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill in flower on the centre meadow. Their cut leaves have been visible for some time. Soon the pretty pink flowers will be widespread.
Common Sorrel is now showing for the first time this year to the south of the main orchid area. Not yet in full flower.   Smaller than the docks. Look out for its arrow-shaped leaves, the upper ones clasping the stem.

I had a look around the main orchid area on the north meadow and discovered the first flowers on the hybrid orchids. We must remember to count these separately from the Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids.
I met Malcolm who reported having seen the regular Grey Wagtail on the river bank in Palmer’s Road Copse with a single youngster. That’s good to hear they are breeding successfully.
Malcolm also sent me several interesting images including this Downlooker Snipefly  (Rhagio scolopaceus) (Brock p.344) These small predatory flies have long abdomens, wings and legs. Their common name comes from their habit of looking down when perched.
Malcolm also got a pictures of a male Blackcap carrying insects presumably to young in nest. Excellent news.
Not such good news however is the absence of Dan’s new feeding raft from the river near the south bridge. Malcolm could see signs of trampling where the raft was sited.

Malcolm will get broadband installed tomorrow, so not too long before he is fully operational again. All he needs is a computer.

 


FRIDAY MAY 13 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Here are a few observations from my morning’s visit to Brook Meadow, plus some excellent photos sent to me from Malcolm Phillips and Neil Botterill.

Hoary Cress is flowering, about 1 week earlier than last year. The interesting plant is also known locally as the Portsmouth weed as it grows rampantly right around the harbours.   It only grows in one spot on Brook Meadow – near the bonfire site on the Seagull Lane patch. There’s some nice flowers of Herb-Robert out on and around the north bridge.
Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the north river today, usually it sings from south of the north bridge. I now I am starting to think we have just have one fairly mobile bird that moves around the river banks.
There’s a splendid Broad-leaved Dock guarding the entrance to the play area where there is a patch of Creeping buttercups immediately in front of the log seat on the play area, almost as if they had been deliberately planted, which was not the case.

I found the first pink flowers of Southern Marsh Orchid on the main orchid area on the north meadow, much the same date as in recent years. I have marked it with a stick.
Flower buds are also visible emerging from the rosettes of spotted orchids which are dotted around the northern section of the orchid area, most likely to be hybrid orchids Dactylorhiza x grandis.
I tried several times to get a photo of a Froghopper but it kept moving away as if it was aware of my presence.  The best I was allowed in the end was a shot of its underparts.
Yellow Rattle flowers are opening well on the Lumley area and ominously Hemlock Water-dropwort is also in flower.

Hemlock Water-dropwort continues to spread on the Lumley area which is one of our two most valuable wildflower areas. One important  job for the conservation group is to continue the laborious task of digging out these plants.

I spotted a Bramble flower on the south meadow and close by was a male Azure Damselfly and a Nursery-web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) in its classic legs forward pose.

My attention was also caught by the unusual sight of two Greenbottle flies close together.
I saw just one small Brown Trout in the river in Palmer’s Road Copse.
Today Malcolm sent me two excellent photos of a Kestrel in flight overhead on Brook Meadow.   Simply cracking images, well done Malcolm.

Malcolm also got a good photo of one of our resident Grey Wagtails near the south bridge.
Neil’s macro photos
Malcolm’s photos have inspired Neil Botterill in his words . . . “to get out my macro lens and get myself lost in the wonderful world of the small things”.
Neil sent me a glorious collection of images, a few of which I have selected for this blog.
Most interesting was a black lacewing-type fly – possibly an Alderfly (Sialis lutetia) and  new to the Brook Meadow list!
This robust-looking dark-bodied insect has two pairs of wings sculptured with network of black veins. It’s common in Britain, most common near static and moving water from early April to early August. Individuals only live 2-3 days. The life cycle is one of complete metamorphosis taking about 2 years, egg, larva, pupa and adult. There’s no specific connexion with Alder except they may settle on trees at the water’s edge.
 Other interesting images got by Neil included
Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica). These attractive flies have spotted wings and a downwards pointing beak, but also a distinctive tail, (actually a swollen genital area) which it folds over the top the top of its abdomen in Scorpion fashion – but it does not sting!
Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) with bright red body and comb-like antennae.

Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) and Marmalade hoverfly in flight!!

Finally, Neil got this close-up of Meadow Foxtail grass in flower – showing  its attractive anthers.


MONDAY MAY 9 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I found a couple more Cuckooflowers on the orchid area, taking the grand total for this year so far to 14.  This is well down on the 50+ last year.
Two small moths with very long antennae were resting on one of the Cuckooflowers. My tentative identification is Early Longhorn Moth (Adela cuprella) which Brock describes as being found April to May on wetlands and often on Willow catkins. Well there’s plenty of these on Brook Meadow.
Down to the Lumley area where I was pleased to meet up with Malcolm and Terry (looking well after his recent illness). We all hunted around for the first Ragged Robin plants in flower.

We found about 20 with more to come. This is about a week earlier than last year. Dan and I will count them in a couple of weeks time. Last year’s total was 173 which was a good count but not exceptional.

I also found a patch of Forget-me-nots with very tiny blue and cream flowers.   I recall finding some in the same spot last year, which I identified as Early Forget-me-not. However, looking more closely, I am now fairly sure they are Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor) which is a first for Brook Meadow. The plant is unique in that the flowers are yellow or cream as they open, but change to pink or blue as they age.
Other plants now coming into flower on the Lumley area include Yellow Rattle, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Common Mouse-ear.   The first False Fox Sedge (Carex otrubae) is also out on the edge of the cross path on the Lumley area.
I was expecting Common Sorrel but did not find any.

Malcolm spotted a pair of Azure Damselflies, male and female. First of the year.

As Maurice has already pointed out several of the Alder Buckthorn trees on the north of the south meadow by the causeway path are looking in a poor state of health. They have sparse leaves and very brittle twigs. Fortunately some others look OK. Alder Buckthorns were first planted in this spot 20 years ago, but some died and were replaced a few years later.
The avenue of Cow Parsley is looking very good along the main river path and smelling sweet too!


SATURDAY MAY 7 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I went for a walk this morning through the meadow and down to Peter Pond.
The fresh green leaves of Hornbeam are now showing in two spots in the Seagull Lane patch hedgerow indicating two plants. Were these planted?
I was interested to note that the young leaves of Blackthorn are soft and not at all spiny like the mature plant.
The attractive hanging panicles of Barren Brome adorn the Seagull Lane patch. Barren Brome is the dominant grass on this patch and is oddly are found no where else on Brook Meadow!
The first flower buds are showing on the Great Burnet plants on the main orchid area.
There’s a distinctive line of Divided Sedge just north of the solitary Alder tree along what is probably the route of an old tributary down to  the Lumley Stream.
Leaves of the Alder have been ravaged by the Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica aini). This happens regularly every year and one wonders how this tree manages to survive. The larger Alder near the Lumley Stream is also affected, but not as badly.
The Horse Chestnut ‘candles’ are in splendid form on the tree near the Lumley gate just inside the garden of Gooseberry Cottage.
There’s some Germander Speedwell on the Gooseberry Cottage path outside the Lumley gate. I usually include this on the Brook Meadow plant list. Germander Speedwell has two lines of hairs on opposite sides of the stem.

The similar Wood Speedwell has hairs all round the stem.   There is Wood Speedwell further along the Gooseberry Cottage path. The first Hoary Cress (aka Portsmouth weed) is in flower for the first time this year at the far southern end of the Gooseberry Cottage path.
Down to Peter Pond where the Mute Swan got up briefly from its nest on the island to reveal at least two eggs. Reed Warbler was singing from the reeds in the south west corner near the road.


Nightingale in Emsworth!
As I was walking through Brook Meadow this morning I met Jo Bray, the owner of Bookends bookshop in Emsworth. She was keen to tell me about a Nightingale that she had heard singing on Long Copse Lane. This is a new site for this glorious songster and a first for Emsworth. Jo told me exactly where she had heard the bird – on the south side of the Long Copse Lane close to the northern entrance to Hampshire Farm Meadows. So, I went over there late this afternoon at 5pm and after walking around a little managed to locate the Nightingale singing from the bushes near the Hampshire Farm entrance gate. Not a great singer, but definitely a Nightingale.

Here is Jo’s recording from Long Copse Lane

It was such a lovely evening that I decided to go over to the traditional Nightingale site at Marlpit Lane to listen for another Nightingale that Jo had reported to me some time ago. Nightingales have been singing on Marlpit Lane for many years, but with the recent development of the area to the east of the lane they have become scarce and erratic. But Jo’s Nightingale was on the west side of the lane much further north than they used to be. I had no difficulty finding the bird this afternoon on the west side behind a large lay-by almost opposite the new development with black metal gates named Racton View.


