October 2023 in Bicknor Wood

October was warm and dry this year, not record-breaking, but substantially warmer and drier than average.

By the third week of the month, the trembling Aspen had begun to look very spare. The Blackthorns were already bare.

Seeds have been set and will fall, hoping to find a fertile spot to land. Rosebay Willowherb likes disturbed soil and a frequent colonisers of rough ground.

Sweet Chestnuts have been dropping their spiny cases. The nuts appear to be bigger this year. Has anyone been weighing or measuring them to compare? 

A Goldcrest was seen on 22nd October and a week later, 2 were seen. Previously the earliest sightings of this tiny bird have been during the third week of November.

Bringing a dash of vibrancy to the season, Dog Rose hips were seen in the sunshine on the south side of the wood along the path through The Coppice.

I have not been able to specifically identify the subjects of the following photographs. If you have any thoughts, please let me know in the comments section.  

False Chantarelle?

Crested Coral Fungus probably.

Found in one of the next boxes during cleaning. Possibly larva of a carpet beetle?

I would be particularly keen to find out what this might be. Animal, vegetable or medical?