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President: Evelyn Crispe Editor: Rosie Etheridge Newsletter No 81 Spring 2019

We are delighted to announce that Evelyn Crispe is to be our new president. Evelyn was our chairman for twenty years, before stepping down last November. Thank you Eve for all you have done for the society and welcome to your new position!

REPORTS ON OUTSIDE EVENTS

SATURDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2018 - ORCHARD DAY IN PEAR WOOD.

Pear Wood Cider

Our third Orchard Day was, as always, very successful and enjoyable. This year the refreshments included apple cider made by Claire Abbott and Jane Skelly from genuine Pear Wood apples. In addition, Claire’s husband Alastair had made an apple pie.

Claire gave a talk on the history of apple growing in Britain. Then, armed with pickers and bags, the participants helped themselves to apples. They also examined the new trees that have been planted thanks to funding from the Green Grid. Some of these are already starting to fruit. Rosie Etheridge

Steve with the apple picker

WEDNESDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 2018 – ST MARY’S CHURCH NORTHOLT AND NORTHALA FIELDS

On the 19th September, members of The Harrow Natural History Society joined John Wells, a naturalist from Ealing, on a walk around Northolt, Middx.

We all met at Northolt station at 11 o'clock and had a slow walk down to the village green, pausing along the way to view interesting natural items, such as the Galls on the Oak tree, growing in the Rectory garden.

Then across a little stream, name unknown, to look at the memorial garden. The garden contains the remaining two workmen’s cottages, there were originally three, with a number of flowers still in bloom in

the flower borders. We retraced our steps and walked past a magnificent Oak to enter St. Mary's Churchyard, where John talked of the Lichens growing on the grave stones, and on the Church. Here we were joined by Father Chris, the Rector of St. Mary's, who had kindly kept the Church open for us to view. He also was on hand to answer any questions. After leaving the Church and Churchyard we entered Belvue Park, large

The Workmen’s Cottages

St Mary’s Church

Belvue Park

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areas of which are sown with wildflowers, some of which were still flowering and John identified the plants and answered questions. Then we walked to Northala Fields and the four large mounds, which contain the rubble from the old Wembley Stadium. The

San Remo cafe was our immediate destination as it was time for lunch. After we felt refreshed, a tour of Northala began. It has matured nicely, with fishing ponds and trees which are providing excellent habitat for various species of plants and animals.

We saw Pied Wagtail, Black-Headed Gull, Coot, Jackdaw and Mallard, and a Speckled Wood Butterfly, a Common Blue Butterfly and a Common Darter Dragonfly. A number of people had to leave , but a few of us continued with a walk up the mound with the pathway running around it. The wind at this point was quite strong and at the top, looking at the

panoramic views, it felt as if we were about to be blown down to the ground, so we descended and returned to the cafe for tea.

After tea we continued our walk across the road from Northala, to follow the Greenford Nature Trail which is parallel to the A40., finally leaving for home when we reached the Aladdin building.

A very enjoyable day. Wendy Knight

MONDAY 1st OCTOBER 2018 – LONDON WETLANDS CENTRE, BARNES

Fourteen of us enjoyed a visit to the WWT London Wetland Centre (the wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the Barnes area of Richmond). This was a joint visit with the Harrow University of the Third Age (U3A) Sustainability Group organised by Helen Riley. We had a lovely fine day for the visit. First we had a short tour, led by a guide, with an emphasis on the Centre’s Conservation work. Small projects such as looking after the returning Crane populations in this country do make a difference.

After that we toured the site at our own pace. Dragonflies were out in force and so no butterflies. John and I were lucky enough to see a Water Vole. It was pointed out to us by one of the workers who were putting in new walkways. Some years ago we saw them being introduced here. Many years ago these creatures were of course a common sight.

We went to see the coastal birds including the Eider ducks. Overhead the many pigeons were spooked by a large black bird with a distinctive white bar underneath its tail. Later we saw a big black hawk sitting up in a tree. We could not find anyone able to identify the bird (another couple had also seen it so we weren’t dreaming). On returning home we decided that the only likely candidate was a Harris Hawk. We had previously seen one being used to deter the pigeons at Northwick Park Hospital. Charring Cross Hospital was a land mark in the distance at Barnes, but we are not aware of any recorded sightings of the Hawk in the area.

