July 31, 2022

July - discoveries, neither hellish nor boring

July 31, 2022

There are more than usual video clips this month - roe kids are very cute. Remember that you are unlikely to be able to access these through the Blog email. Go to www.liddells.co.uk click on the Blog and watch them through the website.

John and Clare have been waiting and hoping for sightings of this year’s roe kids, and the first glimpse was towards the end of last month, however retrieved too late to include it in the June blog post.

1st July

Kathryn L came to plant trees she had kindly donated - a beech, an oak, two birches, a rowan and a holly. Cutting gorse for protection revealed a birds’ nest tucked deep into a gorse bush near the top gate. The nest hasn’t been feathered so may not have been used this year.

2nd July

The trail camera in the Scrub is showing at least six hare appearances in any twenty-four hour period.

The trail camera in the Pit Wood shows another tantalising glimpse of a roe and kid.

Earlier in the year, and on the way to check on one of Juno’s bird boxes, Clare had noticed an unfamiliar plant growing near one of the signposts to the hide. She had kept her eye on it and wondered if it might be an orchid although since the flowers have been late emerging, she dismissed the idea. More on this story later…

3rd - 6th July

The repair work from Storm Arwen continues. John finished restoring the fencing behind the sheds and started on the stretch at the east end of the Top Strip. Clare was delighted to see a pair of Bullfinches below the Scrub - she had remarked yesterday that it was a while since she had seen any. So gratifying to know the birds are listening.

At last there is a proper view of the new kid. Then one of the doe and kid together. Take a look at the shape of the doe’s muzzle. More on this story later…

The old buck chases another deer through the Scrub. John says it is a bit early for the rut (mid July to mid August), so more likely the buck is chasing another buck off his patch in readiness.

The hare is investigating a fern frond. More on this story later…

The doe appears with the kid. Then another kid. Then another kid - triplets again!

7th July

Obviously footage of the kids is irresistible. This doe’s muzzle markings are clearly visible. The edges of her muzzle are squared off.

A little later, still in the Pit Wood, a doe with a different muzzle shape appears. This muzzle tapers to a point at the sides.

8th July

The hare checks the frond again. Or it might be a different hare.

Clare and John set about collecting Yellow Rattle seeds from the Top Grazing. They were pleased to see how well the plant is establishing there.

Clare busied herself trying to photograph a wood wasp on one of the log piles, however it found a way down to the bottom and out of the camera’s view. On the way home from Liddells, John and Clare realised they had a longhorn beetle in the car which probably decided to hitch a ride while they were distracted by the wood wasp.

9th July

The buck is marking in the Scrub again. This is probably preparation for the rut, as would be chasing off any other bucks.

John and Clare are watching the footage of the new kids carefully and are a bit confused by what they are seeing - sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes three. It is perfectly possible that sometimes a kid or two is off camera. However, the doe’s muzzle in the second of the three clips below, is just visible, and looks to be pointed at the sides. The kid on its own in the third video, may well be the third kid, following a little behind.

John and Clare are reaching the conclusion that there are two does with kids, one with three, and one with one. The doe with one kid is likely to be a youngster, no more than two years old. John says it is unusual for two does to be appearing to share the same territory.

10th - 14th July

Activity on the Top Grazing. John starts putting in the posts for the outdoor classroom. The hay is cut. (7th - 11th July is 温風至 Atsukaze itaru - Warm winds blow - in the Japanese microseasons. Good hay-making weather.)

Clare was surprised to find that the bees in the first colony she split are once again thinking of swarming. Nothing ventured, she decided to execute another split, putting the swarm cell and four other frames of brood into a nucleus hive. More on this story later…

Clare began digging reeds out of the roadside pond while it is empty, and using the opportunity to add a little more depth to the pond.

One doe and one kid appear in the Scrub on two occasions; one kid appears, and leaves, independently. Then a doe goes through with three kids.

A hare nibbles at a rose stem in the Scrub. When Clare looked closely at the stem later, she found that it had no leaves (the hare doesn’t seem to be eating leaves), and concluded that the hare must have been eating the thorns. Rabbits are known to eat all parts of roses, including the thorns; as with deer, they are drawn to plants in the Rosaceae family, so it is likely hares are too. In a later video one hare jumps out at another; the first is noticeable smaller than the second, so probably one of this year’s young being surprised by an established resident. The next clip shows the hares apparently not in conflict.

15th July

After a long interruption, Clare and John were delighted to organise a Green Gym Day. They had over 50 trees to plant - donations and their own successful germinations from acorns and conkers - however as the forecast showed days of very hot, dry weather to come, planting trees with no means of watering them seemed to be a bad idea. The other task was to harvest Yellow Rattle seeds from the Wildflower Meadow. All good plans… There was rain. Off and on, quite a lot of rain. With the hot weather still in prospect, planting was out and with the rain, seed collection was out. What to do? John and Clare had been thinking about taking up the path at the west end of the Top Strip to make it possible to cut with the flail mower. The first job was to remove all the edging logs and the stakes holding them in place.

Clare arrived early and decided to catch up with the weekly email from the Northumbria Natural History Society. The email featured a short video on the Broad-leaved Helleborine . Clare was excited to realise that this very closely resembled the mystery plant near the hide and set off to check. Helleborines are also part of the orchid family. Bingo!

The Green Gym team arrived and set about tackling the Top Strip path. They created several piles of pleasingly rotting wood that will no doubt be appreciated by the local bug life. Gratifyingly, there seemed to be no need to pull up all the membrane underneath the path as there is sufficient weed growth for the chip, which is composting anyway, not to compromise the flails. There were gaps in the rain almost long enough for a picnic lunch. Clare noticed that for the first time there were nuts on one of the hazels planted as understory several years ago.

After the work was done, Clare took Pat with her to examine the plants again, and Pat noticed that some flowers had begun to open at the base of the spike, and agreed with the identification.

The doe and three kids are seen on the trail camera, as is the lame doe who hasn’t appeared for a while.

17th July

Although they are two days apart, the clip of the limping doe is followed by a video of a limping fox.

Clare was rewarded for her frequent visits to monitor the Nettle-leaved bellflower in the Scrub, and found that it had come into flower. In spite of the plant allegedly producing copious amounts of seed, there has only ever been one plant in this area.

The Alder Buckthorns from Tim and Jane have grown beyond the tops of their tubes.

Mel had been excited to hear about the Broad-leaved helleborine, saying it was a plant he had been looking for for many years. He went to see it and reported back that there were another 15-20 plants downstream of the first. So not a random occurrence but more likely an established colony that had just gone unnoticed all these years. It is thanks to Juno’s bird boxes that they were seen at all.

Clare inspected the nucleus and hive from which it had been split. There was another queen cell under construction in the nucleus, so Clare took that down, leaving the original. The hive will remain in purdah for a month or so until any new queen has had time to emerge, mature, mate and start laying. More on this story next month… There were eggs in the other hive so it would seem as if the bees have given up on the idea of swarming. It is now late in the season for them to do so, although bees have never been known to read the text books.

Clare was pleased to see a male Linnet in the Scrub - another bird that hadn’t been noticed around for a while.

A hare breaks off a piece of the bracken frond, then leave it uneaten. Some ferns are toxic to rabbits and hares. Maybe this hare remains unsure about this particular plant and takes the safe option.

19th July

John went out for an evening’s deer watching, armed with a video camera and a squeaker that mimics a roe kid’s cry. He wondered if the squeaker would attract a doe and kids. Instead the sound attracted the old buck who came barking and leaping around the Wetland. The buck would be looking for does to mate.

John also saw a Tawny Owl fly out of the North-east Strip.

20th July

The hay was baled yesterday. Barry advised that the bales are left standing to cool down for about 10 days. If they are stacked while the hay is very warm, and in this heat, there is a risk of combustion.

Knowing that the big pond was gradually getting choked with rush and Branched Bur-reed, Clare decided to face her dislike of wading through mud and to order waders so that she could tackle the task of reducing the numbers of these plants. With the dry weather the water in the pond is fast disappearing, offering the perfect opportunity to wade in. Clare began by working round the edges of the island which has slowly been increasing in size. She has decided to call the island St John’s, not to beatify John but to reflect the increasing number of St John’s Wort plants that appear there each year.

The doe with one kid appears in the Pit Wood. There are four clips of a kid foraging on its own in the Scrub, over a period of 8 minutes.

21st July

Clare spotted a pair of mating Red Soldier beetles on Hogweed. It isn’t a very good photograph, however she wanted to use the caption.

A kid leaps off into the Scrub, and then a doe emerges from the direction in which it leapt.

Bonkers.
(Red Soldier beetles are commonly known as Hogweed Bonking beetles. They are doing what it says on the tin.)

22nd July

A fox with gait unimpaired trots through the Scrub. A couple of hours later a badger goes through with a passing interest in the fern. Another couple of hours and a badger comes towards the camera.

23rd July

More pond work. Clare noticed what appeared to be a newly emerged and not fully uncurled male Common Hawker Dragonfly very near where she was working. It obligingly moved onto her arm where John was able to take a photograph. Clare then replaced it on rush where she kept an eye on it. It straightened up over the next few minutes. Clare looked in vain for the exuvia - the cast skin from which it had emerged.

While on her way up through the Pit Wood near the hide, Clare spotted another 4 Broad-leaved Helleborines. They are several yards away from the original finds. She then went to top up the feeders and thought to have another look at the plants on the way out. Curiously they weren’t quite where she had remembered. That was because this was yet another different patch although closer to the one found earlier. Altogether there are another 9 plants; today’s finds are more fully in flower. Not including the ones that are sitting still unnoticed.

There is a sequence of four videos showing the doe, the doe with one kid, with two kids and a bit of grooming, then again a third kid appears a couple of minutes later. In the first clip, you can just see the pointed edges to her muzzle. She is being bothered by the flies.

24th July

It is the season for discoveries. Today Clare spotted another plant in the Pit Wood that she had not noticed before. She thinks it is Lesser Burdock.

On her way through the Orchard she saw two juvenile Chiffchaffs in an Elder, and on the path leading up away from the Orchard, she found a Thrush anvil.

Empty broken snail shells by the Thrush anvil

26th July

Mel came to help dig reed and rush out of the big pond. Clare decided that as well as the phrase ‘mud in your eye’ there should be ‘mud in your ear,’ ‘mud up your nose,’ ‘mud in your mouth’ and ‘mud in your hair’. The OED Word of the Day came up with a timely offering: goopy, ‘That is viscous or semi-liquid, often in an unpleasant or disgusting way’. Clare regretted not taking a ‘before’ photograph of the pond, however she did manage an ‘after’. There were plenty of dragon flies and damselflies about, particularly emerald damselflies, and a Common Hawker laying eggs.

Mel and Clare went to visit the ‘new’ helleborines and found not eight, but thirteen. On the way Mel noticed that the red clover in the Pit Wood is Zigzag clover. The leaves are longer and more pointed that with the usual red clover, the flowers are redder and more open, and where side shoots emerge from the main stem, the main stem goes off at a slight angle, hence ‘Zigzag’.

Tim has noticed that butterflies are fewer in number and diversity this year, however at the moment there are a large number of Small Skippers around.

29th July

The day began with rain, then warmed up, the perfect illustration of the start of 土潤溽暑 Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushi: Earth is damp, air is humid, 29th July - 2nd August. John began fixing boards to one side of the classroom. Clare dug out some more reeds and rush and spotted an azure damselfly by her foot.

30th July

John did further work on the classroom while Clare mudlarked about in the big pond and dug out more of the roadside pond. The big pond looks a little fuller after two days of heavy rain; the roadside pond remains empty. There was plenty of life in the big pond with water boatmen, pondskaters, pond snails, water beetles all visible, as well as damsel and dragonflies flying around.

Clare and John

June 30, 2022

June - 30 Days Wild

Clare and John

June 30, 2022

First, apologies to Tim for forgetting to include his charming photos of hares last month. He took these on the 14th May, on the Top Grazing.

Also from last month, the trail camera in the Pit Wood showed a different buck from any seen here recently. This one is what is called a ‘murder buck.’ A murder buck is a mature roebuck that has antlers devoid of any tines. That is to say the antlers will resemble two long spikes, without the traditional brow and rear antler tines. The reason that this type of beast is called a murder buck comes from the damage that this type of buck can cause to an opponent when sparring. John has seen them in the roe deer population on Holy Island.

Clare decided to log her 30 Days Wild this year and make these activities the main focus of the Blog. She has enjoyed taking a creative approach to her 30 wild days. Every day she has read a passage from Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year, ed. Jane McMorland Hunter, a delightful gift from Kathryn. Footage from the trail cameras has been added to these activities.

1st June: 4.15 am, thinking the bees would be quietly asleep, attempted to add a special entrance to one of the hives to help the bees defend themselves against robber bees - the bees detected the intrusion and objected strongly; finished reading The Wisdom of Trees, Max Adams.

2nd June: search for Yellow Rattle in the west end of the Top Grazing showed that the seeds sown last year had taken in many places; baby Blue tits at the feeders.

3rd June: planted trees - 7 Bird cherries + 3 Hawthorn (kindly donated by Keith) as hedging on the west boundary below the Wetland, and one Oak (also from Keith) nearby; walked home and identified 56 plant species in flower on the way.

4th June: another walk home from Liddells by a different route and saw 3 curlews in a field. Trail camera - fox and moths

5th June: evening walk round Liddells, nestlings seen still in J2.

Trail cameras - Great tits still feeding nestlings in J1; old buck seen in Pit Wood.

6th June: prepared a piece about the honey bee waggle dance for this month’s Rat Arts (a bimonthly meeting at a local pub to share songs, poetry, prose, etc., on a chosen theme. This month the theme is Dance).

7th June: Eileen came for lunch on Liddells and noticed a hare come up really close while we were talking; reference to the Ghost moth in Nature Writing - ‘A common sight at this time of year…[it] hovers above the fields and hedges at dusk - at one moment a pale, floating shape flitting across our path, then suddenly vanishing. It is usually still within reach of your hand, although invisible, for it has only to alight and fold its wings to disappear in the half-light. The upper side of its wings is mealy-white and glimmering, coming into view when poised, a most perfect disguise of brownish grey.’ (from The Peverel Papers, Flora Thompson, 1923)

Trail camera - hare in the Pit Wood; juvenile crow wing-flapping for food.

8th June: Bullfinch pair were perched in a Hawthorn near the first willow arbour; took photo of Corsican pine cones developing. Frustratingly the trail camera focussed on J1 had failed to capture footage of the Blue tits fledging. Heigh ho.

Trail camera - limping doe and two others, neither of which seems to be the old doe.

9th June: Pat and Sue came for some botanising and found Heath Speedwell, aka Common Gypsy Weed, Common speedwell, or Paul's betony, on the Crag.

Trail camera - in spite of the many broken pheasant eggs lying over Liddells, this hen has raised a pair of chicks.

10th June: learned the word ‘nemorous’ from a newspaper article - it means ‘full of woods or groves, wooded, woody. A passage from Edith Holden’s Diary in Nature Writing refers to the Yellow Bunting [the bird we call the Yellowhammer], and writes that, ‘in Cumberland they say it says ‘Devil, devil dinna touch me-e’. This bird is called Yeldrin and Yellow Yowlie in Scotland.’

11th June: today’s Guardian has an interesting article about Mugwort - there is some coming out near the Wildflower Meadow which might find its way into one or two of the recipe ideas suggested.

Trail camera - the juvenile crow still wants feeding

12th June: photographed a Buff-tailed bumblebee on Water Avens; saw Early Purple Orchids and a Stonechat while walking home

13th June: visited the Peace Labyrinth at Walltown; saw Common Spotted and Early Purple orchids; wondered about creating a tunnelled willow walk this year on Liddells with Sylvia’s willow prunings.

14th June: went in search of orchids on Liddells and found some out in the north-west corner and on the Meadow.

15th June: much activity at the feeders today; identified lots of juveniles - Tree Sparrows, Great tits, Marsh tits, Blue tits, Chaffinches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Trail camera - young hare in the Scrub

Juvenile Great spotted woodpecker - this is a male, the female has less red on the forehead. By next spring all this year's juveniles will have lost their red heads and young males will develop red on the nape but the females will remain plain black and white

An explanation for the recent rapid emptying of the nyjer seed feeders

16th June: another search for Creeping thistle on the Meadow - only 12, so this year’s total is 118, a big reduction; several Guelder rose plants in flower for the first time in the Orchard.

Trail camera - wary doe in Pit Wood. She may have had her kids and is therefore being particularly alert to possible threats.

17th June: opened the nucleus hive after leaving it in purdah after spitting to find 3 frames of capped brood - this part of the splitting exercise has been successful.

18th June: dug some turves with Red Clover and Yellow Rattle to introduce into the lawn at home after ‘No Mow May’ revealed no wildflowers in the grass; walked home via Written Crag (so-called because Flavius Carantinus, a quarryman, left his mark there: “PETRA FLAVI CARANTINI”) and saw a Swift, a Linnet, several Skylarks and a Yellowhammer.

19th June: a trip to Holy Island with John who wants to see if he can carry out a roe census there; it was a nature extravaganza - Pyramidal, Early Purple and Common Spotted orchids, Marsh Helleborines, Stonechats, Reed Buntings, juvenile Starlings, butterflies, bees, dozens more flower species and at least 20 roe deer. And an owl.

Wooly bear caterpillar of the Garden Tiger moth

20th June: preparation for Tynedale Community Choir’s 20th Birthday picnic on Liddells, clearing paths, assembling pond-dipping equipment.

21st June: a day at the Burrell Collection in Glasgow to celebrate a friend’s 80th birthday - 10th century ceramic pigeon from Iraq, and an Egyptian green stone goose in a collection of grave goods, were among favourite pieces; not only the longest day today, but the start of another of the Japanese microseasons. From today until 26th June this is 乃東枯 Natsukarekusa karuru - Self-heal withers.

Trail cameras - longest day hare and the first glimpse of a kid (the mother seems to be one of the young does, so probably will only have one kid in her first year of breeding).

22nd June: hive 4 opened to reveal half a frame of larvae - the new queen has only just started laying so hive closed up again quickly.

23rd June: started reading Still Water: the Deep Life of the Pond, by John Lewis-Stempel, a gift from Mathilda; loved the description of summer rain by Edward Thomas in Nature Writing:

‘June puts bronze and crimson on many of her leaves. The maple-leaves and many of the leaves of thorn and bramble and dogwood are rosy; the hazel-leaves are rosy-brown; the herb-robert and parsley are rose-red; the leaves of ash and holly are dark-lacquered…in a minute the rain has traversed half a mile of woods, and…[there is the] pattering on roof and pane and leaf, the dance of leaves, the sway of branches, the trembling of whole trees under the flood…When it is over it has put a final sweetness into the blackbird’s voice.’ (from The South Country, 1909)

24th June: final prep for the choir picnic and time in the hide: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Redpoll, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great tits, Blue tits, Coal tits, Marsh tits, Tree sparrows, Bullfinch, Nuthatch.

25th June: extract from The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde in Nature Writing, tells of how the nightingale pierces her breast on a rose thorn and sings until her life-blood has caused the rose to blossom and turn crimson. A tragic tale. Globe on Tour offered an outdoor performance beside Hexham Abbey, of Julius Caesar. Thunderstorms were forecast; swifts screamed overhead in a fittingly dramatic way, though no lions whelped in Beaumont Street.

No nightingales this far north, however here is a rose

26th June: Tynedale Community Choir’s 20th Birthday picnic and an opportunity to relax after the celebratory singing festival in Hexham the day before. 8 Bird Cherries planted in the Orchard - one for each voice (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and one for each of the choir leaders (Jo, David, Kathryn and Bridie). Huw and Judith went pond-dipping with their grandchildren and found all sorts of things including a large dragonfly larvae and a small fish. How the fish arrived there is a mystery. A celebration bonfire rounded off the occasion. (Thanks to Mel and two Janes for photo contributions.)

Clare explaining that the saplings will be protected using Hawthorn brash; Mel waiting to plant the soprano’s tree

The bonfire framework survives till the end

27th June: BBC Radio’s Add to Playlist offered a charming piece from the United Strings of Europe - Caroline Shaw’s ‘and the swallow’; the music is inspired by words from Psalm 84 -

‘Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young’

From today till 1st July we are in 菖蒲華 Ayame hana saku: Irises bloom. Japanese irises must come into flower later than in the UK, however here is one still blooming.

28th June: spent time digging pondweed out of the roadside pond and making it a bit deeper, while there is no water; honey bees were coming to drink from the wet mud; time at the hide - 8 siskins including juveniles (6 on one feeder at the same time - sixkins?), Sparrowhawk visited twice

29th June: looked up this year’s Urban Wildlife Photography awards - this led to further investigations into Brolga and Rainbow parakeets; while removing the flowering heads of Hogweed on the Meadow, removed 3 more Creeping thistles (still only 121 this year, so pulling them out seems to be effective).

30th June: another hour digging the roadside pond which has gratifyingly held water since rain fell in the last two days; mud and petrichor (a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather) to end 30 wildly spent days.

Trail camera - hare looking far from wild

Clare and John

May 31, 2022

May - doing the splits

Clare and John

May 31, 2022

1st May

John saw the two Mandarin ducks on the big pond in daylight. Unfortunately they were too far away for his phone camera.

2nd May

The local Community Choir with which Clare sings, has the bonkers habit of meeting at the local bandstand to sing in the sunrise on the first of the May Bank Holidays. They then eat breakfast together. Three years ago this day coincided with International Dawn Chorus Day so Clare took several singers with her for a walk round Liddells after the breakfast, in order to listen to some birdsong. This year she repeated the offer and nine others joined in. She began the walk by suggesting people kept their eyes open for hares as it was very unusual to be on Liddells and not see one. They heard Pheasant, Blackbird, Crow, Song thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Willow warbler, Garden warbler, Great tit, Wren. Three Swallows flew over, the first Clare had seen over Liddells this year. Other identifications included a frog, jelly ear fungus, and several flower species. Maggie saw two deer as they jumped away over a wall. No hare appeared.

