2006 Annual Report

CONTENTS
President – Gordon Simpson 1
Secretary – Cliff Evans 2 Membership – John Baker 3
Library -– Brian Denham 3
Curator – Phyllis Garrod 3
Treasurer – Raymond Garrod 4
Obituaries Phyllis Garrod /Barry Hetherington 6
Editor – Phyllis Garrod 6
Curator – Phyllis Garrod 7
Digital Projector – Brian Denham 7
Environmental Forum – Brian Denham 7
Winter Programme – John Walton 8
Summer Programme – John Turner 9
Section Leaders
Botany – Falgunee Sarker 9
Butterflies – Cliff Evans 12 Mammals – Don Griss 13
Mycology – Alan Legg 14
Ornithology – Don Griss 16
Field Outing Reports
May 6 - Hawthorn Dene – Elizabeth Elliott 21
9 - Middleton One Row – Elizabeth Elliott 21 14 - Wensleydale – Falguneee Sarker 22 16 - Coatham Stubbs – Debbie Scott 23 23 - Bolton on Swale Gravel Pits – Don Griss 23
June 3 - Stodhoe Farm – John & Babs Walton 24
6 - High Coniscliffe – Derek Risbey 24
11 - Gunnerside Gill – Christine Lunn 25
13 - Drinkfield Marsh – Yvonne Jinks 26
17 - Newton by the Sea – Carole Sobkowiak 26
20 - Broken Scar to Blackwell Christine Lunn 27 24 - Reeth – Grinton Circular – Phyllis & Raymond Garrod 28
July 1 - Leighton Moss Cumbiae – Don Grissr 29
4 - Maidendale Local Nature Reserve – John Harding 29
9 - Orchids – Bishop Middleham – John Turner 30
11 - The Whinnies Local Nature Reserve – John Baker 30
15 - Ramshaw & Spring Gardens – Don & Mary Griss 31
18 - Easby Abbey, Richmond – John Turner 31
23 - Hamsterley Forest – Gordon Simpson 32
30 - Arnside Knott, Cumbiia – Cliff & Gladys Evans 32 Sept 9 - Billinham Bottoms – Winifred Woodhouse 33
12 - Flatts Wood – Barnard Castle – John Turner 34
17 - Teesmouth – Don Griss 35 19 - Wynyard Woodland Walk – Cliff & Gladys Evans 36 23 - Binchester Roman Fort – John Turner 36

President 2006 — Gordon Simpson

I had hardly recovered from the shock of being appointed an honorary life member of the society when Cliff Evans asked me to be president. I felt I was too busy to take on such a task but Cliff’s persuasion convinced me that the office would not take up much of my time, so I accepted. Cliff is right in that there is such a large team of enthusiastic members on the council that the work is shared out. At this point I thank all the council members for their unfailing support and also the members of the society for their considerable friendliness in helping me settle into the task. It is because of all the members taking part in activities and supplying records that the society is dynamic. Keep up the good work because many societies are folding up due to lack of support. I would like to see more young members joining the field club but life changes over the decades and computers and the Internet appear to keep young people occupied.
I have tried to attend most meetings but other business, attending other societies’ meetings and holidays take up a large amount of my time even though I am supposed to be retired. The meetings throughout the year cover other subjects than wildlife such as archaeology, climatology and history. Even if you are not interested in these subjects wildlife is influenced by them so ought to be taken into consideration.
Attending the summer meetings has made me go to local areas that I have not visited before. The trips further afield took me to new pastures. I thank the leaders for taking members to such a wide diversity of habitats where many new species, some of which are rare, were discovered. Do volunteer to be a leader and take members to one of your well-known wildlife haunts. You need not be able to identify the wildlife because there is such a wide range of expertise within the society’s membership. By taking members on a walk you will enjoy your area more when you find out what is present.
The extremely varied winter talk programme includes subjects that must be of interest to the majority of members. Some of the subjects are on overseas areas or human behaviour so may not appear to be related to wildlife but they have an indirect influence on our surroundings, or the world, so must be considered in conservation. I must thank Cliff Evans for applying for and obtaining a grant to purchase the new Power Point projection equipment and for the volunteers who, in their own time, attended an instruction course on how to operate this marvellous equipment. The society is certainly keeping up with the times.
Thanks to Christine Patterson who has resigned as Minutes Secretary after thirty years and I thank her for such devoted service to the Club.
I sincerely welcome Falgunee Sarker to the post of President. Please offer her similar help to that given to me during my term of office.

SECRETARY 2006 – Cliff Evans

The 14th Annual General Meeting took place on the 28 February 2006 and 40 members were present. The President, Steve Keeney, conducted the meeting, thanked Officers and Council and particularly Christine Patterson stepping down after fifteen years as Assistant Secretary, Elizabeth Elliott after six years as Botany Leader and Phyllis Garrod after twelve years as Publicity Officer. Raymond Garrod was thanked for preparing the accounts and Ian Cox-walker for auditing them. Phyllis Garrod was thanked for editing the Annual Report. The accounts and report were approved. Steve then welcomed Gordon Simpson, the new president, and handed over the official whistle. The AGM was followed by a talk entitled The Bio-diversity of Stodhoe Farm given by Babs Walton and Gordon Simpson.
This year our Annual Christmas dinner returned to the Fox and Hounds at Neasham and was organised by Mary Griss. Twenty-seven members had an excellent meal and enjoyed the social occasion.
During the year I obtained a grant from ‘Awards for All’ that was used to purchase digital projection equipment that is now in frequent use. It seems that slides and a slide projector, so long the backbone of lectures, are beginning to disappear as the digital age takes over.
The Darlington Council acquired the Arts Centre premises when the Training College closed thirty years ago and is now in the process of carrying out a series of alterations. The Clubroom, which we use at present, is due to be enlarged and improved. Work was planned to start mid-November, but it is now December so it is already behind schedule! However, if it is going to be as good as promised, it will be worth waiting for and we will just have to be patient.
At the last council meeting John Turner brought up the question of the Summer Programme, asking council if they were happy with the existing arrangements. This was followed by a discussion at the next weekly meeting. Members felt the existing arrangements were satisfactory and we should carry on as before and that John was doing a good job. One way to help him would be for more people to offer to lead walks. To find leaders for twenty-six outings is not always easy!
John Walton also has a demanding job arranging the Winter Programme, having to find over two-dozen speakers every year. Again this is not an easy task! If you know of a good speaker or would like to do a talk yourself, I am sure John would be pleased to hear from you.
This year has been unusual weather-wise, the early part of summer was very wet and we began to wonder if it would ever improve. Then we had hot, sunny record-breaking weather that seemed to go on forever. Now we are looking to 2007 to see what it brings.
Whatever the weather the Field Club will be out there studying the flora and fauna as it has done for well over a century.

