The Naturalists' Notebook

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!

Report from John Clegg

A sunny, warm morning saw ten MNA members meet at Orrell Water Park for our walk.

We started with a pair of Great Crested Grebes dancing on the largest of the lakes, with good numbers of Coots, Black-headed Gulls and Canada Geese. At the feeding station a male Sparrowhawk  was seen to put up the feeding birds, including Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blackbird and Robin.

On the bank of a stream over 100 Miner Bees were seen , including Early, Tawny and Andrena Mining Bees. On the Holly hedge we saw a number of Holly Leaf Miner beetles and a Snake Millipede.

The sunny day brought out lots of butterfiles: Large White, Green-veined White, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Peacock were all seen.  In the wood were carpets of White Wood Anemone and yellow Primrose.

A total of 21 bird species were seen on the day.

Farmyard Goose

A regular venue for MNA coach trips, Ellesmere is always a popular favourite. We arrived to scattered clouds, sunshine and a gaggle of rather vocal farmyard Geese, Greylags and Canadas all begging for food from the day-trippers. The geese looked non too impressed with Barbara’s swan and geese pellets!

Vocal Greylag Goose

Barbara And The Geese

We had a quick nose in the visitor centre at the cameras fixed on the Grey Heron nesting Heronry on the island in the mere. A couple of Mute Swans had blue darvic rings on their legs with numbers 7FID and 7FIP. These birds have been ringed by Tony Cross of the Red Kite Trust and a record of these sightings were forwarded to him. As we slowly ambled around the mere Buzzards were mewing overhead, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye were diving out at the back and Great Crested Grebes were proudly sporting their spring headdress.

Buzzard courtesy of Chris Derri

We stopped to look at a large Wellingtonia tree. Its fibrous looking trunk had a number of small indents with streaks of droppings beneath. Treecreepers snuggle into these holes to roost, their mottled back camouflaged against the trunk. Holes at various sides of the trunk are favoured depending on the wind direction.  As we entered the woodland we heard the distinctive tui-tui-tui call of a Nuthatch that was going to feature throughout the day.

Nuthatch courtesy of Chris Derri

Spring was evidently here with Chaffinches ‘pinking’, Great Tits calling ‘teacher teacher’, Wrens giving the occasional blast of song from the undergrowth accompanied by Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, a few Song Thrushes, Blue Tits, the odd Coal Tit and Goldcrest. John Clegg had a lucky sighting of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flying across the path. A Raven joined the usual corvids exclaiming ‘prunk prunk’ as it flew overhead. We were glad when we watched a couple of upended Swans through our binoculars to find that they were Whoopers. A couple of members remarked that they seem to be able to hold their breath longer than Mute Swans.

A few Spring flowers with Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara, Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria, Snowdrops and Daffodils. Fungi included Southern Bracket Ganoderma adspersum, Hairy Stereum Stereum hirsutum, Turkeytail Trametes versicolor, Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes, Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae, Coral Spot Fungus Nectria cinnabarina, Slime Mould Enteridium lycoperdon and some rather gross looking Dog Vomit Slime Mold Fuligo septica splattered over Smoky Bracket Bjerkandera adjusta.

The aptly named Dog Vomit Slime Mould

Various metal figures etc had been stuck onto some glacial erratic boulders beside the path. Modern art that had many scratching their heads!After lunch a small group of five of us walked through the small Shropshire Wildlife Trust Plantation Wood Reserve and down to the Shropshire Union Canal. 

Walked along the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal hearing a few more Nuthatch, Wrens bursting into song and a calling Chiffchaff. Two Red Legged Partidge ran across an arable field at the far side of the canal and a number of Mallard pairs sat on the edge of the towpath some dropping into the water as we walked by. Wood Anemones were in flower along the canal. It was a flat calm Blakemere with a pair of Great Crested Grebes joining the two Cormorants on the water.

Blakemere Reflections

A few Greylags and Canada Geese were next to a pair of Mallards mooching in vegetation at the edge of Blakemere. A bare tree held a further eighteen Cormorants with one individual having particularly iridescent green plumage. Another Cormorant was holding its wings outstretched although it is still not fully understood why Cormorants exhibit this behaviour. Drying their wings, cooling off due to the heat generated by digesting a fish, keeping space between birds to allow for rapid take off have all been suggested. We continued along towards Coelmere where the Star birds were the flotilla of Goosanders – mostly females looking stunning in the sunlight.

