and three females were hauled up on their favourite overhanging branches , along with some of the dozen or so Moorhen , that seem to have taken a liking to this the quietest pond of the three . The Mandarins are still very wary , not coming out into open water , must remember a loaf next time , just might entice them out for a photo shoot . Two Canada Geese , the first seen this Autumn here , were the only residents on the middle pond . As I wandered up to the top pond , I came across an old man with a stick , searching amongst the leaf litter . As I got closer I could see a good sized string bag , stuffed full with fungi . I spoke as I passed and he answered with a French accent . I asked if they were Ceps in his bag , he said yes and showed them to me . I have never seen a quantity like that growing there , never mind collected , and he said that he had been very lucky this morning , to find so many large specimens . I carried on up to the top pond thinking , bang goes any chances of photographing a Cep/Penny Bun today , as he had hoovered them all up . Mind you , he must have great eyesight to see them with so much leaf litter on the ground . The top pond held the usual Mallard types , a couple more Moorhen , and this 
individual , the black duck of the family , albeit it's head a bottle green sheen in the sun . I headed off over Keston Common , to see if there were any fungi left after the hoover . The most 
common species by far , was Collybia butyracea- Butter Cap or Greasy Tough-shank , true to it's name with a greasy cap . The rain and cooler nights have brought out some different species , including one of Lactarius/Milk-cap family , so called because if the cap is damaged , they exude 
droplets of milk like substance . This one is L.quietus-Oak Milk-cap , surprisingly found under 
Oak trees . I did find the odd Bolete that hadn't been hoovered up , like this Boletus badius-Bay Boletus . There was a species that I was hoping to find , but it took quite some time to do so , as they are only just emerging . This little gem , if you'll excuse the pun , is Laccaria amethystea- 
Amethyst Deciever . The only specimens I could find were in the shade , in the sunshine they are really striking . Another species found in good numbers under the many Scotts Pine trees on the
site was Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca-False Chanterelle , showing it's decurrant gills , running down the stem of the specimen . An unusual find , in my experience for this site , was Clitocybe 
odora-Aniseed Toadstool or Blue-Green Clitocybe .I hadn't seen any Odonata where I had found them last visit , but returning to the car , a Common Darter flew past me and landed on the concrete wall , warming up . I thought , this has
to be the last of the season . No sooner had I thought it , when a mating pair flew by and came to rest on the fallen leaves on the roadside . I didn't stay to see if they went on to egg lay , but
the probably did , as there was still good warmth in the sun . Not a bad November record .
orange seeds within the pink seedpods , but too late , the seeds have already fallen . The only 
other colour found along the paths , was Nipplewort/Lapsana communis , but even that was coming to the end of it's flowering . I checked the Violet Helleborine as I passed , and they have dropped their seeds and are dying off now , so fingers crossed for more plants next year . Very 
close by , I found two specimens of the same fungi , at different stages of their development . They are both Panaeolus companulatus-Bell-shaped Mottlegill . As I walked along the broad ride towards Burnt Gorse , the scene is so different now , to when Silver Washed Fritillaries , White 
and Red Admirals , Commas and Peacocks were readily found . Now , a carpet of leaves produce a very Autumnal scene . Very close to where the SWFs were seen egg laying , I searched amongst the leaf litter for one of my favourite fungi , Coprinus picaceus-Magpie Fungus . I could 
only find two specimens , one had been well chewed , and the other , pictured , was just emerging from the leaf litter , not yet showing it's black/white , Magpie colouring . Hopefully I will find a specimen in good condition on a later visit and post another shot . Also amongst the leaf litter , 
and as Dean said the other day , very hard to spot , were a couple of specimens of Geastrum triplex-Earth Star , with their spore sacks raised up to ensure good dispersal . A bit further down 
the slope , another of my favourites , Rhodotus palmatus , once a rarity , with the advent of 
Dutch Elm disease , much more common due to the abundance of dead Elms . Alongside the Golf Course , I met up with the noisy RRPs and Crows again , arguing over the possession of one of the 
tree tops , as the sunshine started to become watery and the wind started to spring up . Another 
pair of fungi were on either end of a fallen branch . The first Chlorosplenium aeruginascens - 
Green Wood-cup and at the other end Bisporella citrina , nestled amongst the moss . Heading back towards the car with the wind freshening all the time , I came across a Grey Squirrel that 
seemed to be day dreaming , as I got quite close before it scampered away . Chaffinch , Nuthatch ,Redwing , Gt.Sp.Woodpecker ,Wren and Blue ,Great and Long Tailed Tits were 
recorded before getting to the car , and the increasing wind had the BHGulls practicing their flying skills . Within sight of the car , I took my last shot , Stropharia aeruginosa-
Verdigris Agaric.
