The Naturalists' Notebook

(Report by John Clegg. Pictures by Dave Hardy.)  Six members met at Ormskirk and a further two at Parbold for our five mile walk on this sunny day.

We started by walking along the canal with Swallows and Swifts flying overhead and Mallards on the water. We soon had a good view of a Whitethroat singing at the top of a tree. At Bridge 40 we walked down from the canal to the bridge over the River Douglas in the hope of a Kingfisher, but not today. While we ate our lunches we saw Orange Tip butterflies.After lunch we crossed Bridge 40 into a small wood, then out onto farmland. Jackdaws and Pheasants were about, along with Peacock butterflies. In the Fairy Glen the ground was carpeted with English Bluebells, the white flowers of Ramsons (Wild Garlic) and Pink Purslane.

On the bridge over the lower waterfall we spotted a pair of Grey Wagtails feeding in the fast-flowing stream. Up the steps on the other side of the bridge we came upon a patch of Marsh Marigolds in full flower. There was another pair of Grey Wagtails at the larger, upper waterfall, and a Chiffchaff was in full song.

On leaving the Fairy Glen we had to cross the main road to get to more farmland, where we saw Lapwings and Wood Pigeons. In the woodland on the side of the fields we saw Chaffinch and Willow Warbler singing away, and there was also a Jay. In the open fields beyond a Skylard was singing high in the sky with Buzzards flying over. Around a small pool there were St Mark’s Flies.

We returned to Parbold and ended the day with a group of Swifts flying over. A good walk enjoyed by all on a very fine day.

A total of 33 bird species were seen: House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Starling, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Linnet, Skylark, Moorhen, Mallard, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Buzzard, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Pheasant, Lapwing.

Four species of Butterfly: Peacock, Orange Tip, Small White and Green-veined White.

How to get there: Train from Liverpool to Ormskirk. From Ormskirk Bus Station take bus 3A (hourly Monday to Saturday) or bus 337 (2-hourly Monday to Saturday) to Parbold shops. No Sunday bus service. Alternately, take the train from Southport or Wigan to Parbold Station.

On Sunday 22nd April, I led a foray to Freshfield Heath and Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR on behalf of the North West Fungus Group. Some of you will remember that Ken Jordan used to lead this foray in conjunction with members of MNA. The NWFG continue to honour this annual foray and it has been named by them as The Ken Jordan Memorial Foray. The foray was attended by David Bryant and Peter Gahan, the manager at Ainsdale. Despite the rain, the reserves were very dry. Peter told us that the water level was now at its lowest point ever. Because of this lack of rain, fungi were few and far between on Freshfield Heath, mainly micro fungi on twigs and the odd grassland species such as Panaeolus fimicola (Turf Mottlegill).

Ainsdale was little better. Melanoleuca cognata (Spring Cavalier) appeared on the fixed dunes.

We did find a dozen Morcella elata (Black Morels) on the dry slacks (no attached photo of them). We also found  Clitocybe vermicularis. Although not unique to Ainsdale, there is only one other confirmed site for this species – in South Devon.

Another find was the very tiny (3mm) Monilina johnsonii (Haw Goblet). This grows on old hawthorn berries. It is said to be uncommon but I suspect this is because of its small size and that you have to search for it.

Despite the freezing cold winter and very dry spring, 2011 turned out to be an excellent year for fungi, helped by the extended period of warm weather into the New Year.

A thaw in the treacherous conditions of January allowed me to take a stroll around some of my local parks in Liverpool. In a small copse of mixed pine at Allerton Tower that was clear of snow, I came across a group of Striate Earthstars –  Geastrum striatum. This is an uncommon species in this area. Samples were requested by Kew Herbarium and were duly dried and dispatched.

In April, I went with a group of friends to Ainsdale to search for spring fungi. The weather had been so hot and dry that we found very little until we reached one of the now dried-up slacks. There we counted twenty seven Black Morels – Morchella elata.  I have not seen so many since the trees were removed to encourage the return of the dune system.

At the end of last year the flowerbeds and shrubberies in Calderstones Park were heavily mulched. This proved to be a boon for the fungi. It was there, in June, that I spotted the Warty Cavalier – Melanoleuca verrucipes. Although fairly common in southern Britain, I know of only one other record for North West England, at Manchester. It is probably moving north with the warmer climate. Another specimen requested by Kew.

