August expedition

For our August walk, we divided into three groups for a competition. We went in different directions looking to fill in a complete nature alphabet, using either a general English name (e.g. F for Fern), the full English name (e.g. H for Hart's-tongue Fern) or any word in the Latin name (e.g. P or S for Phyllitis scolopendrium). At the end of the event, each team filled in some of their gaps by identifying some of the moths that had come to the trap during the night. What was remarkable was that the teams didn't have to go more than 300 metres to do the competition.

Team 1 walked east from the bridge along the towpath. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Buttercup
Crategus monogyna (Hawthorn)
Dandelion
Elder
Fern
Groundsel
Horsetail
Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)


Knapweed
Lady's Bedstraw
Meadowsweet
Nettle
Ox-eye Daisy
Pignut
Q.....
Robin-run-the-hedge
Silverweed
Tutsan
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
Vetch
Willowherb
Xanthorhoe ferrugata (Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet)
Yarrow
Z.....

The team also observed: 
Bombus lucorum, Bramble, Bulrush, Common Valerian, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Herb-Robert, Marjoram, Marsh Woundwort, Water Mint, White Clover, Wren.

Team 2 walked west from the bridge along the towpath. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Bramble
Cowbane
Dog-rose
Elder
Fool's Parsley
G.....
Hawthorn
Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
Knapweed
Lathyris pratensis (Meadow Vetchling)
Meadowsweet
Nettle
O......
Phyllitus scolopendrium (Hart's-tongue Fern)
Q.....
Ranunculus (Buttercup)
Spider

Tutsan
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
Vetch
White Clover
X.......
Yarrow
Z........

The team also observed: 
Bracken, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Perforate St John's Wort, Rosebay Willowherb, Yellow Iris.

Team 3 walked west from the bridge along the high bank path. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Bellis perennis (Daisy)
Clover
Dragonfly
Elder
Fern
G.......
Hoverfly
Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
Knapweed
Lesser Cat's-tail
Moss
Nettle
Ox-eye Daisy
Peacock
Q........
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Trifolium pratense
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
V......
Wasp
X......
Yorkshire Fog
Z........

The team also observed:
Bracken, Bramble, Dog-rose, Hawthorn, Horsetail.
 
Scores:
Team 1 — 24
Team 2 — 21
Team 3 — 21



 

July expedition

We walked east along the canal and concentrated on the many different flowers growing beside the path.

Before we set out on the walk, we viewed some moths that had been trapped overnight.  Perhaps the most interesting of these was the Barred Yellow. Its larva feeds on Dog-rose.

To finish the expedition, we walked west from the bridge to see the flowering Fragrant Orchid and to compare the related flowers Perforate St John's-wort and Tutsan.

Tutsan

Date: 8 July 2017 Time: 12-1

Attendance: 11 (including 5 children)

What we observed and talked about —

Birds: Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Mute Swan, Robin 
Butterfly: Ringlet
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly, Common Hawker
Flowers: Bramble, Bugle, Bush Vetch, Common Knapweed, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Valerian, Creeping Buttercup, Daisy, Dog-rose, Fragrant Orchid, Germander Speedwell, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Herb-Robert, Hogweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Meadowsweet, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate St John's-wort, Pyramidal Orchid, Red Clover, Rosebay Willowherb, Silverweed, Spearwort, Tutsan, White Clover, Yellow Iris


Grasses: Quaking Grass, Yorkshire Fog
Moths: Barred Yellow, Brussels Lace, Clouded Border, Double Dart, Early Thorn, Mottled Beauty, Peppered Moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Swallow-tailed Moth
Other plants: Bracken