Things to Look Out For on a Winter Walk

I have walked around much of the reserve over the last few days and flowers are far and few between.  There is a single Herb Robert flower, well protected, under the table by the Porta Cabin. Daisies are growing in their usual place along Risedale Beck by the seat.  Ivy is still in flower.

We are still looking for an early Primrose.

Various pieces of wood around the reserve have their own fungi attached,

 but not all like wood to grow on.

Most of the apple crop has now fallen or been picked. Some of those picked have been used to feed the ponies and Water Voles.  Fallen ones have been enjoyed by a variety of birds.  Crab apples are not eaten by anything that I can find and so they lie on the ground over winter.

Not all of them make it that far and get caught amongst the prickles of the Hawthorn.

The moth trap has succumbed to the weather and has not been put out for several weeks.  I am always hopeful that the next Tuesday night will be good moth trap weather.  Leaving Foxglove in the dark, which on these winter nights is just after 4pm, when it is warm, there are moths flying!  I have even considered jumping out of the car with a net, to try to catch some!  I have to admit that there have been few moths on the Field Centre.  I did find one and decided that I would move it gently for a photo.  All went well until I tried to put it onto a green leaf, at which point it flew off to land on the ground in a really good position.