FRIDAY MAY 6 – 2022
Reptile relocation
I went over to Brook Meadow this morning mainly to witness the first delivery of reptiles from a building site in Warsash. Ecologist, Aaron was already present with two buckets of reptiles that he had collected earlier from the site which he said was particularly rich in reptiles.
Dan, Neil, Colin, Tony and I all watched in rapt attention as Aaron slowly and very carefully transferred mostly Slow-worms and a few Common Lizards from the buckets into the long grasses on the west side of the north meadow; there was a total of 85 Slow-worms and 4 Lizards.

Aaron or his colleague Karen will be coming for the next 90 days, weather permitting, to deliver more reptiles onto the Brook Meadow site. The estimated total to be translocated onto the meadow over this time is 500 reptiles, 75% Slow-worms, 20% Common Lizards and 5% Grass-snakes. Aaron will also help in preparing the appropriate habitat for these creatures, including hibernacula for the Slow-worms and rubble for the Lizards. Grass-snakes will be located in wetter areas of the meadow, near the waterways.

Video clip . . .


THURSDAY MAY 5 – 2022
Brook Meadow
The Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the river bank in the far north-east corner of the meadow, quite some distance from its usual spot below the north bridge. Is this a second bird or just a specially mobile one? I can’t make up my mind.

There’s still no sign of any Cuckooflowers on the main orchid area. Most this year are in the south east corner of the south meadow.

There is a good clump of sedge on the southern section of the orchid area which I am fairly sure is Distant Sedge (Carex distans) But I took a sample to check.

The egg-shaped heads of Red Clover are starting to pop up around the area, with whitish chevron on the leaves.
I stopped to admire a fine plant of Hoary Ragwort on the east side of the centre meadow with a splendid growth of dense fresh pale green leaves, very hairy (hoary) at this time of the year.

There’s also some Lesser Pond Sedge in this area, spreading down from the river bank.
Butterbur leaves are developing. At the moment they are around 12 inches, but will be at least three times this size by mid summer.
I met Malcolm Phillips and Neil Botterill walking up the main path through the south meadow having just seen a Treecreeper and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Palmer’s Road Copse. Malcolm had a nice photo of the Treecreeper which could have been the same bird he spotted there on 25-Mar.
Malcolm also got a picture of our first Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) of the year. Cardinals have bright red bodies and comb-like antennae and emerge in late spring. There is also a less common Black-headed Cardinal. The very similar Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) comes out in summer and is seen in large numbers variously feeding, fighting and mating on Hogweed and other umbellifers.
Yesterday Malcolm had a shot of an interesting insect which I have not seen on the meadow for a couple of year, namely a Scorpion Fly (Panorpa germanica). These attractive flies have spotted wings and a downwards pointing beak and also a distinctive tail, (actually a swollen genital area) which it folds over the top the top of its abdomen in Scorpion fashion – but it does not sting!
Dan Mortimer got this cracking photo of a Grey Heron from a trail camera positioned on the Lumley Stream.
Finally, Neil told me he would be meeting an ecologist tomorrow to discuss the placement of a large number of reptiles onto Brook Meadow from a housing development in Warsash. These are Slow-worms, Common Lizards plus a few Grass-snakes. Neil is hoping to organise a few piles of rubble as an appropriate habitat for the Lizards. How exciting.


TUESDAY MAY 3 – 2022
Brook Meadow
There was plenty of bird song on Brook Meadow this morning, including Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. But no sound of Whitethroat.
Butterflies were scarce with just a few whites flying around.
However, there was lots of interest and beauty on the flora front with several plants coming into flower for the first time this season and a few surprises. Here’s a brief summary with photos.

Hawthorn in the hedgerow on the Seagull Lane patch is full of glorious May blossom.
Barren Brome grass is out  around Jean’s Oak on the Seagull Lane patch. This attractive grass with drooping panicles only grows in this small area on the Brook Meadow site.
Herb-Robert is flowering on the edge of the path to the tool store along with Greater Celandine.
Only a week ago there was a fine display of Dandelion flowers on the south mown area on the north meadow, today the same area was covered with the plant’s delicate flower heads or ‘clocks’.  Where are the kids to blow them?
The first yellow flowers of Wintercress are out on the west side of the north meadow. They should also soon be out elsewhere on the meadow.
Ribwort Plantain is out on the orchid area with rings of white flowers – see below.
Rosettes of spotted orchid leaves are numerous and prominent around the northern section of the orchid area where the hybrid orchids grow.

A superb dark purple-flowered Common Comfrey is out on the orchid area.
The sterile green stems of Field Horsetail  are now showing on both the orchid area and the Lumley area. They represent the second stage of growth of this ancient plant, following the fertile cones in early spring. Sorry about the hand, but my camera won’t focus.

The tiny white flowers of Cleavers are coming out generally.
In contrast, Common Mouse-ear is largely restricted to the orchid area.  It’s not easy to find, but look for its 5 deeply notched white petals and soft furry leaves from which it gets its common name. A scarce plant on the Brook Meadow site.

Sadly, the young Ash trees by the main seat are looking very poorly with bare branches and few leaves – victims of the Ash die-back disease.
I was very surprised to find my first Common Spike-rush of the year on the northern cross path on the south meadow. Never seen it in this location before. Despite its name it is a member of the sedge family.  It usually grows on the Lumley area.

Gipsywort leaves are showing again in the far corner of the south east corner of the south meadow. Last year I thought these might be the rare Great Yellow-cress but they turned out to be the more common Gipsywort when flowering.
There are several cracking Cuckooflowers in this wet area – I estimate 12 in number.  None as yet on the orchid area where we had over 30 last year.
The Dock Leaf Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) have been busy savaging the large leaves of Broad-leaved Dock as they do every year in the south east corner of the south meadow.   One of the beetles in the photo has a swollen abdomen – an impregnated female?


Wayside flowers
Away from Brook Meadow there are good patches of  Annual Mercury and Beaked Hawk’s-beard in the car park off North Street leading to Emsworth Community Centre. We rarely see these plants on Brook Meadow.

The relatively uncommon White Comfrey grows in the garden of number 31 St James Road and on the pavement outside.  Note: this is not white flowered Common Comfrey which we have on Brook Meadow.
Meanwhile Cow Parsley is putting on a great show for motorists parking in Bridge Road car park.  I hope they stop to admire it. It is stunning!


THURSDAY APRIL 28 – 2022
Brook Meadow
On this morning’s walk, I was pleased to meet Jill Stanley who often visits Brook Meadow at this time of the year to take photos of wild flowers.  She was particularly interested to see and photograph the Greater Celandines that are now flowering nicely along the edge of the path leading to the tool store.
Jill is especially interested in orchids so I suggested we should go to have a look at the fresh spotted orchid leaves that are now appearing in some numbers on the orchid area.  We also went down to the Lumley area where she was very taken by the carpet of silvery Silverweed leaves.  We even managed to find a few in flower!!

Cetti’s Warblers
This morning, I heard two Cetti’s Warblers singing loudly from different  locations, one from the trees north of the north bridge and the another from the river bank close to the steps down to Frank’s seat.   So, I think we have two singing males. Peter Milinets-Raby also thought this might be the case on his visit to Brook Meadow last week.  We have had two Cetti’s Warblers occasionally in previous years.
Amazingly, I managed to get a photo of the bird north of the bridge with my simple point and shoot camera. I just pointed at where the song came from and shot and hoped.  Hey presto I got an image. Not as good as Peter’s but very pleasing to me!


WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Peter Milinets-Raby visited Brook Meadow yesterday (26-Apr) and here is his comprehensive report and photos.  Peter please come more often!

Singing their hearts out on Brook Meadow this morning from 9am for 2 hours were:
Wren Robin Dunnock Song Thrush Blackbird   Great Tit Blue Tit
Other birds singing included a couple of ‘yaffles’ from a Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen chasing each other.
I counted 5 Chiffchaff singing from various corners of the meadow along with 3 Blackcaps.
A Cetti’s Warbler was singing along the river just south of the ‘dog splash’ bridge. It was surprisingly showy. It or another was briefly heard over on the stream on the east side of the meadow.
Also, the pair of Moorhen were still feeding their two tiny chicks in the over hanging undergrowth on the stream.
Other interesting birds of note were 2 displaying Stock Doves and a Little Egret was trying to feed quietly on the zigzag bend of the stream.
Other species seen or heard and not mentioned above were: Jackdaw   Carrion Crow Rook Magpie   Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Starling   House Sparrow Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Long-tailed Tit Goldfinch Greenfinch.

