Staines Moor: 5 March

A few quiet hours at the patch. Staines Moor 'highlights': 1 Water Pipit (Colne) with a metal ring on right leg, 6 Stonechat (4m, 2f), 3 Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard, c. 30 Fieldfare (swamp) and a few Skylark (now singing). Also, photographed a few fruiting fungi that I will try and identify. On Stanwell Moor 3 Canada Geese were just about noteworthy.

Staines Moor fungus foray: 26 November

Spent a few hours at Staines Moor today on a fungi foray, checking the grassland for waxcaps. I was hoping that after the recent rain a few more species would be fruiting, but I think it is a little cold at the moment. I managed to find 3 Silky Pinkgill Entoloma sericeum, 11 Snowy Waxcap Cuphophyllus virgineus, several Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, and a few other species I've yet to identify.

Silky Pinkgills Entoloma sericeum, Staines Moor, 26 November 2016 - I'm currently doing my first spore print from one of these.

Avian highlights were 1 Water Pipit (Iris Channels), 1 Short-eared Owl showed very well, hunting over the east side from 15:15, 46 Linnet - the largest flock I've seen on the moor for several years, a decent sized flock of Fieldfare and Redwing in the NW corner (100+ Fieldfare, 60+ Redwing), 1 Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat (3m, 2f, 1 too distant and brief to determine), 2-3 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (Colne), 3 Little Grebe (Colne), 7 Pied Wagtail (feeding on grass on west side), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 1 Red Kite, 1m Reed Bunting, 7 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Egyptian Goose SW. Also noted was 1-2 Red Fox.

Weather: Damp, sunny periods (5 oktas), light but cold NE wind.

Staines Moor: 27 October

A half decent day at the patch today. An adult winter Mediterranean Gull hawking insects high over the east side of Staines Moor with c.130 Black-headed Gulls (mainly adults) and a Common Gull is only the third record for Staines Moor and the first here since 2001. Unfortunately it remained too distant for good photographs, mostly hawking insects high over Bonehead Ditch and only briefly resting on the bank of the Colne.

Also noted on Staines Moor were 3-5 Water Pipit along the Colne, 1 Short-eared Owl hunting over the south end late afternoon, 8 Stonechat (5m 3f), 1f Blackcap (NW corner), 2 Goldcrest and 1 Common Chiffchaff (both old railway), 1 Little Grebe (Colne), 2 Little Egret (Colne), 1 Grey Wagtail (Colne), 5+ Pied Wagtail (Colne), 7+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, 1+ Kingfisher (Colne), >5 Red Kite, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2+ Kestrel, 1H Cetti's Warbler (Colne), 2 Egyptian Geese W and 1 imm. Mute Swan (Colne). Vis mig was almost non-existent - 2 Common Snipe NW and 2 Reed Bunting E.

Adult winter Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus hawking insects over the east side of Staines Moor today - third site record

1 of 8 Stonechats on Staines Moor today

A Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell were both noted heading southwards. Also, a few more fungi found fruiting on Staines Moor today in continuing dry conditions, including 3 Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea together (a very local species in Britain), 8 Field Mushrooms Agaricus campestris, several Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, a few groups of Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus (on Crack Willow Salix fragilis along the old railway), but still only a few Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera.

Blue Roundhead Stropharia caerulea, Staines Moor, 27 October 2016. Three rather old specimens but note the blue-green cap, that was
slimy to touch, with small white veil fragments (especially around the margin), the crowded sinuate pink-brown gills, greenish-white stipe
- whiter above the ring, greener below, with white scales (especially below the ring) dusted with brown spores. No odour noted.

Stanwell Moor added a Water/Rock Pipit over east calling towards the King George VI Reservoir, 1H Cetti's Warbler (by the gravel pit), 13 Eurasian Wigeon E and 4f Eurasian Teal on Lower Mill Farm Lake.

Weather: Calm and overcast with mist early morning with sunny periods developing late morning, becoming cloudier again in the afternoon, very light westerly wind.

