Reading and District Natural History Society has adopted Withymead, a nature reserve on the north bank of the Thames between Goring and South Stoke, as a monitoring site. The Society had its annual recording day at Withymead on Saturday 18th July. During the afternoon, warden Brian Shaw showed members round the reserve. Recent developments include the forest school, which is much enjoyed by local educational groups. A kingfisher was sheltering by the riverside, well away from the disturbance of the Goring and Streatley Regatta on the south bank of the Thames. While the group watched it from the new hide, a copper underwing moth was spotted inside. A grass snake, slow-worm and a family of kestrels were also observed. The afternoon ended with a look at the room devoted to the photographs and history of Withymead. Further information about the reserve can be found at http://www.withymead.co.uk/.
Member James Wearn has prepared the following report about the lichens and fungi which were seen during the afternoon:
Lichens on trees (an initial list & other substrata not yet assessed)
N.B. host tree(s) in parentheses following each entry.
Amandinea punctata (Salix)
Evernia prunastri (Salix)
Flavoparmelia caperata (Salix)
Hypotrachyna revoluta (Salix)
Lecanora carpinea (Aesculus)
Lecanora chlarotera (Aesculus & Salix)
Lecanora conizaeoides (Fraxinus)
Lecidella elaeochromma (Salix)
Lepraria incana (Salix)
Melanelia fuliginosa ssp. glabratula (Salix)
Melanelia subaurifera (Salix)
Parmelia sulcata (Aesculus, Fraxinus & Salix)
Physcia tenella (Salix)
Ramalina farinacea (Salix)
Ramalina fastigiata (1 specimen observed on Salix)
Xanthoria parientina (Fraxinus & Salix)
Fungi associated with tree stumps & dead branches (not a comprehensive list)
Auricularia auricula-judae
Ganoderma applanatum
Polyporus squamosus
Stereum hirsutum
Of three interesting microfungi sampled for identification, one has been determined by me (J.A. Wearn) as Nitschkia grevillei and I have deposited a specimen in the Mycological Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The small black fungus forms numerous perithecia up to 0.7mm in diameter on fallen dead branches (this specimen was on Acer pseudoplatanus). I have not yet reached a certain determination regarding the other specimens and am consulting colleagues at Kew.
Plants
Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi
Sqaure-stemmed St John’s-wort Hypericum tetrapterum
Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris
Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris
Marsh-bedstraw Gallium palustre
Butterflies
Small White 1
Green-veined White 2
Red Admiral 1
Painted Lady 2
Peacock 2
Comma 5
Speckled Wood 1
Gatekeeper 2
Dragonflies
Banded Demoiselle 3
Brown Hawker 1
Other Insects
Forest Shield Bug
Reptiles and Amphibians
Grass Snake 2
Slow-worm 1
Froglet 1
Birds
Red Kite
Kestrel (family group)
Chiffchaff
Dunnock
Kingfisher
Mallard
The nest of a Reed Warbler