Peter Pond held a singing Reed Warbler, 3 Coot, a female Mallard with 2 tiny ducklings and the Mute Swan briefly stood up and turned its two eggs (that I could see).
On Slipper Mill Pond the 2 Canada Geese looked content on the raft.

On the walk back through the meadow I had a lovely 15 minute purple patch starting with 2 Mistle Thrushes flying out of Brook Meadow, heading over the houses on the south east corner of Slipper Mill Pond.
Then 2 Buzzard drifted high over north east into the wind followed by 3 Red Kites. A minute later a fourth Red Kite followed the same track. And then to finish it all off nicely 3 Med Gulls flew over heading south.
Guys putting up monster owl nest box!!!

Brian’s comments
Peter. What a great report. Many thanks for the sightings and the super photos.
Cetti’s Warbler has been regular for several weeks. We hope it is breeding. Maybe there are two? Yours was our first Cetti’s photo.
Notable absentees from the bird list are Whitethroat and Chaffinch. I fear we may miss out on Whitethroat.
I can’t recall the last time I saw or heard Chaffinch. They’ve also gone from my garden. But I was pleased Peter got Greenfinch – that’s another problem bird.
The two Mistle Thrushes certainly suggest that these birds are nesting somewhere close.
Wow! Four Red Kites that must be a first for Brook Meadow.
And yes, we have some monster Owls to look forward to!!


This morning I went down to Slipper Millpond to have a look at the Canada Goose which was well settled on its nest on the centre raft. The myriad of protective wires erected by the Slipper Millpond Association to deter the Great Black-backed Gulls had clearly not put off the Canadas.   However, sadly, there was no sign of the Great Black-backed Gulls which have presumably given up trying to nest on the pond after 10 successful years.
There is a nice collection of freshly flowering grasses on the grass verge at the bottom of Queen Street where it joins the main A259: False Oat-grass, Cocksfoot, Soft Brome and Tall Fescue.  Here’s a Cocksfoot with a fine inflorescence.

My first Yarrow is in flower on the roadside south of Peter Pond. Hoary Cress is in bud at the start of the path to Gooseberry Cottage.

I met Malcolm who pointed out a Magpie nest high in one of the cluster of Crack Willow trees south of Frank’s seat.   Walking up the main river path we both heard and got a sighting of the resident Cetti’s Warbler but no photo.
However, Malcolm did get a photo of one of two Chiffchaffs that we saw actively feeding in bushes on the west bank south of the north bridge.

He also got a 7-spot Ladybird and the first Nursery-web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) of the year.


MONDAY APRIL 25 – 2022
Brook Meadow
This morning I met Neil Botterill and Malcolm Phillips on the south bridge with cameras at the ready. Neil had a photo on his camera of a family of 7 Mallard ducklings from near the north bridge.  All but one had gone when Malcolm got a photo the next day.   That’s the way of the Mallard world!

Neil also saw the Moorhen that had been nesting on the north bend of the river with two chicks. She originally had three, but Neil thought she was protecting the two remaining chicks very well so they could be lucky and survive.
Neil also saw a Long-tailed Tit with insects in its beak visiting a nest located in the brambles below the westerly of the two Black Poplar trees. That’s very promising.
We examined a bright blue beetle on the south bridge handrail which looked like an Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica aini). These insects regularly ravage the lone Alders on the Lumley area.
Walking up the south path Neil pointed out the very prominent Kestrel nest erected by Network Rail last week on a tall Crack Willow.
Later we discovered Network Rail workers installing an Owl box on the western Black Poplar; there’s a second one to go in on the other side of the meadow.

Finally, Malcolm and I stopped to look at the two Kingfisher nesting tunnels that Network Rail installed above the retaining sleepers on the north bend of the river. The group really needs to record locations of all these installations with grid refs.
Whilst watching the Network Rail lads put up the first owl box, Neil had the good fortune to see three birds of prey flying over the meadow: Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Red Kite. Just shows the value of looking up from time to time!

Meanwhile Malcolm spent his time looking down at ‘bugs’. There were several which I did not have a clue about.   However, he did get another Large Red Damselfly and a Cranefly (species unknown).

Best of all was this splendid Ichneumon Wasp with a long ovipositor and bright red legs. I would hazard a guess at Pimpla rufipes, but I shall pass this one over to David Search for his opinion.

PS Malcolm badly wants a computer.  In the meantime he has to get the images printed from his camera then take photos of the prints with his phone to send to me.  What a palaver.  Does anyone have an old laptop they could let him have?


SUNDAY APRIL 24 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I went for a walk through the meadow this morning. Weather fine and sunny.
Kathy and her husband were at work in the tool store. Here is Kathy writing up the inventory of tools.
Both male and female flowers are now showing well on the young Oaks on the Seagull Lane patch. Male flowers are easy to see as long yellow catkins in bunches on the previous year’s growth. Female flowers, from which the acorns develop, are less conspicuous; they have dark red stigmas on erect stalks from new shoots.

Just for interest here are close-up shots I got of the male and female using my new digital microscope.

I had a mooch around the orchid area. I found several rosettes of spotted orchid leaves on the northern section where the hybrid orchids (Dactylorhiza x grandis) were last year. Judging from their size I suspect this is what they are.   The plain Southern Marsh Orchid leaves are harder to spot.
Ribwort Plantain is in flower on the orchid area along with lots of Meadow Buttercups but no Cuckooflowers as yet.
I came across several tufts of Distant Sedge on the orchid area, but I have never seen Divided Sedge on this area. I suspect it needs the saline influence that it get on the Lumley area.
The eastern section of the Lumley area is carpeted by the slivery leaves of Silverweed.
Butterflies seen today included Orange Tip, Green-veined White, and Peacock.
On the bird front I heard three Blackcaps singing this morning, but Chiffchaffs were quiet.   I have not yet had a Whitethroat on Brook Meadow, they are often a bit late arriving.
A Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the railway embankment – I don’t recall having heard it from there before.
I disturbed a Grey Heron fishing in the River Ems. It flew south towards Peter Pond.
Malcolm Phillips got a nice photo of the resident Mistle Thrush on the orchid area yesterday. He also got a photo of the first Large Red Damselfly of the year.


WEDNESDAY APRIL 20 – 2022
Marlpit Lane
I drove over to Marlpit Lane at Woodmancote to check on the Nightingales which have already been reported singing there.   This is historically a good area for Nightingales, though their numbers have gone down over the past 20 years or so.   I arrived at about 11-30am and parked in the lay-by by the footpath entrance. Nightingales sing day and night. I walked up the lane to the top and back, but heard nothing. I then walked up the footpath going east, passing the large area of grassland which used to be gravel pits. Again, no sound of any Nightingale, but that does not mean they are not here, just not singing.
I was pleased to see several interesting plants along the path including what I think are native Bluebells, a patch of Wild Strawberry flowers and masses of Ground-ivy.

Other sightings included Orange Tip and Green-veined White butterflies, an early Large Red Damselfly and several Bee-flies.   

Wild Clary
On the way home I stopped at the northern end of Christopher Way to check on the Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) that has been growing on the council mown grass verge for many years.   It was good to see these rare plants (probably the rarest in Emsworth!) still thriving despite of (or maybe because of) regular Council mowing.   Some plants benefit from regular mowing which removes competition. There are about 20 Wild Clary plants on this verge and they are just starting to flower in purple spikes.
I first discovered these plants when surveying the local roadside verges prior to setting up the Friends of Emsworth Waysides Group in 2011.   Their identification was confirmed by BSBI Hants Recorder Martin Rand Martin who said it was a first record for the 10km square SU70. Martin thought it was unlikely to be a garden escape. It was more likely to be a native and maybe either a survival of earlier times or an arrival under its own steam.


TUESDAY APRIL 19 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Morning walk through Brook Meadow. Cetti’s Warbler still singing well from the west bank below the north bridge. I met Malcolm Phillips hugging his new camera. He got a photo of a Goldcrest from the south bridge. He tells me that Maurice will let him have an old laptop that he does not use.

I had another Green-veined White in Palmer’s Road Copse actively moving around the Garlic Mustard plants. I got two photos of the same insect (a spring brood male?): one showing the almost white upper wings and the other showing the heavily veined under wings.

Long yellow catkins are now falling from the tall Basford Willows on the south side of Palmer’s Road Car Park.


