I've decided to follow the lead of a fellow blogger, Dean (http://deansdailydiary.blogspot.com/) who is recording all the wildflowers that are still in bloom during the Winter months (Dec, Jan, Feb). So far he is up to 41 species on his patch of Cortonwood in South Yorkshire, so I decided to rise to the challenge and see what wildflowers Shenstone has to offer during the winter months.
Monday 5th December 2011
I decided to concentrate my first flora finding visit at the Gallops field on Stanklyn Lane. In total I recorded 11 species of wildflower still in bloom, these were: Common Ragwort, Dandelion, Hogweed, Nipplewort, Red Clover, Scentless Mayweed, Shepherd's Purse, White Campion, White Dead-nettle, Wild Radish and Yarrow.
I then briefly visited Witch Lane where I added Common Mallow to the list.
All in all it was a good start to a fun challenge...after all it will add a bit more colour to patch visits between the birding. Talking of birds, it was deadly quite on that front today with the only notables being 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Mistle Thrush and 5 Fieldfare.
Common Ragwort
Hogweed
Nipplewort
Scentless Mayweed
Shepherd's Purse
Wild Radish
Yarrow
Looks like i'll be looking for flowing plants soon Jase! Boy it's quiet out there!
ReplyDeleteYou only need 4 species to beat last years total, reckon it will be done ?
There`s seems to be pretty much the same species in flower around our patch`s, Jason. Can`t see me finding many more to add.
ReplyDeleteWarren - it is indicative of how poor it is birdwise at the mo!
ReplyDeleteAs for the four species. I could maybe pick up Marsh Tit or Wigeon with a bit of luck but I've missed out on Common Tern & Lesser Whitethroat this year. I havent recorded Tree Sparrow or Stonechat. In 2010 I also had flyover Pinkfoots and a flyover Black-Tailled Godwit (both were patch firsts so unlikely in a hurry). I also had a ringtail Hen Harrier in 2010.
New additions for my 2011 patch list compared to 2010 have included - Barnacle Goose, Bullfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Greylag Goose, Marsh Harrier, Teal and Little Grebe(infact i'd forgotten about that...it takes me up to 94)
Dean - I have a few more to add but I will do that in my next post
ReplyDelete