breakfast , our Nuthatch made several visits to the feeder , and allowed a couple of shots . Carol tells me that whilst she was ironing yesterday afternoon , he spent 4/5 minutes bobbing about on the patio , amongst the container plants , at times , no further than a metre away from her through the 
eggs , which looks good for next year , but also found the top one of these two that had been predated , most probably by a member of one of the Tit species . The bottom egg is still intact , laid directly onto the buds that will provide fresh food for the caterpillar when , and if , they survive the Winter , and hatch out next Summer .
found . The first , does what is says , Brown Roll-rim / 
white pyramidal warts on the cap , probably washed of by the recent heavy rains . The only 
other interest found today , was when I visited the Hornets nest . The ground in front of the entrance hole was littered with grubs , in various stages of growth . The entrance hole itself had 
been opened up , and another hole opened above it . I can only guess at what had predated the nest , but from the fact that the nest had not been dug up , I discount a mammal , and would point the finger at either a 
nest was found about a third of the way round , and this contained 3 Dormice , a female and 2 males . Spirits were lifted , even if the rain showers had started again . Then another surprise ,
when a Wood Mouse was found , using an old Dormouse nest as it's home . I'm pretty sure , this is the first recorded this year , although they were found on a regular basis in previous years . Enough surprises for one day we thought , but no , after a fleeting glimpse of a female Roe 
Deer , another box produced the first Yellow-necked Mouse of the year , before another single male Dormouse , towards the end of the boxes . The Reptile survey , being done alongside the Dormouse one , was not anywhere near as exciting , as nothing was found under any of the refugia on the site , not surprising given the weather conditions .
just , but this male weighed in at a massive 32 grammes , enough weight for two good sized adults , and he only had a short tail , but it obviously didn't stop him getting plenty of food . The question we then posed , was , how did he get that bulk through the small hole . Anyway , he certainly shouldn't have any trouble hibernating over the Winter with that amount of body fat . The Reptile survey still remained at '0' , until we turned a tin on the bank of a pond , and 
recorded an adult Grass Snake , and that turned out to be the only Reptile recorded today . Back with the Dormice , two more single males were recorded , and then on the last but one box 
opened , another three , once again two males and one female . These three were the most active of all that we found today , and they made a shot of all three of them very difficult . As we sexed and weighed them , we could see that two of them were 'White tips' , the ends of their tails 
looking as if they had been dipped in a tin of white paint . About 20% of the population are supposed to be 'White tips' , but once again , these were the first that we have recorded this year . Over the 70 boxes surveyed , 12 nests were found , 11 Dormice , plus the other two mouse species . A really satisfying day .
Bonnets ,
lots of Xylaria hypoxylon-Candle-snuff or Stag's Horn Fungus ,
and amongst the roadstone in our yard , Peziza badia .
were six in number , five close together and one on it's own . I took this shot from a distance , then closed in slowly . They are probably well used to people , as visitor numbers have been 
very high over the Summer , and I was able to get to within 10 metres and get a close up of one of them , before a shrill call set them noisily off again . Whilst watching them , a Green 
Woodpecker swooped past and landed on a nearby tree , unfortunately in the shade , thus my quick attempt at a shot left much to be desired , as the camera seems to have focused on the nearer leaf rather than the bird . Funnily enough , as I was leaving the site , I disturbed a Green Woodpecker feeding on the apples that the Parakeets had been on . As I was leaving the orchard and entering the walled vegetable garden , seven Redwings , my first Winter visitors of the year , flew over calling , and disappeared into a large well laden Holly tree . Apart from a Sparrowhawk and a Carrion Crow having a go at each other over the large meadow , the rest of the survey was average , with 21 species being recorded , the best of the rest being Mistle Thrush and Nuthatch .
good numbers of Clitocybe nebularis-Clouded Agaric . This species can often be found in rings or troops in woodland , and the cap can reach 20 cms. across . Also found in good numbers was a member of the Mycena family , M.pura , one of my favourites , with it's soft pink colouration .
