Leader: Felicity Gilmour
On a sunny autumnal day, 7 of us met at the Reception building at Stourhead and set off to explore Bonham Woods following one of Stourhead’s estate walks. 3 more Bath Nats members soon caught up with us following directions from one of the super-helpful Reception Staff. Luckily we were progressing slowly as we’d quickly come across some fungi in the leaf litter beneath the mainly beech and sweet chestnut trees.
The autumnal leaf colours were less impressive than in some years as some trees had already changed colour and lost their leaves, while others still looked quite green. Still, there was enough variation to look impressive in the sunshine and where the leaves had already fallen, glimpses of the architectural delights of Stourhead could be admired. The walk took us along at a higher level and parallel to the road going through to Gaspar so we could look down on Stourton Church and the Hoare family graves and Mausoleum. There were also views down to the Courtyard and the Bristol Cross. Soon we were passing behind the Temple of Apollo and seeing the view across the lake towards the Grotto and Rustic Cottage. We could hear the vocal Coots and see a group of Tufted Duck and a pair of Mute Swans.
Studying fungi at Stourhead © Geoff Hiscocks
The wet but mild weather had favoured the development of fungi and we were soon stumbling across a host of interesting and attractive specimens. We had a variety of expertise amongst the group and I was armed with my Collins Guide but our identifications are open to dispute and discussion!
I would have missed the strange-looking Elfin Saddle Helvella lacunosa with its dark irregular fruiting body as it was well-disguised amongst the leaves and I was looking at some specimens of a more obvious but small white fungus beside it!
We later saw several specimens of the larger White Saddle Helvella crispa, along with some beautiful whitish Coral nestling amongst some bright green moss, and the slightly less beautiful Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon.
Chris found a small but attractive creamy white fungus attached to a broken twig which provided plenty of animated discussion and a variety of suggestions. At least we could agree it was an Oysterling. We also spotted Hairy Curtain Crust Stereum hirsutum attached to a fallen tree and Dave pointed out some attractive Turkeytail Trametes versicolor.
Birds were less obvious although the usual woodland inhabitants were seen or more often heard: Blackbirds, Robins, Long-Tailed Tits, Chaffinches and a Nuthatch.
A Hazel Dormouse box was observed while some of the group were still investigating fungi. It is one of the 150 boxes which were erected as part of a project which started in 2009. The boxes had become dilapidated and less attractive to dormice so replacements were put up in Spring 2022. Stourhead has a healthy population of dormice living in some parts of the estate without the benefit of special boxes.
Chris showed us evidence of a Green Island Leaf Miner on a beech leaf which set us off on a search for other specimens.
As we emerged from the woods and walked past Bonham Manor and the Garden of Remembrance we saw a late Red Admiral flutter past and heard Goldfinches and a Song Thrush to add to our bird list. Overhead some of us watched a Red Kite being escorted off the territory by a Carrion Crow.
We walked along the old World War 2 airfield and through the gate at the end where we were so lucky to be able to watch Tree sparrows on the feeders put up by the National Trust. There were about 12 feeding and even from a distance and without the benefit of a scope we could clearly see their chestnut heads in the sunshine. What a privilege! Another project supported by the National Trust to help this red-listed bird.
Tom pointed out a male Stonechat calling from its perch on top of the hedge as we walked back to the Reception Building.
After some welcome lunch in the café, 6 of us visited the Landscape Garden and Lake, where we were escorted by the usual Robin garden-guides. We saw some Shaggy Parasols Chlorophyllum rhacodes and added to our bird list with some of the ubiquitous but no less lovable Canada Geese, and a pair of Mute Swans with their adolescent cygnets.
Alvan concentrated on mini-beasts, one of which was a small but brightly coloured Rhododendron Leafhopper Graphocephala fennahi. He also found a rhododendron in bloom. Usually at Stourhead there is one flowering somewhere at any time of the year.
The last surprising late afternoon sighting was of a Daubenton’s Bat flying low over a corner of the lake adjacent to the Rock Arches. The mild weather has perhaps delayed hibernation.
We were fortunate with the weather in a period where heavy rain has been more common. Stourhead is a beautiful and rewarding place to visit at any time of the year with numerous estate walks to enjoy and there is always something of interest to observe.
Felicity Gilmour
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