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13 Nov. 2007
On Tuesday November 13th the title of the Field Club heard a talk entitled ‘A Year in the Life of a Farming Lepidopterist’. It was given by Mr. Ray Wilson who, with his wife Liz, has a farm near Stokesley.
Beginning with December, Mr. Wilson showed a series of slides showing his farming activities and the species of butterfly to be seen at the same time of year.
Generally butterflies need a temperature of 32oC before they will fly and the first to be seen, in March, are often peacocks which come out of hibernation. In April the white butterflies: large, small and green veined and the orange tip may be seen. May and June, with the emergence of the first flowers, sees many butterflies, among them being the green hairstreak, small copper, pearl bordered fritillary and holly blue. In July Mr. Wilson has photographed skippers, meadow brown and ringlet on his farm and, in August, had seen the Durham (northern brown) argus as well as burnett moths and elephant hawk moth. Painted ladies, which migrate from North Africa, and red admirals which don’t like the cold and are also migrants are likely to be seen in September. In October the butterfly season comes to a close, often with numbers of peacock beening seen.
It was an interesting and lively talk and very cheering on a dull November evening,
Our members’ own reports of local sightings included a large flock of long tailed tits, a rough-legged buzzard, woodcock and a lesser spotted woodpecker, all seen at local nature reserves. A flock of upwards of 1000 lapwings and golden plovers were seen on the road from Eggleston to Staindrop.
On Tuesday the 27th November, Dr. John Senior will give a talk titled ‘Geology of Upper Teesdale and the Whin Sill’. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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20th Nov. 2007
On Tuesday November 20th the Field Club held an evening of our own members’ short talks.
The first, given by Dr. Elizabeth Elliott, described some of the natural history, mainly botany, seen in Jersey in May/June of this year. The island has a variety of habitats: meadow, dunes and coastal areas and some heathland all of which support different varieties of plant. Among other species, fragrant evening primrose and spotted rock rose are found in the meadows; panicled knapweed and tree lupins are in the dunes and dodder and heath lousewort on the heathland. The excellent slides were taken by Carole Sobkowiak.
The second talk was given by Alan Legg, the club’s mycology expert, who gave a talk on plant-parasitic fungi. He described examples of rusts, powdery mildew and anamorphic fungi all of which are new, in the last ten years, to this country and which can be found in Darlington. Some are now common throughout the country and some are being found on new host species within the genus of the specific host plant. He brought along some specimens for us to look at. Mr. Legg’s talk demonstrated how mycologists can regularly make discoveries about organisms which have a complicated life cycle.
Reports of members’ sightings during the week included: tree creepers at Deepdale, Richmond and Low Coniscliffe; kingfishers at Croft and Low Coniscliffe and a buzzard and partridge at Copley. A roe deer stag was seen on a farm near Middleton St. George.
The next field Club meeting will be on Tuesday the 8th January, when Debbie Scott will give a talk titled ‘Weird and Wonderful Down Under’. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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27th Nov 2007
On Tuesday November 27th the Field Club heard a talk given by Dr. John Senior, a retired geologist from Durham University. He talked about the geology of Upper Teasdale and the Whin Sill.
Using a mixture of geological maps, diagrams, slides of the Teesdale countryside and other areas and artists impressions, he covered many millions of years.
His story began 450 million years ago and described movements of continents and the formation of the earliest known rocks. These were then eroded by up to 6,500 ft and later rock formations deposited on top. The result of all this activity is the continents where they now stand and the scenery which we can see on our walks.
Reports of members’ own sightings included a roe deer, seen at Low Coniscliffe and large flocks of golden plover and lapwing at Cleasby.
The next field Club meeting will be on Tuesday the 8th January, when Debbie Scott will give a talk on ‘Weird and Wonderful Down Under’. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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8th January 2008
Our first talk of the New Year, on Tuesday January 8th, had the title “Weird and Wonderful Down Under”. It was given by one of our own members, Debbie Scott, and she described, using a series of superb slides, some of the highlights of the year she had spent travelling in Australia.
