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FRIENDS
OF EMSWORTH WILDLIFE
This
is a community web site dedicated to the observation,
recording and protection of the wildlife of the
Emsworth area
Please send your
observations and photos to Brian Fellows . . .
brianfellows at tiscali.co.uk
* * *
WILDLIFE DIARY - AUGUST 2010 * * *
TUESDAY
AUGUST 31
WATER
LETTUCE ON CHICHESTER CANAL
Anne de Potier thinks the
mystery plant that I saw in the Chichester Canal on Aug
24, was Water Lettuce Pistia stratoides. The
corrugated leaves look more like that than Water
Hyacinth, which was Ralph Hollins's guess. The
illustrations on the internet also support Anne's
judgement. The plant cannot be found in any of the flower
guides, presumably because it is not a British plant.
Water Lettuce (Pistia
stratiodes) is not recorded in the Sussex New Flora for
SU80R which is where I saw the plants at Grid Ref: SU
863022. So, I have sent the record to Paul Harmes who has
taken over the New Fora recording while Alan Knapp is
unwell. See note below.
Information
on Water Lettuce - Pistia stratoides
Water Lettuce is a
perennial monocotyledon with thick, soft leaves that form
a rosette. It floats on the surface of the water its
roots hanging submersed beneath floating leaves. The
leaves can be up to 14 cm long and have no stem. They are
light green, with parallel veins, wavy margins and are
covered in short hairs which form basket-like structures
which trap air bubbles, increasing the plant's buoyancy.
The flowers are dioecious, and are hidden in the middle
of the plant amongst the leaves. Small green berries form
after successful fertilization. The plant can also
undergo asexual reproduction. Mother and daughter plants
are connected by a short stolon, forming dense
mats.
The growth habit can make
it a weed in waterways. It is a common aquatic weed in
the United States, particularly in Florida where it may
clog waterways. It has the potential to reduce the
biodiversity of a waterway. Mats of Pistia block gas
exchange at the air-water interface, reducing the oxygen
in the water and killing fish. They also block light,
killing native submerged plants, and alter immersed plant
communities by crushing them.
Water lettuce is often
used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and
small fish. It is also helpful as it outcompetes algae
for nutrients in the water, thereby preventing massive
algal blooms.
SUSSEX
FLORA RECORDING
Message from The New
Flora Working Group, Sussex Botanical Recording
Society
"As many of you will be
aware, Alan Knapp has sadly been unwell for several
months, and has been unable to respond to members'
queries, or to update the website.
We would like to reassure
the membership that the New Flora project is progressing,
and we are looking forward to continuing to receive your
records. We aim this season to raise the species totals
of as many tetrads as possible to over 250.
Please send all digitized
records to Paul Harmes at pharmes@btinternet.com. All
paper record cards and other non-digitized records should
be sent to Frances Abraham, The Old School House,
Ebernoe, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9LD. Please ensure
that you keep a copy of all records sent.
If you have any queries,
please contact Paul, or any other committee
member.
We would like to take
this opportunity to thank all the recorders for their
valuable contributions.
THORNEY
ISLAND
Ros Norton went on a walk
with Petersfield Wildlife Group this afternoon towards
west gate of Thorney Island. Highlights included 2
Wheatears, 2 Wasp Spiders, Terns diving, 1 Clouded Yellow
and several Small Copper butterflies and heard a Cetti,s
Warbler at Little Deeps.
MONDAY
AUGUST 30
EMSWORTH
SHOW
The Friends of Emsworth
Waysides shared a stall with the Friends of Hollybank
Woods at the Emsworth Show today. Thanks to Andy Brook
John Bond and others for erecting the stall. Andy also
prepared Friends of Emsworth Waysides leaflets for people
to take away. As shown in the photo I prepared two main
displays one with information and photos about the
Friends of Waysides Group and the other about the Bridge
Road Nature Reserve. I also collected three vases of wild
flowers and grasses from the waysides.
It was an amazingly
successful day. I have never seen so many people at the
Emsworth show and I have been going for the last 40
years! I was on the stall all day from 10.30 to 5pm, but
for a couple of breaks when Jane Brook took over.
We had a constant flow of
people looking at the wayside display, many being
attracted by the photos of the wayside sites. I did a
count of the people stopping to look at the display and
read the text, which came to an astonishing 292. I think
I must have spoken to about 50 of those. About half came
from Emsworth and the rest from Havant and other local
areas. Several Emsworth residents commented on the Bridge
Road wayside that they remembered the car park when it
was a yard for storing logs. Clearly, this used to be a
local attraction for youngsters.
All those I spoke to
without exception were interested and positive about the
wayside scheme. "What a good idea" was the most common
response. I encouraged people to keep looking for other
potential areas that they would like to see as waysides.
Twelve individuals were interested enough to give me
their e-mail addresses to be put on the mailing list.
SLOW-WORM
ON BROOK MEADOW
On his way home through
the Brook Meadow today, Maurice Lillie encountered a
young Slow-worm (about 18cm long) near the Lumley gate.
FRIDAY
AUGUST 27
STAUNTON
COUNTRY PARK
I went to Staunton
Country Park to get some of lovely organic French beans
from their gardens, purple and yellow varieties.
I walked down to the
field by the lake to have a look at the Swine-cresses.
Highland cattle with massive horns were in the field and
had trampled over the Swine-cresses. However, I managed
to find some of the 'Greater' Swine-cress among
the mass of the Lesser species. Presumably trampling will
improve the cresses?
HAVANT
I had a look for some
unfamiliar plants that Ralph Hollins noted in his
wildlife diary for Tuesday Aug 3.
Weasel's
Snout
I was pleased to find
Weasel's Snout (Misopates orontium) (aka Lesser
Snapdragon) still in flower about half way along the mesh
wire fence on the New Lane allotments - a new plant for
me. I found three plants with flowers and also one with
fruits. Apparently, the plant gets its name from the
resemblance of the fruit to a Weasel's snout!
Perennial
Wall Rocket
I had a look for the
Perennial Wall Rocket behind the white metal fence
enclosing the disused railway signal box on the New Lane
level crossing, but the flowers must have gone over since
Ralph was there. All I could see was a flowering plant of
Oxford Ragwort.
EMSWORTH
Birds
Coot numbers are
starting to build up in the harbour beneath the quay, as
they always do at this time of the year. There were 10
Chiffchaff there today, though this could rise to 100 as
the winter progresses. Coot are also building up in
Dolphin Lake, where I have seen up to 30 recently.
The Mute Swan family
with 3 cygnets, including the white 'Polish', was in
the harbour near the quay.
Plants
A few new plants not seen
before. While at Emsworth quay I noticed a growth of
Gipsywort on the wall of the millpond at the back
of the Slipper Sailing Club building. I also found some
Lesser Sea-spurrey on the edge of the millpond.
I found another
Cockspur grass (in addition to the one in Bath
Road) growing out of the pavement in front of the
entrance gate to the Greenhouse cafe in The Square.
BAT
SURVEY RESULTS
Nik Knight reported on
the bat survey around Brook Meadow that I attended on Aug
19. He is certain there was no Barbastelle bat. However,
he did record both Myotis bat and
Daubenton's. One recording looked like a
Serotine, but it will need to be checked.
The others were all
Pipistrelles, including those can be definitely
assigned to the Common or Soprano species, plus others
that he cannot because their echolocation calls are of
intermediate frequencies.
INSECT
SURVEY
Bryan Pinchen completed
the 5th of his six insect surveys on Brook Meadow on
Tuesday 24 August. Here is his report:
"I made an early start
before nine to avoid all the showers that were forecast
for the afternoon, I left just after two. In the last
couple of hours I recorded nothing new for the day's
list.
Another good selection of
species although it was hard work thanks I think to the
hot dry weather early in the season and the recent rain
and cooler temperatures which has caused quite a drop in
numbers of insects.
