Abbey Meadows

Abbey Meadows

Saturday 26 December 2015

Christmas day walk





Christmas day morning was calm, cloudy but dry and we had a pleasant walk around High House wood, through Morpeth along the river and back home via Postern woods. There was the usual woodland birds in abundance particularly Greenfinches at High House and 2 Marsh Tits in trees beside Vanburgh Gardens. Nuthatches and Mistle Thrushes were singing. On the river there was one Goosander at Elliot bridge but I have seen three recently. A colourful fungi Yellow brain (Tremella mesenterica) was growing on an Elder branch in Postern wood.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Short walk





Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa)


Druridge Bay



Residents of East Chevington

You don't always have to travel far to see new species. My list of all things wild is growing (if I kept one) and some of these have been from my own garden. A short walk across the road there is a grassed area with a mixture of young and mature trees and on the stump of an old felled Horse Chestnut I came across Jelly Rot fungus. It's Latin name is more impressive than its common name and close up it looks very abstract. According to my books Jelly Rot is widespread and common but this is the first time I have seen it though I have probably overlooked it. I always question widespread and common because most things fluctuate and fungi is reliant on environment and conditions so I suppose it is widespread and common in  the right conditions and habitat. Fungi, insects and wild flowers don't get the observer coverage compared to birds so most people interested in these things pretty much have to find them for themselves. Despite lack of blog activity I have still been getting out regularly and I have been frequenting East Chevington and Amble area. The pics are from a couple of weeks ago and the Stonechats were the closest I could get for a half decent shot but the wintering Marsh Harrier was gracing the reeds behind the South pool but was nice just to watch rather than try and get some blurred distant image with the camera I have got....Maybe I should start making that wildlife life list on these long dark evenings!