Her journey began in Perth and going north continued around the coast, with one trip inland to see Ayres Rock.
In the Serpentine National Park, near Perth, she saw a grass tree, 300 years old, the parts of which can be used to make spears. Any talk on Australia has to include a Koala bear, but we learned that they are not bears, but marsupials; do not drink; sleep a lot and have fingerprints which are very similar to those of humans. Near Darwin Debbie saw examples of rock art which vary in age from 20,000 years to a few months. They are still being produced and can be used as teaching tools and for religious purposes.
At Ayres Rock, Debbie walked around it but did not go onto the top as this is a sacred place to native Australians. It is called an island mountain and is all that is left after many thousands of years of erosion.
Some other notable features were ; the Hercules Moth which is possibly the largest in the world; lava tubes which are studied by NASA as they may be similar to features found on the moon and the common wombat whose droppings are cubic in shape.
On a cold, very windy January night in the UK, Debbie’s talk and her slides of sunny places and fascinating wildlife was very cheering.
There were not many reports of what members had seen over Christmas and New Year, but they included a tortoiseshell butterfly seen on December 28th and on Boxing Day at Redcar turnstones were seen turning over the remains of some fish and chips.
The next field Club meeting will be on Tuesday the 22nd January, when Andrew Jones and Irene Crooks will give a talk on ‘Underwater Nature Photography’. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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22 January 2008
Underwater Nature Photography was the title of the talk given to the Field Club on Tuesday January 22nd. It was given by Andrew Jones and Irene Crooks who are amateur divers and photographers.
The first set of slides was taken around the shores of Britain: Cornwall and the east and west coasts of Scotland. A variety of creatures were shown: anemones, sponges, corals, fish, crabs, lobsters and seals. Some were swimming freely, some were attached to rocks, some to wrecks and some to each other. To the uninitiated the names are eloquent: Golf Ball Sea Squirts, Dead Men’s Fingers, Dahlia Anemones and Peacock Worms.
The second set of slides was taken around the world including the shores of Indonesia, around the Caribbean and the Maldives. In all these areas the most impressive features are the vivid colours, the bizarre shapes and patterns and the extremes of size from the Pygmy sea horse, the size of a human’s little fingernail to a 3.5 metre long shark. Again, some of the names sound fanciful but describe the creature’s appearance: the Orang Utang Crab, the Jewel Box Anemone. Several shots were devoted to the Stone fish, the most poisonous creature in the sea.
It was a interesting talk on an area of the natural world which few of us will ever have the opportunity to witness at first hand.
Members’ sightings for the previous week continue to indicate the coming of spring. Aconites, snowdrops and primroses were seen in more areas and blackbirds have been heard singing. The beginnings of movement have been reported in garden ponds and a flock of long tailed tits were seen in a Darlington garden.
At Low Coniscliffe a roe deer and a flock of 18 siskin were reported and at Cleasby ponds many species of birds were seen: goldeneye, redshank, great crested grebe, goosander, golden plover, lapwings and tree sparrows as well as some more common species. A fox was seen, during the day, in Darlington West Cemetry, undisturbed by the presence of humans.
The next field Club meeting will be on Tuesday, February the 5th. Dr. Brian Wood will give a talk titled “Ancient and Natural Woodlands”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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29 January 2008
On Tuesday January 29th the Field Club talk ”Birds of South Africa” was given by Mr. Doug McCutcheon.
Using slides, Mr. McCutcheon described about 70 different birds, whose habitats included the coastal regions, inland areas and wildlife parks. Some looked familiar; house sparrows and barn owls are similar to those found in this country, while others are very different; the goliath heron is five and a half feet tall with a huge wing span while the pygmy kingfisher is the world’s smallest kingfisher. Mr. McCutcheon described the habits of some of the birds and of particular interest was the weaver bird. The male bird builds a nest which is then inspected by his female partner. If she likes it she flies off and returns with some fine grass with which to line it. If she doesn’t like it, she destroys it!
