 |
Hainault Forest Website
Written, Designed
and with Photographs by © Brian Ecott
Nature Diary
2013 |
 |
|
On the
7th December 2013 Peter Comber and I together with Michael Rumble
represented Hainault Forest with a selection of photographs at the
Annual Exhibition and Social of The Essex Field Club at The Green
Centre, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, Essex. The Social brings
together Naturalists of various specialties, Recorders, Members and
Friends. It is an annual culmination of recording work, walks, talks,
education, workshops throughout the whole of former Essex boundaries.
Its members were active in the creation of the modern Hainault Forest
before it was officially opened in 1906.
For
more information of the Club website click here:
ESSEX FIELD CLUB
|
 |
Photograph
©
Michael Rumble. |
October 2013 |
 |
Panoramic view of Chigwell
Row Church and The Lake from Hog Hill, showing autumn changes. 26th
October 2013 |

Above and below:
The rare Conifer mazegill
Gloeophyllum sepiarium. It is occurring
on most of
the Woodland Trust notice boards and was probably imported on the
wooden boards when purchased. Present on a few boards in 2012
26th October 2013.
 |

Asexual galls of
Neuroterus saliens on stems and petioles of Turkey Oak. The
specific name "saliens" means jumping and when detached the larva
inside wriggles giving the appearance of a jumping bean. Below - also
on leaf midribs. |

Mature galls of
Hartigiola annulipes on beech. 6th October 2013 |

Close up of underside of
Pear leaf gall Gymnosporangium sabinae.
Photo: Michael Rumble.
8th October 2013 in plantation. |
 |
 |
Poplar
scalycap Pholiota populnea emerging from the base of a
felled Poplar tree 24th October and 29th October 2013 on Hog Hill.
|
 |
 |
Common
Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum 26th October 2013 |
Milk cap
shedding milky substance when damaged. |
 |
Sulphur
Knight Tricholoma sulphureum in mixed woodland Cabin Hill
26th October 2013 Photo ©
Ron Andrews |

Angels bonnets Mycena
arcangeliana on oak stump, Chigwell Row common.
26th October 2013. |

The yellow slime
mould Fuligo septica var septica
growing on an old beech stump. 6th October 2013. |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
August - September 2013 |
 |
 |


Sexual dimorphism in birds
is shown here in the case of Peafowl. In the breeding season the male
peacock develops a magnificent plumage and a huge tail which it can
raise and shake to attract the female peahen. The number of eye spots
on the tail is something that the peahen will notice. Unfortunately
this breeding plumage can come at a cost making it difficult for the
Peacock to fly up in a tree to escape from danger.
These colourful
photographs of the Peacock were taken on the farm, 27th August 2013.
©
Michael Rumble. |
 |
 |
 |
The
Common spangle gall Neuroterus quercusbaccarum and the
Silk button gall N. numismalis had virtually disappeared in
Hainault Forest for the past five years, but returned in force this
autumn. Above left shows an oak leaf with hundreds of asexual galls
with just one common spangle and one smooth spangle N. albipes.
Above is a close up of a mixture of Common and Silk button galls taken
on the 6th Sept. 2013. The leaves will fall in the autumn and the
galls will overwinter in the leaf litter emerging as a sexual
generation in the spring. Most oak galls have these two cycles per
year. See Oak galls.
Pictured left is a Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album. The
underwing brown colour give it the appearance of a dead leaf
which is a good camouflage. In autumn it feeds on rotten
fruit or fruit that has been cut by wasps making the juice readily
available. Here the Comma is feeding on a rotting blackberry. There
are two generations a year and this one will overwinter as an adult.
29th
August 2013. Photo ©
Michael Rumble |
 |
 |
 |
On the
Creeping thistle above left are two species of ladybird. There are two
Seven-spot ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata and one
fourteen-spot ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata. The
fourteen spots often merge to form an anchor shape. It is much smaller
than the seven spot but like it is a very voracious feeder on aphids.
Both species like thistles and other meadow flowers. Photo: 8th August
2013 ©
Michael Rumble.
Above
is one of several species of Tiger moths. This is the Cream-spot Tiger
moth Arctia villica britannica. When the wings open the second
pair of wings are yellow with black margins to the tips. It is a local
species occurring at sites in the southern England and East Anglia.
4th July 2013. ©
Michael Rumble.
The
Ruddy darter male dragonfly Sympetrum sanguineum is pictured on
the 14th August 2013 and shows the head and brown thorax and the blood
red abdomen. Note the colourful wing attachment on the thorax.
©
Michael Rumble
|
  
The Hornet Vespa crabro
far left appears to be caught in a spiders web, but the middle
picture shows that it feeding on the spiders prey parcels. The Hornet
is a large wasp but can be distinguished by its brown thorax and
brown-yellow markings. Above, between the compound eyes can be seen
three tiny ocelli or primitive eyes. 27th September 2013.
Photos
©
Michael Rumble. |
 |
 |
The worker German wasps
Vespula germanica are feeding on Ragwort above. The picture above
right clearly shows the primitive eyes or ocelli between the eyes
mentioned above in connection with he Hornet. Photos 14th August 2013.
©
Michael Rumble |
 |

There has been an
abundance of Parasol mushrooms Macrolepiota procera in the
horse field this year. Some of the caps had a diameter of 25cms, and
they are very tall and easily knocked over. There is a moveable ring
on the stem and the stems base is speckled. Many fungi grow in rings,
some many metres across and visible in ariel surveys. Below shows a
ring centered on a patch of nettles . The ring typically expands
outwards over the years as nutrients are used up. Said to be edible
and excellent. Photos left ©
Michael Rumble and
below Brian Ecott. 29th Sept. 2013.
|
 |
Below left: Common inkcaps
Coprinus atramentarius growing on dung 28th September 2013
©
Michael Rumble.
Below right: Giant
polypore Meripilus giganteus growing at the base of a beech
stump 29th September 2013 ©
Brian Ecott |
 |
 |
Finally below, a beautiful
picture of a Small tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae
nectaring on bramble flowers. It is found February to October
hibernating as an adult in trees and buildings. Photo
©
Michael Rumble. |
 |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
July 2013 |
 |

|

|
Swallow
with chicks in farm shed in 1985. Photos above
©
Vic George. Vic was a former ranger at Hainault Forest Country Park
and the pictures are
from his archive. |

Juvenile
swallow awaits return of parent. Note the wide mouth, and also the
development of the red throat and under parts. |

Juvenile swallows awaiting
return of parent with food.