From the top of the Peacock Hide we did see a Snipe (apparently there were several about) also lots of female Teal with a bright green flash on their side. Apparently the winter visitors were not about yet, as the weather was not cold enough to encourage them to move. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling on the way back. The planting along the paths is maturing and there is plenty of food for the birds.

Thank you Helen for an interesting visit. John and Margaret

Speckled Wood

Common Darter

The mound with the pathway running around it

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SATURDAY 20th OCTOBER - FUNGI IN PEAR WOOD

It was a perfect autumn day: still air, peerless blue sky and a beautiful carpet of leaves. Seven society members met in Pear Wood. We were joined by a man called Andrew, who wanted to photograph some fungi. After a long dry spell the recent rain had failed to bring up many specimens, but nonetheless we had a very enjoyable walk.

Some Trooping Funnel toadstools (Clitocybe geotropa) were starting to appear near the gate. We also found several groups of Bell-caps (Mycena species), including Mycena inclinata and Mycena crocata. The latter exuded some orange juice when picked.

Near the bottom of the fishermen’s track Claire showed us what was left of a large Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) on a fallen tree trunk. We then walked round the top of Pear Lake and inspected the remains of some

Cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa) at the foot of a Scots Pine. Nearby there were some good specimens of Birch Polypore(Fomitopsis betulinum) and Maze-gill(Daedalea quercina). We also saw a couple of Deer Mushrooms (Pluteus cervinus) growing out of some wood. I took a spore print in the evening, which revealed the typical pink spores.

Next we trekked down through the woodland next to the Scouts field. This area is disputed

territory. Does it belong to Pear Wood or the Country Park? We claim it because it is usually full of fungi, but this year there was very little. Near the bottom were some aging chunks of Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) on a dead Oak. They were too old to exude red juice, but Claire cut off a small piece

to reveal its fleshy nature.

On the way back through the woods Margaret spotted some Fly Agarics (Amanita muscaria) just peeping through the leaf litter. We also found a few Butter-caps (Collybia butyracea) and Sulphur Tufts (Hypholoma fasciculare).

No doubt there would have been more to see if we had delayed the walk by a week or two. But you never can tell. Rosie Etheridge

TUESDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2018 – FOSSILS AT THE CHIMES SHOPPING CENTRE, UXBRIDGE

The purpose of this visit was to look for fossils in the shopping centre floor. The floor is made of two contrasting types of marble tiles, Jura Marble and Nero Marquina. Jura Marble is not a true marble in the geological sense, but the term ‘marble’ has long been used in the building industry to describe any carbonate rocks which take a good polish, regardless of whether or not they have been metamorphosed. This stone is a nice example of a polished limestone. It is a readily available and relatively cheap stone, and is currently very popular, it can be seen in many shopping malls worldwide. It is derived from German Jura in Central Bavaria, in the Altmühltal National Park. It belongs to the Late Jurassic Treuchtlingen Formation and has many well preserved fossils; ammonoids and belemnites are very common, the belemnites are particularly well-preserved and dark brown in colour. The Treuchtlingen seas were dominated by sponge biostromes and fossils. Some of these are very abundant in the rock, as mottled, brown, sometimes ring-shaped

Cauliflower Fungus

Maze Gill

Beefsteak Fungus

Jura Marble. A belemnite and sponge fossils, surrounded by tubiphyte worm casts.

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structures. These were colonized by millions of calcite-encrusted tubiphyte worms and these can be seen as millimeter-size white flecks throughout the rock.

A black Spanish limestone, marketed as Nero Marquina is also used here. This is Mid-Cretaceous in age and comes from Marquina, in the Basque country of NE Spain. Like the Jura Marble, it takes a mirror-like polish, much enhanced by the blackness of the stone. It is a bituminous limestone with a micritic matrix, but fossils are preserved as white and include fragments of rudist and other bivalves and corals. Margaret Huitson

FRIDAY 28th DECEMBER 2018 - END OF YEAR WALK AT RUISLIP LIDO

Nine of us met on a mild late December day for what we imagined would be a mainly bird oriented walk. One of the first things we noticed though was a Winter-flowering Cherry in full bloom (one of the Prunus hybrids presumably

with some parentage where flowers at this time are an advantage). On a more native basis we soon came across a Hazel with very long male catkins and small bright red female flowers.