MONDAY APRIL 18 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a walk through the meadow on a fine sunny morning. I was very pleased to get a good view of the Mistle Thrush that Peter Milinets-Raby saw feeding on the short grass on the orchid area yesterday. It seems to favour that area and flies to and from the trees on the east side of the meadow.   Mistle Thrush has been a very scarce visitor to Brook Meadow over the past 10 years, so this was a very welcome sighting. Let’s hope it stays to breed.
I happened to meet Malcolm Phillips who also saw the Mistle Thrush and managed to get a shot of it with his new (second hand) camera. It was so good to see Malcolm with a camera again.
Malcolm and I then had a look at the Moorhen nest on the west bank of the river near the north bend. There were three chicks in the nest with the parent bird scuttling around at the back.
Here’s a video clip I got of the chicks.

Three Blackcaps were singing on the meadow, so it looks as if they have arrived in force.  However, still no sight or sound of Whitethroat.

Butterflies seen included . . . Green-veined White (male spring brood) ? and Speckled Wood.
Plus Orange Tip (no photo)

The Greater Celandines that I nurtured from seeds collected from Lumley Mill are now in flower next to Brian’s Oak on the Seagull Lane patch. Those planted near the tool store are yet to flower.


TUESDAY APRIL 12 – 2022
Brook Meadow
There was lots of bird song on this warm spring morning. After a gap of almost 2 weeks it was good to hear two Blackcaps singing again, one in Palmer’s Road Copse and one in the north west corner. Let’s hope these two stay and are joined by others. I also heard two Chiffchaffs plus several of the usual residents: Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon.   I have yet to hear either Greenfinch or Chaffinch this year. These two birds have undergone catastrophic population declines over the past 10 years or so.
The regular Cetti’s Warbler was belting out its song from the river on the west side of the meadow. We have heard this bird several times from this area so let’s hope it will be breeding.

The Ransoms (Wild Garlic) planted by Dan 4 years ago in the north-east corner are looking good. They are in flower and have multiplied!
Meadow Foxtail is flowering well on the north meadow, many plants with anthers well developed.
Distant Sedge is now widely distributed on the Lumley area, but it was good to find one tuft with some flowering spikes on the main orchid area on the north meadow. Unusual in that area.
Meadow Foxtail                                      Distant Sedge

Great Burnet is showing up well with clumps of fresh green leaves now prominent on the southern part of the main orchid area. It won’t be in flower for another month. Grid Ref: SU 75 060 06 118
Here is the Lords and Ladies spadix that I missed out from yesterday’s blog


MONDAY APRIL 11 – 2022
Brook Meadow
The hanging flowers of Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula) are now showing well along the path through Palmer’s Road Copse. This is the best area for these attractive plants on the Brook Meadow site.
Look out also for Lords and Ladies plants – you can just make out their upright pencil-like spadix inside the green spathes.

The tiny white flowers of Garlic Mustard are now out along the Palmer’s Road Copse path.  There will be lots more everywhere in the next few weeks.
I found two clusters of Wavy Bitter-cress, one of the now dry river bank in Palmer’s Road Copse and the other along the still quite damp Bramble path through the south meadow.
Wavy Bitter-cress generally prefers wet conditions in contrast to the very similar Hairy Bittercress which prefers dry conditions. The most reliable way of separating them is by the number of stamens in the flowers; Wavy has 6 stamens while Hairy has 4.

Meanwhile, the sedges are growing well on the Lumley area: today I found several fresh tufts of Distant Sedge (Carex distans) for the first time this year.
There are lots more brown spikes of the nationally scarce Divided Sedge (Carex divisa) in this area. That takes this year’s sedges list to 6 out of the 10 recorded last year.
Distant Sedge                                                                Divided Sedge

Leaves and flower buds are now showing well on the Rowans in the Gwynne Johnson plantation on the east side of the north meadow. Soon they will be covered in white blossom.


SATURDAY APRIL 9 – 2022
Wildflower planting
I met Dan Mortimer on Brook Meadow at 10.30am to plant the wildflower plugs that I have nurtured at home. All were in small fibre pots to facilitate planting.   Dan did all the planting, I just supervised and took some photos.
Six different species of native meadow flowers were planted which Brook Meadow did, could or should have hosted in the past: Betony, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Field Scabious, Selfheal and Marsh-marigold – the latter for stream edges.  The new plants are fairly small and there’s certainly no guarantee that they will take and survive.  However, it’s worth a try. And no harm done.
We planted 5 Betony, 5 Bird’s-foot Trefoil and 5 Field Scabious in small groups on the main orchid area.  Here’s Dan planting on the main orchid area
We also planted 5 Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil and 5 Selfheal in two groups on the Lumley area; these latter plants all favour a wetter habitat. The groups of plants were marked with sticks and grid refs were taken. Here’s Dan on the Lumley area.
Finally, we planted 5 Marsh-marigold plants in two groups of 3 and 2 on the west bank of the Lumley Stream. A further 5 Marsh-marigolds remain to be planted on the river bank in Palmer’s Road Copse in the near future.  Here’s Dan at the Lumley Stream.

Here’s a couple of the plantings: Betony and Field Scabious.

Here are the grid refs.
Field Scabious 5 (orchid area) – SU 75 065 06 142
Bird’s-foot Trefoil 5 (orchid area) – SU 75 062 06 144
Betony 5 (orchid area) – SU 75 062 06 147
Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil 5 (Lumley area) – SU 75 125 06 032
Selfheal 5 (Lumley area) – SU 75 122 06 030
Marsh-marigold 3 (Lumley Stream) – SU 75 153 06 043
Marsh-marigold 2 (Lumley Stream) – SU 75 161 06 038

Please note: New plants must not be planted on Brook Meadow without the permission of the conservation group.

Other observations
Glaucous Sedge is now showing on the Lumley area.
Small White was flying in the Lumley area. Still no sign of Orange Tip.
We met Malcolm Phillips who told us he had just seen the Pike in the river in Palmer’s Road Copse.
At the end of the planting session, I spotted 4 bracket fungi on a tree on the southern edge of the Lumley area. They are easily seen to the left of the tall Black Poplar from the path round the Lumley area. The fungi are tough to the touch, white on top and brown underneath. A Ganoderma species?  Interesting.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.
Photos show upper cap and under the cap.


MONDAY APRIL 4 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I walked though the meadow early this afternoon.   I noticed the Oak that I planted in 2012 in the Seagull Lane patch has now lost its leaves after retaining them through the winter period. So marcescence lasts until April.   Fresh green leaves are starting to sprout.
The first spikes of Pendulous Sedge are out on the river bank by the S-bend. Probably also in Palmer’s Road Copse. On time.
While walking up the main river path, I spotted a micro-moth on a Dandelion flower.   I thought at first it was the Mint Moth (Pyraustra aurata) which is a fairly common sighting on Brook Meadow and in local gardens, but it is a bit early for that one.   Based purely on visual similarity, I think it could be the earlier emerging Straw-barrel Pearl Moth (Pyraustra despicata).  Habitat grassland. Larvae feed on Plantains. Season mid-April to Sept. (Brock p.328). Sounds good.


SUNDAY 3rd APRIL 2022
Wildlife observations during work session
Neil Botterill brought along a small pot of Snake’s head Fritillaries in flower in a pot from his mother’s garden for Brook Meadow.

We planted them in a wet area on the east side of the Lumley area. Let’s hope they survive. We lost all the Snake’s head Fritillary bulbs that we planted a couple of years ago on the north meadow.
Dan informed me that Malcolm Phillips had found a Moorhen’s nest on the west bank of the river at the north bend, beneath the tall Alder tree. He thinks there are two eggs in the nest.
Dan and Maurice erected an open fronted nesting box which Colin had donated on one of the Cherry trees at the northern edge of the north meadow near the brambles. This should be suitable for Robins and possibly Blackbirds.
A hoverfly was feeding on a Dandelion flower on the play area. This looks like a Syrphus ribesii which is fairly common on Brook Meadow.
I was also pleased to see a Small Tortoiseshell feeding on Dandelion in the same area.

A Blackcap was singing from the Pussy Willows in the Lumley copse. This is the third Blackcap we have heard this spring. Two Chiffchaffs were also singing.


THURSDAY MARCH 31 – 2022
Greater Celandine
For this morning’s walk I took the route along the Seagull Lane path to Lumley Mill mainly to check on the Greater Celandine.  I was sad to find the plants were no longer on the edge of the path by the bridge, where they have grown for as long as I can remember.   The regular weeding along the path has finally done for them. I am thankful I collected some seeds from the plants a couple of years ago and brought them on for planting on Brook Meadow. So, the Greater Celandine lives!