MEMBERSHIP – John Baker

During the year, October 2005 to September 2006, there have been eight new or returning Club members. There were some resignations and several other memberships were not renewed. One member died during the year. From September to the end of 2006, four new members have joined.
At the 30th September 2006 the membership was -

Ordinary Members 20
Concessions 55
Students 1
Life Members 12
Honorary Members 2

Total Membership 90

LIBRARIAN 2006 - Brian Denham

During 2006 I took the opportunity to try and re-catalogue all the books in the library. To date I have managed to catalogue all the published books and have listed them in 13 categories (313 books in total). Still to do is, if anything, the most interesting part of the club’s collection and these are the various books of photographs, newspaper cuttings and reports.
The problem now is lack of space. The un-catalogued books are just pushed into any available space and this makes cataloguing and storing in a usable manner almost impossible. This is a problem to be overcome in some way next year.
Most books in the library are available to take out on loan by club members.

TREASURER 2006 - Raymond Garrod

The accounts are prepared on the receipts and payments method and are for the financial year being the period of 12 months ended 31 December 2006.
Membership income has increased by £60 and entrance charges decreased by £33 due to the lower attendance at meetings and speakers’ expenses increased by £35. More interest was received as the bank rate rose and the investment was of a higher value. There was no tax refund as the claim has not yet been paid. Donations were a legacy from the estate of Ruth Vickery for £500 and an anonymous donation of £40. Producing the programmes and brochures in house reduced printing costs still further. Exceptional expenses were the replacement of a microphone. A digital projector and a computer were obtained with monies from a grant of £2692 from Awards for All.
There was a surplus of £62.68 on the income and expenditure account. If the donations were excluded this became a deficit of £477.32 and inclusive of the donation and interest the total surplus was £527.38. There was an increase in funds of £547.38 with a final balance of £13726.44. The club is therefore in a sound financial position. Our bankers are Barclays Bank PLC and the CAF Bank Ltd.


OBITIUARIES - Phyllis Garrod and Barry Hetherington

Mary Wood (1921-2006)

Secretary 1964-65 President 1970-71
Asst-Secretary 1971-74 Membership Secretary 1984-91
Slide Keeper 1984-85

Mary was President of a flourishing Club when I joined in 1970. She was a keen and active member, a good botanist and birder, gave talks and led walks. Unfortunately ill-health prevented her attending the Club in the last few years.

Myra Burnip (1917-2006)

Librarian 1964-65 Joint Secretary 1965-68
Botany Leader 1969-86 Excursions Secretary 1981-83
President 1984-85

Myra was interested in flowers from being a young child and her interest thrived in the Field Club that she joined in 1962. She was a dedicated botanist and highly regarded both at local and national level. In 1992, after 22 years of hard work, she achieved the highest possible branch of the Wild Flower Society having identified over 2,000 British plants. As one of the main recorders of the Durham Flora, published in 1988, she recorded in 360 of the 712 tetrads and, as well as being one of the official Recording Secretaries, she took over all secretarial duties in 1975. She was a good teacher and eager to share her knowledge and has left a legacy of good botanists in the club.



EDITOR - Phylis Garrod

Thank you for all your contributions – from the Officers and Council and Section Leaders, to all those who led outings and submitted reports. Thanks to all those who kept reports short and concise. Some were much longer than the suggested length so had to be edited for which I apologise but the final length and cost of the report have to be considered.
CURATOR 2006 – Phyllis Garrod

The Club has a large collection of rocks, minerals, fossils and archaeological specimens, natural history slides, an extensive reference library, a lending library and publications of all the natural history organisations to which we are affiliated. Members can use all these.


DIGITAL PROJECTOR - Brian Denham

In 2006 the club purchased a digital projector and laptop computer. The main reason for the purchase is to have the equipment available for visiting speakers but a secondary reason was to encourage our own members to give talks.
In recent years people have been taking fewer transparencies and using it as a reason for not giving a talk, in that they only have prints. That excuse has now gone. I am quite willing to convert your prints, transparencies, diagrams and any other images to a digital format and then use them to create a Power Point presentation for your talk. Why not have a go? At the end of the project you still have your prints etc, and a CD with you presentation recorded on it.


ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM 2006 - Brian Denham

The Environmental Forum is organised by Darlington Borough Council to consider, promote and initiate proposals on environmental issues and to consider the Councils environmental policies and issues. The Forum meets every three months and I have represented the club for a number of years. Most of the issues discussed are eventually well reported in the press and require no further information from me.
A recent item for discussion was the Open Spaces report that placed on record a list of all the open spaces in the town. The open spaces were categorized broadly as parks, recreational or environmental. It went into great details into such things as how close residents lived to accessible open spaces or recreational areas.
Members of the club are involved with the Council Countryside group in preparing flora and fauna records for the numerous SNCI sites throughout the borough.

WINTER ROGRAMME 2006 – John Walton

( ) – Attendance M – Member

10 Jan Along the River Leven (40) Nat Smith
17 The Natural History of Barton (46) John Turner M
24 Butterfly Conservation Projects in (41) Sam Ellis
Northern England
31 South America (47) David Askey
7 Feb More about Malton (32) Terry Coult
14 Short Talks by Members (38)
Flora & Fauna of Patagonia Fal Sarker M
The Burren Elizabeth Elliott M
Fungal Facts & Figures Alan Legg M
21 Magical Meadows Habitat Restoration (41) Michelle Appleby
28 AGM followed by - Biodiversity on (40) G Simpson & M
Stodhoe Farm Babs Walton M
7 Mar Astro Biology (37) Dr David Knight
14 Arts Centre Closed - Meeting Cancelled
21 Hardwick Country Park - Restoration Update (49) T Smith & C Grezo
28 Mooching around Middleton St George (38) George Rowden
4 April Mud, Mountains and Flowers (40) Jane Joplin
11 President’s Lecture - The Rambling Forester (37) Gordon Simpson M
25 Plant Identification made Easy (25) Members M
3 Oct Conservation Hawange Style (34) Ann & Ian
Wilkinson
10 Breeding in Kittiwake Colonies (45) Dr John Coulson
17 Alien & Exotic Mammals (38) Ian Bond
24 Optimum Population (29) Simon Owen M
31 Deserted Medieval Village of West Hartburn (46) Alan Pallister
7 Nov Cassop and Kenya - Environmental Links (47) Jim McManners
14 Recycling & Sustainability (42) Phillipa Scrafton
21 Short Talks by Members (37) Binoculars - Choosing - Using Derek Risbey M
All These I Learnt W Woodhouse M Summer Programme John Turner M
28 Veteran Trees, Parks and Woodlands of (39) Alan Pallister
County Durham
5 Dec Christmas Dinner - Fox & Hounds, Neasham (27) Mary Griss




SUMMER PROGRAMNE 2006 - John Turner

There were 27 outings in 2006 that break down as follows:

Darlington and Tees Valley 11
Co Durham - rest of 6
Swaledale 6
Cumbria 2
Wensleydale 1
Northumberland (coach trip) 1
Total 27

This gave a good coverage of our local area of Teesdale and Co Durham with 6 visits to see interesting wildlife locations in neighbouring Swaledale and 4 visits to special habitats further afield. The only outing by coach was successful with 27 participating for a very interesting walk along the Northumbrian coast on a fine, sunny day.
The emphasis was on wildlife in 25 outings and on archaeology in 2 although all outings gave us an opportunity to study and record birds, insects and botany and to observe the effects of geology and geography on the wildlife and landscape. We continued to alternate weekend outings between Saturdays and Sundays and the average number attending was equal for the two days. However, the Tuesday evening and, in September, Tuesday afternoon outings, had a higher average attendance. At a Tuesday evening winter meeting when the summer programme was discussed there was thought to be a good balance of outings reflecting the interests of club members.
Next year will follow the same pattern, but we will try to use coaches more for the longer trips. We will also try to explore and record some of the newer wildlife locations around Darlington.

