Please refer to the Introduction Page to understand the context behind the monthly photographs.
Birds
Animals
Insects
Spiders
The Zebra spider is only 6mm in body length and one of the jumping spiders. They act like a cat, stalking their prey and when close enough jump forward and grab the prey. I only spotted this one when it moved quickly across the stone face.
Fungi
Moss
Trees & Shrubs
Poplar tree male catkins grow up to approximately 75mm long. The poplar tree is dioecious where male and female catkins are on separate trees. See January post for the early developing catkins.
Goat willow (Salix caprea) - also dioecious ( separate male and female trees). The Male catkins are clad in golden stamens while the female catkins are spiky and green. Both secrete nectar – key energy for bees and butterflies in early spring.
Common gorse is a large shrub and a member of the pea family.
I have often ignored these Clematis vitalba seed pods but close up they are rather nice.
Lichen
Lichen are only recorded at each new OS Grid location (hover for Grid Ref). They are then entered on the British Lichen Society spreadsheet and submitted for their Warwickshire VC38 Lichen database and Lichen mapping.
Churchyard lichens - The Church of St James - Weethley
Lias ashlar with limestone dressings and tile roof built in 1857 late C13 style.
Non-Churchyard lichens
Lichenicolous Fungi
A lichenicolous fungus is a parasitic fungus that only lives on lichen.
Ones that escaped the camera lens this month
a) A solitary Muntjac Deer on two ocassions but very quick to move.
b) Reed Bunting photograph to poor to post.
c) Green Woodpecker.
d) A Lapwing - aerial soaring and diving display.
e) A hare - but far to quick to photograph.
f) Yellow Brimstone & Peacock Butterflies.