Mute Swan nest
The pair of Mute Swans are nesting on the east bank of Peter Pond as they did last year. They are right outside Dan’s house so we hope to get regular updates. Last year they produced 6 cygnets of which 4 survived – is that correct Dan?   Is there any Mute Swan nesting on Slipper Millpond as happened last year?

Mining bee
Much too cold for butterflies today, but I did catch a small mining bee on Dandelion similar to the one that Neil Botterill got last week which he identified as Andrena apicata.
As there are 67 species in this genus and none are easy to identify I think I shall just call it Andrena species.

Neil Botterill commented: Yes that’s the same species! So they must be local, Id guide has confusion species, which has golden hairs in the black bands, these clearly don’t, pure black bands, so I’m fairly certain on my id, but stick with generic until we can get some confirmation


TUESDAY MARCH 29 – 2022
Brook Meadow
A second Blackcap was singing from the river bank trees above the north bridge. It is not unusual for these early migrants to stop by and carry on further north.
A pair of two Grey Wagtails flew down river from the north bridge. That’s good news as it should mean these attractive birds may be breeding on Brook Meadow.
Three-cornered Garlic is starting to flower outside the Seagull Lane gate – the earliest on record.
The Greater Celandine plants that I grew from seeds collected from plants growing on the path near the bridge at Lumley Mill seem to be growing well on the edge of the path leading to the tool store and under the log seat on the play area.   They should be showing large floppy yellow flowers soon. Note they are not related to the more common Lesser Celandine.
Green Alkanet is a new plant for Brook Meadow not recorded since 2009, but is currently in flower on the north path close to the stack of logs. Maybe it came in with the logs?
Also in flower nearby is what I think is Wood Forget-me-not with very hairy leaves.   Sorry, I am no good on Forget-me-nots!
Some of the Dock leaves on the play area are infected with what looks like Ramularia rubella. This fungal disease is common on Dock leaves, especially Broad-leaved Docks, and produces red spots. It does not kill the plants but does impair their functioning.
The second of the two pond sedges, Lesser Pond Sedge, is now flowering with dark brown spikes on the banks of the River Ems on the west side of Brook Meadow. Greater Pond Sedge is already in flower on the east side of Brook Meadow near the Lumley Stream.
There are now masses of Silverweed leaves on the Lumley area.  These leaves are attractive, but relatively few of them will flower. The flowers will have 5 yellow petals.
The two large Black Poplars to the north of the Lumley area are currently decorated with thin yellow-green catkins which I have established in previous years are female flowers. Later in April it is quite an experience to stand beneath the trees as hundreds of tiny green seeds cascade down, hitting the ground like tiny pellets of hail. Male catkins are fatter and red and give pollen.
These two Poplars were planted on the meadow in November 2004 in memory of Frances Jannaway’s mother. A third one planted at the same time died. They are hybrids, but which hybrid they are I am not completely sure. The Collins Tree Guide has a section devoted to Black Poplar hybrids, some of which are female clones and others male clones. Of the female clones I am tempted by ‘Florence Biondi’ (p,158) from its description as straight stemmed, graceful with fairly sparse foliage denser at the crown.

Our Goat and Grey Willows are all currently displaying catkins of both sexes. Both Willows are dioecious ie they are either male or female. The Goats, mostly on the east side of the north meadow with green catkins are all female, whereas the Greys on the edge of the Lumley area, are male with yellow ‘pussy’ catkins.

To distinguish Goat from Grey Willows it is necessary to examine the wood beneath the bark on twigs, which is smooth in Goat and ridged in Grey. Blamey, Fitter and Fitter suggest looking at twigs from 2-5 years old.

I was interested to see a number of Bumblebees feeding on the female Goat Willow catkins which made me wonder what they find to eat since there cannot be any pollen.  Checking on the internet I discovered that although only male catkins produce pollen, catkins of both sexes produce nectar which attracts Bumblebees. Hence they carry pollen from the male flowers to fertilise the females.


MONDAY MARCH 28 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Another nice spring-like morning for a walk through the meadow. Blackthorn blossom is showing well beside the interpretation board at the Seagull Lane gate. Two Bumblebees were feeding on the White Dead-nettle flowers on the Seagull Lane patch: B. pascuorum (Carder Bee) – all ginger. B. terrestris – dark with yellow bands on thorax and abdomen.

A bright Comma resting on some cut wood on the play area was my only butterfly of the morning.

My neighbour told me she had seen a Orange Tip in her Victoria Road garden.   I did not see one on Brook Meadow today but they should be out in the next week or so weather permitting.
The Lumley area is carpeted with the bright yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine, thousands of them. They are having a bumper year. But no sign of Cuckooflowers as yet.
Our prize sedge – Divided Sedge (Carex divisa) – is just starting to show its brown flower spikelets on the Lumley area near the solitary Alder sapling. There are hundreds still to come.
My best sighting of the morning was of a male Blackcap in Palmer’s Road Copse near the south bridge, just arrived ‘home’ from the Mediterranean and singing its heart out.   A short but beautiful fluty song.   I managed to locate the bird in the trees and got a photo and a video clip. I expect it will soon be joined by others in the next week or so. We usually have 4/5 singing males on Brook Meadow.

I addition to the Blackcap there were two Chiffchaffs singing, one on the north meadow and one of the south meadow. I expect their numbers to increase too in the next few weeks. Whitethroat is our other main summer visitor which will not be here before early to mid April as it has much further to travel than the Chiffchaff and Blackcap from its African wintering grounds. Numbers of Whitethroat fluctuate with weather conditions in Western Africa.
Stock Dove calling in Palmer’s Road Copse. They nest in tree holes somewhere in the copse.
Malcolm Phillips sent me a grainy photo of a Treecreeper that he got on one of the Crack Willow trees in Palmer’s Road Copse two days ago.   They are regular in the copse, but this was our first sighting of the year. Thanks Malcolm. Malcolm does not have his real camera, so has to make do with his phone.


THURSDAY MARCH 24 – 2022
Butterbur count
A count of the number of Butterbur flower spikes on Brook Meadow is carried out each year in late March before they get buried beneath the surrounding vegetation. All the Brook Meadow plants are male; the nearest female plants are on the Langbrook Stream at Langstone.
Here are the results of this year’s count carried out this morning by Dan Mortimer, Colin Brotherston, Neil Botterill and Brian Fellows.  Dan had already collected a number of long Willow sticks to mark out sections on the area below the seat for the counts.
Dan and Neil did the counting of the main area, two sections at a time while Colin adjusted the sticks marking the sections as each count was completed. Counts were also carried out on some of the subsidiary areas where Butterbur has grown in the past.

Dan and Neil carrying out the Butterbur count on the main area below the seat. 

Dan, Neil and Colin after the count

Results
As shown in the chart this year’s total number of Butterbur flower spikes came to 609. This is a little down on last year, but much in line with the average over the last 7 years, apart from 2020 which was exceptionally low.

Here is a breakdown of the count numbers:
Main area below seat = 556.
Lower path through the meadow where many spikes had been trodden on by walkers = 33.
Upper path along river bank = 12
South meadow (very overgrown) = 1
East end of causeway by Lumley gate = 7 (well down on previous years)

As in all recent years the vast majority (91%) of the Butterbur flower spikes were on the area immediately in front of the main seat with relatively few on the subsidiary sites.

This has not always been the case for in the early years before 2010 the majority of spikes were in what we now call the subsidiary sections, particularly along the river bank. The large increase since 2010 has been due to the spread of the Butterbur plants under the path and onto the main meadow below the seat. They propagate by underground rhizomes.
Finally, here’s a cracking close-up shot of a Butterbur flower spike from Neil Botterill.


WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was a lovely warm spring morning. Lots of butterflies on the wing including 2 Commas, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock and Brimstone.  Orange Tip is the next spring butterfly to look out for – probably early April. Holly Blue should also be out by then.

Comma . . . . Small Tortoiseshell

The first brown spikes of Greater Pond Sedge are now showing by the Lumley Stream – photo on the left.   These are the first of the sedges to flower on Brook Meadow and significantly this is the earliest ever date I have recorded of its flowering on the meadow.
Field Horsetail spikes coming through nice both on the main orchid area and on the Lumley area – photo on right.

