Morville Hall is managed by the National Trust but is not generally open to the public. Our trip was to the wider grounds of the estate. We parked next to the church, dedicated to St Gregory the Great.
 |
| photo: Liz Roberts |
The weather forecast ahead of the day was grim and unfortunately proved to be entirely accurate! A brief dry spell on arrival soon gave way to rain which persisted for the rest of the day, often rather heavily. The verges around the parking area were planted with snowdrops and Winter Aconites, doing their best to offer some cheer in the wet, gloomy weather.
 |
| photo: John Martin |
We moved into the adjacent fields, arriving at one which was bordered by a linear pond on one side and the Mor Brook on the other. The brook was doing its best ‘raging torrent’ impression.
 |
| photo: Liz Roberts |
 |
| photo: Liz Roberts |
A footbridge had been helpfully installed across the brook, but having given it some thought we decided not to use it…!
 |
| photo: Keith Fowler |
The vacuumers got to work and managed to extract some sodden creatures from their sodden surroundings. These included a couple of weevils; Taeniapion urticarium
 |
| photo: John Martin |
And a Protapion species.
 |
| photo: John Martin |
A Red-rumped Ladybird appeared from the rough grass near the pond.
It turned out to be a day for ground beetles, including the attractive Anchomenus dorsalis,
A splendid Violet Ground Beetle, Carabus violaceus,
And an unidentified (to my knowledge) species found in its overwintering cell and carefully replaced again.
The vegetation was inspected for galls, resulting in records for Psylla buxi (on Box)
 |
| photo: John Martin |
And Trioza centranthi on valerian.
 |
| photo: John Martin |
Fungi seemed appropriate on such a wet day. The application of modern technology (Obsidentify) suggested (with 100% confidence) that this one is Schizophyllum commune (Split Gill).
 |
| photo: Liz Roberts |
Whist this one is identified as Basidioradulum radula, but with a mere 76% confidence.
 |
| photo: Liz Roberts |
The moss Grimmia pulvinata also seemed to suit the ambience.
 |
| photo: John Martin |
We progressed to an even muddier, slippier part of the site whereupon lunch was declared in the middle of the quagmire!
 |
| photo: Keith Fowler |
As I sat contemplating my sandwiches, a 7-spot Ladybird plodded stoically through the vegetation at my feet.
Lunch over, several participants decided enough was enough and left. The rest of us soldiered on a short while longer but were not far behind them. We trudged off site, through conditions which need no further comment… 
A splendid Violet Ground Beetle, Carabus violaceus,
And an unidentified (to my knowledge) species found in its overwintering cell and carefully replaced again.
The vegetation was inspected for galls, resulting in records for Psylla buxi (on Box)
Lunch over, several participants decided enough was enough and left. The rest of us soldiered on a short while longer but were not far behind them. We trudged off site, through conditions which need no further comment…
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to comment on this post...