Parent swallow (centre)
returns with food which is exchanged in flight. |
 |
Michael
Rumble captured
many images of juvenile swallows being fed in flight by the
parent birds outside the pillared barn near the office. The parent
bird can be seen in the centre of the family in the picture above. The
adults have a forked tail whereas the juveniles tail is triangular,
displaying a row of white marks across the tail feathers, pictured
left.
It
prompted me to recall a set of images that warden Victor George, now
retired had taken of the young nestlings in 1985 in one of the animal
sheds. Vic lived in the cottage near the main gate for many years
until his retirement. The cottage was neglected and then vandalized
beyond repair and demolished a couple of years ago. Fortunately Vic
left me his archives and photos which I have uploaded above.
There
are flocks of Jackdaws in the Country park, nesting in the poplars and
other old trees around the farm. This pair are nesting in the chimney
of the old forge in the farm yard and I think is a wonderful picture
by Michael Rumble. Incidentally I wonder how many forge buildings
there remain in Redbridge.
This has to be the picture of the
month. A juvenile Pied wagtail sitting on a metal gate on the farm.
Somebody must love him.
 Young
Pied Wagtail on gate. Photo © Michael Rumble 25th July 2013
 |
Two
juvenile swallows. Note the white patch on each of the tail feathers.
All the 2013 pictures of swallows are
©
Michael Rumble 20th July 2013. |
 |
Jackdaws nesting on forge chimney.
Photo © Michael Rumble 25th July 2013 |
Not to
worry Mum's here with some juicy flies.
© Michael Rumble |
 |
The Grey squirrel photographed here
is on the base of an oak tree, a foot or two from the ground. From
here it can look whether it is safe to jump to the ground and forage
for acorns on raid a waste bin but if a threat is there - mainly dogs
- it can quickly turn and climb the tree to safety. The tail on the
Grey squirrel is very sparse of hair, and the ears are rounded with no
hair tufts unlike it's cousin "Tufty" the red squirrel. Incidentally
the last Red squirrel that I remember seeing in Hainault Forest was in
the early nineteen-fifties.
Most of the wild
flowers this year were lost and there was a void of insects which is
tragic because the bee population is not doing well and the numbers
have halved throughout the country. It is important that we do all we
can at Hainault to restore the balance next year. One plant that
did well this year was the bramble. The wet spring and the late summer
sunshine produced a bumper crop of blackberries. These are favourites
with many birds and small mammals such as mice and voles.
Wasps have
worried some people particularly around the Global Café.
The question is often asked
"What use are Wasps?" Wasps have chewing mouthparts and can break the
skins on blackberries which makes the juices available to many other
insects such as hoverflies, butterflies, bees and other flies. Wasps
play their part in the complex food webs that allow other economic
species to exist.
Left is a Bumble
bee Bombus terrestris nectaring on Bramble. It is one of a few
common species seen in the forest. Also nectaring on bramble flowers
is this Small tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae captured
in the photo by Michael Rumble. Whilst looking at a Bramble patch I
spotted a few White admiral butterflies Ladoga camilla basking
in the sunshine on bramble leaves. Over the past five years it has
been regularly seen at Roe's well and now at a new site at the back of
the lake near to the aerial play area. As I was preparing the July
webpage an e-mail from local naturalists Chris and Margaret Gannaway
came with a message and photographs that they has seen White admiral
near The Camelot - again on bramble. Although early August I felt it
was useful to include it on the July page. Note the beautiful pattern
on the underwings. The foodplant is honeysuckle (often browsed by
Muntjac deer in Hainault) so that it is important to retain any
honeysuckle lianas hanging from trees well out of the reach of the
Muntjac. |
Grey squirrel. Photo ©
Michael Rumble 17th July 2013 |
 |
Bumble
bee © Michael Rumble 20th July 2013 |
 |
 |
Small
Tortoiseshell butterfly ©
Michael Rumble 24th July
2013 |
White
admiral butterfly 10th July 2013 |
 |
 |
White
admiral butterflies ©
Chris and Margaret
Gannaway 10th August 2013 |
 |
 |
The Small
skipper and Essex skipper butterflies are very fast fliers and it
was not until 1888 that the Essex skipper was recognised as a new
species. So similar are the two species that close viewing is
necessary. One feature is the rusty brown underside of the tip of
the Small skipper's antennae, see the picture far left and the
enlargement left where the antennae are clearly seen. The uncoiled
mouthparts can be seen probing the Knapweed for nectar. The Essex
skipper has black tips to the antennae. |
Small Skipper butterfly on knapweed 22nd July 2013 |

