Wet, wet, wet.

I set out today in bright, warm sunshine, only to get caught in a shower and arrive home very bedraggled.

I could say that I had witnessed amazing sights on the walk; I could say that I took some stunning photographs - but in both cases I would be telling porkies.

The alga, Trentepohlia abietina on bark.
Byfield Pocket Park, 20 February, 2014

Trudging through Byfield's Pocket Park I was struck by the number of tree trunks with orange staining. Despite looking very-lichen like, the organism responsible is an alga, Trentepohlia abietina.
  
Although very widespread few records appear on biological databases as no-one seems to submit their findings.

   

Coral-spot on an Elder branch.
Byfield Pocket Park, 20 February, 2014

Only a few metres away was another distinctive, orange, lichen-like organism. Again it wasn't a lichen but in this case was a fungus, Nectria cinnabarina. Commonly called the Coral-spot Fungus, it is typically found on dead bark, but will penetrate living wood to cause dieback and, in the worst cases, the death of the tree.

Oilseed rape at the edge of Byfield
Pocket Park. 20 February, 2014

A splash of bright yellow in the distance looked encouraging but, as I approached, it became obvious that it was an oilseed rape plant that had escaped the attentions of the harvester.
















If you all turn to page 2 in your copy of William Kirk's book, "Insects on Cabbages and Oilseed Rape" you will see that the plant is basically a turnip; more precisely it is Brassica napus var. oleifera. As a crop a rigorous regime of spraying is generally followed lest the plants are attacked by a wide range of organisms. Odd plants like the one I found generally escape spraying and are therefore of considerable interest.




The sky was darkening in a threatening manner and the first raindrops began to fall so I turned homewards. I paused to examine a Belemnite fossil in a sandstone wall.

Belemnite in a wall, Church Street,  Byfield.
20 February, 2014

The fossil was unremarkable; dozens, if not hundreds, of these ancient squid relatives were to be seen along the wall. What was rather more surprising was a spider I saw nearby.










It was a female Zygiella x-notata, guarding her clutch of eggs. To find this creature on an exposed wall in February was, to my mind, quite extraordinary; wet though I was, my walk had been worthwhile after all.

Rambling on...

In a couple of months time Chris and I are off rambling in southern Greece (the Peloponnese to be more precise) and as I am not at all fit, and as today was reasonably fine (at least it was dry) I set off again for a strenuous walk. But of course it wasn't strenuous - stopping every couple of minutes to examine an enthralling twig doesn't exactly get the heart-rate up.

I left Byfield via Banbury Lane, pausing only to photograph a Spurge-laurel, Daphne laureola.

Spurge-laurel, Daphne laureola.
Byfield, 18 February, 2014

Its small, fragrant flowers are easily overlooked, but merit closer examination. Given a couple of hours of warm sunshine it may receive visits from Honey Bees. No one seems to plant it hereabouts; it just pops up, probably being bird sown.











Yesterday I more or less vowed not to photograph any lichens, so here are two ...

Pannaria rubiginosa on the trunk of an ash tree.
Nr Byfield, 18 February.

On the trunk of an ash tree was an attractive patch of Matted Lichen, Pannaria rubiginosa. This is a very widespread species, found all over the world except Australasia and Antarctica, so it doesn't count as a sensational find.

An oak branch, bearing Evernia prunastri.
Near Byfield, 18 February, 2014

... and Evernia prunastri, already featured in previous blogs and therefore needing no further comment. 









I plodded on through sticky fields, my circular route eventually bringing me back towards the village. In some hedgerows snowdrops were present, sometimes in patches numbering many hundreds but, far more more interesting, was a fair-sized patch of a Lungwort.



With its small, neat, unspotted leaves it clearly wasn't the usual Pulmonaria officinalis and a closer examination showed that it was Pulmonaria rubra. This plant is a native of south-east Europe but has escaped from gardens and is now quite widely scattered through Britain. (Incidentally our only native Lungwort is the Narrow-leaved Lungwort, Pulmonaria longifolia, found wild on the Isle of Wight, Dorset and parts of Hampshire.)

Pulmonaria rubra, Boddington Road, Byfield.
18 February, 2014

This clump along the Boddington Road is clearly well-established and holding its own with the native flora. All Lungworts are excellent bee-plants, with copious amounts of nectar. Alien it may be, but in my eyes it is very welcome.

I pushed on into Byfield via the pretty Westhorp Lane and was stopped in my tracks by this lovely rose on a south-facing wall. Even in such a position it had no right to be flowering so beautifully in mid-February. (Excuse the camera angle; I wanted to show the quality of the petals.)