I did record the
following Nationally Scarce/Red Data Book species
however:
Picture-winged Fly
- Merzomya westermanni (Nat Scarce) Usually
only found on Hoary Ragwort, but sometimes on Common
Ragwort, a single male swept from the little bit of Hoary
Ragwort present.
Picture-winged Fly
- Tephritis divisa (Recent arrival) Found on
Bristly Oxtongue, I swept a number of specimens from this
plant, a recent arrival in the early part of this decade,
known to be spreading along the coast, first recorded I
think from Bognor.
Hoverfly -
Volucella zonaria (Nat Scarce) Three recorded
this visit (two last month) see previous
notes.
Hoverfly -
Volucella inanis (Nat Scarce) Two recorded
down near, and in, Palmers Road Copse, another species
like the above that develops inside wasp
nests.
Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus rupestris (Nat Scarce) takes over the
nests of the common Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius, a single
queen on the Water Mint in the southern meadow suggesting
that successful nesting took place somewhere in the area.
This species fluctuates greatly over long periods and is
currently enjoying a period of population
increase.
I do still have a couple
of things I need to check at Chilcomb that could add to
this list.
NOTE
Ralph Hollins says there
is a good picture and account of its status for Tephritis
divisa at http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/portal/p/Species+Account/s/Tephritis%20divisa
THURSDAY
AUGUST 26
EMSWORTH
Traveller's
Joy climbing achievement
While waiting on Emsworth
station on the downline platform this morning, I noticed
a Traveller's Joy hanging down from a small hole at the
top of a 10 foot tall metal gate post. The plant must
have climbed all the way up the hollow inside of the post
guided by the shaft of light from the hole at the top.
This seems an extraordinary achievement, though Blamey,
et al say that Traveller's Joy can climb to 30m up a
tree!
COWES,
ISLE OF WIGHT
Terns
I spent the day visiting
family in West Cowes on the Isle of Wight. We had a walk
along the prom where I was interested to see a couple of
Sandwich Terns flying slowly, almost hovering, about 1
foot above the sea, stopping every so often to dip their
heads into the water; a hunting technique I had not seen
before. I also watched a two Common Terns squabbling in
the air for a couple of minutes.
Cork
Oaks
We had a walk through
Northlands Park where there are some magnificient trees,
including some unusual Cork Oaks. These are basically
Mediterranean trees, though are grown widely in Britain.
In Mediterranean plantations the cork is stripped off
every 7-10 years, without damaging the tree, to provide
corks for wine bottles, though the rise of plastic corks
and screw top bottles threatens this wildlife rich
habitat.
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 25
EMSWORTH
Plants
I had a walk out this
morning before the rain came. I found my first
Cockspur grass of the year on the grass verge of
Bath Road.
Wild
Clary is flowering again on the Christopher Way wayside.
I had a quick look at the
Havant Road wayside at the top of Valetta Park (wayside
number 11). There is a veritable forest of White Poplar
suckers in the western section. Quite an interesting
sight. The centre section is dominated by Yarrow.
Smaller Cat's-tail is all over the eastern
section. I dug up some to transplant on the Bridge Road
site.
I was really looking for
Lesser Swine-cress which I did find eventually. I
also found what I am pretty sure is Common Orache
growing against the telephone box in the centre section.
This takes the total number of plants recorded on this
wayside to 42.
For all the latest news
on the Emsworth Waysides project go to . . .
http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-NEWS.htm
Fungi
I had a look at Beacon
Square which is always good for fungi. I found a couple
of fresh Bay Bolete, but there was no sign of the Fly
Algaric that usually flourish here.
CHICHESTER
CANAL - August 24
Yesterday (August 24)
Jean and I walked the whole length of the Chichester
Canal (roughly 7 miles there and back), the first time
either of us had done it in one go. Starting from
Chichester Marina we walked to the Canal Basin in
Chichester, where we stopped for lunch, and then walked
back, taking several breaks on the way. The weather was
breezy, but thankfully dry.
Birds
As on our previous visit
to the canal (Aug 19), Moorhens and Coot were numerous,
with lots of young birds. We saw one fresh brood of very
tiny Moorhen chicks and one Coot sitting on a nest.
Mallard were numerous, plus a pair of Mute Swans near the
canal basin, plus the occasional Black-headed Gull. I
wonder if the Mute Swan pair still nest at Hunston, where
I saw a brood of 10 cygnets in 1997. There was no sign of
them today. A Grey Heron was lurking on the canal bank
near Hunston.
Insects
Not many butterflies
apart from a few Whites. Though I did spot what looked
like a Clouded Yellow flying up the canal west of
Hunston. The only dragonfly was a Southern Hawker on the
stretch from Chichester to Hunston.
We met a group of
volunteers clearing the canal path who said they had
disturbed three Wasp's nests during their work and
had been stung! While having our lunch outside the Trust
Cafe at the basin Jean and I were constantly besieged by
Wasps.
Water
Vole
We saw another Water Vole
swimming across the canal near the A27 flyover. We also
saw one on our previous visit to the canal on Aug 19.
Plants
We both enjoyed the great
display of wild flowers along the banks of the canal.
Marsh Woundwort and Gipsywort were particularly
prominent, along with masses of Hemp Agrimony. The red
flower spikes of Purple Loosestrife made a fine
spectacle.
There was a good growth
of the sweet scented Apple Mint at the marina.
Several plants of the attractive Musk Mallow were
in flower east of Cutfield Bridge. We also encountered a
some puzzling plants, which needed further study at home.
Nodding
Bur-marigold
There was a mass of lush
green plants on the near bank just west of Hunston at
Grid Ref: SU 863022. They had hairy stems and long
lanceolate toothed leaves. The unopened flower buds had
yellow petals just showing with a ring of six small
lanceolate leaves beneath them.
I am fairly sure the
plant is Nodding Bur-marigold (Bidens cernua) (Blamey,
Fitter and Fitter p.278). The hairy stems and undivided
leaves distinguishes it from the similar Trifid
Bur-marigold. I was reassured to find Bidens cernua was
recorded in tetrad SU80R in the Sussex Flora.
http://www.sussexflora.org.uk/
The Flora Atlas
states:
"An annual, growing on a
wide range of damp or wet substrates on the margins of
slow-flowing rivers and streams, by ponds and meres,
often in places subject to winter flooding; also in
ditches and marshes. Native (change -0.54). B. cernua
declined markedly in some areas before 1930. This
decline, associated with drainage and habitat
destruction, has continued, especially in S.E. England.
It is now better recorded, particularly in Wales,
Scotland and Ireland.Circumpolar Temperate
element."
Bulrushes
- Typha x glauca?
I was also puzzled by the
Bulrushes just east of Cutfield Bridge, which had
distinctly narrower and paler leaves than regular
Bulrushes and were swaying delicately in the wind. I
recall Rod Stern (10-Jul-07) telling me there were two
types of Bulrushes on the canal, Common and Lesser, with
hybrids in between. Both Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and
the hybrid with Lesser Bulrush -Typha x glauca - are
recorded in tetrad SU80K in the New Sussex Flora, so I
suspect these could be the hybrid.
Cyperus
Sedge - Carex pseudocyperus
There were sedges growing
on the edge of the canal just west of Hunston in SU80R
that I was not familiar with. They looked rather like
Pendulous Sedge, but had thick panicles on long stems,
hanging down like Wood Sedge. I am fairly sure they are
Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus). This is recorded in
in tetrad SU80R in the New Sussex Flora.
Mystery
water plant?
Finally, there were
several plants floating in the centre of the canal just
west of Hunston with rosettes of pale green fleshy
leaves. I have no idea what these are.
Water
Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)?
Ralph Hollins comments as
follows: "I have not come across your mystery plant
before but I wonder if you have considered Water Hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes). See http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Pond,%20Water%20Hyacinth.htm
and scroll down through a series of pictures showing
stages in the growth of this floating plant. I cannot see
any really positive indication that this is the plant you
saw but it is the only one that I have come across so far
which might be a candidate. I hope it is not as this
species is a worldwide menace, choking waterways in many
warm countries (scientists have been experimenting with
Weevil species that may eat the plants!)"