Mr. McCutcheon ended the evening with a short quiz on bird recognition. The winner was declared Birdbrain of Darlington.
Reports of members’ sightings gave some indication of seasonal and climate confusion: a small tortoiseshell butterfly was seen at Wynyard Park, a hedgehog was seen wandering about during the day, in the South Park in Darlington there were a few autumn toadstools and two dippers were seen in the ford at Barton, presumably because of the recent high river levels.
A spectacular sight was seen in a field near Middleton Tyas; a flock of 200 birds, mainly fieldfares with some redwings. Near Aldborough, large flocks of partridge and lapwing were reported and a weasel has taken up residence on a farm near Middleton St. George.
At the next field Club meeting on Tuesday, February the 12th, several club members will give short talks. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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5th February 2008
On Tuesday February 5th the Field Club heard a talk on ancient and natural woodlands, given by Dr. Bryan Wood.
He defined ancient woodland as that which was in existence in 1600 and has remained as woodland ever since. Before this date it was unlikely that woodland would have been planted so areas in existence in 1600 are likely to have been woodland since the end of the last Ice Age.
Dr. Wood described the objectives of the Woodland Trust, one of which is to minimise any further losses of ancient woodland which is almost impossible to recreate. Once gone, it is gone for ever. This is because, on soil which has been used for anything other than woodland, the ecosystem of the woodland floor cannot be recreated as conditions from other types of use, such as agriculture, persist and cannot be eradicated.
This does not mean that areas of native, as distinct from virgin, woodland cannot be planted: a further objective of the Woodland Trust. A third objective is to restore and improve the biodiversity of existing areas and a fourth is to increase people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland areas.
Members’ reports included the sighting of a variety of birds at Bolton gravel pits: gadwall, cormorant, heron, oystercatcher, pintail, pochard and shellduck. Eight whooper swans were seen at Kirkby Fleetham and a buzzard and peregrine falcon were seen at Low Coniscliffe.
The next field Club meeting on Tuesday, February the 12th, a talk, “The Work of the Wildflower Ark”, will be given by Jessica Harrison. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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12th February 2008
On Tuesday February 12th the Field Club heard three short talks given by our own members.
The first, by Mrs. Phyllis Garrod, was about Stanwick Camp, the largest Iron Age fort in northern England. Evidence of the camp, which is situated along the road from Aldbrough St. John to Forcett can still be seen, as the land has never been ploughed. Several excavations have taken place. In 1854 a considerable number of items were found, including a war chariot. These are now in the British Museum and are known as the Stanwick Hoard.
In the early 1950s the area was investigated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and further work was done in 1981 by Durham University. Mrs. Garrod showed a series of slides of the area and told the club that she would be leading a walk around the camp later in the year.
The second talk was given by Mr. Tom Dewdney and was about the conservation work being done at Walworth Moor Farm, near Heighington. The work began in 2005 when there was considerable restructuring of farming subsidies. As a result a ten year management plan was put in place which included the planting of field margins with mixed grasses or wild flowers, the planting of new hedges and less frequent cutting of existing hedges. Some areas have been left fallow for a year, two 5 acre plots have been planted with bird seed and 150 nest boxes have been put up.
Several surveys are done each year and so far the results are encouraging with a considerable increase in the number of tree sparrows as well as increases in yellow hammers and dunnocks. The bird seed fields are used as a roosting area for redwings and there has been a 50% occupancy of the bird boxes. School parties are shown round the farm and many of the birds have been ringed. As with Stanwick Camp, the Field Club members will be able to visit the farm in the summer, on a walk led by Mr. Dewdney.
The third talk, given by Mr. Ajit Sarker, allowed our members to reminisce about previous summer walks. It was called “Looking Back Through the Lens” and, using a series of superb slides, he illustrated many aspect of our walks. Beginning with the Arts Centre, where most of our walks begin, he showed a variety of images.
