Hainault Forest | March Journal

MARCH

March Journal

2024

A final glimpse of our mild winter with sun rays beaming down on a sculpture in the ancient woodland. Alun snapped this picture while on his way to volunteer at the Visitor Centre.

The Tufted Duck is the commonest type of diving duck found on Hainault Lake.

Female Tufted Ducks are brown. Diving ducks have their legs located towards the back of their bodies. They appear awkward when walking and are better suited for an aquatic lifestyle.

Mallards courting at Roe's well. The female acknowledged a head bobbing display by the drake by lowering her neck which he grabbed with his bill to pull himself onto her back. A female can suffer neck injury and lose feathers if a male gets too rough, however in this case the coupling was over in a minute with no apparent bad consequences.

The Goldeneye is a medium-sized diving duck rarely seen on Hainault Lake. The last known record here was by ornithologist Mike Dennis in 2003. Males have black and white bodies. The greenish-black heads of males have circular white patches in front of their yellow eyes. Females are mottled grey with chocolate brown heads, they are smaller than the males. This species feeds on mussels, insect larvae, small fish and vegetation.

Swans have been absent from Hainault Lake for about two months. This Juvenile appeared during late March possibly arriving from Fairlop Waters or Hollow Pond. Once cygnets are old enough to look after themselves the parents loosen the parental ties. If the cygnets are reluctant to leave the parents may chase them away rather aggressively.

Moorhens are licentious and often swap partners during the breeding season. Females seem to prefer small fat mates. Nests are built with dead vegetation positioned among floating plants or next to the water. Eggs are sometimes put in nests of other birds which allows a female to increase her egg output.

The back of a Lesser Black-backed Gull may range from pale to very dark. Mature adults have yellow bills and legs. It takes four years for them to reach maturity.

Blackbirds are often seen turning leaf litter or running across grass in their hunt for worms and insects. Males sing to establish territories and are usually heard from March until June. Their melodies start the dawn chorus when other birds are still quiet and continue until dusk.

Redwings are thrush-like in appearance, but have a white stripe over the eye and a red underwing. Large flocks of these shy winter visitors have appeared in Hainault Forest recently probably due to the huge quantities of berries available for them to feed on. They are often seen in the company of fieldfares, but none were spotted here.

The Skylark is larger than a sparrow and smaller than a starling. It has a small crest on the head which is raised when the bird gets excited or alarmed. It flies vertically up in the air and can often be heard singing while on the wing. The phrase "All aboard the Skylark" has been used in films, children's cartoons and as the title of a music album, but where did it originate? It is a humorous reference for going on a pleasure boat at some seaside resorts - the boat being the proverbial 'Skylark'.

As far back as 3100 B.C. the Ancient Egyptians kept Egyptian Geese as pets making them one of the oldest domesticated species. They are now the most widespread African waterfowl appearing in many countries around the world after being introduced. They are early breeders and there has been a report of young being seen at Fairlop Waters already this year.

Wood anemones Anemone nemorosa grow in shaded ancient woodland. Once common in Hainault Forest this is no longer the case and only one tiny patch, about a metre square, has been found this year. White flowers with yellow centres appear from March until May. The plant spreads gradually through root growth. It cannot rely on its seeds because they are mostly infertile.

Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria is an actinomorphic flower characterised by radial symmetry (i.e. similar parts facing each other around an axis). This member of the Buttercup family is a low-growing plant with glossy green, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers about 30mm across. It is one of the first spring flowers to appear providing a rich source of nectar for insects that emerge early.

Some plants such as Lesser Celandine use lined patterns and ultraviolet light to guide pollinators towards the middle of the flowerhead. Flowerheads can be thought of as miniature landing pads for flying insects. Flowers produce a sugary liquid called nectar which many insects consume. Nectar is made in glands known as nectaries usually located at the base of the stamens. A visiting insect brushing against the anthers will have pollen deposited on its body. As the insect travels from plant to plant it spreads the pollen and pollination occurs. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to a female stigma. Once a plant is pollinated it makes seeds that will produce the next generation. Pollination by insects is called Entomophily.

Blackthorn on a mound north-east of the lake illustrates a historic feature of planting at Hainault. In 1910 Poplar, Aspen, Birch and Beech were encircled by Blackthorn, Bramble and Gorse to prevent damage to the trees by cattle which roamed freely at Foxburrows. The white flowers of Blackthorn blossom before the leaves appear.

Cowslip Primula veris blooms during spring. It is closely related to the primrose which is also a spring flower. Once common in meadows, but with loss of habitats it is now falling into decline and the bright yellow nodding flowers are becoming a harder to find.

Fruiting bodies of slime mould Stemonitis fusca develop from white plasmodium. This picture shows the sporangia turning pink. They will change to brown within a few hours.

Straw heaps can affect local flora, however there are benefits for other wildlife. They attract molluscs, springtails, woodlice, millipedes, earwigs, worms and beetles along with the creatures that feed upon them. Decaying straw also produces heat so can provide a perfect habitat for small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Something has burrowed into the bottom of this heap.

Blistered Cup Peziza vesiculosa is found throughout the year. It is a fungus favouring habitats containing rotting straw and dung heaps. The fleshy cups are white before turning yellowish-brown. The outer surfaces are rough to the touch while the insides are smooth. The cups grow up to 10cm across.

Blistered Cup belongs to a group known as 'Spore Shooters' which tend to produce cup-shaped mushrooms. Spores develop on the inner surface of the fruit body and the cup shape assists rain to splash spores out of the cups.

Green Cellar Slug Limacus maculatus has a fingerprint pattern on its mantle, greyish tentacles and a short yellow stripe at tail end.

Frogs were active in Hainault Forest during March with spawn left in clumps on the lake and ponds. This frog popped its head above the surface at Sheepwater. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation are always pleased have your sightings recorded on their group's website.

Comma butterflies seek sanctuary on hedgerows located in sunny positions. Their name is derived from a little 'comma' mark on the underside of the wings. Its caterpillars feed on plants such as Common Nettle and Hop.

The Streamer Anticlea derivata is an attractive springtime moth. It inhabits woodland, scrub and hedgerows. Its larvae feed on dog-rose and other wild roses.

Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata is seen from March to September. It flies mainly at dusk and in hot sunshine. This species is found in a variety of habitats and its larvae feed on a wide range of plants.

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla is a widespread species that appears all through the year. The outer third of each wing is split into plumes, but with the wings so tightly rolled at rest that they look solid. Its larvae feed on bindweed.

Brian Ecott visited his cousins in Lambourne End and had a surprise when he looked at their Money Plant Crassula ovata. The thirty-year-old houseplant was in flower for the very first time.

North Street, Romford, about 1959, before the ring road was built around the Market Place in the late 1960s. Many buildings were demolished and a portion of North Street became a paved area. On the left stands Romford Sanitary Steam Laundry Ltd next to a Builders' Merchants. Edward Webster opened a steam laundry in Main Road, with 33 North Street being the premises where customers could take their dirty laundry that needed cleaning. His daughter, Grace, became manageress and with her spouse, ran the business until her father passed away during 1962. The opposite side of the road shows the bus stop for numbers 103, 175 and 250. There is also a Barbers shop.

Friends seated in the Global Cafe with a memorial plaque presented by Roy Meeking's daughter a few days earlier. Roy passed away in October 2022 and his jokes are still missed.

Thank you to all contributors.

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