This Drinker moth was present in the Lime Kiln Cottage light trap this morning. The caterpillars of this species (see entry for 30th May) feed on various grasses, pupating in a papery cocoon above ground, while the adults are on the wing from July to August. The orange-brown colouration shows this to be male, females being much yellower, though both sexes have a pair of pale spots in the centre of the forewing, just visible in the photograph.
Sea Barley, Hordeum marinum is a nationally scarce plant found at the upper levels of saltmarsh. It can be seen in flower now close to Rye, on the saltmarsh opposite the new fishmarket (officially opened today!). From Rye, go across the road bridge over the Rother, turn right along the sea wall and after about 50m it is abundant at the base of the bank - on the river side.
Yesterday while photographing Emperor dragonflies laying eggs at Castle Water, I noticed a male Small Red-eyed Damselfly, returning to the same location today I managed to get some photos. This species is a recent colonist, first recorded in Britain in 1999, the first record for the Nature Reserve was in 2002. The main identification feature to seperate from Red-eyed Damselfly, is a black X on segment ten of the abdomen, which is visible in the picture below.
Don’t forget it’s the Hastings Country Park Local Nature Reserve Wild Open Day this Saturday (15th July, 1pm)
An afternoon of activities for all the family have been planned on the East Hill to celebrate the declaration of one of the biggest Local Nature Reserves to be created in the last twenty years.
Guided health walks, bug hunts, family games, play activities and bird box making with local sculptor Joc Hare have been planned between 1pm and 5pm after the initial opening of the event by the Leader of Hastings Council, the Mayor and Prof. David Macdonald from English Nature.
More information is on the wildhastings website:
http://www.wildhastings.org.uk/news
The event is free and there will be special low price tickets for the east hill lift so why not join us on the east hill by coming up the steepest funicular railway in the UK.
At Castle Water we have planted a few Black Poplar as part of a wetland project run by the Sussex Rivers and Otters Partnership. These are now 2-3m high and a close inspection today revealed 4 caterpillars of the Puss Moth on one of the trees.
Sunday 9th July 2006Â 0810-1045: 35 sp
A cool grey morning, ending in miserable drizzle, the light too poor to show up the little birds squeaking high in the canopy.
 
Wrens were the dominant songsters (34), with warblers represented by 8 Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff. 2/3 Grey Wagtails were around Buck’s Hole, one appearing to be a juvenile. At Dordrecht Way was a rattling family of Mistle Thrushes. At the Swannery, a steady stream of Herring Gulls (+2 Lesser Black-backs) glided in from the suburbs to wash their silver feathers in fresh water joined by many more Black-headed Gulls than previously, some of them brown-backed just fledged, no doubt, from reserves further East. The only Starlings were flying overhead, as were about 10 Swifts.