SECTION LEADER'S REPORTS

BOTANY 2006 - Falgunee Sarker

This year we have visited flower rich limestone grasslands, local reserves, looked at the plants growing in and around abbey, fort, seaside, and at Teesmouth. The structure of rocks, types of soil, altitude, rainfall, wind, sun and human management have contributed a fascinating variety of plants.
Our first excursion of the season was to Hawthorn Dene. Of the many trees in the woodland, Ash and Sycamore were in bloom. Woodruff Galium odoratum indicated ancient woodland. We saw Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, Spring Sedge Carex caryophyllea, growing in a meadow carpeted with yellow Cowslip Primula veris. We also noted one False Oxlip Primulax polyantha among them. This hybridised plant is occasionally found where Primrose and Cowslip grow. The two-colour form of Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, white and purple, was recorded. We walked to Hawthorn Hive Nature Reserve. This area has magnesium limestone, sandstone and salt marsh vegetation and 47 species were recorded.
Middleton One Row and the River Tees were visited the evening of 9 May. Goat Willow and Norway Maple were flowering and Sanicle Sanicula europaea was in bloom.
On 14 May we were looking for orchids in Leyburn, Seata Quarry and Marsett Ridge. We found our smallest native Burnt-tip Orchid Orchis ustulata that prefers limey soil. Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio was in full bloom as were several clumps of Globe flower Trollius europaeus
The 3 June was hot with a flawless blue sky when we visited Stodhoe Farm at Middleton St George. We found many interesting grasses and plants in flower - Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum, Fairy Foxglove Erinus alpinus, and Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata. We noticed Sweet Vernal-Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, which has a hairy ligule and is an indicator of hay meadows.
On 11 June our excursion took us to Gunnerside Gill. We found 84 species of plants including Spring Sandwort Minuartia verna, Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serphyllifolia, Bog Pimpernel Anagallis terella, and Pale Lady's Mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora.
Our local reserve, Drinkfield Marsh, was visited on 13 June and White Bryony Tamus communis was flowering, also an area of Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea whose golden-yellow green flowers glowed in the setting sun.
Newton by the Sea in Northumberland revealed different flowers, grasses, sedges and rushes. In bloom were Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale, Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, and Blue Fescue Festuca longifolia, also Sand Sedge Carex arenaria in which the top flowers are male, the middle flowers mixed and lower flowers female. Typical seaside plants were represented by Sea Arrow grass Triglochin maritimum, Sea Milkwort Glaux maritime and Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum.
Local walks always bring surprise and delight to the group as in our walk from Broken Scar to Blackwell when 77 plants were in bloom. The air was perfumed with Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata - it grows profusely by the River Tees.
On 24 June, we walked between Reeth and Grinton. Common Twayblade Listera ovata was recorded and a late-flowering Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina with its clock-shaped tiny green flowers at right angles to each other.
We visited Leighton Moss on 1 July. Many sedges were in bloom; beautiful pendular female spikes of Cyperus Sedge Carex pseudocyperus, False Fox Sedge Carex otrubae, Remote Sedge Carex remota and Marsh Arrow grass Triglochin palustre among them. Also recorded were Water Dock Rumex hydrolapathum, and Skullcap Scutellaria galericulata.
On 4 July we visited our local Maidendale Reserve. Around the pond we found Marsh Bedstraw Galium palustre, Water mint Mentha aquatica, Water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica with its pale lilac flower which only opens from mid-day to evening. We ended our walk with a magnificent sunset over the horizon.
Bishop Middleham was visited on 9 July. In flower-rich limestone grassland we recorded Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens, Common Twayblade Listera ovata and Blue Moor-grass Sesleria caerulea. We then moved to Trimdon, where we recorded 78 species of plants, among them Blue Fleabane Erigeron acer and Frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis.
On 15 July we were at Ramshaw to Spring Gardens. A new site for us, and 101 plants were recorded. We were at Easby Abbey in Richmond on 18 July. On the Abbey wall we found Pellitory of the Wall Parietaria judaica, Wall Lettuce Mycelis muralis and Harebell Campanula rotundifolia all growing together where lime mortar had been used. Hornbeam was in flower.
At Hamsterley Forest on 23 July was a wild Service tree Sorbus torminalis, a native tree. 113 plants were recorded including Melancholy Thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum and Stagshorn Clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum.
We were at Marske in Swaledale on 3 September with its picturesque steep valley sides with evidence of lead mining. Ninety-three plants were seen including Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana. A field full of yellow flowered Autumn Hawkbit Leontondon autumnalis was bathed in golden sunshine.
On 9 September, at Billingham Beck Country Park, Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus and Bristly Oxtongue Picris echioides were seen in bloom.
At Teesmouth we walked along industrial wasteland and through sand dunes, recording Carline Thistle Canine vulgaris, Haresfoot Clover Trifolium arvense and Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, also. Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata. In the sand dunes was Sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus and Lyme Grass Leymus arenarius.
During the year members recorded many interesting plants. For the last few years Yellow Star of Bethlehem Gagea lutea has been flowering in March along the river Tees from Low Coniscliffe to High Coniscliffe. On 27 April Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala was seen at Cow green and Spring Gentian Gentiana verna in Langdon Beck. The Bee Orchid Ophrys apjfera appeared in our town after many years of absence. This orchid can grow in recently disturbed land and on dry calcareous ground. Sixteen flowering plants were recorded by the waterworks in June. One excursion, to Foxglove Covert at Catterick had to be cancelled due to heavy rain.
Sincere thanks to Elizabeth Elliott, Gordon Simpson and Judith Dyke for helping me to learn the identification of plants. All my records of plants are in the library.

