A number of us regularly look out for bee orchids up the Welcombe Hills. Usually, we look out for the flowers to appear. This is because once the spring growth gets going the leaves can be difficult to spot in amongst the grass. They have also tended to appear singly and not always in the same place making discovery that much more of a challenge.
I was walking up the Hills marvelling at the lushness of the grass which the weather hasn't told to take a winter rest. Here and there plants were starting to show and then, eyes glued to the ground, I came across a patch of bee orchid plants. They are quite distinctive with pointed finger-like leaves growing out laterally from a tight rosette in the centre. I counted 7 of these in one small area. I find that when you 'get your eye in' it becomes easier to spot things and judging by the number of other bee orchid plants I subsequently came across this year could be a good one for them.
How many will actually flower is another matter. Those with 2 and 4 feet will no doubt play their part in deciding which plants make it to flower. Bee orchids are common in England but not so common up the Welcombe. This adds to the pleasure of finding them in flower.
I came across a blog link from a group mapping the orchids in their area. It might be fun to create a map of where these bee orchids are coming through up the Welcombe and then we can see just how many make it to flower. Here is some more information abut the bee orchid.
As well as the bee orchids which flower in June/July, look out for cowslips all over the hills and especially on the slopes that catch the sun and near bushes. The last few years have been good for them.
This morning we decided the Rowley Fields were just too muddy and headed straight for Clopton Park. It was mild and the sun even broke through. The grass was lush. The Blue Legs (Lepista Saeva - Field Blewit) have gone to mush but surprisingly there are still some Wax Caps about and even some fresh Meadow Wax Caps protruding through the grass. In the distance the sound of woodpeckers drumming in the tree tops made me think it was spring. If I'd seen a swallow I wouldn't have been surprised.
We made our way up the slope towards the Cedar that sits half way up. We go that way often to look for signs that the Tawny Owl has been there - the spattering of white down the tree trunk and the tell-tale pellets on the ground. We were here a few days ago with a friend and I wanted to show her a particular fungus that grows under cedars - Sepultaria sumneriana. I hadn't looked for this cup fungus for a few years and assumed it would still be there but when we looked there was no sign of it. Today I wasn't really looking for it but the cream of the interior of the fungus stood out amongst the green grass and there were several fine specimens.
Sometimes people send me pictures of fungi wanting to know its name. Knowing where the fungus was found and what it was growing on or near are crucial things to know. In the case of this fungus, knowing that it grew under cedar narrows it down to a single species. My field guide says 'season winter to late spring'. So the picture, the habitat and the time of year just about nails it.
Yes, we know the weather is unseasonal but to see violets in December must be unusual. I saw just a couple of these today in the woods overlooking the Welcombe Hotel.
I'm wondering what the effect of this prolonged mild spell will be. I suspect there will be winners and losers as is usually the case. It can't be bad for the birds, but the wet weather won't be good fro small mammals and as a consequence those that feed on them. Plants that bud may have those buds taken by the surely inevitable frost.
It has been unusually warm so far this winter. The grass is a lush green and still growing and some of the spring buds are showing early. I was a little surprised to come across these sprigs of Blackthorn flower this morning though.
Outside it's cold, wet and it will inevitably be very muddy up the Welcombe. The dogs won't mind though so regardless of the weather we'll be about up there before too long. I was looking through pics on my computer, as I do from time to time, and came across some I took one summer of a family flying kites on the Monument Field. Running in a field, catching the wind with your kite - how good is that?
Here's another pic I took of the grasses and flowers on the Clopton Park side in the summer. It seems to me the Welcombe Hills has got so much to offer so many people.
The rain's pattering on the conservatory roof, the dogs are getting restless for a walk and I'm thinking about how many layers I'll need to keep warm and dry. I'm also wondering at the incredible seasonal transformations of our countryside. Whilst it won't be a great deal of fun up there in the rain today, it won't be long before spring, the longer days and colour returns.
To be sure, I'll be up there and posting regularly.
The start of the winter months - November and December - don't usually give great encouragement when it comes to nature watching. The days are short, the light is often poor, the weather can be wet and windy and as far as the Welcombe Hills is concerned the mud makes some areas un-walkable.
I've been waiting for the Redwings and Fieldfares to arrive from Scandinavia. Like so many migrating birds they are remarkable in making the arduous journey to escape the harsh winter to the relatively moderate UK climate. They arrive from October onwards and may stay as late as the following March. Similar to our own native Thrush, they are a gregarious birds and voracious feeders, stripping the hawthorns and blackthorns of their berries. The Welcombe Hills are great for spotting them but it is difficult to get close. Like other flocking birds they are noisy when feeding but difficult to see until they sense your approach. Then suddenly the sky will be full of birds for a few seconds until they land in trees a little further away.
When there is no more food to be had in the Hills they will come to the gardens and parks. We've a cotoneaster in the front garden which fruits well. The Redwings and Fieldfares will strip it within a couple of days and then move on.
Much as I love these beautiful birds and welcome their arrival, I do feel a bit sorry for the poor native Blackbird and Thrush whose larders get plundered by these invaders.
Here's a short video clip,of these birds in our front garden a couple of years ago. They usually start feeding from the top of the trees and work their way down. That's why the tree looks strange with no berries at the top but the branches towards the bottom fully laden.
This morning I went out to the steep grassy slopes of the Welcombe Hills side facing the monument field. They are full of beautiful Wax Caps of all colours, the occasional clump of Silky entolomas, White Spindles, Golden Spindles (see pic below) and the trusty Field Blewits (see earlier post).
About 5 years ago I came across the Pink Waxcap and each year since have roamed the hills looking for another appearance. It is the only Wax Cap of that colour and was once quite rare, mainly due to habitat loss. It is still uncommon and we are lucky to have it appear. Unlike many of the other Wax Caps, the Pink Wax Cap (Hygrocybe calyptraeformis) is solitary and that may account in part for its elusiveness.
Well, this morning I came across another and a beautiful specimen it was too. Despite spending the best part of an hour on those slopes it was the only one I found and having wandered away from it, couldn't find it again. That pretty much sums up why I enjoy looking for fungi.
Here's a link to find out more about this fungus http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/hygrocybe-calyptriformis.php
Right, the Parrot Wax Cap. Slimy yellow cap, turning slightly green over time.
Below, Golden Spindles.
