Among our more onerous tasks in the summer months is the removal of common ragwort, an injurious weed which poses a threat to livestock if ingested. It is deemed such a significant threat that it is covered by its own act of parliament (The Ragwort Control Act - 2003) and non-compliance can lead to prosecution.
A common ragwort looking sunny and wholly innocent.
It is a shame in many ways that ragwort is such a problem to livestock as it is of considerable benefit to a wide array of invertebrates as a nectar source and perhaps most famously as the food source for the caterpillars of the cinnabar moth. It is for this reason that we - for the most part - only pull and remove ragwort on the grazed pasture, leaving the remainder to be enjoyed by its myrial invertebrate guests.The cinnebar caterpillar transfers alkaloid poisons from ragwort into the adult moth and the vivid black and red sheen of their wings act as a warning to insectivorous birds and other potential predators.
Cinnabar moth (tyria jacobaeae) the Darth Maul of day flying moths.
Whilst out pulling the last little bit of ragwort on the main moor we were accompanied by our estimable botanist Naomi taking advantage of the fact that we were on the moor to do a spot of plant surveying, (to minimise disturbance we only go onto the moor when absolutely necessary). It proved well worth the effort as I helped Anne to remove the remaining ragwort and Naomi found a new colony of the rare golden dock - found in just two places in Dorset – Lodmoor and Radipole. Most previous Lodmoor records have been on Overcombe and so, quite rightly, Naomi was made-up to find it flourishing on the moor where it had never before been located. The plant favours exposed muddy margins and we manage the particular areas where it occurs to mirror its preferences. Interestingly the entire plant turns golden when it fruits – hence the name.
Top: Naomi with the new discovery and below a dazzling early autumn golden dock.
As I type hoards of twitchers have either visited Lodmoor or are one their way. Reason being a very rare Stilt Sandpiper that arrived over the weekend. The birds from North America and is a very rare bird in the UK. I think I am right in saying that there's less than 30 records in Britain and its just the second to be seen in Dorset. The first was seen on Brownsea Island in August 2006. The bird is in fine breeding plumage but at present nobodies managed a decent photo hence this very wordy blog post. Wonder whether I should offer a free cuppa tea in the visitor centre for the first person who posts a decent photo on our gallery? If you’re intending to go and see the bird you will need to be standing the bank adjacent to the main road which looks out over Overcoombe. Chances are there'll be plenty of bird watchers there to point you in the right direction. Fingers crossed that it moves to somewhere a bit easier to photograph and if it does a photo will be appearing on the blog!
The pond-dipping area has been up and running outside the Visitor Centre at Radipole for about a week now, with heaps of small critters being discovered. The most notable species found so far is Daphnia (the water flea) with hundreds coming out in an average trawl with the net. Add to this a strong supporting cast of water boatmen, bloodworms, leeches, water mites, water slaters and the occasional stickleback. There was some speculation that we might need to seed the area with pond life from other areas of the reserve, where the water moves more slowly. However we needn’t have worried as within a few weeks of being constructed the new pond is already brimming with life, testament to the excellent water quality here.
We are currently joined by Jack Oughton, a keen naturalist and photographer, here for two weeks work experience. Jack has been regularly manning the pond dipping platform, filling trays with specimens and then talking to visitors about them. This morning Jack took me to one side and said he thought he might have found something unusual. Upon close examination he had discovered a shrimp in amongst the detritus in the bottom of the tray. Measuring in at about 1cm with eyes on long stalks, long antennae, elongated body and a dark thorax, it certainly stood out from the commoner species of water shrimp. So far the species we have most been able to liken it too is the Opossum Shrimp (Mysis relicta), which is found in the Lake District, notably Ennerdale Water. We will look further into this and let you all know if we have a rarity.
If you are looking for something to do with the kids this summer why not come down and have a go at pond-dipping, its great fun and we have all the kit here. Already groups of brownies, beavers and cubs have been let loose on the platform to explore the least seen (and arguably most important) side of life within Radipole Lake. Also why not come to our Wednesday Wildlife Workshops (10am -12pm) being held throughout the school holidays.
I’ve been away for the last week so yesterday afternoon I headed straight to North hide where I was hoping to catch up with our brand new baby Marsh Harriers. Almost instantly one was flying around the nest area which is pretty much what they’ve been doing up until now. After several hours of watching their antics one decided to get brave and flew straight towards the hide! Whilst near the hide it discovered lots of new fence posts to sit on and tried several of them out for size. Some were presumably to narrow as it managed to fall off at least two of them!
It was also good to see them trying their hand (or should that be talons) to hunting. Eyes were sharply focussed on the reeds their were passing over and several attempts were made to grab some unwary rodent or bird. I am sure it won’t be long before they’ll be catching their own grub. At present mum and dad still bring in food for them and what a sight that is! Yesterday, all three juvs raced towards the mum and whoever got their first was rewarded with what ever tasty morsel she had brought in.
As you would expect I managed a few photos of the evening’s goings on though the food pass was just too far away for a picture.
Our resident Hobby was also investigated by our nosy Harrier and was chased from its favourite perch.
As alluded to previously it is all too easy to get carried away with the incredible recent successes of our big birds of prey and unfairly consign the successes of other species to a place in the shade. The Oystercatcher pair on the saltmarsh have done fantastically well to rear all four chicks to fledge. The speed that they transform from helpless fluffy blobs to full grown, virtual facsimiles of their parents is astounding.
In the same vicinity as the ‘oycs’ the common terns are experiencing boom time and what an animated spectacle the collectively make. Although sleek and dainty they aren’t half quarrelsome birds at this time of year. The colony comprises a collection of individuals who will steal a smelt from a neighbour without a moments thought but form a united front in the event of any threat to the collective... an honour amongst thieves?
Mobbing terns above and baby terns below. Allan Neilson.
Luke snapped this delightful young lesser whitethroat on Radipole last week. Just one of a vast number of recently fledged LBJ's that appear to be faring well, possibly owing to the glut of invertebrates that have chomped through a significant portion of our reed stems.
While on the invert path butterflies and dragonflies are now more numerous given the more settled weather. Day flying moths such as burnet, cinnabar and tiger moths add yet more welcome colour. An opportunity to get up close and personal with the more secretive nocturnal moths is approaching in the form of Saturdays moth event. Moth traps are to be run on the reserves over Friday night and the resulting captures displayed and later released on Saturday morning. Phil Sterling (DCC Ecologist and county moth recorder) will be running the event and what Phil doesn’t know about our moths probably isn’t worth knowing. Details on what’s in store and how to book on the link below.
An eyed hawkmoth caught on the 15th July 2008. Fingers crossed for more of the same on the 15th/16th July 2011.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-280352