GODWIT
NEWS
Anne de Potier reported
on Aug 24 "There were 57 Black-tailed Godwits just off
the parking area by Salterns Copse, including W//R+WB,
the last record for me was at Fishbourne on 26.11.2004!
Not surprisingly with such a long-lived bird both the W
rings were off colour: the one on the right leg was cream
and the one on the left was pale yellow, but it did not
look like a faded yellow. The blue looked almost black
(but it can't have been); it definitely wasn't
green.
COMMENTS
ON SWINE-CRESSES AND WILD CLARY
Martin Rand, BSBI
Recorder for S. Hants commented as follows on these
issues raised in this diary:
Distinguishing
Swine-cresses
On distinguishing
Swine-cress and Lesser Swine-cress by their physical
characteristics Martin said: "Although Lesser Swine-cress
is often a 'neater' looking plant, I don't think you
could put any reliance on habit characters, especially
since they often grow in nitrogen-enriched environments.
I would go by the good characters you already know and
love." By this Martin clearly means the fruits.
Origin
of Wild Clary:
On the possible garden
origin of the Wild Clary found on the Christopher Way
wayside Martin said:
"A garden escape is
unlikely. It was more likely to be a native and maybe
either a survival of earlier times or an arrival under
its own steam. Wild Clary seems to like road verges, eg
try Worth Matravers in Dorset!"
SUNDAY
AUGUST 22
HAVANT-
WARBLINGTON
Sharp-leaved
Fluellen - new to Havant?
Jean and I went over to
Havant this morning, mainly to have a look at the
Sharp-leaved Fluellen that Ralph Hollins found on Aug 17.
Ralph does not recall every seeing this plant in Havant
before, though he says it is not uncommon in local arable
fields including Warblington Farm. I have just two
previous records of Sharp-leaved Fluellen: at Finchdean
on 31-Jul-04 and at Conigar Point on Warblington Farm on
10-Oct-07.
Finding the plants would
have been difficult without Ralph's helpful directions
and photos on his web site (for Aug 18). They were
growing at the foot of a brick column framing a wooden
gate directly opposite the Lymbourne 'wildflower meadow
triangle' at the end of Lymbourne Road. I took some
photos, but it was raining and the light was poor, so
they have not come out too well. There was a single
flower on the plant which neither Ralph or I managed to
get in focus. However, the distinctive arrow-shaped
leaves were clear to see.
See Ralph's web site for
his photos . . . http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ralph.hollins/Diary.htm
Yet
more Swine-cresses at Warblington
From there Jean and I
walked to Pook Lane and over the A27 footbridge to
Warblington to have a look at the Swine-cresses that
Ralph found in the wildflower area of the Warblington
cemetery extension yesterday. Ralph confirmed the
presence of both Swine-cress species from their fruits.
However, he is now pretty certain that he can distinguish
the two species just from the look of the plant
structure, with (what I like to call) 'Greater'
Swine-cress being a bigger plant which grows prostrate
along the ground.
Ralph also thinks Lesser
Swinecress is the earlier plant, to be found a month or
more before the 'Greater' Swinecress; now the latter has
started to appear he is hoping to find more examples to
check.
Interestingly, Ralph
thinks the smell of the crushed leaves does not seem to
be a reliable indicator. I would go along with that after
my experiences with the Lesser species with no smell (ie
on Marina Farm).
We also found examples of
both 'Greater' and Lesser Swine-cress. The difference in
the fruits is fairly easy to pick up with my
close-focussing Pentax binoculars. Like Ralph I think I
can identify the two species from their general size,
with the Lesser Swine-cress being a more delicate plant
overall, but I would like to be pushed on this. However,
I did not notice any plants growing flat and rounded like
those in Staunton Country Park.
SATURDAY
AUGUST 21
STAUNTON
COUNTRY PARK
Swine-cresses
I went over to Staunton
Country Park this morning to have a look at the plants
that Ralph Hollins found there on Monday August 16, which
might include Swine-cress (Coronopus squamatus). Having
come across a good deal of Lesser Swine-cress (Coronopus
didymus) just recently, I am keen to become acquainted
with the native species.
I followed Ralph's
excellent directions to find the plants, which I
reproduce below just in case anyone else reading this
diary wishes to have a look at them. There was a very
good growth of bright green Swine-cresses immediately in
front of the metal gate at SU 7177 0898 (shown in the
photo).
Most of the Swine-cresses
were growing in tangled masses, but as Ralph indicated,
some were growing in a distinctly circular fashion. These
are the ones that Ralph thought might be the 'greater'
Swine-cress. Interestingly, the standard flower guides
(Rose and Blamey et al) do not mention any difference in
pattern of growth of the two Swine-cress species, nor
does Stace. However, they do stress the critical
differences are the smell and the fruits.
As for smell, most of the
plants I smelled certainly had the distinctive 'cressy'
smell of Lesser Swine-cress.
As for the fruits, I took
a number of samples home to have a look at them under the
microscope. I took samples from both the 'tangled' and
the 'circular' plants, but only one of my samples (I am
not sure from which) had the strongly ridged and pitted
fruits to identify it definitely as Swine-cress
(Coronopus squamatus). All the other samples had the
relatively smooth rounded fruits of Lesser Swine-cress
(Coronopus didymus). This suggests to me that the pattern
of growth might not be reliable in differentiating the
two Swine-cress species. However, I intend to go back for
another look at these plants a bit later when all the
fruits have developed.
The following photo shows
how the two Swine-cresses also differ in the overall size
of the leaves, with those of the 'greater' Swine-cress
being larger and more substantial than those of Lesser
Swine-cress.
Status from
Atlas
Lesser Swine-cress is a
neophyte. Reached Britain in the early 18th century,
being recorded from the wild by 1778. It is now frequent
in urban and industrial areas, and is still spreading
into rural areas where it is widespread but scattered. A
widespread alien in W. Europe, N. America and the S.
hemisphere; origin uncertain, often cited as S. America.
Swine-cress is a
archaeophyte. Distribution is stable. It has a European
Southern-temperate distribution; it is widely naturalised
outside this range.
Note: An archaeophyte is
a plant species which is non-native to a geographical
region, but which was an introduced species in "ancient"
times, rather than being a modern introduction. Those
arriving after are called neophytes. In Britain,
archaeophytes are considered to be those species first
introduced prior to 1492 A.D., when Christopher Columbus
arrived in the New World and the Columbian Exchange
began.
Ralph Hollins
directions for the Swine-cresses
"Park in the Staunton
Country Park car park at SU 722 087 off Middle Park Way
then cross the road and walk north up the main path into
Leigh Park Gardens, bearing left on the main path where
it divides. This brings you downhill to the south side of
the lake and as soon as you come alongside the water look
for a stile on your left taking you into the grassland.
The stile is at SU 719 090 and for some reason has a
double strand of barbed wire across the top so you may
elect (as others have done) to creep through below the
top bar (there is no restriction on public access). Now
follow a vague track south west across the grass and go
past a wooden structure that was once a bridge across a
streamlet (now dry) and continue until you see a gateway
in the hedgerow on your right. The plants were in the
area (well trodden by cattle leading to the gate) at SU
71773-08985 (from the Google satellite image on
Wheresthepath)."
Other
plants
Ralph suggested going
through the gate and turning right through the Thicket
Lawn field, where there is a good flowering of
Sneezewort. I was pleased to find a good growth of
Wood Millet along the edge of the path through the
woodland.
Ralph also mentioned
Yellow Loosestrife near the Sneezewort, past its
flowering, though still showing the orange fringes to the
calyx segments now holding seed. Walking back round the
Lake I found more Yellow Loosestrife in flower.