|
 |
The
Gatekeeper butterfly far left is a common butterfly in the summer
months often on bramble. Note the large dark patches on the centre
of the forewings. These are scent glands denoting a male.
The woodlice
left are two of the common five species to be found under logs and
damp places. Left in the picture alongside is the Common Shiny
Woodlouse Oniscus asellus and right the Common Rough
Woodlouse Porcellio scaber. |
Gatekeeper butterfly 24th July 2013 |
Woodlice under log on horse field 15th July 2013 |
|
 |
 |
Two
superficially similar day flying moths found in the summer months
in grassland are the Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae and the
Six-spot burnet Zygaena filipendulae. The bright red
colours acts as a reminder to would-be predators that they are
very distasteful. The papery pupal case of the Burnet is found on
grass stems |
Cinnabar moth © Michael Rumble 9th July 2013 |
Six-spot Burnet moth 22nd July 2013 |
|
 |
 |
The larvae
of the Cinnabar moth are striped yellow and black and are found on
their food plant Common ragwort Senecio jacobaea. They feed
at the top of the plant and reduce it to a short stalk before
marching on to the next plant. The caterpillars are immune to the
poisonous Ragwort.
The Orange ladybird has a long latin name
Halyzia sedecimguttata which really refers to its sixteen spots or blotches! It's
habitat is among the leafy trees. |
Cinnabar moth caterpillars 21st July 2013 |
|
|
 |
The strange
larva seen here on a grass stem belies the fact that it will
change into a Seven spot ladybird after a short change into a
pupa. Ladybird larvae can be identified using keys found online. |
Seven-spot ladybird larva 24th July 2013 |
|
 |
 |
Aphids are
feeders on plant sap. Here are Green aphids and Black aphids on
thistles. Ants are often seen feeding on the sap which the aphids
excrete. Black ants can be seen amongst the black aphids and the
food will be taken back to the colony. |
Green aphids on thistle © Michael Rumble 17/7/13 |
Black aphids on thistle 21st July 2013 |
|
  |
The
Glittering Green flies Poecilobothrus nobilitatus are
seen walking over liquid mud at Sheepwater. They show a metallic
green in certain light. A male (top left in far left photo) is
flapping his wings to attract the females feeding here. The wings
are large with a brown patch and a white tip. The larger the
wings, the larger the male, making it more attractive to a
female. Shown left - a male has been selected and attempts
to mate. |
Glittering Green fly.
Sheepwater. © Michael Rumble 25th July 2013 |
|
 |
 |
Pictured far
left is a small Ichneumon fly on Spear thistle. The female has a
long ovipositor or egg-laying tube which can be used to bore into
its prey, often caterpillars.
Pictured
left, also on the head of a Spear thistle is an uncommon species
of Tephritid fly - a female Terellia serratulae. Its larvae
cause galls on thistle heads. Seen in the picture is the short
ovipositor used to deposit eggs into the thistle flower head.
Thanks to Del Smith Dipterologist recorder for the Essex Field
Club for identification. |
Small
Ichneumon fly ? Lissonota sp. 25th July 2013 |
Tephritid fly on thistle near lake. 23rd July 2013 |
|
|
 |
 |
Hoverflies on Field rose 6th July 2013 |
Musk
mallow by the main entrance 1st July 2013 |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
June 2013 |

|
Tristar
and VC10 in Fly-past over Hainault 15th June 2013 to celebrate The
Queen's Official Birthday.
©
Michael Rumble |
|
 |
Small Longhorn beetle
Grammoptera ruficornis on Ox-eye daisy
©
Michael Rumble |
 |
 |
Oak Weevil
Curculio glandium on nettle ©M.R. |
Soldier beetle Cantharis rustica on nettle leaf 18th
June |
 |
 |