Also in flower were some clumps of Elephant-ears, Bergenia crassifolia. I cannot deny the attractiveness of the neat, bright pink flowers, but I have never grown it.

Elephant-ears, Westhorp Lane, Byfield.
18 February, 2014

The thick, cabbage-like leaves are so coarse that it hard to accept that it a member of the generally neat Saxifrage Family. These leaves are long-lasting and therefore get battered and chewed, detracting from a plant which might otherwise be a gem. Books will tell you that it is attractive to bees. All I can say is that I have been unlucky because I have never seen bees - or butterflies - visiting Bergenia.



 

Spring on hold

Phenological data suggest that spring is getting a little earlier each year but nevertheless, as I set out for a walk earlier today, I wasn't expecting to see any dramatic changes - and my non-expectations proved to be correct.

Yesterday I was tied up with a number of commitments. So the sun shone and the wind dropped to give a glorious day. Today I was free to get out - and the sky was unremittingly grey with a rather chilly wind. But was I bovvered? 

The lichen Amandinea punctata.
Byfield Pocket Park, 17 February, 2014

I set out through the Pocket Park, noting that discarded Coke cans were about the only colourful feature of the area but I paused to photograph a lichen on a sycamore tree trunk. It was Amandinea punctata, a common species found throughout Britain.








I could have spend a good deal of time photographing lichens but resisted the urge, partly because they are of little interest to most people but also because their correct identification can be very time consuming, necessitating the use of various chemicals such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, paraphenylenediamine, iodine, nitric acid and lactophenol - only some of which I have to hand. 

Lichens near Byfield sewage treatment plant.
17 February, 2014

Fortunately some lichens are distinctive and one soon becomes familiar with the commoner ones. A thin fallen branch bore a nice patch of Parmotrema reticulatum with, inevitably, Xanthoria parietina. The Parmotrema is the bluish lichen to the left with the yellow Xanthoria to its right. 

Parmotrema reticulatum in more detail.
17 February, 2014

Beyond Byfield's sewage treatment plant I left the public right-of-way and followed a stream, a tributary of the Cherwell, heading towards Woodford Halse. The ground was treacherous with sticky mud and at one point I slipped and almost fell.  A Green Woodpecker crossed an adjacent field with characteristic undulating flight, its slightly insane laugh almost mocking me. 

Tumbling stream between Byfield and Woodford Halse.
17 February, 2014

The stream is often little more than a trickle but, although indications suggested that the water had subsided a lot in the last 36 hours, it was still flowing strongly.

Hawthorn still laden with fruit.
Nr Byfield, 17 February, 2014

The bird-feeder in my garden has received few visits recently and it is clear that there is plenty of natural food available in the open countryside. I found this hawthorn still heavily laden with fruit.






Buds were swelling on some of the hawthorn bushes whilst on elders some leaves were already showing. For most plants however it was a question of waiting. 

Rosette of Spear Thistle nr Byfield.
17 February, 2014

Among those waiting is Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare. The rosettes of this biennial herb are now well developed; with rising temperatures and increasing day-length they will sent their flowering stems soaring up to as much as 150 centimetres. Copious droppings showed a good population of rabbits in the area but this thistle is safe!

Common Field Speedwell, Veronica persica.
Arable fields nr Byfiels, 17 February, 2014

The chilly, muddy conditions did not deter Common Field Speedwell, Veronica persica from flowering with some freedom. The plant has a bitter taste and may be mildly toxic (some American species have been under suspicion of poisoning dogs). So, for a different reason, it too seems safe from rabbits. It is an introduced plant, first recorded in 1825, but is now abundant everywhere.




My rather circular walk was taking me back towards Byfield. As I approached the village violets were in bloom.

Sweet Violet in flower at the edge of Byfield.
17 February, 2014

Despite the chilly conditions a pleasant fragrance could be detected. This, and the almost blunt sepals, showed that it was Sweet Violet, Viola odorata. The proximity to the village suggested that it was a garden escape although the species does grow wild hereabouts.

Erophila verna on a wall. Church Street
Byfield.  17 February, 2014

My walk was almost over but a sandstone wall in Church Street bore a few plants of Common Whitlow-grass, Erophila verna. Rather obviously it is not a grass at all but a tiny member of the Cabbage Family. Some of the plants were small enough to be completely covered by a ten-pence coin but were nevertheless in full flower and with ripening capsules of seeds. Each flower has only four petals, but each is deeply split to create the impression of eight.




So, hardly a wildly exciting morning but it was better than house re-decorating so, after days of slapping emulsion on walls, it was good to get some clean air into my lungs (notwithstanding the sewage works!). 