BUTTERFLIES 2006 - Cliff Evans

The late spring to early summer was rather wet this year so not many butterflies were around. We did have a report of a Peacock in February. When June arrived the weather became more seasonal and hotter, with temperatures rising through this month and the next. The result was that large numbers of butterflies were seen by many of our members.
One of the species that was of particular interest last year was the Speckled Wood. This attractive woodland species was seen north of the River Tees for the first times in years and the question was would it appear again in 2006? It did and was seen in good numbers, which is great news.
Another species that was seen quite often this year was the Holly Blue. This butterfly appears to increase in numbers over a period and then seems to suffer a decline. So it is another one to look for next year to see how it fares.
During the summer - Wall, Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Ringlet, Small Heath, Large Skipper and all the Whites were seen. The Aristocrats such as Peacock, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Comma were also recorded in good numbers. In fact records of some of them were still coming in during December. Those of us with Buddleia bushes were seeing them on a daily basis all through late summer.
What will the weather be like in 2007? We don’t know, but hopefully, it will be good for butterflies!

MAMMALS 2006 – Don Griss

For a change this year we have a fairly long list of mammal records, well over 200. The sad thing about this is that many are of dead animals or of unseen animals. As a direct response to my request for more records our Chairman has produced more than 100 records of Mole. However a quick glance through them shows that they are all of molehills. So with all these records and a few of mine of dead moles the only live mole seen was one I found burrowing across the path at Low Coniscliffe and, come to think of it, I don't think it pushed its nose above ground level. However such a blitz on one species done every few years allows us to map the distribution of a species and follow changes in it, so they are all useful records.
A few years ago we were asked to look for sign of Otters and many people across the country collected much data by finding spraint and seals (foot prints) across the country to give us a good picture of the return of the species. However, very few saw otters in the flesh. With mammals much work is done along these lines due to the elusiveness of our 'prey'.
Some small mammals are easier to deal with as they can be live-trapped using Longworth traps. Other species are difficult to see and difficult to trap. Pygmy Shrews (one record this year) can walk in and out of a trap without tripping it as they rarely weigh over 4grams. Water Shrews are nearly as elusive but for different reasons. Harvest Mice are nearly as light as Pigmy Shrew and spend most of the time above ground level (so we are told).
It was with much delight that I recognised as a Harvest Mouse a small animal handed to me in September. It had been killed during farm operations near Sadberge and is the only actual animal record for many years for county Durham, though some nests have been found.
Other records show that the Snow Hall badger sett has not been occupied this year. There are still a few hares around Piercebridge but not as many as recently. Roe Deer seem to have been seen at several sites with up to 6 deer seen.. We have 4 records of Fox but the most notable is of one in Vancouver Street late at night. Of 28 records of Hedgehog 16 are of animals dead on the roads and 10 are of probably the same animal in my garden
Otters are present on the River Tees and spraint can be found at several sites. However a dead dog Otter weighing 8.5 kilograms was picked up beside the road near Hells Kettles in January. The river was up at the time and the otter was probably going to the pools for an easy meal.
Thank you to all who have contributed records during the year. Keep it up.

MYCOLOGY 2006 - Alan Legg

The expression “curate’s egg” is considered by some to originate in a cartoon published in Punch in 1895, with the following caption:

Right Reverend Host: “I’m afraid you’ve got a bad egg, Mr Jones!”
The Curate: “ Oh no, my lord, I assure you! Parts of it are excellent!”

Mycologically speaking, 2006 was very much a curate’s egg. Luckily the excellent parts were in evidence during the main autumn season.
Bedevilled by cold and drought, the months through till the end of April were pretty uniformly barren and need not detain us long. In Darlington itself I did not encounter a species new to me until finding the pyrenomycete, Lophiostoma nucula on a twig of the Baydale Black Poplar on May 15! A week later, the downy mildew, Peronospora trifoliorum, newly recorded for VC66, was found on leaves of Trifolium pratense on the Club walk to Coatham Stob. The only other record new for the vice county of Durham during first half of the year was the fairly widespread myxomycete, Comatricha tenerrima, collected from an old dead stem of Angelica at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, on May 25.
On July 23, as many members will recall, the earliest stage of the rust fungus, Gymnosporangium sabinae was found on a leaf of Pyrus salicifolia on a visit of the NEFSG to Darlington West Cemetery. Ratification of this record had to wait until the later aecial stage was seen on other leaves of the same tree on September 7th. This proved to be the first British record on this species of pear. But I jump ahead. Meanwhile, another rust, found on Alsike clover by Gordon Simpson on the Club walk to the Maidendale reserve on July 4, was accepted by Dr. Brian Spooner at Kew as a new host record of Uromyces trifolii-repentis.
It wasn’t really until late August that more excellent parts of the egg were found well down in the cup. The West Cemetery produced yet another surprise on August 25 in the shape of a colony of the toadstool, Russula anthracina found under Maple. This fungus looks like other off-white species in the same group until it is turned over to reveal surprising flesh-coloured gills. Almost as soon as this feature is noted, the whole fruit-body has begun to turn black. I had previously come across this species only once, in South Park Wood, Peebles, on August 23 1992 – almost exactly 14 years before! The Cemetery record was certainly the first for County Durham.
On September 11, Gordon Simpson rang to say he had found the uncommon toadstool, Gomphidius roseus (which he knew I had been wanting to see for many years), typically under pine in association with the common bolete, Suillus bovinus. In great excitement, I drove up to Hamsterley Forest where Gordon showed me his find. There is an old record reported from Dryderdale but, as this does not appear in the DTNFC Foray Report for 1931 by F.A. Mason, it should probably be discounted. Interesting collections made in the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace at Bishop Auckland on September 16 include the beautiful pink Ballerina, Hygrocybe caliptriformis, and the curious almost spiny toadstool, Phaeomarasmius erinaceus, probably new to VC65, uncommon and usually found on willow, but here discovered on hawthorn. The rust on leaves of willow-leaved pear led me to ask Field Club members to look at leaves of garden pear-trees for evidence of this fungus. Always ready to respond to a challenge, members duly produced three examples from gardens in Darlington. Hearing of these, Dr. Gill Brand of Stratford on Avon later wrote to me: “what a pleasure that your field club members found it on the garden pears”.
During October, exciting records from the wider area came so thick and fast that I have to be very selective in choosing local examples for mention. On the 2, the West Cemetery produced its first record of Collybia ocior on woody mulch. Ten days later, two rare toadstools were found on the VC65 side of the Tees just east of Eggleston Abbey Bridge. These were Cortinarius olearioides and Hygrophorus persoonii both with beech.
On the 15, my wife returned from a short “leg-stretch” carrying a perfectly shaped toadstool found in a hedge back by Nunnery Lane, ten minutes’ walk from our home. Over lunchtime it began to blacken at all points where Ros had touched it, helping identification as Leucoagaricus badhamii, probably the most northerly collection of this warmth-loving species so far found in this country!

By the end of October such astonishing records as these had begun to tail off but I am still waiting to hear news of other rarities sent to Kew some time ago. Surprises are, however, still occurring. As late as the 2nd day of December, the West Cemetery produced two toadstools never seen there before, the unmistakeable acid drop scented Entoloma pleopodium and Conocybe vexans, seen only once before in the county.

