I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
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| Yellow Slime Mold |
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Yellow Slime Mold - Whitesprings Plantation
Walking through the cleared area of Whitesprings Plantation I noticed a bright yellow area about the size of a tennis ball that looked like a splash of paint on the side of a dead pine, several metres off the ground. On closer inspection it looks like the Yellow Slime Mold, Fuligo septica.
I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
Sunday, 26 August 2018
Ruddy Shelduck - Carsington Water
A Ruddy Shelduck was found at Carsington last Thursday and was still present this morning when it flew in with Canada Geese just after 8am at Millfields. A rare visitor to the County, but recorded most years, and almost certainly of feral origins.
Although the Ruddy Shelduck is on the British List it is in Category B, species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January1800 and 31 December 1949. All subsequent records are in Category E which comprises those species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining.
The Ruddy Shelduck is a native of eastern Europe, breeding around the Black Sea coast and adjoining areas of Greece, I saw at least 20 birds on the Greek island of Kos this Spring.
There is, however a regular and increasing flock of moulting birds at Eemmeer in the Netherlands each summer with over 800 birds counted recently. This is a possible source of the un-ringed Carsington bird, as well as the half dozen which turn up elsewhere in the UK at this time of year, post the moult which leaves them flightless for several weeks. These birds appear to be mainly from feral populations in Switzerland and Germany but there is a slight chance that this moulting flock could include genuine wild birds from further east. If the link to wild birds could be proven, birds at Eemmeer have been ringed and even satellite tagged, then there would be some possibility of genuinely wild birds occurring in the UK.
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| Ruddy Shelduck - probably adult female |
Although the Ruddy Shelduck is on the British List it is in Category B, species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January1800 and 31 December 1949. All subsequent records are in Category E which comprises those species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining.
The Ruddy Shelduck is a native of eastern Europe, breeding around the Black Sea coast and adjoining areas of Greece, I saw at least 20 birds on the Greek island of Kos this Spring.
There is, however a regular and increasing flock of moulting birds at Eemmeer in the Netherlands each summer with over 800 birds counted recently. This is a possible source of the un-ringed Carsington bird, as well as the half dozen which turn up elsewhere in the UK at this time of year, post the moult which leaves them flightless for several weeks. These birds appear to be mainly from feral populations in Switzerland and Germany but there is a slight chance that this moulting flock could include genuine wild birds from further east. If the link to wild birds could be proven, birds at Eemmeer have been ringed and even satellite tagged, then there would be some possibility of genuinely wild birds occurring in the UK.
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Osprey - Whitesprings Plantation
My first local Osprey of the autumn today (I was at the Birdfair on Friday and saw one of the Rutland Water birds as my first of the autumn) carrying a large trout over Whitesprings Plantation this morning. It circled several times before drifting off over Beeley village towards Chatsworth.
It looked like an adult female with a dark breast band and two rows of dark markings on the underwing coverts. It had a blue Darvic ring on the left leg and I suspect it may be the same bird I saw in the spring. Unfortunately none of the photos were good enough to read the ring.
There has been an Osprey on and off at Ogston since the 8th August so it could be that bird, not sure if it has a Darvic ring.
It looked like an adult female with a dark breast band and two rows of dark markings on the underwing coverts. It had a blue Darvic ring on the left leg and I suspect it may be the same bird I saw in the spring. Unfortunately none of the photos were good enough to read the ring.
There has been an Osprey on and off at Ogston since the 8th August so it could be that bird, not sure if it has a Darvic ring.
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| Osprey probably adult female |
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Wall Brown doing well
After a rather bleak review of the declining fortunes of the Wall butterfly in 2016 (see here) it looks like they are doing much better locally this year. In a short walk this morning I saw several on Flash Lane, Wraggs Quarry and at the Cupola Ponds.
Last week I saw several at Clough Wood which has always been a stronghold for the species.
Last week I saw several at Clough Wood which has always been a stronghold for the species.
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| Wall butterfly |