LAST QUARTER 2025
This Journal covers the last quarter of 2025 from October to December.
Ring-necked Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Britain's only naturalised parrot is especially noisy in the Roe's Well area of the forest where they nest in tree holes.
#
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
By far the most common type of finch seen in Hainault Forest usually appearing in large groups. They feed on seeds of thistle, teasel and other plants. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from plants. In the past the species was also called the 'Thistle Finch' due to its liking for thistle seed.
#
Coal Tit / Blue Tit
Periparus ater / Cyanistes caeruleus
This picture was taken in Michael's garden. Blue Tits with their colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green are a common sight in Hainault and the Forest. Coal Tits are less colourful and not seen as often. The Coal Tit has a black head with white cheeks, a buff-brown tummy and grey legs. White wing bars and a white patch on the back of the head distinguish Coal Tits from Marsh and Willow Tits.
#
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
Long-tailed Tits are usually seen in small noisy groups flying around woodland trees and hedgerows. They feed on insects, sometimes switching to seeds in autumn and winter.
#
Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis
Green Woodpeckers are frequent visitors to the scrub areas. They use their strong beaks to break into anthills to feed on their favourite food...ants!
#
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Little Egrets are believed to have first arrived in England during the 1950s. The species is now well established in Britain with an increasing population. During November seven were spotted resting at the edge of Hainault Lake. This small member of the Heron family has a white head, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It feeds on fish.
#
Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Robins with their brightly-coloured breasts and song are easily discernible. They are generally friendly and curious towards humans. Males are very aggressive when guarding their territory against intruders including other males. A Robin's diet consists of worms, insects, spiders, fruits and seeds.
#
Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Males have black heads, white at the neck, orange-buff breasts and brown backs. Females do not have black heads. Stonechats are winter visitors that consume insects, fruits and seeds. Large groups were spotted in the scrub during this autumn.
#
Collared Earthstar
Geastrum triplex
These star-shaped fungi appeared amongst leaf litter at Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve. They are usually seen from late summer and in autumn. When pressed spores are released from the centre of the fruiting body.
#
Yellow Brain Fungus
Tremella mesenterica
The bright yellow fruiting body of this fungus turns hard and orange when it dries out. It mainly appears during autumn and winter on fallen deciduous branches.
#
Jelly Ear
Auricularia aricula-judae
Initially very soft with a velvet-like texture, becoming smoother with age. Jelly Ear grows on deciduous tree trunks and branches especially Elder during autumn and winter.
#
Birch Polypore
Fomitopsis betulina
This is a common fungus which only grows on Birch trees. The hard brackets measure up to 20cm across and were once used by barbers to sharpen their razors. Also known as 'Razor strop'.
#
Candlesnuff
Xylaria hypoxylon
Very common wood-rotting fungus. It has stick-like or forked fruiting bodies with black bases and white powdery tips. Height 10-60mm.
#
Black Bulgar
Bulgaria inquinans
Common on felled oak trunks and fallen branches. Despite looking somewhat like Pontefract Cakes they are not edible.
#
Porcelain Fungus
Oudemansiella mucida
Porcelain Fungus, also known as 'Slimy Beech Tuft', has a delicate translucent appearance. It is found on standing and fallen beech trees and branches. In folklore elves and fairies are often associated with living under toadstools. However, you will never find one residing beneath this species because dripping slime from the cap drives them away to drier habitats.
#
Insect Egg Slime Mould
Leocarpus fragilis
Ranger Beth Randall discovered a slime mould on leaf litter near Foxburrow Farm. It was identified as Leocarpus fragilis by Essex Field Club county recorder Raymond Small and verified by Professor Bruce Ing. At the plasmodial stage this slime mould is bright yellow and to some extent the young fruiting bodies look like insect eggs.
With maturity the fruiting bodies turn brown then grey and release blackish spores. This is the first known record for Hainault Forest. It is a harmless decomposer that feeds on decaying organic matter and poses no toxic threat. Found on dead leaves and logs it is a natural part of the ecosystem.
#
Dog Vomit Slime Mould
Mucilago crustacea
The fresh plasmodium of this slime mould is usually found on grass and resembles vomit from a dog. The calcareous outer layer hardens and the interior blackens as the spores are produced. The spore mass is black. There are ongoing discussions about this slime mould being reclassified, however for the time being it should still be recorded as Mucilago crustacea.
#
Flowers of Tan
Fuligo septica
This slime mould is known as 'Flowers of Tan' or 'Scrambled Egg Slime Mould' and is one of the most recorded slime moulds in the UK. Some sources also refer to this as 'Dog Vomit', however that name truly belongs to Mucilago crustacea. Flowers of Tan is found on rotten wood, woodchips, sawdust and leaf litter.
#
Spindle
Euonymus europaeus
Spindle is a spreading deciduous shrub or small tree growing to a height of 3 metres. Its pink 4-lobed fruits split to display orange seeds during autumn. These fruits were found near Roes Well.
#
Foxburrow Farm
A new goat arrived at Hainault Forest in December 2025. All new arrivals have to be kept in isolation before being introduced to Foxburrow Farm. The Golden Guernsey is a rare breed of dairy goat from the Channel Islands. It is golden with the colour ranging from pale blonde to deep bronze. They are generally smaller than other British milking goats. Males are usually horned. Since 2024 the breed has been officially known as the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat after receiving the title from King Charles III. It is an endangered breed with fewer than 2000 living animals.
A Norfolk Horn ram has also been introduced to Foxburrow Farm and it is hoped that during spring the ewes will produce lambs.
Foxburrow Farm has three Alpacas, two are white and one is brown. Alpacas originate from South America. They are members of the camel family domesticated by the people of the Peruvian Andes about 6,000 years ago.
This cute rabbit is one of several small mammals found in Foxburrow Farm. The farm is free to enter.
#
Education Centre
A new shelter has been built behind the 1886 Café where Redbridge Vision hope to hold education sessions and Nature Corner in 2026.
#
Thank you to everyone that have contributed to this Journal.
Pages recently added to the website:
History of Hainault Forest: Olympics 2012
The Journal will now be published quarterly with the next issue appearing at the end of March 2026.
© hainaultforest.net. All rights reserved.
This website uses necessary cookies. It does not use targeting or advertising cookies.