Later that morning Clare returned and saw two hares - they clearly have a sense of humour. She saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker twice at the hide. She planted a third Field Maple grown and donated by Mel. Now the saplings can have three-way conversations and encourage each other to grow.

Clare started a cowslip survey organised by Plantlife (if you have or know of cowslips nearby, go to Plantlife.org and consider joining in). Apparently cowslips are heterostylous - flowers which have style and anthers of different heights. Long style and low anthers = L-type, short style and high anthers = S-type. This is needed to prevent self-pollination and therefore ideally there will be an equal amount of both flowers in any location. An unequal balance might mean that the flowers are not doing so well. The survey began in Estonia in 2019, where a citizen science campaign, Looking for Cowslips began, in order to see if the landscape, grasslands in particular, was supporting the flowers’ wellbeing. The idea spread to Europe and the UK. The results showed that the balance was more skewed in smaller populations and in urban areas, indicating that human activity may be having a negative impact on the species. Grassland preservation and protection is imperative.

Clare was pleased to record that her survey of 100 plants showed 52 S-type and 48 L-type.

She also valued the experience as an example of ‘opsimathy’: Learning conducted or acquired late in life; an instance of this. Of course Liddells has been offering that for the last nine years.

Meanwhile John saw the pair of Mandarin ducks on the big pond again, however they flew away as soon as they became aware of him.

‘[w}ild-scatter'd cowslips bedeck the green dale’ Robert Burns
‘Among the many pleasing purposes to which these favourite flowers are applied by children, none is prettier than the making of Cowslip Balls. The method, which may not be known to all my readers, is as follows:
The umbels are picked off as close as possible to the top of the main stalk, and from fifty to sixty are made to hang across a string stretched between the backs of two chairs. The flowers are then carefully pressed together, and the string tied tightly so as to collect them into a ball. Care should be taken to choose such heads or umbels only as have all the flowers open, or the surface of the ball will be uneven.’ Rev. C.A. Johns From *Flowers of the Field,* 1885

4th May

John has moved one of the cameras back to the middle of the Pit Wood. A hare showed up almost immediately. You can also hear just how much birdsong there is, even in the middle of the day.

5th May

John and Clare were joined at Liddells by three officers from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust to see how the site was doing (readers may recall that Clare and John intend to leave Liddells to the NWT), and in particular to see whether it might qualify for Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status. It is always excellent to walk round with people who bring expertise to the land and this was no exception. Duncan, Geoff and Alice - a curatorium: A group of curators (in various senses), typically acting as an advisory body, OED Word of the Day 18.05.22 - were very encouraging and although didn’t think that Liddells would yet have the required species richness over the whole site for LNR designation, there were pockets in which that richness was there or almost there. The amount of Adder’s Tongue Fern on the Meadow proved to be quite exciting, and the way Yellow Rattle has established. Duncan and Geoff puzzled over exactly which Lady’s Mantle they found in the Meadow, subsequently sending the identification Hairy Alchemilla: Alchemilla filicaulis subspecies Vestita. Geoff spotted moths mating on the outside of the hide, though wasn’t confidently able to identify them. As part of a general discussion at the end of the visit, Alice commented that the root plates exposed by trees felled by Storm Arwen are offering excellent opportunities for mining insects. More investigation called for.

Before he left, John saw Redpolls and Siskins, and a Greenfinch on one of the peanut feeders at the hide. Greenfinches have been notable for their absence for a while, however Tim had sent a photograph of one in his garden (half a mile away), this very day.

Pale Pinion moths - very many thanks to TrogTrogBlog Chris who responded to Clare’s identification plea. Chris added that this moth ‘is uncommon in the north but occurs regularly in Dumfries & Galloway (see http://www.dgmoths.org.uk/species/macro-moths/pale-pinion). Stewart Sexton sees it every year up the coast at Boulmer (https://boulmerbirder.blogspot.com/search/label/Pale%20Pinion?m=0). And this is the right time of year. This is the NBN atlas, not always the most reliable source’. As Chris pointed out, the moths are exquisitely disguised on the wood grain.

Particularly rosy male Redpoll and male Siskin

To add to the colours - Bluebell
‘We call wild flowers common because of their quantity. But this is just where we strike the great difference between productions of Nature and the productions of Man. When we produce many samples of the same thing they are of poor quality and we speak of them as mass-produced. The mass productions of Nature do not fail at all in terms of quality. Take the bluebell. There indeed is quantity. Yet every year we are freshly struck by their quality. Only a flower-snob could fail to see that any one of those bells on the uplifted belfry is as delicate a construction as any tulip or rose. I will not say more beautiful, or less, for in this realm of flowers we are actually in the presence of abundant examples of - perfection. I think that perfection is the key to the emotion that flowers cause in us.’ John Stewart Collis From *Down to Earth,* Part II, The Wood, 1947

6th May

Another example of the camera light transfixing a badger. The camera has recorded badgers going away from the camera several times. This one seems stopped in its tracks.

7th May

The two cameras recorded deer activity at about the same time in different places in the Pit Wood. The old buck is anointing again. Three minutes later and a hundred yards away, the young buck and doe appear by the bottom of the stream. Six minutes after that the doe appears where the big buck had been. The old buck shows no signs of losing his winter coat, while the two youngsters’ summer coats are clearly on their way.

10th May

Saturday’s Guardian suggested that one of the ‘60 Ways to Turn Your World Upside Down’ (should you feel the need), would be to tune in to the Japanese concept of micro-seasons. Today is the start of the five day 蚯蚓出 Mimizu izuru, or Worms Surface. Others might feature later in the Blog as appropriate. Prepare to be upended.

John has been investigating all the different plants roe deer will eat. The young doe here is eating Water Avens.

13th May

Here the young doe is joined by the young buck. The camera has captured excellent close-ups of both. The young buck is no longer in velvet.

14 -16th May

John and Clare returned from a few days in Cumbria listening for and watching cuckoos. Derek, who farms next to Liddells, says there used to be cuckoos every year locally.

A pair of Greenfinches turned up at the feeders.

Clare inspected the bees having done so on Sunday 8th before she went away, when she spotted that one of the queens had lost her marking. Clare re-marked her, feeling pleased that this would make swarm management easier. Today she was amazed to see that the stronger colony had taken advantage of her absence and created several swarm cells. One way of hoping to prevent a swarm is to remove the queen and establish a small colony - the theory being that this mimics swarming. So Clare set about finding the queen. After going forwards and backwards through the frames four times she gave up. She returned in the afternoon with John hoping that two pairs of eyes would solve the problem. It didn’t, even after taking each frame out three times. She returned the next day and was relieved to see that the bees still hadn’t capped/closed the cells (capped swarm cells means the bees have already swarmed). Three more goes at finding the queen proved as unsuccessful as the previous seven. Much harrumphing ensued. Fortunately her old bee-keeping mentors responded very promptly to a plea for help and suggested an alternative method of swarm control. Clare geared up to do this on Monday but was thwarted by heavy rain and hoped the bees would be too.

17th May

Barry came to help Clare split the colony with queen cells. As Barry’s bees were not thriving, he and Clare took the opportunity to see if they could create two new colonies. First they identified two large queen cells and brushed all the bees off the frames where these were; these frames went into a new brood box; all except one of the brood frames were added to this box having shaken off all the bees (so that the queen remained in the old brood box). It was important to check that this remaining frame had eggs from which the bees could create a new queen cell in case the queen swarmed anyway. The new brood box was placed on top of the old one with a queen excluder between them, and left till next day. The theory is that the nurse bees will move up to look after the brood. Next morning the new brood box, which had plenty of bees in it, was removed; the two frames with queen cells were put into two nucleus boxes (smaller than a regular brood box and suitable for raising new colonies); the remaining brood frames were shared between the boxes. Syrup was added in feeders. The nucs were then left for a few days. Any flying bees in the nucs would make their way back to the old hive.

18th May

Keith came to help Clare with the annual breeding bird survey. Clare is always surprised by the birds they don’t hear, and rather disappointed that they then can’t be included in the count, however as Keith says, this is only an audio equivalent of a snapshot - it could be repeated every hour on the same day, and the results might vary. One of the highlights was watching a Chiffchaff go in and out of brambles near the wall, suggesting there was a nest there.

19th May

Meanwhile the territorial disputes between the bucks continues - the old buck is captured marking again. John says it is unusual for bucks to share the same territory, although it can happen when the stronger animal doesn’t consider the other to be a threat, and will tolerate its presence.

20th May

Keith has often expressed his surprise that there have been no Whitethroats on Liddells, since the land offers ideal habitat for them - plenty of low vegetation like scrubs, bushes and brambles. Last year Clare thought she had seen one in the Scrub, however with no further sightings, concluded it must have been wishful seeing and more likely a Garden Warbler. Today she was thrilled to see a Whitethroat hopping about in the raspberries and brambles close to the hide, close and visible enough for there to be no doubt about identification, and thought that maybe she hadn’t been mistaken last year after all. She dared not move and scare the bird away, so couldn’t reach for her phone to take a photo.

The old doe appeared in the Pit Wood looking decidedly pregnant. Roe does have their young between mid-May and mid-June. In Northumberland the births tend to be at the later end of this period. This is the doe that had triplets last year so it will be exciting to see what young appear this year.

21st May

Clare had to inspect the second of her hives today and again found queen cells - the evidence the colony is preparing to swarm. This time she decided against endless searches for the queen and repeated the splitting procedure. As it was early morning, she was able to return later in the day and move the new brood box into its new position.

And on the theme of boxes, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been showing interest in J2 where Great tits are raising a brood. John has made a metal cover with a smaller hole for the box to deter the intruder.

Clare began her annual thistle cull on the Meadow, removing 106 plants on this first go. No doubt there will be more.

Clare also saw the first damselflies out on the Big Pond. They were Large Reds and too far away to photograph.

22nd May

Clare returned to the apiary to check on progress with the first split. She discovered the queen present in the original hive and laying well. Phew. When she opened the nucleus however, the queen cell was open, so the queen had already hatched. Clare went through the frames extremely cautiously and destroyed the one further queen cell that the bees had made. This nucleus will now be in purdah for at least three weeks to allow for the queen to mature, go on mating flights and start laying eggs.

23rd - 24th May

There is much feeding activity at both J1 and J2. Clare is hoping the trail camera on J2 will capture the fledglings leaving the nest. So far it has recorded the earliest food delivery at 4.46am, and the latest at 20.37pm. This article from the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology), gives more detail about the birds and breeding, noting that an excess of 10,000 caterpillars might be delivered to a typical brood. Clare has noted that parent birds from both J1 and J2 take food from the hide feeders and deliver it to the nest boxes. The birds also remove material from the nest to keep it clean. Both birds are involved in managing the brood.

25th May

A badger makes its way through the Pit Wood and returns 12 minutes later.

27th May

Clare went for an evening’s watching, hoping to see the Whitethroat but saw a Spotted Flycatcher instead. She also saw a bat in The Pit Wood however it was too fast to make any clearer identification.

28th - 29th May

The camera in the Pit Wood, which John is hoping will capture the doe and any kids some time soon, shows that the doe is still pregnant; the older buck ignores the branch he usually marks.

It was time to check on the bees after the second split. There were a couple of new queen cells in the newly created brood box so Clare took one down and took the other to Barry to see if it would hatch successfully and provide a new queen for his failing colony. The original hive had no evidence of a laying queen so she may have swarmed after the split; it was puzzling that the remaining bees hadn’t raised another queen cell from the eggs left behind, so Clare took a frame with eggs from the thriving colony and will check again in a few days time to see if the bees have created what they need. ‘Swarm control’ is a phrase created by beekeepers to help them think they are ahead of the bees’ game. Hmmm.

Clare visited the pond again to find dozens of damselflies in the air. She managed to get a couple of shots with her phone though they are not of great quality. The most interesting was seeing a newly emerged damselfly. It clung to the rush but would move to the far side of it every time Clare tried to get close with her phone. TrogTrogBlog Chris - another of the curatorium - suggested waving an outstretched hand to one side can help to get the damselfly to move round a bit more - as Clare dropped her phone in the pond on the first attempt, she is not that keen to try again.

On 26th May, in Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year, ed. McMorland Hunter, there is a passage from Our Village, by Mary Russell Mitford, 1824:

‘Walking along these meadows one bright sunny afternoon, a year or two back, and rather late in the season, I had an opportunity of noticing a curious circumstance in natural history. Standing close to the edge of the stream, I remarked a singular appearance on a large tuft of flags. It looked like bunches of flowers, the leaves of which seemed dark, yet transparent, intermingled with brilliant tubes of bright blue or shining green. On examining this phenomenon more closely, it turned out to be several clusters of dragon-flies, just emerged from their deformed chrysalis state, and still torpid and motionless from the wetness of their filmy wings. Half an hour later we returned to the spot and they were gone.’

Mating Large Red Damselflies - usually the first of the Odonata to emerge each spring

Adult male Azure Damselfly - TrogTrogBlog’s Chris says you can see the coenagrion spur on the side of the thorax. (Yes, Clare had to look up coenagrian too.) Chris suggested this, from www.odonata.org.uk is a great help to tell the difference from a Common Blue.

Teneral (of, relating to, or constituting a state of the imago of an insect immediately after moulting during which it is soft and immature in colouring) female azure damselfly

30th May

Tims sent this article about Brimstone butterflies in the north-east. Apparently they are prospering. Clare is pleased that the Alder Buckthorns Tim and Clare donated are now in leaf.

31st May

There are fewer videos of hares this month and John and Clare have seen fewer hares, although they are still about and Clare saw a small one on the Top Grazing which would seem to be one of this year’s young. It may be the adults are fully occupied in looking after them.

Next month is the Wildlife Trust’s annual challenge to everyone to do one wild thing every day throughout the month. John and Clare hope Blog readers will be inspired to join in.

Clare and John

April 30, 2022

April - otterly surprising

Clare and John

April 30, 2022

1st April

Clare is pleased with her choice of a different site for one of the trail cameras. The hares are the first to appear in the footage.

3rd April

The Blackthorn is at last in blossom by the hives.

Clare was delighted to see not only a flock of fieldfares behind the hives today, but a Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin on the nyjer seed feeders at the hide. These latter two species have been noticeable by their absence from Liddells for many months. The partridge pair were on the Wetland.

John completed a side on the log shed and Clare set about weeding the steps up to the Point of View.

The male heron appears to be indulging in open water swimming.

4th April

The trail camera records deer in early morning snow. The big buck is captured scraping vigorously at the ground again, however this time he is making a couch. Having made his bed, he is seen lying on it later.

The male heron seems to be viewing the morning snow on the Crag.

Titmice seem to be attempting to use one of the trail cameras as a nesting site.

There were two Siskins on the feeders today, a male and a female.

7th April

The big buck is still marking his territory, this time near where the younger buck was captured in footage three days earlier.

Clare was delighted that she trusted her hunch and went to Primroseside in the Pit Wood. The primroses were out in abundance. She also found a patch of Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage in the Pit Wood that she had not noticed before. Read more about it here.

8th April

No disrespect to pheasants, however they don’t seem to manifest many signs of high intelligence.

9th April

Siskins are on the feeders daily now, though the Redpoll hasn’t been seen again. There is moss in boxes 2, 3 and J1 (Juno’s first box).

Today seemed to be tadpole hatching day on Liddells and there were clusters of what looked to be hundreds of tadpoles emerging in the Roadside and the Big ponds.

Tim and Jane kindly donated two Alder Buckthorn whips which Clare planted on the damp edge to the glade in the Pit Wood. Tim and Jane chose this species to replace trees damaged in their garden by Storm Arwen. The trees are a favourite of the Brimstone butterfly. Tim and Jane hope that with their trees and the ones on Liddells, there could be a local Brimstone corridor. Read more about the Alder Buckthon here.

Clare moved one of the trail cameras to below the hide in the Pit Wood and was delighted to see several clips of hares and deer. One of the clips shows a doe couching.

10th April

As well as a pair of Siskins, there were three Tree Sparrows around the feeders. John spent time there with his camera.

While Clare and John remain delighted at the diversity of species appearing on Liddells, it is noticeable that bird numbers, apart from the titmice, are dropping. This is in line with national, indeed global records, and dismaying.

Clare finished weeding the Point of View steps.

John thinks he may have found a form on the Wetland. Clare has set up her pop-up hide to see if she can verify this.

Clare and John watched the older doe, younger doe and young buck, and a hare all on the Top Grazing at the same time this afternoon.

Tree sparrow - note the chestnut head and black cheek spot, which differentiate it from the House sparrow

13th April

The Willow warblers are back and Clare has heard Blackcaps singing. She saw a flock of eight Tree sparrows near the feeders, which was encouraging after the comment about numbers dropping.

The herons have not been seen so often on the pond camera, perhaps because they have eaten all the frogs, however this one is successful in finding food. (PS no more herons appeared this month on the trail camera after today.)

Clare spent a couple of evenings in her pop-up hide and saw no evidence of hares near what might be a form, however she saw six deer the first evening (more than Clare and John thought were regulars on Liddells), two on the second, three hares on the first and one on the second evening, and on the second evening watched a Willow Warbler working the territory just in front of the hide for about fifteen minutes, while a Marsh tit was almost close enough to touch in a hawthorn next to her hide.

16th April

Another otter on one of the trail cameras! The camera is pointing west along a path that follows what might well have in the past been the route of a stream, and joins up with the stream from the spring. Following a suggestion from Chris (TrogTrogBlog), Clare has logged this and the earlier sighting with theotternetwork.co.uk which surveys otters in the north-east.

18th April

Spring flowers are emerging - Clare and Pat saw Primroses, Cowslips, Violets, Wild strawberries and Wood anemone in flower today. The Wood anemones are a new discovery and were close to the Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage, so they might all have appeared since more light was let into that part of the Pit Wood.

Clare and Pat also saw a Great Spotted woodpecker, five Siskins and a Redpoll among the birds visiting the feeders.

John fixed the roof on to the new log shed.

A fox decides not to proceed, probably because of the red light on the trail camera.

20th April

Snake’s head fritillary are out on the Wildflower meadow and Clare is particularly pleased because she grew some of them from seed she had collected.

Clare went to photograph the Wood anemones in the Pit Wood only to find that they had vanished. This evening, browsing through a new book John is reading, about a Frenchman who spent seven years immersing himself in nature and living with wild roe deer, Clare read that ‘[h]ighly poisonous to other herbivores, wood anemones are eaten in large quantities by roe deer in the spring. Since they have no gall bladder, the toxin has no effect on them, apart from preventing certain illnesses’. So there may not be any more of these flowers on Liddells. Clare wonders if this has been the fate of the Winter aconite too.

21st April

A pair of mallards are captured mating again on the trail camera - they appear to be in a bit of a spin.

22nd April

The young buck and one of the young does take refreshment by the pond. Later the young buck appears on the second camera and a closer view shows that he is now in tatters.

23rd April

Clare heard a warbler singing and began her annual is-it-a-Blackcap-or-a-Garden-warbler challenge. She decided it was a Blackcap whereupon the bird, which was indeed a Blackcap, flew onto the gorse in front of her. As if by way of reward.

25th April

One of the pleasures of moving the trail cameras to different sites is discovering how many of the creatures on Liddells cover so much of the area. Here a Jay appears, as do the Partridge pair and a badger. As with the fox a few days earlier, the badger seems to be suspicious of the red light on the camera and changes route.

27th - 29th April

Dave has begun bringing logs from the Top Strip and the Orchard to the log shed where they can be stacked and dried.

Clare checked the hives again and discovered that one of them had eight frames of capped brood, which leaves the bees very little space for stores and more brood, and can prompt them to swarm. Clare quickly added a super and crossed all available digits.

The young buck’s winter coat is beginning to go.

30th April

One of the young does is losing her winter coat.

A last hare of the month (Clare and John saw two on the Top Grazing while on Liddells today). For a while now Clare and John have seen at least one hare on every visit, and more often that not, two or three.

To end the month and celebrate spring, John has taken a photograph of cherry blossom in the Top Strip. Enjoy the hanami.

Clare and John

March 31, 2022

March - pairing up

Clare and John

March 31, 2022

For reasons that will become apparent, there are a lot of videos in this month’s blog. It is unlikely that these will either show or be playable through the email you have received with the blog. If this is the case, go to the Liddells website www.liddells.co.uk, click on Blog and the videos will be available in the March post.

27th & 28th February

Some footage from the end of last month.

The pair of red-legged partridge have been exploring and found their way to the Pit Wood.

It is clear that the lame doe, as suspected, has lost her foot, however she continues to be mobile and able to forage.

A pair of hares appear to be almost synchronised.

The rather confusing to and fro movements seen in previous footage of a badger may be explained.

The older buck re-marks the elder branch in the Scrub and then seems to forget the branch is there.

1st March

Another surprise on the trail camera - footage of a wood mouse in the Pit Wood. They are nocturnal so not often seen, although John and Clare have seen one a couple of times in daylight near the bird feeders. Read more about them here.

John made a start on rebuilding the log shed, which will now be re-sited on the hay shed base. As he arrived a heron flew off from the Wetland. Dave took his chain saw to the fallen ash limb. The photograph reveal just how big a scar is left. The ash presumably now also qualifies as a veteran tree.

Clare went to check on the bee food and saw much activity at the hives. She was also treated to views of a goldcrest, a bullfinch and a yellowhammer nearby.

3rd March

A local mole catcher has trapped 16 moles, some of them on the Meadow. As activity seems to have subsided, Clare spent a couple of hours flattening the molehills. She planted some Winter Aconite in the Top Strip (a third attempt to establish the plant, so fingers crossed it will be third time lucky and they will survive). John fixed the first of the uprights for the log shed.

