A new moth was added to my Newchurch Common list today, a Small Quaker was rescued alive from Small Pool and put in a safe place to dry out!
dave broome said
Wed Mar 17 10:13 AM, 2021
The Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society is to update the sold-out first edition of The Dragonflies of Lancashire and North Merseyside after the 2021 flight season. There have been known range expansions of some species in the seven years since it was published, plus some gaps in the records for some common species. Any records from recent years could be useful, if they can be accompanied by a four-figure grid reference. Any records for the 2021 season will be useful. Details on how to submit these can be found in the dragonfly section of the society website Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society. It is also worth mentioning that for a membership fee of just £10 you will receive the Lancashire Bird Report plus other titles as and when they are published.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Mar 16 9:59 PM, 2021
A really nice find, at home in Moulton, when going out to check my moth trap this evening was a beautiful False Widow spider (Steatoda bipunctata) on our patio doors. I have seen lots of spiders out in a similar area but they have always been Missing-sector Orb-Weavers until now. This is only our second ever record of this species for the garden and it's over 15 years since the last.
At Newchurch this afternoon in the sun for an invert walk mainly.
New insect for patch was a Gorse Shieldbug (pic). Also newly recorded was the Ichneumon Ophion obscuratus. Still on the gorse on the N.side (as these 2 species were) were Honey Bee and Drone Fly.
A Water Shrew was seen rooting through the leaf litter alongside Birchwood Pool.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Mar 7 10:43 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common again am, cold but getting warmer and dry at least!
A red letter day for amphibian sightings in 2021. I recorded my first 4 species of the year, all in the same area. The best find were 2 Great Crested Newts, a large male measuring 20cm in length and a young specimen. Also 2 juvenile Smooth Newts were found. A single Common Frog and 2 Common Toads were also found to make it a bumper day for amphibians.
Two species of millipedes were found too, firstly Flat-backed Millipede (Polydesmus angustus) and secondly Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus, a distinctive large millipede species.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 4 1:16 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common this morning, cold, overcast and a sprinkling of rain.
A big surprise was a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee looking for a nest site at the edge of the Pine Belt.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Mar 3 9:41 PM, 2021
Wood Mouse on hanging peanut feeder Moulton, Northwich, Cheshire
John Williams said
Mon Mar 1 11:49 PM, 2021
Burtonwood (Cheshire)
A single pristine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen by the horse paddocks alongside Alder Lane at lunchtime.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Mar 1 4:53 PM, 2021
In the warm sun at Newchurch I recorded my first butterfly species on patch for 2021. This was a worn Peacock to the north of Big Pool, no doubt fresh out of hibernation.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Feb 28 9:56 PM, 2021
Just snook in another new fungus species in for Newchurch Common before the end of February! This was the inkcap Coprinopsis radiata on dung piles in the field NE of Big Pool. I had a lovely time clambering up and down the slopes of the piles, sinking into the decaying dung and moving bits of dung for better photographs
On examination of the photos of the Coprinopsis radiata many have small flies on them. These were in huge swarms all over the dung heaps and were a real pain whilst photographing. But from these pictures I have IDed them as Lesser Dung Fly (Copromyza equina), so another new species for my patch!!
Both species' names originating in language from the Greek root ('kopros') meaning dung. Both species are shown in the picture below!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 1st of March 2021 11:18:19 AM
The most notable find was the locally rare fungus Vinegar Cup, in the same area as last year. This is now nearly all under water so I was lucky to find fout fruiting bodies.
Also as before Marmalade Hoverfly, Honey Bees and 3x 7-spot Ladybirds. Still no patch butterflies yet, but it won't be long given this settled weather!
Doc Brewster said
Fri Feb 26 8:13 PM, 2021
At Newchurch today.
A new fungus, Hoof Fungus, was added to the patch list, found in Gull Pool Wood. Lots of Scarlet Elf Cup were on the south shore of Big Pool as well as Candlesnuff Fungus.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Feb 25 3:30 PM, 2021
I had my first butterfly today but unfortunately not on my Newchurch patch. This was at Lostock Green just S.of the A556 Northwich bypass and was a Small Tortoiseshell which landed to sunbathe in a harvested maize field.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Feb 22 9:13 PM, 2021
On Newchurch Common in the warm sunshine pm doing an invert hunt!
Two hoverflies were recorded, obviously my first this year: a Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). My first 7-spot Ladybird too and several Honey Bees. All these insects were on gorse, this being the only plant in flower so I concentrated my efforts on it. The only other inverts of note were a 'brown' Centipede species (Lithobius sp.) and Common Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus), both found under logs/bark etc.
