Green Man fossil

I was looking around near Brede High Farm today when I discovered this stone of some unusual, hard, white material with a clear imprint of a fossilised leaf (top right).

On closer inspection the impression of the ancient Green Man appeared.

A clouded yellow butterfly

This afternoon I spotted a solitary clouded yellow butterfly (Colias croceus) visiting the march thistle flowers in Holman Wood field.

There have been sightings of this immigrant species from several places in Sussex this year, so maybe we will get an invasion. 

Some years ago we saw a female ovipositing on bird’s-foot trefoil in Pond Wood on the east of Brede High Woods.  I took one egg home and kept it until it turned into a butterfly, then took it back to Pond Wood.

To our surprise there were maybe a dozen clouded yellows in the area.  However, the species cannot survive the English winter, so these brief colonies will not be able to persist.

The second generation of common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) is on the wing. 

Although it was still warm and sunny at about 3.3pm, this female decided she would settle down on a rush stem.  If you look at the tuft of brown flowers on the stalk, you will see a small, white, sausage-like protuberance on the left.  This is the larval case of a Coleophorid micro-moth.  They are usually very common on rush flower heads.

Another yellow one

On the bank at the edge of the road where Frymans Lane meets Powdermill Lane (TQ80651934) there are a couple of quite distinctive spikes of the yellow flowers of fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia verticillaris) which grows as a native in north and east Turkey, Caucasia, Crimea and northern Iran.  The identity has been confirmed by Hugh McAllister, an expert on this genus. 

Quite where it has come from locally is difficult to suggest.  It is certainly a garden escape, but this particular corner is not the best place for fly tipping garden waste.  It apparently does not set viable seed in this country.

McAllister’s paper on this group of plants is here: http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/Wats22p279.pdf

Variations in yellow

The konik  horses are making small areas of grazing among the scrub and many of these are now brightened with lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula).  ‘Flammula’ is Latin for ‘little flame’, perhaps referring to the brightness of the flowers, or maybe the shape of the leaves.

There are many other yellow flowers along the sides of the rides in the woods at the moment.

Trailing St. John’s wort (Hypericum humifusum)

Common cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata).  Apparently the leaves of this are edible and not normally bitter like dandelions.  They can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked.

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta) is typical of heathy spots.  The roots are very bitter and produce a reddish dye, and are used to make a powerful alcoholic beverage in Germany called Blutwurz (blood root) – the same name as the plant.

Tormentil is one of several Potentilla species in the woods and the plant also hybridises a great deal and clones often difficult to distinguish one from another

Tillingham View

The cutting back of the vegetation along the pylon line has reopened the view into the Tillingham Valley.  So far as I know, this is the only view northwards from Brede High Woods.  The transmission lines cross the road and run down through Whorne Wood.  The furthest point is 1.5 km away at the top of the ridge about 170 metres south of the B2165 Staplecross to Beckley road.  The river Tillingham is at the bottom of the first hill.

Enjoy the view from just west of the eastern car park at grid ref  TQ80322066.

A pylon walk

Today I parked the car at the eastern end of Brede High Woods and followed footpath from the corner of Powdermill and Reservoir Lane to the first pylon.

All the vegetation underneath the transmission wires has been cleared, as happens every few years, giving and opportunity for wildlife that likes open ground to spread and to reach new areas by following the transmission lines.  It is, in effect, a linear meadow between woods ancient and modern.

At the start of the walk I spotted a hazel-leaf roller weevil, Apoderus coryli, on (surprise, surprise) a hazel leaf.  These curious little insects cut slits in hazel leaves and roll them up into tubes for their larvae to live in.

The brambles are now in full bloom and, where they grow beside a sunny, open ride, they represent a magnificent resource for wildlife.  They offer much nectar, pollen and, later on fruit for insects and other creatures; they are a foodplant for many more, they provide shelter, they are hosts to many small fungi, and their dead stems even offer handy tubes for small bees to nest.

Around the first pylon there were many meadow brown and ringlet butterflies and the marsh woundwort still grows there.