The Red-legged Partridge pair are back in the Scrub. To discover more about the species, click here.

4th March

Second upright for the log shed in place and today John saw the Heron again near the pond and a pair of Mallard in the water.

The Woodcock makes a third appearance in front of the trail camera.

6th March

Clare sowed several envelopes of wildflower seed that she had collected and been given, on the Meadow. Barry had kindly lent a harrow to deal with the many molehills on the Top Grazing. If only he’d gift wrapped it, it would have been a bow and harrow. John did the harrowing after lunch - eaten and harrow. He quite fell for the implement, obviously struck by Cupid’s harrow; it was so much quicker than flattening with a rake, indeed swift as a harrow. John’s route, however, was quite circuitous, so not as straight as a harrow. Clare indulged herself by making up harrow puns while tending to a bonfire.

Tim sent photos from Top Grazing and the hide.

While Clare was at the hide she was delighted to see a Blue Tit make three investigative visits to one of Juno’s bird boxes.

John and Clare saw two deer than another, two hares, and heard a Yellowhammer singing for the first time this year.

Not a mountain, not even a molehill left

Marsh tit contemplating food choice. A pair appeared together at times.

6th - 9th March

John had attempted to take a photograph of the heron earlier in the month, however the distance proved too great for much clarity, so Clare moved one of the trail cameras to the pond, a move that has proved to be a great success. (Ignore the date and time on the clips, Clare forgot to alter the settings when changing the batteries.)

The camera took nearly 300 videos over three days, of which a selection follows. There were two sequences of sunset reflecting in the camera lens which brought the image of the Biblical burning bush to Clare’s mind. There is footage of a pair of surprising visitors, the Mallards’ courtship behaviour, a delightful recording of a Dunnock singing, and lots of the heron, although this also provides possible evidence for the absence of frogspawn thus far. Frustratingly the image of the heron’s success is somewhat compromised by the camera logo. The heron is making several visits each day and spending from 10-25 minutes by the pond per visit.

The Mandarin Ducks were a complete surprise. John and Clare are wondering if they will appear again or whether this will be their only appearance. They nest in trees so Liddells offers the right habitat for them.To read more about them, click here.

Below the male Mallard starts a bit of courtship behaviour then very quickly gives up.

The footage of the Heron proves to be almost irresistible. The bird seems to have a natural cartoon quality. Blog readers can be reassured that the novelty will soon wear off and they will not be inundated with pond footage in subsequent posts. The footage reveals there are two different birds - a male and a female. The black neck plume, known as an aigret is much longer in the male. The term ‘aigret’ is from the French for egret, or lesser white heron, and refers to the tufted crest or head-plumes of the egret, fixed in the shape of a plume and used for adorning a headdress. The word may also identify any similar ornament in gems.

A brief clip of both ducks displaying courtship behaviour and then apparent success.

8th March - meanwhile back on dry land

The badger seems particularly interested in the ground below the deer-marked branch and this brings him close to the camera for a good view. The young buck checks the scent marks. The hares are still together.

9th March

As John and Clare arrived on the Top Grazing, a snipe flew off. Clare has frequently seen them in a neighbouring field, however this is a first for Liddells. The RSPB information page about snipe has a short video in which you can hear the characteristic drumming sound of the wings as they fly.

John completed the frame for the new log shed.

10th March

The older buck checks that he doesn’t need to mark again. This clip shows that he is ‘in tatters’ - when the blood supply to the velvet is shutdown and the tissue dies and begins to dry up and fall off. Deer are often seen thrashing their antlers in undergrowth, on bushes and trees in a bid to remove the velvet in a process known as fraying, cleaning or polishing. This is part of the damage deer can do to trees - their action strips the bark, usually from young trees, which compromises growth. About ten hours later the young buck marks again.

11th March

Dave started work on clearing the Silver birch at the top of the Crag, brought down by storm Arwen.

Back at the pond the Mandarins make a further appearance. Both male and female herons are successful in reducing the number of frogs in the pond. The young buck and one of the does are close to the pond, however it is reported that roe do not drink from water sources, satisfying their hydration needs from forage.

12th March

Clare went hunting for frogspawn and found some in both the Roadside and Crag ponds. She had checked the previous day without success so both these were very freshly laid.

More footage of the older buck in tatters - John says the deer has managed to get the points cleaned and polished however the velvet remains on the lower parts of the antlers. The badger rootles near the camera.

13th - 15th March

With careful tread, the male heron moves into position.

Buzzards are often seen above Liddells and occasionally perched in trees however the trail camera offers yet another delight and a buzzard joins the plethora of wildlife at the pond. It appears to bathe, with the heron making what sound like protesting sounds. The heron flies off making its bark-like call.

Having heard Chiffchaffs from the garden at home, Clare went to Liddells to hear if they had arrived and heard several singing in the Scrub and Pit Wood. She also came across a hare feeding on the edge of the Pit Wood - maybe it was listening to the Chiffchaffs as well.

She was also pleased that some frogs are surviving in the Big Pond, at least thus far, and there is a small quantity of frogspawn.

16th March

A hare appears to be all ears in the Scrub.

The doe appears with two kids. The young buck is still in velvet. This time he doesn’t check the scent mark. John says it is not unusual for antlers to grow unevenly.

Two badgers vie for supremacy on the path through the Scrub.

17th - 20th March

John fixed roof beams in the replacement log shed.

The young buck forages on bracken, demonstrating the variety of plants roe deer will eat.

From the hide Clare saw the first Tree Sparrow in many months.

Clare saw frogspawn in the big pond then two days later John called her over to witness about twenty frogs mating there. There was substantially more frogspawn. Clare managed to film for a second or two before the frogs dived for cover so, for readers of a delicate disposition, be aware there is frogsporn in this post. For a more thorough presentation of this phenomenon, click here.

21st - 24th March

Footage from the pond trail camera continues to be of interest. A hare appears in the background; the lame doe is still around; the other doe kid is still squeaking (John thinks the kids may stop squeaking when the doe separates from them when they are about a year old).

The mature buck is again captured marking his territory. He is anointing and also vigorously scraping, depositing scent from glands between his cleaves. Frank Holmes, writing about roe, says that scraping is the only form of territorial marking which is performed in a ferocious manner; he suggests that it results from an immediate threat to the territory. As the young buck is also using this spot, the footage would seem to illustrate Holmes’ point.

The native daffodils in the Top Strip are at last beginning to form clumps.

John finished replumbing the Necessarium. Clare was much amused by gifts from her sister - copies of The Specialist and The Master Builder by Charles Sale. Clare remembers that there was a copy of the former in their childhood home but had forgotten completely about it until Jean reminded her. Both books concern the professional activities of Lem Putt, a specialist in the simpler forms of sanitary engineering. Lem is attentive to both the material and the emotional needs of his clients, for example not using knotty timber in his constructions as knotholes can make spaces for snoopers. Clare likes to think that between them, she and John have been as considerate as Lem.

John also worked on the back panel of the log shed.

25th - 27th March

A stoat is on the alert in the Scrub.

John and Clare had decided to stay in the shepherd’s hut again. They were delighted to have chosen days where the weather was wonderful, the sunsets glorious and the night skies spectacular. Almost as soon as they had arrived, so did a Buff-tailed bumblebee queen, no doubt looking for a nesting spot. The Mallard pair were back on the pond - good to see them in the flesh or they might have been mallard imaginaire (Clare is delighted to make use of the literature component of her French A level). Clare saw a Tree sparrow again from the hide. A pair of curlews flew over on Friday evening. During that night Clare heard a fox barking close by for several minutes.

The next day Clare saw a Comma butterfly near the hives and Coltsfoot in flower in the Pit Wood. Four drakes and a duck flew off the big pond.

Early on Sunday Clare saw a hare go past the back of the shepherd’s hut and the young buck cross in front of it. There was also aTree Creeper and several Bullfinches on trees close by.

29th - 31st March

And then there was snow. The pond camera continues to record visitors. On the afternoon of the 31st, Clare went to retrieve the camera discs for any last contributions to this post and the snow you see in the footage from that morning had all disappeared, as had every single Coltsfoot flower that Clare had gone to photograph. Coltsfoot leaves are eaten by birds, bees, and the caterpillars of several species of moth. Coltsfoot was known in the Middle Ages by the scientific names ungula caballina (horse hoof) and pes pulli (foal's foot) due to the supposed resemblance of the young leaf to the foot of a horse. The flowers are an excellent source of nectar for bees.

As she was walking past, Clare looked in one of the nest boxes in the Scrub and saw small amounts of moss. Nest-building has begun.

Clare and John

February 28, 2022

February - a territorial month

Clare and John

February 28, 2022

Corrections and clarifications

Apparently cattle can jump over walls and fences, particularly if they have escaped from a cattle shed and gone berserk. John spoke with the local farmer about the possibility of a red deer on Liddells and was told how two bullocks had got out and rampaged around the local countryside. Ah well - at least they add to the species recorded on Liddells, and John’s initial instinct that the hoof prints were from cattle was correct.

John has been editing and organising some of his many videos and found the following. Readers might like to see if they can correctly identify the succession of birds. Answers at the end of this post.

1st February

Today is the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc which celebrates the beginning of Spring, so here are some springy hares.

2nd February

John is interested in the next trio of videos, all of which show the old buck ‘anointing’ in the Scrub - anointing is when the buck uses the glands situated on his brow at the base of the antlers, and also the inner canthus of the eye, to leave his scent on a branch. The buck is seeking to mark territory by leaving his scent. The buck anoints branch, then returns to anoint a different branch about an hour later. He then returns to this second branch within two hours of his first visit. John says that some observers suggest that the territorial activity of bucks begins in April. There are other theories which propose that territories are already well established by that time. These videos would support the latter view.

3rd February

The old buck is captured anointing in the Pit Wood this time.

Clare finished checking stakes and tubes for trees planted on the Wetland and on the Top Grazing.

A fox seems uncertain about the red light on the trail camera in the Scrub.

5th February

The roe deer continue their territorial activity This time the young buck marks exactly the same branch. It is highly likely that this buck was sired by the older one.

7th February

Dave came to log the Sycamore that has fallen to the force of storm Arwen in the Top Strip. John and Clare have decided to leave the stump and mound with the exposed hollows between the roots, as it offers habitat for burrowing creatures.

John began work on straightening the Necessarium ready to be fixed back in place.

The first snowdrops have appeared in the Top Strip.

Tim sent photos of a Long-tailed tit and a Nuthatch from his recent visits to the hide.

8th February

The Necessarium had blown over again in strong winds overnight.

John had a reward for all his frustration when he saw a Barn Owl quartering over the Wetland.

10th February

John and Clare wondered if they would see the Barn owl again however it proved to be too cold and windy. They were delighted to see all five roe deer. First the large doe appeared then each of her three kids. She leapt the fence and went down the wall on the neighbouring land. The large buck appeared shortly after and stayed close to the wall before jumping the fence and following the doe. The three kids seemed hesitant to follow her and eventually jumped the wall into Liddells. John says that the doe will be in the process of separating from her kids now.

Clare completed bird box maintenance ready for this year’s occupation.

11th February

John righted the Necessarium again and was able to fix it in place, although with more high winds forecast he is hesitant about the permanence of its position. Clare saw the Barn owl over the Wetland. A hare seems to be unusually hesitant about the trail camera in the Scrub, given how many times a day it is recorded going past the camera.

John saw the lame doe making her way up the Crag before leaping the wall at the top. Although she is limping, she is clearly feeding and getting around successfully.

Clare changed the camera disc after her visit to see the Barn Owl and both she and John were hugely delighted at footage on the disc she left. They had both been keeping their fingers crossed that this bird, which is notoriously secretive, might appear in front of the camera one day.

12th February

Janet and Peter arrived to plant three more trees, this time Wild Service trees, which bear chequers. Janet had named her trees Check Up, Check Out and Checkmate. The trees were panted near larger Wild Service trees in the Pit Wood in the hope that the older specimens will act as mother trees to the new one.

Clare planted two Oaks kindly donated by Margi.

The doe is intent on grooming the buck kid (frustratingly not quite in front of the camera although its buttons are clearly visible). She has not been recorded dedicating as much attention to the doe kids. Footage from September last year also shows her grooming the buck.

One of Margi’s Oaks with its protecting gorse cushion.

15th February

The weather has inhibited much activity on Liddells so this year the tradition of putting up bird boxes on Valentine’s Day has had to be postponed. Also, neither trail camera captured any Valentine-related activity on 14th, however maybe the footage of the hares captures post-Valentine-related activity. It is always good to see a pair and keeps Clare’s hopes alive that one of the cameras will capture them boxing one day.

17th February

A stoat makes its way springily through the Scrub.

18th February

The young buck appears right in front of the trail camera - so close you can see how much its buttons have grown.

19th February

A pheasant appears to be acting as sentry in the Scrub; the hare is not allowed past.

21st February

The deer family are still together.

The Scrub camera has captured footage of a pair of Red-legged Partridge going through. This is another first for Liddells. Here Clare was amused by the hare rushing past one of the birds and thought ‘the hare and the partridge’ sounded as if it ought to be the title of a fable. She was delighted to discover that it is. Her investigations also provided further learning - ‘Partridge and Hare’s Ear’ is the name of an anglers’ fishing fly: ‘An old time classic wet fly or soft hackle the Partridge and Hare is fished under the water surface. The fly is a well known fly with its roots set firmly in English angling history. It is an impressionistic pattern fished successfully during Caddis hatches and spinner falls. The Partridge and Hare is traditionally a trout and grayling pattern but may be used for other aquatic insect feeding species.’ (epicflyrods.com) Here is the best image Clare could find.

Two hares speed their way through the Scrub again. Still no boxing.

22nd February

Good enough weather and a visit from Juno combined today so she was able to help with putting up the two bird boxes she had made with John last autumn.

24th February

The badger appears to have been captured just as he has finished marking territory.

25th February

The big buck races through the Scrub.

Clare went to check on how the bees were going through their fondant and was pleased to be able to see through the plastic box that there were plenty of bees taking food in both hives. Thus far both colonies seem to have survived the winter. It is still far too cold to open the hives, however on warmer days the bees are out foraging. There is plenty of gorse in flower on Liddells now, as well as bulbs flowering on Liddells and in nearby gardens.

While Clare was there she could hear at least two thrushes singing non-stop for long stretches of time.

27th February.

A Jay returns to the Scrub. A general knowledge question in a recent Guardian quiz asked which was the most colourful of the corvids - the answer is, of course, the Jay.

Last hare footage of the month - another illustration of a sudden change of mind/direction.

Bird table at the hide - cast in order of appearance:

Marsh tit, Blue tit, Chaffinch (male), second Chaffinch (male), Nuthatch, Chaffinch (female), Coal tit, Chaffinch (male).

Clare and John

January 31, 2022

January 2022 - You must remember this, an osculation is still an osculation

Clare and John

January 31, 2022

1st January

In the absence of a bonfire to mark the end of 2021, Clare found fiery looking fungus and liked the idea of it growing on decaying matter - new life from old. She also found a different fungus and sticky buds.

Yellow brain fungus - also known as Witch’s Butter

Jelly ear fungus - so called for obvious reasons. This is on elder.

2nd January

The trail camera in its new position on the west edge of the Pit Wood is capturing many images of hares. Here is the first of the year.

3rd January

Janet and Peter came to plant a Hornbeam that Janet had chosen. She chose a site near the two Hornbeams Clare had been given two years ago, in the hope that they will communicate with each other. This is not a fanciful idea: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/ Clare has noticed that the first Field Maple that Mel had donated stayed in a relatively dormant state until a second one was planted next to it, two years later. The first seemed to suddenly put on more growth and now both saplings are about 50 cm high, even though one is older that the other.

4th - 6th January

The trail camera captures the young buck (his buttons are visible on his head), and hares in the snow, one of which is foraging on rush as it pokes above the snow.

7th January - 15th January

John continues to work away at clearing shed debris and preparing a new base for the tool shed.

Footage from one of the cameras shows a buck in velvet - the antlers appear soft and rounded-looking in their protective cover.

A fox strides through the Pit Wood.

A badger’s attention is caught near the camera in the Pit Wood - this is where the hares frequent so it may be their scent that the badger investigates.

The older and younger doe are seen together in the Pit Wood.

16th January

John saw all four members of the deer family on the Top Grazing this morning. It was the first time the limping doe had been seen with the others for a while although she has appeared on her own on the trail camera in the Scrub.

John completed the subframe for the tool shed.

The hares show a turn of speed.

17th January

This was the first of several days John and Clare had set aside for tree maintenance, specifically checking tubes and stakes on all the planting. They completed the task in the Orchard and half the Wetland, where pruning some of the leggy Willows provided more whips to plant.

Clare and John planted three more fruit trees in the Orchard to join Beth’s pear - a Conference Pear, a Damson and an Egremont Russet (this last kindly donated by Stephen to help offset some of the trees lost to Storm Arwen).

On the way through the Pit Wood John and Clare noticed an Elder that had been slightly blown over by the storm and was now obstructing the path, however the change of position revealed wonderful examples of inosculation. The Elder can now be recognised as a ‘gemel’.

Catkins have appeared on the old Hazel at the corner of the Orchard and the Pit Wood.

18th January

Ever since 18th December, when ‘brume’ appeared in Word Perfect, Clare has been hoping for the conditions that would allow her to use it. Today was the day. The Scrub camera captured the mist earlier in the day.

'Brume,’ a winter mist, might follow ‘the intensity of a ‘heller’: a bitterly cold winter’s day named after the dwelling of the dead…[it is] the perfect word for the low-lying vapour that shrouds the land on a frosty morning; its roots lie in the Romans’ word brumalis - ‘belonging to the winter’…Robert McFarlane also reminds us of the ‘myst-hakel’ from Middle English, literally a ‘mist’cape’ - a fog or mist that mantles and cloaks the earth’.

John and Clare continued moving logs that had fallen, with the storm, onto the back of the log shed and finally cleared it ready for the rebuild.

Tree maintenance completed in the Top Strip.

And while talking of all things osculatory…

19th January

The Scrub camera frequently captures footage of hares. Clare noted that in a 24 hour period, there were 14 such videos, and on 5 of these a hare ran down the path away from the camera, only to return within 1-2 minutes. Clare imagines it like the White Rabbit in Alice, muttering, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!” Though for what, will remain a mystery.

Nick O, a landscape historian, came to advise on how to undertake tree mapping on Liddells. He is going to make a start and then hand over to John and Clare. While walking round Nick told how the idea of veteran trees encompasses trees that are not just ancient, but trees that may have developed signs that would feature on ancient trees. With this in mind, the damaged Oak in the Orchard would qualify, as the scar from the broken limb will provide more habitat for wildlife.

20th January

A blackbird forages away in the Scrub, apparently oblivious both to adages about early birds catching worms, and to the Pheasants’ warring subplot in the background.

John completed the new floor for the tool shed. Previously the shed sat directly on the ground so this is an improvement and should stop both mole hills appearing round the inner edges of the shed and some of the internal dampness.

Blog followers may remember the tabby cat that occasionally makes its way through the Pit Wood. Today a different cat appears. John and Clare hope it will not prove to be a herald of misfortune.

22nd January

Encouraged by her first foray into tree planting, Janet returned with another Hornbeam and two Small-leaved Limes. They were duly planted near others of the same species.

Clare planted a Periwinkle near the north boundary below the bee hives. It is a plant that captured her imagination as a child after reading Rosemary Sutcliffe’s Brother Dusty Feet, set in Shakespearean England, in which the hero Hugh escapes an unhappy home, accompanied by his faithful dog Argos, and carrying a pot of periwinkle. Hugh meets with and joins a troupe of travelling players, and finds his fortune. Irresistible.

23rd January

A pair of lagomorphs in the Scrub. Both appear to be scenting.

The lame doe appeared on the camera in the Pit Wood. She spent about ten minutes foraging, couched for twelve minutes and then set off. She appears to be not as thin as previously.

24th January

John and Clare planted five Whitebeam near the bug hotel. Although more commonly found in the south, this planting is following advice from an advisor from the Forestry Commission who suggested choosing species with climate change in mind. Other trees that fall into this category are Sweet Chestnut and Small-leaved Lime. Clare removed tubes from the very small Scots Pines, having discovered that they do not do well with this protection. Instead Clare fashioned individual crowns of thorns from Hawthorn and Bramble to deter nibbling by hares and deer.

25th January

The pair of hares demonstrate mating behaviour.

The deer family all appear in the Pit Wood. The young buck seems to be trying out being a buck with his sister, then appears on alert followed by what John describes as a kind of adolescent playfulness. The four videos were taken within a seven minute period.

27th January

Mel and John tackled the huge Ash beam that had fallen across the path near the spring and over the Aconites in the Pit Wood.

The old buck goes through the Scrub. John says it is a magnificent animal and has a ‘competition standard head’. The velvet over the antlers is very clear to see.

29th January

Having mentioned the tabby cat a few days before, it then appeared. It has been coming through Liddells for over eight years now.

30th January

Good dramas are full of reversals, however John was dismayed this morning to discover this particular one, which was probably due more to Storm Malik than to the black cat’s presence a few days ago.

The shed was whipped back over onto its roof during the night.

John had asked several sturdy friends to come and help turn the tool shed onto its new base. Their first task now was to turn it back onto its back. Clare was present as documentary maker though had wondered if she would witness something like this.

Almost.

Shed back in place. Drama over. Of course Storm Corrie is on its way…

This next clip technically belongs before all the ones about the shed, however in service to more drama, here is a different ending. The trail camera in the Pit Wood recorded another first for Liddells.

The otter would most likely be passing through rather than resident as there will be little food on Liddells for it. There is a large pond with fish about a quarter of a mile away and the otter may have come from there and be en route for the river, possibly via the stream that flows from the spring.

