Natural History
This group is for members who are interested in all aspects of the Natural World. It will include talks, visits, walks and group discussions, and it's programme will be based around members' interests.
If you like the sound of this group please contact Dr Alan Keith, the Leader, via the blue bird link who will tell you about their plans so far. Greta Barker is joint leader. They will meet on the second Thursday of the month at various venues.
Meeting Report Thursday May 30th:-
5 Members of the U3A Natural History Cam & Dursley Group, met at 10-30 a.m. at Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club House. We arranged lunch there for 12-30 p.m and set off after watching a couple of Mistle Thrushes feeding and listening to a Skylark overhead. We walk west toward Hollow Coombe, till we hit the footpath making a right turn toward the Public Car Park. As we walked we were identifying Birds, Trees, Bushes, and Flowers. Just beyond the Car Park we took the road to Stinchcombe Hill House where we followed the path into Sheep Path Wood continuing our survey we walked north, east and south until we reached the Club House again just in time for lunch.
After an excellent lunch we drove to Breakheart Quarry where we met three more members including Greta who guided us to the flower meadow and then around the Quarry naming many interesting plants and flowers. We thank those who came making it an interesting and pleasurable day by sharing your considerable knowledge with us.
Birds. Black Bird, Mistle Thrush, song Thrush, Robin, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Swift, Willow Warbler, Wood Pigeon.
Trees Ash, Beech, Black Thorn, Cherry, Field Maple, Guelder Rose, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Pedunculate Oak, Silver Birch, Sycamore, White Beam, White Birch, Yew.
Bushes Buddleia, Wild Clematis, Honey Suckle, Privet, Woody Nightshade, Hart Tongue Fern, Dog Rose.
Flowers Meadow Buttercup, Daisy, Dandelion, clover, Cowslips, Acrid Crowfoot, Yellow Rattle, Smooth Hawksbeard, Herb Robert, Common Agrimony, Salad Burnet, Horseshoe Vetch, Common Milkwort,
Green winged Orchid, Pyramidual Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Fragrant Orchid, Rock Rose, Speedwell, Red Campion, Wood Forget-me-not, Common Poppy, Marigold, California Poppy,
White Dead Nettle, Woodruff, Sun Spurge, Yellow/Wood Hawkweed, Scarlet Pimpernel, Common Thyme, Ox-Eye Daisy, Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Wood Sanicle, Wild Teasel, Common Lady's Mantle,
Reg Foxglove, Viper's Bugloss, Wild Strawberries, Yellow Archangel, Gypsy Wort, Black Bryony, Ground Ivy, Corn Gromwell, Yellow Mignonette, Common Valarian, Aquilegia, Wood Crane's Bill,
Nettles, Garlic Mustard, Weld.
Butterflies Speckled Wood, Holly Blue. Report and Lists by Sheila & Roland LaPorta