Coombes & Churnet Valley

Markings on the seat

ukmjk — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:55:53 GMT

I noticed some odd marking on the seat by the pond..... this wasp was the cause!

Martin K

Pied Flycatcher by the Pond

ukmjk — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:52:30 GMT

I was sitting on the seat by the pond when this pied flycatcher flew over and perched in the tree right behind the seat - nice and close for the photo!

Martin K

A Visitor to The Railway

IanC — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:18:37 GMT

A common buzzard (identified by Ian Myatt - thankyou) sitting on a tree stump by the Churnet Valley Railway near Consall Station.

Mosses – Bring autumn colour and texture to Coombes Valley…. and Jays help their spread?

treecreeper — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:42:21 GMT

Common Smoothcap /Catherines Moss - Atrichum undulatum -always this striking deep green – narrow tongue shaped wavy leaves at Coombes Valley

Now that the leaves are starting to drop from the trees and flowering plants are less obvious glance down at the mosses poking out among'st the patchwork of fallen leaves. Mosses really come alive at this time of year the varied greens really striking after an autumn shower . Unlike other plants mosses can carry on growing all year round where moisture is available even in the depths of winter, providing an evergreen forest for invertebrates.

Each Common Smoothcap capsule can produce over 100,00 spores. Wind borne spores are released form the pepper pot like capsule if it's hit by a rain drop or moves in the wind. Some mosses produce over 5000,000 spores per capsule. I watched a jay burying acorns scattering cushions of Common Smoothcap moss allover the place. The broken stems and leaves provide another means of dispersal. In their book Mosses and Liverworts Ron Porley and Nick Hodgetts say that the foraging activities of blackbirds scatter moss fragments aiding vegetative dispersal. Nest building birds will also drop moss further aiding its spread. Ron Porley and Nick Hodgetts suggest moss can be caught in the coarse hair of wild boar and spread that way. Not likely at Coombes Valley but perhaps grey squirrels or deer?

Volunteer - Mark Preece

Pink Purslane

Roger — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:32:47 GMT

I was mystified by this pink flower growing just by the gate into the 'Young Woodland Loop', but I think it may be Pink Purslane.

Autumn Colour

Mark Day — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:56:58 GMT

A quick phone snap of the beech woodland and brook near to the public footpath at Coombes Valley.

Barn Owl at Coombes

ukmjk — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:31:56 GMT

9pm on Wed 11th July.

Taken over the hay meadow. Was great to see!

Barn Owl

Cprice — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:43:24 GMT

Just about to leave Coombes Valley after a good afternoon and this Barn owl flew into the field by the visitor centre and flew out again , I managed a could of shots including this one.

For more wildlife images search for "Colin Price Wildlife" on Flickr

Thanks

Nuthatch Fledgling on centre roof

Cprice — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:40:08 GMT

THis little Nuthatch was waiting to be fed by his mum, he sat on the roof of the centre waiting for food to arrive from the feeding station.

for more wildlife images search "Colin Price Wildlife" on Flickr

Not long now....

ukmjk — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:13:53 GMT

I suspect that the next time I visit, this chick will be gone!

Video here.. a bit wobbly , sorry... https://vimeo.com/43381343

More photos here....

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3275771256356.2131308.1329718438&type=1&l=74affab812

Martin K

Pied Flycacher

ukmjk — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:27:18 GMT

You don't have to fly very far to find food if you are a Pied at Coombes!

Taken 4th June 2012

Another sunny morning at Coombes

ukmjk — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:16:58 GMT

I went this morning to video the woodpeckers ( great to see them down by the bridge) but found quite a few other interesting subjects!

The woodpecker video is here....

https://vimeo.com/42916036

Martin K

An early morning singer!

ukmjk — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:04:39 GMT

Just down from the visitor centre, 13th May 2012

Woodcock trail

Bex Elliott — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:57:01 GMT

The start of Woodcock trail at Coombes Valley.

Six-spot burnet moth

Bex Elliott — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:42:32 GMT

Six-spot burnet moth at Coombes Valley.