ORNITHOLOGY 2006 – Don Griss

Every year the weather seems to have something in store for us that can cause disruption of normal behaviour of wildlife. Even when, as this year, we have had a long dry season, we cannot be complacent. Wetlands dry up, there is not enough water in the rivers for the salmon to run and common birds like Blackbirds and Thrushes can not get the worms and other soil fauna to feed their young and brood size falls with fewer birds being recruited to the population. This year a cold wet spring combined with a shortage of field voles (it's a low point in their cycle) has resulted in a poor breeding year for two of our best-known predators. For Barn Owls it is the second year in a row and their numbers will no doubt fall as a result making an already small population more vulnerable. For the Kestrel whose population has fallen by 18% since 1994 it is also a problem. However, in two or three years vole numbers should be back up, but will it be enough? We no longer get vole plagues as we did 100 years ago, and will we get suitable weather to coincide with the peak years?
This autumn we have had a series of depressions bringing much needed rain for the rivers and reservoirs but the winds over the British Isles have been mainly from the west. This has meant that conditions have not been suitable for birds migrating to Britain from the Continent. We seem therefore to be short of Redwings and Fieldfares and some other migrants.
Migration at Teesmouth has been rather a disappointment. However, ‘it is an ill wind etc’ and the west coast has had a number of American birds in some numbers. Leach's Petrel has been seen in good numbers and the Canada Warbler has been added to the British List.

BGP - Bolton Gravel Pit LC - Low Coniscliffe
HC - High Coniscliffe SP - Stapleton Pond
January
This is a month when birds can wander at will to find suitable habitat, indeed are often forced to do so by the weather. As a result unusual species can turn up and commoner species turn up in unusual places. This year we had Lesser Scaup (an American duck), Smew and Red-necked grebe at Teesmouth with a Short-eared Owl. BGP had Shelduck and Oystercatcher as early as the 2nd and there was a flock of c14 Ruff with the Curlew and Lapwings. A party of Hawfinch spent some time near Croxdale Bridge but were sometimes difficult to see. Kingfisher, Dipper, Little Grebe and Gooseander were common on the rivers and streams near Darlington and a party of <14 Whooper Swan wintered near Kirkby Fleetham. A flock of c100 Pinkfooted Geese were reported at Cleasby on 28th There was a Chiffchaff (?2) wintering at BGP, a Woodcock was reported in Skerningham Woods and two brown Corvids (Rooks or Crows - they were difficult to approach) could be seen near the Jersey Farm restaurant near Barnard Castle. A Water Rail was present at Brinkburn pond for some time as tame as the waterhens. Also up to 21 Goosander were seen at Brinkburn though this was probably the same party that spent time on Drinkfield Marsh. On the last day of the month a Bittern was seen at Drinkfield and was apparently there for some time.
February.
The Water Rail continued at Brinkburn Pond into this month. At Teesmouth the Smew (2m + 1f) were still at Saltholme Pool with 4 Red-throated Divers present in the outer estuary along with 3 Slavonian Grebes. The first Oystercatcher of the year was seen at Low Coniscliffe on the 4th along with a small flock of Siskin. Siskins wintering away from their breeding sites were seen in several places in town and a flock of 12 increasing to 24 was present at Stodhoe Farm. The Oystercatchers were a sign of the nearness of the breeding season and at BGP the numbers had reached 26 by the 22nd. At SP Shelduck numbers were up to 8 by the 20th and there were 10 Goldeneye on the 22nd. By the end of the month at BGP there were <20 Ruff with the Curlew flock and 10 Redshank in the area. 10+ Snow Buntings were seen at South Gare on the 26h. On the 28th 12 Whooper Swan were still present At Kirkby Fleetham
March
In March the tempo of birding changes again. We are now waiting for the first nesting activity and the summer migrants to appear. Actually for the former there were signs as early as the 6th Feb of Dippers nest building at LC and by 2nd Mar there were probably 2 nests between there and High Coniscliffe. There were 4 Goldeneye on the river near the M'way bridge on 2nd. At BGP 2 pairs of Grey-lag Geese were showing signs of nesting and the flock of Ruff (c20) were still there with one Dunlin. The same day 6 Blackcock were present at the lek on Shaw Farm, Arkengarthdale. Siskins and Tree Sparrows were still coming to feeders in the town early in the month and on 15th there was a Tree Sparrow present in breeding habitat near Broken Scar. 9 Waxwings were seen near New Marske on the 4th. At BGP on the 17th there was still a flock of c1000 Lapwing but also 30 Oystercatchers and 7 Redshank. The following day a woodcock and 2 Buzzards were seen at Marske in Swaledale. On the 19th there was a Peregrine Falcon near Dormans Pool at Teesmouth with Dark-bellied Brent, Short-eared Owl and Long-tailed Duck in the Zinc Works/Seaton Snooks area. By the 22nd Lapwing were in pairs on Holgate Moor with Curlew calling in a flock. The 23d saw 2 Buzzard over Whitcliffe Scar and a Woodcock and 2 pairs of Grey Wagtail at LC. Winter visiting Fieldfares were still present in a flock at Gilling West on the 29th two days after the return of the first summer visiting Sand Martins, 3 of which were seen at BGP on the 27th. 8 more were seen at Piercebridge on the 28th and the first Chiffchaff was heard singing at Manfield Scar on the 28th.
April
This is the month when many of the summer visitors arrive and such is the urge to migrate and to breed that very little will do more than hold them up for a few days. Weather may not have been ideal for birdwatchers but the birds turned up as expected. A Swallow at BGP on the 4th, near Hurworth on the 12th, Common Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail at BGP on the 13th, a Blackcap and Willow Warbler singing at Broken Scar on the 16th when a Mistle Thrush was already feeding young. On the 18th there were two Little Ringed Plovers and 3 House Martins at BGP, 2 Common Whitethroats at LC on the 24th and 4 Swifts over Salutation Road Darlington on the 29th.
This was not all. There were still 4 Whooper swan at Kirkby Fleetham and 1 at BGP on the 4th. A very rare Penduline Tit was reported at Drinkfield Marsh on the 4th but was missing when I went to look for it on the 5th. However they had been seen at the Portrack Marsh Reserve for a few days so a quick trip to the Barrage, a short walk and a 1/2hr wait and we saw a nice cock perched for 10 minutes on the top of a bush.
Other things seen were 20 Blackcock opposite the Langdon Beck Hotel with 12 beside the St Johns Chapel Road on the 1st, and 17 Blackcock and a Grey Hen at Langdon Beck on the 14th when a flock of Fieldfares was still present. The same day another Blackcock was seen from the Langdon Beck/Cow Green road. There was a Ring Ouzel at Cow Green on the 27th and a Shorteared Owl at Coatham Stob on the 14th. A Red Kite was seen at BGP on the 30th.
May
May was quieter - Cuckoo and Swift were at West Tanfield on the 1st and a Cuckoo was at Stang Forest on the 3rd when a Lapwing with chicks was also seen. A Garden Warbler was seen and heard at LC on the 15th where a Sedge Warbler was singing on the 16th. On Osprey passed over Low Barns almost un-noticed on the 21st. A visit to Sharnbury Lane, near Egglestone, on the 24th found a Stonechat in residence and a pair of Partridge (Perdix perdix) was seen on the way. By the 26th the Mute Swan at BGP had 6 young.
June
The most exciting bird of the month was probably the Barn Owl that appeared near the end of the Club’s outing to HC on the 6th. C30 members must all have had good views of this graceful hunter. A Little Owl was seen at Middleton in Teesdale on the 7th. On the 15th an Osprey was reported at West Tanfield. Towards the end of the month 2prs of Great-crested Grebes had nests in front of the hide at BGP but only one of these was ultimately successful.
July
Always a quiet month. The nesting season nearly over, birds moulting and keeping out of sight of possible predators. A Reed Warbler at Hells Kettles on the 3rd was the first I've seen there in many visits. A Green Woodpecker was seen at Eggleston Hall on the 7th. This is unlikely to be unusual as these birds are fairly widespread but rather elusive except in spring when their calls can be heard for long distances. We saw a Tree Pipit near Ramshaw during the Club outing on the 15th.
Common Sandpiper on the 20th and a Common Tern Feeding a youngster on the 23d at BGP were probably the start of the autumn migration.
August
The appearance of 13 Barnacle Geese on the 2nd and 2 Bar-headed Geese on the 22nd are probably the result of captive or feral birds feeling the impulse to migrate even though in both cases this is not appropriate in their present situation. More appropriate was the appearance of 100+ Lapwings at BGP on 8th and 1000+ at LC on the 9th The last Swift I have record of was one at HC on the 27th. More conventional migrants seen at Teesmouth on 26th were Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Arctic Skua. The increasingly common Little Egret was seen as was a White Pelican, another escaped bird that was eventually seen feeding on Saltholm Pool. The fact that 3 experienced birdwatchers had been looking at the pool for 1/2hr before spotting a bird, nearly as big as a swan, says something about their powers of observation which I'm sure we don't want to hear On the 30th a small falcon (not a Kestrel) was seen at LC but not identified
September
The last Sand Martin noted was one at LC on the 1st. House Martin and Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Marske in Swaledale on the 3rd. Bonxie (Great Skua) and Arctic Skua were present at North Gare on 13th. Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Red-throated Diver on the 17th. 2 Buzzard were hunting near Snow Hall, Piercebridge, on the 19th. The escaped Cockatiel flying round Saltholm Marsh on the 24th was not as at home as the Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint which were also there.
October.
While watching 2 Pectoral Sandpiper and a Little Egret on Saltholme Pool a few observers were privileged to see a Peregrine Falcon fly across the pool towards Port Clarence, climb up behind a Lapwing, and simply pluck it out of the sky before returning to earth to pluck and eat it. It seemed so effortless. This happened on the 1st. There was a party of 12 Common Snipe at BGP on the 3rd along with some Golden Plover. On the 9th a Chiffchaff was singing at Piercebridge and a Buzzard and 2 Sparrow Hawks were seen. On the 10th a Kingfisher was seen on Clow Beck at Croft and a Tawny Owl was in Stanhope Park as the Club gathered for a meeting. 4 Pink-footed geese flew over LC on 23rd and the last Swallow noted was at Croft on the 30th.
November.
A flock of c30 Fieldfare flew over BGP on the 1st, and a Pink-footed Goose was present. On the 16th there were at least 3 Ruff present and by the 24th the Cormorant numbers were at least 27. At LC there was a Tree Creeper on the 18th and 2 Little Grebe on the river. At Croft on the 20th there were Fieldfare, Redwing, Dipper, Kingfisher, Heron and Goosander. On the 25th a Short-eared Owl was also seen. Cleasby had c100 Pink-footed Geese on the 29th.
December.
BGP was quite productive during December but no great rarities were seen. Little Grebes were seen on the 3rd, 14 Redshank and 10 Heron on the 14th, a Lesser Redpoll on the 21st and 1 Shelduck, 29 Cormorant and 3 Gadwall on the 29th. A flock of Pied Wagtails (30+) was present most of the month. On the 9th a small falcon (?sp) was seen to make a pass at a Lapwing and a few minutes later it was seen again carrying prey but not the Lapwing.
I would like to thank all those who contributed to this report by putting their records in the record books. I would name them all but I have already overrun the editor's allowance for this report.

