With summer speeding by quickly and autumn right around the corner, the sights and sounds of Coombes Valley are changing. So, here is a run down of some of the exciting things you can spot on the reserve over the coming weeks!
Goldfinch on a thistle, taken by Richard Brooks
Flocks of Goldfinches
These small, brightly coloured birds are really enjoying themselves here at Coombes Valley. Walk through the top meadow next to the information centre, or through Clough Meadow and you will almost certainly see flocks of these colourful finches, with their red faces, black and white heads, and golden patches on their wings. Last week there were up to one hundred in the top meadow! They have been attracted here to feast on various seed sources, including thistles and the teasle next to the viewing platform.
Fun Fact: the collective noun for a group of goldfinches is a charm - how fitting for such a charming bird!
Common puffball, taken by Guy Rogers
Common Puffball
This alien-looking fungus starts to appear in the woodlands and fields of Coombes Valley in late summer and early autumn. It feeds on decaying leaves and humus (not humous) and will grow and grow until bursting open and releasing its spores. Although edible when young, it is not advisable to eat the common puffball. This is because it can be confused with similar looking, not-so-nice fungi, such as immature deathcaps, one of the most poisonous mushrooms around.
Fun Fact: The scientific name of the puffball genus, Lycoperdon, translates as ‘wolf fart’!
Blackbird, taken by Ray Kennedy
Blackberries
Brambles have been here all year, their prickly, tangled canes acting as a safe haven for small birds to nest, hidden from predators. Once September comes around they give another gift; great big juicy blackberries. These tasty fruits are fine dining for many different animals here at Coombes Valley; blackbirds, mice, robins, chaffinches, foxes, and of course, peckish walkers!
Fun Fact: The seeds of a blackberry were found in the remains of a Neolithic human in Essex, indicating blackberries have been a tasty foodstuff for people for millennia!
A Stoat named Sedgewick
An unusual sighting this one, a stoat named Sedgewick, has been spotted around the reserve quite a bit during the last week. Although stoats are usually quite shy creatures, Sedgewick seems very bold indeed, and definitely not camera-shy! He has been spotted keeping an eye on the new play trail and woodcock trail, making sure they’re finished and in top condition for their unveiling at our open day on September 20th!
Be sure to check out the Coombes Valley twitter feed (@RspbCoombes) to keep up to date with his latest shenanigans, and you never know, he might make a guest appearance on the 20th at our open day!
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-380001