Ditton Parish Council - Ditton Court Quarry in October

All the hirundines (Swallows, House Martins) will have left by now. There may still be the possibility of a few land migrants passing through (Wheatear and Whinchat, both of which have been seen on adjoining fields), but to see these you need to be out early as these birds are easily disturbed. Some of the commoner species will have started to flock together and it's quite common to see mixed flocks (usually Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit) and possibly Goldcrests moving through the shrubbery. Theories for this behaviour include; higher chances of finding food, avoiding predation (more eyes to look out for hungry foxes) and staying warm – roosting together.

graphic of Wheatear graphic of Whinchat graphic of Long-tailed Tit

Wheatear Whinchat Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit Great Tit Goldcrest

graphic of Blue Tit graphic of Great Tit graphic of Goldcrest

Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) is a spreading, deciduous shrub, up to 4m high. It can be seen along the edges of footpaths on the quarry. It has clusters of drooping red berries and the leaves are turning a vivid red or yellow colour now. The berries are popular with birds and there are 17 identified insect species associated with the plant.

Clematis vitalba - Old Man's Beard. Another common name for this wild flower is Traveller's Joy. It is a perennial climbing plant. The fruiting heads, visible in the quarry now, are a mass of white fluffy seeds, hence, Old Man's Beard. It is conspicuous in the hedgerows around the nature reserve.

photograph of Old Mans Beard close-up

graphic of a Goldfinch photograph of Thistle

Look out for Goldfinches feeding on thistle seeds.

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Bird pictures from RSPB website.

Photos by Mike Easterbrook and Michelle Fountain.
Text by Adam Whitehouse and Michelle Fountain.

Ditton Parish Council *...in the Garden of England...*
Ditton Quarry Local Nature Reserve in October

All the hirundines (Swallows, House Martins) will have left by now. There may still be the possibility of a few land migrants passing through (Wheatear and Whinchat, both of which have been seen on adjoining fields), but to see these you need to be out early as these birds are easily disturbed. Some of the commoner species will have started to flock together and it's quite common to see mixed flocks (usually Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit) and possibly Goldcrests moving through the shrubbery. Theories for this behaviour include; higher chances of finding food, avoiding predation (more eyes to look out for hungry foxes) and staying warm – roosting together. Wheatear Whinchat Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Goldcrest Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) is a spreading, deciduous shrub, up to 4m high. It can be seen along the edges of footpaths on the quarry. It has clusters of drooping red berries and the leaves are turning a vivid red or yellow colour now. The berries are popular with birds and there are 17 identified insect species associated with the plant. Clematis vitalba - Old Man's Beard. Another common name for this wild flower is Traveller's Joy. It is a perennial climbing plant. The fruiting heads, visible in the quarry now, are a mass of white fluffy seeds, hence, Old Man's Beard. It is conspicuous in the hedgerows around the nature reserve. Look out for Goldfinches feeding on thistle seeds. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Bird pictures from RSPB website. Photos by Mike Easterbrook and Michelle Fountain. Text by Adam Whitehouse and Michelle Fountain.