FIELD OUTING REPORTS

6 May - Saturday - HAWTHORN DENE - Elizabeth Elliott

Fourteen members and one guest attended the first outing of the summer season to Hawthorn Dene. It was a cool spring day with no rain.
We went through the woods past a limekiln and down to the meadow above Hawthorn Hive. In the woods we heard much bird song and saw Blue and Coal Tits, Chaffinch and heard Chiffchaff. The woods were colourful with Bluebells and Garlic coming into bloom. The Blackthorn bushes were full of blossom.
The meadow was covered in Cowslips. Here we paused for lunch and afterwards most members crossed the railway track and walked to the top of the cliff. A Kestrel was seen. We continued northwards for a short distance. Lapwings were flying around and Skylarks singing. At the cliff edge we could see Guillemots and a Fulmar flew past.
As we returned by a different route through the wood we saw Orange Tip and Peacock Butterflies. We found a patch of about 30 Early Purple Orchids. In all 48 species of flowering plants were seen in bloom.

9 May – Tuesday evening - MIDDLETON ONE ROW Elizabeth Elliott

Sixteen gathered for an evening wander round Middleton One Row. It was a warm evening.
We set off by the riverbank of the Tees heading upstream. The deciduous trees had fresh green leaves and some including Willows and Sycamore also had flowers. Cow Parsley and Sweet Cicely were in bloom as was Garlic. Some members saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker. We went on past the Spa into Dinsdale Wood. Here there were Dog Violets and clumps of Pendulous Sedge.
We retraced our steps and climbed up past Dinsdale Park to the golf course. On the way we saw Herb Robert and Leopardsbane in bloom. As we crossed the golf course the sun was going down and appeared as a fiery ball.
Our return route was down a hedge side and past a new wood where Bird Cherry was in bloom and finally along Church Lane to the centre of the village. .