Clare and John

December 31, 2021

December - clearing up and a mystery visitor

Clare and John

December 31, 2021

2nd December

John and Dave worked on clearing debris from the sheds. John and Clare set about replacing stakes for saplings that had been blown over by storm Arwen. One of the Alders planted in the Wetland has produced its first catkins. Inspired by the photograph of the Suffolk sheep on Liddells, Barbara sent a needle-felted version she had made.

There seems to be a consensus amongst the Blog’s readership about the appeal of hares. The trail camera in the Scrub records hares on an almost daily basis, sometimes capturing footage of them several times in a short period.

Felted Suffolk in the Shepherd’s hut - what better place for it

5th December

Repairs to trees continues. John saw the lame doe kid near the Crag, so it is managing to survive however the other deer were not with it.

The Redwings seem to find plenty to eat in the Scrub and regularly visit the patch of ground near the camera. The area is also a frequent haunt of a Jay, however for the first time the camera has captured two in the same footage.

6/7th December

A stoat darts through the Scrub and a Jay appears to be successful in retrieving buried acorns. History does not relate whether or not these were buried by this bird, by another or by squirrels.

10th December

John and Dave did more clearing up at the sheds site and then started tackling the huge Oak limb that had fallen in the Orchard some time ago, sorting brash and logs.

12th December

Beth asked if she could celebrate her birthday with friends and their children at Liddells. Hal brought a picnic and birthday cake, a fire was lit and marshmallows toasted. Clare and John were particularly delighted as they had found a variety of Pear tree called ‘Beth’ and had hoped that Beth would be able to plant it in the Orchard on her birthday. Juno is now excited that she will be able to harvest pears - a bit of patience may be required.

15th December

John arrived on Liddells this morning to discover a considerable number of large ungulate prints mainly on the path leading down from the bottom gate. On further examination the prints appeared to begin on the Wildflower Meadow up by the road wall. They left the Meadow and reappeared on the other side of the fence, went on towards the Big Pond after a diversion round the first Willow arbour; there were also some on the slope going down to the Orchard and some on the Top Grazing near the top of the Scrub. Apart from the fact that there are no cows around locally at the moment, a cow could not have made the leaps over wall and fence, so the conclusion John and Clare have arrived at is that a Red Deer had paid a visit. Unfortunately it did not have the sense to cross in front of either of the trail cameras, so the identity of the ungulate remains a matter of speculation. There have been reports of the occasional Red Deer being spotted in the area.

The foot on the right is not of an ungulate, however does give a sense of the size of the print

21st December

The doe appears to have registered the changed position of the trail camera in the Scrub then seems to be investigating a scent mark on the broken end of a branch.

22nd December

A fox has an early morning outing in the Scrub.

John and Dave pressed on with work on the Oak limb in the Orchard, presumably not wanting to be called ‘Yule-shards’ (anyone ‘who leaves work unfinished before Christmas or the New Year, but which has the curious double meaning of ‘someone who has no new piece of apparel to celebrate the season’.’ Word Perfect). Clare will add ‘apparel’ to John’s Christmas present. She will leave Dave to attend to his own wardrobe.

With the debris cleared, the damage to the tree is clearer. The remains of the Tawny Owl box have been removed

25th December

Christmas Day, and in the absence of Liddells Christmas cards, here are two creatures who habitually appear on seasonal cards.

26th December

While Clare has yet to see a hare boxing on Liddells, this year she didn’t even see a hare on Boxing Day. The early morning snow might have deterred the animals. Of course a comment about how unusual it has been to see two Jays on the trail camera was inviting contradiction - here are two Jays braving the weather - one seemingly more than the other.

31st December

John and Clare checked the cameras today in the hope of some exciting end of the year footage - no such luck, however friends saw two hares running up the Crag this afternoon.

Thank you to all readers for your support .

Best wishes for 2022.

John and Clare

Clare and John

November 30, 2021

November - time to plant trees and a devastating end to the month

Clare and John

November 30, 2021

Clare has been saving a quotation from George Orwell for this month as Scots Pine saplings, and trees grown from acorns and conkers by Sally are ready to plant.

‘The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil.’ (From a 1946 essay in his ‘As I Please’ column in Tribune, and quoted by Rebecca Solnit in an article entitled ‘‘Every time you commit an antisocial act, push an acorn into the ground,’ The Guardian, 16.10.21.

1-11th November

John undertook preparations for planting, collecting stakes, cutting wire, strimming, removing turves.

Clare thinks readers need at least one hare a month. This one below is in the Scrub. The hare in the video clip is in the Pit Wood.

13th November

John and Clare planted ten Scots Pines on the Wetland, caging the five larger ones and tubing the others. Having heard on The Archers that ‘the thorn is mother to the oak,’ Clare protected the caged saplings from hares and rabbits with motherly gorse cushions.

14th November

It appears that one of the regular foxes is a vixen

15th November

One hare is a treat, two hares doubly so.

16th November

Clare and John have been watching out for the return of the Woodcock and today John’s friend Mike saw two flying from the Scrub towards the Top Grazing.

19th November

Five trees planted today - two Oaks and two Horse Chestnuts that Sally had grown and donated, and a Crab Apple that Pat had ordered from Northumberland County Council and given to Liddells. NCC had offered a tree per household as part of their commitment to act in the face of climate change. There was such demand that all trees available were taken up this year, however they are repeating the scheme nest year.

The OED Word of the Day today is ‘Wildland’: Land in a natural or uncultivated state (also in plural in same sense). Also: a region or tract of such land. Clare and John hope that Liddells has some of this quality.

21st November

Clare spent a delightful afternoon on Liddells with Bridie Jackson, ‘a musical artist based in the North-East, well known within the region and beyond for her work as a composer, performer and creative practitioner’ (also currently leading Tynedale Community Choir while Kathyrn is on maternity leave). Bridie is working with Bethan Maddocks a visual artist who has been commissioned by Museums of Northumberland. Bethan is creating a hive to sit inside a building at Woodhorn Museum and Bridie is setting Kipling’s poem ‘The Bee-Boy’s Song’ to music, and creating a soundscape for the installation. Bridie interviewed Clare about bee-keeping, particularly about the tradition of telling the bees secrets, and visited the hives where she was able to record the bees. Clare could hear where the colony were clustering in the hive from the volume of the sound as Bridie moved the microphone across the entrance. Bridie sent a snippet of her first ‘play around’ and gave permission for it to be included in the blog. The bees in the background are in Hive1.

27th November

Readers will be aware of Storm Arwen, which hit the north-east with some ferocity last night. John went up to see how Liddells had been affected, expecting to see some trees down. Trees have indeed fallen, perhaps six to eight, and several limbs broken off. However he was in no way prepared for the sickening sight that greeted him. All four sheds and the Necessarium have gone. The tool shed and the Necessarium have been lifted up, overturned and are now on the far side of the fence between the Top Grazing and the Top Strip. The hay shed, log shed and former pony shelter have been reduced to planks and are scattered widely over the area behind where the sheds were. John and Clare are finding it hard to know where to start with clearing up. The shepherd’s hut, bird hide , bees and bee shed are all fine thank goodness. And no-one was hurt.

It has also been snowy and very cold on site, so not the most pleasant of conditions in which to work. Susie Dent offers some regional words for cold in Word Perfect on 17th November: ‘ ‘nithered’ is a favourite in northern England and Scotland, and ‘shrammed’ survives in the south and south-west); there is also the evocative ‘hunchy’ in Cambridgeshire. These words often derive from dialect verbs meaning ‘to shrivel’ or ‘to make numb’.’ Dent also refers to ‘some now long-lost words English dialect words that describe November’s comfortless elements. They include the word ‘gwenders’, defined in the English Dialect Dictionary as ‘a disagreeable tingling sensation in the extremities during cold weather’.

John and Clare have retrieved footage from both trail cameras. The scene in the Scrub, captured at 9.30 am, was after the storm had begun to die down. Three hours later all is calm in the Pit Wood.

While the storm’s destruction has been metaphorically ‘thwankin’ (‘from Scots, a thudding term applied to clouds that gather together in thick and gloomy succession’, Clare found metaphorical ‘Devil’s smiles’ (in Yorkshire, ‘gleams of sunshine among the darkest clouds’) in the catkins appearing on some of the young Hazels in the Top Strip.

Life goes on. As do the deer, although the wounded doe kid has not been seen since the beginning of the month. John says to notice in the second video the buds developing on the buck kid’s head which are signs of the antlers that will grow.

This Silver birch at the western top of the Crag shows some of the force of the storm.

30th November

John and Clare have been making inroads on the damage. It seems possible that, with help, the tool shed could be manoeuvered back into place although it will need a new base constructing before that can happen.

In checking through the Blog before publication, Clare was struck by the opening quotation and how poignant it seems at this end of the month. John has been given permission to include a photograph taken of the wood that lies just a few hundred yards from Liddells. The image shows just a fraction of the damage the wood sustained.

All the more reason to keep planting trees.

Clare and John

October 31, 2021

October - Autumn arrives

Clare and John

October 31, 2021

1st October

Forty Suffolk ewes arrived to eat the grass off the Top Gazing which has grown substantially since being cut for hay. The Suffolk Sheep Society’s website says that the ‘Suffolk is the flag-ship domestic breed in the British Isles and is recognised as the leading terminal sire on a variety of commercial ewes to produce top quality prime lamb. The breed has been in existence since the late 1700s.’

2nd October

Twenty ewes arrived on the Wildflower Meadow. Synchronously Word Perfect today refers to ‘aftermath’, now used metaphorically, however originally meaning ‘an ‘after-mowing’: a second crop or new growth of grass after the first had been harvested.’ So all sixty sheep are dealing with the aftermath.

John has finished the plumbing for the necessarium.

6th October

‘ “Most people look at a forest and say, ‘Here are trees and there is dirt.’ They see nothing of interest unless someone takes them by the hand. I am astonished at how little most people can manage to see.” ‘ (from Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver)

John manages to see plenty, including the first Fieldfare of the year. They arrive in flocks with Redwings. Clare was delighted that Liddells is on a par with Ambridge - Jim Lloyd heard the first Redwing on this same day.

According to *Word Perfect*, the Japanese have the expression *kasa koso* for the rustling sound of dry leaves.

7th October

The ewes did a great job on the Wildflower Meadow and have been moved to join the Suffolks on the Top Grazing.

9th October

John and Clare noticed a Goldfinch near the hide that seemed to be struggling although it was feeding and able to fly.

John and Clare were amused by the trail camera footage below.

10th October

While John added stronger stakes to some of the larches in the verge, Clare visited the hide and found that the Goldfinch had died there. Clare noticed that it was ringed so John sent the details to EURING. A reply came through very quickly:

Dear John Halliday

Thank you for taking the time to report to us details of a bird ring you found. Information about this bird and its movements is given below.

Ringing Scheme: London Ring Number: AJK9171 Species of bird: Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

This bird was ringed by S C Enderby as age definitely hatched during current year, sex unknown on 21-Nov-2019 time unknown at near Acomb, Northumberland, UK

OS Map reference NY9365 accuracy 0, - co-ordinates 54deg 58min N -2deg -6min W accuracy 0.

It was found on 09-Oct-2021 time unknown at near Hexham, Northumberland, UK

OS Map reference NY9269 accuracy 0, - co-ordinates 55deg 0min N -2deg -7min W accuracy 0.

Finding condition: Dying

Finding circumstances: Found Sick, Definite Single cause NOT Known

Extra Information: Sickly. Unable to fly well. Dead the next day.

It was found 688 days after it was ringed, 4 km from the ringing site, direction NNW.

Bird Ringing in Britain & Ireland is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Each year over 900,000 birds are ringed by over 2,500 highly trained bird ringers, most of whom are volunteers. They follow a careful training process that can take several years to complete to ensure that they have the necessary skills to catch and ring birds. The bird’s welfare is always the most important consideration during ringing activities.

Ringing began over 100 years ago to study the movements of birds. While it continues to generate information about movements, it also allows us to study how many young birds leave the nest and survive to breed as adults, as well as how many adults live from year to year and how many birds disperse to different breeding sites. Collection of this information helps us to understand why bird populations increase or decrease − vital information for conservation. Details of how many birds have been caught and where and when they have been found are available on the BTO website at www.bto.org/ringing-report.

Some interesting facts discovered from ringing data....

Oldest bird – Manx shearwater, 50 yrs 11 months

Furthest travelled – Arctic Tern from Wales to Australia 18,000 km

Strangest recovery – Osprey ring found in stomach of a crocodile in The Gambia!

Many thanks again for reporting this bird and contributing to the work of the Ringing Scheme. If you would like to find out more about the BTO please check out our website www.bto.org.

With best wishes

The Ringing Team

11th - 12th October

Having established that there are indeed three kids this year, they were seen again on the trail camera in the Scrub. The next night the doe went through. John says you can see not only what fine condition she is in, but her two gorget patches. They are on the underside of her neck, show that she is an older doe and help in identification.

15th & 19th October

A fox appears twice on the Scrub camera.

22nd - 23rd October

Footage of hares always proves irresistible. The Scrub camera recorded one passing through several times on these two days; on 22nd at 17.49 and 21.46, and on 23rd at 09.50, 13.49 and 14.05. Of course they may all be different hares. Below is one piece of footage from the selection, the white tail with its black tip and the black tips to its ears showing quite distinctly.

The sheep were taken off the Top Grazing. Again they have done a splendid job in taking the grass down ready for Spring growth.

The Jay is a bird often heard but not so often seen, or maybe you see a flash of the white rump as it flies away. The Woodland Trust describes the Jay as ‘a highly intelligent loudmouth’. (woodlandtrust.org.uk) In its Latin name, garrulus glandarius, the ‘garrulus’ means chattering, babbling or noisy. You can listen here. The whole name can be translated as ‘babbler of the acorns.’ The bird hides acorns for later consumption and it is thought that the ones whose whereabouts have been forgotten can be credited with the growth and spread of oak trees since the last Ice Age. In the footage below, it is unclear whether the Jay is burying or seeking to retrieve acorns, however it is great to have such a clear view of the bird.

A badger appears in the Pit Wood, probably rootling for worms.

24th October

The Scrub proves to be a popular foraging ground for the newly arrived Redwings.

26th October

The trail camera reveals time and again just how watchful and alert the wildlife is all the time. Below you will see a rabbit standing on its hind legs, possibly to see if the surrounding area is safe. Although footage of grey squirrels doesn’t make it into the Blog, the sound of a squirrel chattering is quite dramatic - a subsequent piece of footage (not included), suggests that it is the pheasant that is the source of agitation. Having never seen a kid squeaking before this year, John is delighted that the trail camera is offering so many examples of this phenomenon. Of course saying earlier this month that Jays are rarely seen was asking for contradiction. Not hiding at all. The badger is back - Clare fancifully imagines its satnav saying, “Rerootle, rerootle"!”

28th October

It would seem as though roe deer experience sibling rivalry.

The pheasants have their own back on the hare.

The third piece of footage is calling out for a caption. Any offers….?

29th October

A trio of videos of birds foraging in the Scrub. While Redwings and Titmice share the space, the Pheasants seem to claim it as theirs.

30th October

When Clare went to collect the camera discs today she saw and heard far more Blackbirds than usual - the overwintering visitors have arrived. There was also a large flock of Fieldfares in the Orchard. Sadly the camera has shown that one of the doe kids is limping badly and has lost condition. She hasn’t been seen with the adult doe and other two kids for a while. The young buck displays a passing interest in the bird feeder in the Scrub.

Clare and John

September 30, 2021

September - Harvest-Month, Gerstmonath (Anglo-Saxon meaning Barley Month)

Clare and John

September 30, 2021

The French Revolutionary calendar also acknowledged the fruitfulness of this time of year. 1st September fell into Fructidor - summer - and was named Truite (trout), to be followed by Lemon, Teasel, Buckthorn, Mexican Marigold, Harvesting Basket, Wild Rose, Hazelnut, Hops, Sorghum, Crayfish, Bitter Orange, Golden Rod, Maize, Sweet Chestnut and Pack Basket. Then the season changes to Vendémiaire (Autumn) with Grape, Saffron Chestnut, Autumn Crocus, Horse, Impatiens, Carrot, Amaranth and Parsnip. 1st to 30th seem easier to remember but not as imaginative.

First some trail camera footage from the end of last month. The doe appears to be in conversation with a robin; the kids continue to enchant particularly in the ear department; the doe’s grey colouring round her muzzle show that she is no longer a youngster; the spots on the kids are beginning to fade; squeaking continues - the labelling for this clip does not indicate that the kids have been named, it is simply a way of distinguishing the footage; hare and fox can be seen on evening outings.

1st September

With sheep arriving on the Top Grazing later this month, John fixed sheep-proof netting to the new gate into the Top Strip.

The hare paid a late afternoon visit to the Scrub.

2nd September

Another example of OED Word of the Day synchronicity - Clare found at least thirty large Fly Agaric in the Scrub; today the OED offered ‘mycophilia: Enthusiasm for fungi, esp. edible ones; fondness for eating mushrooms’. Neither Clare nor John will be eating these specimens, although they clearly appeal to something’s taste.

Good to see a badger is still making the rounds.

3rd September

John took the flail mower over all the paths, delighting in how much time the machine is saving. Clare embarked on autumn maintenance on the Top Strip path noting that there is no time saving route for this task.

Two hares appeared on the trail camera. If two constitutes a group, then, according to Word Perfect, this is a flick of hares. Susie Dent explains that most collective nouns ‘sprang from the medieval imagination Created by the elite for the elite, they were written down in books of etiquette aimed at instructing the nobility on how not to embarrass themselves while out hunting, hawking, or fishing…[The} primary source for such terms is the fifteenth-century Book of St Albans, a three-part compendium on aristocratic pursuits. Its authorship is attributed to Dame Juliana Berners, Prioress of the Sopwell nunnery in Hertfordshire. Not only did her work contain over a hundred and sixty group names for beasts of the chase and characters on the medieval stage, but it also boasted the first images to be printed in colour in England. It was an instant hit, reprinted and reissued many times both by William Caxton and the (superbly named) Wynkyn de Words. Its popularity extended far beyond the nobles for whom it was originally intended.’

4th September

The trail camera shows one of the kids trying to suckle whereas the doe looks as if she’s wanting to wean the youngster. One of the kids is seen foraging on fungi - maybe this is what is eating the Fly Agaric. Maybe there will be footage of a hallucinating kid.

7th September

John and Clare restarted work on the shed for the composting lavatory. Clare fixed membrane under the structure and John added a floor.

8th September

Clare started a routine check on her bees only, she thinks, to knock her finger on the corner of a hive roof. She can’t remember what happened exactly, however she suddenly experienced a lot of pain in the middle finger of her right hand. Not one of the better documented hazards of bee-keeping.

12th September

The OED Word of the Day strikes again. While work continues on housing the Little John, today’s word is ‘necessarium’ A privy, esp in a monastery. In recent use also: a toilet, lavatory. Well that’s the name for the new shed chosen then.

14-18th September

With Clare out of action (and very frustrated and fed up), John has had to pursue shed construction without help. He has made good progress, adding side, door and back. Next come the plumbing arrangements. The shed uses the tool shed as one of its sides; the back of the construction is lower than the front. Clare thinks that John can claim he has executed a short back and sides.

Taking a break from construction work, John saw a large hare on the Meadow and a Tawny Owl fly from the North-east Strip into the Scrub.

In the absence of a photograph of the owl, here is a poem by Paul Batchelor from his collection The Love Darg.

19th September

John and Clare are trying out a new trail camera. Although they have yet to discover the optimum settings, they were interested to note the footage of roe deer foraging in the Scrub. The clips showed a doe and one of her kids eating near the camera on four separate occasions through one night. The deer spent about ten minutes browsing each time before moving off and returning to almost the same spot between two and three hours later. In between these episodes, a lone kid came through the Scrub from the direction in which the others had left. John says there are competing theories about how frequently roe browse, with one camp opting for every two hours and another citing four hour intervals.

27th September

Some footage from the original trail camera set up in the Pit Wood. A fox with a particularly bushy tail makes its way through. The doe, having spent time scenting, decides one of her kids needs a thorough wash. The kid attempts to suckle however the doe is more intent on weaning and cleaning. Clare noted that the cleaning could be a substitute contact between doe and kid - a comfort wash. Though without fabric conditioner. A second kid arrives and is easily sexed. Then a third arrives and is also deterred from suckling and offered compensatory washing. This is the first time doe and triplets have been captured together. John says that while it is not unusual for a doe to have triplets, it does suggest the doe is in prime condition and that the habitat is providing all she needs. The family leave together, the rumps showing there are two doe kids and a buck. At last John can stop questioning how many kids and of what sex. The last video for this day shows a deer browsing on fallen Ash leaves. John says there is evidence to show that our native European roe deer eat 160 different plant species. The Siberian roe, a cousin of our roe, eat 300 plant species.

John added a roof to the Necessarium.

A stoat has caught a Jay and carries it off.

28th September

Plumbing in begins.

The doe and one of the kids show how they are losing their summer coats to reveal the darker winter coat below.

Clare and John

August 31, 2021

August

Clare and John

August 31, 2021

Corrections and clarifications:

The bird in the photograph below is not, as declared last month, a juvenile Redpoll, but a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher. With no disrespect to the Redpoll fraternity, this is a bit more exciting! Thanks to Keith and TrogTrogBlog Chris for helping with identification.

1st August

John continued his pursuit of flora, one of the twins pursued an opportunity, the young buck recollected himself.

