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...

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.

Common name: Hogweed Species name: Heracleum sphondylium Plant type: perennial herb Origin : Europe, central Asia and North Africa Flowering period : June to October Description: Tall umbellifer with white or pinkish flowers . It can reach 2m in height and has hollow, ridged and hairy stems. The flower-heads are large and are popular with insects, particularly flies, hoverflies and common red soldier beetles.  Hogweed in flower Young hogweed plant Flies and hoverflies on hogweed flowers Common red soldier beetles on hogweed flowers Location: common . In the SSSI they can be found in hedgerows, on banks and along the Drove. Possible confusion: there are several other umbellifers that are common. Cow parsley, rough chervil, hedge parsley, and stone parsley are all similar in appearance. I will try and create a comparison chart as they come in flower to show the differences between these species.

Common name: white dead nettle Species name: Lamium album Plant type: perennial herb Origin : Europe and Asia, native to the UK. Flowering period : March to December Description: Very similar to a stinging nettle, but the leaves do not sting and are softer. The flowers are large and white. It grows in patches, mostly in hedgerows and along paths and verges. White dead nettle, 08/01/2020 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. Red dead nettles are the same height as white dead nettles but have dark pink flowers.

Common name: winter heliotrope Species name: Petasites fragrans Plant type: perennial herb Origin : southern Europe, naturalised in the UK in the early 1800s . Flowering period : winter (November to March) Description: heart-shaped leaves which can grow up to 20cm across . The leaves are evergreen and form dense mats which can crowd out other species. The flower spikes are quite short, reaching no more than 30cm tall, and have clusters of pale pink or mauve flowers which have a strong sweet scent that fills the air . Cluster of winter heliotropes Winter heliotropes Location: common around the south and west of the UK and Ireland. Within the SSSI I have currently only seen them on the middle drove just down from the gateway to field 160. There is a large cluster on the west side and a smaller cluster on the east. I haven't seen any other patches so far (as of 07/01/2020) but I'm keeping my eyes (and nose!) out for more. Location of winter h...