We saw people, mostly looking at things, up in the sky, down on the ground or out to sea. Locations ranged from Marske in Swaledale, Egglestone Bridge, Bishop Middleham, Easby Abbey to as far afield as Teesmouth and ST. Abb’s Head. All aspects of wildlife were covered: plants; bluebells, orchids, cowslips and valerian, birds; fulmar, heron and dipper, butterflies; small heath, small copper and various moths, fungi; chicken of the woods, King Alfred’s cakes and yellow jelly fungus. If we needed an incentive to go on our walks, then this certainly provided it.
Members’ reports continue to show that we are advancing towards spring; hazel catkins and coltsfoot were seen and there are several reports of active ladybirds in Darlington
The Field Club’s AGM is the next meeting, on Tuesday, February the 26th.It will be followed by a talk, “A Walk on the South Downs”, to be given by Dr. John Turner. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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19th February 2008
On Tuesday February 19th the Field Club’s talk was given by Helen Herring, the manager of the Wildflower Ark. This is a local and independent plant conservation charity in the Lower Tees Valley and is based at Nature’s World in Middlesbrough. It was set up ten years ago when concerns began to be felt about the apparent decline of wild flowers and plants in the area. Since then the charity has grown and developed, now employing four people and working in several different areas.
Help and advice is given to other conservation charities such as local councils and Wildlife Trusts. Work is done with schools and conservation kits are provided for the children to grow wild flowers to be planted in local areas. The charity provides some input to the Biodiversity Action Plan for the Lower Tees Valley. Recently three projects have been undertaken. Studies have been done on the ancient and species rich hedgerows of Stockton and also of Redcar and Cleveland; a superb booklet has been produced of Wildflower Walks in the Lower Tees Valley and a re-introduction project has taken place around Stockton in order to save the Globeflower which had almost become extinct. A lot of questions followed which showed how interesting we all found Helen’s talk.
Members’ reports included sightings of a whooper swan and goosanders on the lake at Cleasby, flocks of redwings and song thrushes just outside Darlington and more than a dozen skylarks at Low Coniscliffe.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, March the 4th.It will given by Dr. John Coulson and is titled “Why Do Birds Breed in Colonies”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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4 March 2008
On March 4th, the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club talk was given by Dr. John Coulson and had the title “Why Birds Breed in Colonies”. Before the talk began, Derek Risbey, the club’s new President, thanked Mrs. Falgunee Sarker, the retiring President, for her excellent work during the past year.
At the end of his talk Dr. Coulson concluded that, so far, naturalists and scientists are unable to give a definite reason as to why birds breed in colonies but, as outlined in his talk, there are some advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages include greater ease of predation; increased likelihood of disease; the need to adjust behaviour to the stresses of a crowd and the possibility of the immediate source of food becoming exhausted quickly. The advantages include the possible greater resistance of large colonies to predators, although this is not considered to be likely. A greater possibility is that some birds need the stimulation of the close proximity of others before they can breed successfully. As always, Dr. Coulson made a complex subject interesting.
Members’ reports indicate that spring is advancing. Frogs are appearing in ponds; wood anemones have been seen in flower; the Yellow Star of Bethlehem (Gagea lutea), a plant that the Field Club is observing closely, is beginning to flower and a skylark has been heard in full song. Whooper swans are still to be seen at Cleasby and Kirkby Fleetham and a reed bunting and male stonechat were seen near Neasham.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, March the 18th when Dr. Chris Lowe will give a talk “The Toads of Cod Beck Reservoir”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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11th March 2008
On Tuesday March 11th, the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club talk was given by Mr Brian Walker of the Forestry Commission. The original title of his talk was “The Return of the Native – Trees” but he had decided to change it to “Fuzzy Forests Fit for the Future”. As his talk progressed it was apparent that both titles were appropriate: while native trees are replacing some conifer plantations, the edges of planted areas are becoming less definite as other types of vegetation such as grass and shrubs intermingle with the areas planted with trees.
