Rosedale Community News

A couple of roe deer does showing themselves well in Hartoft during our wintery weather.  Roe deer are reddish brown in summer but adopt this dull brown coat in winter.  There appears to be an obvious light patch on the necks.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Lovely to see a grey partridge in one of gills on edge of moor at Rosedale East.  The grey partridge, also known as the English partridge is our native partridge but by no means common these days.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Grey partridge

These beautiful wheatears are back in their numbers up on the edge of the moor. The male has a grey back and crown and a striking black eye-stripe with a white stripe above called a supercilium. The female has altogether browner colouring with a cream supercilium. Both have buff underparts and a white rump and both have a characteristic bob and flick action. You should see them from the old railway line on the east side of Rosedale and at the top of Chimney Bank. Worth getting your walking boots on. Updale Natural History Recorder

Male wheatear

Female wheatear

Comma butterfly is now on the wing here in Rosedale.  A favoured place for them is a sheltered sunny position on the edge of a wood where they will bask in the sun.  Delightful white comma on the underwing if you are lucky enough to see it.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Comma butterfly

Underwing showing comma

Some spectacular fungus out there just now. Yellow Brain fungus Tremella mesenterica, is hard to miss, its golden yellow looking so unnatural. Jelly Ear fungus Auricularia auricula-judae is perhaps less obvious but is just beautifully formed in a rich brown. Both are jelly-like and found on dead or decaying trees. Updale Natural History Recorder

Yellow Brain fungus on decaying Ash tree

Jelly Ear fungus on decaying Elder tree

Found this beautiful Jelly ear fungus here in the dale this week. Also known as Judas’s ear fungus, Auricularia auricula-judae and commonly found on the elder tree. The story goes that Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus hanged himself on an elder tree. It resembles the human ear and is rubbery in texture. It ranges from purple to brown through to almost black as it ages.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Jelly ear fungus, Auricularia auricula-judae

This adder was basking in the welcome sunshine on Sunday up on the moor here in Rosedale.  Can’t have been long out of hibernation.  Beautifully marked reptiles to be admired from a safe distance as their venom is poisonous.  Updale Natural History Recorder

A sure sign of winter is a flock of fieldfares in a berry-laden tree or feeding on earthworms and seeds in the fields. The fieldfare is part of the thrush family and is very distinct with a grey crown and neck, a brown back and a reddish wash down its breast. It is a winter migrant to the UK and returns north for summer breeding from March onwards. And they are now on the verge of leaving as spring is knocking on the door with the arrival of curlews in the Dale this last week, lapwings increasing in numbers and the greater spotted woodpecker drumming. Updale Natural History Recorder

Right royal fieldfare