Pied Flycatcher
We were very lucky that the above date was in the lovely warm and sunny week before winter returned bringing snow and cold winds. Even those who like plenty of layers of clothing had to begin to shed some! Ten of us set out to walk first on the north bank, over the aqueduct and back along the other side. A longer walk than we normally do. There is always lots to see in these woods.
Great Woodrush Luzula sylvatica which later in the season clothe the wooded slopes was just beginning to come into flower, contrasting with the delicate Hairy Woodrush L.pilosa. Ferns were beginning to unfurl and the magical blue haze of the Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta beginning to appear. Many plants were starting to come into leaf and bud. Our discussions centred on identification of trees and Golden Saxifrage Chrysoplenium: had we seen the Alternate-leaved C. alternifolium (as against just another Opposite-leaved variety C.oppositifolium) or was the leader using her imagination too much! We found Yellow Star of Bethlehem Gagea lutea in its usual position on a steep bank near the river.
We are very much a mixed group of botanists and birders who are also interested in butterflies and were pleased to see Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies as well as the newly arrived Warblers. It was a really good start to the season except that we noted many seedlings of Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera, too many to pick out, no doubt brought downstream by the winter flooding.
Christine Bell.