He explained that the Forestry Commission now works towards several objectives: to maintain existing wooded areas; to protect and enhance the biodiversity of native woodlands and other natural habitats and to protect other aspects of our cultural heritage such as other types of wildlife, archaeology and history. He stressed that while coniferous woodlands are planted for a purpose and should not be regarded as museums or nature reserves, the commission has now to take into account the fact that whenever something in a wooded area is changed there is a knock on effect on other species. For example, more broad leaved woodland is good for deer - but deer eat vegetation, and so the situation has to be managed.
Finally, he described how it is now recognised that wooded areas are most beneficial to wildlife when joined up, so that wildlife can move easily from one area to another.
Among other items, members’ reports indicate that Whooper swans are returning north: only two are now to be seen at Bolton Gravel Pits, one immature swan was seen at Cleasby and all have gone from Kirby Fleetham. The weasel, seen on a farm near Middleton St. George, has now been joined by a stoat and a reed bunting has been seen on the farm. At Croft, rooks are beginning to build their nests.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April the 1st when John Harding will give a talk “Letters from Selbourne”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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18 th March 2008
On Tuesday March 18th, the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club talk was given by Mr Chris Lowe and was called “the Toads of Cod Beck Reservoir”. Beginning with a comic verse about the frog and references to toads in literature, where they are usually reviled, Mr. Lowe described the toad rescue scheme at Cod Beck which he helps to organize.
Toads (bufo bufo) live most of their lives on land, in this case the moorland on the other side of the road from the reservoir. In early spring, when they need to get to the water for spawning they have to cross the road, which they do in the late evening and into the night, running the risk of being squashed by passing traffic. The rescue team, spaced along the road, pick up the toads, which do not move very quickly, put them in buckets and take them down to the reservoir. Along the reservoir side of the road is a wall which contains four large holes through which the toads are sometimes posted.
At times of peak movement hundreds of toads may be rescued in one night and it has been estimated that there may be as many as five thousand toads in the reservoir. Attempts are also made to cover the return of the toads to the moor after spawning. There has been some rescue activity taking place since the 1980s but the more organized scheme began in 2002. At present there are some difficulties in getting enough people to help with the scheme.
Members’ reports include numbers of red grouse and calling lapwing in Teesdale and Weardale and the dispersal of geese from Bolton Gravel Pits, although 18 barnacle geese are still there. Increasing numbers of the yellow star of Bethlehem (Gagea lutea) were reported at Low Coniscliffe, High Coniscliffe and near Piercebridge.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April the 1st when John Harding will give a talk “Letters from Selbourne”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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26th Febrary 2008 - AGM
The 116th AGM of the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists’ Field Club was held on Tuesday 26th February. Mr. Derek Risbey was elected as President for 2008/9 and Dr. John Turner as President Elect.
Following the AGM Dr. Turner gave a talk, “A Walk on the South Downs”, illustrated by slides. The South Downs stretch from Eastbourne to Eastleigh and are the southern face of a chalk dome, the top of which has been eroded. Flint has been mined on the chalk coast and there have been settlements on the Downs throughout the ages.
