Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
Discussion Forum
Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
Peter Thompson
02 Dec 2005, 10:15 AM
Down here in Hampshire the Beech mast and Acorn crop is virtually non existant, and the Hawthorn berry crop is poor - what is the situation elsewhere in the country? We already have reports around here of Brambling & Siskin on garden feeders which is fairly early in the season. Also Millet in cover crops seems to have almost run out, whereas normally it it still available well into January if not February. I would be very interested to know what you all are finding out there?
Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
richardwinspear
12 Dec 2005, 8:57 AM
In Cambridgeshire, the berry crop is probably average, but this follows a exceptionally high berry crop last year. I realise that the berry crop can be boosted by leaving berry-bearing shrubs untrimmed for two or three years, but do not know much about what other factors affect berry yields. The latest British Trust for Ornithology newsletter also states that last year was a very good year for beech mast.
Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
David Harrison
18 Dec 2005, 5:39 PM
No beech trees in the low weald, but plenty of acorns-more than 2003, with clouds of pigeons to match. Some cases of acorn poisoning of cattle in arrea.hawthorn average-less regular hedging helps. Plenty of shrivelled blackberries-are these any use for anything?
Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
John Walsh
26 Dec 2005, 9:53 AM
Here in Ireland, I also noticed this was a very poor year for Haws particularly in comparsion to last year. I did notice in early Autumn that the Hawthorns leaves has lost there colour very early. Im not sure if that was caused by having a very dry early Autumn but the production of Berries was very poor. I have seen plenty of hazelnuts and seems to have been a good year for them.
Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
alauda26
10 Jan 2006, 11:39 AM
We seemed to have a pretty good hawthorn crop early in the season here in the Midlands, although it's not as spectacular now. There's still some left, but the early flocks of redwing and fieldfare appear to have reduced somewhat now. Haven't really seen much in the way of beech or oak crops though, but am not really on the ideal soils for them around here.
Certainly a few blasts of harsh weather seems to really knock the seeds out of a lot of game cover, unless it's in a particularly sheltered spot.