Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Between Morpeth and Mitford
When the Hawfinch was along the Mitford road earlier in the year it was feeding on its preferred seeds of Hornbeam but other birders and myself included presumed the avenue of trees were an overgrown Beech hedge. Stewart thought there may be a few Hornbeams among the Beeches or more likely they were all Hornbeams. I would wait until the flowers and first leaves appear and see how many there are. Stewart was right they are all Hornbeams...414 at least. Because they are close together they must have been planted as a hedge and are now reaching maturity. There are several individal ones nearby. They are majestic trees and I will never overlook an overgrown hedgerow again.
4 comments:
Wow Nigel you must be off work and out and about, was going to comment on the Spring Beauty is this the one with the prefoliate leaves with the white flowers centred ? , I must go around with my eyes half shut I never seem to see the stuff you do !!
Brian
I saw the seed keys on Brian Bulloughs photo and wondered why people were saying to look in the beech hedge?
Wonderful! you dont see many complete fully grown hedgerows do you? Usually one or two escape removal or the sheers and reach maturity.
Thanks all B Now is a good time to look for Spring beauty at Alnmouth golf course...it was a new one for me as stewart showed me where it was growing.
Thanks S and GM they are wonderful trees especially at this time of year.
Post a Comment