The male Osier catkins are showing on the east side of the orchid area on the north meadow. Here’s a nice group lined up along a twig like tiny yellow birds.
Chiffchaff was singing in Lumley copse near the Lumley Stream, but no Blackcap as yet. They should be here soon.
I happened to meet Neil Botterill who at the time was deeply engaged taking macro photos of the Butterbur and Lesser Celandine flowers on the area below the seat.

Neil is new to Emsworth and attended last Thursday’s work session. With his interest in wildlife photography Neil is a very welcome member of the group. I invited him to come along to the Butterbur count tomorrow to give a hand.
Neil was also pleased to get a close shot of one of the Commas on the Lumley area.

Here is Neil’s cracking shot of the Comma . . . .

Neil also got a photo of a solitary mining bee which he identified as Andrena apicata – feeding on a Dandelion flower.  I have checked through some of our insect surveys and did not find this one mentioned.  So this could be a first for Brook Meadow.  Nice one, Neil.


First Hedgehog
I was very pleased to get my first Hedgehog of the year last night on the trail camera in the garden. So, they are back!   I will put the camera on the patio tonight with food. The Fox was prowling around the garden on and off through the night.


FRIDAY MARCH 18 – 2022
Signcase boards
Dan collected the three signcase boards from my house this afternoon. I have given the new spring update boards a fresh coat of buttercup yellow paint as well as new displays. Dan took all three display boards to Brook Meadow in his car to install them in the signcases. Here he is cleaning and installing the first one in the signcase by the north bridge.   Dan does a really good job and I am grateful to him as I could not manage them myself.
Here are the three updated displays


THURSDAY 17 March 2022
Wildlife observations – from Brian
A Cetti’s Warbler was singing briefly from the river bank south of the north bridge – our first sighting/hearing of 2022. Cetti’s Warbler is a fairly regular spring visitor to Brook Meadow sometimes staying until June.
Two Chiffchaffs were singing, one from Seagull Lane patch and one from Lumley copse. I suspect at least one of these birds is an over winterer. The other may be an early migrant arrival.
Green Woodpecker was calling – yaffling – from the north-east corner area of north meadow.
At least two yellow Brimstones were seen by volunteers during the work session.
Dan also reported see a Peacock butterfly.
While I was resting on my favourite log seat in the ‘play area’ a rather tatty Small Tortoiseshell came to feed on a Dandelion flower.

After a bit of searching I managed to find first Meadow Foxtail flower spike of the year on the east side of the north meadow. This equals the previous earliest date in 2020. I also had the first Field Horsetail on the main orchid area. This is a new record first date for this common plant.


SATURDAY MARCH 12 – 2022
Brook Meadow
A good sign of the arrival of spring was a Chiffchaff singing near the north bridge, probably the same bird that Graham Petrie heard on Mar 9. This is more likely to be an over wintering bird rather than an early migrant. I have often seen and heard a Chiffchaff calling from the tree near the bridge during the winter period. However, migrants are on their way and will soon be adding their metronomic ‘chiff-chaff’ songs to the daily chorus. Here’s a photo of a spring Chiffchaff that Malcolm Phillips got on Brook Meadow a few years ago.
The first of the male catkins are now forming on the Osiers on the east side of the north meadow.
The first Greater Periwinkle flowers are open below the east side of the south bridge. There’s a mass of plants in this area, so we should have a good showing.
I met Malcolm Phillips on the river bank in Palmer’s Road Copse. He told me he had just seen two Pike in the river close to the old Water Vole raft – not good news for the return of our Water Voles!! Annoyingly the Pike had moved on before I arrived, but it is worth looking closely at this area of the river when you are passing. Malcolm got a reasonable picture of one on his phone – as he still has no camera.  He thinks it was about 2 feet in length.

Sadly, Malcolm is still waiting for accommodation as the offer of temporary accommodation in Chichester did not materialise.

Hedgehogs wake up
Caroline French reports that hedgehog(s) have been visiting her garden in north Emsworth again for food this past week. She hadn’t seen any sign of them since October and feared they had gone locally. Although they hibernate Caroline usually gets at least occasional visits into December when the weather is mild.

Fox in garden
Meanwhile, I have been putting the trail camera out overnight on the patio in my garden here in central Emsworth along with a bowl of Hedgehog food. The only takers so far are the regular Fox and several domestic cats. Last night I reset the camera to record 30 sec video lengths which was much better than 10 sec previously used.
The Fox first arrived at 20.18 which was quite early. He warily looked up at our window where the light may well have been on before settling down to sample the Hedgehog food which had already been picked at by one of the local cats. They all seem to like it. The Fox came through another couple of times in the night, though by then the food had gone.


THURSDAY MARCH 10 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Interesting plants in flower just inside the Seagull Lane gate include Petty Spurge and Ivy-leaved Speedwell. Both are very ancient introductions to this country but now widely established ‘weeds’ of gardens, roadsides, etc.
We have not recorded Petty Spurge for a few years, so it’s nice to have it back. It can flower in any month of the year.
Ivy-leaved Speedwell has tiny pinkish flowers which come out in spring, but the plant is mainly distinctive for its Ivy-shaped leaves. No other Speedwell has leaves this shape.
Some of the Butterbur flower spikes are now fully grown on the area below the main seat, so counting is not far away, probably in 2 weeks time.
There’s a fine clump of Summer Snowflake in full flower in Palmer’s Road Copse near the path.
I watched a Blue Tit investigating the concrete nest box in the tall tree next to the signcase in Palmer’s Road Copse. It was pecking the edges of the entrance hole which they do when preparing to nest.

Cherry Laurel is now in bud behind the recycling bins in Palmer’s Road Car Park.
I found a dead Bumblebee on the path, seemingly without damage, presumably having died from ‘natural causes’. From the yellow bands on the front of the thorax and on the abdomen and white tail I am fairly sure this is a Bombus terrestris. Queen Bumblebees emerge in February and look for suitable nesting sites in underground holes. I have seen several during my walks over the past week or so. Sadly, this lady will not be nesting.
I met Malcolm Phillips who reported having seen the Pike in the river in Palmer’s Road Copse.  Malcolm has been offered temporary accommodation in Chichester which will enable him to leave the Jingles where he has been living since returning from Cuba.

Railway tree planting
I happened to meet three yellow-jacketed railway people who were surveying the railway embankment from the north path of Brook Meadow. The young lady introduced herself as the ecologist responsible for planting trees on the embankments. The small plantation of saplings on the embankment near the tunnel in the north-east corner were listed as follows: Beech, Privet, Cherry, Hawthorn, Holly, Hazel, Blackthorn, Oak, Willow, Elder.


Fox in garden
I heard a Fox barking in our garden at night recently, so decided to put out a trail camera to try to catch him.   Last night I got some good pictures and videos clips of what I assume is the same young Fox that I used to catch on camera with Hedgehogs during the summer. I put some Hedgehog food down which I thought might tempt him to hang around for a while and it worked.


WEDNESDAY MARCH   9 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Graham Petrie and Malcolm Phillips had some good sightings on the meadow today.
Graham got this cracking photo of our Water Rail – his first since Sept 2015.

Of more interest Graham heard the first Chiffchaff song of the year  This may well be from an overwintering bird limbering up for spring rather than an early migrant

Malcolm saw three butterflies. He apologised for the photos as he only has his phone to rely on, but ‘you can see what they are’. Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. Graham also saw a Small Tortoiseshell. Spring is here!!

Graham also saw these attractive Mediterranean Gulls on Slipper Millpond


WEDNESDAY MARCH 2 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Blackthorn is definitely in flower in Palmer’s Road Copse.
There’s lots of Hartstongue Fern in the wet soak away area beneath the east end of the south bridge.
I noticed some white crusty fungus growth on a twig on the ground near the south path. I think it could be Netted Crust fungus.
Blackbird singing well on the meadow. First of its spring songs.
I got a clear view of the Water Rail on the west bank of the river south of the S-bend.

I took some photos and a video which showed the Rail struggling to subdue and eat a small fish. The Water Rail’s diet is omnivorous, mainly consisting of small fish, snails and insects.


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 – 2022
Recreation Ground
Two of the large White Poplar trees in the far north west corner of the Emsworth Recreation Ground were blown down in last week’s storms.   There are others still standing, but they are all ailing. They have fallen on the area of grassland allocated as compensation for the loss of SINC land from the housing development to the north. Maybe they could be left as extra wildlife habitat?


FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25 – 2022
Brook Meadow tree work
Arriving at the north bridge this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find the large Crack Willow that had been blown over by the storm had been removed presumably by Norse. Maurice Lillie had previously organised a special work session this Sunday to tackle the tree, but it the main cutting work has been done!   However, there are lots of branches and twigs for the volunteers to clear up, so the Sunday meeting is still on.   The north path which had been blocked by the fallen tree is now open.

