After numerous moth trapping sessions in bad weather over the last few weeks with no success at all, I was delighted to open the trap this morning and find a catch – only four individuals of two species, but it’s a start!
The first out of the trap were three common swifts, Hepialus lupulinus to be scientific, two males and one female. A common species throughout much of the UK, the larvae feed on the roots of various species of grasses and herbaceous plants. Their favoured habitat is grasslands, gardens, heathlands and woodland rides and edges. The adults can be found flying from May – July, look for the males flying low over the ground at dusk. This individual from this morning is quite worn.
Today’s other species was a beautifully marked coronet, or Craniophora ligustri. A local species throughout most of England, the larvae predominantly feed on ash and wild privet. They fly in one generation from late-May to July and inhabitat woodlands, scrub and more open land with ash trees.
Also in the trap this morning was an alder fly, Sialis lutaria. Alder flies are often considered related to the lacewings and indeed they used to be classed in the same Order as lacewings, the Neuroptera, however they now have their own Order, the Megaloptera. Their predatory larvae are aquatic.
With a day off yesterday, I couldn't think of a better way to spend my spare time, than to visit a RSPB nature reserve!
The wonderful RSPB Frampton Marsh is just down the road and has been visited by some nice birds recently, so the choice of venue was easy. I recorded 43 species there including little gull, black-necked grebe, curlew sandpiper and garganey. If you get the chance, it really is worth a visit at any time of the year.
Speaking of species lists, Carl Cornish recorded 50 species last Sunday during our 'cuckoo, cuckoo!' entitled monthly guided walk. Unfortunately, a cuckoo was one of the few birds that we didn't manage to show to the 31 attendees! However, we did see garganey, yellow wagtail, hobby, wheatear and nine species of warbler.
Our next guided walk is scheduled for Sunday 24th June. To book a place please either e-mail paul.bennett@yahoo.org.uk, or call 01636 893611. The theme of the walk is 'Butterfly Bonanza', so expect bad weather!
Is everyone enjoying this taste of summer today? With temperatures hitting 22C, a warm breeze and not a cloud in the sky, lets hope it continues. However, despite the glorious weather today, it’s been a very slow spring this year so far. The cold temperatures, torrential rain and high winds have delayed bird migration, insect emergence and plants flowering. Last week though, I finally got out to record some insects and today I took the opportunity to get out and look at what is flowering out on site.
Oxeye daisy, or Leucanthemum vulgare, is a common plant at Langford and produces lovely displays across the Phase 1 grassland when in full flower.
Photo courtesy of Ben Hall, rspb-images.com
The familiar meadow buttercup, or Ranunculus acris, is now in flower on the public footpath and throughout the site.
Common vetch, Vicia sativa, with it’s deep pink flowers is out now, again on the Phase 1 grassland. Look also for the distinctively shaped leaves and the tendrils that are used to climb or sprawl over other plants.
Garlic mustard, or Alliaria petiolata, is a tall plant up to 1m in height. It is flowering now with small white petalled flowers. It takes it’s name from it’s garlic-like smell when crushed.
Another red/pink flower is red clover, Trifolium pratense, which is just starting to flower in the last few days on phase 1 and around the public footpath. An extremely common species related to the familiar white clover.
Photo courtesy of Andy Hay, rspb-images.com
Look for dense clumps of germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys, on the public footpath by the woodland. The flowers are a stunning deep blue colour and the species can be separated from similar speedwells by the two opposite rows of dense hairs running down the stem.
In the next few weeks, look out for more species coming into flower including black and greater knapweed, lady's bedstraw, kidney vetch and grass vetchling.
I also saw my first holly blue, or Celastrina argiolus, butterfly of the year today on the public footpath....
Photo courtesy of Richard Revels, rspb-images.com
What are these structures on this fence post out in Phase 1. The post is in the water, about 1m out from the edge of the bank and there are up to 15 groups of them on the post. The length of the top group is about 3cm and the width is 0.5cm. Answer to follow next week....
Waders have featured highly on the list of Langford highlights recently, with both black and bar-tailed godwits, common sandpiper, dunlin, whimbrel and the regulars including little ringed plover, ringed plover, redshank, oystercatcher and lapwing.
So yesterday accompanied by some of our regional staff, we made our way around site, expecting to pick up some good birds. The sand martins put on an excellent show as always, now with well over 100 holes in the newly constructed bank on Phase 2. Swifts too have been abundant in this poor weather, feeding low over the water on Phases 1 and 2. Yellow wagtails always brighten up the new landscaping and 3 buzzards called overhead.
However, once again it was the waders that were the highlight of that day. A look over Phase 1 produced a whopping 10 ringed plovers (the largest number I have ever seen here), 2 little ringed plovers and another lovely breeding plumaged dunlin. Lapwings were calling over the balancing pond and oystercatchers were feeding on the muddy waters edge.
But the most exciting wader of the day was picked up on Phase 2 by our Conservation Officer, Carl Cornish. A distant view of a little brown/grey wader warranted a closer look and as we moved closer, the bird revealed itself as a wood sandpiper. Wood sandpipers are annual here at Langford, but it was my first sighting since 2010.