John Williams said
Mon Feb 22 4:06 PM, 2021
Rixton Clay Pits NR Warrington
During a ramble around the site this morning, 2 Great Crested Newts were seen in one pool.
Whilst another pool contained large numbers of "Corixa punctata" type bugs, and numerous small water beetles.
John O'Neill said
Mon Feb 22 1:24 PM, 2021
Penketh Warrington
First frog spawn of the year in our garden pond this morning.
Steve Judge said
Fri Feb 12 3:19 PM, 2021
In field near Glaze Brook west of Little Woolden Moss NR - Orange Peel Fungus was seen.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Feb 5 9:01 PM, 2021
At Newchurch Common today I recorded a new species of fungus for my patch, it was Crystal Brain Fungus, growing on a dead, damp gorse branch near a known clump of Yellow Brain Fungus and some Velvet Shank Fungi. The Crystal Brain Fungus is pictured below.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 5th of February 2021 09:01:27 PM
Penketh Warrington
First frog of the year in the garden a sign of Winter ending if not quite of Spring arriving
I heard them singing earlier in week too
John Williams said
Fri Feb 5 5:37 PM, 2021
Moore NR (Eastern Reedbed)
The sun around lunchtime brought out 1 Bluebottle and a "Melanostoma scalare" type hoverfly.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jan 26 9:24 PM, 2021
Doc Brewster wrote:
A late report from my walk on Newchurch Common yesterday 19/01/21, I've been trying to ID a fungus but no luck, sent to an expert but needs more details on specifics so I will revisit after the rains!! Here are the other 'finds':
Got the ID sorted for the mystery fungus, a new one recorded for my Newchurch Common Patch - Yellowing Curtain Crust (Stereum subtomentosum).
Doc Brewster said
Fri Jan 22 4:53 PM, 2021
On todays walk at Newchurch Common I found my first King Alfred's Cakes fungus (Daldina concentrica) near Big Pool shore. A really spectacluar accumulation of Witches Butter fungus, the largest clump I've ever found, was on gorse north of Big Pool. Also young specimens of Blushing Bracket were found before they start going red!.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jan 20 10:26 PM, 2021
Moulton, Northwich : Just taking my moth trap in (due to heavy snow) and discovered from last nights trapping a moth tucked away semi-hidden - a Chestnut, my first moth of 2021
John Williams said
Wed Jan 20 10:17 PM, 2021
Callands, Warrington
The first Common Frog of the year was found in my front garden this morning.
Judging by size it seemed to be from last years hatch, and the fellow appeared quiet lethargic so was likely disturbed
from its hibernation spot too early. I placed the sleepy creature clear of today's flood water and hidden amongst low
vegetation, my local Blackbirds and Magpies don't miss a trick and a tasty little frog would make a nice change from a diet
of soggy earthworms.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jan 20 4:37 PM, 2021
A late report from my walk on Newchurch Common yesterday 19/01/21, I've been trying to ID a fungus but no luck, sent to an expert but needs more details on specifics so I will revisit after the rains!! Here are the other 'finds':
A nice group of Velvet Shank fungi were near Big Pool. Witches Broom clumps were in trees on the farmland. Four Grey Squirrels were in asingle tree together chasing round, the most I've had in one group!
Doc Brewster said
Mon Jan 18 3:03 PM, 2021
Newchurch Common this morning:
A few nice clumps of Yellow Brain Fungus on dead gorse branches, Blushing Bracket (a re-ID, scrub Beefsteak Fungus from last post!!).
Also the common orange speckling of tree trunks, I'd never IDed before but took a picture today and it's a Trentepohlia sp. which is a type of algae.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Jan 12 4:56 PM, 2021
Not much additional wildlife for January at Newchurch Common.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 12th of January 2021 09:38:55 PM
paulderrig said
Fri Jan 8 4:59 PM, 2021
Hi
I found a fully intact road kill polecat in Marple Stockport in November, Im almost sure it was a wild one, had ferrets when I was younger , great news if there numbers are increasing
Rob Creek said
Wed Jan 6 10:22 AM, 2021
Yes part of the reason why I was asking as I only followed the protocol for aesthetic features of a live one, whereas as cranial and dental measurements of a deceased one are likely to be even more accurate. And yes they are becoming increasingly more common in certain areas now, the rapidly expanding range of true Polecats possibly due to high Rabbit numbers? Cheers
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jan 6 8:40 AM, 2021
She didn't but I still have hope as she has picture and I can get the skull potentially. I am pretty experienced at ID of mustelidae, mammals being my line of study and birds coming in later!! If you have the Corbett & Southern Handbook (worth getting) you will know that the biometrics are key (it's an expensive book but in my University mammal research it was needed). I have disected and measured up several Polecat bodies and using this method over all others ID can be confidently called. Nowadays many more that are found are wild Polecat rather than Polecat-Ferret, the latter now being pretty rare (other than in the far SW) and the former is very common (see the Vincent Wildlife Trust report 'The Distribution and Status of the Polecat (Mustela putorius) in Britain 2014-2015', and they have increased further since then). If my friends find is a Polecat-Ferret that will be more amazing, but I need that body or her pics.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 6th of January 2021 08:46:16 AM
Rob Creek said
Wed Jan 6 12:40 AM, 2021
Doc Brewster wrote:
Was shown a very interesting picture by one of my horse owning friends on my Newchurch Common Patch today. It looks like she found a dead Polecat in her stables 2 days ago. She is hoping to refind the body for me so that I can make a 100% ID.