Staines Moor: 9 October

A long mid morning to dusk session at the patch today. Staines Moor produced 1 Short-eared Owl briefly early afternoon then hunting over the east side at dusk (presumably the bird reported yesterday), 12-14 Stonechat (6m, 5m 1 undetermined), 2-3 Siskin (including a male drinking at Butts Pond and 2 off from here high south), 2 Little Grebe (first returning wintering birds on the Colne), 6+ (1H) Goldcrest (5 Bonehead Woodland), 12 (1H) Common Chiffchaff (mainly Bonehead Woodland), 3 (1f, 2H) Blackcap, 3-4 Barn Swallow mainly S, 2 Common Snipe, c. 30 Meadow Pipit (east side), 3H Cetti's Warbler, 1+ Kingfisher (Bonehead Ditch), 1 Red Kite, 2 Kestrel (including 1 attempting to catch Goldfinches), 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 3-4 Common Buzzard, 9 Linnet and 2 Pied Wagtail (Colne).

Stanwell Moor added 5 (2H) Common Chiffchaff, 1 Common Teal and a Red Fox.

I was really hoping to find Staines Moor's first ever Yellow-browed Warbler this year, especially after the recent influx, but was beaten to it yesterday by Rob Innes (very well done to Rob on an excellent find). The bird was also reported today - I didn't bother looking for it.

Weather: Sunny periods, little cloud in the morning (1 okta) becoming cloudier in the afternoon (6 oktas), light easterly wind.

Staines Moor: 24 September

Another dull as hell day trudging around the moor seeing very few birds - birding in Surrey is so exciting! 'Highlights' were: 1 Whinchat (NW corner), 3+m Stonechat (1 NW corner, 2 east side), 2 (1m, 1f) Yellow Wagtail (NW corner), 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff (inc. 6 Bonehead Woodland), 5 Common Snipe, 1 Goldcrest (Bonehead Woodland), 5 Skylark, 1-2 Little Egret, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and 2H Cetti's Warbler. Passage overhead amounted to 83 House Martin SW and 21 Barn Swallow (mainly S). Also 1 Red Kite and 3 more Common Buzzard were seen at distance over Wraysbury Reservoir.

First Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera of the autumn noted today and a few Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, and only 7 Red Admirals were seen on Staines Moor today - an amazing 530+ were present just 16 days ago!

Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, on dung, Staines Moor, 24 September 2016 - a few of these tiny delicate mushrooms today

Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera, Staines Moor, 24 September 2016

A Speckled Wood in the garden on the 14th was one of very few records for the garden.

St Georges Mushroom: 19 April

Found a few fruitbodies of St Georges Mushroom Calocybe gambosa growing in the grass and moss beneath the cherry tree in our front garden this afternoon - the first mushroom species I've recorded in the garden. This species is edible and one of the earliest white mushrooms to fruit in the year.

St Georges Mushroom Calocybe gambosa, Worcester Park, 19 April 2016

Staines Moor: 17 March

A late morning to dusk session at the moor today. With moderate north-easterlies migration was non-existent, although some of today's raptors could have been on the move. Highlights: 6-8 Water Pipit along the Colne (including 3 in almost full summer plumage, and 6 together in the large dying willow along the Colne at dusk), 1 Jack Snipe, and excellent views down to two metres of a showy Water Rail (Colne).

Also noted were: 2 Redshank (Colne), 2-4 Northern Lapwing (2 Colne, 2 over), 3+ (up to 10) Red Kite, 3+ (up to 10) Common Buzzard, 2+ Little Egret (Colne), 3m Reed Bunting (flycatching along Colne), 1 Kingfisher (flew east towards Bonehead Ditch from the Colne), 7 (4m, 3f) Linnet, 7 Fieldfare (over east to Bonehead Woodland), 2 Redwing (Moor Lane), 3 Pied Wagtail (ad m, 1st-W m, f, all flycatching along the Colne), 2 Mistle Thrush (west side), c15 Meadow Pipit (singing and displaying), c20 Skylark (many singing), 4 (3m, 1f) Mallard (Colne), 1+ Kestrel, 1+ Grey Heron, 9 (6m, 3f) Tufted Duck (Moor Land Lake), 1 Coot (Moor Lane Lake) and 2+ ad Mute Swan.

Today's showy Water Rail along the Colne - present since 12th March

Water Rail, River Colne, Staines Moor, 17 March 2016

Water Rail, River Colne, Staines Moor, 17 March 2016

Also managed to find the presumed Scarlet Elfcup Sarcoscypha austriaca fungi along the old railway today (many thanks to Mark Elsoffer and Stephen Minhinnick for directions).

Stanwell Moor added another 3 Red Kite and a Common Buzzard.