NOTE: Ralph Hollins
commented that the photo of the Yellow Loosestrife does
not show the critical distinction between the wild plant
and the garden version (Dotted Loosestrife). To be sure
of wild Yellow Loosestrife you have to find the narrow
but bright orange edges to the otherwise green calyx
segments.
WHITE
HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare)
Regarding the Wild Clary
that I recently found on the Christopher Way wayside in
Emsworth, I was interested to come across a reference to
the closely related White Horehound by Graeme Lyons found
in Sussex. It is said to be rare in Hampshire.
http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/
'DADDY
LONG LEGS' SPIDER
Tony Wootton captured
this image of a 'Daddy-long-legs spider' on Brook Meadow.
NOTE: I am grateful to
Ralph Hollins for pointing out that this is technically
not a spider at all but one of 27 species of Harvestmen
to be found in northern Europe. The distinction between
Harvestmen and Spiders is that Spiders have bodies
divided into two segments (the prosoma to which the legs
are attached and the opisthosoma or abdomen which is
greatly enlarged in females when they are full of eggs)
while the Havestmen have the two sections combined. They
are more closely related to Mites than to Spiders. Among
other differences the Harvestmen have no silk glands and
cannot spin a silk thread and the males have a penis (in
spiders the males spin a tiny web into which they eject
semen which they then pick up with their palps to
transfer it to the females) The term Daddy Long Legs
Spider is widely used for the species (as are a number of
other names) but it is also applied to the long legged
tiny bodied spiders commonly found in houses which are
properly called Pholcus phalangioides.
FRIDAY
AUGUST 20
BAT
SURVEY
I attended a very
interesting and instructive bat survey around the Brook
Meadow area last evening (Aug 19) from 8pm to 10.15 with
Nik Knight, Graham Walsgrove and Louise Forder (of the
Environment Agency). Nik and Graham have been carrying
out regular monthly surveys, but this was the first I had
been on one. The bats must have known I was coming, as
they were out in force.
We walked from Palmer's
Road Car Park, stopping at various 'hot spots' to listen
for bats with our detectors, including the south bridge,
Brook Meadow, the Seagull Lane path, Constant Springs
bridge and Lumley Path. Nik also made recordings of the
sounds for later analysis.
Pipistrelles were
by far the most common bat that we heard during the
evening. They put on a great show for us in front of the
seat on Brook Meadow, from where we were able, not only
to hear, but to see them swooping around after insects.
Nik also detected a
Daubenton's Bat in the north-east corner of Brook
Meadow near the railway tunnel. Earlier in the week he
and Louise had seen one hunting from the small bridge by
Constant Springs.
The best spot was on the
small bridge across the Lumley Stream to the north of
Peter Pond, where Nik picked up a Serotine Bat and
possibly a Barbastelle, which would be a first for
this area. Barbastelles are generally only found in the
New Forest.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 19
BROOK
MEADOW
I spent the morning on
the meadow, mainly taking photos of the conservation work
session for the web site and for the signcases. It was a
good turn out and most attention was given to clearing
the southern aprt of the south meadow which ahs recently
been cut by contractor, John Blamire. I was assured to
learn from Frances Jannaway that the northern section of
the south meadow where there is a forest of towering Wild
Angelica plants, will not be cut.
I had a good look for
butterflies around the Common Fleabane flowers on the
north meadow, but there were very few to be seen. No sign
of any Brown Arguses. However, I did see many
Bush-crickets, one of which paused for a photo, a Dark
Bush-cricket I think.
CHICHESTER
CANAL
Moorhens were
numerous in the canal, including a couple of families
with second broods.
Jean and I had a very
pleasant walk along the Chichester Canal this afternoon
from the canal basin in Chichester to Hunston and back.
The banks were lined with Hemp Agrimony and Marsh
Woundwort (the best I have seen anywhere). We also
noted plenty of Hedge Parsley, rough to touch and with
both upper and lower bracts.
But the best plants were
those of Gipsywort, with whorls of white flowers
at the base of the leaves. These were the first I have
seen this year. There were not many of them, but one
plant in particular caught our attention.
WATER
VOLE
Jean and I also spotted a
Water Vole swimming across the canal about ½ mile
north of Hunston.
Extract from the West
Sussex County Council web site
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/roads-and-transport/major-projects/chichester-canal-restoration.en?page=3
Chichester Canal is
designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance
(SNCI); a local wildlife site with substantive nature
conservation value.
Since its abandonment in
1906 the Chichester Canal has been relatively
undisturbed. It has acquired a rich wildlife associated
with its mosaic of open water, marginal vegetation, banks
and bordering hedgerows.
Some sections of the
canal, particularly between Donnington and Birdham Road,
have well developed reedbeds of Common Reed (Phragmites
australis). This is a scarce type of habitat in the
County and is particularly important for species of
birds.
The Canal has a
well-established Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)
population, a rare mammal, along much of its extent.
The animal and it's habitat are protected by law. This
species is dependent on diverse layered bank side
vegetation and permeable earth banks with areas that are
undisturbed. Water Shrew and a good number of Dragonfly
species have also been recorded.
The canal forms an
important aquatic and terrestrial wildlife corridor. It
links areas of semi natural habitat between Chichester
Harbour and Chichester Gravel Pits. Species of bat feed
and traverse the canal.
Management and
restoration works need to be carefully planned to prevent
unlawful operations, and to maintain and enhance the
nature conservation value of the site. A balance needs to
be maintained between the extent of open water, submerged
aquatic and marginal vegetation. The reedbeds are of
great importance and thus some areas of reed should be
conserved.
TUESDAY
AUGUST 17
WILD
CLARY (Salvia verbenaca)
Martin Rand BSBI Recorder
for South Hants has confirmed the mystery plants found
growing on the Christopher Way wayside as Wild Clary
(Salvia verbenaca). This is a first record for the 10km
square SU70. Grid Ref: SU 7492 0691. See original record
and photos on Aug 15.
I have just looked
through my diary notes and I did in fact see the plant in
flower on Monday July 5, with whorls of blue flowers up
the stem.
Ralph Hollins wonders
where these Wild Clary plants came from. I suppose they
could be garden escapes or even deliberately planted.
Ralph points out that the Natural England website
promotes Wild Sage (an alternative name for Wild Clary)
as good for bees in the garden and the plant is available
from several sources, including a firm called Arneherbs
of Bristol. Wherever they came from, the plants are a
fine addition to our waysides flora.
from
The New Atlas
"An aromatic perennial
herb of open grassland on sunny banks, sand dunes and
roadsides; usually on well-drained, base-rich soils,
including sticky calcareous clays that are wet in winter
and baked dry in summer. In S.E. England, it is often
associated with churchyards because of the medieval
practice of sowing it on graves (Sturt, 1995). In
Ireland, it is almost exclusively coastal.
Lowland.
Native (change -0.51).
The decline of S. verbenaca was already apparent in the
1962 Atlas and it has continued, particularly inland and
in the north of its range. Most losses are probably due
to changes in land use. Mediterranean-Atlantic
element."
YET
MORE BROWN ARGUS
Richard Somerscocks
reported:
After I saw you on Sunday
(Aug 15) I had a good walk around Brook Meadow and saw a
lot more Brown Argus. I suspect that there are many more
than we think. I saw 4 together at one point and there
were several more in other parts of the Meadow. Looking
at my pictures I think there were at least 7 different
specimens that I pictured, and I suspect that there were
several more that I didn't see.
After lunch I went for a
walk down the shoreline beyond Emsworth Marina towards
Thorney Island, and I saw a Brown Argus down there as
well! There was also a nice Holly Blue out, but not much
in the way of waders and sea birds etc as the tide was
in.
Brown Argus seem to be
everywhere. Martin Hampton even had one in his garden in
Havant for the first time ever (SU720059)
You mentioned the
Cormorants on Slipper Mill Pond. As I live down there I
see them pretty regularly and they have been increasing
in numbers recently. Tonight there were 8 on the
raft!
