Adventures of an Amateur Naturalist

Common name: red dead nettle Species name: Lamium purpureum Plant type: perennial herb Origin : Europe and Asia, native to the UK. Flowering period : February to November Description: Very similar to a stinging nettle, but the leaves do not sting and are softer. The flowers are large and dark pink. It grows in patches, mostly in hedgerows and along paths and verges. Location: common . In the SSSI they can be found in hedgerows, by gates, on banks and along the Drove. Possible confusion: stinging nettle and red dead nettles are similar. Stinging nettles are larger, with rougher leaves that sting. White dead nettles are the same height as red dead nettles but have white flowers.

Common name: European Stonechat Species name: Saxicola torquata Bird type: passerine Origin : Northwestern Europe When to see: all year round Description: Slightly smaller than robins, they are sexually dimorphic. The males are quite distinctive with a black head and bill, white collar, dark brown back and tail and rust-coloured chest that fades towards the legs. The females are less conspicuous with a mottled brown head, back and tail and a lighter chest. They are often seen together. Male stonechat Female stonechat Location: often found in the fields and on fences. Sometimes seen in trees but they seem more comfortable in the open. Sounds: the song is a pretty trill but their alarm call is what gave them their name as it sounds like stones being knocked together.  Breeding: they make deep cup nests built close to the ground from grass, moss, plant stems and leaves lined with hair and feathers. They lay 4-6 pale blue-green eggs which ha...

Common name: Lesser celandine Species name: Ficaria verna Plant type: perennial herb Origin : Europe, west Asia and North Africa Flowering period : January to April Description: Low-growing perennial with dark green, glossy heart-shaped leaves with a long stalk. They form low clumps on damp ground, particularly along the Drove banks. The flowers are simple with eight to twelve bright yellow petals, the tips of which fade to white as the flower ages. The flowers close in advance of bad weather and open in the sun so can be used to predict the weather.  Clump of lesser celandine in flower Lesser celandine flower, with some fading to white indicating the flower is getting old Lesser celandine flowers closed due to rain Location: common . In the SSSI they can be found in hedgerows, on banks and along the Drove.  Possible confusion: winter aconite ( Eranthis hyemalis ) which is also low-growing and has similarly-shaped yellow flowers. Howe...

I haven't been out as much recently due to a combination of ill health on my part, ill health in my dog, fields with lambs, and storms. Lots of storms. We have had three storms in February - Ciara, Dennis and Jorge - that brought a lot of wind and even more rain. This has resulted in lots of flooding... Flooded gateway Flooded island Flooded field ... and lots of mud Muddy gate What we haven't had much of is cold weather so plants are growing. Spring is definitely here. The dead nettles are flowering - the white dead nettles started before the red but both are now providing early nectar. The lesser celandine is also out in abundance, its bright yellow flowers only open fully in the sun and are a lovely sight. Adding some welcome colour are the much-maligned dandelion. There have been the odd one or two out since the beginning of the year but they are getting much more numerous as things warm up. The yellow flag irises are shooting up, it doesn't...

I've been very lax in posting for which I apologise. In my defence, it's winter and very little is going on. There's mud. There's rain. There's more mud. We've had a few days of frost but mostly it's been rain. Creating mud. (Have I mentioned the mud?) One new animal has appeared in the last couple of weeks - sheep. We have sheep in several fields now and some very cute lambs. It's lovely to see them frolicking around.  Sheep A benefit, if you can call it that, of the winter vegetation die-back is revealing the rubbish that has been left along the rhynes and ditch banks. So on my morning dog walks I've started taking a bag to pick up this rubbish. The things I've found has been quite incredible. A few highlights include an old phone, a "Diverted Traffic" sign, two tyres, two kid's bikes, and (my favourite) a home-made bong! Rubbish including an old phone Though not part of the SSSI I've also been collect...

Common name: Mute swan Species name: Cygnus olor   Bird type: waterfowl Origin : Temperate Europe to Western Asia When to see: all year round Description: Adults are large white birds with a long neck, an orange bill with a black base and nob, and black feet. They are territorial during the breeding season but more gregarious during the winter. The cygnets are fluffy and grey, and the juveniles are less fluffy and grey, with patches of white as the adult feathers come through. Their bills are black, only turning orange in adulthood. Mute swans on the North Drove Mute swan juveniles with some adult feathers showing Location: Common. In summer there is often a pair on the North Drove and at least one other on 10-foot. During the winter they congregate in the fields around the End Drove. They also like to gather in field 115 when it's flooded.