Fleabane Erigeron bonariensis: ‘Its curious scent, with hints of carbolic soap and chrysanthemum, is an insect repellent. In the past it was kept in houses specifically for the purpose of driving away fleas. Bunches were dried and burned as a fumigant or hung in rooms.To Gerard it was called Conyza, whilst the Konuza of Dioscorides, drove away midges in addition to fleas. It is in fact a relatively close relative of pyrethrum, which supplies the insecticide.Other past uses include treatments for unspecified eye ailments and dysentery.Local names include Camels, Harvest flower (since it blossoms in August and September), Job's tears, Mare's fat and Pig-daisy.’ (plantlife.org.uk) — Fleabane *Erigeron bonariensis*: ‘Its curious scent, with hints of carbolic soap and chrysanthemum, is an insect repellent. In the past it was kept in houses specifically for the purpose of driving away fleas. Bunches were dried and burned as a fumigant or hung in rooms.
To Gerard it was called Conyza, whilst the *Konuza* of Dioscorides, drove away midges in addition to fleas. It is in fact a relatively close relative of pyrethrum, which supplies the insecticide.
Other past uses include treatments for unspecified eye ailments and dysentery.
Local names include Camels, Harvest flower (since it blossoms in August and September), Job's tears, Mare's fat and Pig-daisy.’ (plantlife.org.uk)

Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris: ‘Lysimachia, the genus name, is in honour of Lysimachus, (c. 360BC - 281BC), a Macedonian general who, as one of the successors to Alexander the Great, became ruler (king, in effect) of a large part of the divided Macedonian Empire that had all been Alexander's realm.King Lysimachus is reputed to have fed 'loosestrife' plants from this genus to his oxen in order to calm them down whenever they became agitated and difficult to manage. The name Loosestrife means 'lose (or forget about) strife'. No worries, then!The specific epithet vulgaris means common.Yellow Loosestrife tied around the necks of oxen was reputed to keep irritating flies away from them. In the distant past these and several other kinds of 'loosestrife' plants were also used to get rid of infestations of flies in houses. The plants were dried and burned indoors, and toxins in the smoke drove out the flies (and no doubt also any human occupants).’ (first-nature.com) — Yellow Loosestrife *Lysimachia vulgaris*: ‘*Lysimachia*, the genus name, is in honour of Lysimachus, (c. 360BC - 281BC), a Macedonian general who, as one of the successors to Alexander the Great, became ruler (king, in effect) of a large part of the divided Macedonian Empire that had all been Alexander's realm.
King Lysimachus is reputed to have fed 'loosestrife' plants from this genus to his oxen in order to calm them down whenever they became agitated and difficult to manage. The name Loosestrife means 'lose (or forget about) strife'. No worries, then!
The specific epithet *vulgaris* means common.
Yellow Loosestrife tied around the necks of oxen was reputed to keep irritating flies away from them. In the distant past these and several other kinds of 'loosestrife' plants were also used to get rid of infestations of flies in houses. The plants were dried and burned indoors, and toxins in the smoke drove out the flies (and no doubt also any human occupants).’ (first-nature.com)

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria: apparently no relation to Yellow Loosestrife, was ‘[i]ntroduced into North America in the 19th century. Purple-loosestrife is now an invasive weed, forming impenetrable stands that are unsuitable as cover for native animals and shade out native plants.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)However, ‘Purple loosestrife is a beauty. Like the Buddleias growing in railway sidings it's so common people don't notice it. Purple loosestrife flowers around the same time, and it seems to me to be just as a good a plant for pollinators.’ (habitataid.co.uk) — Purple Loosestrife *Lythrum salicaria*: apparently no relation to Yellow Loosestrife, was ‘[i]ntroduced into North America in the 19th century. Purple-loosestrife is now an invasive weed, forming impenetrable stands that are unsuitable as cover for native animals and shade out native plants.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)
However, ‘Purple loosestrife is a beauty. Like the Buddleias growing in railway sidings it's so common people don't notice it. Purple loosestrife flowers around the same time, and it seems to me to be just as a good a plant for pollinators.’ (habitataid.co.uk)

Upright Hedge Parsley Torilis japonica: ‘[I]n Chinese traditional medicine it has been used for treating haemorrhoids, spasm, uterine tumours, fever, and dysentery. Recently, medical studies have shown that Japanese Hedge Parsley may have a potential for combatting cancer. A substance known as torilin can be extracted from the plant and has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) Torilin is a compound from the fruits of the plant and has been shown to inhibit the growth of blood vessels in tumour development from benign to malignant and thus has a toxic effect on tumours. It also has been found to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to androgen, which is being studied further in the treatment of prostate cancer and alopecia. (wikipedia.org) — Upright Hedge Parsley *Torilis japonica*: ‘[I]n Chinese traditional medicine it has been used for treating haemorrhoids, spasm, uterine tumours, fever, and dysentery. Recently, medical studies have shown that Japanese Hedge Parsley may have a potential for combatting cancer. A substance known as torilin can be extracted from the plant and has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) Torilin is a compound from the fruits of the plant and has been shown to inhibit the growth of blood vessels in tumour development from benign to malignant and thus has a toxic effect on tumours. It also has been found to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to androgen, which is being studied further in the treatment of prostate cancer and alopecia. (wikipedia.org)

2nd August

John and Clare are very much enjoying the repaired trail camera. It was a treat to see a Jay in the Pit Wood. They are often heard, less often seen. The roe twins are always a delight - in this footage their ears seem particularly active.

3rd - 4th August

Clare had a visit from the Bee Inspector. This was the second time she had been visited and so was less nervous and knew this wasn’t the equivalent of a tax inspection. Although Mathilda likes to think of each individual bee being inspected and emerging with a certificate and mortarboard to throw in the air, the Inspector checks for signs of diseases or pests, provides help and advice on good husbandry and how to tackle any problems he, she or they might find. Clare has always learned from watching other beekeepers and gained from their experience. This time the Inspector noted a few instances of Deformed Wing Virus, which is most often spread by Varroa mites. Autumn is a good time to treat for Varroa although Clare heard an edition of Inside Science two days later which featured research on how honey bees were coping to resist the mites without any chemical control being used.

Clare spent a considerable amount of time pointing out to John the location of a small insect which was clinging to a Marsh thistle stem on he island in the Big Pond. The first task was to find the correct thistle. The island has many thistles. Clare could only see the creature through her binoculars (and what seems like three net curtains - she is waiting for eye surgery), and only realised why John was having such difficulty when, after several fruitless attempts at location description, she looked through his camera lens. She is still unsure of the identification, although it might have been a grasshopper. At one point Clare was tempted to name it a ‘Could-lead-to-divorce’ insect.

John found the mating Common Darters easier to spot. Clare was pleased to see her first Painted Lady of the season on Knapweed in the Meadow.

John took photographs of some of the last plants to flower this season and noticed the prospect of autumn fruitfulness.

It is the time of the Roe deer rut and the trail camera has captured footage which would seem to provide evidence of this on Liddells. In the second clip you can clearly see the scent glands on the buck’s rather crooked hind legs. The squeaking sound in the background could well be one of the kids, and the sound may well have attracted the buck as he would know the doe would be close by.

The trail camera also provided evidence that the big buck is back. John believes there are three bucks around Liddells at the moment - the big old one, the one with the broken antler, and the one with rather crooked hind legs.

Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea: is the foodplant of the black-and-red cinnabar moth: sometimes its black-and yellow-barred caterpillars cover the plant, totally stripping the leaves…Common ragwort is one of the most frequently visited flowers by butterflies in the UK and more than 200 species of invertebrate have been recorded on it.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) Many people know that this plant is poisonous to livestock, however it is not as well known that livestock will not graze on the plant. It is only poisonous if it is chopped up and mixed in hay, when animals eat it not knowing it is there. John and Clare always check the top Grazing and Meadow and remove Ragwort if they find it there, however the plant is left alone in other locations. — Common Ragwort *Senecio jacobaea:* is the foodplant of the black-and-red cinnabar moth: sometimes its black-and yellow-barred caterpillars cover the plant, totally stripping the leaves…Common ragwort is one of the most frequently visited flowers by butterflies in the UK and more than 200 species of invertebrate have been recorded on it.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) Many people know that this plant is poisonous to livestock, however it is not as well known that livestock will not graze on the plant. It is only poisonous if it is chopped up and mixed in hay, when animals eat it not knowing it is there. John and Clare always check the top Grazing and Meadow and remove Ragwort if they find it there, however the plant is left alone in other locations.

Mugwort Artemesia vukgaris: The mugwort plant has been traditionally used for everything from digestive disorders to beer-making, insect repellent, and more…The aerial parts of the mugwort plant are used as an essential oil. The plant is also burned in moxibustion practices.* In addition to its medicinal use, mugwort has been used for smudging, protection, and inducing vivid dreams (when placed underneath a person’s pillow).Historically, mugwort was used by the Romans, who are said to have planted it by roadsides, so that marching soldiers could put the plant in their shoes. This was done to relieve aching feet. St. John the Baptist was said to have worn a girdle of mugwort.’ (verywellhealth.com)* Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body's meridians and acupuncture points. Practitioners believe that the resulting heat helps stimulate these points and improves the flow of qi (energy) in your body. — Mugwort *Artemesia vukgaris*: The mugwort plant has been traditionally used for everything from digestive disorders to beer-making, insect repellent, and more…The aerial parts of the mugwort plant are used as an essential oil. The plant is also burned in moxibustion practices.* In addition to its medicinal use, mugwort has been used for smudging, protection, and inducing vivid dreams (when placed underneath a person’s pillow).
Historically, mugwort was used by the Romans, who are said to have planted it by roadsides, so that marching soldiers could put the plant in their shoes. This was done to relieve aching feet. St. John the Baptist was said to have worn a girdle of mugwort.’ (verywellhealth.com)
* Moxibustion is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body's meridians and acupuncture points. Practitioners believe that the resulting heat helps stimulate these points and improves the flow of qi (energy) in your body.

Burdock Arctium: ‘Recent studies have shown that the extracted oil from the root of Burdock is rich in essential fatty acids and phytosterols.Burdock was commonly used in cooking in the UK in times past but has long been forgotten about. In Asia Burdock is still used to this day where it is collected commercially and called Gobo. Starting in 1948 George de Mestral, a Swiss inventor, created Velcro after walking his dog and noticing the ‘burs’ from Burdock sticking to his dog. If you are lucky to be near some Burdock when it starts to rain the leaves are big enough to make a foraged umbrella!’ (wildfooduk.com)Readers may also remember drinking the very sweet Dandelion and Burdock fizzy drink. — Burdock *Arctium*: ‘Recent studies have shown that the extracted oil from the root of Burdock is rich in essential fatty acids and phytosterols.
Burdock was commonly used in cooking in the UK in times past but has long been forgotten about. In Asia Burdock is still used to this day where it is collected commercially and called Gobo.
Starting in 1948 George de Mestral, a Swiss inventor, created Velcro after walking his dog and noticing the ‘burs’ from Burdock sticking to his dog.
If you are lucky to be near some Burdock when it starts to rain the leaves are big enough to make a foraged umbrella!’ (wildfooduk.com)
Readers may also remember drinking the very sweet Dandelion and Burdock fizzy drink.

Canadian Goldenrod Solidago canadensis: probably originally naturalised from garden stock, now well established as a wild flower and much visited by bees, ‘Three colours of dye, mustard, orange and brown, can be extracted from the whole plant.It is poisonous containing some pyrrolizidine alkaloids,’ (wildflowerfinder.org.uk) — Canadian Goldenrod *Solidago canadensis*: probably originally naturalised from garden stock, now well established as a wild flower and much visited by bees, ‘Three colours of dye, mustard, orange and brown, can be extracted from the whole plant.
It is poisonous containing some pyrrolizidine alkaloids,’ (wildflowerfinder.org.uk)

Nipplewort Lapsana communis: one wildflower recorder proposes that ‘Nipplewort derives its name from the nipples within the spent flower going to seed, a very distinctive feature of Nipplewort. They appear to shine as stars within the dark interior of the 'sepal tube', which is a row of bracts which distinctively has eight 'teeth'. (wildflowerfinder.org.uk)Young leaves can be harvested and eaten as microgreens or cooked and used like spinach. ‘The plant is said to have an overall calming effect, reportedly helps the kidney function, and can help stop the flow of milk when breastfeeding mums want to wean.’ (wildplantguides.com) — Nipplewort *Lapsana communis*: one wildflower recorder proposes that ‘Nipplewort derives its name from the nipples within the spent flower going to seed, a very distinctive feature of Nipplewort. They appear to *shine as stars* within the dark interior of the 'sepal tube', which is a row of bracts which distinctively has *eight 'teeth'*. (wildflowerfinder.org.uk)
Young leaves can be harvested and eaten as microgreens or cooked and used like spinach. ‘The plant is said to have an overall calming effect, reportedly helps the kidney function, and can help stop the flow of milk when breastfeeding mums want to wean.’ (wildplantguides.com)

Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium: ‘Rosebay Willowherb is able to colonise new areas because of its specially adapted seeds - fitted with tiny, cottony 'parachutes' they are able to disperse across long distances on the slightest breeze. Each plant can produce up to 80,000 seeds and the heat from fires and bonfires can help to germinate them, hence another common name of 'Fireweed'.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Rosebay Willowherb *Chamerion angustifolium*: ‘Rosebay Willowherb is able to colonise new areas because of its specially adapted seeds - fitted with tiny, cottony 'parachutes' they are able to disperse across long distances on the slightest breeze. Each plant can produce up to 80,000 seeds and the heat from fires and bonfires can help to germinate them, hence another common name of 'Fireweed'.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica: the usp of this plant is its unpleasant and astringent smell, particularly strong when the plant is crushed. Fortunately bees are not deterred by this as they pollinate the plant.‘[T]his wildflower was used as a herbal remedy to staunch bleeding and heal tissue…Its Latin name Stachys means 'spike of flowers', and Sylvatica means 'of the forest'.It is also known as Wood Woundwort, Hedge Nettle, Red Archangel, and Whitespot.The London based herbalist John Gerard would use Hedge Woundwort to treat injuries received in pub brawls during the 1600' (plantlife.org.uk) — Hedge Woundwort *Stachys sylvatica*: the usp of this plant is its unpleasant and astringent smell, particularly strong when the plant is crushed. Fortunately bees are not deterred by this as they pollinate the plant.
‘[T]his wildflower was used as a herbal remedy to staunch bleeding and heal tissue…
Its Latin name Stachys means 'spike of flowers', and Sylvatica means 'of the forest'.
It is also known as Wood Woundwort, Hedge Nettle, Red Archangel, and Whitespot.
The London based herbalist John Gerard would use Hedge Woundwort to treat injuries received in pub brawls during the 1600' (plantlife.org.uk)

Heather or Ling Calluna vulgaris: ‘Historically, Heather has been used for many purposes, such as fuel, fodder, building materials, thatch, packing and ropes. It was also used to make brooms, which is how it got its Latin name - Callunais derived from the Greek word meaning 'to brush'.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Heather or Ling *Calluna vulgaris*: ‘Historically, Heather has been used for many purposes, such as fuel, fodder, building materials, thatch, packing and ropes. It was also used to make brooms, which is how it got its Latin name - Callunais derived from the Greek word meaning 'to brush'.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Wild Raspberry aka Hindberry Rubus Idaeus: Clare is fond of collecting berries for her hedgerow jelly. ‘The leaves can also be used to make tea, simply steep them in boiling water for a few minutes. The tea is said to relieve stomach cramps and diarrhea. But care must be taken if you are pregnant.’ (totallywilduk.co.uk) — Wild Raspberry aka Hindberry *Rubus Idaeus*: Clare is fond of collecting berries for her hedgerow jelly. ‘The leaves can also be used to make tea, simply steep them in boiling water for a few minutes. The tea is said to relieve stomach cramps and diarrhea. But care must be taken if you are pregnant.’ (totallywilduk.co.uk)

Bramble Rubus fruticosus: An excellent food source. ‘Bramble flowers are a food source for honey bees and bumblebees and other wild animals. Leaves are eaten by certain caterpillars as well as some grazing mammals, especially deer. Ripe berries are eaten and their seeds dispersed by several mammals such as fox and badger, and small birds.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk) John adds that Bramble is a favourite food of the Roe. And when all of those have eaten their fill, any berries left go into the aforementioned hedgerow jelly. — Bramble *Rubus fruticosus*: An excellent food source. ‘Bramble flowers are a food source for honey bees and bumblebees and other wild animals. Leaves are eaten by certain caterpillars as well as some grazing mammals, especially deer. Ripe berries are eaten and their seeds dispersed by several mammals such as fox and badger, and small birds.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk)
John adds that Bramble is a favourite food of the Roe. And when all of those have eaten their fill, any berries left go into the aforementioned hedgerow jelly.

Beech Fagus sylvatica: ‘The ancient Greeks believed that beechnuts or ‘mast’ were the first food eaten by humans. The nuts are edible but should not be eaten in large quantities…[as e}xcessive consumption of the raw nuts may cause poisoning.’ (eatweeds.co.uk) — Beech *Fagus sylvatica*: ‘The ancient Greeks believed that beechnuts or ‘mast’ were the first food eaten by humans. The nuts are edible but should not be eaten in large quantities…[as e}xcessive consumption of the raw nuts may cause poisoning.’ (eatweeds.co.uk)

6th August

The buck is in pursuit of the doe again.

7th August

The shepherd’s hut offered more insect identification challenges. Both the ladybird and the wasp were on one of the windows looking north.

A limb has broken away from a large Oak in the Orchard. Unfortunately it has damaged the top of the Tawny Owl box however as the box has only been used by squirrels, John and Clare are not too upset about that, although the damage to the tree is upsetting.

Another wildflower for the records and more ingredients for hedgerow jelly.

Clare’s best guess is that this is a Cream-spot ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata. By chance the Natural History Society of Northumbria has recently included a feature on ladybirds and this helped. — Clare’s best guess is that this is a Cream-spot ladybird *Calvia quattuordecimguttata*. By chance the Natural History Society of Northumbria has recently included a feature on ladybirds and this helped.

Another Ichneumenoid, however it has been hard to identify it in its deceased state

Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana — Enchanter’s Nightshade *Circaea lutetiana*

A close-up of the flower. The plant is related to the Willowherb family, not to Deadly Nightshade as might be assumed. ‘The Latin name Circaea relates to Circe, an enchantress sometimes depicted as the Greek goddess of magic, who was known for her knowledge of herbs…Enchanter’s nightshade has been used treat wounds and as a flavouring in Austrian tea. In the Scottish Highlands it was thought to be an aphrodisiac.’ (woodlandtrust.org)However - ‘Despite its evocative name, there are no known herbal uses or supposed powers attributed to enchanter's nightshade.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)Perhaps the discrepancy in understanding is part of how it enchants. — A close-up of the flower. The plant is related to the Willowherb family, not to Deadly Nightshade as might be assumed.
‘The Latin name *Circaea* relates to Circe, an enchantress sometimes depicted as the Greek goddess of magic, who was known for her knowledge of herbs…Enchanter’s nightshade has been used treat wounds and as a flavouring in Austrian tea. In the Scottish Highlands it was thought to be an aphrodisiac.’ (woodlandtrust.org)
However -
‘Despite its evocative name, there are no known herbal uses or supposed powers attributed to enchanter's nightshade.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)
Perhaps the discrepancy in understanding is part of how it enchants.

Hawthorn berries - these are plenteous this year so when ripe will provide plenty of food for birds over the winter (and be included in hedgerow jelly).

8th August

One of the bucks is on the trail of something. One of the kids is beginning to forage for herself, and one of the kids is in pursuit of one of the bucks, maybe its father.

9th August

Juno looks ready to create her own enchantments.

Footage from the trail camera is causing John and Clare to think the doe may have had triplets not twins, however it is more likely that there are twins to a young looking doe.

10th August

Clare remembered to take a photograph of one of the last of the year’s wildflowers to appear on the Meadow- Tansy - while John took one of Meadowsweet on the Wetland. Tim sent an image of a ‘stunning creature’ that he thinks is a second generation Speckled Wood.

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare: ‘Tansy leaves were traditionally eaten at Easter to help kill off the worms that the diet of fish at the time caused. They were quite bitter, so were mixed with eggs, milk and flour in a kind of pancake or omelette.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Tansy *Tanacetum vulgare*: ‘Tansy leaves were traditionally eaten at Easter to help kill off the worms that the diet of fish at the time caused. They were quite bitter, so were mixed with eggs, milk and flour in a kind of pancake or omelette.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria: also known as Mead wort, Queen of the meadow, Pride of the meadow, Meadow-wort, Meadow queen, Lady of the meadow, Dollof, meadsweet, and Bridewort. ‘The flowers of Meadowsweet are sometimes used in wine, beer and vinegar, or to give jams a subtle almond flavour. In fact, the common name of this plant likely arose as a result of it being used to flavour mead.’ (wildlifetrusts.org). A natural black dye can be obtained from the roots by using a copper mordant. A tea can be made from the flowers and the leaves and drunk to help treat rheumatism, gout, infections, and fever. — Meadowsweet *Filipendula ulmaria*: also known as Mead wort, Queen of the meadow, Pride of the meadow, Meadow-wort, Meadow queen, Lady of the meadow, Dollof, meadsweet, and Bridewort. ‘The flowers of Meadowsweet are sometimes used in wine, beer and vinegar, or to give jams a subtle almond flavour. In fact, the common name of this plant likely arose as a result of it being used to flavour mead.’ (wildlifetrusts.org). A natural black dye can be obtained from the roots by using a copper mordant. A tea can be made from the flowers and the leaves and drunk to help treat rheumatism, gout, infections, and fever.

11th August

Clare spotted a hoverfly waiting its turn to enter a Foxglove flower. Clare’s niece and family visited Liddells for the morning and Julian sent some of her photographs. She has perfectly captured the different qualities of the two boys. Much fun was had pond-dipping.

After the fun, the hard work as John and Clare began prepping the Meadow for cutting, strimming the edges and brashing the Hawthorns.