INSECT
CLOSE-UPS
Tony Wootton was on Brook
Meadow yesterday and got the following amazing images
(though he dipped on the Brown Argus!).
This
is a close-up of a Common Blue. A bit scary?
and a
sweet Meadow Grasshopper (note no wings)
BATS
SURVEY
Nik
Knight reports:
"Last night (Monday 16/8/10) Louise Forder and I carried
out the National Bat Monitoring Programme waterways
transect survey from Westbourne via Lumley to Brook
Meadow. We were able to confirm that there is at least
one Daubenton's bat at the Constant Spring footbridge. We
were there for about 6 mins from 22.09 and there were
four passes, three of them seen as well as heard just
upstream from the bridge. We were concentrating on
Daubenton's but noted numerous pipistrelles along the
route. I wonder where they roost? "
Regarding the
Pipistrelles along Mill Lane one likely roost is Lumley
Mill Farm. I will make inquiries.
HAYLING
OYSTERBEDS
News
from Jason Crook
This week (ending Friday
20th August) is the last week of wardening at the
Oysterbeds. There is currently a brood of small(ish)
Common Tern chicks on North Island - in the vegetation
near post "O" - which hatched last Monday. If they
survive I would expect them to fledge on or around the 06
September. All other birds have either left and/or
fledged their young - the latest are two fledglings still
on South Island but both now flying around the lagoon in
practice for their imminent departure as the parents temp
them away from the reserve and into the main harbour.
Thanks to all of you we
have experienced no major incidents of disturbance to the
colony this summer and our presence has helped to
reaffirm the nature reserve status of the site, amongst
other things. The birds have also had a good season - I
am currently working through my notes to determine
productivity for the Common Terns. I will provide my
usual end-of-season summary at the end of the month as I
am on leave next week. This also marks the end of my
contract with HIWWT, although doubtless I will still have
an annual report to write!
SUNDAY
AUGUST 15
EMSWORTH
I had a very interesting
and profitable stroll through Brook Meadow and down to
Peter Pond and Slipper Millpond this morning. Amazing
what one can see on such a short walk. I was mainly on
the look out for Brown Argus butterflies on Brook Meadow,
following their discovery by Richard Somerscocks last
week.
Brown
Argus
The Brown Argus has
always been a butterfly of chalk downland, but recently
it has appeared on several sites in Emsworth. Following
Andy Brook's initial sighting of two in Hollybank Woods
on July 18, Richard Somerscocks saw three on Brook Meadow
on August 8. Then Jane Brook and I found another Brown
Argus on the new Emsworth Wayside on the east side of
Horndean Road (north) on Aug 9. I was pleased to find at
least two, and maybe three, still on Brook Meadow this
morning, feeding on the Common Fleabane flowers on the
north meadow. These are the first Brown Argus ever
recorded on Brook Meadow and take the butterfly list for
the reserve to 24.
Other
butterflies
Common Blues were also
feeding on the Common Fleabane along with the Brown
Argus. Gatekeepers were the other main butterfly on the
meadow, along with a number of Large White. Several
Speckled Woods were chasing each other in Palmer's Road
Copse.
Long-winged
Coneheads
I was amazed to find a
cluster of 7 Long-winged Coneheads sunning themselves on
the top of the post holding the Friends of Emsworth
Waysides notice at the north end of the Dolphin Creek
wayside. These are a type of Bush-cricket with very long
antennae and, as the name suggests, long wings. I have
often seen them on Brook Meadow, but never before in this
number.
Greylag
Geese
I had not seen the 5
Greylag Geese on the pond for a couple of weeks since
they wre relesed from the pen where they were held. I met
David Gattrell this morning and he explained that he had
o removed them from the pond, due to the unwanted (but
hardly unexpected) attention of the local Foxes. David
had introduced these hand-reared geese onto the pond
several weeks ago, hoping that they would add to its
biodiversity.
Other
birds
There was not much
evidence of birds on Brook Meadow this morning. They
generally keep their heads down while undergoing their
annual moult. However, Robin was singing its rather
wistful autumn song in Palmer's Road Copse. I also
heard an occasional burst of song from a Wren and the
cooing of Woodpigeons.
I was pleased to see a
Kingfisher fly across the pond this morning, the
first I have seen this autumn. They should become easier
to spot as more come down to the coast after breeding.
Cormorants and Coot are
returning to the pond after their summer break. There
were 3 Cormorants on the main raft this morning and about
30 Coot on Dolphin Lake.
Fish
A large and handsome
Brown Trout, with its spots shoing clearly, was basking
in the river beneath the south bridge on Brook Meadow
this morning.
Hundreds of tiny fish
were milling around in the north west corner of Slipper
Millpond - probably fry of Grey Mullett?
Plants
Plants in flower on Brook
Meadow include Wild Angelica, Water Mint,
Pepper-saxifrage, Common Fleabane, Strawberry Clover,
Hemp Agrimony and Purple Loosestrife. I found a single
plant of Amphibious Bistort in flower near the
Lumley gate; this is fairly widespread on the meadow, but
only a few plants flower each year.
EMSWORTH
WAYSIDES NEWS
For full reports and
photos go to . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-NEWS.htm
Dolphin
Creek
I am now fairly sure the
plants growing low on the shingle path on the Dolphin
Creek wayside are Lesser Sea-spurrey. They have stipules
in the leaf axils and the capsules are about 4mm and
shorter than the stalks (see Rose New Ed. p. 156). Ralph
Hollins confirmed the identification of this plant.
Christopher
Way
There are several clumps
of very bristly plants growing on the Christopher Way
verge. They have whorls of seed cases spread evenly up
the square stems. The leaves are lanceolate and bluntly
toothed, wrinkled and are slightly aromatic. They
generally reach a maximum height of about 50cm tall.
I had very tentatively
identified as Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), which is
described in the Hants Flora as 'very scattered and quite
rare'. I showed it to Ralph Hollins who thought it looked
like a member of the Labiates family but could go no
further. I shall ask BSBI recorder Martin Rand or his
opinion.
Here
is the mystery plant with whorled seed cases up the
bristly stem
Leaves of
the mystery plant
New
Brighton Road junction
There is a good growth of
Goosefoot plants on the wayside at the junction of New
Brighton Road and Horndean Road which appeared to have
arrived with some fresh soil. I am fairly sure the tall
mealy plants are Fat Hen, having seen a similar growth of
this tall plant recently on the old Marina Farm on North
Thorney.
Also, growing with these
plants, I found Spear-leaved Orache, Black Nightshade and
what I think is Many-seeded Goosefoot. The latter plants
have yet to develop their flower spikes, though the
reddish square stems and oval pointed leaves certainly
seem to indicate Many-seeded Goosefoot.
A259
embankment by Belcher and Frost
Fool's Parsley is
currently flowering on the A259 embankment by Belcher and
Frost. This is my first sighting of this plant this year
and the first on a wayside since the one that popped up
in Bridge Road car park a couple of years ago, only to be
zapped by the sprayers. This was before we established
the Bridge Road Nature Reserve and sprayers do not come
here any more! Incidentally, Fool's Parsley is so-called
since you would be a fool to eat it!
Total
wayside plants
These new additions take
the total number of plant species recorded on the
Emsworth waysides this year to 220.
OLD WINCHESTER HILL
Ros Norton reported on
the Havant Wildlife Group walk on Old Winchester Hill on
Saturday morning:
"There were 13 of us on
todays walk at Old Winchester Hill on a cloudy, cool but
fairly dry day. Due to weather we saw few insects but as
the butterflies were roosting we had close views of
chalkhill blues and a silver spotted skipper. Also some
whites, gatekeeper and meadow browns.
Birds included some house
martins, a kestrel,green woodpecker and bullfinch.
