Early arrivals reported Bullfinches by Lacock Road car park, where 15 Nats members met to walk the Corsham Court parkland. We entered the park directly across the road, emerging through boundary trees into open parkland, pasture, freestanding oak trees and the lake ahead. On the lake there were: 2 Great crested grebes, 120 Canada geese, 6 Mallard, 10 Black headed gulls, Herring and Lesser black backed gulls, a Grey heron flew overhead.
Beyond the lake were 3 Cormorants on a dead tree. At the west end of the lake, we stopped to examine some cup and bracket fungi on an oak stump as well as Silk Button Spangle galls and Marble galls growing on an oak close by. We then headed north, on the permissive path through the park, following a hedge-line bearing an impressive crop of Hawthorn berries. A Song Thrush and Wren were seen briefly along the overgrown ditch by the hedge. Greenfinches flew overhead. Beyond the hedge we spotted the first of three Green woodpeckers and enjoyed telescope views of a Nuthatch using a hole in the trunk of oak tree.
Continuing northward we passed through woodland, to parkland beyond. Here we spotted another green woodpecker, but few other birds. However we did find a variety of fungi under an oak tree here. Alan Rayner provided help identifying several of these including, Rosy Bonnet, Lilac Fibrecap, Fool’s Funnel, Common Cavalier, Red Cracking Oak Bolete, Pleated Inkcap, Fairy Inkcap and Parasol mushroom.
Later we saw some Waxcaps and Golden Spindles on short grass sward as we retraced part of our route, before heading on though the church yard to Corsham high street. From the south end of The High Street we re-entered the park; returning to our cars along the tree lined south side of park. Trees here included Limes and brown leaved Horse chestnut trees. Thus ending a pleasant walk, though this historic landscape.
Phillip Delve
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