Thrum-eyed and pin-eyed

I treated myself to a tray of Primulas today from Banbury market and was pleased to note that both thrum-eyed and pin-eyed forms were present. The thrum-eyed form has long anthers (the male pollen-bearing organs) and they form a fringe around the top of the corolla tube.

Thrum-eyed Primula. 6 February, 2014

In the thrum-eyed form the female organs cannot be seen as they are situated half way down the corolla tube.

Pin-eyed Primula. 6 February, 2014

In the pin-eyed form the situation is reversed: the female stigma, looking like a drumstick, clearly protrudes from the mouth of the corolla tube; the male organs cannot be seen.






Ideally a visiting insect will go to a thrum-eyed flower first and receive a dusting of pollen from the male organs. It will go on to a female flower and deposit pollen on the sticky stigma and pollination is achieved.





The object of the exercise is, of course, to try and ensure cross-pollination. Although our wild Primrose, Primula vulgaris, is far less common than a century ago it is still abundant in places, testimony to the success of this arrangement. All our other native primulas - Bird's Eye Primrose (Primula farinosa), Oxlip (Primula elatior)  and Cowslip, (Primula veris) have similar arrangements.

West Farndon and beyond

I really haven't been doing much walking lately - no more than strolling really, so today I set off for a longer, brisker walk. It was only about three and a half miles but with some steepish climbs on muddy tracks, and into the teeth of a blustery wind, it felt further.

West Farndon, looking from the west
3 February, 2013

I left Byfield via Church Street and set out, with a strong east wind making my eyes water, along the uninspiring road towards West Farndon. It is quite a pretty little hamlet with a population, I suspect, of under fifty people. (The village of East Farndon, near Market Harborough, is considerably larger.)



My walk by-passed West Farndon and in a short distance I left the road and struck off west, heading for Farndonhill Farm. A couple of dozen fieldfares rose as I approached, chak-chakking testily. These migrant thrushes have largely escaped me this winter and this was the largest flock I've seen this year. In a few weeks they'll be getting restless and set off for Scandinavia, pining for the fjords (see footnote). Skylarks rose from fields of cereals and oilseed rape, but after a short flight quickly settled again; their famous towering flights seem to be restricted to the breeding season.

I was now climbing steadily, with superb views in all directions, to reach a height of 184 metres. The wind was from the south-east - not the coldest quarter but nevertheless finding every chink in my clothing. Although I could see for many miles, particularly to the east, a camera would not do justice to this lovely but, compared with somewhere like the Clee Hills, a relatively featureless landscape.

White Campion Silene alba.
Farndon Hill, nr Byfield. 3 January, 2014

In these exposed conditions I was surprised to see White Campion, Silene alba, flowering. The soil is, I suspect neutral to slightly acid and in the summer Harebells flower in the same location.







The local farmer is clearly friendly towards the environment. Owl boxes were positioned in trees and there is some good amenity planting.

Amenity planting on Solden Hill.
3 February, 2014

This little grove of trees included cherry, oak, birch and beech. The latter two are probably not native to this part of the county but are nevertheless good choices.

Witches Brooms on birch trees.
Solden Hill, 3 February, 2014

Already the young birches were displaying 'witches brooms', about which I wrote in my blog for 9 February, 2013 called "Midwinter Miscellany". Research continues into these curious malformations which, though often quite large, seem to do no harm to the tree.

Our slowly growing gnome colony, Solden Hill.
3 February, 2014

I briefly paused to check on the well-being of our local colony of gnomes - Gnomebase? - before continuing my journey. I suspect there has been some inbreeding in this isolated group with its limited gene pool as some of the specimens were quite grotesque.

By now Byfield was in sight across the fields and I had under a mile to go. Unfortunately the last leg was along the busy A381 but it had been a good jaunt. 







Footnote  Apologies to Monty Python's 'Dead Parrot' sketch.These birds, amongst our larger thrushes, do not actually reside in the fjord regions but breed inland, through Fennoscandia into Russia.

Pottering in the garden (2)

Dry conditions with lovely sunshine! Chris and I seized the chance to begin the job of putting the garden into some kind of order.

The old apple tree needed some pruning. Lichens such as Evernia prunastri (see blog for 30 January) and Xanthoria parietina were present on the branches. These do no harm.

The lichen, Xanthoria parietina, on our
apple tree. 2 February, 2014

Our apple tree only supports very common lichens. Some old orchards form a superb habitat for these organisms and is one reason why there is concern over the loss of these sites.