Dr. Turner first walked here as a child and the basic scenery has not changed since then. Sheep grazing prevents the grassland from being taken over by trees. The Southdown breed of sheep was nearly extinct a few years ago but numbers have increased twenty fold to meet a demand from local restauranteurs for local meat. There are several municipal parks on the cliff tops: land bought by town councils to prevent property development. These areas are good nature reserves featuring the native flora and fauna. Nineteenth century development of rivers for navigation and draining of the associated salt marsh has reduced habitats for wildlife but further upstream there are still some water meadows where cattle are grazed. Cattle and trees are also to be found in dry valleys. Many dew ponds were built to harness rainwater for watering sheep and those remaining are protected. Examples of the windmills built on top of the Downs for grinding corn can be seen, with some having been converted into houses.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, March the 11th when Brian Walker will give a talk “Return of the Native (Trees)”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471). |
Tuesday 1st April 2008
On Tuesday April 1st, Mr. John Harding, one of the club’s own members, gave a talk on “Letters From Selborne”, the book written by the Revd. Gilbert White in the 18th century. The book is a compilation of letters both to and from Revd. White and describes his, and others observations of natural history. He is regarded as the forerunner of modern naturalists and is said to have influenced the work of Charles Darwin. He was mainly interested in ornithology but observed all aspects of wildlife and his letter on the harvest mouse is said to be the first scientific examination of this small animal. He discussed the current scientific topics of the day, especially migration, but never really sorted out his opinion on this topic. As well as his work on natural history, he was a published poet and Mr. Harding ended his talk with a reading of one of his poems, given by Mrs. Babs Walton, interspersed with Revd. White’s footnotes about the species referred to in the poem.
Members’ reports indicate that spring is advancing: a swan nesting and sand martins arriving at Bolton Gravel Pits; the first sightings of butterflies and bumble bees and the first chiffchaffs being heard at High and Low Coniscliffe. At Langdon Beck in Upper Teesdale a blackcock lek was seen – 23 birds displaying at three o’clock in the afternoon. A barn owl was seen at High Coniscliffe and a woodpecker was heard in a Darlington garden.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April the 15th when Don Griss will give a talk “A Naturalist in Northern India”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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8th April 2008
On Tuesday April 8th, Mr. Colin Stephenson gave a talk to the Field Club on “The Habitat of Fungi”. He described what exactly fungi are and the three main groups: parasitic, those which grow on trees and may kill them; those which grow around the roots of trees and decomposers, those which get rid of a lot of green waste. Most mushrooms and toadstools come into the second category. The type of fungi depends on the tree species, the soil content, the location, the degree of dampness and the amount of management by man.
In a series of slides, Mr. Stephenson showed examples of fungi, the trees with which they were growing and where they were found. They can be found around both deciduous and evergreen trees but also in grassland, moorland, on other fungi and in animal dung.
Signs of advancing spring continue to be seen by Field Club members. Sand martins were seen at High Coniscliffe and Cleasby, swallows at West Tanfield and Cleasby, chiffchaffs and blackcaps were heard at Low Coniscliffe and butterflies, a comma and a small tortoiseshell were seen at The Whinnies and Easby. Two barn owls have been seen near High Coniscliffe, so there are hopes that they will breed. One of our more unusual sightings was of a grey wagtail in Skinnergate, Darlington.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April the 22nd when Cliff Evans will give a talk “Round and About”. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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15 April 2008
On Tuesday April 15th, Don Griss, one of the Field Club’s own members, gave a talk on “A Naturalist in India”. Using slides, he described the wildlife he had seen during a holiday in northern India, in February 2007.
Of the 1,100 species of birds in India Mr. Griss photographed quite a few and reported seeing many more. Parakeets, sunbirds, vultures and black kites were seen in the hotel grounds and the red whittled lapwing in the middle of Delhi. Many species looked familiar but were in more exotic plumage: the pied kingfisher, the magpie robin, the spotted owlet and the brown fish owl. Some had long names descriptive of their appearance: the black rumped flame back and the white capped water redstart.
As well as birds Mr. Griss showed us other species of wildlife: bats hanging from temple buildings; buffalo swimming across a river; monkeys; deer and antelope. A notable sighting was the pink frog in the toilet bowl but unfortunately he was unable to get a picture of this. The highlight of the visit was a ride on an elephant to look for tigers. From the elephant Mr. Griss photographed a jungle cat and, eventually, in the undergrowth, a tiger, which was seen again briefly on the track before it disappeared.