In August, I was asked by a colleague to find some Sand Stinkhorns so that he could photograph them for a book he was preparing. Having taken advice from the wardens we searched an area just south of Pontins Holiday Camp at Birkdale. We failed to find any but I did stumble across a Stropharia halophila in the dunes. This species is on the Red Data List (Vulnerable).  There are only three previous records on the British Database, the nearest to our area being from Westmoreland. Another specimen for Kew Herbarium.

Later that month, I was crossing over a central reservation in Allerton, Liverpool where, to my great surprise, I collected a Crimson Bolete – Rubinoboltus rubinus. This is another species on the Red Data List (Vulnerable) and was duly sent to Kew. Not a normal find on a central reservation but many of the roads in South Liverpool cut through the former estates of 19th century Liverpool merchants and still retain the trees planted in that era.

The extended warm weather in December found me in Calderstones Park again. On a mound of rotted-down garden waste I came across a group of Freckled Dapperling – Echinoderma asperum, another species moving north from warmer climes.

But more exciting, on the same mound were a couple of Golden Bootleg – Phaeolepiota aurea. Although in poor condition, the telltale sheath on the stem was obvious. They are regarded as Rare on the Red Data List but unfortunately too far past their best to send to Kew.

The most exciting discovery of the year was on an allotment in Liverpool. In 2009, I had collected an unusual specimen growing amongst the vegetables. The striking feature was the very large inflated root or sclerotia that extended deep into the soil.  I could not identify it and eventually sent specimens to Kew to see if they had any idea. In 2010, it grew again but it was only in August of 2011 that the experts at Kew were able to name it. It is Hypholoma tuberosum.  This fungus had previously been recorded in South Australia and Vancouver. This was the first time it had ever been recorded in the United Kingdom. It seems that the key is an association with peat, which many gardeners used until recent exhortations to try alternative compost resources in order to protect the dwindling peat environment. How did it find its way to Liverpool?

The fascination of collecting and studying fungi is that they can be found at any time of year in just about every habitat. They do not run or fly away. There is no need to travel far afield or search out ancient woodlands.  It is possible to find rare species, even new to the UK, in your local park or your garden.  All you need is a good sense of observation.

Despite a nagging, cold easterly breeze 15 members assembled at this large, secluded reserve hemmed in by the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. Some arrived by car, others by train into Warrington Central and then the No.3 bus to Martinscroft where at the end of the run you walk down, appropriately enough, Weir Lane. At the end of the lane you suddenly come to the Mersey with its sluices and weir over which the river cascades. Between those structures a sheet of calm water offered views of Pochard, Coot, Shelduck and a Great-crested Grebe on its nest mound in the shallows.

Canada Goose Goslings – picture by Chris Derri

Walking towards the canal  a singing Garden Warbler added variety to the Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap, a first chance to compare songs after many months of lack of practice on our part. Meanwhile, as many as eight Common Buzzards were soaring over the target area.

Using a key and a suspension bridge we gained access to Area 3 which is encircled by the Mersey. From the hides the nearby expanses of reedbed and shallow waters were the setting for numerous noisy Black-headed Gulls, Gadwall, Shoveler, Cormorants and the bird which many had come primarily to see, the Black-necked Grebe. There were a dozen, paired off, busy diving for food and closer in than usual so that a telescope was not really necessary to appreciate their fawny-yellow  feathers behind the red eye and chestnut flanks.

Black-necked Grebe – picture by Chris Derri

Members had lunch and made the most of a rare opportunity. Great-crested and Little Grebes provided a suitable contrast while Greenfinches and a Great-spotted Woodpecker hogged the feeders. Walking the grassy trails we were amazed at the large number of White-lipped Banded Snails Cepea hortensis, bright yellow and undamaged – obviously the result of some predator. Returning to the bridge the last hide offered a lone Ruddy Duck, one of the few remaining after the national cull.

Ruddy Duck and Black-headed Gull – picture by Chris Derri

We then walked along the banks of the MSC so as to walk around Area 4 to the west which is open to the public. The flora gave Bugle, Common Field Speedwell, Wood Forgetmenot, Thale Cress, Common Puffball and Winter Heliotrope. Out of the wind a solitary Speckled Wood, Red-tailed and Buff-tailed Bumble Bees and a Tawny Mining Bee added interest. Amongst the scrub coming into leaf were several Willow Warblers in song and another Garden Warbler with its prolonged warble. A first for me was a very small variety of Cramp Ball, Daldinia vernicosa, which is often found on burnt gorse and which proved to be so!