For this month's page I am
starting with photographs of Invertebrates (insects, spiders and
molluscs) that have been photographed in the Country Park during the
month of June. To
appreciate the fine detailed pictures they should all be viewed at
high magnification like the small Longhorn beetle
Grammoptera ruficornis feeding at the centre of
an Ox-eye daisy taken by Michael
Rumble (©M.R.).
The orange spot on its abdomen is a pollen grain.
The
identity of the Oak weevil
Curculio glandium
pictured below it is based on detail of the
antennae. I am pleased with the detail of the Soldier beetle
Cantharis rustica
which I
photographed from the side on a nettle leaf. Nettles are a good
starting point when searching for and photographing insects.
Although smaller,
the rest of the 30 images are larger than life-size The black
and yellow wasp beetle
Clytus arietis
is a long-horn beetle and not a very good mimic
of the German wasp
Vespula germanica
pictured next to it. The wasp is chewing wood fragments
from a post which it will convert to paper pulp to construct its nest.
The three spiders illustrated are crab spiders and the first two are
colour forms of the White death spider Misumena vatia. They
hide in flowers and catch the unsuspecting victim as it visits a
flower. The third spider is the Common crab spider.
The white lipped snail is a small snail very variable in colour
and pattern. It is closely related to the larger Black lipped
snail. In the picture the white collar can be clearly seen.
Two weevils
are illustrated. Oak Weevil Curculio
glandium on nettle, and previously part enlarged above.
The Green weevil
Phyllobius pomaceus has a green sheen but can lose the green
as it ages.
The two red Cardinal beetles
are distinguished by the head colour red or black, and can bee
seen flying occasionally. They prefer a sunlit bank of nettles
on which to rest.
There are several "blue" damselflies seen around the lakes and
ponds in the forest and golf course and they need to be identified
correctly. Another problem is that the females often differ in
colour and markings to their male counterparts.
Below are three of many hoverflies seen
in the forest on leaves and flowers. Some can be very flighty.
Some are very similar and identification depends on markings on
the thorax and abdomen and leg colouring. Xylota has black
femurs and the rest of the leg is yellow. The Batman hoverfly was
mentioned on the May page.
The Garden tiger moth Arctia caja caterpillar is very hairy the upper hairs
are black interspersed with long white hairs and the under hairs
are a beautiful russet colour. It is also known as the Woolly Bear
and its long hairs can be an irritant if handled. The
caterpillar-like larva of a sawfly on a willow leaf has the normal three pairs of insect legs near the
head but six pairs of prolegs seen clearly in the picture. True
caterpillars only have 5 pairs of prolegs. Also shown is the Oak
sawfly larva Periclista sp. with its black two pronged hairs.
Ladybirds can be very varied. Two very small ladybirds are the two-spot and the
14-spot. The two-spot ladybird Adalia bipunctata featured here is the typical form.
The 14-spot ladybird is very variable in its
pattern
Propylea quattourdecimpunctata has several spots merged giving it the
appearance of having an anchor mark on its wing cases. Both
ladybirds feed on aphids.
.
There are over 1,600 species of tiny moths or micro-moths in the UK
and one is illustrated above. Pyrausta aurata is feeding on
the disc florets of the Ox-eye daisy. Next to it is a Macro-moth,
the Yellow shell moth
Cryptogramma bilineata
with its intricate coloured pattern. Not strictly a day flying
moth it readily flies when disturbed.
Before
becoming mature adults many insect nymphs moult several times. Their exoskeleton
cannot expand and with their continued growth their skin
splits and a later stage (instar) emerges. Here is a photo of a
nymph of the Speckled bush cricket - note the very long antennae
approx 5cm. For adult see
here.
The
small Cranefly or Nephrotoma needs closer examination of
its thorax pattern to identify to species. It is one of three True
flies (Diptera) illustrated.
Large numbers of Green-bottle flies Lucilia sp. can be seen
sunning themselves on any patch of vegetation. They are a major
contributor to Fly strike in sheep where the eggs are laid in
wounds and the resultant maggots cause loss of hair and poor
health in sheep. Sheep are normally dipped or sprayed early in the
season to prevent attacks from flies.
The Snipe
fly Rhagio scolopaceus also found on nettles often presents
itself on a leaf pointing downwards - hence the upside down fly -
although not in this picture. From its resting place it can fly up
and catch insects in flight.
The medium
sized Scorpion fly Panorpa communis is not a True fly has a
patterned wing. Nettles are a good place to find them. The end of
the abdomen in males is the genitalia and it is shaped like a
scorpions tail (see also the inset). The females abdomen is
pointed. Scorpion flies are of course harmless.
The Forest
shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes nymph, like the Speckled bush
cricket undergoes a series of moults or instars before becoming an
adult. See here.
Lastly
another example of a Long-horned beetle Rutpela (Strangalia)
maculata. When at rest on brambles, hogweed etc. it is very
easy to photograph and identify. When flying it superficially
resembles a wasp with very long legs flitting from flower to
flower and feeding on pollen and nectar.
|
Wasp beetle Clytus arietis 27th June ©M.R. |
German wasp
Vespula germanica collecting wood. |
 |
 |
White
death spider Misumena vatia 20 June ©M.R. |
Yellow Misumena
vatia on foxglove 23 June |
 |
 |
Common Crab Spider ©M.R. |
White lipped snail Cephaea hortensis 30th June |
 |
 |
Oak Weevil Curculio
glandium on nettle ©M.R. |
Green weevil
Phyllobius pomaceus 14th June ©M.R. |
 |
 |
Cardinal beetle
Pyrochroa coccinea 17th June |
Cardinal beetle
Pyrochroa serraticornis 25th June |
 |
Blue-tailed damselfly
male Ischnura elegans 19th June
©M.R |
 |
Common blue damselfly male Enallagma cyathigerum by the lake
19th June
©M.R. |
 |
 |
Batman hoverfly Myothropa florea ©M.R. |
Hoverfly Dasysyrphus
venustus 17th June |
 |
 |
Hoverfly probably
Xylota segnis on leaf 8th June |
Garden Tiger
caterpillar 30th June ©M.R. |
 |
 |
Willow sawfly larva 12th June ©M.R. |
Oak
sawfly larva on oak leaf. 8th June |
 |
 |
Two spot ladybird
Adalia2-punctata 17th June |
14 spot
ladybird Propylea 14-punctata 25th June |
 |
 |
Micro-moth Pyrausta
aurata 19th June ©M.R |
Yellow shell moth
Cryptogramma bilineata 30 June. |
 |
 |
Crane
fly Nephrotoma sp. 24th June |
 |
Speckled bush cricket
nymph 25th June |
Green bottle Lucilia sp. on hawthorn 30 June ©M.R. |
 |
 |
Scorpion fly
♂ Panorpa communis ©M.R.
14 Jn.
|
Snipe fly Rhagio scolopaceus 19th June. |
 |
 |
Forest Shieldbug nymph
or instar 30 June |
Longhorn beetle Rutpela maculata 30 June |
|
 |
 |
Bee orchid Ophrys apifera. Above right
the orchid is showing a pollen sac (pollinia) hanging. 27th June 2013
© Michael Rumble |
 |
Every June
the Queen celebrates her Official Birthday with the Trooping of the
Colour. The ceremony finishes with the Queen and members of the Royal
Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. We are fortunate that the
flight path of the Fly Past passes over Hainault Forest en route to
the Palace. Pictured above is the Tristar and VC10 pictured by
Michael Rumble. For the rest of the images
click here.
The
management of a Country Park, unlike that of an urban park requires
careful planning with little visible return for investment for several
years. Last year I wrote of the success of one project started in
2005 by the lake.
It is now 8 years on and this year has seen the emergence of Bee
orchids in this spot - a fitting reward for forward planning.
Although it is important to to have
plenty of short grassland for games, family picnics, kite flying,
running etc. it is also necessary to keep areas of long grass for
wildlife to exist. Bees are having a hard time with numbers down 50%.
They are important pollinators for our crops along with thousands of
other insects. Hence the array of photographs shown above. These areas
of long grassland have gradually been introduced into our urban parks
despite opposition in the early days. In the long run biodiversity can
be a huge benefit to the health and well being of Redbridge folk.
The long grass (pictured left)
under trees provides a refuge for small mammals and a number of
butterflies and moths lay their eggs in such areas and is good
management.
The hedge alongside the path to the
Romford Gate, known as Alice's hedge was a task given to Alice
Greenacre one of the Country Park wardens about six years ago. It is
now bearing fruit with Guelder rose, Dogwood, and Hazel becoming a
feature. Historically Hazel was virtually absent in Hainault Forest
with only a couple of trees left. A Hazel grove was introduced 10
years ago and this is now producing hazelnuts for small mammals,
squirrels and nuthatches. At about the same time a grove of
Small-leaved lime was planted. This represents a tree that was widely
endemic in southern England.
We were sorry to see Linda
Herbert's post at Hainault lost due to austerity measures. Linda had
been the first point of contact for enquiries, events and
business for over 18 years. She was responsible for organising an
annual list of walks, talks and events. She was a hands-on person and
many people will remember her annual Christmas workshop and also as a
walks leader from the beginning of Redbridge Walk to Health.
Personally I found her very supportive of what I have tried to do at
Hainault as a volunteer. Fortunately Linda has accepted a post at The
Town Hall dealing with events and bookings. We wish her well.
It is not often that "new" plants
are added to the species list for Hainault Forest. I forced my way
into a thicket on the Common and discovered a couple of healthy plants
of Spurge laurel Daphne laureola. It is a plant associated with
chalk land but the Common has suitable areas of chalky boulder clay from the
last glaciation. For a full list of plant species
click here.
All parts of the plant are toxic to humans, but not birds.
Wild Celery Apium graveolens
flowered by the waters edge at the outfall of the lake. It is a member
of the Apiaceae formerly called Umbelliferae or Umbrella plant. It is
a plant of brackish water usually by the coast yet seems to thrive
here. It is an biennial.
There are a few plants of Three
Cornered Leek Allium triquetrum. It's stem is triangular hence
its common name. The bell like white petals have a green stripe down
the middle. It can be found inside the entrance to the forest on
Hoghill, near the bus stop.
The new swans produced two cygnets
this year although only one has survived.
Courtney of the Essex Kite Group is
often seen on the grassland flying his kites. The flying fish seem to
be popular. To see more
click here.