Hi Doc, did your friend ever get back to you with the body? Interested to know your findings, Ferret or true Polecat? Theres a particular set of identification features that are actually quite straightforward to follow. I did the same for the Nosterfield one, I didnt see it myself but the finders images were superb. I was convinced it was a true one and contacted the finder. I think the Mammal Society accepted it when he realised he had a real one on his hands and submitted the record. Cheers mate, Rob
Doc Brewster said
Tue Dec 29 9:34 PM, 2020
Late December on Newchurch Common I recorded a few fungi still.
Interesting ones included a new for patch Variable Oysterling. A nice patch of Common Puffball. Several clumps of Sulphur Tuft and my first Scarlet Elf Cups of 2020, both by Small Pool and Big Pool.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Dec 18 1:40 PM, 2020
John Watson wrote:
A vet friend (Cornwall) told me that badgers are often shot (unlicensed that is) then left in the road to make it look like roadkill
Sick
I agree John. Given that we all have latex gloves in the car now (I always did though tbh!!) I examined it and it was standard roadkill between 2 obvious Badger runs either side of Sandy Lane. I have pictures of the corspe and injuries as part of my examination (always the Zoologist!!). I also heard about the practise of Badger Baiters breaking the lower jaw of Badgers to reduce injury to their dogs during the fighting (I have found 1 'roadkill' corpse like this). An awful practise and it sums up exactly what Badgers Baiters are - in language not to be used here. I always check carcasses over for such like. I also moved the carcass out of view as I've heard of Baiters looking for signs of Badgers in an area through roadkill and also collecting corpses to tease dogs with to get them conditioned to attack Badgers without risk of injury during this training phase. It is also a popular dogwalking area and a lady resident was grateful for me moving it so that dogs disn't start investigating it or it rotting in situ either!
John Watson said
Fri Dec 18 10:18 AM, 2020
A vet friend (Cornwall) told me that badgers are often shot (unlicensed that is) then left in the road to make it look like roadkill
Sick
Doc Brewster said
Thu Dec 17 3:28 PM, 2020
An early walk on Newchurch Common. A dead Badger was on Sandy Lane, sadly a road casualty from last night, between obvious badger runs either side of the road. What a shame that in all that countryside a crossing of c.4m over a country lane led to its death
John Williams said
Sat Dec 12 8:14 PM, 2020
Moore NR (Midday)
A Wood Mouse was showing well in front of the feeding station screen.
Doc Brewster said
Tue Dec 1 10:31 PM, 2020
Was shown a very interesting picture by one of my horse owning friends on my Newchurch Common Patch today. It looks like she found a dead Polecat in her stables 2 days ago. She is hoping to refind the body for me so that I can make a 100% ID.
Doc Brewster said
Fri Nov 27 10:27 PM, 2020
My 2nd site record this autumn of Mottled Umber moth, near Gull Pool (pic).
Two new fungi were added to the patch list, firstly Scarlet Brittlegill (russula pseudointegra), and secondly the 'micro fungus' Phacidium lauri on dead Holly leaves.
Another morning walk on Newchurch Common, cold and bright.
Several fish were in the vegetated shallows of Big Pool, and finally one was seen and was a 'jack' Pike. The swirls seen previously could have been Pike too or even fish being chased by Pike, these shallows being typical lay-up areas for this predatory species.
A nice fungus was found on a broken Gorse branch near Big Pool, Yellow Brain Fungus (picture 1). Candlesnuff Fungus was especially abundant. The spectacular lichen Parmotrema perlatum was also seen and photographed (picture 2)
Newchurch Common again this morning, sunny and bright but with a short light shower too!
