Update

Subject: Ashlawn Update 28-10-14

This Tuesday morning was amazingly warm and sunny so I couldn’t resist another visit to Ashlawn.

I was well rewarded as in the northern section I found a Peacock, 2 Brimstone, and 2 Red Admirals butterflies, all but one in the sheltered sunny ride of the new Jolly’s Walk. There was also a Southern Hawker Dragonfly at the north end of the marsh.

In the southern section there were 3 female Brimstones, one near Pytchley Bridge and the others down near Onley Lane. They all appeared to be searching for possible hibernation sites amongst the tangle of bramble near the track bed path.

Also fungi appearing and colourful seed pods on Iris.

Phil P. Rugby Group WWT Conservation Officer (Vol.)

 

Work Party report

At today’s work party on Ashlawn six of us continued to cut and clear section F3e grassland south of Ashlawn Bridge, Steve as ever forging ahead with the brush cutter, and the rest of us were enjoying clearing what he had cut, chatting as we worked and wondering why more people don’t come to join us.

The weather was cloudy but continuing very mild considering we are nearly into November, and we were amazed to find a couple of Grass Vetchling back in flower on a patch we had cut and cleared in the summer (21st August), another with a seed pod developed, and several others as well developed plants. We normally find this in flower in late June & early July, the flowers only last a few days. An uncommon and lovely delicate plant whose leaves look exactly like grass.

We also disturbed a fresh looking Roselle’s Cricket, a very late date for this species, some lovely yellow frogs, and a toad.

See the pictures, but the Roselle’s is from an earlier sighting on the reserve as I couldn’t get my camera out in time to record the one seen today before it dived under foliage.

Phil P. Rugby Group WWT Conservation Officer (Vol.)

October Fungii

Managed to get to your mushroom-find today!  it is actually a nice group of Psathyrella Conopilus (do not know any English terms)

also found , Inkcaps ,Coprinus Lagopus ,on woodchip at 14.42 and Bolbitius Vitellinus same wood-chip path.

report & pics from Dave Champion unless otherwise stated

 

 

Survey Force

Just a picture or two from today’s very wet survey force visit to Ashlawn.

One group with Martin, Steve, Graham, Charlotte, Sue,  went south but four of us went north, hence pictures.  The group to the south were rewarded with a Common Bonnet Fungus (daughterofanji).  See WWT’s Twitter for 14th October for a picture.

pics by Phil Parr

Sewa Day – 5th October 2014

Chairman Steve Batt writes,

We had the pleasure of welcoming back the wonderfully community minded group from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS – Rugby branch for part of their annual Sewa day. A day where across the world this group volunteer their time to make communities a better place. See  http://www.sewaday.org/ for more details of this international event.

We all met up in the small car park by Ashlawn Road bridge, where we were treated to some very tasty snacks before heading down to the Cutting to start the task for the day. Luckily the sun was shining and it soon warmed up to be a very pleasant day, the task was to rake off and clear the grassland area by the bridge which had been cut earlier in the week and to push back the surrounding scrub to open up the grassland. All 18 volunteers were soon hard at work and it was great to see the youngsters fully engaged and working hard, learning as they went, very impressed with their efforts and stamina. In all a total of 63 hours were worked on the day to help maintain the grassland habitat which is a rare commodity in Warwickshire these days.

Luckily with the sunshine some wildlife appeared and Phil and Steve were able to find little frogs, a toad, Common Darter and Southern Hawker Dragonflies, and Comma, Large White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Common Blue butterflies to show. The time passed quickly and soon the area was clear and it was time to go, everyone appeared to enjoy themselves, in fact so much so that we have already agreed to do it all again on Sunday 4th October 2015. Raj also gave each of the Rugby Group volunteers a Sewa day tee-shirt, which we will all wear with pride, as it was a genuine pleasure to host such a fabulous happy hard working group and have the opportunity to share the beauties of the Cutting and their special day.