Spring really seemed to have arrived when Renée Grayer led a walk in warm sunshine at Alder Moors Local Nature Reserve, Woodley on Saturday 10th April. Just past the car park, the leaves of Shining Cranesbill were identified by the side of Tippings Lane. In a clearing in the woods, Wood Anemones carpeted the floor, while Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Green-veined White butterflies were flying in the sunshine. Moschatel, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Common Dog-violet, Wood-sorrel, Ivy-leaved Speedwell and Primroses were all in flower near the stream through the woods. Birds seen included Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Red Kite. Rabbits were feeding in the field beside Beggars Hill Road and a Blackcap was singing from deep within a Blackthorn bush. On the way back through Ashenbury Park, the round exit holes of Hornet Moth larvae were found near the base of 2 Black Poplar trees. A Grass Snake was glimpsed as it disappeared into the vegetation near Tippings Lake and a small black ladybird with 2 big red spots was identified as a Kidney-spot Ladybird. At the end of the walk, the tiny white flowers of Whitlowgrass were found in the grass of Ashenbury Park.
Pictures by Rob Stallard and Jan Haseler
Plant species observed:
Geranium lucidum Shining Crane’s-bill (along Tippings Lane)
Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle
Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone (thousands!)
Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine
Arum maculatum Lords-and-ladies (not yet flowering)
Galium aparine Cleavers, Goose-grass (not yet flowering)
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Veronica montana Wood Speedwell (not yet flowering)
Adoxa moschatellina Moschatel, Town Hall Clock
Ribes rubrum Redcurrant
Mercurialis perennis Dog’s mercury
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Golden Saxifrage
Primula vulgaris Primrose
Viola odorata Sweet violet
Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet
Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood spurge
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell (not yet flowering)
Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy
Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam (thousands of seedlings)
Veronica persica Common Field Speedwell
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn (Ashenbury Park)
Lamium album White Dead-nettle
Viola odorata var. dumetorum Sweet Violet (white with purple spur, near Lake)
Erophila verna Whitlow grass (in grass of Ashenbury Park)
Vertebrates:
Rabbit
Frog
Grass Snake (near Tippings Lake)
Bird species:
Red Kite
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Wren
Insects:
Brimstone
Green-veined White
Holly Blue
Peacock
Comma
Speckled Wood
Kidney-spot Ladybird
Exit holes of Hornet Moth larvae