Marmalade hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus: apparently the UK’s most common hoverfly, getting its name from the orange and black bands across its body. — Marmalade hoverfly *Episyrphus balteatus*: apparently the UK’s most common hoverfly, getting its name from the orange and black bands across its body.

Bron in less serious identification mode.

12th August

More Meadow prep. Clare and John are going to use the Hawthorn brash to provide natural protection from deer fraying for some of the saplings where the tubes need removing.

Tom was able to cut the Meadow this evening.

Small-leaved lime protected from fraying

13th - 23rd August

A most frustrating time - after a couple of warm breezy days when Tom was able to turn the hay and row it up, there followed days of cold and rain. The hay was ruined as a food crop though can be used for bedding. Clare and John are very disappointed and recognise the annual dilemma with the Meadow, which is late -flowering - cut early and lose the benefit of seeds setting and falling; cut late and risk losing the whole crop because of August rains.

Walking past the roadside pond, a female pheasant scuttled away leaving two chicks - a moment of delight to offset the Meadow disappointment.

Before the rain came, the roadside pond had almost dried out, revealing some pond snails. They can feed on algae which is A Good Thing although they can also eat pond plants which is A Bad Thing. Apparently there are over 30 different species of freshwater snail in Britain. Another area for study and learning.

Clare found a grasshopper basking on a warm stone in the boundary wall. It was far easier to see and identify than the creature on the pond island and led to no matrimonial conflict whatsoever.

The trail camera has captured more footage of the deer - a kid showing its inexperience and being unsure what lies ahead, the doe without the kids, and the different behaviour of the two kids, one seemingly more venturesome than the other.

Common green grasshopper Omocestus viridulus: no stridulation to be heard at this sighting — Common green grasshopper *Omocestus viridulus*: no stridulation to be heard at this sighting

24th August

Clare, with John’s help, took a super of honey from one of the hives. The other hive is subject to robbing from wasps which have dug a nest in the Meadow. Clare has done what she can to help the bees defend their forage, confusing the wasps with a glass sheet in front of the hive entrance and reducing the entrance to a small hole which the guard bees can more easily defend. The next step will be destroying the wasps’ nest. Clare saw a Wall Brown by the hives and was amused by the idea of a Wall Brown sitting on the fence.

25th August

The deer family are captured altogether and attending to their hygiene.

29th August

Just when Clare had thought that there were no more wildflowers to emerge this year, she saw a plant in front of the hide that she had not seen before. Initially she was alarmed that it was Japanese Knotweed however Mel has provided a more reassuring identification - Pale Persicaria, which is in the Knotweed family though not as troublesome.

Clare set about destroying the wasps’ nest on the Meadow and hoped that this will alleviate the honey bees’ struggles to defend their stores.

One of the roe kids demonstrates how it she is learning behaviour from her mother, while the other can be heard and seen squeaking - watch her abdomen moving.

Pale Persicaria Persicaria lapathifolia: aka Pale Smartweed, Curlytop Knotweed and Willow Weed. The seeds may have arrived in the bird seed mix and dropped from the feeder above. — Pale Persicaria *Persicaria lapathifolia*: aka Pale Smartweed, Curlytop Knotweed and Willow Weed. The seeds may have arrived in the bird seed mix and dropped from the feeder above.

Clare and John

July 31, 2021

July - delights, surprises and floribundance

Clare and John

July 31, 2021

1st July

An exciting start to the month - Clare and John saw Tree Sparrows on the feeders in front of the hide. Their presence on the feeders suggested they were already familiar with the availability of food there, although they seemed very flighty and camera shy. John had made a nesting box suitable for Tree Sparrows and placed it behind the sheds a few years ago and not only was it not used, but the birds were never seen on Liddells, even though it would seem to offer the right kind of habitat for them. The nest box was duly moved home where Tree Sparrows are seen regularly - again, never used. Maybe another move, back up to Liddells, might see it used in the future.

John and Clare worked on preparing the shepherd’s hut for habitation. Sally, hearing of Clare’s wish to furnish the hut in as eco-friendly way as possible, donated a washing-up bowl for which she had no use.

2nd July

Another donation from friends - Gill and Mark offered a set of pans, a corkscrew and a cheese grater for the shepherd’s hut. Clare is amused that her list of essentials began with wine glasses, coffee and Marmite. Her friends are more realistically or more practically minded. John and Clare will be able to stay in fine style.

4th July

John took to his camera as an antidote to hut interior work. He was especially thrilled to see Bullfinches on the hide feeders. While Bullfinches have been seen on many occasions on Liddells, this is the first time they have ever been seen on the feeders. John said that the feeders were particularly busy - this may be because there had been very heavy rain for the previous two to three days and birds were very hungry as a consequence.

Foxglove Digitalis: ‘The origins of the name foxglove are unclear, but can be traced all the way back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It’s thought the ‘glove’ part of the name is simply due to the flowers looking like glove fingers. Less certain is the connection to foxes. One theory is that people believed foxes wore the flowers on their paws to silence their movements when hunting. Another is that the flower is often found growing close to the earths where foxes raise their young… Foxglove contains a chemical called digitalis that can be used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure by raising blood flow and increasing the body’s defence mechanisms. However, the plant is poisonous if consumed directly, and can cause a number of health problems. Other names for foxglove include goblin gloves, witches' gloves and dead men's bells.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk) — Foxglove *Digitalis*: ‘The origins of the name foxglove are unclear, but can be traced all the way back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It’s thought the ‘glove’ part of the name is simply due to the flowers looking like glove fingers. Less certain is the connection to foxes. One theory is that people believed foxes wore the flowers on their paws to silence their movements when hunting. Another is that the flower is often found growing close to the earths where foxes raise their young… Foxglove contains a chemical called digitalis that can be used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure by raising blood flow and increasing the body’s defence mechanisms. However, the plant is poisonous if consumed directly, and can cause a number of health problems. Other names for foxglove include goblin gloves, witches' gloves and dead men's bells.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Dog rose Rosa canina: ‘The dog rose is a common symbol in medieval heraldry. It has a less regal connotation in Germany where it is linked to the Devil and its fruits were said to be used by fairies to make themselves invisible…Rose hips are high in vitamin C and were traditionally used to make syrups taken to boost levels. Rose-hip oil is also a popular skincare product. The hairs inside the hips are an irritant and are extracted to make an itching powder.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk) — Dog rose *Rosa canina*: ‘The dog rose is a common symbol in medieval heraldry. It has a less regal connotation in Germany where it is linked to the Devil and its fruits were said to be used by fairies to make themselves invisible…Rose hips are high in vitamin C and were traditionally used to make syrups taken to boost levels. Rose-hip oil is also a popular skincare product. The hairs inside the hips are an irritant and are extracted to make an itching powder.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Orange hawkweed Pilosella aurantiaca: ‘The name of 'Fox-and-Cubs' refers to the way that many of the as-yet un-opened flower heads hide beneath those that have opened.’ (wildflowerfinder.org) — Orange hawkweed *Pilosella aurantiaca: ‘*The name of 'Fox-and-Cubs' refers to the way that many of the as-yet un-opened flower heads hide beneath those that have opened.’ (wildflowerfinder.org)

Hogweed: ‘The hollow stems of hogweed were traditionally used in many children's games as water guns, pea-shooters and swords. Its sap is less toxic than that of giant hogweed (and some other umbellifers), so doesn't cause the same skin irritation.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Ox-eye daisy: ‘The Latin name Leucanthemum is said to have originated from the ancient Greek word ‘leucos’, meaning white.It was thought to be strongly linked to divination, particularly in France, where it would be used in romantic predictions. These links to divination have filtered down to the modern game of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ where petals are picked to determine luck in love.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk) — Ox-eye daisy: ‘The Latin name *Leucanthemum* is said to have originated from the ancient Greek word ‘leucos’, meaning white.
It was thought to be strongly linked to divination, particularly in France, where it would be used in romantic predictions. These links to divination have filtered down to the modern game of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ where petals are picked to determine luck in love.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Red dead-nettle - newly spotted on Liddells, and welcome: ‘Lots of different species of long-tongued insects visit the flowers of red dead-nettle, including the red mason bee and bumblebees. The caterpillars of garden tiger, white ermine and angle shades moths feed on the leaves.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Female Bullfinch (John was playing with camera settings here and was rather pleased with the painterly quality of this image)

Common carder bee on Marsh thistle Cirsium palustre: wildflowerfinder.org shows several examples of fasciated plants (abnormal fusion and flattening of plant organs due to physical damage or weed-killers, virii, an infection, infestation, or several other causes). Clare read fasciated as fascinated and was appropriately fascinated. — Common carder bee on Marsh thistle *Cirsium palustre*: wildflowerfinder.org shows several examples of fasciated plants (abnormal fusion and flattening of plant organs due to physical damage or weed-killers, virii, an infection, infestation, or several other causes). Clare read fasciated as fascinated and was appropriately fascinated.

5th July

Clare is enjoying the challenge of fitting whatever is needed into the hut in a way that uses least possible space. The plate rack is an example.

11th July

The shepherd’s hut now has three rooms prepared. John and Clare were delighted to see Tree Sparrows on the feeders by the hut. They may be the same birds as in the Pit Wood, or they could e a second colony.

13th July

Another excursion with his camera for John. He particularly enjoyed taking photographs of juvenile birds round the feeders.

Bugle ajuga reptans: ‘Bugle is much loved by bumblebees. The ‘reptans’ in its Latin name is derived from ‘repto’, meaning ‘creeping, crawling’. It was a popular ingredient in herbal remedies, particularly for stopping bleeding.’ (plantlife.org.uk) — Bugle *ajuga reptans*: ‘Bugle is much loved by bumblebees. The ‘reptans’ in its Latin name is derived from ‘repto’, meaning ‘creeping, crawling’. It was a popular ingredient in herbal remedies, particularly for stopping bleeding.’ (plantlife.org.uk)

Self-heal Prunella vulgaris: ‘As its common name suggests, selfheal has a long tradition of being used in herbal medicine for everything from stopping bleeding and healing wounds, to treating heart disease and sore throats.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Self-heal *Prunella vulgaris*: ‘As its common name suggests, selfheal has a long tradition of being used in herbal medicine for everything from stopping bleeding and healing wounds, to treating heart disease and sore throats.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Bittersweet Solanum dulcanara: ‘Despite being a member of the nightshade family, Bittersweet (also known as 'Woody Nightshade') is one of the less toxic plants in this group, althought its berries are still poisonous…The leaves smell of burnt rubber when crushed.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Bittersweet *Solanum dulcanara*: ‘Despite being a member of the nightshade family, Bittersweet (also known as 'Woody Nightshade') is one of the less toxic plants in this group, althought its berries are still poisonous…The leaves smell of burnt rubber when crushed.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Rowan blossom Sorbus aucuparia: ‘Greek mythology tells of how Hebe, the goddess of youth, dispensed rejuvenating ambrosia to the gods from her magical chalice. When, through carelessness, she lost this cup to demons, the gods sent an eagle to recover the cup. A fight ensued and the eagle shed feathers and drops of blood. These fell to earth where each of them turned into a rowan tree. Hence the rowan derived the shape of its leaves from the eagle’s feathers and the appearance of its berries from the droplets of blood… In the British Isles the rowan has a long and still popular history in folklore as a tree which protects against witchcraft and enchantment... The tree itself was said to afford protection to the dwelling by which it grew, and residents would make sure not to damage them.’ (treesforlife.org.uk) John and Clare are relieved that the shepherd’s hut will be protected by the nearby Rowans. Also Clare’s rowanberry jelly is delicious with cheese (and a firm favourite with Neil). — Rowan blossom *Sorbus aucuparia*: ‘Greek mythology tells of how Hebe, the goddess of youth, dispensed rejuvenating ambrosia to the gods from her magical chalice. When, through carelessness, she lost this cup to demons, the gods sent an eagle to recover the cup. A fight ensued and the eagle shed feathers and drops of blood. These fell to earth where each of them turned into a rowan tree. Hence the rowan derived the shape of its leaves from the eagle’s feathers and the appearance of its berries from the droplets of blood… In the British Isles the rowan has a long and still popular history in folklore as a tree which protects against witchcraft and enchantment... The tree itself was said to afford protection to the dwelling by which it grew, and residents would make sure not to damage them.’ (treesforlife.org.uk)
John and Clare are relieved that the shepherd’s hut will be protected by the nearby Rowans. Also Clare’s rowanberry jelly is delicious with cheese (and a firm favourite with Neil).

15th July

Final touches to the shepherd’s hut - John made a boot rack. He was particularly pleased with his efforts as he had seen a teak version on sale for £165 (in a sale) whereas his, made from oak, cost him £8. Of course that was not taking into account building and equipping the woodworking shed in which it was created, which will have upped the costs somewhat.

16th-17th July

The OED must have known. The Word of the Day for 16th July is ‘staycation’: to holiday at home or in one’s country of residence. John and Clare set out to spend two nights in the shepherd’s hut and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Clare honoured the occasion by putting the flags out. The weather was stunning, the sunset sublime, and the night sky filled with stars. They can’t wait to repeat the experience. While Clare sat in the sun and read, John continued with his efforts to document as much of the flora (and some of the fauna) on Liddells as possible. He was particularly delighted that he finally managed to get a photograph of a Tree Sparrow.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, identifiable from the red spot on the front of the head.

Juvenile Chiffchaff - this bird has often been seen close to the hide. It doesn’t seem to have learned yet to be wary.

And finally - Tree Sparrow. Well worth John’s persistence.

There have been more Common Spotted Orchids this year than ever before on Liddells. The area in front of the hide is particularly orchidaceous.

St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum: also known as devil chaser, devil's flight, devil's scourge, God's wonder plant, herb John, human blood, Klamath weed, penny John, rosin rose, St Columba's flower and often used to treat mild depression. There is a small clump on the Wildflower Meadow, however there are a large number on the island in the Big Pond though not round the margins. (gardenia.net) — St John’s Wort *Hypericum perforatum:* also known as devil chaser, devil's flight, devil's scourge, God's wonder plant, herb John, human blood, Klamath weed, penny John, rosin rose, St Columba's flower and often used to treat mild depression.
There is a small clump on the Wildflower Meadow, however there are a large number on the island in the Big Pond though not round the margins. (gardenia.net)

Agrimony: ‘Some people use agrimony to represent thankfulness or gratitude.Partly due to its astringent qualities, it has many uses in herbal medicine including for ulcers, to stop bleeding and for gallstones. Also for unsettled digestive systems and catarrh.Dioscorides recommends it against snake-bite, dysentery and upsets of the liver.Local names include Aaron's rod, Church-Steeples, Clot-Bur, Fairy's wand, Money-in-both-pockets, Salt-and-pepper and Sweethearts (from the clinging receptacles of the fruit).’ (plantlife.org.uk) — Agrimony: ‘Some people use agrimony to represent thankfulness or gratitude.
Partly due to its astringent qualities, it has many uses in herbal medicine including for ulcers, to stop bleeding and for gallstones. Also for unsettled digestive systems and catarrh.
Dioscorides recommends it against snake-bite, dysentery and upsets of the liver.
Local names include Aaron's rod, Church-Steeples, Clot-Bur, Fairy's wand, Money-in-both-pockets, Salt-and-pepper and Sweethearts (from the clinging receptacles of the fruit).’ (plantlife.org.uk)

Lady’s Bedstraw: ‘Historically, Lady's bedstraw was used to curdle milk in the process of cheese-making - a convenient vegetarian replacement for rennet, which is made from the stomach lining of cows.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Honeysuckle: ‘It was once believed that if honeysuckle grew around a home’s entrance, it would bring good luck and stop any evil spirits from entering. It has also long been considered a symbol of fidelity, and in Victorian times young girls were banned from bringing honeysuckle into the house because it was believed the strong smell would make them have suggestive dreams! Honeysuckle has been used to make beautiful walking sticks which were once popular with Scots music hall performers. They were created as the honeysuckle entwined itself around branches, causing the branches themselves to become twisted. While the berries are poisonous, the leaves, flowers and seeds have been used for medicinal purposes for a variety of conditions.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk) — Honeysuckle: ‘It was once believed that if honeysuckle grew around a home’s entrance, it would bring good luck and stop any evil spirits from entering. It has also long been considered a symbol of fidelity, and in Victorian times young girls were banned from bringing honeysuckle into the house because it was believed the strong smell would make them have suggestive dreams! Honeysuckle has been used to make beautiful walking sticks which were once popular with Scots music hall performers. They were created as the honeysuckle entwined itself around branches, causing the branches themselves to become twisted.
While the berries are poisonous, the leaves, flowers and seeds have been used for medicinal purposes for a variety of conditions.’ (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Bladder Campion: ‘Bladder campion is one of the foodplants of the attractive red-and-black froghopper - an insect known for wrapping itself in a frothy mass we call 'cuckoo-spit'.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

20th - 23rd July

The good weather persisted and Tom was able to cut the Top Grazing on Tuesday evening. Wednesday and Thursday he turned it and by Friday it was made.* Tom rowed it up and Barry was able to bale it the same day. John and Clare spent an energetic hour and a half raking up before Barry arrived. There were 20 bales, 7 more than last year.

*Clare had always assumed that ‘hay-making’ referred to the process of drying, rowing, baling, stacking, however she now knows that hay is ‘made’ when it is ready to be baled. Clare learned the difference between hay, haylage and silage: ‘There are two main methods of forage conservation: controlled fermentation where the pH is reduced to a level where growth of bacteria ceases, or dehydration, where moisture content is decreased to reduce microbial activity.

Hay is an example of forage that is conserved using dehydration – the main challenge with preserving forage in this way being that it requires a longer period of dry weather to produce, whereas haylage is an example of grass preserved using controlled fermentation (and so is silage).

As a rule, when considering the digestibility of a forage, the more mature a grass becomes, the higher the potential yield, but the lower the digestibility (as it has higher levels of lignin). While very young grass in a growing state is much more digestible, if hay or haylage were to be harvested at this point, yields would be very low. There is however a point in between these two stages where a balance can be struck between digestibility and yield.‘ (haygain.co.uk)

Barry said that horses can eat hay and haylage, whereas cattle and sheep , and eat hay, haylage and silage.

21st July

While on his photography walks, John discovered deep excavations just below the west end of the Crag. There were bumble bees flying around the newly dug out earth, so the likely explanation is a badger in search of a bees’ nest.

22nd July

Clare discovered a pair of ichneumonid wasps inside the shepherd’s hut. It was difficult to photograph them because of their position on the window, however the shot of the underside from outside the hut proved more successful. Apparently they forage on Hogweed which is abundant in the strip behind the hut but not evident inside. Without going through all of the 2,500 UK species, Clare’s best guess is that this is Alomya debellator.

‘Ichneumon wasps are solitary insects which are closely related to bees and ants. Most ichneumons are parasitoids. The females lay their eggs into, or onto, the young of other insects and spiders, and the young which hatch out feed on that host insect. The host is eventually killed and consumed by the larva just before it pupates.’ (uksafari.com)

John and Clare are pleased to have the trail camera back and working. The young buck seen earlier in the summer, is still around although seems to have incurred some damage. John suspects this buck will have been in a fight with the older one. As the older one has not been seen for a while, it would seem that on this occasion youth has triumphed, which gives the lie to John’s father’s belief that, in sport at any rate, ‘a good old ‘un will beat a good young ‘un’.

24th July

John and Clare were delighted to discover that the roe deer have bred successfully. The mother is likely to be the oldest of the three does seen regularly, the two younger would not have been mature for mating until this year. It so happens that this is the time for the roe deer rut, which may account for the young buck’s presence.

25th July

Sally visited Liddells to see the Wildflower Meadow and sent some of her photographs. Her artistic way of seeing always results in beautiful shots. John is pleased she sent images of Valerian as he was finding the whiteness of this flower hard to capture in close-up.

Valerian Valeriana officinalis: ‘Sleeping potions known as Valerian were derived from this plant; they were used not only as a treatment for insomnia but also reputedly by thieves who spiked the drinks of intended victims. Valerian is still used as the source of sedatives for relaxing the central nervous system… The generic botanical name Valeriana comes from the Latin verb valere, meaning 'to be healthy'. In similar vein the specific epithet officinalis, literally meaning official, indicates that this plant was recognised as having valuable pharmaceutical /medicinal properties.’ (firstnature.com) — Valerian *Valeriana officinalis*: ‘Sleeping potions known as Valerian were derived from this plant; they were used not only as a treatment for insomnia but also reputedly by thieves who spiked the drinks of intended victims. Valerian is still used as the source of sedatives for relaxing the central nervous system… The generic botanical name *Valeriana* comes from the Latin verb *valere*, meaning 'to be healthy'. In similar vein the specific epithet *officinalis*, literally meaning official, indicates that this plant was recognised as having valuable pharmaceutical /medicinal properties.’ (firstnature.com)

Hal, Beth, Juno and Juno’s cousins Charlie and Jonny visited today. As well as enjoying the hay bales as an outdoor gym, they amassed quite a collection of feathers for Mathilda’s cat - Buzzard, male and female Pheasant, Rook, Wood pigeon and Greenfinch. Charlie and Jonny’s eagle eyes also spotted a fox making its way across the Crag.

26th July

John set out to record more wildlife before the end of the month. (Clare realised she had forgotten to ask for an image of Yarrow, so took one on her phone. She would not like readers to think that John’s standards had slipped).