Fungi of Staines Moor - Part 1

Over the last year I've been photographing as many species of fungi as I can find on Staines Moor, in order to get familiar with the more common species, and I'm amazed by the diversity. Identification is generally very difficult and it's been a steep learning curve, but so far I've manage to positively identify the following species.

Woodland species

Three sides of Staines Moor are bordered by water courses - the River Wraysbury on the west, Bonehead Ditch on the east and part of the north, and Yeoveney Ditch in the north-west. The dominant tree species around the boundary is the water-loving Crack Willow Salix fragilis, on which most of the woodland fungi were found.

Fairy Inkcap Coprinus disseminatus, 18 September 2015. A species found fruiting on wood in 'swarms', this group was feeding on a
Crack Willow Salix fragilis along the River Wraysbury.

Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare, 18 September 2015 - a very common poisonous species in Britain. This group was feeding on
Crack Willow Salix fragilis along the River Wraysbury

Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare, 18 September 2015

Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus, 18 September 2015, on Crack Willow Salix fragilis. The caps lose the small white granules
and open out from egg-shaped to bell-shaped as they age (see below).

Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus, 18 September 2015, on Crack Willow Salix fragilis. Some older specimens showing
the difference in appearance compared with above.

Southern Bracket Ganoderma australe, on Crack Willow Salix fragilis beside the River Wraysbury (all pics taken on 23 December
2015 except bottom right on 29 December 2015)

Willow Bracket Phellinus igniarius, Bonehead woodland, 7 March 2015

Turkeytail Trametes versicolor, 18 September 2015, on Crack Willow
Salix fragilis beside the River Wraysbury

Jelly Ear Auricularia auricula-judae, old railway, 23 December 2015

Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica, old railway, 23 December 2015

Lemon Disco/Yellow Fairy Cups Bisporella citrina on dead wood, old railway, 23 December 2015

Beech Barkspot Diatrype disciformis, along Bonehead Woodland, 29 December 2015

Grassland species

The ancient alluvial meadows at Staines Moor consist of semi-improved neutral grassland and swampy grassland. The site has never been farmed, meaning no fertilisers or pesticides have been applied to the land here and grazing has taken place here since 1065. Many species of fungi feed on the nutrients from cow and horse dung.

Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota procera, (all pics taken 24 October 2015 except top right on 23 September 2015)

Silky Pinkgill Entoloma sericeum, 4 December 2015

Field Blewit Lepista saeva, 11 November 2015

Petticoat Mottlegill Panaeolus papilionaceus var papilionaceus, 1 November
2015

Petticoat Mottlegill Panaeolus papilionaceus var papilionaceus, 1 November 2015

Egghead Mottlegill Panaeolus papilionaceus, 1 November 2015

Egghead Mottlegill Panaeolus semiovatus, 4 December 2015

Dung Roundhead Protostropharia semiglobata (left 9 September 2015, right top and bottom 11 November 2015)

Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans, 1 November 2015. The fruit body of this species only lasts a few hours.

Orange Mosscap Rickenella fibula, 1 November 2015

Snowy Inkcap Coprinopsis nivea, 1 November 2015

Meadow Puffball Vascellum pratense, 20 November 2015

Got more species photographed that I've yet to identify that I will post when I've made further progress.

River Mole LNR, Leatherhead: 28 December

Rachel and went for a walk along the River Mole at Leatherhead today that proved surprisingly productive for birds. Highlights were 2m Goosander that showed very well, a pair of Kingfisher that appeared to be excavating a nest (this is the most messed up winter I've ever known!) with perhaps another 2 birds further upstream, 1 Little Egret over NW, 1+ Common Chiffchaff and several Redwing.

A trickle of migrants overhead: 24 October

A few very quiet hours at Staines Moor today with a just a little vis mig overhead. 2 Golden Plover over W and 1f Brambling WSW then dropping down into the willows along the Colne (by the northern footbridge) were the highlights. Also noted overhead were 1 Water Pipit N, 8 Fieldfare WSW (the first of the winter, dropping down briefly in the hawthorns in the NW corner), 1 redpoll sp. W, 14 Chaffinch SW, 1 Linnet S, 1 Greenfinch N, 1 Goldfinch W, 1 Pied Wagtail W, 3 Mistle Thrush S and 1 Song Thrush S.