A late Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) was on a Poppy near the Pine Belt. Some nice White Saddle Fungi(Helvella crispa) and Candlesnuff Fungi(Xylaria hypoxylon) in the woods near Big Pool Island Cut.
A correction, the moths found on Nov 5th & 7th were Winter Moths (poss the same individual!) when I looked at pictures! Since my cataract operation I can't see close-up and don't take my reading glasses out on patch! I then ID from the pics at home, I shouldn't have posted before going through the pics, only did that today!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 13th of November 2020 10:33:23 PM
John Williams said
Thu Nov 12 8:26 PM, 2020
Rixton Clay Pits NR (Lunchtime)
The pleasant sunshine resulted in the sighting of 1 Brimstone and 1 Red Admiral butterflies.
Also 1 hawker dragonfly which did not come close enough to ID properly.
Rob Creek said
Wed Nov 11 11:34 PM, 2020
Your observations in my view John point to Noctule, flight height, flight pattern with the aerial acrobatics, and size. That is only my opinion though as Im certainly no expert on Bats. Cheers mate.
John Williams said
Mon Nov 9 1:23 PM, 2020
Hi Rob.
I appreciate your knowledge regarding the bat sighting, I am very much a novice regarding these mammals and pretty much assume
that the large ones seen are likely to be Noctules. I have come across a few Noctules previously, but nearly always at dusk so basically
only a silhouette could be seen.
Regarding the colouration, all I can say is that the bat appeared to show an overall brown colour across it's body, whilst the wings appeared
black. For much of the time though the bat was viewed against an overcast sky, so basically 95% of the time it was just a silhouette, only
during the odd manoeuvre did I get a brief glimpse of the colour of it's fur. One feature the was clearly seen were the hooked claws on the joint
of each wing. When first seen with the naked eye the bat looked like a snipe, both in size and fast erratic flight pattern. Only when initially viewed
through binoculars did it become obvious that it was a bat, it was also flying quite high, around 100ft up most of the time.
When viewed again at the same spot several days later I was so amazed that I watched the bat for longer period, and witnessed it perform spectacular
dives, so it was apparent that it was in pursuit of aerial insects. Only a very few small moths were to be seen flying in the area, there were though plenty
of midges and occasional gnat. The bat was still focussed on the same area as I left, so there is obviously a real attraction for it there.
A 100yds or so from where the bat was seen there is a large mound of well rotted manure, it's still steaming and quite smelly, but it does attract wagtails
and Meadow Pipits in search of flies etc, so perhaps that is a factor in drawing the Noctule too.
Regards
John
Rob Creek said
Sun Nov 8 11:15 PM, 2020
Hi John, Im not about to tell you what the Bat is or isn?t as it would be impossible without either a) a Bat detector to measure the ultrasonic call, or b) the Bat being caught by a licenced conservationist to examine classic features such as forearm structure and length, but I hope this is of interest to you anyway as sometimes there are likelihood?s as to what a species could be.
Noctules fur at this time of year has a reddy brown hue, which if seen well can sometimes be a fairly good indicator of the species but beware of Leislers Bat (Lesser Noctule). You didnt mention colour. You said you saw it well at midday... that leads onto another well known habit of Noctules in that they are rarely seen other than short spells immediately before sunrise or sunset due to insect availability and can sometimes spend between 22 to 23 hours fasting.
You mentioned speed... well although sometimes their wingbeats can appear relaxed and nonchalant, they are infact very fast flyers and are more often than not observed that way. They can fly quite high, can reach in excess of 35mph and are often seen performing acrobatic dives at speed with twists and turns (which mirrors what you mentioned in your sighting). Serotine Bats can almost match Noctules for size but they arent as fast and dont perform the spectacular dives and acrobatic skills, mainly because they dont fly as high.
Your flight observation seems to match that of a Noctule, the daytime flight is a bit of an oddity but there are probably exceptions, the time of day though wouldve afforded good views and allowed you to note the fur colour.
Take from this what you will, hope it helps. Cheers
John Williams said
Sun Nov 8 4:38 PM, 2020
Burtonwood (Midday)
A Noctule like bat was first seen in flight over farmland West of Alder Lane on the 5th November, and was seen in the
same area again today. On both occasions it was seen flying quite high, but also making spectacular dives and was obviously
catching insects in flight. As the bat came close the ears were noticeable, but they were not pointed like those of a Long eared Bat,
but rounded, indeed from what I could see of the face it matched perfectly with text book images of Noctules. When first seen
last Thursday I thought the bat had been disturbed from a roost, as the farmer was working close to a group of nearby dead trees..
