It was raining, and I wanted to get into the shed, so I made a dash for it. As I was unlocking I noticed a strange shape in the drain. It looked as if some leaves had gotten in there. I looked a little closer to see if it might need attention. I then recognised what I was looking at. I took off the drain cover and looked closer still.
An exotic-looking moth with an exotic name, this was only the second Merveille-du-Jour I’ve trapped here in Rye. It’s an autumn flier that feeds on ivy flowers and ripe berries, widespread and not scarce in woodland, parkland and gardens; the larvae live on oak. Not all moths are brown and boring!
This beautiful little beetle, 7 mm long, was on my moth trap in Rye yesterday. It’s a Rosemary leaf beetle (Chrysolina americana) which, despite the scientific name, is native to southern Europe, north Africa and the Middle East. After the first outdoor UK report in Surrey in 1994 it spread rapidly in the London area and into Essex, then into East Anglia and in just the last two years very quickly into Kent and Sussex. Although the larvae are usually considered a pest on rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, etc., as with all such designations there’s some doubt about how serious the threat may be, and in southern Europe the herbs and the beetles seem to coexist without major problems. The RHS ask for all sightings to be reported - see http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests/Rosemary-beetle
http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/pdfdocs/Lavender/Andrew%20Salisbury.pdf (with distribution maps)
Bittern – one at Denge Marsh on 22nd and one at the ARC site on 24th. Cattle egret – one in field near Springfield Bridge again today. Great white egret – on Denge Marsh today. Glossy ibis - two on Denge Marsh on 23rd. Goldeneye – two on the ARC pit on 23rd. Merlin – one over Denge Marsh on 23rd. Stone curlew – one seen in fields by Springfield Bridge on 21st. Little stint – one on Denge Marsh all week. Jack snipe – one at Denge Marsh on 22nd. Short-eared owl – one near access track on 21st. Kingfisher – one at the ARC pit on 23rd. Black redstart – two in car park area on 24th. Ring ouzel – one flew over access track on 22nd. Dartford warbler – one near track to Hanson-ARC hide today. Dusky warbler – near the ARC viewing screen this morning and yesterday. Firecrest – one near Boulderwall Farm on 23rd.
Despite the murky and damp morning lots of avian activity on Flat Beach, 500 Lapwing, 200 Curlew, 270 Golden Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 63 Ringed Plover, 1000 Starling, 40 Skylark, 60 Meadow Pipit, 75 Mallard and 11 Brent Geese. A Peregrine passed over several times.
47 sp in 2 hours in TQ81K ie Quarry, Warren Glen, Lovers’ Seat, Fairlight Glen, Place Farm.
Calls of small finches coming from the sky but very hard to see the birds, so numbers uncertain, at least 45 Redpolls however. Crossbill and Brambling heard only. Skylarks moving steadily west: 59 altogether. 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 8 Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests.
Novelty value was provided by a late HONEY BUZZARD pursued low W across the fields by a couple of crows.
Calls of Goldfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Pied Wagtail coming from flocks blown along north-east; Swallows, House Martins and Starlings flying south into the wind. Read the rest of this entry »
The warm weather this month is keeping reptiles active. Our garden in Northiam was graced by an adult grass snake and a juvenile slow-worm, basking under pieces of warm roof felt. Also under one of these was a tiny palmate newt eft, chancing its luck somewhat with the snake closeby! This animal had a faint orange-brown stripe all the way down its back and tail, whereas in the smooth newt there is a short stripe starting on the top of the head and petering out above the fore-limbs.
The recent run of wet weather should help this animal to forage and put on weight before the winter draws on. In dry weather these animals tend to be confined to any refuge that retains some moisture. Under 25mm long it’s amazing to think that in 18 months time this could be an adult returning to our pond to breed, if it manages to avoid the grass snake!
Listen Again to this BBC program by clicking here. Starring Nikki Gammans and Pete Akers telling the story of re-introducing the Short-haired Bumblebee to the RX area in 2010.
About a dozen Common Darters were catching flies and sunbathing this afternoon at the reedbed viewpoint at Castle Water. They were very approachable, especially along the handrails. But not much longer before they disappear. Also, nearby were flowering Hedgerow Cranesbill, Bristly Ox-tongue and Viper’s Bugloss.