Yarrow Achillea millefolium : ‘Centuries ago, Yarrow was used as a charm against bad luck and illness. Although it was also used to stop wounds from bleeding, it was believed to cause nosebleeds if put up the nose.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Yarrow *Achillea millefolium* : ‘Centuries ago, Yarrow was used as a charm against bad luck and illness. Although it was also used to stop wounds from bleeding, it was believed to cause nosebleeds if put up the nose.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica (also known as Batchelors’ Buttons)‘: The strongly pungent smell is said to induce sneezing, indeed the dried and powdered leaves have been used as a sneezing powder. An essential oil can be extracted which is used medicinally (although your author has yet been unable to track down the chemical ingredients of this oil). Although its bitter tasting leaves have been used in salads, the plant is poisonous to some farm animals like horses and cows, with symptoms slow to develop, which include fever, tachycardia, difficulty breathing, weight loss, drooling, spasms, and convulsions.’ (wildflowerfinder.org)

Betony Stachys officinalis (also known as Common Hedgenettle): ‘Betony is first referred to in a work by the Roman physician Antonius Musa. He claimed it was effective against sorcery.It was one of the great ‘all-heals’ of medieval herbalists.Betony is commonly found in old country churchyards, where it was planted in the past for its medicinal value and in the belief that it had powers that would ward off ghosts, goblins and other unwelcome spirits.’ (plantlife.org.uk)English botanist and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, writing in the early 1600s, said that Betony (a Stachys species) '... preserves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical diseases...' which sounds credible until you read on '... and from witchcraft also.' (first-nature.com) — Betony *Stachys officinalis* (also known as Common Hedgenettle): ‘Betony is first referred to in a work by the Roman physician Antonius Musa. He claimed it was effective against sorcery.It was one of the great ‘all-heals’ of medieval herbalists.Betony is commonly found in old country churchyards, where it was planted in the past for its medicinal value and in the belief that it had powers that would ward off ghosts, goblins and other unwelcome spirits.’ (plantlife.org.uk)
English botanist and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, writing in the early 1600s, said that Betony (a *Stachys* species) *'... preserves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical diseases...'* which sounds credible until you read on '... and from witchcraft also.' (first-nature.com)

Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris: ‘This wildflower has a long history of use in herbalism, and as its common name implies it was used for dressing cuts and other wounds, and it is reputed to cure aching joints when made into an ointment and to have antispasmodic and sedative properties when taken internally.’ (first-nature.com) — Marsh Woundwort *Stachys palustris*: ‘This wildflower has a long history of use in herbalism, and as its common name implies it was used for dressing cuts and other wounds, and it is reputed to cure aching joints when made into an ointment and to have antispasmodic and sedative properties when taken internally.’ (first-nature.com)

Wild parsnip pastinaca sativa and Bluebottle Calliphora vomitoria‘Wild parsnip is the progenitor of the cultivated parsnip.Despite its, to humans, unpleasant habits, feeding largely on decaying meat, rubbish and faeces, the Bluebottle has its uses - ‘females deposit their eggs on rotting corpses, making them important forensic insects, as their eggs and timing of oviposition can be used to estimate time of death.’ (wikipedia.org). This one appears to be a vegetarian. — Wild parsnip *pastinaca sativa* and Bluebottle *Calliphora vomitoria*
‘Wild parsnip is the progenitor of the cultivated parsnip.
Despite its, to humans, unpleasant habits, feeding largely on decaying meat, rubbish and faeces, the Bluebottle has its uses - ‘females deposit their eggs on rotting corpses, making them important forensic insects, as their eggs and timing of oviposition can be used to estimate time of death.’ (wikipedia.org). This one appears to be a vegetarian.

Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis: ‘The crimson heads of Great burnet were once used to make wine in Cumbria, and herbalists used them to stop bleeding.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Great Burnet *Sanguisorba officinalis*: ‘The crimson heads of Great burnet were once used to make wine in Cumbria, and herbalists used them to stop bleeding.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Common or Black Knapweed Centaurea nigra: ‘Common knapweed is a huge favourite of all kinds of butterflies, including Common blues, Marbled whites and Meadow browns, and is sometimes covered in these species.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)‘In days gone by eligible young women would play a love-divination game by pulling out the rays and putting the plucked knapweed flower in their blouse. When as-yet unopened florets began to bloom it would tell her the man of her dreams was near. This game to foretell the future of love is also played with Broadleaf Plantain Plantago major.Most of the local names including Bachelor's buttons [see also Sneezewort above , though note the difference in the placement of the apostrophe. Only one bachelor benefitted from Knapweed], Blue bottle and Iron knobs are explained by the hard, knobby heads, the bottle-shaped involucre and the toughness of the plant.Knapweed was used for ruptures and wounds, bruises, sores, scabs and sore throat, etc.’ (plantlife.org.uk) — Common or Black Knapweed *Centaurea nigra*: ‘Common knapweed is a huge favourite of all kinds of butterflies, including Common blues, Marbled whites and Meadow browns, and is sometimes covered in these species.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)
‘In days gone by eligible young women would play a love-divination game by pulling out the rays and putting the plucked knapweed flower in their blouse. When as-yet unopened florets began to bloom it would tell her the man of her dreams was near. This game to foretell the future of love is also played with Broadleaf Plantain *Plantago major*.
Most of the local names including Bachelor's buttons [see also Sneezewort above , though note the difference in the placement of the apostrophe. Only one bachelor benefitted from Knapweed], Blue bottle and Iron knobs are explained by the hard, knobby heads, the bottle-shaped involucre and the toughness of the plant.
Knapweed was used for ruptures and wounds, bruises, sores, scabs and sore throat, etc.’ (plantlife.org.uk)

Field Scabious Knautia arvensis: ‘Field Scabious has a rough and hairy stem similar in texture to scabby skin. According to the 'Doctrine of Signatures' - where herbalists treated illnesses with plants that resembled the body part associated with illness - this association probably led to it being used as a herb to treat scabies, mange and itches.The juice of 'scabiosa herba' (from whence its common name derives) was given to alleviate plague sores.In Belgium a girl would pick Scabious "buttons", give each a lover's name, and then choose her husband by the one that flowered best…The 'pom-pom' like nature of its flower has also given rise to alternative names such as Lady's pincushion, bachelor's buttons and blue bonnets.’ (plantlife.org.uk)Bachelors sure had a lot of buttons. — Field Scabious *Knautia arvensis*: ‘Field Scabious has a rough and hairy stem similar in texture to scabby skin. According to the 'Doctrine of Signatures' - where herbalists treated illnesses with plants that resembled the body part associated with illness - this association probably led to it being used as a herb to treat scabies, mange and itches.
The juice of '*scabiosa herba*' (from whence its common name derives) was given to alleviate plague sores.
In Belgium a girl would pick Scabious "buttons", give each a lover's name, and then choose her husband by the one that flowered best…
The 'pom-pom' like nature of its flower has also given rise to alternative names such as Lady's pincushion, bachelor's buttons and blue bonnets.’ (plantlife.org.uk)
Bachelors sure had a lot of buttons.

Meadow Brown on Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa — Meadow Brown on Greater Knapweed *Centaurea scabiosa*

Small Skipper: ‘The Small Skipper almost exclusively uses Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus), although several other grasses have been recorded as foodplants, for example, Timothy (Phleum pratense), Creeping Soft-grass (H.mollis), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), and Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata). (butterfly-conservation.org)This above information has reinforced Clare’s desire to know more about the different kinds of grasses seen on Liddells. As far as she can tell, this grass is none of the above! — Small Skipper: ‘The Small Skipper almost exclusively uses Yorkshire-fog (*Holcus lanatus*), although several other grasses have been recorded as foodplants, for example, Timothy (*Phleum pratense*), Creeping Soft-grass (H.mollis), False Brome (*Brachypodium sylvaticum*), Meadow Foxtail (*Alopecurus pratensis*), and Cock’s-foot (*Dactylis glomerata*). (butterfly-conservation.org)
This above information has reinforced Clare’s desire to know more about the different kinds of grasses seen on Liddells. As far as she can tell, this grass is none of the above!

And lest readers think that dragonflies have been forgotten this year - Common Darter

While looking at the ponds…

Upright water millefoil Myriophyllum crispatum

29th July

Mel walked around Liddells this morning and noted 71 plants in flower (Clare walks regularly back from Liddells and often makes a similar count along her route. The highest number she has seen yet this year is 63, so Liddells would seem to be doing well. Mel noticed the Water Figwort that Sue D had donated and planted, and also Enchanters Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, which is another newly seen species on the site. (Photograph to follow)

Spiked water millefoil Myriophyllum spicatum: ‘The closely related Parrot's Feather was introduced into the UK in the 1960s as a garden pond plant, but soon escaped into the countryside, probably as a result of garden waste containing fragments of it. It is now an invasive weed.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Spiked water millefoil *Myriophyllum spicatum*: ‘The closely related Parrot's Feather was introduced into the UK in the 1960s as a garden pond plant, but soon escaped into the countryside, probably as a result of garden waste containing fragments of it. It is now an invasive weed.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Water figwort Scrophularia auriculata: ‘Many emergent wetland plants, such as Water Figwort, provide resting places for aquatic insects, such as Caddis flies and Alder flies.’ (wildlifetrusts.org) — Water figwort *Scrophularia auriculata*: ‘Many emergent wetland plants, such as Water Figwort, provide resting places for aquatic insects, such as Caddis flies and Alder flies.’ (wildlifetrusts.org)

Clare and John

June 30, 2021

June - flowering

Clare and John

June 30, 2021

1st - 6th June

John flailed more paths and in the time saved from strimming, took more photographs. The first dragonflies and damselflies of the year are appearing on the ponds, and the first of the fledglings are appearing at the feeders, Dave tackled strimming the paths that are too narrow for the flail mower. John saw the first swallows of the year flying around the Top Grazing and near the sheds, however as yet they resist the temptation of the new shelf on the shepherd’s hut. John and Clare have decided to install a composting lavatory on site and the splendidly named Little John, made from recycled materials, arrived.

Orange Hawkweed, also known as Fox and Cubs, Grim the Collier and the Devil’s Paintbrush. This perennial was introduced to Britain from Europe in the seventeenth century, so not strictly native however it adds bright spots of colour in the Meadow.

Coal tit juvenile looking remarkably like a Marsh tit, however this is the bird being fed by the adult in the photograph on the left.

7th June

The trail camera remains pointing at the Blue tits’ nest. The parent birds are still visiting with the same frequency as last month. Several clips show the adult birds removing either faecal matter or pieces of shell from the nest.

8th June

Clare set about her annual thistle challenge on the Meadow. She pulled out 259, far fewer than in the two previous years. There will be ones she missed that will become apparent as they grow, however it’s an encouraging start. Clare also removed Hogweed and Dock from round the shepherd’s hut. John, not realising what Clare had been doing, was puzzled to find what he thought were deer couches in an unlikely area.

10th June

John and Clare were dismayed to discover that just as they hoped to capture footage of the Blue tits fledging, the trail camera decided to play up and stopped working. Heigh ho. Next year maybe.

13th June

John started work on the shed that will house the Little John.

14th June

More wildflowers are appearing. Yellow Rattle continues its spread across the Meadow and the east end of the Top Grazing. When Clare asked Juno if she remembered the nickname of Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Juno responded with ‘Cheese and Ham’. An intelligent answer and more to her taste.

Bird’s Foot Trefoil aka Bacon and Eggs or Cheese and Ham

20th June

The trail camera has abandoned any attempt to take video footage and reverted to still images before giving up altogether. One of the last images was of a young buck in full summer coat in the Pit Wood. This may be the buck that the camera captured in the Scrub last month.

24th June

While Clare was walking through the Pit Wood with Jane B to identify wildflowers, they noticed a large patch of Water mint near the Quadrilateral Bridge that had not been noticed before. In trying to describe its location near the spring stream, Clare decided that said spring stream could be named Bruce.

25th June

A family of six Great Tits and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were using the feeders by the shepherd’s hut. John recorded more wildflowers with his camera.

Red Clover is increasing on both the Meadow and the Top Grazing. Alys Fowler in The Guardian wrote recently about the plant and its benefits. ‘Red Clover photosynthesises constantly, which means it is endlessly filling the root zone in the soil with nutrients…[which] increases microbial activity…[it] is famous for fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil via its nodules; this in turn increases the nitrogen available for other plants.’

In spite of its damaged wing, this Red Admiral was able to fly.

27th June

John and Clare are planning an inaugural overnight stay in the shepherd’s hut in July. Much planning is going into this.

30th June

More shepherd’s hut work. Liddells is looking particularly ‘orchidaceous’: of, relating to, or characteristic of the family Orchidaceae, comprising the orchids - OED Word of the Day 02.06.21.

The first Willow arbour is doing spectacularly well

John says, “Not everything is black and white…”

Oh yes it is, if you don’t turn off the monochrome setting.

Clare and John

May 31, 2021

May - Eeeegs!

Clare and John

May 31, 2021

To appreciate fully and enunciate correctly the title of this month’ s Blog post, Clare and John refer you to the instructional video below, made on Easter Sunday 2019. Mathilda, a theatre practitioner suggests readers pay particular attention to the demonstration of the pantomime leg.

2nd May

A female blackbird is sitting on a nest in the old pony shelter. The nest is next to the one used last year and is bigger. There is a heap of unused nest material on the ground under the nest. The trail camera has just about captured the bird on the nest in spite of the poor light.

John began constructing a bridge over the stream from the spring in order to create a route for quad bike and trailer when removing wood from the Pit Wood.

John and Clare planted several trays of wildflower plugs grown from seeds given out at Juno’s third birthday party. They had grown the seeds at home and then preserved the resulting plants/seeds. The plugs were planted round the shepherd’s hut and on the Meadow.

The 2021 Blackbird nest dwarfing the 2020 prototype

3rd May

Although yesterday was International Dawn Chorus Day, Clare rose early this morning for a Liddells’ dawn chorus as her choir have traditionally sung in the Hexham bandstand on the morning of the first May Bank Holiday every year. The Thrushes nearly drowned out all the other birdsong. Most striking was the roe doe which seemed to be commenting on Clare’s early morning adventure. Clare was rewarded for her efforts with a view of a male Redpoll, a female Siskin and a Goldfinch of indeterminate sex, sharing a nyjer seed feeder.

5th - 9th May

Clare discovered a patch of Marsh Marigold in flower by the Alphabet bridge and Lady’s Smock out on the Wetland. Two Redpolls appeared on the nyjer seed feeder. Clare and John planted some English bluebells in the Pit Wood.

John completed the new bridge in the Pit Wood. Clare was quick to name it the Quadrilateral Bridge.

The trail camera has captured a roe buck in the act of anointing and scraping to mark his territory, and does in the process of losing their winter coats for the more richly red-brown summer coat.

The Scrub is also part of a badger’s territory. Occasionally something will trigger the trail camera but is too quick to appear in footage, however delightful snatches of birdsong are recorded. In the clip below you can hear Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

Molly-blobs (Marsh marigold) (OED Word of the Day 20.11.20)

Lady’s smock, aka Cuckoo flower, Mayflower or Milkmaids

10th May

John decided to mark his birthday, as last year, with a nest box survey. He and Clare saw two hares and a Tawny Owl during this activity. Two Greylag geese were flying over the Wetland. More boxes have been used than in previous years with signs of activity in 18 of the 33 boxes. Two appear to have wrens’ nests. Eight boxes have eggs/birds sitting. Not all the started nests will be used as males will make or start building several nests from which the female will choose one in which to lay. The Barn owl seems to have decided against the box on the Wetland.

Clare noticed Stitchwort and Forget-me-not out in the Top Strip.

11th - 15th May

It’s never anything other than a delight to see a hare. This one pauses for refreshment in the Scrub. Clare heard then saw a Whitethroat singing in the Scrub. This is a first for Liddells. John and Clare hope it will stay as they are faithful to their territory.

Clare found Wood rush in flower on the Top Grazing.

As does the Thrush (Chiffchaff and Chaffinch singing in the background).

Field Wood-rush: luzula campestris, also known as Good Friday Grass and Sweep’s Broom — Field Wood-rush: *luzula campestris,* also known as Good Friday Grass and Sweep’s Broom

15th May

Another bird first - after several visits to the feeders from a male Greenfinch this Spring, John and Clare were delighted to see a pair today. The male was ringed though not with a ring that could be read with binoculars.

16th May

Keith (HWKNEAN) generously offered another annual breeding bird survey. Numbers/species proved to be pretty consistent with previous years with the delightful addition of a male Redstart in an Oak below the bee hives, quite close to where Keith, John and Clare had seen a family of Redstarts on the same survey a few years ago. Keith also noticed Hairy Wood-rush: luzula pilosa, in flower in the Top Strip. The survey can only give a partial assessment of bird numbers. This year, for example, Coal tits were noticeable by their absence during the survey, however many appear regularly at the feeders. A summary of the numbers appears on the Surveys page of the website.

The trail camera shows the deer losing yet more of their winter coats.

17th

The trail camera has revealed not a new kid, but a new buck on the block. John says it is likely to be a yearling displaced by its mother. The mother will be concentrating on this year’s offspring, due any day, and won’t want last year’s youngsters to be hanging around.

18th May

The Thrush in the Scrub has foraged with success.

19th May

There is a deer call that John has known about but never heard in the field. He even has an artificial call that replicates the sound. The squeak is the sound made by a newly born kid to highlight its whereabouts to its mother. No kid has yet been seen on Liddells this year. The deer in the footage below is a buck, but not the animal making the sound, which is offstage but close by. John and Clare look forward to seeing the source of the squeak.

20th May

Readers may remember John’s learned comments on footage of the buck on Liddells in last month’s Blog explaining how a young buck holds its head higher than an older one, and has a thinner neck, suggesting the buck in question is young, the footage below seems to suggest the buck has aged rather quickly. The buck’s neck appears thickset and it is certainly holding its head quite low.

John has given himself more time with his camera and is now hoping to photograph wildflowers as they come into bloom on Liddells. Birds remain photogenic.

21st May

John has provided more evidence of the popularity of Clare’s peanut butter bird paste among the Liddells avian community.

22nd May

John and Clare freed a well-established donated Oak from its cage. They also planted two newly donated Oaks from Sue D, one of which has been grown by a friend of hers from an acorn from the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. The wire caging somewhat compromises the photographs, however readers can be assured the saplings are well protected.

Clare cut Yellow Rattle turves to give to Keith and to plant round the shepherd’s hut. John made a bird feeders post for the shepherd’s hut enclosure.

Lady’s mantle is in flower near the hives. Clare noticed a single lady’s smock in flower on the island in the Big Pond. Eyebright has flowered on the Top Grazing.

23rd May

John and Clare carried out the second nest box survey. This time 13 boxes had either birds sitting or hatched chicks. The Blackbird is still sitting on the nest in the shed. You can see a summary of both of this year’s surveys here.

Shuna, Peter and family visited Liddells. Eliot and Nicholas enjoyed seeing how the trees they had helped to plant last year had grown. Clare found Garlic mustard growing in the Pit Wood, a plant she cannot recall seeing on Liddells before. Sweet woodruff is out on the far north-west corner of the Pit Wood.

24th May

John saw swallows over the Top Grazing for the first time this year. They have returned about a month later than last year.

John and Clare left the trail camera focussed on a nest box where Blue tits had chicks. The footage showed that between 08.20 and 18.52, the adult birds made 357 visits to the box. Visits lasted approximately 10 seconds. The time between visits was usually between 2-3 minutes, although there were 12 gaps that varied between 5 and 14 minutes. Presumably this was when the adult birds were taking a breather and foraging for their own food.

25-26th May

Mel has kindly donated another Field Maple that he had grown. John and Clare planted near the first one on the Top Grazing, reusing the fencing from the uncaged Oak in the Top Strip.

John and Clare are used to finding smashed Pheasants’ eggs on Liddells, however there have been more broken eggs from different nest, pointing to raids by corvids.

One of three broken duck eggs found in the Scrub and near the Spoil Heaps.. Maybe the Mallards had nested on the Wetland after all. John saw a pair fly off from near the Big Pond today

Pheasant nest on the Wetland with far fewer eggs than is usual

Song thrush egg (found on the ground and placed on a fence post for a better photograph. It is 2.5-3 cms)

27th May

It is time for the annual attempt to unmake mountains out of all the molehills on the Top Grazing. John and Clare worked hard at this and were able to use some of the soil to fill the craters made by removing boulders earlier this year.

Clare replaced the warning signs near the Aconites in the Pit Wood and was rather pleased with the effect of the canes marking each plant.

More wildflowers are coming into flower.

Tim met John while he was doing his weekly butterfly survey and suggested that John keep his eyes open for Pearl-bordered fritillaries. Sure enough, John saw one on a stone in the Top Grazing. No camera to hand.

Water crowfoot with Broad-leaved pondweed below

28th May

Clare heard a Mistle thrush singing in the Top Strip. It sounded very close however remained out of sight.

29th May

Oak-apple Day. ‘Oak apple’ is today’s OED Word of the Day : ‘A roughly spherical type of oak gall; spec. the reddish spongy gall formed in leaf-buds by the developing larvae of a gall wasp (family Cynipidae: in Europe Biorhiza pallida; in America Amphibolips confluenta).’

30th May

Chris B arrived with a digger to help make a couple of tracks safer for quad bike use. The path near the spring was particularly difficult as it is almost permanently wet. Even Hal, who has years of experience driving up muddy hills in Classic Trials and winning many awards for so doing, found this one tough. The trick to his success - “You just have to commit!” Chris may have solved the problem by digging out a ditch that should take the water away from the track.

Chris also made short shrift of moving the boulders off the Top Grazing. John said he could have spent all day watching Chris manipulate the boulders with such apparent delicacy.

John decided this was to be the flail mower’s first outing. He was really pleased with how much of the paths he was able to mow in a much less time than it would have taken with the strimmer.

Clare completed the molehill flattening. While working she noticed that there are more patches of Daisies and Common Field Speedwell and many more Lady’s smock plants than in previous years. It could be the effect of cutting for hay followed by grazing last year.