However after seeing the bat flying around the same area again at lunchtime today that theory appears to be untrue. Is there currently
a shortage of nocturnal insects, the bat was clearly catching prey when seen today, and it's aerobatic skills would put any hirundine to shame?.
The fellow will have to be careful though, a chunky female Sparrowhawk was seen to zoom across an adjoining field, and a Kestrel was hunting
nearby too.
Steven Nelson said
Sat Nov 7 10:21 PM, 2020
Marbury CP this afternoon.
1 Daubentons Bat flying low over the mere in daylight. Then spotted by a group of Black-headed Gulls which then chased the bat. A 1st winter gull caught the bat, but then dropped it into the water leaving the poor bat floundering on the surface. The gull then picked the bat up again and flew off with it with the rest of the gulls in hot pursuit. Dramatic stuff.
Also 1 Noctule Bat over as the light faded.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Nov 7 3:42 PM, 2020
At Newchurch Common this morning, sunny and hoping for more invert action that I got, especially as a mate has had Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Southern Hawker dragonflies on the nearby Delamere mosses this week.
A new shieldbug species was added to my patchlist and was a lifer that I had never found ever before - Spiked Shieldbug, found because if attached itself to my sock!!. It favours heathland so I reckon it hitched a lift on Abbot's Moss! Another November Moth agg. was found on a tree trunk by Big Pool Island Cut.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 7th of November 2020 03:44:42 PM
A large dog Fox was moving fast along the cover of one of the fences on patch, he looked in fine fettle and was a pleasure to watch. A November Moth agg (agg due to them not being reliably identifiable without genitalia dissection) was near Big Pool.
Lots of fungi, a couple remaining to be identified. Those that were IDed included Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa), Fairy Inkcap, Stump Puffball, Common Rustgill and Frosty Bonnet, as well as a few remaining Collared Earthstars and Common Earthballs.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 5th of November 2020 08:29:37 PM
A new moth was added to my Newchurch Common list today, a Small Quaker was rescued alive from Small Pool and put in a safe place to dry out!
A really nice find, at home in Moulton, when going out to check my moth trap this evening was a beautiful False Widow spider (Steatoda bipunctata) on our patio doors. I have seen lots of spiders out in a similar area but they have always been Missing-sector Orb-Weavers until now. This is only our second ever record of this species for the garden and it's over 15 years since the last.
At Newchurch this afternoon in the sun for an invert walk mainly.
New insect for patch was a Gorse Shieldbug (pic). Also newly recorded was the Ichneumon Ophion obscuratus. Still on the gorse on the N.side (as these 2 species were) were Honey Bee and Drone Fly.
A Water Shrew was seen rooting through the leaf litter alongside Birchwood Pool.
At Newchurch Common again am, cold but getting warmer and dry at least!
A red letter day for amphibian sightings in 2021. I recorded my first 4 species of the year, all in the same area. The best find were 2 Great Crested Newts, a large male measuring 20cm in length and a young specimen. Also 2 juvenile Smooth Newts were found. A single Common Frog and 2 Common Toads were also found to make it a bumper day for amphibians.
Two species of millipedes were found too, firstly Flat-backed Millipede (Polydesmus angustus) and secondly Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus, a distinctive large millipede species.
At Newchurch Common this morning, cold, overcast and a sprinkling of rain.
A big surprise was a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee looking for a nest site at the edge of the Pine Belt.
Wood Mouse on hanging peanut feeder Moulton, Northwich, Cheshire
A single pristine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen by the horse paddocks alongside Alder Lane at lunchtime.
In the warm sun at Newchurch I recorded my first butterfly species on patch for 2021. This was a worn Peacock to the north of Big Pool, no doubt fresh out of hibernation.
Just snook in another new fungus species in for Newchurch Common before the end of February! This was the inkcap Coprinopsis radiata on dung piles in the field NE of Big Pool. I had a lovely time clambering up and down the slopes of the piles, sinking into the decaying dung and moving bits of dung for better photographs
On examination of the photos of the Coprinopsis radiata many have small flies on them. These were in huge swarms all over the dung heaps and were a real pain whilst photographing. But from these pictures I have IDed them as Lesser Dung Fly (Copromyza equina), so another new species for my patch!!
Both species' names originating in language from the Greek root ('kopros') meaning dung. Both species are shown in the picture below!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 1st of March 2021 11:18:19 AM
On Newchurch Common in the sun.
The most notable find was the locally rare fungus Vinegar Cup, in the same area as last year. This is now nearly all under water so I was lucky to find fout fruiting bodies.
