{"id":3123,"date":"2016-06-08T03:23:44","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T08:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/?p=3123"},"modified":"2016-06-08T03:24:02","modified_gmt":"2016-06-08T08:24:02","slug":"silchestser-common-28-may-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/silchestser-common-28-may-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Silchester Common – 28 May 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the evening of 28th<\/sup> May eleven members and friends set off for a memorable walk through Silchester Common, expertly led by Graham Saunders. Despite the fact that thunderstorms had been predicted, the skies were clear and during the walk we saw a beautiful sunset over the heathland.<\/p>\n

Graham first took us to the woods adjacent to the Common to show us the rare Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis<\/em>), full of flowering buds. We also saw Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea<\/em>) here. Then we went onto the heath where recently a large area had been cleared from invading gorse. This may enhance the birdlife and ground-covering flora. Plants we saw in the cleared area included Sheep\u2019s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella<\/em>), Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea<\/em>), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum<\/em>), Early Hair-grass (Aira praecox<\/em>, abundant), Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris<\/em>), Toad Rush (Juncus bufonius<\/em>), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta<\/em>), Heath Milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia<\/em>), Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis<\/em>), Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile<\/em>), Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea<\/em>), Slender Trefoil (Trifolium micranthum<\/em>), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys<\/em>), Sticky Mouse-ear (Cerastium glomeratum<\/em>, in fruit), Pill Sedge (Carex pilulifera<\/em>), Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia<\/em>, not yet in flower), Wavy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa<\/em>), Heather (Calluna vulgaris<\/em>) bushes, the semi-parasitic Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense<\/em>) and Green-ribbed Sedge (Carex binervis<\/em>). We heard the screeching noises of Jays (Garrulus glandarius<\/em>) and the songs of a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopis trochilus<\/em>) and Chiffchaff (P. collybita<\/em>).<\/p>\n

We then entered the denser area where the Gorse (Ulex europaea<\/em>) had been left. Here we saw Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum<\/em>) climbing over the bushes, not yet in flower, Wall Speedwell (Veronica arvensis<\/em>), Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum<\/em>), Sweet Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum<\/em>), Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa<\/em>, leaves only), Holly (Ilex aquifolium<\/em>), Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia<\/em>), Mouse-ear-hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum<\/em>), Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica<\/em>) and Squirrel-tail Fescue (Vulpia bromoides<\/em>).<\/p>\n

A board walk led us into a swampy area. Young red-brown and black cows and bullocks were grazing here. Plants included Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula<\/em>), Marsh St John\u2019s-wort (Hypericum elodes<\/em>), Star Sedge (Carex echinata<\/em>) and Bog Pondweed (Potamogeton polygonifolius<\/em>). Further along the path we found a dead Common Shrew (Sorex araneus<\/em>). When it was getting darker, two Woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola<\/em>) flew over. A Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos<\/em>) was singing loudly. When this bird stopped singing, we heard a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco<\/em>) and soon afterwards the sound we hoped to hear, the call of the Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus<\/em>), very close by and going on for a long time. We all stopped talking and listened to the bird, a magical moment. Several people of the group recorded the sound. After a while the call was repeated and we saw a Nightjar flying over. When the Song Thrush started singing again, it was imitating the call of the owl and flight call of the Nightjar.<\/p>\n

Ken White’s recording of a Nightjar<\/em><\/p>\n

It was nearly dark when we returned, stopping near a pond where we saw bats flying. Graham switched on his bat-recorder and at two different frequencies bats could be heard, at 45 kHz the Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus<\/em>, and at 50 kHz the Soprano Pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus<\/em>. It had been a wonderful trip!<\/p>\n

Report by Ren\u00e9e Grayer<\/em><\/p>\n