ABtrees

Here's some more - not sure that they are all even fungi !!!

Found this on my walk today. Have to say I've never seen anything like it - so someone please enlighten me ??? It's spherical, hard and about 3-4 inches across (keyring for reference). Tree is Goat Willow My only thought is that it is some sort of gall - but if there's a wasp in there, I definitely don't want to be around when it emerges !!!!!

It was amazing. I'm in France. The lake is 4 miles away from our house and I drive past it on the school run. I've had a picture like this in mind for ages but 'right place and right time' etc. Today was the day ! The only regret was that i didn't have my big camera and 500mm lens with me - there was apair of Great-crested Grebes about 1/2 way across the lake right in the middle of the deepest orange bit . Maybe next time - eh ?!!!!

I know it's supposed to be a sunset but ........Really happy with this pic from this morning - certainly one of my better ones.

Hi. I am certainly NOT 'landed gentry' - just very lucky ! 20 years ago I bought an old mill house in central France and Hornbeam was a necessity for the mill. We still have the mill gear but sadly no millstream ! When it was working, one of the gears on the mechanism is made of cast iron whilst the teeth on the corresponding cog were made of Hornbeam (as above - it's very hard). That way if for any reason there was a jam all the wooden teeth broke (rather than cast against cast). Replace all the teeth and it was up and running again in about 1/2 an hour with very little effort - genius eh? Very common round these parts. I can put some pictures up if you want ?

Agreed - definitely a lapsed Hornbeam pollard. I'm lucky enough to have lots (50+) of them (pictures if anyone wants some ?). Occasionally they fall over, at which point they do indeed make excellent firewood (more calorific than Oak, I think) and it dries relatively quickly but .... it is notoriously hard especially when dried. I always make sure it's ringed up asap.

Ok, you guys will need to cut me some slack here but ............ With my ignorance and simpleton's view (of life) can someone explain to me why a longer bar/chain reduces chain/ cutting speed so much ? You have the same teeth spacing (?) and therefore the same number of teeth (cutting) in a given diameter of log/tree at any stage of the cut. You therefore have the same load on the engine and (presumably) therefore a similar engine rpm which on any given sprocket is driving the chain at the same speed ???? So am i right in thinking the 'killer' is just the additional friction of an extra 2 inches ?!!!!

Quentin Wilson - Top (bloke) Gear Quentin Willson: Former Top Gear and Fifth Gear presenter dies aged 68 WWW.BBC.COM The presenter and campaigner was described by his family as a "true national treasure" and "true consumer champion".

Wow - just WOW ! Got to be one of the best fungi ever.

Chestnuts,Sloes,Fungi, and Spindle tree - Just lots and lots

Thanks Mick - that looks to be bang on.

I've been for a wander this afternoon - got about 25 pics mainly of buttery brown fungi on tree stems and roots - all look a bit similar to my untraines eye. I can upload a few if anyone is interested ???? But the one i would like an ID on is this one please. It really looked pale blue. About 2 inches across.

Hi 42. It is actually on an old dead Oak about 6 inches off the ground - poor photo. No need to revise your notes !

And another one ! This is the same fungi that I posted in Sept 2020 - in the same place on the same tree - only much bigger (that's my size 9 glove) ! Beefsteak anyone ? Sorry to say that I don't have that many friends (or family!) 'brave' enough to eat it so i might just leave it where it is !!!

Haven't posted on here in ages - so here's a couple of nice specimens - hope you enjoy. And yes, this seems to be a special year (for lots of stuff).

To be fair the one in the photo on the Farming UK article looks a bit overwhelmed as well ! They do make the point though it is a long term solution which relies on numbers trampling the bracken as much as eating it .

Interesting thread. Cattle are the answer - Galloways and their cousins Belted Galloways are particularly effective - apparently. Farmers trial use of livestock to control bracken without chemicals WWW.FARMINGUK.COM Farmers are trialling the use of livestock to control bracken without chemicals, with an ultimate aim to save costs while restoring habitats. Cattle and Bracken contd. – Bog Myrtle & Peat GALLOWAYFARM.BLOG Having recently written about cattle and bracken control, a brief follow-up is warranted after a walk across the hill last week. In one area where the cows often linger, bracken has been badly... I know that they have used them to very good effect on the Malvern Hills

Don't know if this is relevant to your situation but...... I was having a similar issue with my TW150 and spoke to a really helpful chap on the TW stand at Westonbirt. We went through a few 'could be this or could be thats' but he said one of the very first things to check is the distance of the strobe/sensor away from the flywheel. Even a tiny bit too far and it thinks the flywheel is slowing, the machine is getting overloaded and won't reactivate the in feed rollers. It was exactly THIS. Tiny bit of adjustment off we went again - thank goodness. Hope you have the same success.

In France atm where it was a bit cooler this morning so lots of birdsong about 6.30. So i launched the Merlin app and got the following (in no particular order): Blackbird, Blackcap, Robin, Blue Tit, Wren, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greater-spotted Woodpecker, Pigeon, Firecrest,Woodlark, Golden Oriole, Pied Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Hawfinch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Crow, Nightingale, Grey Wagtail and Garden Warbler. Pleasantly surprised but have to say I probably only saw 7 or 8 of them !!!!

I agree Bill - I'd have to go for Buzzard

'Ping test .....' I was having this exact same problem on a TW125. Spoke to a thoroughly helpful chap (on the TW stand at the Arbshow) whose rule of thumb advice was to try to turn each belt (at the mid point) through 90 degrees. You should only just be able to do this = roughly the right tension ! Worked a treat for mine - they were a bit loose - tightened them up and now working fine again. Good luck. AB

Exactly THIS !

High Stubby - in central France. We regularly get some rare birds (and animals as well) especially during migration seasons and there is a huge national park just to the north of us. We are also lucky to have a river in the garden (!) and have about 40+ acres of self regen ancient woodland some marshy (mainly oak, hornbeam,cherry and alder but other stuff as well). That said, Merlin has gone completely off on one since I posted on Wednesday : I accept that we may have had Siskin,Kingfisher, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Reed Bunting (as I have seen all those in the past) BUT ...... I think even my enthusiasm won't take me as far as : Tengmalm's Owl, Little Bittern, Ring Ouzel and one that I can't even bring myself to write down - either through inevitable ridicule or a need to keep quiet !!! I do agree btw Turtle doves are so good to see (and hear). Pic from last year - a bit crap - too far away and the piggin thing is sat in the wrong place !!!! Was out yesterday and saw a pair of Black kites (and nest) so might have to go back there again 'coz the pictures are crap ! AB

Turtle doves arrived this morning. Then Goldcrest, Redwing (!) and Red Legged Partridge !

I did think that but we have seen upwards of 90% of the birds it's identifying and some of them are fairly rare (apart from round here !) e.g. Black Woodpecker and G. Oriole. And it's not coming up with loads that i have never seen/ heard of - but some that are easily confused (e.g. Willow tit v. Marsh Tit). Tree pipit etc. I was really pleased with the Nightingale though.