Flowers were spectacular
especially abundance of black knapweed and marjoram. A
patch of betony and one of probably pale toadflax were of
interest. The round-headed rampions seemed to be doing
well this year. Those who ventured down a steep slope
were rewarded with a frog orchid.
Derek
Mills took the following photo of a Silver-spotted
Skipper
THURSDAY
AUGUST 12
HARTING
DOWN
Jean and I had a gentle
stroll over the top of Harting Down (avoiding the steep
hills) this morning. Fantastic views over the valleys to
the north and great displays of wild flowers. There were
masses of Wild Parsnip, Hedge Parsley, Red Bartsia,
Agrimony and Black Knapweed.
EMSWORTH
WAYSIDES
Lesser
Sea-spurrey
I had another look at the
low growing plant on the Dolphin Creek wayside, which I
had tentatively identified as Sea Pearlwort. After seeing
the photos on my web site, Ralph Hollins ruled out Sea
Pearlwort as its flowers are long stalked, unlike those
of the Dolphin Creek plant.
Following a visit to the
saltmarshes at Nore Barn where I found Greater
Sea-spurrey, I am now fairly sure the Dolphin Creek
plants are Lesser Sea-spurrey. They have stipules in the
leaf axils and the capsules are about 4mm and shorter
than the stalks indicating Lesser Sea-spurrey (see Rose
New Ed. p. 156). Greater Sea-spurrey capsules on the Nore
Barn sample were twice the size. I took a sample of the
Dolphin Creek plant to Ralph Hollins and he confirmed the
identification as Lesser Sea-spurrey.
This
is the plant on the Dolphin Creek wayside identified as
Lesser Sea-spurrey
Mystery
plant
I also showed Ralph the
very bristly plant with whorls of seed cases spread
evenly up the square stem from the Christopher Way
wayside. I had tentatively identified this as Whorled
Clary, though I see from The Hants Flora that this plant
has been extinct in Hampshire since 1932. Ralph thought
it looked like a member of the Labiates family though
could go no further.
The
mystery plant from Christopher Way wayside. There are,
infact, 10 whorls on the sample
New
Brighton Road wayside
I had another look at the
growth of Goosefoot on the wayside at the junction of New
Brighton Road and Horndean Road which appeared to have
arrived with some fresh soil. I had tentatively
identified it as Common Orache, but I now realise that it
is in fact Fat Hen, having seen a similar growth
of this tall plant on the old Marina Farm.
Also, growing with these
plants, I found Spear-leaved Orache, Black
Nightshade and what I think is Many-seeded
Goosefoot. The latter plants have yet to develop
their flower spikes, though the reddish square stems and
oval pointed leaves certainly seem to indicate
Many-seeded Goosefoot. My only other sightings of this
plant were at Prinsted on 11-Sep-06 and in Havant on
22-Sep-06.
HAVANT
After leaving Ralph
Hollins this evening, I had a look at the Eastern Road
Cemetery where I found a glorious display of
Burnet-saxifrage.
TUESDAY
AUGUST 10
HAYLING
OYSTERBEDS
I did what will have to
be my final wardening session of the season at the
Oysterbeds this morning. Although Jason would like the
wardening to continue for another week, I shall not be
able to make it next week. I should like to say what an
interesting and enjoyable season it has been (my 5th
year), despite the absence of the Little Terns. The
breeding Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns have
provided a spectacular show. The Oystercatchers struggled
as usual and it was a pity we did not get the Ringed
Plovers. Jason's up-dates and blogs have added greatly to
the interest.
The weather was bad to
start with but improved a the morning went on. The tide
was high at 12 noon and at 4.9 height it was lapping at
the banks of the islands in the lagoon. It is due to go
up to 5.0 for the next couple of days, though the weather
is said to improve.
I found a couple of young
lads fishing in the South west corner of the lagoon, but
as they were not doing any harm, and there were few
breeding birds left, and I left them to their pleasures.
Apart from them, there were very few visitors, probably
put off by the rain.
Birds
Jason had tipped me off
about the presence of two families of Common Terns
remaining on the islands, which I was grateful for. Two
mature chicks (close to flying) were being tended to by
their parents at the south end of the south island near
marker B. The other family was on the north island near
marker O, with one parent looking after two tiny chicks.
The dense vegetation makes them difficult to see, but
does provide excellent cover for them. A single Common
Tern was still sitting near marker B on the south island.
Jason says it has been there for a while and tends to
come and go.
While I was there the
islands were visited by a group of 5 Ringed Plovers
and a couple of Redshank.
There was a high water
roost of at least 20 Whimbrel on the north beds
seawall, plus 2 juvenile Shelduck and my first
black waist-coated Grey Plover.
Part
of a high water roost of at least 20 Whimbrel on Hayling
Oysterbeds
My first
Grey Plover of the autumn being washed by the
waves
Plants
There was nothing new on
the plant front. I had my usual stroll up the Hayling
Billy Line where many flowers were still showing well,
including Hoary Ragwort, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Black
Knapweed, Greater Knapweed, Autumn Hawkbit, Black
Horehound, Wild Parsnip, Red Bartsia, Stone Parsley,
Meadow Vetchling and Common Fleabane. My own personal
plant list for the reserve this summer came to 166.
EMSWORTH
Dolphin
Creek wayside
I had a look along the
wayside path to the west of Dolphin Creek. This is a path
that floods regularly in the winter from the tidal
Dolphin Lake and, as a consequence, has a unique
community of salt loving plants. I found two more to add
to the list of plants for this wayside, taking the total
for this site to 46, and the total for all waysides to
218. Full details of the plants on the Dolphin Crrek
wayside and all other 13 waysides in Emsworth are on the
web site at . . . http://www.emsworthwaysides.hampshire.org.uk/few-waysideslist.htm
I was pleased to
rediscover Common Saltmarsh Grass (Puccinellia
maritima) that I last found here on 17-Jul-07. I recall
asking Martin Rand about it at the time and, although he
did not see the plant, he thought it very likely in that
situation. The plant was not in good condition, but the
pattern of leaves up the stems was distinctive.
I am less sure about the
other plant, which is low growing and creeping in patches
on the shingle path. It has thick, green, blunt and
fleshy leaves with green sepals at the end of short
stalks. My tentative identification is Sea Pearlwort
(Sagina maritima). Any help much appreciated.
Sea
Pearlwort ? on the shingle path of Dolphin Creek
Close-up
of Sea Pearlwort ?
MONDAY
AUGUST 9
PLANT
ID CORRECTIONS
I have two corrections to
make to the plant identifications from the Havant
Wildlife Group walk on Sat Aug 7.
Shaggy
Soldier is Red Goosefoot
Caroline French e-mailed
me to say the plants I identified as 'Shaggy Soldier' at
Marina Farm looked nothing like the illustrations in her
flower guides. She is absolutely correct, they certainly
are not Shaggy Soldier. I really do not know what got
into me to identify them as such, as I have previously
seen Shaggy Soldier on a number of occasions which is
quite different from the Marina Farm plants. Caroline
suggested they might be Red Goosefoot, which I think is
the correct identification. I had another look at them
and today and the dark green, glossy (non-mealy) diamond
shaped leaves with sharp jagged edges clearly indicate
the plants are Red Goosefoot. Thanks Caroline for
spotting this silly mistake. One surprising feature is
the size of both the Fat Hen and the Red Goosefoot at
Marina Farm, some plants reaching a height of 6 feet or
more (200cm) which is twice the height quoted in the
guides.
Swine-cress
is Lesser Swine-cress
I felt quite confident
about the identification of these mat forming plants to
the west of the stables on the old Marina Farm as
Swine-cress (Coronopus squamatus). The flowers appeared
to be bunched at the base of the leaves, which according
to Blamey, Fitter and Fitter (p.98) distinguished
Swine-cress from Lesser Swine-cress (Coronopus didymus),
which has its flowers in spikes opposite the leaves. I
was also not able to get the strong cress smell when I
crushed the leaves, which is characteristic of Lesser
Swine-cress, but not Swine-cress.