CONNIE the farm dog who
sadly died on 28th April was known and loved by many current and
former staff, volunteers and visitors to the farm. She was a rescued
Lurcher dog and was at least age 13+ |
Group of
Bee orchids |
 |
The long grass left under
the trees on the grassland supports a myriad of invertebrates and a
refuge for small mammals that would otherwise be lost. 17th June 2013. |
 |
Linda Herbert moves on.
30th June 2013 |
 |
Spurge
laurel Daphne laureola 7th June 2013 New find. |
 |
 |
Dogwood
Thelycrania sp. in hedgerow on path to Romford Gate 13th June
2013 |
Guelder
rose Viburnum sp. in hedgerow on path to Romford Gate
13th June. |
 |
 |
Wild
celery Apium graveolens by the lake outfall 29th June
2013 |
Three
cornered leek Allium triquetrum Hog Hill entrance 3rd June 2013 |
 |
 |
Swan
pair with cygnet 17th June 2013 |
Flying
fish of the Essex Kite Club 3rd June |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
May 2013 |
  |
  |
  |
Tortrix
moth caterpillars dropping to the ground on the ends of gossamer
threads were being investigated by black ants- 31st May.. Right:
Tortrix moth. |
  
Three butterflies seen in
May 2013. Speckled wood 5th May. Small white 6th May. Small copper
31st. |

Swallows just arrived by
the farm. 5th May 2013. |
The Weather warmed up a
bit towards the latter half of May and there was a rapid response to a
late spring. Pictured on the 3rd of May at the lake, the trees were
just coming into leaf with the Oaks just in leaf by the 31st.
On the
31st May I was sitting on a chair in the shade of an oak tree when i
noticed Tortrix moth caterpillars
Butterflies continued to be seen on warm days including the Small
White, Small Copper and Small Heath. This tiny butterfly closes
its wings and manoeuvres itself to get the maximum warmth from the
sun. One butterfly continues to be seen is the Speckled Wood. This
tiny butterfly is often seen sunning itself on bramble and sunny
positions on trees although it favours dappled sunshine in woodland
glades and rides.
I
spotted some Swallows flying about on the 5th May and a couple perched
on a dead tree by the farm. Later in the month they were seen swooping
over the grassland catching insects. Their mud nests are attached to
the underside of rafters in farm buildings. There has been plentiful
mud available this month.
An old
standing oak provided a suitable nesting site for the wild honey bee
and many workers were entering into the deep recesses to tend the
Queen and help with cell building, egg and pupal care, collecting
food. Each has responsibilities for the wellbeing of the colony
including defense, cleanliness and temperature control.
A pair
of Longhorn beetles Anaglyptus mysticus were photographed
mating on a leaf. Their abdomen is a brown and black colour with a
white chevron pattern and a white tip. The name 'longhorn' refers to
the long antennae which are very noticeable. They were plentiful on
warm days in May.
Hoverflies were about on sunny days. There are many species of
Hoverfly and they are found most months of the year. The so called
Batman hoverfly Myothropa florea gets its name from the pattern
on the middle section of the thorax (arrowed red). With a little
imagination and squinting a logo of Batman appears. Many hoverflies
have similar pattern on their abdomens but it is the batman that
clinches it.
Walking
amongst the short grassland turf of the acid grassland near the top of
Cabin Hill a strange phenomena was noticed. Many of the stems of
Fescue grass had a white patch on them starting at a node and
continued upwards for about 2-3cms. By searching the web I found that
this was caused by a Claviciptalean fungus Epichloë festucae.
Its life history is very complex and involves microscopy, chemical
analysis and belongs more to the world of researchers, mycologists and
molecular scientists.
The
heavy rains in April muddied the water in the lake and enquiries of
contractors at the lake confirmed the fact that no frogs or toad or
their spawn had been seen this year at the lake. Frogspawn had been
seen at Roe's well. Surprisingly on May 5th many small tadpoles were
at all points around the lake, and were probably Toad tadpoles as
masses of toad spawn has been seen regularly each year in the lake.
The
lake has been looking good this year. All around the outfall end of
the lake the yellow iris has been in flower.
The
path side edges in the Country Park have been looking good this year.
Two banks of Dog violets gave an impressive display on the 12th May
2013 and combined with the general biodiversity give a good impression
of a good management team led by Mr Paul Browne. It is important that
personnel have a good knowledge of what a task involves and create
healthy habitats that are suitable for wild flowers and subsequently
for insects and birds that feed on them. Bees are low in numbers this
year and crops rely on them for pollination. More on this in the June
page.
Another
example of good management is to be found in the Hainault Lodge Local
Nature Reserve where a team of volunteers led by the Redbridge
Conservation Team Rangers have created a series of ponds which are
important in providing habitats for the Great Crested Newts
which are found in the area and were monitored before and following
the creation of the Redbridge Cycle Centre alongside.
The
important relic heathland based on glacio-fluvial sands is split in
two by the Romford Road. That on the opposite side to Hainault Forest
is managed by Epping Forest Country Care Team. In the winter of 2006/7
the then leader of Country Care Paul Hewitt and Dr Kenneth Adams of
Essex Field Club met and discussed the restoration and enhancement of
the heathland. Top soil and leaf litter were scraped off and by May
2007 a few of plants of Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica had
appeared and seeded. In successive years the numbers have
increased and this year a large area of the Heathland was carpeted
with hundreds of plants. Country Care and its band of loyal hard
working volunteers are to be congratulated on the heathland flora
returning and the conservation of the Dwarf gorse Ulex minor.
 |

