Author Archives: sfnsmember

I spotted a group of harbour porpoises close to Scarborough harbour on Friday 4 April at about 6.30pm. Some came in to within maybe 20 metres of the harbour wall, so I got some very nice views of their dorsal fins.  Definitely 6 (2 groups of 3) , but probably rather more than that, but I could only count them when they were breaching at the same time …. they seemed to head off towards North Bay.

The first frogspawn of the Spring appeared in my garden pond at Sawdon yesterday, complete with frog. Hopefully we won't get too much ice from now on.

Red kite seen at North Moor, riding the air currents on the forest edge, before unwisely drifting eastwards in the direction of a pheasant shoot … 31 January

Harlequin ladybird (alive) seen on the paving at the harbour, Scarborough South Bay, 6 February.

Weasel chasing what appeared to be a rat (possibly already injured by the weasel as it was rolling and lurching around) into the main road near the Irton/GCHQ junction on the A170.  I managed to swerve to avoid them, but suspect they were hit by cars behind me. 6 February.

A number of groups of the black Snakes Tongue Truffleclub (Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides) which are parasitic on False Truffles (Elaphomyces) were visible in the leaf/needle litter in Wykeham Forest in early January.  Unfortunately the truffles were too far gone to establish which species they were.   Not far away on gorse were the very visible orange fruit bodies of Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain fungus) which are parasitic on Peniophora incarnata (Rosy Crust).  They are often seen on gorse at this time of the year.

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I've been seeing a number of flowers which are either very late or very early. Photos were taken late December and early January.  Ragwort and red campion were in Wykeham Forest, and are still flowering, as are the primroses, cowslips and wood forget-me-not in my garden.

Thought I'd post these images of the cut ends of felled pine in Wykeham Forest taken on 24 November.  The trees were felled last winter. The fungus is young Stereum sanguinolentum, a white rot, which is common on conifer brash but can also infect living conifers through wounds. Not a favourite fungus of foresters! It shows how the heartwood is much more resistant to fungal attack than the sapwood.  It also shows that the fungus spreads radially far quicker than around the annual rings.  Although the colonies are of the same species, each will remain distinct, and where each one meets its neighbours there will be a battle and boundary lines marked out!

Harlequin ladybird seen at Scalby Mills on 13th November.

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Mandy Hillier has sent in an account of the wildlife that is establishing itself at the pond beyond the pitches at Scarborough Rugby Club. In Spring there was a profusion of tadpoles, and Moorhen and Tufted Duck are in residence, with a brood of Tufted ducklings. Swifts and Swallows are using the pond to drink and hawk insects. There have been large numbers of Dragonflies (including Emperor, and Chasers) as well as Common Blue Damselflies. Thousands of Bumble Bees have been seen feeding on the Spirea bushes around the site. Perhaps a Society visit is in the offing for next summer.

There have been some good numbers of waders passing south locally, especially at Long Nab, Burniston, and from the Marine Drive. However, today at Thornwick Pools, Flamborough, and The Dams reserve, Filey, there were few to see – two Dunlin at Thornwick and two Green Sandpipers with a Greenshank at Filey. This suggests the birds are continuing south whilst the favourable weather holds. Flotmanby Carrs has fared a bit better, with several sandpiper species and a couple of Little Stints recently.