There’s good news for kids – cutting back the top of the fallen tree has allowed the main trunk to right itself thus restoring the log bridge across the river. This log bridge is much loved by generations of kids!
Malcolm Phillips spotted this Red Admiral on Brook Meadow today.   This is the third sighting this month of Red Admiral – truly an all year round butterfly.


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24 – 2022
Warblington Church
I always enjoy visiting Warblington Churchyard for the magnificent Yew trees which apparently are over 1,000 years old.

Yews are dioecious meaning that male and female flowers are on different plants.   Both sexes are present in the churchyard.   Currently, the male trees are loaded with clusters of pale yellow catkins which give off clouds of pollen when knocked. The female trees have small green buds which will eventually develop into the familiar red berries, or more correctly arils. In fact, I could see quite a few old berries on the trees from last year’s crop.

Some of the old gravestones in the churchyard have a rich coating of bright green feathery mosses. I have no idea what these mosses are, but they are most attractive.

On my way along Church Lane I stopped in a lay-by to check the cattle field to the west of the lane. I was pleased to see two Cattle Egrets feeding around the cattle – these attractive birds seem to have become residents in this area.   Here’s the best shot I could get with my TZ70 Lumix zoom.


Patrick Harding
I was sorry to hear that Patrick Harding, the author of two of my favourite wildlife guides, died recently at the age of 75 years. Patrick was a naturalist and lecturer in Sheffield. He wrote several books of which I have two on my regular reference shelf: ‘How to Identify Trees’ Collins 1998 and Collins Gem – ‘Mushrooms and Toadstools’ 1996.   Two really excellent basic guides, no frills, but plain good information with helpful illustrations and photos. Both are still available on eBay.


MONDAY FEBRUARY 20 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was stormy weather again for this morning’s walk on Brook Meadow.   I had to pick my way gingerly among the masses of small branches and twigs on the paths. Lots of work for the volunteers!
There is a large tree down at the end of the path from Seagull Lane completely blocking the path through to the fields to Westbourne.
I can see now what happened to the kids’ log bridge near the north bridge. The log branch got lifted up when the tree went over and is now stuck forever in the up position.
Here’s a couple of photos from my family albums showing kids using the log bridge.  Lola and Joe.

Red Dead-nettle is now flowering very nicely on the Seagull Lane patch with the more common White Dead-nettle nearby.

Bank Vole
Samantha Millington-Ringwood sent me a an interesting photo of a small mammal that she saw at the Lumley Road entrance to Brook Meadow on 19-Feb.   She said it was about 2½ inches long and quite happy munching leaves on the ground and quite unafraid of her presence.
When I first saw the photo I had a tinge of excitement – surely not a Water Vole.   But clearly at 2½ ins it was too small for a Water Vole which would be twice that size. From its small size and brownish coat it is likely to be a Bank Vole.   Our last sighting of a Bank Vole on Brook Meadow was a nest with 3 small voles discovered by Dan Mortimer under one of the reptile mats on the north meadow on 05-Oct-2021. See the following illustrated picture for the main features of a Bank Vole compared with a Water Vole.

Black Poplars
I came across this photo of our two Black Poplars in my files taken 10 years ago in 2012. They were planted as small saplings in November 2004. The one on the left was blown over in 2008 and had to be lopped and hauled back upright, but the tree has not suffered from this trauma.

Both trees continue to grace Brook Meadow in 2022 and will so for many years to come!   For comparison here’s a photo of a contemporary photo of the two trees in winter mode taken a couple of years ago.


SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19 – 2022
Brook Meadow – Storm damage
I walked over to Brook Meadow this afternoon to see the damage from storm Eunice yesterday. I met Maurice Lillie over there. Maurice had already sent round photos of the damage. Here are a few extra ones.
A big Crack Willow was down by the north bridge falling across the north path.

Blocking the north path but missing the bridge
A large branch of this tree formed a log bridge over the river  and generations of kids used to clamber along it and dangle their legs down towards the river. Sadly it is gone for good!
The Willow that had fallen blocking the main path and slightly damaging the dead hedge fence has been removed by volunteers.  This is Maurice’s photo showing it before removal.
Another huge Crack Willow has lost one of its branches at the north end of Palmer’s Road Copse – fortunately missing the signcase.
While walking down the main path from the north bridge I stopped to listen to a Song Thrush singing from a spindly tree on the meadow side of the path. I have heard this bird from this location a number of times but have never managed to locate it until today!!   Tit’s unusual for a Song Thrush to sing from a hidden location, they usually sing prominently in the open.   My guess is that this chap is a first year bird warming up with a sub song in preparation for a full bloodied one when spring properly arrives. I got some photos and a video clip of this lovely bird.
Video clip . . . https://youtu.be/esbVyZx5sn0

 


WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 16 – 2022
Brook Meadow
Morning walk through the meadow.   I was very pleased to see the Greater Celandine plants that I planted on the edge of the path leading to the tool store last autumn looking so healthy. The ones I put around my Oak are also looking OK, though they have much more competition from established plants. I grew the plants from seeds collected from the long established plants at Lumley Mill. They should be an interesting addition to the flora of Brook Meadow.
I found a rather tatty Red Admiral butterfly basking on leaves in the warm sunshine near the hedgerow on the Seagull Lane patch. This will be an over wintering insect hanging on from last year’s brood!   Only a few individuals are able to survive the British winter, mostly in the southern areas, and this little chap looks to have had a tough time, but has come through to enjoy the winter sunshine of Brook Meadow.
The Red Admiral is basically a migratory butterfly with large numbers of them flying northwards from the Mediterranean each spring and spreading across Europe, including the British Isles. They breed here but the offspring generally do not survive.

I met Pam Phillips walking down the main river path with her two dogs. She told me she had seen our Water Rail 30 mins ago scuttling around on the west bank in the usual spot in front of the metal fence.   I watched with camera at the ready for several minutes, but sadly saw nothing.

Later I encountered Malcolm Phillips on the south bridge. He’s still searching for rented accommodation for himself and wife and child who are still in Cuba but with no success. He’s getting desperate.

I popped into the Community Centre where I met my daughter-in-law Karen the bookings secretary who was busy with leaflets and bookings. It’s good to see the centre buzzing with activity again after the lockdown.   The new kitchen and coffee area is very smart with tables and chairs.


TUESDAY FEBRUARY 15 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I walked through a very wet Brook Meadow this morning. The first Summer Snowflake flower is out by my Oak on the Seagull Lane patch. That’s early, but not a record – they were out in January in 2016.  This plant is inappropriately named as it always flowers in spring!
Workers in yellow overalls were cutting down brambles and other shrubs on the railway embankment.
Butterbur is just starting to sprout leaves, but no sign of flowers.
Cherry Plum is in full blossom on the causeway, white flowers in nice contrast with the yellow of Gorse.
There are a some pretty Crocuses in flower on the Lumley Path. Also bright orange Stinking Iris berries.

Snowdrops are in flower on the Lumley Path and on the east side of the Lumley Stream from Lumley Road.


FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I met Malcolm Phillips as arranged at 11am on the south bridge. It was good to see him again after several years away from Emsworth in Cuba, though minus his prized camera which he had to sell for the air fare over. Malcolm made a great contribution to the wildlife records and images on Brook Meadow while he was here and we missed him when he went.  He is currently looking for somewhere to rent in Emsworth for himself and his Cuban wife and child, not an easy task in the present situation with large demand for rented property and high rents.
We had a stroll along the cleared west bank of the river where we met Aaron Rose who was looking in the river for fish. Both Malcolm and Aaron told me they had recently seen a 2 foot long Pike in the river which is certainly not good news for the possible return of Water Voles.
On the other side of the river, Maurice Lillie and Reg Newnham were walking along the recently cleared east bank of the river – exploring the possibility of a new path maybe?
Malcolm and I made our way along the path to Gooseberry Cottage where we stopped at Peter Pond to admire and wonder at the new channel through the reedbeds dug entirely by hand by David Gattrell. Just by chance we happened to meet David who told us he was concerned to secure the future of the pond and thought a charitable trust could be the answer, maybe linking up with the Slipper Millpond Association. That sounds a good idea, two ponds and one nature reserve.
David showed up several large lumps of rock and stonework that the Lumley Stream had brought down. The flow can at times be quite fierce!   Here is David holding one such object!
We discussed the flow of water in the stream and David was pleased with the campaigning work of John Barker in getting Portsmouth Water to cut down on the amount of water abstracted from the River Ems. Interestingly, John Barker was recently featured in an article in The Guardian (05.02.22). Here is their photo of John beside the river which runs through his Westbourne farm.
Malcolm and I walked back through Brook Meadow along the main river path, keeping a watchful eye out for the Water Rail, but no sign of it.   We parted at the top of Seagull Lane and I wished Malcolm luck on the accommodation front and hoped to see him back on Brook Meadow in the not too distant future. We certainly miss his excellent photos.

