20/11/10: (On the way to) Richmond Park

Up early to get over to Richmond for the LNHS Ecology and Entomology field trip in Richmond Park, looking for invertebrates under dead wood.

On the way to Barnehurst station, 23 Ring-necked Parakeets were seen flying north-east.

On a wall by a noticeboard in Terrace Gardens on Richmond Hill, I found my first specimens of Rusty-back Fern in London, a total of 24 plants.

Rusty-back Fern or Scaly Spleenwort (Asplenium ceterach or Ceterach officinarum) , Terrace Garden, Richmond, south-west London, growing with Hart's-tongue Fern

There was a good turnout of 11 members and the legendary Dingo the dog. I didn't make notes on the invertebrates found.

LNHS members studying invertebrates associated with dead wood. Dingo isn't very interested .....

Richmond Park panorama, with anthills in the foreground

Sulphur Tuft fungus (Hypholoma fasciculare)

There were a number of Jackdaws around and a Common Toad was found under one of the logs lifted up. Sheep's-sorrel was most prominent on top of anthills. Other small plants included Common Stork's-bill, Parsley Piert and, at one location, what I think was quite a lot of Bird's-foot (Ornithopus perpusillus).