Wild bees with nest in an
old oak tree. 6th May 2013 |

Mating pair of longhorn
beetles Anaglyptus mysticus 31st May 2013 |

Batman hoverfly
Myothropa florea 27th May 2013 |

Fungus Epichloë festucae on Fescue grass stems 13th May
2013
Right: Spring Vetch 27th
May 2013. |

Tadpole around the lake
5th May 2013 |


Above: Yellow iris found
around the lake outfall 31st May 2013.
Path side bank of Dog
violets - an example of good management. 12 May 13. |
 |
Part of
a vast array of Lousewort on the heathland at Chigwell Row Recreation
Ground Reserve -
another example of good management practice, This time by the Epping
Forest Country Care Team. 27th May 2013 |
 |
A view
of All Saints Chigwell Row and Woodhenge above the lake 3rd May 2013 |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
March
- April 2013 |

White Brain fungus Exidia
thuretiana on fallen hornbeam. Photo © Daniel Britton, Latchford
Meadow 25th March 2013. Identified by Peter Comber. |
  |
Broken drain at Latchford
meadow where the subsoil has been washed away to reveal a mass of tree and
plant roots, giving the scene a cave-like mystery. Alongside the drain was
a Hart's tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium below. Both
photographs © Daniel Britton 25th March 2013 |
 |
 |
Outflow at the Lake on 18th
March 2013
|
Coltsfoot by the lake
flowering 18th March 2013 |
 |
Silver birch,
Willows
2 Beeches at back
Hawthorns foreground
Grey poplars
Oaks at back
Hornbeam, Gorse foreground. |

Serpentine mine of micro-moth
Stigmella aurella in bramble leaf. Commonly found. Photo 7th April
2013 |

Ivy-leaved speedwell
Veronica hederifolia 18th March 2013
The month of March was
very cold and dull with temperatures often below zero. Although days
of sunny but cool weather occurred on the 4th and 5th March, and there
was a period of light snow 22nd - 24th March, the meteorological
Office announced that March had been the coldest since 1962. The
weather continued cold and wet until 14th April when a record
temperature of 25°C was recorded. This date seemed to mark the
beginning of Spring in the forest with bright, windy and showery
weather.
Daniel
Britton found and photographed a jelly fungus which was later
identified by local mycologist Peter Comber as White Brain fungus
Exidia thuretiana and was found on a fallen Hornbeam branch
at the back of Latchford meadow. A broken drain made an interesting
photograph and Daniel found a Hart's tongue fern alongside. This fern
prefers ditches and damp places. Apart from Lambourne Wood which
drains into the River Rom the rest of the water from the Country park,
Chigwell Common, Latchford meadow, Hog Hill all flows into Hainault
Lake, then tunneled into Seven Kings Water in Fairlop Waters
eventually into the River Roding near Barking. It was unfortunate that
nobody picked up this fact when surveying for an Olympic Site which
has left local park users one year of an unsightly 35 acres of rubble
and having to pay car parking charges for the privilege. Just one of
the Olympic Legacies!
One of
the first flowers of the year was Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara
whose flowers appeared around the lake outfall on the 18th March
three days before the Spring equinox. Coltsfoot flowers first and when
the flower dies down the coltsfoot shaped leaves appear. The other
flower was Ivy-leaved speedwell Veronica hederifolia which
appears on path and woodland edges especially near Woolhampton Way
path
The
trees are coming into leaf at differing times in April with the
hawthorn one of the first. Blackthorn flowers before the leaves appear
- see picture below. By the end of April the Ash is in flower but it
has yet to leaf along with the oaks. Photographed 30th April 2013
On many
bramble leaves strange snakelike (serpentine) shapes can be seen.
These are caused by a micro-moth grub which lives between the leaf
tissues. In the photograph the grab started life as an egg laid in a
vein in the top left hand of the picture. When it hatches it burrows
in the leaf and as it grows so the mine enlarges where it pupates
until it is ready to hatch at the middle right of the picture. The
pattern of mines and the pattern of the droppings (frass) in the mine
help with the identification of the moth species. For more details see
leaf miners.
The mud
that we have had over many months gives an opportunity to look for
tracks and signs of mammals. Pictured is the slot of a Muntjac deer.
The trails and slots can be seen everywhere this winter although the
animal is rarely seen. It often gives the impression of a fleeting
glance of a medium size brown dog running through the scrub. This and
other tracks can be
seen here.
The
arrival of spring means spring cleaning in many households, and
notwithstanding in the home of the Badger or Sett. Here in the picture
is a mound of loose soil and old bedding (mainly hay). Badgers are
very clean animals and unlike the Fox do not contaminate their home
with old food and droppings (scat). They dig
a toilet at a distance from the sett.
I heard
the first cuckoo call on 30th April. A pair of Mandarin ducks were
seen on the lake. The first brood of Canada Geese were seen on the
22nd April and numbered 5 goslings and a week later a second brood of
4 appeared. It was reported that while watching this brood one was
dragged under the water by what appeared to be a Pike. While walking
down Retreat path I noticed a fluttering under a bush which turned out
to be an injured Nuthatch. I managed to get a grab shot showing its
delicate feathers before leaving it to recover.
Butterflies are appearing with the warmer, sunny weather. The first
was a Comma Polygonum c-album on the 15th April 2013 followed
by Red admiral Vanessa atalanta and Peacock Inachis io
on the 22nd, Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria on the 29th and male
Orange tip Anthocharis cardamines on the 30th.
One of
the first insects to appear is the Bee-fly Bombylius major.
There have been several sightings since the 20th April 2013. It is a
Fly although it superficially mimics a bee. It has a long proboscis
which makes it look scary, but its mouthparts are for probing flowers
for nectar. It is often seen hovering and when at rest its two wings
have a brown leading edge, with white on the hind part. It is one of
the first pollinators of flowers where its long proboscis (almost as
long as its body) can get to the nectar at the base of the flower
thus helping to transfer pollen from flower to flower.
Michael
Rumble photographed a Jay in the woodland as it foraged for acorns.
Like all members of the Crow family the Jay is very intelligent. It
buries acorns in the autumn for a winter food reserve. Here the Jay is
seen on the 18th March searching for its cache. Although there appears
to be a randomness in the hiding and recovery of the acorns, it shows
that it is well able to find them and those that remain hidden produce
oak saplings that may contribute to woodland survival.
The
orange lichen Xanthoria parietina has been spectacular this
year. Because of the long winter months and little cover the orange
has developed well and has been very noticeable on Elder, Willows and
all acid rich barked trees. Lichens are strange plants. A fungus and a
alga live in partnership (symbiosis) with the fungus contributing
nutrients and the alga photosynthesizing (producing sugars in
sunlight). This relationship produces fertile spores. The use of a
lens or magnifying glass shows lichens to be very structured in close
up, often showing the fruiting bodies. Searching tree bark and
branches can be very rewarding. See some of the lichens that were
found in November
here.
Also pictured below is Physcia ascendens where the ends of the
branches are "hooded". Daniel Britton took the picture of the lichen
Evernia prunastri which is about the size of a golf ball and
can be found hanging from Hawthorn branches in the Woodhenge glade at
the back of the lake.
For
about six months the Blackthorn or Sloe Prunus spinosa has been
dormant. It is found on the edges of the woodland areas and scrubby
areas often associated with Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. The
collective dirty black appearance of Blackthorn gives rise to its
name, although in sunshine there is a hint of a purplish sheen. In
mid-April the hawthorn came into leaf and the Blackthorn took on a
white mantle at the end of April. There is a mass of blossom and the
leaves will follow by late May.
The wet
winter has seen the Lady's smock or Cuckoo flower Cardamine
pratensis appearing in areas where it has not been recorded
before. It is usually found in a hollow opposite Foxburrows cottages
and on the Dog-free picnic area, but in addition it has been recorded
around the lake, in a patch on the amenity grassland and along the Oak
path from New North Road. These areas have been particularly wet this
year and may have given life to some long dormant seed.
Towards
the end of April there was a sudden surge of plants flowering
including Red deadnettle, Wood spurge, Cowslip and Silver-leaved
yellow archangel. |