On the way to meeting Malcolm I found some large leaves around the path through Palmer’s Road Copse near the signcase which I think are from an Indian Rubber Plant.  I have never seen anything like this before on the meadow site.   This plant is native to India and is popular as an ornamental plant in this country. I suspect the leaves come from a discarded plant.


WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was a super spring-like afternoon for a walk in the meadow. I had to keep reminding myself it was still early February.
The tiny red female flowers (easily overlooked) are now showing nicely on the Hazels in the Seagull Lane patch hedgerow alongside the large hanging male catkins. Wonder why we never see any nuts.
White Dead-nettle and Red Dead-nettle are both in flower on the Seagull Lane patch and Daffodil and Summer Snowflake in bud soon to open.
A Dandelion sun is shining brightly on the path across the meadow from the north bridge.
I stopped to take a few samples from the fine patch of Hard Rush on the centre meadow near the Cherry Plum tree – for my desk display.
I thought I saw a Water Rail on the west bank of the river near the steps to Frank’s seat but on closer inspection it turned out to be a brown juvenile Blackbird.
The Cow Parsley on the main river path is flourishing with new flowers.
Song Thrush singing strongly from the west bank trees south of the north bridge, but I just could not get a sighting of it.
The main path through the meadow laid with wood chippings on the last workday is a pleasure to walk on with other paths wet and muddy.
There’s some extra tree cutting on the centre meadow.


WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2 – 2022
Brook Meadow
It was such a lovely morning for a walk through the meadow. I met Ruth Roberts in Seagull Lane and we both agreed that spring was in the air!
I was pleased to find both White Dead-nettle and the less common Red Dead-nettle in flower on the Seagull Lane patch.
Hanging yellow male Hazel catkins are now open around the meadow.
Lungwort is now in flower for the first time this year in its regular spot on the causeway.   Exactly the same date as last year, but generally much earlier than normal.
The Gorse is looking quite glorious on the bush on the causeway and smelling good too.
Masses of fresh Cleavers leaves are growing well on the arisings tip in the far north west corner of the north meadow.
Butterbur buds are just starting to emerge on the area below the main seat. No sign of pink petals as yet, but the flowers should be showing in a few weeks time.  Then it will be time for counting!

There are a few Lesser Celandines in flower in the same area with lots more leaves.
Winter Heliotrope is past its best but there’s still plenty of flowering plants alongside the main river path. The couple of long standing Cow Parsley plants remain in flower. They have been flowering for much of the winter period.

Much more interesting is a fresh and very early flowering of Wild Angelica on the river bank opposite the Bulrushes (which aren’t there at the moment!).
The two main shapes of Ivy leaves are now showing well around the meadow.
1. Juvenile leaves of non-flowering stems with regular ‘Ivy-like’ triangular 3-5 lobed leaves.
Juvenile stems are usually seen creeping along the ground or climbing up tree trunks.
2. Mature oval or elliptical leaves of flowering stems which are now adorned with bunches of black globular berries.  Flowers need a good light to blossom on a tree or wall.
Water Mint plants are coming up again in the south east corner of the south meadow.
There’s a nice growth of Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) fungi on some dead Willow branches on the west side of path through the south meadow.   That’s the second sighting of this common fungi on Brook Meadow this year.

Birds singing included Robin now in its more vigorous spring song, Wren, Great Tit and Song Thrush.  A couple of visiting birdwatchers and I listened to a Song Thrush warming up its spring song unusually from the centre of a Bramble bush near the main river path. I don’t recall having heard a Song Thrush singing from a Bramble before.
There was no sign of the Water Rail today.

A Red Fox ran across the Lumley area towards the Lumley Stream.   I have seen it before in this area.   It is probably the same animal that Dan often picks up on the trail camera.

The southern mown circle on the north meadow has been seriously roughed up, presumably by dogs exercising there. A bit of ground disturbance is generally good for encouraging wild flowers to grow as long as it does not carry on into the growing season!   The main orchid area has also been roughed up a bit though not to the same extent.
Piles of tree cuttings on the south meadow – no doubt from the work of Maurice and Nigel in clearing the east bank.


MONDAY JANUARY 31 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I walked into Palmer’s Road Copse this morning. A fine entrance to our Local Nature Reserve from the car park.
I was interested to see more tree cutting at the northern end of the path near the observation fence. This work opens up the area and should promote new plant growth in this shady area.
I think Maurice and Nigel have been working on the east bank to open up the view from the south bridge which is now very good. Well done.


WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26 – 2022
Water Rail
I always look for the Water Rail while walking along the main river path through Brook Meadow but rarely see it. However, this morning I was lucky and got a brief and tantalising glimpse of this elusive bird creeping though the tangled vegetation on the west bank of the river opposite the steps down to Frank’s seat. My photo shows its chestnut brown back and white barred flanks.
This is our 5th sighting of this bird which was first seen in this area by Sarah Hughes on 16-Dec-21.   All subsequent sightings have been along this same stretch of river bank, north of the S-bend, so clearly it does not go far!  It is here for the winter.

Mystery fungi
As I was walking along the north path I spotted a twig on the river bank with a growth of white fungi. I could not get down the bank  close enough to get a good look, but it looked soft and could be Jelly Tooth. If someone can retrieve the twig I might have a better idea.
Other observations
There’s been some serious tree cutting on the north path – one of the large Crack Willows by the river has been lopped – presumably initiated by Norse?
Another mystery was a yellow line painted across the path immediately beneath the steps down from the north signcase. Does anyone know what this is for?   Norse again?


SUNDAY JANUARY 16 – 2022
Brook Meadow
For the past two Sundays Maurice Lillie has organised volunteers to help clear overhanging branches from the River Ems as it flows through Palmer’s Road Copse in order to open up the view of the river from the south bridge.   Maurice reports help was supplied last Sunday by Dean Silcock and Geoffrey Whittington and today by Nigel Osborne and Nick Walker.
Maurice is to be congratulated on restoring this beautiful view which Jean and I both appreciated when walking over the bridge this morning.  Maurice also reports meeting an elderly gentleman walking over the bridge hand in hand with a small girl. The girl said “Hey Gramps, look at that view”. Maurice comments – “I think that is all the reward we need when doing that sort of task.”


TUESDAY JANUARY 11 – 2022
Brook Meadow
I had a gentle walk through the meadow this morning. I kept to the main paths as the meadow itself remains very wet after rain.
It was good to see the Hazel catkins now plump and almost open on the bush next to the north bridge.
Walking down the main river path I spotted the bright orange fruits (called arils) on the Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonicus) bush on the west bank south of the north bridge. This evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves and tiny white flowers was first identified on Brook Meadow in 2011 with help from Ralph Hollins.   It is native to Japan, Korea and China.   It is popular as an ornamental plant in UK and has a number of cultivars with variegated leaves.
As I walked down the main path I looked closely at the river and banks for any sign of Water Rail but I did not see anything. Song Thrush, Wren and Robin were singing.

Later on I came across a bush with glossy evergreen slightly serrated  leaves on the Brook Meadow side of the Lumley Path just east of the footbridge which looks like Cherry Laurel.
We have three more Cherry Laurels on the Brook Meadow site in Palmer’s Road Copse behind the recycling bins, but I have not noticed this one before despite having walked past it hundreds of times!   Cherry Laurel sports showy spikes of aromatic flowers in spring and early summer.   It is not a native plant but is now well established in the wild.

The Stinking Iris plant at the end of the Lumley Path where it joins Lumley Road now has clusters of bright orange berries. This plant was first recorded at this site in 2003 and is still going strong!
The leaves of what I think are Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) are now showing well in the hedgerow on the edge of Lumley Road just north of the drive to Gooseberry Cottage. I have never been totally sure of the identification of this plant, though its delicate pointed leaves have always seemed to me to indicate Wild Privet rather than Garden Privet which has fleshier more rounded leaves. But I could be wrong!

For earlier blogs go to . . . https://www.brookmeadow.org.uk/wildlife-news-archives/2021-jul-dec/

Comments are closed.