14 May - Saturday - LEYBURN, SEATA QUARRY, MARSETT RIDGE - Falgunee Sarker

It was a dull, cold day as 14 members left the Arts Centre at 1000 hrs to visit Glebe Meadow Nature Reserve near Wensley. Tom Houghton from Darlington Orchid group was our guide. Tom uttered the mantra ‘be very careful where you put your feet, some of the orchids are extremely small.’
The first orchid seen was the magnificent Burnt-tip Orchid Orchis ustulata, which excited us with its dark maroon-purple hooded sepals and pink dotted white lip, and only 15mm high. Two plants were seen flowering - we viewed the orchids one by one and when the photographers finished we moved on. We spotted Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis mono. It has parallel dark-green veins on the three purple sepals, which constitutes a hood. We saw different hybrids of Green-winged orchid (hint of pink, light pink, dark pink, lilac pink). Heath spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza maculate was flowering, as was Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula and its pink form.
In Glebe meadow sheep were excluded by fencing but in January and February sheep are allowed to graze which helps other orchids to grow. This meadow was rich in other plants.
We then visited Seata Quarry. Fog and mist came down. During the lunch break, a Heron being mobbed by Crows entertained us. Other birds seen were Curlew, Lapwing, Red-legged Partridge, Pied Wagtail and Mistle Thrush. In the Quarry we recorded Early Purple Orchid, Dovesfoot Cranesbill Geranium molle and Glaucas Sedge Carex flacca.
Marsett Ridge was the last place we visited with many Globe flowers Trollius europaeus, Marsh Valerian Valenianu dioica, Birdseye Primrose Primula farinose, Marsh Lousewort Pediculanis palustnis, Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, Water Avens Geum rivale, Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa, Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, Early Purple and Heath Spotted Orchids. Shining Cranesbill Geranium lucidum, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, and Thale Cress Arabidopsis thaliana were in flower. Dwarf Willow Salix herbacea was growing here. Moderately scattered clusters of Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris, an insectivorous plant with its golden-yellow-green sticky basal leaves were seen, although it was not in flower. At the end of our visit we realised the special scientific importance of these areas.

16 May - Tuesday evening - COATHAM STOB COMMUNITY WOOD, LONG NEWTON - Debbie Scott

Sixteen members and guests met on this overcast but pleasant evening and travelled to Coatham Stob Community Wood just outside Long Newton, Stockton. This 200-hectare area is the largest site within the Tees Forest. Our path led alongside Coatham Beck where there were plenty of plant species in flower, such as Jack-by-the-hedge, Herb Robert and Red Campion. Several skylarks could be heard overhead whilst a song thrush sang its heart out from the top of a weeping willow and a greater spotted woodpecker was seen flying away. As we came alongside the patch of birch woodland a crab-apple tree was noted for its most spectacular blossom. This was attracting a range of insects such as a red-tailed bumblebee Bombus lapidarius and a carder bee Bombus pascuorum. A 14-spot ladybird was also seen.
In flower on the edge of the woodland were Hawthorn, thyme-leaved speedwell, field horse tail, mouse-ear chickweed and three-veined sandwort. The explosive alarm call of a wren was heard in the woodland, swallows were seen feeding over the grassland and a shelduck was seen flying overhead. The walk then took us through some birch woodland where we saw both great and blue tit, wood avens and wood millet grass.
Many more plants, birds, insects and fungi were noted on this interesting walk. Elizabeth Elliott recorded 38 flowers and 6 trees and shrubs in bloom and Don Griss recorded 23 Birds and insects including the St Marks Fly (usually seen on the wing about the 14th). It was mentioned several times that although Coatham Stob Wood is not far from home many people were not aware of its existence.

23 May – Tuesday evening – BOLTON ON SWALE GRAVEL PITS - Don Griss

After a fine day six members met outside the Arts Centre at 7pm and set out for BGP. Unfortunately when we arrived one member failed to meet us, however five others were there so eleven gathered in the car park. Here the gathering gloom threatened us with the rain that was to come. Swifts and Sand Martins flew low over the group in the lea of the trees, gathering insects blown from the leaves. We soon moved to the hide where we spent the rest of the evening as it soon began to rain. The rain was soon heavy and driven by the wind into the front of the hide. After trying to cope for some time we abandoned the attempt and by 2030hrs we headed for home. Fifteen bird species were seen including Sand Martin, Cormorant, Oystercatcher and Wigeon. Also seen were Coots on nests and with young, a pair of Mute Swans with a female on the nest, and Canada and Greylag Geese with young.

3 June – Saturday - STODHOE FARM
John and Babs Walton

Twenty-seven members and guests arrived at Stodhoe on another glorious day. We have always been very fortunate that farm-walking days bring wonderful weather. This Field Club farm walk was to traverse the boundary of the farm and examine the grass strip sown last year as part of the entry level Stewardship Scheme, but also to see any other incidental wildlife that might be around. We had the usual leisurely buffet lunch that always gives people an opportunity to relax for an hour before the real purpose of the visit! Before we started the walk proper everyone, in small groups, paid a visit to the barn with John to see a nest full of baby robins.
The Hawthorn hedges around the farm were a cascade of blossom and this set the scene for a wonderful walk. We discussed the shortcomings of DEFRA, the woeful inadequacies of the grass strips, but thoroughly enjoyed the ramble through the varying habitats, seeing a few specimens that Gordon and I had not managed to find in the two years we have been surveying them. There was the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens, the Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages, the Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae, the Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe populi and the Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata. John had seen the Banded Demoiselle before, but the others were all new records to Stodhoe. Thank you to those members who spotted them. Fal Sarker, with Gordon’s help, recorded 72 flowering plants. Don Griss recorded 19 birds and Gordon Simpson 6 Butterflies, 3 moths, 2 Ladybirds and Froghoppers.

6 June - Tuesday evening - High Coniscliffe - Derek Risbey

We started from the Spotted Dog car park, where we walked down Mill Lane. A very pleasant interesting evening stroll of 1½ miles with the hope of watching a Barn Owl feed.
Twenty-two members enjoyed a warm and sunny evening of 22C, exploring a new area of land at the bottom of Mill Lane on the left, west bank of Ulnaby Beck, controlled by the Forestry Commission with many young trees planted. We then walked across a field on the east side of the beck and back round to Mill Lane. We had very good views of Reed Buntings on the way.
Thanks to Fal Sarker a total of 60 plants seen in bloom were recorded. Thanks also to Don Griss for recording 28 species of birds, rabbits, hares, some insects and sticklebacks in the stream.
I spent a few minutes chatting to members on photographing flowers and, to round the evening off, the Barn Owl came out on cue and gave a good demonstration of catching food.