Muntjac deer hoot print or
slot in mud on path 7th April 2013 |
 |
Entrance to a Badger sett -
note the bedding thrown out. 10th April 2013 |
 |
Injured Nuthatch by Retreat
path. 15th April 2013 |
 |
Bee-fly Bombylius major along
the Oak path 26th April 2013 |
  |
Jay (above)
Photos ©
Michael Rumble 18th March 2013 |
 |

Above and left Lichen
Xanthoria parietina
on elder.
Notice the saucer shaped
fruiting bodies above.. 7th April 2013 |
 |
 |
Lichen Physcia ascendens on
nutrient rich trees. 7th April 2013 |
Lichen Evernia prunastri
on nutrient rich trees near lake.
Photo
©
Daniel Britton 11th
April 2013 |
 |
 |
Blackthorn or Sloe flowers
before coming into leaf. Path back of lake 30th April.
|
Red deadnettle Lamium purpureum 29th April 2013 |
    |
1. Wood spurge Euphorbia
amygdaloides near Woodhenge
2. Cowslip Primula veris
Wild flower meadow left of entrance gate.
3.Yellow archangel
Lamiastrum galeobdolon argentatum Woolhampton Way
4. Cuckoo flower aka Lady's
smock Cardamine pratensis Lake edge
All flower
pictures above taken 29th April 2013 |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
January
- February 2013 |
 |
Mud and Rubble - view
towards 2nd car park of the amenity grassland 28th February 2013
|
Many locals are not happy with
the situation left at Hainault following the Olympics. Many people and
groups are staying away and finding amenities elsewhere. Where are our
local Councillors? Why should people pay car parking fees to be greeted by
40 acres of wilderness, rubble, mud and rubbish. The restoration is a
major task. ALL rubble has to be cleared from the site first and roads
removed. The clay covering this area has no stones in it and is ideal for
children playing on the grassland. Any rubble left or buried on site will
become a hazard and a safety issue. We were rollercoasted into this
situation with no knowledge of the site by the planners and consultants of
the watershed here, clearly marked on the maps. Snoozebox have trashed our
amenity grassland. Our own hay crop was lost last year and probably this
and subsequent years due to the Olympics. Our plight here is
not newsworthy. Vision and the Redbridge Council have cut the annual
budget again with more key staff losses. No statements are given as to the
Forests future either through the local Papers, Public meetings or through
Redbridge Life. No walks, no events. All we have is SILENCE. I believe
that the Redbridge Council and Vision have forgotten their part in all
this - that the forest was given to the public forever in 1906 and
entrusted to the local authorities to fulfill their pledge to care for it.
At least we have new gates to stop the fly-tippers adding to our misery. |
 
Snow on heathland above,
and left the path to lake from Retreat Path.
21st January 2013 |