One man went to flail, went to flail a pathway

Red campion - the first of the plug plants from Juno’s third birthday seeds to come into flower

Clare and John

April 30, 2021

April - not at all taxing

Clare and John

April 30, 2021

3rd April

Clare saw the first Dandelion of the year out on the Meadow. Juno managed to find all the eggs Clare had concealed. Maybe the spotty paper wrapping made them easier to see.

4-6th April

The middle path through the Pit Wood proves as popular as ever with local fauna. Chris Wren says that the badger is musking - marking territory.

8-9th April

John and Dave began working on a quad bike friendly entrance to the Top Strip.

Sue D donated several Water Figwort plants and began planting some by the Big Pond.

10th April

Hal, Beth, Juno and marshmallows got toasty warm with a fire in the story-telling circle.

A pair of Mallard seem to be considering setting up residence on or near the Big Pond.

Clare planted the rest of the Water Figwort and Clare and John added twelve Purging Buckthorn hedging plants into the developing hedge in the Orchard.

11/12th April

Clare and John have started to create a pond in their garden. This has produced hugs amounts of surplus soil which John and Dave are bagging up, taking to Liddells and using to build up the roadway on the Wetland.

John spotted tadpoles in the roadway pond - a great relief as there was a risk the frogspawn would have been killed off by the cold weather. The ducks are probably feasting on any tadpoles remaining in the Big Pond.

There appears to have been a pigeon social in the Pit Wood.

17th April

After starting work on creating an extension to the east-west fence along the north edge of the Wetland, John had another excursion with his camera.

The ducks have flown - probably having exhausted the tadpole supply. Unfortunately with no access to expenses the ducks had to go without a duck house to entice them to stay.

“Clare said it was rude to stand on the table.”

18th April

Anticipating summer, John built a shelf onto the outside of the shepherd’s hut in the hope that a swallow might be tempted to nest there. He saw a Woodcock heading for cover near the signs to the hide, clearly taking the signage literally. Cowslips are out on the Meadow.

19th April

Clare opened her hives for the first time this year and was dismayed. One hive had very few bees and no brood. This had been a weakish colony going into the winter and Clare suspects the recent period of very cold and then wet weather proved too much. The second colony was full of bees and had three to four frames of brood. They were quiet on the frames and clearly ok. The last colony had a lot of very bad tempered bees, probably because there did not appear to be a laying queen. Clare will add a frame with eggs in the hope that the bees will create a new queen.

Clare’s mood was improved by seeing more footage of a Tawny Owl.

20th April

John decided to have an evening visit to Liddells and saw about six hares on the Top Grazing.

21st April

Hares are the most frequently captured creature in trail camera footage. They usually seem to be taking their time on the path, however these two are showing quite a turn of speed.

22nd April

Clare had her first drive of the quad bike and loved it. Using it certainly speeds up getting about on Liddells. The badger too seems to be putting on a spurt. As it is going in the opposite of its usual direction, perhaps it had forgotten something.

25th April

Clare and Barry teamed up to look at Barry’s hives and Clare came away with a frame of larvae and eggs to offer to her colony that looked as if it would survive with a new queen.

Violets are out on the Wetland and in the Pit Wood.

26th April

John and Dave tackled some of the fallen trees in the Pit Wood and John started making a quad bike-friendly track so the the wood can be brought out.

In the absence of Willow and accompanying music, the buck has taken to stripping the raspberries. John says he is a very fine specimen and a youngster - his antlers remain quite thin and his head is held high. With older deer, the head droops more as they walk.

27th April

John saw Siskins and a Greenfinch on the feeders - firsts this year for both species.

A fox appears very interested in the trail camera.

29th April

Clare bimbled round Liddells (OED Word of the Day 01.04.21 ‘bimble:’: to move at a leisurely pace, esp. on foot, to amble, wander). She added Oxlips, Cherry blossom, Bluebells, Wood sorrel, Soft rush and Wild strawberry to plants that have come into flower this year.

30th April

Mel donned his waders and planted more pond plants. The female mallard was on the Big Pond when he arrived and he found more goose faeces and a pair of Greylags were circling over the land. John and Mel removed more large stones from potential quad bike + flail mower paths.

Clare and John saw three hares on a last-of-the-month visit to Liddells today. Clare was delighted that Siskins visited the feeders while she was there. There has been a thrush singing frequently very close to the hide recently. Clare and John like to think it is the one captured by the trail camera.

Clare and John

March 31, 2021

March - screeching with delight

Clare and John

March 31, 2021

1st March

The trail camera captured footage of a hare sniffing. Sniffing, or olfactory sampling, is integral to olfactory perception, and necessary and sufficient for generating neural activity in the olfactory area of the brain. At this time of year the hare may be sniffing for evidence of a mate or a rival.

Dave came to help John with logs. The log shed now has two full rows drying. Clare planted more Snowdrops in the Pit Wood and went in search of a Daffodil to mark St David’s Day.

3rd March

Mel came to help plant Willow whips and move brash from the Top Strip into the Quarry.

7th March

The trail camera captured hares again - the three clips are only minutes apart. More sniffing - this time a fox who may well be hoping for more to eat.

After a long absence, a Goldfinch appeared near the feeders again. Clare and John think the nyjer seed had become wet and started to ferment and the birds avoided it. Clare found nesting material in some of the bird boxes.

9th March

Nesting material in more boxes.

10th March

Mel returned for more work on Willows and with brash. As he was planting in the Stank (the boggy area of the Wetland below the Crag, newly named after John had come across a reference to The Great Stank in a book about deer), Mel noticed goose droppings. This may indicate a goose was looking for a nesting site.

11th March

Clare spotted the first of this year’s frogspawn in the Roadside Pond.

15th March

Not only is today the Ides of March, but, according to Word Perfect, it is the festival of Anna Parenna, a Roman goddess of renewal, life and the returning year (hence the word ‘perennial’). Clare and John refixed a nest box that had been used by bumblebees last year, sowed seeds and transplanted Snowdrops round the Shepherd’s Hut, spotted a Ladybird and found a very large amount of frogspawn in the Big Pond and more in the Roadside Pond. And all without Anna Parenna’s annual sacrificial expulsion of an old man or criminal in a ritual designed to purify. There were no criminals to hand and Clare really needs John’s help.

7 spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata: overwintering sites include wood edges and under tree bark — 7 spot ladybird, *Coccinella septempunctata:* overwintering sites include wood edges and under tree bark

This gives an idea of just how big the frogspawn patch is

16th March

The buck has appeared again on the trail camera. John says that you can see that the buck has started fraying the velvet of its antlers - they look less smooth and dark. The footage of the hare listening is rather charming.

17th - 20th March

St Patrick’s Day and John wore green. He usually does. He and Mel planted three Yews in the Pit Wood. The Yews are part of a number of trees that John was able to buy as a result of selling some of his books in a ‘Books for Trees’ project.

In Word Perfect Susie Dent points out that March is the month for World Book Day and writes about how the history of the book is intertwined with trees in ways that extend beyond the production of paper. ‘The original word, in Old English, was spelt boc, ‘beech’, for it was on the bark on that tree, or upon beechwood itself, that runes were cast and inscriptions engraved; to this day the German for a letter of the alphabet is Buchstabe, ‘beechstaff’. ‘Folio’, which today refers to a book of a very large size, is from the Latin for ‘leaf’…It seems entirely appropriate that the tree - whose name shares an ancient root with ‘true’, because truth is loyalty, steadfastness, and solidity - was the birthplace for books.’

It is not evident that the hares are experiencing vernalagnia (see below) however John and Clare hope they may be.

John added barley straw to the Big Pond in the hope that it will help counteract algae growth.

21st March

Susie Dent again - on this day in Word Perfect she offers ‘vernalagnia’: a recently coined word that combines the Latin vernalis, ‘relating to spring’, and lagnia, ‘lust’; she refers to the beginning of spring as a time when ‘buds are erumpent’ with vigorous growth. Yesterday was the Spring Equinox and today Clare heard the first Chiffchaffs of the year calling in both the Scrub and the Pit Wood. (Last year she heard them first on 17th March.) Clare took the mouseguards off the beehives as there are so many bees flying now they will be able to defend themselves from hungry vermin looking for a quick sugar fix. Clare found the first Primroses in flower in the Pit Wood.

22nd March

Mel and John took to planting again - three Wild Service trees - part of the ‘Books for Trees’ sale. The Wild Service tree, Sorbus torminalis, is now quite rare and can be an indicator of ancient woodland, growing with Oak and Ash. It is hermaphrodite and the fruits are sometimes called ‘chequers’; the tree is a favourite with wildlife like the Wood pigeon whose gut softens the seeds for propagation. A good service to provide.

26th March

John saw a mallard duck and drake take off from the Big Pond. The badger pauses on his usual route through the Pit Wood, having no idea he was being watched.

27th March

John points out that the buck’s antlers are now clean of velvet. Clare and John hope not many saplings were harmed in the process.

28-29th March

Even though it is only a brief glimpse, John and Clare are delighted to see that there is still a Tawny Owl frequenting Liddells. They also hope that the weasel escapes the owl’s clutches. Clare is always delighted to see footage of hares so has included a clip of the last of the March hares. Of course she hopes there will be April hares too. John has included the footage of the roe doe scenting the air and he says you can see how she licks her lips to intensify her sensing.

30th March

Clare and John decided to have an afternoon walk round Liddells to see what might be in flower. They found Celandine, Daisy and Coltsfoot. As they walked close to the Oak tree at the west end of the Crag, a Barn owl flew out of the Barn Owl box. It is one of the most exciting moments they have had on Liddells. While John watched to see where it flew, Clare took the opportunity to check a small nest box close by. John helpfully pointed out that it was unlikely that the Barn owl could have got through the hole. John and Clare decided to return in the early evening to see if the owl would be out hunting. They arrived at about 7.30 to see the owl flying and then perching on fence posts on the southern edge of the Pit Wood. Two roe does emerged from the Scrub, a hare ran off from near the bug hotel and two hares were sitting on the path near the roadside pond. It was a good visit.

31st March

It was too cold for Barn owl watching this evening, however John saw a Heron fly off the Big Pond. There may be less frogspawn than before.

Clare and John

February 28, 2021

February - Mud-month

Clare and John

February 28, 2021

(According to Susie Dent, in Old English this month was known as 'Solomona∂' or 'Mud-month'. It seemed too good a phrase not to use.) The weather made working on Liddells difficult this month, however after a frustrating time with the trail camera not working properly, February has seen it back functioning as it should, so there follows plenty of footage to show all the activity that goes on when John and Clare turn their backs. The footage also reveals the gradual accumulation of snow and tracks.

1st February

The trail camera has picked up a female blackbird in the Pit Wood. They are usually not as much in evidence as the males. John and Clare have learned from Keith that any larger male blackbirds with black beaks might be from Scandinavia, while smaller ones with black beaks will be young birds. Apparently for native blackbirds, the more orange the beak, the more desirable the male is to the female. The male pheasant in pursuit of the female is puffing himself up to appear more desirable. The female remains unimpressed. A male then seems to be offering himself up for a festive image.

4th February

John and Clare saw three deer on the Crag today. Clare checked her bees and again saw activity in two of the hives while the third is keeping its status well guarded.

6th February

Clare saw a hare on the north edge of the Pit Wood, two deer jumping out from near the bees and running up into the Scrub, and a Tree Creeper in a Hawthorn near the hide. Recent snow and rain has meant the old spring site is still in full spate and joining the run-off water from the current spring.

7th February

The trail camera has captured another first for Liddells - two foxes. Foxes mate in winter so this may be a pair.

11-14th February

The snow has its attractions. Tim walked over Liddells with his camera, John took his camera up too and Clare topped up the feeders. Keith visited to look at tracks. During his visit Keith heard a Woodpecker drumming and a Marsh Tit singing. Admittedly not a huge range of notes but lovely to hear. The footage of the bounding doe above demonstrates what different tracks this action makes - sets of four prints, each set about 6 to 8 feet apart.

When icicles hang by the hut… Tim pointed out that the icicles are directly in line with the furrows in the roofing sheets

Not a carefully dug path but the result of snow drifting

Fox tracks - Keith says they are much more direct than those of a dog, which would wander all over the place

John’s image of deer tracks across the Top Grazing

Resting Wood pigeon (‘probably’ Keith added)

Rabbit prints and size guide - a shorter span that that of a hare

Wetland showing desire paths - unofficial shortcuts which become worn into the land (the term was coined in relation to planned city parks to illustrate how architects of these spaces sometimes fail to anticipate the needs and desires of the users. … — Wetland showing desire paths - unofficial shortcuts which become worn into the land (the term was coined in relation to planned city parks to illustrate how architects of these spaces sometimes fail to anticipate the needs and desires of the users. Here the desire paths show animals’ habitual routes

15th-25th February

Still no work possible on Liddells, so the trail camera is coming in to its own recording other activities. There is much pairing going on and evidence of territory marking. The badger appears most nights nearly always going in the same direction and has more than once appeared twice on the same night going in the same direction, which begs the questions - is it one badger or two and, if it is one badger, why does it come back round again?! The fox, too, seems to prefer the same directional route and pees/marks the same tree most times.

John notes that the footage of the buck shows that it will have a very fine set of antlers this year. It is almost certainly the same buck caught on camera last year, when it had noticeably irregular antlers.

Clare’s annual hopes that she might see hares boxing on Liddells are raised.

Clare heard her first singing Thrush this year on 22nd. It was a sunny day and she noticed a couple of bees flying in and out of Hive 1, the hive where the bees hadn’t touched the fondant and so where Clare was a bit concerned about their survival.

26th February

Clare and John risked the rootling badger’s appetite for bulbs and transplanted Snowdrops in the north side of the Pit Wood. John had s few camera moments.

The last of the snow in a shaded north-facing hollow in the Quarry

Great tit affronted by Pheasant table manners

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes, it’s twin prop

27th February

John took delivery of a flail mower, which will cut the time spent on strimming.

Hal, Beth and Juno visited Liddells. Juno sowed wildflower seeds she had been given for her birthday. She chose to sow them round the hide. She then made potions from things she had collected - moss, lichen, bark, feathers, leaves, pine seeds, etc. - all stirred up in pond water with magic powder (ground turmeric and beetroot). While Clare was collecting pond water she heard a male frog’s mating call and saw a sudden flurry of activity in the water. She’ll be looking out for frogspawn soon. Juno ended her visit with a ride on ‘Grandpa’s toy’!

There were lots of bees flying in and out of all three hives. They will most probably be foraging on Snowdrops, Gorse, Hazel and Alder catkins on Liddells and any flowering bulbs in nearby gardens.

As Clare walked home, she heard her first Curlew song of the year, about a mile away from Liddells. Jane W who lives near Liddells, had heard a Curlew the day before in the fields close to Liddells.

Mower awaiting grass to cut and demonstrating its dominance over the strimmer

Clare and John

January 31, 2021

January - brings more snow

Clare and John

January 31, 2021

1st January

John and Clare chose a site on the Wetland for 7 Scots Pines, one of which is a memorial tree for land neighbour Kay. John removed posts and rails from outside the sheds, no longer needed without the ponies, ready to make a protective cage for Kay’s tree.

Clare, to mark her bird hide’s first birthday, recorded the visits made to the bird table within 5 minutes. The Coal Tits (lowest in the titmice pecking order and therefore speedy opportunists) made 63 visits; Blue Tits 16, Great Tits 12 and Nuthatch(s) 8. 99 visits in total. Meanwhile all the other feeders were being visited too.

2nd January

John worked on the Scots Pine cage and then enjoyed using his camera.

6th January

John counted 130 visits to the bird table within 5 minutes. He is frustrated by the holes he has dug for the Scots Pines filling up with rain and melt water as soon as his back is turned.

7th January

John panted the six small Scots Pines with tubes and stakes.

9th January

John needed height to drive in the posts for the tree cage and decided standing in the trailer would work. Accordingly he set off to collect the quad bike in order to tow the trailer into place. He discovered that the first of the two locks to the container was frozen, and after much huffing and puffing, risk of hyperventilation and of becoming a Big Bad Wolf, the lock gave. John then discovered the second lock was frozen too. More lupine activity. After freeing the locks, John found that the mechanism enabling reverse gear had frozen too, so he had to push the quad out of the container over frozen mud, into a position where he could go forwards. Having mastered this challenge he arrived at the first of the field gates on the route to Liddells. This was shut and held in place by deeply frozen muddy ruts and ridges. Undeterred he dug the gate free and proceeded to the next gate. Same process. At last he arrived at Liddells only to find that the lock on the bottom gate had frozen too. Lesser mortals might have given up at this point. John remembered he had a flask of peppermint tea with him and sacrificed it to the icy lock. The lock gave. After all this, John managed to get two posts driven into place. What a hero. And a modest round of applause for peppermint tea.

10th January

Spurning any need for a rest after the previous days efforts, John returned to the tree cage challenge and made good progress in spite of the water filling the hole.

12th January

Monica came to help plant the tree for Kay.

15th January

John checked on the bees’ fondant supplies again. Mathilda has given Clare another rich source of words and etymology in Word Perfect by Susie Dent. Dent has several usable words today alongside the main one, ‘hibernacle’: the place a hibernating animal passes the winter months. Bees don’t hibernate but are ‘dormative’ (inclined to sleep through the winter) and they are definitely ‘smudging’ at the moment (remaining snug and quiet). Alternative snuggling words she offers are ‘croozling’, ‘snerdling’, ‘snoodling’, snuzzling’ and ‘neezling’. Clare thinks the bees probably try them all.

21st January

The snow melt and rain have made Liddells very wet. John found that water was running from the old site of the spring, several metres from its current position. The stream below the spring was running very fast and full.

26th January

Storm Christophe has brought down a Hawthorn in the Scrub. You can see from the photographs that there had been a ‘smirr’ (a smattering of snow, Word Perfect 12.01.21). Mel came to help John and together they removed the last fence posts from the west end of the Wetland, moved the reclaimed posts to be used for quad bike gateways into the Top Strip, dealt with the fallen Hawthorn and rescued a frog. Clearly the last task was the most important. John and Mel were walking past the scrape pond on the Wetland and John spotted the frog, which was perfectly still and John and Mel wondered if it was stuck and frozen into the ice. Mel tapped the ice round the frog with his spade and the frog reacted but didn’t move away, so Mel continued to cut round it, made a little ice plate and lifted the frog out and put in on the grass. After a moment or two, the frog freed itself and slowly hopped into the grass.

30th January

It’s the weekend of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and Clare opted to do her watching and counting at Liddells. She recorded the following largest numbers of species during the hour: 3 Pheasants, 2 Blackbirds, 3 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Chaffinches, 9 Coal Tits, 6 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, 2 Nuthatches and 5 Bullfinches. The Bullfinches were a particular treat. They didn’t come to the feeders but were perched in a nearby Hawthorn. The Marsh Tits stayed away on this occasion however Clare had watched them a couple of days ago. While she was there she experienced a ‘flindrikin’ (a slight snow shower, Word Perfect, 12.01.21).

31st January

Inspired by gardener Alys Fowler’s column in The Guardian yesterday, Clare went to have a look at the Hazels and Alders. She was not disappointed, however this far north the female flowers are a little later to appear.

Clare also visited the hide again and was delighted to see 8 Long-tailed tits on the feeders. They didn’t make it into The RSPB count, however it is always a delight to see them.

Welcome glimpses of life on this last day of the month.

Clare and John

December 31, 2020

December -

Clare and John

December 31, 2020

1st December

George and Gavin returned to Liddells to work in the Top Strip. They cleared a one metre strip along the inside of the road wall, thus reducing Clare’s five year plan to a possibly more manageable two. They completed all of this by 4pm. The work will certainly make pulling brambles out of, and repairing the wall considerably easier. They created windrows with the cut material that was too small for logs. The windrows add additional habitat.

Chain saw sharpening for the last stretch

2nd December

The path from the bottom gate appears to be a roe deer highway.

Dave arrived ready to play fast and loose with the rest of the earthfasts. He removed four more boulders.

Rob continues his efforts to subdue the mole population on the Top Grazing. He has caught six moles to date. Wetter weather makes his job more difficult as the moles dig deeper. When the moles surface after this the molehills compete in size with the boulders.

John saw the first Woodcock of the year in the Pit Wood.

Hal and Beth arrived for a foraging session.

Clare threw down the gauntlet and Dave accepted the challenge

This earthloose enabled a new small pond to fill up

10th December

Clare set about a project she had been putting off for a long while and tackled the large bag of wax she had collected over four years left over from honey spinning and frame replacement. The wax first has to melted and filtered. An old pair of stockings proved to be ideal although the photo does make the process appear more sinister than it is. After no more wax can be squeezed out, the bundles are removed; the wax cools and sets on the surface of the water and can be lifted off. It then needs to be reheated and filtered a second time. The clean wax can be used for cosmetics, polish or, Clare’s choice this time, waxed food wrappers. The residue is called ‘slumgum’ (a sure candidate for an OED Word of the Day), and can be used to make fir cone fire lighters.

17th December

Rachel and Adele returned to the hide for some music making and treated the birds to a carol concert.

21st December

John has been continuing his work on the interior of the shepherd’s hut and made a foldaway table.

Mel arrived to help John free some of the Junipers from their tubes and create alternative protection. This should help the shrubs grow to their natural form which is bushier at the base than the tubes allow.

22nd December

Several blog readers have commented on the absence of John’s photographs recently. Spurred on by this and by his attempts to address his NRS (Non Relaxation Syndrome), John spent a happy few hours wandering around Liddells with his camera.

27th December

Dave brought what he likes to call ‘his beheading axe’ to some of the wood George had taken out of the Top Strip. The log shed is the beneficiary.

30th December

The last footage of the year from the trail camera which is back in the Pit Wood. Two roe does seem to be playing Follow My Leader and a hare is perhaps trying to catch up with a tortoise.

John and Clare wish all Blog readers a less complex New Year!

24th December

John did a wintery walk.