Also as before Marmalade Hoverfly, Honey Bees and 3x 7-spot Ladybirds. Still no patch butterflies yet, but it won't be long given this settled weather!
At Newchurch today.
A new fungus, Hoof Fungus, was added to the patch list, found in Gull Pool Wood. Lots of Scarlet Elf Cup were on the south shore of Big Pool as well as Candlesnuff Fungus.
I had my first butterfly today but unfortunately not on my Newchurch patch. This was at Lostock Green just S.of the A556 Northwich bypass and was a Small Tortoiseshell which landed to sunbathe in a harvested maize field.
On Newchurch Common in the warm sunshine pm doing an invert hunt!
Two hoverflies were recorded, obviously my first this year: a Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). My first 7-spot Ladybird too and several Honey Bees. All these insects were on gorse, this being the only plant in flower so I concentrated my efforts on it. The only other inverts of note were a 'brown' Centipede species (Lithobius sp.) and Common Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus), both found under logs/bark etc.
During a ramble around the site this morning, 2 Great Crested Newts were seen in one pool.
Whilst another pool contained large numbers of "Corixa punctata" type bugs, and numerous small water beetles.
First frog spawn of the year in our garden pond this morning.
At Newchurch Common today I recorded a new species of fungus for my patch, it was Crystal Brain Fungus, growing on a dead, damp gorse branch near a known clump of Yellow Brain Fungus and some Velvet Shank Fungi. The Crystal Brain Fungus is pictured below.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 5th of February 2021 09:01:27 PM
First frog of the year in the garden a sign of Winter ending if not quite of Spring arriving
I heard them singing earlier in week too
The sun around lunchtime brought out 1 Bluebottle and a "Melanostoma scalare" type hoverfly.
Got the ID sorted for the mystery fungus, a new one recorded for my Newchurch Common Patch - Yellowing Curtain Crust (Stereum subtomentosum).
On todays walk at Newchurch Common I found my first King Alfred's Cakes fungus (Daldina concentrica) near Big Pool shore. A really spectacluar accumulation of Witches Butter fungus, the largest clump I've ever found, was on gorse north of Big Pool. Also young specimens of Blushing Bracket were found before they start going red!.
Moulton, Northwich : Just taking my moth trap in (due to heavy snow) and discovered from last nights trapping a moth tucked away semi-hidden - a Chestnut, my first moth of 2021
The first Common Frog of the year was found in my front garden this morning.
Judging by size it seemed to be from last years hatch, and the fellow appeared quiet lethargic so was likely disturbed
from its hibernation spot too early. I placed the sleepy creature clear of today's flood water and hidden amongst low
vegetation, my local Blackbirds and Magpies don't miss a trick and a tasty little frog would make a nice change from a diet
of soggy earthworms.
A late report from my walk on Newchurch Common yesterday 19/01/21, I've been trying to ID a fungus but no luck, sent to an expert but needs more details on specifics so I will revisit after the rains!! Here are the other 'finds':
A nice group of Velvet Shank fungi were near Big Pool. Witches Broom clumps were in trees on the farmland. Four Grey Squirrels were in asingle tree together chasing round, the most I've had in one group!
Newchurch Common this morning:
A few nice clumps of Yellow Brain Fungus on dead gorse branches, Blushing Bracket (a re-ID, scrub Beefsteak Fungus from last post!!).
Also the common orange speckling of tree trunks, I'd never IDed before but took a picture today and it's a Trentepohlia sp. which is a type of algae.
Not much additional wildlife for January at Newchurch Common.
Mammals: Grey Squirrel (lots!)
Fungi: Scarlet Elf Cup, Variable Oysterling, Common Puffball, Birch Polypore, Turkeytail, Beefsteak Fungus.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 12th of January 2021 09:38:55 PM
Hi
I found a fully intact road kill polecat in Marple Stockport in November, Im almost sure it was a wild one, had ferrets when I was younger , great news if there numbers are increasing
And yes they are becoming increasingly more common in certain areas now, the rapidly expanding range of true Polecats possibly due to high Rabbit numbers?
Cheers
She didn't but I still have hope as she has picture and I can get the skull potentially. I am pretty experienced at ID of mustelidae, mammals being my line of study and birds coming in later!! If you have the Corbett & Southern Handbook (worth getting) you will know that the biometrics are key (it's an expensive book but in my University mammal research it was needed). I have disected and measured up several Polecat bodies and using this method over all others ID can be confidently called. Nowadays many more that are found are wild Polecat rather than Polecat-Ferret, the latter now being pretty rare (other than in the far SW) and the former is very common (see the Vincent Wildlife Trust report 'The Distribution and Status of the Polecat (Mustela putorius) in Britain 2014-2015', and they have increased further since then). If my friends find is a Polecat-Ferret that will be more amazing, but I need that body or her pics.