Best of all was the arrival of the first summer silver-washed fritillaries (Argynnis paphia). 

This continues to spread through the wood and I think this is the furthest east I have seen it.  The picture on the left shows the whitish flashes on the hind underwing because of which the name ‘silver-washed’ was coined.

Later, close to Keeper’s Cottage about halfway across the wood, I found a bush of red currant (Ribes rubrum) bearing and appreciable amount of ripe fruit.  This plant is not uncommon close to streams in our local woods, but the fruit hardly ever ripens before the birds get it.  Also the leaves on this bush seem a bit different to the usual wild ones.  Maybe it is a survivor from the Keeper’s Cottage garden.

A walk in Rafters and Horns Woods

Rafters and Horns Wood is the southerly extension of Brede High Woods to the south of Powdermill Lane (OS grid ref: TQ801189).  Yesterday I walked from the Horns Wood entrance along the western ride to Powdermill Lane, then back along the higher path to the east.
The wood is ancient coppice with standards but in the past was much messed about by the nearby iron and gunpowder works.
The flora is very rich and with trying very hard I noticed 26 ancient woodland indicators: field maple, ramsons, wood anemone, hard fern, hornbeam, pendulous sedge, golden saxifrage, pignut, scaly male-fern, narrow-leaved buckler fern, bluebell, tutsan, beautiful St. John’s-wort, holly, yellow archangel, southern wood-rush, yellow pimpernel, common cow-wheat, three-nerved sandwort, aspen, primrose, lesser skullcap, orpine, black bryony, wood speedwell and bush vetch.  The names are almost as magical as the plants.
There were also common spotted orchis and ragged robin, the latter not very common in our area.

None of the above is especially rare, but it is unusual to see orpine (Sedum telephium) growing in such large quantities and in several places. (see picture below).

Another treat was to see the small colony of monkshood (Aconitum x stoerkianum) at the edge of Powdermill Lane a few metres east of the bridge, though it is being rather overwhelmed by by Japanese knotweed.  As far as I know it grows nowhere else in our area and is almost certainly an escape from the garden of the cottage that used to stand there.

Perhaps the highlight of the day though was tracking down the source of a loud and persistent ‘chip chipping’ of a hungry great spotted woodpecker chick high up in a dead tree.

After the storm

On a lovely sunny morning a couple of days after the St Jude's storm on 28th October I walked down the track to Austford and round the area where the Konik horses graze.

Apart from the leaves and small branches littering the ground, there was little evidence of the recent high winds, the only obvious casualty seemed to be this larch tree.

Along the ride to the east I saw the horses sleeping stretched out on their sides in the autumn sunshine.  They put their heads up as I came nearer and the friendliest stallion walked up to me for a stroke.

Later I looked for insects in the purple moor grass area of Compartment 5a and, among other things, found several of these fierce-looking but harmless marsh flies, Sepedon sphegea whose larvae are parasitic in water snails.

Four new horses

On 21 August four konik horses from the Wildwood Trust in Kent were put into the conservation  grazing area of Sedlescombe Heath in Brede High Woods to follow the Exmoor ponies that grazed there earlier in the year, and the Sussex cattle last year and the year before.

The konik, originally from Poland, (the word means 'horse' or 'little horse'),  is described as 'semi-feral' and is thought to be at least partly descended from wild European horses, though DNA studies have shown a very complex development of the breed.

 

Whatever their origin, they are small and beautiful animals with blue dun (aka mouse grey) coats and a dorsal stripe which they share with some wild horse breeds.

Koniks are now used quite widely across Britain and Europe for conservation grazing and, as the picture above shows, they certainly seem to appreciate the sward on Sedlescombe Heath.

Silver-washed fritillaries

There has been a strong emergence of these beautiful butterflies in the last few days.  Usually they occur in open, flowery rides and glades in different parts of BHW and seem gradually to be increasing.

Today they were along the lane from the Old Woodyard to Austford Farm (TQ789207 to TQ787201) and from there up the ride to TQ786202  They were also in the ride to the east of Holman Wood Field, TQ795202.  They are mostly patrolling males at this stage and fly to have a look at you, circling around the ride and among the lower branches of the trees.

