Nature Notes: Jono doesn’t spoil a perfectly good walk with a wander around Little Hadham and Ash Valley Golf Club

Nature Notes columnist Jono Forgham covers your fortnightly look at nature around Bishop’s Stortford

As the car was in for a service and MOT, I decided to take a walk around my local area, Little Hadham. Consequently, dropped off the car, returned home and set off to cover the western part of the parish towards Standon, taking in the local golf course, several woodlands and Westland Green.

The weather was superb, a clear blue sky as I set off up Chapel Lane near the Nags Head. It was eerily quiet, with no birds calling and the only movement in the sky, apart from a flock of feral pigeons, were numerous 737s.

Sometimes on nature wanders it appears that there is almost nothing to record and even less to photograph. By the time I arrived at the footpath off New Road (constructed in the 1800s), I had managed a photo of a Rook and the first of four Red Admiral butterflies. All strangely void of birds along the hedgerow here.

A female Kestrel darted overhead as I made my way up the footpath on the 6th fairway of Ash Valley Golf Course. Back in 2020, I received a call from a local resident who had encountered an injured female Kestrel at this very point. I arrived with gloves and our cat box, managed to get hold of her and took her to the animal rescue centre (ARC) on the Farnham Road.

She appeared to be concussed and perhaps had been clipped by a car. After a week, the centre contacted me saying she was up to full weight and was ready to be released back at the site where she had been found. Upon opening the box, I received a thank you nip on my finger, before she flew off strongly to a tree, before gaining her bearings and was off. I felt pretty sure the bird I saw this morning was most likely the same female. Pleasing to see she is still about.

I crossed the lane and headed down the 18th fairway. A pair of Fieldfares called overhead as I chatted to a chap who had just completed his round. I popped into the friendly clubhouse for a coffee as several Ring-Necked Parakeets called outside. This species seems to be well established around the Hadhams now, with breeding confirmed last year In Much Hadham.

After my refreshments, I headed along the footpath that leads to Caley Wood. This is a private woodland but has a permissive path along the western boundary. Nuthatches called from the Hornbeams as I studied the vineyard here. Vines were groaning with grapes.

More Fieldfares and two more Red Admirals as I arrived in Muddy Lane. It certainly was. This green lane leads to Bromley Lane and, as I approached the tarmac, five cock pheasants burst from undergrowth. On a Silver Birch tree a large Birch Polypore sprouted from the bark. Also known as Razorstrop Fungus as it was used for sharpening razors. Taxonomic name: Fomitopis betulinus, one of the most common of UK fungi. Found almost exclusively on birch species.

White Dead-nettle was flowering in profusion as I headed towards Westland Green. In the lane, a large feather. A wing feather from a Common Buzzard, possibly a first-year bird judging by the state of wear on it and the late moult. I checked the trees for other autumnal fungi species and came across both Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) and Turkeytail (Trametese versicolor.) Also, whilst searching, I found a Caddis fly species upon a leaf, the common Limnephilus lunatus. This species is a common visitor to my moth trap at this time of the year.

I had now arrived at the Green of Westland Green. A muntjac darted for cover as I checked on the small pond in a copse but only a pair of mallards were to be seen. I spent time checking under decaying bark on fallen logs. Centipedes and Millipedes wriggled their way under the rotten wood before I could get a photo and several small beetle species also took immediate refuge.

Recently, I have been doing nocturnal searches of local woodlands and as well as finding a fair few moths upon tree trunks, I also discovered several species of Harvestman arachnids, millipedes and best of all, a few False Ladybirds (Endomychus coccineus.) This small red and black beetle feeds upon fungi species that grow under bark and can often be found clambering about after dark.

I popped into Alder Wood for a further fungus search and came across what I had expected as they emerge here most years, Shaggy Parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota rhacodes.) Another target here, in the Alders was the winter visiting finch, the Siskin. I first heard a flock before hiding myself away as the group of 20+ descended into the alders to feed upon the seeds found within the cones. Always a good bird to find. They are also to be seen in the alders along the banks of the Stort at Grange Paddocks.

I wandered onto the golf course once again, headed down the 10th and 6th fairway. I searched the sky for raptors riding the thermals, but just one distant buzzard. I checked the gorse for Stonechats as they often over winter here, but none were to be found and soon I was back to New Road, taking the footpath back to the River Ash and the village.

A splendid fungus was upon a tree branch, Lycoperdon pyriforme, whilst in shafts of sunlight filtering through the remaining oak leaves, a myriad of none biting midge species bounced in front of me. Probably a Chironomid species, typical at this time of year. Also, a small fly alighted on some wood. A female Scathophaga stercoraria, the Yellow Dung-fly where only the male can be bright yellow, females often showing greenish hues.

By the River Ash here there is a metal gate by a footbridge that leads to the lane to Much Hadham. This gate had heavy security on it as several horses seemed eager to not let folk through. Was not my route anyway and they looked a little disappointed as I took a left turn along the banks of the river.

I entered the allotment plot close to home. Here a Pied Wagtail busied itself upon roof tiles, calling frequently. This bird is a regular visitor to our garden and roof, checking the lichen for insects.

As a bit of an add on I thought I would check upon the local Little owls that can be found in some nearby oaks. Today, there was no sign of them, but next time you are in Jackson Square, check out the display from Bishop’s Stortford Camera Club which is on the wall of Sainsbury’s opposite Starbucks. Some outstanding images, including a wonderful shot by Sophia Spurgin of one of these owls. I know she invested many patient hours to get this glorious photograph.

All in all, a most enjoyable wander around my local patch, an area I have studied in detail for 15 years and have, since 2008, recorded 109 bird species within the parish. Latest addition being a female peregrine seen regularly of late over Stocking Wood near Bury Green. This large bird of prey hunts the local Wood Pigeons, of which there are many roosting within the wood. A great sight indeed. I suspect it must occasionally fly over the western part of Bishop’s Stortford, so watch the skies if you live in Bishop’s Park or St. Michael’s Mead. Never know, may see it from Tesco carpark or Southern Country Park one day.

Hopefully, the MOT on my ancient 4x4 will be OK and I shall be able to visit somewhere a little further afield for my next excursion. If we get a proper cold snap (and we could certainly do with one,) I suspect there will be a large influx of Redwing and Fieldfares and even possibly, the marvellous Waxwing. Keep an eye out on berry bushes in the garden as this is where all three species will feed. Be superb to get a local flock of Waxwings this winter. If they do turn up, I suspect the Stortford Nature Facebook account will be full of photos.

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