Today, 15 March 2025, was a guided walk at Denso Marston Nature Reserve, hosted by Steve but run by Andrew and Paul. The turnout was good. Steve later told me that 28 species had been identified. Though we could hear them they were very difficult to spot. Perhaps they had more sense than us and were keeping tucked away out of the cold.
Taking photos is not easy when walking round in a group so after the walk I wandered around on my own.
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Robin
Probably the noisiest birds were Canada Geese and Carrion Crows but the little birds put up a good show with Robin, Wren and Great Tit being the most noticed. Dunnock, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Mallard, Pheasant,….
When I took the photo of the ringed Goldcrest I thought it was a Treecreeper flying from tree to tree. It was just a silhouette. The photo is bad, it has been brightened A LOT, and the only reason I have kept it is because of the surprise. I am starting to think I can no longer hear Goldcrest. When they are moving about in the trees they make an incessant high pitched noise that I used to hear. I haven’t heard it for a while now.
When I first saw the fungus I thought it was an Orange or Satsuma peel, but then I wondered why it would be by the path and looked a bit closer. It is definitely like a fungus on its underside and I had heard that there was such a thing as Orange Peel fungus. Unfortunately when I do some searching the sites that mention when such a fungus might be found say it is August to November. I need to do more investigating.
Treecreeper
I did see a Treecreeper though. It had what looked like a skeletal spider in its beak that it then dropped so that it could be fed by another Treecreeper. I assume this is a pair that are intending to create a family this Spring so I will have to keep my distance over the next month or so.
Mink
Though it is enjoyable to see these animals running along the river bank and swimming along (see the header image) I would prefer it if they weren’t here.
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