Rubbish pic of one of two Golden Plover over west today

Female Brambling heading WSW before dropping down into willows by the Colne where it stayed for about 15 minutes

On the ground, 1(H) Redwing, 10 Stonechat (7m, 3f), 4 Goldcrest, 2f/imm. Reed Bunting, 32 Meadow Pipit (east side), 1m Kingfisher (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 1+m Pied Wagtail, c100 Goldfinch (mainly around the thistles at the south end), another 5 Greenfinch, 2 Kestrel and 2-3 Egyptian Goose (2W, 1E). A Red Fox (on the northern footbridge) and lots of huge Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera (on the west side) today.

Stanwell Moor added a Common Buzzard.

A good show of Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera on Staines Moor this year - many are huge!

Potted a Feathered Thorn on the kitchen window last night - photographed this morning.

Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria, Worcester Park, 24 October

Nest boxes at the patch

Built eight nest boxes for the patch a couple of weeks back and spent a few hours yesterday and today (7 March) putting them up in Bonehead woodland along the east boundary of Staines Moor. Surprisingly, it was more difficult to find suitable spots for the boxes than I thought it would be - north to east facing and out of sight from the public, and I only managed to put up six - three hole-fronted boxes and three open fronted, as I spilt one and gave one to my dad. Looking forward to seeing what species move in.

Lots of birds singing at Staines Moor today including 3 Cetti's Warbler (H) along Bonehead Ditch (1 NE corner, 2 east stretch) and 1 Chiffchaff (H) in Bonehead woodland (and another heard on Stanwell Moor). Also noted today were 3 Red Kite together over S at midday, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk in Bonehead woodland and a Kestrel. Yesterday in Bonehead woodland I had my first Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni of the year and a fly-catching Goldcrest.

Four of six nest boxes put up in Bonehead woodland

One of three Willow Bracket Phellinus igniarius fruitbodies in Bonehead woodland today - apparently uncommon in Britain

Southern end of the woodland along Bonehead Ditch on Staines Moor. I really should bird this woodland more often.

Late autumn at Staines Moor

A few hours at Staines Moor today produced 1-2 Water Pipit along the Colne, 5 Common Snipe, 5 Stonechat (2m, 3f), 1 Grey Wagtail, 4+ Pied Wagtail, 16+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 37+ Black-headed Gull on the Colne, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Green Woodpecker.

Some vis mig: a meagre 276 Woodpigeon SSW (an incredible 50,800 were reported over Swanscombe Marsh today), quite a lot of Starling moving W (and another c100 around the cattle), 4 Skylark SSW and 18 Goldfinch. The best bird of the day was a probable Jack Snipe flushed, that I just didn't get enough on.

First of today's male Stonechats

Second male. Oddly, three of the five Dartford Warblers that have turned up at the moor were associating with Stonechats?
I'm keeping my eyes peeled!

Lots of Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera around at the moment, and Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi is still flowering in the wetter areas.

Rouzel at the moor

Light easterlies with heavy cloud and rain in the afternoon produced a few migrants at Staines Moor today. There seemed to be a small increase in the number of thrushes with 15 Blackbird (5 on Stanwell Moor), 5+ Mistle Thrush, 4 Song Thrush and c10 Redwing noted along with a 1st winter male Ring Ouzel gorging on hawthorn berries at the north end (along fence bordering Stanwell Moor west of river).

1st winter ♂ Ring Ouzel, Staines Moor, 19 October 2012

Same bird. Compare with first pic. to see how different the ground colour looks as
the light changes.

Notice how black the lores are (click to enlarge)

The pair of Stonechat were still present along the new fence beside the Colne, and a Grey Wagtail was feeding along the river bank. Overhead, 2 Brambling headed east, and c10 Redpoll S, 5 Meadow Pipit E, c80 Linnet S and 4 'alba' wagtails S and E (1 over Stanwell Moor) were logged, along with 4 Greenfinch and the odd Chaffinch and Goldfinch, all heading south.

Grey Wagtail, fly-catching from a bridge over the River Colne at Staines
Moor, 19 October 2012

A large tit flock consisted of mainly Long-tailed with a few Blue and Great Tits as well as 1-2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest and 1+ Chiffchaff. A large number of Wood Pigeon, 1f Blackcap, another Chiffchaff (H), 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Little Egret and 1 Kingfisher along the Colne and a Red Fox were also seen, and lots of Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera are popping up all over the moor, some of them huge!

The moor is covered with Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera at the moment.
These things are edible. I could save myself a small fortune in Waitrose!