So far this year though I have seen no white admirals, butterflies that are usually on the wing with the silver-washed fritillaries, and I would be grateful to learn of any sightings.

Double flowers and dragonflies

I have visited the High Woods several times during the current heatwave and it is much quieter than usual.  Perhaps people are going to the beach instead.  However, there is plenty to see.  The woodland edges are rich with flowers and delicate grasses (as below: common bent, Agrostis capillaris., tufted vetch, Vicia cracca, and marsh bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus pedunculatus).

Common blue damselflies are very numerous this year and there are some interesting dragonflies.

Most summers there are golden-ringed dragonflies, Cordulegaster boltonii, often around some of the smaller, acid streams, one of the places they breed.

Today I saw a species I have not seen in the Woods for nearly 20 years, though it is a common enough in England and Wales: the  black-tailed skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum.

Surprisingly hard to see when settled among twigs and grass.

A floral curiosity is growing by the gate to the Old Wood Yard.  There are a couple of plants of double red campion, Silene dioica, again something I have not come across before.

Summer arrives

There is much to see in the woods at the moment in particular the summer butterflies that are starting to emerge.

Today on a walk my friend Dave Monk spotted a purple hairstreak butterfly sitting on birch leaves.

Its camouflage is good and it looks just like the ghost of a butterfly in the shadows, the lines on the underwings like the edges of leaves.

We managed to get it down and it sat obediently on Dave's hand before returning to the shelter of the trees.

Purple hairstreaks tend to stay up in the top of the canopy, but they sometimes come down to lower levels, particularly in hot weather.  The upperside is dark with blue/purple highlights.

Elsewhere one of the children on our walk spotted a mouse in the undergrowth.  Unusually it sat eyeing us for a while before scampering away.

Up in the Old Woodyard the corn sow thistles (Sonchus arvensis) are in flower now.  This is one of the few places in the High where they occur and the shaggy yellow flowers are larger and more showy than other British Sonchus.  Plants of this genus are said to have a particular affinity with pigs (hence 'sow thistle') and they are supposed to be effective if applied to wounds made by pigs: worth bearing in mind if attacked by a wild boar (very unlikely).  The bee is, I think, the white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum).

A spring walk

On Sunday we had a lovely sunny day, the first spring-like occasion seemingly for weeks.

I led a walk mostly around Coneyburrow and Twist Woods and we checked on the green hellebores, which were in full flower, somewhat later than usual.

One unusual discovery on our walk was that in various places along the rides plants of pendulous sedge (Carex pendula) had been pulled up and left lying on the ground.

I suspect this has been done by wild boar and that they were aiming for the roots which are edible and, though small, contain starchy material which is probably very welcome to the animals at this time of year when food can be scarce.

Another strange discovery was of the very large burr at the base of an ash tree with four cultivated daffodil flowers in a natural hole.  We wondered what this might be commemorating.

As a final confirmation that spring is at hand, we saw a fine male brimstone butterfly, like a flying flake of bright lemon paper along the ride by the car park - showing off to the visitors maybe.

Midwinter Day 2012

For once a sunny morning which we were able to enjoy in Brede High Woods where it was muddy and quiet.

It is a good time of year to reflect on the past season and what might be done next year.  It is also easier to see things like mosses.  The picture below is of white moss (Leucobryum glaucum), normally pale green and I think the white patches are where it is not too healthy.

We also had a look at some of the extensive sphagnum moss beds that have developed on the flatter woodland areas around some of the streams.  Unusual and precious ecosystems with their own special wildlife.

And, finally, a midwinter moss-covered oak.

First bat records

A small party of bat enthusiasts led by Dave Barker braved the wind and rain yesterday evening in an effort to see and hear some bats, animals for which there had been no earlier formal records from Brede High Woods.

Despite the cold, wet and lateness of the season, six species were on the wing foraging for insects.  These included soprano pipistrelles, common pipistrelles, brown long-eareds, a noctule, a Myotis species and possibly a whiskered bat.

