This outing, led as always by Don Tagg, was a year since our last walk on Thursley, shortly after which the Common suffered a serious fire which made national news, and devastated a huge area south of the boardwalk out from Moat Pond. Since the weather was not good for dragonflies, we decided to take a walk around the burnt area, to see for ourselves the effects of the fire.
It was clear that life had already begun to return, despite the generally
blackened aspect of the Common. There are several good patches of fresh heather
and gorse just visible, but also some bracken, and some familiar weeds such as
sow thistles, Canadian fleabane, willowherbs (three species) and groundsel. But
the bog areas were looking spectacular, with unprecedented flowerings of cotton
grass and bog asphodel. Don is aware of the return of the sand lizards and the
wood tiger beetles, and a record number of woodlarks. Two of the latter were
seen today, as well as whitethroat and heron. The curlews were back, but did not
appear. Common lizards scuttled before us on the boardwalks, as ever. As
mentioned, it was not a good day for dragonflies, but there were quite good
numbers of blue-tailed and common blue damselflies, and four-spotted chaser,
emperor and common darter dragonflies were also recorded. A few other insects
about included large yellow underwing, China mark, and Endotricha moths, an
Omocestus viridulis grasshopper, an unidentified robber fly, and some little
Xerolycosa spiders. Fungus was quick to recolonise Thursley last autumn, and
today there were considerable shows of two species associated with scorched
trees: on birch, the shiny black cramp ball (Daldinia loculata), and on the
ground beneath pines the buff, dung-like masses of pine fire fungus (Rhizina
undulata). This was especially rife on Pine Island. Otherwise, just a few cap
fungi were found on burnt ground, including a Gymnopilus sp. (fuligo?) and
Psathyrella pennata. There was a fresh bracket of Phellinus pini on the usual
pine tree beside the boardwalk, despite a scorching, and the very rare but
obscure fungus Xenotypa aterrima was found again, on birch. Thanks to Don for a
rather different walk, much appreciated by those who braved the showers.
Dick
Alder