Above and inset: Fewmets (droppings)
of a female Fallow deer (doe) together with urine in snow on path near lake.
24th January 2013. |
Although a sprinkling of snow occurred before Christmas, the main fall
in January happened on the 21st January and lasted for about a week. A
second fall was on the 11th February which rapidly cleared.
Temperatures were seasonally low and it was not unusual for a snow
flurry to happen but not settle. Although it was cold, the clear skies
on the 17th - 19th February ensured that we had brilliant sunshine.
Pictured above are two scenes in the forest - the heathland near
Chigwell Row and a path to the lake gave the impression how things
were. Michael Rumble captured scenes of the public placing in the snow
and the animals coping on Foxburrows Farm. These are shown below at
the foot of this page in
Snow extra.
The
snow brings the opportunity to look for animals tracks and signs. At
the back of the lake was some droppings and urine - pictured left. The
droppings were pointed at one end and rounded the other - see inset.
These are characteristic of a female fallow deer or Fallow doe and the
urine at the same spot confirms this. The male Fallow buck's droppings
are pointed, but not so rounded and they are concave at the other end.
There are special names for animal droppings or scat and animal
detectives who look out for this are scatologists. Fallow droppings
are correctly called Fewmets. More details of how to be an Animal
Detective can be found on the
HOME PAGE.
At the turn of the year
hazel catkins become noticeable. They are the male flowers and will
mature and shed cloud of pollen in the wind. On the 17th February the
female flowers were noticed and are red appearing at the base of the
catkins and elsewhere on the twigs. It is the female flowers that will
catch the pollen and will produce the familiar hazel nuts in the
autumn. Another early flower is the Snowdrop which was found flowering
on the 19th February on Hog hill. .
Several birds feed around
the café including chaffinches, pied wagtails and robins. This Robin
(left) ventured into the café and was skilfully caught by the Country
Park Manager, Paul Browne.
The resident swan pair
vanished during the Olympics and a pair of very young birds in their
first year as adults have recently appeared on the lake. The male or
cob goes into a threatening mode if you approach too near, standing at
his full height with his head and beak pointing skyward. It will be
interesting to see if they will breed this year. A comparison between
the sexes can be made by looking it the base of the bill. The cob has
a pronounced knob and the female or pen has a much smaller one.
Michael Rumble has captured a close up of the cob which is no longer
an ugly duckling and he looks as if he knows it!
.......A flock of swans
spied him there and very soon agreed
You’re a very fine swan indeed!
A
swan? Me a swan? Ah, go on!
And he said yes, you’re a swan
Take a look at yourself in the lake and you’ll
see
And he looked, and he saw, and he said
I am a swan! Wheeeeeeee!
Also
magnificent is the photograph of the drake Mallard. Here Michael has
captured the green sheen on its head. Many birds are now developing
their spring plumage for the breeding season. The males are generally
brighter coloured. The females need to be a more drab colour as they
need to blend in with their surroundings while incubating their eggs.
During February the flock of Black headed gulls have now got their
"black" heads which in fact are dark brown.
When
the lake freezes over the waterfowl can succumb to the predation of
foxes. It generally happens that an area of the lake remains open
water when their is a large concentration of birds gathering together.
Pictured below is one such stretch of water where Canada geese,
Mallards, Coots, Moorhen gather.
The
farm has to function 365 days a year despite the weather when
transport breaks down and schools close. The three Meercats have thick
winter coats and look in top condition, as do the rabbits. The
Mangalitza pigs have thick coats, the goats look well and a credit to
the staff who do a magnificent job keeping fresh water available even
when all the pipes are frozen. Food and bedding are also very
important. Hay and straw has to be bought in for food and bedding.
Jess
Burnett is a volunteer at Hainault. She is also an artist. On a rare
sunny day in mid February Jess was found painting a fox portrait on an
old churn. The churn will be a feature on the Foxburrows Farm.
|
 
Above: Robin held by Country Park
Manager Paul Browne after being caught in the Global café.
Photo © Michael Rumble 5th February
2013.
Left and below: Hazel catkins ready
to shed the pollen and the female red flower and buds which
will develop into Hazel nuts in the
autumn. 17th Feb. |
 |

Cob and Pen mute swan, Compare the
base of their bills, |
 |
 |
Male mute swan's threatening pose, the
female looks on. The lake. 18th February 2013
Snowdrop flowering on Hog Hill 19th February 2013
Photo
©
Michael Rumble
|
 |
 |
No longer the ugly duckling. A young
cob male mute swan in his second year. Photo
©
Michael Rumble 19th February 2013
Mallard drake. The sun has
highlighted the green sheen of the head feathers. Photo
©
Michael Rumble 4th February
2013
|
   |
The lake. Photos
©
Michael Rumble 19th February 2013 |
  |
Rabbits in the sunshine.
Photo Michael © Rumble 5th February 2013. Mallards, Canada geese, coot and Moorhen
find some open water in the frozen lake. 24th January 2013 |
  |
Volunteer and artist Jess Burnett
decorates an old churn with a portrait of a fox. 17th February 2013. Hay
delivery Photo Michael © Rumble 5th February |
 |
Meercat with
thick winter coat. Photo © Michael Rumble 5th February 2013. |
HOME PAGE
SNOW EXTRA
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
MARCH - APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER |
January
18th Snow Extra |
 |
Although a light covering of
snow occurred in Hainault on 5th December last the first real snow of the
winter happened on 18th January and lasted for several days. The Country
Park was closed to cars for safety purposes as the road wasn't clear for
vehicles for three days and there were many families enjoying the snow on
the slopes of Hoghill as above. Photo © Michael Rumble |
  |
The Global café had sledges
for sale but one child with parent had a very up market version.
Photos © Michael Rumble |
 |
On the farm the Mangalitza
Hairy Pigs must have welcomed their thick coats. This rare breed
originates from Hungary and Austria.
Photo © Michael Rumble |
  |
The Muscovy
duck isn't phased by the snow but the Meercats are cautious. Photos
© Michael Rumble |
  |
The robin and pied wagtail
hunt in the snow around the café Photos © Michael Rumble |
 |
Another view
of Hoghill. Photo © Michael Rumble |
 |
Horses
forage for grass in the snow on the farm. Photo © Michael Rumble |
|