Most of the other sightings though were of birds: Mute Swans and Canada Geese; Moorhens and Coots; a few Herons and lots of Black-headed Gulls in their winter plumage of just a black smudge behind the eyes. A group of Shovelers were seen in the distance recognisable by what the RSPB call their huge spatulate bills and chestnut flanks. As we walked around the Lido, as well as the steam train which was on the move, some of us saw a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper as well as Robins and Tits.

We went on to The Water’s Edge where Charles, Pamela and Dorothy M had arranged a group table and when Marian and her party arrived we had a good gathering. We were well looked after by the staff at The Water’s Edge and so ended another year for the Harrow Natural History Society. Margaret Huitson

THURSDAY 24th JANUARY 2019 – STOCKERS LAKE FOR WINTER BIRDS AND WILDLIFE

A small group of hardy members set out in the drizzle on our annual visit to see the winter wildfowl at Stocker's Lake. We had to be careful not to slip on the icy surfaces from the cold previous night. Going past Stocker's Farm there were many Canada Geese and several Moorhens in the field by the canal. Further on near the gardens and feeders by the lock we saw the following species: House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-Tailed Tit.

From the first hide (Shoveler) at Stocker's Lake we had good views of about twenty Wigeon looking very colourful in their fresh breeding plumage and

uttering the occasional excited yelp. Other species seen there were Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Coots, Tufted Duck and Herring, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On the far bank there were Herons and Cormorants.

From the causeway we saw a large number of waterfowl in the adjoining Bury Lake including Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe and several of the rare Red-crested Pochard. Other species encountered on the walk were Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon and Green Woodpecker. Unfortunately we did not see any raptors or winter thrushes.

Afterwards we all warmed up by going to the Aquadrome café and treating ourselves to hot soup. Brian Hunter

A Canada Goose pecking in the snow

A group of Cormorants

Brian with his Telescope

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THURSDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2019 – VISIT TO MAPLE LODGE NATURE RESERVE

On this visit the weather was again not ideal, being wet and windy. We visited several hides including one which involved climbing up steps to get a panoramic view of the lake and reed beds.

The most colourful duck we saw was a Teal which flew in briefly. Other birds seen on the water were Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot and Moorhen and Heron and Cormorant flew over. One of the hides had a feeder which attracted several Great Tits as well as a cock Pheasant which appeared from the bushes to eat any food which had fallen to the ground. Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon were also seen from these hides.

From the hide at the reserve's main building there were Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe on the water and many birds on or near the feeders. These were Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit.

We all enjoyed going back to the main building where we were able to make a cup of tea/coffee and warm up. Maple Lodge member Geoff Lapworth was very welcoming and keen to talk about the many fascinating wildlife photographs on display. Brian Hunter

AND FINALLY, OUR POEM, chosen by Marian Sartin

ON A LANE IN SPRING

by John Clare

A Little Lane, the brook runs close beside

And spangles in the sunshine while the fish glide swiftly by

And hedges leafing with the green spring tide

From out their greenery the old birds fly

And chirp and whistle in the morning sun

The pilewort glitters ‘neath the pale blue sky

The little robin has its nest begun

And grass green linnets round the bushes fly

How Mild the Spring Comes in; the daisy buds

Lift up their golden blossoms to the sky

How lovely are the pingles and the woods

Here a beetle runs; and there a fly

Rests on the Arum leaf in bottle green

And all the Spring in this Sweet lane is seen.

Pilewort is the lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

Pingle – A small enclosed piece of land; a paddock, a close.

OUR WEBSITE!

You can find details of our current programme, and reports on our evening meetings, at the society’s website:

http://www.harrownaturalhistory.org.uk/

Our sister organisation, the Harrow Nature Conservation Forum, also has a website where you can read about Harrow’s natures reserves and find details of additional natural history events that are open to everyone.

http://www.harrowncf.org/index.html