Male Goosander courtesy of Chris Derri

Notices around the lake about the invasive Killer Shrimp. We passed the Coelmere Sailing Club building a nice with herringbone chimney pot and came across a Hawthorn tree parasitized by Mistletoe.

Mistletoe courtesy of Chris Derri

As we walked up Wood Lane from Coelmere we passed a number of quaint thatched cottages. Wood Lane Quarry could be seen as we peaked through the thick holly hedge. There is a large Sand Martin colony here in the summer. Lesser Celandine and Red Dead Nettles grew along the lane edge. A Sparrowhawk flew from a tree and glided across a rolling glacial drumlin field. We nosed through the slits in a wickerwork viewing screen at the ponds of Shropshire Wildlife Trusts Wood Lane Nature Reserve. Over twenty six Lapwings along with a couple of Curlew and Oyks and a lone Common Sandpiper comprised the waders. Gadwall and Teal joined the usual Coot and Moorhen for the ducks.We continued our walk along Wood Lane passing a vocal Coal Tit and surprising a couple of Rabbits that bolted into their burrows under the Holly hedge. We crossed the main road and onto a small track leading to Whitemere where there was a few Coot and Great Crested Grebes on the water. A Red Fox was foraging along the edge on the Mere on the far side and a Buzzard was sat in a tree. We continued back along the main road to Ellesmere with aching knees but with some great sightings!

It was a great turn-out with over twenty MNA members for our visit to the Wildlife Trust Reserve at Mere Sands Wood. Commendably many arrived using public transport or shared cars. Buzzards circled over the wood, a female Kestrel perched in a small tree and Chris Butterworth caught a glimpse of an Osprey as it flew over the tree line. From Cyril Gibbons hide overlooking Mere End Lake a pair of Great-crested Grebes were in the throes of their mating dance with much head shaking and graceful mirrored movements. A gang of male Tufties mooched about the far end of the lake and a pair of Goldeneye were diving for food. Later John Clegg and co watched a Kingfisher.

As we walked through the woodland birdlife included Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker whilst Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens were in full voice. The feeders around the visitor centre were busy with Tree Sparrows, good numbers of Reed Buntings, Collared Doves, a Nuthatch plus more Chaffinches and Tits.

Female Reed Bunting Courtesy of Chris Derri

Snowdrops were in flower and there was a splash of yellow with Narcissus.

Narcissus Flowers

From Lancaster Hide we watched a Water Rail as it walked around the edge of the reeds and listened as a pair of Little Grebes were whinnying away. Gadwall, Teal, Shelduck and Canada Goose were added to the list.

Water Rail photos courtesy of Chris Derri

From Ainscough and Redwing Hide more views of wintering Wildfowl with Shovelers and a few female Ruddy Ducks who had escaped the cull.

Around at Rufford Hide there were not one but two Bitterns! One played hide and seek in the narrow line of reeds opposite the hide. Patient watchers eventually caught glimpses when the bird silently stalked through the reeds or stood, head held high, fluffing out its neck feathers. The second Bittern in the reeds to the right hand end of the hide was slightly more obliging and we watched as its head and dagger bill protruded from the reeds. A number of visitors with extremely large camera lens remained pointed in its direction when the sun caught its streaked buff brown plumage. A juvenile Grey Heron also caught visitors’ attention at it stood on a plank of wood intently staring at the water then stabbing and catching a number of small fish. Three female Goosanders with chocolate brown heads floated by on the water. These ‘sawbill’ ducks have a serrated edge to their bills that help them to firmly catch fish.

Fungi was on the most part a bit past its best but we still noted Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, Southern Bracket Ganoderma adspersum, Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae, Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulinus, Turkeytail Trametes versicolor, Lumpy Bracket Trametes gibbosa, Smoky Bracket Bjerkandera adusta and Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum.

Turkeytail

Peering under rotting wood Chris Butterworth had some interesting finds with a Land Planarian Microplana terrestris – this native terrestrial flatworm feeds on earthworms and some snail species such as Arion hortensis and Discus rotundatus. A small 6mm snail with glossy, flattened shell gave away its identity with its characteristic garlic odour – Garlic Snail Oxychilus alliarius. There were also a couple of Ground Beetles Nebria sp. the egg case from a Wolf Spider and a spherical Potters Wasp nest clinging to the ceiling of Rufford Hide.

Pottters Wasp Nest

A fantastic local meeting where we were rewarded with some real wildlife treats!