'Swine-cress'
from Marina Farm showing the bunched fruits
However, I became less
confident when Ralph Hollins said he found it difficult
to separate Swine-cress from Lesser Swine-cress on
structural features alone; he went on the smell. Also,
Rose (revised ed p.216) makes no mention of the
difference in the structure and positioning of the
flowers of the two plants, nor does my edition of Stace
(p.332). Rose states categorically that the key
difference between the two lies in the fruits,
particularly the fact that the two carpels in Lesser
Swine-cress are rounded and pitted, but not ridged as in
Swine-cress. The differences in the fruits of the two
plants are clearly illustrated in Rose (p.217).
So, I had another look at
the plants on Marina Farm and could immediately see that
the fruits were as in Lesser Swine-cress. The plants were
also very hairy which tallies with Stace's statement that
Lesser Swine-cress is 'usually more or less pubescent'
(hairy), whereas Swine-cress is 'glabrous or nearly so'
(not hairy). I also examined samples of Lesser
Swine-cress from Brook Meadow and from my son's garden,
both of which had fruits like those from the Marina Farm
plants. So, all this points to the fact that what I
called 'Swine-cress' on Marina Farm on Saturday is very
likely Lesser Swine-cress (Coronopus didymus).
The
fruits of Lesser Swine-cress from Marina Farm at 20x
magnification
The hairy
stem of Lesser Swine-cress from Marina Farm at 20x
magnification
Status from Atlas:
Lesser Swine-cress is a neophyte. Reached Britain
in the early 18th century, being recorded from the wild
by 1778. It is now frequent in urban and industrial
areas, and is still spreading into rural areas where it
is widespread but scattered. A widespread alien in W.
Europe, N. America and the S. hemisphere; origin
uncertain, often cited as S. America. Swine-cress
is a archaeophyte. Distribution is stable. It has a
European Southern-temperate distribution; it is widely
naturalised outside this range.
WAYSIDE
PLANT SURVEYS
This morning Jane Brook
and I carried out plant surveys on the two remaining
Emsworth waysides that had not previously been surveyed.
We started with Greville Green west, where we logged 31
plants, though I am sure there were many others that we
failed to identify, or even detect, at this late stage in
the season. The wayside has one magnificent Oak tree
which should have a TPO on it, if it has not already. The
wayside contained a good quantity of Grey Sedge and a
Bent-grass that was too far gone for me to identify. I
was interested to see the single Black Knapweed with
rayed florets.
From there we moved onto
the new wayside on the east side of Horndean Road north
of the junction with Southleigh Road. We only surveyed
the fenced section of grassland, though the roadside
verge carries on further north. Here we logged 48 plants,
though many more were beyond recognition. It was here
that we found a Brown Argus butterfly along with several
Common Blues.
BROWN
ARGUS
Both Jane and I were
amazed and delighted to discover a Brown Argus butterfly
resting on an cylindrical inflorescence of Timothy grass
on the Horndean Road wayside. Grid Ref: SU 7425 0741. The
insect posed for photos of both upperside and underside
before flying to a nearby grass where we got more photos.
Brown
Argus showing upperwings with no blue
Brown
Argus showing underwings with no second spot on forewing
near the body
Here is a
female Common Blue from the same wayside, showing blue on
its wings which Brown Argus does not have
This discovery follows
the sighting of a Brown Argus on Brook Meadow yesterday
(Aug 8) by Richard Somerscocks (a first for Brook Meadow)
and another in Hollybank Woods on July 18 by Andy Brook.
These seem to be unexpected and quite astonishing
sightings of a butterfly usually seen only on the Downs.
I have reported the sighting to Hampshire Butterfly
Conservation.
SATURDAY
AUGUST 7
NORTH
THORNEY
Twelve people attended
this morning's walk by the Havant Wildlife Group from the
end of Thornham Lane, through the old Marina Farm to the
seawall and down the west side of Thorney to the Great
Deeps. It was good to see Jim back after his hip
operations. The weather was overcast, but warm with no
rain. Very nice conditions for a walk.
We all struggled to get
over the broken stile into the old Marina Farm, except
for Jim who was slim enough to slip through a gap in the
fence. I was told yesterday by the owners of the Marina
Farm that the stile is soon to be replaced by a gate.
I usually arrange this
walk for a low tide, when we can look for waders in the
harbour. Unfortunately, I got the tide time wrong and
with high tide at 9.30am, the harbour was full of water
for the whole duration of the walk. John Gowen brought
his scope along just in case, but it was not much used.
Despite this I think everyone enjoyed the walk during
which we concentrated on the plants, which were there in
abundance.
John Gowen passed on news
from Michael Prior that Barn Owls had nested in a
nest box on the East Park of Stansted Forest and had
produced three youngsters. They were ringed by Graham
Roberts.
Birds
From the car park at the
end of Thornham Lane, we saw a Kestrel hovering over the
farm and Caroline spotted a couple of Stock Doves flying
towards Thorney Island.
We all got a good view of
the Swallows flying around the stables, with a
number of youngsters waiting to be fed on the overhead
cables. There was a nest in the large barn with 4 young
chicks still presenting their gapes for food. This must
be at least their second brood and I think they have had
a good year.
We were entertained by a
group of Long-tailed Tits feeding in the bushes
along the path to the west of the farm, some of which
came very close, allowing good views of their plumage.
Here is
Derek's photo of a Long-tailed Tit
Other birds seen in the
marina farm area included House Sparrow, Goldfinch,
Greenfinch, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon and Chiffchaff. We
also heard a Willow Warbler song from the pond
area of the Deckhouses Estate. There was nothing of
interest in the harbour, though we did see a group of
Curlew in the fields and Meadow Pipits were flitting
around the bushes.
Insects
It was not a great
morning for insects, though bees were abundant on the
various flower heads.
Common Blues were
by far the most common butterflies, a couple of rather
tatty ones provided the best photographic opportunity. We
also saw Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small
Copper and, best of all, a Painted Lady (my first
of the year) - no photo alas. Heather also found a Silver
Y moth.
A
pair of Common Blues feeding on Bramble flowers
Bloody
Nosed Beetle
Heather caught a large
black beetle on her hand which she showed to everyone. My
best guess (from Chinery's Insects p. 256) is that it is
a Carabus ground beetle Carabus coriaceus. One
reservation is that the beetle is mainly found in
deciduous woodland.
There are a number of
images of Carabus coriaceus on the internet which
closely resemble Heather's beetle. See, for
example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10021998@N02/1202059319/
Ralph
Hollins comments "When I was last on the Wickor Wall I
found a similar beetle and put it down as a Bloody
Nosed Beetle which is more likely in this habitat. It
also has the 'thicker knotted' antennae and smoother
elytra of Heather's specimen compared to the antennae and
'pitted' elytra in the picture you refer to on Flickr.
See picture of two adults on
http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/Bloody-nosed+beetle
I think Ralph is
absolutely correct. We did consider Bloody-nosed, but as
there was no blood we did not follow this up.
Plants
The area around the old
Marina Farm was a riot of wild plants, as horses had not
been grazed there this year.
We took some time to
inspect the mass of goosefoot plants, which are a tricky
family to identify. However, based on the shape of the
leaves and height of the plants we concluded that most of
them were Fat Hen, though we also found some of
the distinctive triangular leaves of Spear-leaved Orache
and possibly some Common Orache as well.
Shaggy Soldier was
also well represented in this area. -
see
correction August 8
This
photo shows a comparison of the leaves of Fat Hen and
Spear-leaved Orache
Here is
an Orache plant with bright red dust on its leaves. A
form of fungus?
