There are tall yellow spikes of a Mullein along the private road near the Little Terns on the shore. For many years we have named these as Twiggy Mullein, but it has been suggested they could be Moth Mullein. I have looked at several plant books, including Stace, but I cannot make my mind up…. they have characters of both!
It is definately Twiggy Mullein, closer inspection revealed multiple buds in the lower bracts and very short flower stalks.
Twiggy Mullein
On our regular Sunday walk we explored the flowers around the edge of Rye Golf Course. There were spectacular displays of Pyramidal Orchids and many Six-spot Burnet Moths, as below.
Michael Prince
In the 1980’s Stinking Hawk’s-beard became extinct in Britain. During the last 14 years there has been a Species Recovery Programme that has been trying to re-establish a viable population from seeds collected at Dungeness. At Rye Harbour, close to Ternery Pool, plants were introduced and protected from grazing by Rabbits. Last year there were just 5 plants counted, but this year, with superior Rabbit protection there are at least 39 plants. They can be identified by the very white pappus of hairs of the seed heads and the drooping buds… and the “stinking” is from the faint smell of cyanide in the leaves!
Another good night for the Lime Kiln Cottage moth trap, despite the wet weather. While not as rich in species as the previous night, (just over 40 as opposed to over 50), there were even more individuals, the majority again being either Dark Arches or Heart & Dart. Rarities included the micros Synaphe punctalis and Dolicarthria punctalis and the macros Sand Dart and Reddish Light Arches (below), while new species for the year included Sycamore, Smoky Wainscot and Green Pug.
Reddish Light Arches (left) with Light Arches
Easier to get close to this species today with the dull weather, the Meadow Brown is the most abundant butterfly on the reserve from early June, on sunny days during July hundreds can be found at Castle Water.
From the viewpoint at Castle Water at least 430+ Common Spotted Orchid can be seen poking up through the nearby grassland, amongst them is the occasional Pyramidal Orchid. A Five or Six-spot Burnet Caterpillar has found its way to the top of the Common Spotted.