Reports of members’ sightings during the previous week indicate that our summer visitors are continuing to return: sand martins at Low Conisclife; swallows at Middleton St. George and chiffchaffs and willow warblers - heard but not yet seen. A kingfisher was seen at Croft and buzzards at Bolton gravel pits and Low Coniscliffe. Red Kites were seen clearly at Eggleston and avocets at Nosterfield. Despite the cold weather hedgehogs are emerging from hibernation;one was seen in a Darlington garden.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April the 29th when Mr Derek Risbey, the Club President will give his Presidential Lecture. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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22 April 2008
On Tuesday April 22nd, the Field Club talk was given by Mr. Cliff Evans, the club’s general secretary. It had the title “Round and About” and was a comprehensive guide to the orchids of England and the butterflies of northern England. Using slides, he described many of our orchids, from the common twayblade to the unusual violet helleborine. Of particular interest was the dark red helleborine which members often see on summer visits to Bishop Middleham. Many of them have names descriptive of the creatures which they can be said to resemble: bee, fly, spider, lizard, monkey. There is even a lady and a man orchid.
In the second half of the talk, Mr. Evans, showed a presentation prepared by Sam Ellis for Butterfly Conservation. The slides showed those butterflies likely to be seen in the northern half of England, along with details of their usual habitats, food sources and the time of year they are likely to be seen. They ranged from those we may see in our gardens: large and small whites, small tortoisehell, peacock and red admiral, to those which are rare: the high brown fritillary and the mountain ringlet. The latter is currently only found high in the Lake District and may experience problems if our climate continues to warm up.
An interesting feature of the more common butterflies is how many of them lay their eggs on nettles, usually regarded by gardeners as weeds. Perhaps we should try to leave a small patch of them in our gardens so that these common species of butterfly can continue to thrive. It was a useful evening at the start of the summer when we all hope to get out and see an abundance of orchids and butterflies.
No orchids have yet been reported but cowslips, wood anemones, primroses, celandines, marsh marigolds and bluebells are now all being seen by our members. On one of the slightly warmer days recently, small tortoiseshell, small white and peacock butterflies were seen. Other reports include the sighting of a tawny mining bee, a brown hare, a Daubenton’s bat (in daylight), a wheatear and ring ouzels.
The Field Club’s next meeting is on Tuesday, May the 6th when those people leading walks during May will give details of what we expect to encounter on their walks. The meeting starts at 7.30 pm in the Club Room on the ground floor of Darlington Arts Centre. Club information, including the programme of summer outings, can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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29 April 2008
On Tuesday April 29th , the Field Club talk was given by Mr. Derek Risbey, the club’s President. Mr. Risbey is a well known local photographer so, not surprisingly, his talk was on photography. He began by describing the history of photography from Aristotle to Leonardo da Vinci; camera obscuras; production of the first negatives in the middle of the nineteenth century; the development of celluloid and the production of the first box camera in 1890. From being described as “the invention of the devil” in the seventeenth century cameras began to be used freely from the beginning of the twentieth century.
Mr. Risbey went on to describe how photography works; what light is and the principles of exposure. He ended his talk by explaining that the principles of digital photography are essentially the same as those using film, but the images are much easier to manipulate. This is a point which may be of significance in issues of identification and evidence. It was an excellent talk and brought the club’s winter programme to an appropriate end.
Members’ reports indicate that summer migrants are being seen in increasing numbers. The first swifts have been seen over High Conicliffe and Darlington and a cuckoo has been heard. Butterflies have been seen more frequently, cowslips are in flower and birds are gathering nest material.
The Field Club’s first two summer outings are on Saturday 10th May to Lunedale Reserve and Grains O Beck, leaving from the sports field in Abbey Road at 10.00am and on Tuesday May 13th from Piercebridge to Snowhall, leaving from outside the Arts Centre at 7.00pm. Club information, including the programme of summer outings, can be found at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc or by contacting the general secretary, Cliff Evans (01325 466471).
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