This is very encouraging news that further emphasises the importance of Brede High Woods for wildlife.  In addition to being of interest in their own right, bats need a healthy supply of insects and places to roost and hibernate.  They also have many insect associates living in their roosts (but not necessarily anywhere else).

With the success of this first bat walk, there are likely to be others, hopefully in better weather, so watch the events lists for the woods if you are interested in leaning more about these fascinating little mammals.

Yellow jumping spiders

Crystal Ray, who frequently visits Brede High Woods, took these photos of yellow jumping spiders (Evarcha falcata) by the 'Soldier's Seat' on Brede High Heath on 20th August this year.

Although widespread in the southern half of Britain, this species is rare in East Sussex so it is a welcome addition to the Brede High Woods records.

The picture above is of a male and this and the one below of a female:

This species is mainly a woodland spider which occurs in the foliage of trees as well as on lower vegetation such as heather and gorse in woodland clearings.  Brede High Heath would seem to be ideal as it is a place where heath and woodland meet.

An interesting aspect of this spider's behaviour is its sleeping position (yes spiders do sleep).  It hangs on a short thread with all eight legs pressed into its body. This occurs whenever it darkness falls and the spider will adopt this position when in captivity at any time of day if it is put into a dark place.  The reason for this 'suspension' is assumed to be a way of avoiding predators.

The specific name falcata means a sickle-shaped sword and is, presumably, a reference to the spider's jaws.

Fishy wasp?

At Soldier's Seat on Brede High Heath (grid ref TQ780207) there is a sunlit patch of bare earth worn by all the people, their children and their dogs who rest a while there.

Yesterday I photographed this small solitary wasp scooting about just above the surface.

It is an ornate-tailed digger wasp, Cerceris rybyensis, an identity confirmed by my entomologist friend Steven Falk.

This species is predatory on the small mining bees that build their nests in this area of bare soil.  The wasp catches and stings the bees and buries them in a nest tunnel as food for its larvae.

If you get a chance sit on the seat on a warm sunny day and watch all the action.  It is a good illustration of the importance of bare ground as a habitat as most of the active species cannot complete their development in places where the vegetation forms even the thinnest layer.

'Ryby', incidentally, is the Polish word for 'fish', so the scientific name means 'of the fish'.  Seems a bit improbable, but I cannot find anywhere called 'Ryby', though it can be someone's name.  Perhaps someone can suggest a better reason for the specific name.

When it isn't raining

I have had two lovely sunny mornings in Brede High Woods this last week and, though it is wet underfoot, the wildlife responds very quickly to an hour or two of warmth.

Butterflies on the wing include many silver-washed fritillaries and today just one white admiral.  There are also meadow browns, ringlets, commas, red admirals, brimstones and large and small skippers.  I have not yet seen a gatekeeper though and they are usually one of the commonest butterflies at this time of year.

One apparent success story is the large number of six-spot burnet moths (Zygaena filipendulae) shown here on marsh thistle.

It disappeared from the woods for a few years, then started to return a couple of years ago and continues to increase in Holman Wood Field.

One of the plants now in full bloom in several places is musk mallow (Malva moschata), so named because the flowers are said to smell of musk and they do have quite a pleasant scent.

Not being sure of what proper musk smelt like anyway, I looked it up in Wikipedia and learnt that "No other natural substance has such a complex aroma associated with so many contradictory descriptions; however, it is usually described abstractly as animalic, earthy and woody or something akin to the odour of baby's skin"  The leaves of musk mallow are very finely divided, which distinguishes it from other mallows and, with the flowers, are edible and highly regarded by many wild food foragers.

Musk mallow is a native but, in the main car park, there are, as usual, some interesting aliens.  In the picture below there is, on the right, a typical plant of purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea) next to the much rarer pink form of this Mediterranean plant.  In the foreground there are also some silver leaves of  Lamiastrum galeobdolon subspecies argentatum, a cultivated form of the wild yellow archangel.