11 June - Sunday - GUNNERSIDE GlLL - C Lunn

Five members attended this walk on a pleasant sunny day with sufficient cloud to make it not too hot. A short stretch along the beck-ide path on the east side of the gill led to steps up into rough pasture. Whilst trying to identify one of the myriad small white flowers encountered during the day Debbie Scott nearly trod on a slow worm as she re-crossed a small stream and everyone had a good view of it after moving the small log under which it had taken shelter. The log was host to a colony of wood ants. The path led into woodland where flowers included early spring flowers such as primrose and dog violet as well as those coming out in mid-June such as foxglove and dog-rose. Birds seen included chaffinch, wren, willow warbler, grey wagtail, blue tit, robin, blackcap, spotted flycatcher and blackbird. Emerging from the wood on to moorland pasture we came across the fertile spore-bearing stems of field horsetail. Across the valley were spectacular displays of bluebells.
As we climbed we reached lead-mning areas full of industrial archaeology. Birds seen included wheatear, lapwing, jackdaw, rook, meadow pipit and crow. A black rabbit was spotted. On reaching the hushes we began to hear the calls of the ring ouzel and eventually one was seen around the Bunton Hush area. During the day we saw at least four calling males and disturbed one female that took flight letting forth a characteristic alarm call, and we even managed to find a broken eggshell.
At Blakethwaite Smelt Mill we explored the old buildings before crossing over the gill to make our return down the left bank. Here the terrain became more open moorland and the path joined the Land Rover track. Curlew and snipe were seen and a cuckoo heard as we dropped back down the valley. We saw a pair of nesting red grouse but these birds are very sparse following last year’s devastating infestation by a parasitic worm. Mountain pansy was flowering. The track was left to cross another area of rough pasture and we were circled by a pair of calling curlew, presumably trying to lead us away from their nesting site. Sadly, we found a dead curlew that was, on closer examination, found to have been shot. A little nestling scuttled across our path and nearby we found its well-camouflaged mother lying flat in the coarse grass - a pheasant.
A pair of oyster catchers was spotted as we dropped down to the road. Other birds seen included kestrel, mistle thrush, swift and house martin. The most common butterfly was the small heath but there were also several green-veined white, a tortoiseshell and orange tip. Altogether a total of 84 species of plant were recorded, comparable to the slightly different collection of 83 noted during the similar walk undertaken about a month later the previous year.

13 June - Tuesday evening - DRINKFIELD MARSH - Yvonne Jinks

Ten members were present on a damp summer’s evening at this local Nature Reserve in north Darlington and entered from Whessoe Road. Grassland and light woodland slope down to a reed-fringed stream and a shallow lake. When a new estate was built nearby the value of the green space was recognized and was enhanced by tree planting, building weirs, creating wild flower meadows and a network of footpaths. We saw a variety of wildfowl including cygnets and ducklings. The highlight of the evening was a heron and reed warbler.
A pleasant evening was had by all. 22 birds were recorded by Don Griss including Whitethroat and Ruddy Duck and 37 flowering plants and grasses by Fal Sarker including Yellow Iris, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Valerian.

17 June - Saturday - NEWTON by the SEA - Carole Sobkowiak

Twenty-six members and guests travelled by coach to Northumberland, pausing in Alnwick and arriving at Newton Links by 1030hrs. The day was divided into two parts.
We walked northwards along Newton Links in the direction of Beadnell. Flowering plants seen included Houndstongue and a variety of Cranesbills i.e. Dovesfoot, Cut-leaved, Bloody and Storksbill. A rust was found on Ragwort, Puccinia dioicae var schoe/eriana. The fields were carpeted with Thrift and a group of Shelduck were seen inland. We crossed the bridge over the River Nanny where there was a splendid view of Beadnell Bay. Here Little Terns were seen diving into the river. Across the bridge we entered the salt marsh where there was a mass of Sea Milkwort together with Sea Arrowgrass. As the day had started to cloud over there were less butterflies than expected. Some of the species included Painted Lady, Common Blue, Small Heath and Cinnabar Moth. The Burnet Moths were very late to hatch; some were still at the caterpillar stage and at later stages others had their chrysalises on grass stalks.
Re-crossing the bridge we walked out to sea towards the bird sanctuary; there were many Burnet Roses in the dunes. The warden greeted us and showed us the chicks of the Arctic Terns through a telescope. A jogger running through the fenced-off area on the beach interrupted the visit. She had to be chased off by the warden waving her red flag, as indeed a bird of prey had been earlier. The Arctic Terns have visited this coastline for many years and feed on the sand eels. A lizard was seen by the viewing platform. Returning through the sand dunes a Reed Bunting was spotted and there were Pyramidal Orchids. We walked down the beach to the coach that took us to Beadnell for lunch.
We then drove to Low Newton by the Sea and walked through the meadows to Newton Point that is based largely on limestone. Owing to the late season a profusion of Yellow Rattle was just beginning to flower. It was low tide and the exposed dolerite rocks gave an impressive view of the Whin Sill with a view across Embleton Bay towards Dunstanburgh Castle. It was lovely to see the meadows rolling down to the sea and there were some natural rock gardens on the upper shore including both White and Sea Campion.
Of particular interest were two rust fungi, one on Creeping Thistle, Puccinia punctiformis, and the other on Goatsbeard, Puccinia hysterium. Several grasses were recorded including Blue fescue (very rare).
At Newton Point there was an abundance of Northern Marsh Orchids, and Eider Ducks and Oyster Catchers were amongst the Rocks.
We congregated for refreshments at the Ship Inn in the Village and departed at 16.20.

20 June - Tues evening - BROKEN SCAR TO BLACKWELL Christine Lunn

On a cold grey and fairly wet evening 12 members met at the Broken Scar Picnic Site for a walk along the River Tees towards Blackwell. We started at the weir where monkey flower was noted to be growing on the riverbank. Weld, smooth hawk’s-beard, wild mignonette, common restharrow and hemlock were amongst the total of 77 plants recorded. 18 species of bird were noted, including oyster catcher, willow warbler, long-tailed tit, whitethroat, heron, and goldfinch.
At the bend in the river there was a colony of sand martins and by dropping down the bank we were able to see their nesting holes. Our president identified two types of gall on alder leaves - one located along the axis of the leaf and the other occurring all over the leaf. He also showed us two kinds of fungi - an orange one on deadnettle puccinia caricina, and a sweet-smelling brown one on thistle puccinia punctiformis. Insects observed included the Carder bee, bird cherry ermine moth and a mayfly.
In spite of the rather dismal conditions there was plenty to see and discuss and as a result we did not manage to reach our intended destination but turned back at the stile, our return route taking us along the field edge away from the river but there was nothing of note found that had not been recorded on our outward journey.

24 June – Saturday – REETH CIRCULAR
Raymond & Phyllis Garrod

Eighteen of us met on the Green at Reeth on a warm, still and sunny day. Reeth is 616ft above sea level, has panoramic views to the hills all around, is a very old settlement, was granted a Charter in 1695 and was an important lead mining centre in the C18/C19 centuries. Lead mining spoil heaps were observed all along Fremington Edge. The many interesting buildings mostly date from the C18.
Dropping down to the river we noted the ancient irregular walled fields on the valley floor and the later straight enclosure walls up the fellside; one ‘intake’ named the Milk Jug because of its distinctive shape. Also noted were the stepped moor edges formed by the repeated sequences of limestones, sandstones and shales of the Carboniferous Yoredale Series, the harder limestones forming the edges.
Flowers were plentiful as we approached the river and ma