Swine-cress
-
see
correction August 8
I pointed out what I
thought was Swine-cress (Coronopus
squamatus) on the ground to the west of the
stables on Marina Farm. The flowers in Swine-cress are
tightly bunched at the base of the leaves, whereas in
Lesser Swine-cress the flowers are in spikes opposite the
leaves. - See Blamey, Fitter and Fitter p.98. The plant
at Marina Farm did not have the typical strong cressy
smell of Lesser Swine-cress, which clinched it for me as
Swine-cress (Coronopus squamatus).
Regarding the Swine-cress
Ralph Hollins commented: "I find it difficult to separate
Swinecress from Lesser Swinecress on the structural
features but rely on the strong smell when Lesser
Swinecress is crushed - I have always found this pleasant
and I understood it smelt of Garden Cress but in looking
at Google this evening I see that the Americans find it
on offensive smell and say that it gets the name
Swinecress because it smells like a Pigsty!"
A
close-up of Swine-cress showing the tightly bunched
flowers at the base of the leave
subsequently
corrected to Lesser Swinecress - see August 8 entry.
The Wickor Bank on the
west side of Thorney was brimming over with flowering
plants. We stopped to admire the Slender
Hare's-ear, the location of which at the foot of the
bank north of the Little Deeps, I had marked with a pile
of stones from my recce yesterday.
Slender
Hare's-ear is not an easy plant to photograph, but here
is my best effort
I also pointed out the
tall spikes of Sea Arrowgrass. As they did not
match up with the illustration in Blamey, Fitter and
Fitter, Nigel got down on his knees to examine them more
closely. But we were fairly sure of the identification,
particularly in contrast with the Sea Plantain. It was
interesting to note that the leaves of Sea Plantain were
hairless unlike those of the more abundant, but low
growing, Buckshorn Plantain.
It was interesting to
note the presence of many saltmarsh plants on the
edge of the dry track down the west of Thorney,
indicating the influence of the sea on the other side of
the tall bank. These included Common Cord-grass,
Saltmarsh Rush, Glasswort, Annual Seablite, Sea Purslane
and Common Sea-lavender. We also found a nice patch of
Lax-flowered Sea-lavender on the edge of the canal
north of the Great Deeps.
After much discussion,
and studying of our flower guides, Nigel finally cracked
the abundant yellow daisies, some tall and branched, but
mostly short, as Autumn Hawkbit.
Here
are some of the typically low growing Autumn
Hawkbits
The other tall and very
rough yellow daisy which grew mostly on the bank near the
Great Deeps was easier to identify as Hawkweed
Oxtongue. We found just one flower of Sea Aster open.
Wild
Carrot flower heads varied in colour from pure white to a
very pretty deep pink.
Some of
the Wild Carrot plants already had deep red seedheads.
THURSDAY
AUGUST 5
THORNHAM
LANE
Jean and I walked along
Thornham Lane to Prinsted and back, partly as a recce for
a possible walk by the Havant Wildlife Group on Saturday.
But I ruled that out fairly promptly as there is little
of wildlife interest and Thornham Lane has become very
busy with traffic.
The only observation of
interest was several plants of Lax-flowered Sea-lavender
around Thornham Point, some in flower. I can now pick out
Lax-flowered from Common Sea-lavender at a distance by
the lighter colour of its flowers. Lax-flowered also
seems to flower later than Common.
SWIFTS
I have not seen Swifts
for the last few days over Emsworth. I assume they have
now left. There were certainly not so many this year as
usual, with 12 the maximum number.
PURPLE
EMPEROR
Ralph Hollins comments on
the Purple Emperor sighting in Southbourne on July 23.
"The Southbourne sighting
may have been an insect originating in Stansted Forest
where I am aware of reports in past years and now have
confirmation that there is at least one 'master tree'
where three or four of the butterflies could be seen on
July 27 and 28.
The July 27 sighting was
reported on the Sussex BC website by Michael Blencowe, a
renowned Sussex butterfly guru whose home area near
Eastbourne has no Purple Emperor sites, hence the
enthusiasm over his first encounter - he wrote ..
"Tuesday was a big day for me! As many of you know I have
never seen a Purple Emperor before. Of course I've had
many opportunities to join Neil on one of his walks but I
always wanted to find my own and, as I've told many
people, I hoped that one day one would land right in
front of me. On Tuesday 27th July 2010 that's exactly
what happened. Not just one - but two Purple Emperors
came tumbling out of the sky right front of me! The
unfortunate thing was, however, that I was travelling at
45mph at the time, driving down a road adjacent to
Stansted Forest. I glimpsed two large butterflies as they
fell fighting from above. Before I could slam on the
brakes they were sucked under the car! As I gazed into
the rear view mirror I saw one fly off apparently
unharmed. The other was flat on the road but righted
itself - and I swear I saw it dust itself off - and
that's when I saw that unmistakable profile. It too took
flight and was gone. Unbelievable! We put the hazard
lights on and leapt from the car and stared up into the
canopy at the amazing sight above. We were directly below
a Master Tree with three Emperors soaring, fighting and
attacking the odd passing bird. Next day Neil joined us
and a fourth, a female, was located. Neil explained that
the previous day I had almost killed a male and female -
female Emperors have been known to tumble from the sky to
evade the advances of a male. It could have ended
tragically for all three of us - but luckily we all lived
to tell the tale - and mine is of my first Purple
Emperor; seen in my rear view mirror."
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 4
EMSWORTH
Black-tailed
Godwits
I went down to the
harbour again hoping to see the Black-tailed Godwits that
were there yesterday. But I could only see 6, whereas 80
were there yesterday.
Godwit
colour-ring correction
Anne de Potier pointed
out a silly mistake on my part. The colour-ringed Godwit
I saw in Emsworth Harbour yesterday was LY+RO and not
YL+RO. I have seen it in Emsworth and Farlington over the
years since it was ringed on territory as breeding male
in Iceland on 11.6.03. Thanks Anne. Age is my excuse!
Havant
Wildlife Group walk
I realise I have
completely misjudged the tide for the walk of the Havant
Wildlife Group this Saturday. The tide will be high in
the morning, so no chance of seeing waders. I think the
best plan will be to walk north from the car parking
place on Thornham Lane to Brook Meadow, where there is a
plethora of wild flowers to enjoy.
Moorhen
families
Brendan Gibb-Gray phoned
me early this morning to say he had seen a Moorhen chick
and its parents in Dolphin Creek for the first time this
summer. I met him down there on my way to the harbour.
There was just the one chick, no others. The nest was on
the boat Eyas which fortunately is never moved.
There is another new
Moorhen family, this time with two chicks on the River
Ems on Brook Meadow near the gasholder. Are Moorhen late
breeders?
Plants
I saw my first Sea
Aster in flower in Emsworth Marina.
HORSES
AND RAGWORT
Andy Paffett provided the
following information on HBC policy on Ragwort control:
"The guidance issued
under the Ragwort Control Act 2003 is quite sensible and
a practicable adjunct to the Weeds Act 1959. HBC follows
this code of practice in that it will only seek to
control ragwort on its land if it is close enough to
grazing land or land where hay or silage is cut to be a
problem and the owner of that land is also taking action.
I believe 100 metres is the guideline distance threshold.
The only place where we regularly have to control the
plant is North Hayling open space which is adjacent to
hay fields and rare breed cattle."
In view of this policy I
did a review of all the waysides in Emsworth and only one
of them was adjacent to grazing fields, that in the North
west corner of the Emsworth Recreation Ground which is
adjacent to the fields to the west where horses are kept.
In accordance with HBC
policy I decided to pull up the Common Ragwort plants
that were growing on this wayside. However, since doing
this, I have noticed horses grazing in the field to the
west of the Recreation Ground with lots of ragwort
present which was being avoided by the horses. As the
owner is not concerned about horses grazing in the field
with ragwort, I need not have bothered.
Again, today, I found
horses grazing a field to the west of Thorney Road, with
lots of ragwort, totally untouched, though the grass had
almost been eaten. Is this a myth about horses eating
ragwort?
