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Saturday, 18 June 2011

Exploring Beddington Farmlands



Smooth Newt

Thistle sp.

Purple Loosestrife

Fox cub

Marbled White

Buff Arches

Small Skipper
I am currently undertaking the mission of trying to get to know as many species of life form on my patch in an attempt to understand how the birds that I have been studying for the last 20 years fit into the ecosystem. Natural History is an immense subject and there is a danger of becoming a jack of all trades and master of none but I do believe that it could be possible to have a master knowledge of all the natural history in just one patch. This is particularly relevant at Beddington Farmlands as the farm is being developed into a nature reserve which will require habitat management for all species.
I am discovering there is a whole new world of what appears to be infinite interest. There is nothing quite like walking round a familar place and seeing things totally differently. Here's a few pics from the last few hours on the farm and also from the 'obs' (the Newt was from nearby).
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6 comments:

  1. Graham James19 June 2011 at 18:47

    I've been doing the same at Holmethorpe over the past few weeks, Peter and it is amazing how much we walk past every day without noticing it.
    I have become dependent on the superb iSpot website at ispot.org.uk where they can identify almost anything for you.
    Steve Gale tried, a couple of years ago, to get the Holmethorpe birders to supply sightings of all forms of wildlife so that he could create a database of flora and fauna for the area but that fell on deaf ears so I am trying to rectify that.

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  2. StourbridgeRantBoy20 June 2011 at 07:14

    Looks like a 'plan' view of Marsh Thistle Pete -

    Laurie -

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  3. Darryl20 June 2011 at 11:03

    Looks more like Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense bit too branched and pale flowered for Marsh. If anyone wants another test, have a go at a Mycena fungi on my blog,... gawd knows!

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  4. Peter Alfrey20 June 2011 at 13:41

    Either would be a tick. Seems to be quite a few thistles over there.

    I am having trouble getting on iSpot Graham? Looks just what I need though- if I can get on.

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  5. Steve Gale21 June 2011 at 12:00

    Hi Peter, the thistle is, indeed, Creeping Thistle. The Beddington flora list that I am compiling is heading steadily towards 250 species and we have yet to hit high summer!

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  6. Peter Alfrey21 June 2011 at 15:26

    Cheers Steve,
    I must join you soon for some more beddington botany. Hopefully next time you are at the farm
    Cheers

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