Link to distribution map:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-distribution-of-hectads-in-which-verifiable-records-of-true-polecats-dark-green_fig5_299859062
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Wednesday 6th of January 2021 08:46:16 AM
Hi Doc,
did your friend ever get back to you with the body?
Interested to know your findings, Ferret or true Polecat? Theres a particular set of identification features that are actually quite straightforward to follow.
I did the same for the Nosterfield one, I didnt see it myself but the finders images were superb. I was convinced it was a true one and contacted the finder. I think the Mammal Society accepted it when he realised he had a real one on his hands and submitted the record.
Cheers mate,
Rob
Late December on Newchurch Common I recorded a few fungi still.
Interesting ones included a new for patch Variable Oysterling. A nice patch of Common Puffball. Several clumps of Sulphur Tuft and my first Scarlet Elf Cups of 2020, both by Small Pool and Big Pool.
I agree John. Given that we all have latex gloves in the car now (I always did though tbh!!) I examined it and it was standard roadkill between 2 obvious Badger runs either side of Sandy Lane. I have pictures of the corspe and injuries as part of my examination (always the Zoologist!!). I also heard about the practise of Badger Baiters breaking the lower jaw of Badgers to reduce injury to their dogs during the fighting (I have found 1 'roadkill' corpse like this). An awful practise and it sums up exactly what Badgers Baiters are - in language not to be used here. I always check carcasses over for such like. I also moved the carcass out of view as I've heard of Baiters looking for signs of Badgers in an area through roadkill and also collecting corpses to tease dogs with to get them conditioned to attack Badgers without risk of injury during this training phase. It is also a popular dogwalking area and a lady resident was grateful for me moving it so that dogs disn't start investigating it or it rotting in situ either!
Sick
An early walk on Newchurch Common. A dead Badger was on Sandy Lane, sadly a road casualty from last night, between obvious badger runs either side of the road. What a shame that in all that countryside a crossing of c.4m over a country lane led to its death
A Wood Mouse was showing well in front of the feeding station screen.
Was shown a very interesting picture by one of my horse owning friends on my Newchurch Common Patch today. It looks like she found a dead Polecat in her stables 2 days ago. She is hoping to refind the body for me so that I can make a 100% ID.
My 2nd site record this autumn of Mottled Umber moth, near Gull Pool (pic).
Two new fungi were added to the patch list, firstly Scarlet Brittlegill (russula pseudointegra), and secondly the 'micro fungus' Phacidium lauri on dead Holly leaves.
A new fungus for me at Newchurch Common near Gull Pool, the Southern Bracket Ganoderma australe.
Another morning walk on Newchurch Common, cold and bright.
Several fish were in the vegetated shallows of Big Pool, and finally one was seen and was a 'jack' Pike. The swirls seen previously could have been Pike too or even fish being chased by Pike, these shallows being typical lay-up areas for this predatory species.
A nice fungus was found on a broken Gorse branch near Big Pool, Yellow Brain Fungus (picture 1). Candlesnuff Fungus was especially abundant. The spectacular lichen Parmotrema perlatum was also seen and photographed (picture 2)
Newchurch Common again this morning, sunny and bright but with a short light shower too!
A late Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) was on a Poppy near the Pine Belt. Some nice White Saddle Fungi (Helvella crispa) and Candlesnuff Fungi (Xylaria hypoxylon) in the woods near Big Pool Island Cut.
A correction, the moths found on Nov 5th & 7th were Winter Moths (poss the same individual!) when I looked at pictures! Since my cataract operation I can't see close-up and don't take my reading glasses out on patch! I then ID from the pics at home, I shouldn't have posted before going through the pics, only did that today!!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 13th of November 2020 10:33:23 PM
The pleasant sunshine resulted in the sighting of 1 Brimstone and 1 Red Admiral butterflies.
Also 1 hawker dragonfly which did not come close enough to ID properly.
Cheers mate.
I appreciate your knowledge regarding the bat sighting, I am very much a novice regarding these mammals and pretty much assume
that the large ones seen are likely to be Noctules. I have come across a few Noctules previously, but nearly always at dusk so basically
only a silhouette could be seen.