however find one small group of Wax Caps , Hygrocybe ceracea , looking very dapper in the morning sunshine . As I went round , I also kept a eye out for any late butterflies , but didn't find any until I made my usual re-visit to the walled garden before leaving . The temperature had 
got up since my first visit , and I was rewarded with a very slow moving Painted Lady , trying to warm up , the still low sun , casting a giant shadow on the path . I watched her make several efforts to fly off , and she finally made it over the high wall , probably to nectar on the last of the flowers in the formal garden . Several other insects were using the brick walls and Ivy bushes to 
warm up and feed on , including Wasps , Honey Bees and flies , and this Hoverfly , which I think is Eristalis interruptus . As I walked back to the car , I was bombarded with acorns , not from 
the usual Oaks , but from the evergreen Holm Oak , the acorns being much more pointed than the Sessile or Pendunculate Oak . 
of the top pond , I recorded 15/20 Common Darters , some just soaking up the sun on the 
adjacent fenceline , but several pairs were still egg laying in tandem . Looking back through my records , I have recorded the species here in previous Novembers , but not in such numbers , and never egg laying . The recent mild weather should ensure good numbers of the species next year . My last sighting was an old friend , the Grey Wagtail , and for once , I managed to get 
reasonably close , but his constant movement and the fact that he was in the shadiest part of the pond , did not help the photography .
small stream . Amongst the regular daily sightings from the garden were , a pair of Kingfishers , who perched on the fence , and swooped for worms from the lawn most evenings , up to 4 Australasian Harriers , including one juvenile , which I think were nesting in the tall Gum trees , forming part of the orchard shelterbelt , within a stones throw of the garden , and a super little songster called a Silvereye , and my personal favourite , the native Tui . Some species were easily recognised from back home , as introduced species like Song Thrush , Starling , Chaffinch and Yellowhammer were all recorded together with more exotic species like Mynahs and
Eastern Rosellas . A few interesting insects were also recorded , including this female Paper Wasp , building her nest just below the decking . My daughter said that they were nothing to worry about , but , given my track record , one landed in the crook of my arm , and stung me . Butterflies were few , but I did manage some shots of a Monarch , a beautiful specimen , and will post them later . Being that Spring is just starting there , many of the roadside ditches were ablaze with vibrant Gladdioli type flowers , 
Oxeye Daisies and many more . It was a shame to cut the lawns , as amongst the grass , were lots of this little beauty , the name of which I don't know .
land . I did disturb a Plume moth-Platyptilia celidotus , I believe , and when it settled again , it allowed a few shots . The only other interest was a lichen , on the heathland area . 
It is Cladonia cristatella , but I prefer the second of it's two common names , British Soldier Lichen or Devil's Matches . The after lunch visit was to the farm lake , which was much fuller following the rain . I thought the Mandarins might have settled here as it is very close to Keston 
Ponds , but there was no sign , just the usual Coots , Moorhens , Little Grebes and 4 Tufted Ducks . I've posted a shot of the latter , as some Bloggers don't see many Tufties . Walking round the lake , I only recorded a single Comma , sunning itself on the warm side of a hedge . There was though , quite a good 
emergence of Caddisflies-Trichoptera , and one stayed still long enough to get a few shots . As things were quiet , I did a lap of the harvested field above the lake , and from the very top of the
hill took this shot of London through the Autumn haze .It reminded me of pictures I've seen of New York , from Central Park . The tall building right of centre is the NatWest Tower and to the right of it , the Gerkin , and Canary Wharf further right again . On my way back to the lake , I 
found Shaggy Parasol-Lepiota rhacodes in the shade of the hedgeline . I did another lap of the 
lake , and found 3 Migrant Hawkers , all males , sunning themselves , when not fighting aerial battles . As has been the case for some time now , the most numerous dragonfly found was the Common Darter with 15+ recorded , and even a couple of pairs egglaying in tandem . Some 
males still had good colouring , but several were like this one , described as over mature , with the abdomen going a browny/beige colour , and the wings become yellowish . On the way home , there was a large , mixed , Corvid flock in the horse fields alongside the bottom lane , which contained a good number of Rooks , a species that was not found locally until 
a few years ago . It was interesting to have a size comparison between one and the more numerous Jackdaw .
