One of the (few) downsides to living in Kingsdown is that there are no old woods nearby - a short drive is needed to visit the ancient or semi-ancient woodland of the Blean, King's Wood or Ham Street Wood.We chose Park Wood near Challock, at the edge of King's Wood, in glorious sunny weather today, and it didn't disappoint. The list of bird species included Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker, three Great-Spotteds, plenty of Marsh Tits, singing Goldcrests and a single Firecrest, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, a Buzzard and hooting Tawny Owls.
This is not always the case, however, as sometimes woods can be capricious and hide all their birds, leaving the trees quiet and still.
Cuckoo-pint leaves unfurled and primrose plants emerged from the leaf-mould - a veined leaf of Wood Sage showed translucent in the sunshine.A few fungi were showing, including a strange bright-yellow jelly fungus.
And I always seek out clumps of Butcher's Broom, giving a rare piece of colour at this time of year.
6 comments:
Yellow brain is the fungi but what I would give to see Butchers broom!
Steve ,
Tremella mesenterica-YBF as Abbey Meadows says and Polyporus badius ,
unfortunately for you , both not edible .
Sounds like a great walk , especially with Lesser Spot and Firedrest .
Thank you gentlemen, I had hoped that you would provide some ID but was too shy to ask.
Nigel, NBN shows that there are some instances of BBroom in Northumberland - I assume it's rare though? It makes a great sight in a bleak winter woodland.
Thanks K. It is naturalised up here but only in a couple of locations. Hulne park (Alnwick) and Howick woods...Boulmer birders patch so I'll have to get him out looking for it!
Woods. My favorite habitat, that seems to be a particularly well inhabited woodland!
Hopeful signs of spring! I'm ready.
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