Regarding the colouration, all I can say is that the bat appeared to show an overall brown colour across it's body, whilst the wings appeared
black. For much of the time though the bat was viewed against an overcast sky, so basically 95% of the time it was just a silhouette, only
during the odd manoeuvre did I get a brief glimpse of the colour of it's fur. One feature the was clearly seen were the hooked claws on the joint
of each wing. When first seen with the naked eye the bat looked like a snipe, both in size and fast erratic flight pattern. Only when initially viewed
through binoculars did it become obvious that it was a bat, it was also flying quite high, around 100ft up most of the time.
When viewed again at the same spot several days later I was so amazed that I watched the bat for longer period, and witnessed it perform spectacular
dives, so it was apparent that it was in pursuit of aerial insects. Only a very few small moths were to be seen flying in the area, there were though plenty
of midges and occasional gnat. The bat was still focussed on the same area as I left, so there is obviously a real attraction for it there.
A 100yds or so from where the bat was seen there is a large mound of well rotted manure, it's still steaming and quite smelly, but it does attract wagtails
and Meadow Pipits in search of flies etc, so perhaps that is a factor in drawing the Noctule too.
Regards
John
Im not about to tell you what the Bat is or isn?t as it would be impossible without either a) a Bat detector to measure the ultrasonic call, or b) the Bat being caught by a licenced conservationist to examine classic features such as forearm structure and length, but I hope this is of interest to you anyway as sometimes there are likelihood?s as to what a species could be.
Noctules fur at this time of year has a reddy brown hue, which if seen well can sometimes be a fairly good indicator of the species but beware of Leislers Bat (Lesser Noctule).
You didnt mention colour.
You said you saw it well at midday... that leads onto another well known habit of Noctules in that they are rarely seen other than short spells immediately before sunrise or sunset due to insect availability and can sometimes spend between 22 to 23 hours fasting.
You mentioned speed... well although sometimes their wingbeats can appear relaxed and nonchalant, they are infact very fast flyers and are more often than not observed that way. They can fly quite high, can reach in excess of 35mph and are often seen performing acrobatic dives at speed with twists and turns (which mirrors what you mentioned in your sighting).
Serotine Bats can almost match Noctules for size but they arent as fast and dont perform the spectacular dives and acrobatic skills, mainly because they dont fly as high.
Your flight observation seems to match that of a Noctule, the daytime flight is a bit of an oddity but there are probably exceptions, the time of day though wouldve afforded good views and allowed you to note the fur colour.
Take from this what you will, hope it helps.
Cheers
A Noctule like bat was first seen in flight over farmland West of Alder Lane on the 5th November, and was seen in the
same area again today. On both occasions it was seen flying quite high, but also making spectacular dives and was obviously
catching insects in flight. As the bat came close the ears were noticeable, but they were not pointed like those of a Long eared Bat,
but rounded, indeed from what I could see of the face it matched perfectly with text book images of Noctules. When first seen
last Thursday I thought the bat had been disturbed from a roost, as the farmer was working close to a group of nearby dead trees..
However after seeing the bat flying around the same area again at lunchtime today that theory appears to be untrue. Is there currently
a shortage of nocturnal insects, the bat was clearly catching prey when seen today, and it's aerobatic skills would put any hirundine to shame?.
The fellow will have to be careful though, a chunky female Sparrowhawk was seen to zoom across an adjoining field, and a Kestrel was hunting
nearby too.
1 Daubentons Bat flying low over the mere in daylight. Then spotted by a group of Black-headed Gulls which then chased the bat. A 1st winter gull caught the bat, but then dropped it into the water leaving the poor bat floundering on the surface. The gull then picked the bat up again and flew off with it with the rest of the gulls in hot pursuit. Dramatic stuff.
Also 1 Noctule Bat over as the light faded.
At Newchurch Common this morning, sunny and hoping for more invert action that I got, especially as a mate has had Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Southern Hawker dragonflies on the nearby Delamere mosses this week.
A new shieldbug species was added to my patchlist and was a lifer that I had never found ever before - Spiked Shieldbug, found because if attached itself to my sock!!. It favours heathland so I reckon it hitched a lift on Abbot's Moss! Another November Moth agg. was found on a tree trunk by Big Pool Island Cut.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Saturday 7th of November 2020 03:44:42 PM
On Newchurch Common this am, fine and bright.
A large dog Fox was moving fast along the cover of one of the fences on patch, he looked in fine fettle and was a pleasure to watch. A November Moth agg (agg due to them not being reliably identifiable without genitalia dissection) was near Big Pool.
Lots of fungi, a couple remaining to be identified. Those that were IDed included Jelly Rot (Phlebia tremellosa), Fairy Inkcap, Stump Puffball, Common Rustgill and Frosty Bonnet, as well as a few remaining Collared Earthstars and Common Earthballs.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 5th of November 2020 08:29:37 PM