Talking of butterflies...I saw a Fritillary, Comma and Peacock up the hills today

For the last few years we've had just a couple of Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies in the hills just down from the slope between the reservoir area and the road to the hotel. There is a healthy colony in Snitterfield Bushes which is maintained by the Wildlife Trust in order to nurture them. They lay their eggs of Dog Violet of which we have plenty in the woods. But whether or not our ones are migrants from Snitterfield or are reproducing here I don't know.

In flight there is a passing similarity to the Comma butterfly. However, the Fritillary glides and soars. It will also fly along pathways at low level in a mating dance.

Both are shown here.

The Comma is so named because of the white mark on its wing which resembles the punctuation mark. It has an interesting lifecycle in that when its wings are closed closed it looks just like a dead leaf. In that state it will attach itself to a twig and pass the winter in hibernation.

Comma Welcome Hills July 2017

Comma showing leaf-like closed wings and white comma mark, Welcome Hills July 2017

Comma butterfly showing distinctive shape, Welcome Hills, July 2017

Silver-washed Fritillary, Welcome Hills July 2017

Fritillary, Welcome Hills July 2017

 And finally, I found a beautiful Peacock butterfly. No doubt the culprit responsible for those caterpillars on the nettles...
Note how the underside is black - bottom picture.

Peacock butterfly, Welcombe Hills July 2017

Peacock butterfly, Welcome Hills July 2017

I saw Gatekeeper butterflies in Rowley Fields this morning...

Yes indeed, John Worthington, the Gatekeepers are about. Wonderful butterflies with the distinctive double white spot, orange and brown wings with white trim. Called Gatekeepers because often seen at gates (!) to fields where the hedgerows part.

Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field

Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field

Gatekeeper 5th July 2017 Rowley Field

I saw Peacock butterfly caterpillars on nettles ...

The other day I wrote about how those pesky brambles and thistles that tear our clothes and prick our skins are really important for butterflies bumble bees and other insects. In my excitement at finding so many butterflies and bees I overlooked that other nuisance plant, the stinging nettle. Well, a nuisance to us intolerant homo-eccentric humans that is (excepting the foragers who will find a meal in almost anything that grows).

Stingers host 5 different colourful species of butterfly (source) Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Painted Lady  (summer visitor). The Welcome Hills and the Rowley Fields  have masses of nettles at the margins and yes, they can be a nuisance. However, when you're next out, pause and look closely. If you see fine webs near the nettle tops these could be a sign that there are Small Tortoiseshell or Peacock caterpillars about. The caterpillars produce a fine silk which is spun into a web for protection. Look also for a curled up nettle leaf which could be where the Tortoiseshell caterpillar retreats. It spins a thread at both edges of a leaf which dries and contracts pulling the edges together to form a nest. Small black droppings are also a clue.

At the moment the Peacock caterpillars are out munching so don't destroy those nettles just yet.

Peacock caterpillar on nettle - Welcome Hills July 2017

Small Skipper on thistle - Clopton Park July 2017

Marbled White on bramble - Clopton Park July 2017

 Short video clip of Marble White and Ringlet butterflies Welcome Hills July 2017

I saw loads of butterflies and bumble bees up the Welcombe this morning...

The other day I posted a link to a Facebook page dedicated to brambles link on the Friends of Welcome Hills page. Brambles are good for butterflies and their flowering coincides with the bees and butterflies that feed off them. Thistles are also good for the same reason.

Of course they are both a pain if you're not a butterfly or bee and if they are in your garden. However, look at the following pics to see why we need to preserve wild areas, resist the urge to tidy the countryside up and go out and enjoy what we are lucky to have right on our doorsteps.

Small Skipper on thistle Sunday 2nd July 2017

Small Skipper on bramble July 2017

 Bumble bee on bramble July 2017

Comma butterfly July 2017

Ringlet butterfly July 2017

We've had a one-legged bullfinch feeding in our garden this week

Anyone else seen this bird? It's left leg appear to be missing from below the joint but otherwise seems to be well enough. I'm glad we've kept the feeder stocked up all year round so he's been able to feed whilst he recovers. Wonder if he'll make it through the winter?

