As the nights draw in and the trees begin to lose their leaves some of our countryside’s lesser-seen creatures become more apparent, nocturnal or crepuscular animals like bats for example, which can be seen more readily against the dusk sky as they flit about hunting for moths and midges. On a country lane the smallContinue reading “Daubenton’s Bat Myotis daubentonii“
Category Archives: Natural history
The Long-Tailed Tit
Long Tailed Tits, Aegithalos caudatus, have formed winter flocks now and are roaming the countryside in twittering bands, hunting hedgerows, treetops and gardens. Our smallest bird One of the UK’s smallest birds the Long-tailed tit or ‘titmouse’ as it is also affectionately known, is one of Britain’s favourite birds, and it does have some veryContinue reading “The Long-Tailed Tit”
The Fieldfare
The Fieldfare, Turdus Pilaris, is a large migratory Thrush and the first Flocks of the winter may be seen now as they fly in from their summer breeding grounds in Russia and Scandinavia to overwinter in the British isles. Gregarious gatherings They are a very Gregarious bird, gathering in flocks of 2 to 3 dozen,Continue reading “The Fieldfare”
Peatland Restoration in the Northwest of England
A brief look over Peatland Restoration efforts in the Northwest of England
The Woodcock Moon
Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, (scolopax being the genus name and rusticola coming from the latin words rusticus, meaning ‘rural’ and colere ‘to live’,) are arriving by the tens of thousands in the British isles at the moment, by the light of the full moon. The ‘Woodcock moon’ as it is called is traditionally the last fullContinue reading “The Woodcock Moon”
The Shaggy Inkcap
The Shaggy Inkcap is commonly found in the autumn months growing on roadside verges, in meadows and on garden lawns, its scientific name, Coprinus comatus, coprinus meaning ‘of dung’ and comatus meaning ‘shaggy’ or ‘hairy’, is fairly descriptive of its nature, it is also known as the ‘judges wig’. Its most common name, ‘Inkcap’ comesContinue reading “The Shaggy Inkcap”
Hazel Glove Fungus
The Hazel Glove fungus Hypocreopsis rhododendri, is a member of the ascomycete genus of funghi, which derives its name from the ancient Greek word ‘ascus’, which means sac. On this species the the openings of these sacs are visible as black dots on the surface of the funguses orange fingers. This fungus is found fruitingContinue reading “Hazel Glove Fungus”
Usnea Lichens
In a previous article I looked at various families of lichens and how they each indicate how clean the air is where they are found. Out of three main families we found that the lichens which require the cleanest air to survive and thrive in are the Fruticose lichens, so-called because they are bushy inContinue reading “Usnea Lichens”
Northwest Nature and History 