Of more concern was a fungus which threatened to start killing off branches if not, ultimately, the whole tree. I believe it is Skeletocutis nivea but my expertise in this field is quite limited.

?Hazel Bracket, Skeletocutis nivea. Apple tree in our
garden. Byfield, 2 February, 2014

This is a rather common fungus throughout Britain and I have previously noted it at the edge of our village playing fields in a similar situation. Its common name is Hazel Bracket but is clearly not confined to hazels.




Having lopped off redundant or diseased material I moved on down the garden. I have a number of logs distributed around and use them as stands for pots. One of these logs was also sporting a fungus.

A Honey Fungus, Armillaria species in my garden at
Byfield. 2 February, 2014

It was Honey Fungus, Armillaria melea or one of its close relatives. In a situation like this it appears harmless, but root-like structures (rhizomorphs) could spread out from this log to begin an attack on nearby healthy trees. Treatment is very difficult and all I can do for now is monitor the situation. Honey Fungus is unfortunately very common and the fact that it is edible does not confer on it any real esteem.






On a more cheerful note the Korean Fir, Abies koreana, which I planted some five years ago, is looking very well.

Korean Fir, Abies koreana in my garden
2 February, 2014

Four months ago these cones were a lovely violet colour; they have now ripened and shed most of their seeds. A resinous exudate now appears as white blobs on the cones, not, imo, detracting from their appearance but adding to the interest. A slow-growing tree, it is deservedly popular in gardens.

Not quite as welcome, popping up in awkward places, was Arum italicum. Its pretty marbled leaves are rather attractive but the seed from its scarlet berries are apparently bird-sown and I keep having to grub out unwanted plants. My plant is subspecies italicum. It is probably native in the Channel Islands but elsewhere it is a common escapee from gardens. Some forty years ago I read Cecil Prime's monologue on Lords and Ladies and his research showed that starch made from its tubers was used to stiffen ruffs in Elizabethan times. These wading birds must have found the treatment annoying (Just stop it!). Anyway, with the arrival of potatoes a more convenient source of starch became available - just too late, as ruffs became unfashionable.

Moving on, there was time to remove unwanted dead leaves from the pond. Bubbles of pungent methane rose to the surface as I cleared them out; once settled the water should be far healthier and the pond may attract some amphibians over March and April. Watch this space.

Burning off breakfast

The BBC had promised a sunny, rain-free day, and so it was - until the afternoon. Fortunately Chris I got our walk in before the rain arrived. Our route took us down "The Twistle" and I poked my head over the parapet to look down on to the old track-bed of the SMJ (Stratford upon Avon and Midland Junction Railway).

Flooded track bed of the old
S.M.J. Railway, Byfield. 1 February, 2014

This stretch of the track is completely inaccessible to the public but it hasn't stopped people from throwing rubbish over the parapet. The track bed is generally damp but the amount of water there at the moment is testament to the heavy rains of recent weeks. It will be a long time before this drains away.

Aubretia on a wall. The Twistle, Byfield.
1 Febtruary, 2014

I was cheered by the sight of Aubretia, Aubrieta deltoides, flowering on a south-facing wall. A member of the Cabbage family, this native of south-east Europe flourishes in this sort of situation. In its homeland it occurs on dry stony hillsides and cliff faces so a stone wall does very nicely, thank you.











A little further on Stinking Hellebore, Helleborus foetidus, was not far short of flowering. Although it is a native of Northamptonshire it is confined as a truly wild plant to the east of the county.

Map showing the distribution of Stinking
Hellebore (black dots) in Northants.

This map, from 'The Flora of Northamptonshire' by Gill Gent et al shows that Stinking Hellebore is not native to the Byfield area and here it must be considered a garden escape. Indeed, the plant photographed was in a garden but it is frequently seen on waste ground. It constantly crops up in my garden and I suspect that the seeds stay viable for a long time.







A lovely crab apple was fruiting in a nearby garden. I suspect it is Malus baccata or something similar, i.e one of the Siberian Crab Apples. We had these in our garden when I was a child and was very disappointed when I first bit into the fruit. Eventually the flesh will soften and blet; when this point is reached it will become acceptable to birds but at the moment we can simply enjoy the sight of the scarlet fruit.







Scarlet crab apples always seen to contrast beautifully with birches and conifers. In such a situation I would be tempted to plant heathers too.






On my last 3-4 walks I have been driven home by rain. Today, as the darkening skies threatened, we scurried home, refreshed and rather exhilarated. We had earlier enjoyed a hearty meal at The 'Big Breakfast' in Byfield's village hall so we had also burned off a few calories!