We saw lots of fungi on our forays up the Welcome Hills

Many thanks to everyone who came out with me on the fungi forays organised by the Friends of Rowley Fields. Despite the dry autumn that has kept our boots and dogs mud-free but curtailed the emergence of the fungi, we found a surprising range of fungi. Some were edible, some I could give names to, some were too difficult to ID in the field and all were fascinating in their own ways. 

We went on two forays. The routes were similar, starting at the reservoir area, then through Nursery Cover woods and out of the top gate into the sloping field facing the cottages next to the Welcome Hotel, up to the gate that joins to the with the Clopton Field and down to the orchard. If you came along then here's a reminder of what to look out for next time. If you didn't make the forays then here's what you missed.

Fungi aren't plants but a separate kingdom in their own right. Unlike plants, they don't photosynthesise to get the nutrients they need to thrive so, like humans, they have do get these from either living or dead matter.

When we find a fungus what we see is actually the fruit body. The fungus itself is a complex web known as the mycelium that are usually hidden from view. When parts of the mycelium meet and fuse a new fruit body is produced. The fruit body produces the spores which germinate to start a new fungus. Well, just a few of the millions produced might.

We found examples of all of these - note the pics were taken at other times and not on the days.

 Jelly Ears or Auricularia auricula grow on dead elder trees. We only found one example which was a shame because in most years these are easy finds. They are edible but usually used to thicken sauces or stews. We all had a taste. 

 Coriolus versicolor- the many-zoned polypore or Turkey Tail fungus - grows on dead wood. Plenty of these in Nursery Cover.










On a better day we wold have found lots of these in the fields - Agaricus campestris - the wonderful Field Mushroom. At the end of the first foray we found one just about big enough for us all to have a nibble and savour the true taste of mushroom better than any cultivated one. Alas, it has been a dry autumn and these were scarce. Better luck next year.






The delicate Pleated Ink Cap (Coprinus plicatilis) was found in the grass. It's very delicate and will almost certainly break if you try to pick it. 

On the second foray I remembered to take a short walk along the donkey path that runs along the top of Clopton Park to search out the gorgeous Rhodotus palmatus. What a treat it was to find this. It has a fragrant smell - I thought of honeysuckle but maybe apricots...? - and has a lovely peachy colour. Pictures don't do it justice. It grows exclusively on dead elm.

White and yellow Spindles
Once you know these are in the grass, they are a joy to find. How many of us have walked the dogs and trampled on these without ever knowing? They grow in clumps.













The best till last. Did you know the Welcome Hills has a great number of Wax Caps? They thrive on unimproved grassland and we are lucky that both the Clopton side and the Welcome side have the right conditions for these to thrive. Possibly the sloping banks of the hills help excess nutrients to be flushed away. As we discovered, these absolute beauties can easily be overlooked but the reward for careful looking is so much greater. Some are edible but they are all beautiful and we are lucky to have these. I won't label them here.  Characteristics of the Wax Caps are, slimy or silky caps, wide open gills and bright colours. Come along with me next year and see the colours, feel the textures and even taste one or two! 

I saw a Marsh Tit up the Welcombe Hills today

On this morning's walk I was enjoying the many white butterflies and the lovely Gatekeepers that also seem to be enjoying a good summer when I spotted a small bird on the fallen horse chestnut tree down from the reservoir. I wasn't sure what it was so was pleased to be able to get a few snaps to look over when I got back home.

Marsh Tit August 2016

Friends had often told me of either hearing or seeing the Marsh Tit up the Welcombe. Apparently it's not too bothered about marshy habitats and is more frequently seen in wooded areas. It feeds on insects and seeds. I think the one I saw was after seeds from the thistles.

Marsh Tit August 2016