Disappointing Day – But Still Good To Be Out

Wicken Fen –  Wednesday 17^th June 2015

Looking Back To The Visitor Centre - Wicken Fen (NT)

We left home at 10.45am it was overcast with a light breeze and the temperature was 19˚C. On our journey, just before we entered Hockwold we saw a Red Kite flying at head height hunting along a hedge and just before we went through Worlington we saw a Buzzard above a wood. 

We arrived at Wicken Fen at 11.50am by which time the temperature had risen to 21C. We had our picnic lunch by the visitor centre before entering the reserve. As we ate our lunch we could hear Cuckoos singing in several locations in the near vicinity to us. There were plenty of Swallows and House Sparrows busily searching for food all around us and we saw a Wren going in and out of the Boat House. We saw a Blackbird struggling to pick up something from the grass but after several attempts he gave up. When I went over to see what it was, I found a large Tiger Moth Caterpillar, which is a very hairy Caterpillar, which is of course part of it defence.

Four Spotted Chaser

Views Of Wicken Fen

It was quite a disappointing visit because although the temperature was quite high we only saw about 3 Butterflies, a Small Skipper and 2 Brimstones and only 2 types of Dragonflies, 4 Spotted Chaser and a Hairy Dragonfly and there were only a few of those about. It is probably down to the rather chilly nights we’ve been having of late. As the afternoon wore on the temperature rose to 24˚C and it became quite oppressive. A few times it became quite dark and the wind freshened up considerably, several times it looked as if rain was imminent.

Algal Bloom On Brick Pit

Little Grebe On Brick Pit

Male Flower Beetle

Southern Marsh Orchid

There was a large school party that had been split into several groups which was good to see especially as they were being guided around by NT staff. We did go on one of the rougher paths where we found some interesting Spiders and other insects.

Large Conehead (Bush Cricket)

We finished our trip by having our coffee by the Café where we filmed a pair of Swallows feeding their young in a nest under the eaves of the Café. We also saw a Wren making quite a few trips between a hedge and some planters by the Café. Each time he would return with a beak full of nesting material, we couldn’t see what it was at first but as we left we had a look at the planters and we could see that he had been taking cobwebs. The interesting thing was that it was probably about 10 metres from the hedge to the Café but at no time did the Wren fly, all the journeys were made by running along the ground.

Swallow On Nest

What we saw:

Red Kite

Buzzard

Swallows*

House Sparrows*

Reed Warbler**

Little Grebe with chick

Moorhen with chick

Chaffinch**

Goldfinch**

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Cuckoo (heard)

Blackbird**

2 Wren

Wood Pigeon*

Crows*

2 Collared Dove

Robin

2 Heron

Jay

House Martins**

Water Vole (heard probable enter the water)

Tiger Moth Caterpillar

Flower Beetle (males)**

Large Conehead (Bush Cricket)**

Nursery Web Spider (carrying large egg sack)

Common Blue Damselfly (male & female)*

Variable Blue Damselfly

4 Spotted Chaser Dragonfly **

2 Hairy Dragonfly

Small Skipper Butterfly

Brimstone Butterfly

White Taile Bumblebee**

Red Tailed Bumblebee**

Common Carder Bee

*   = Too many to count

** = Several

Keep your eyes peeled and good spotting.

New Arrivals In The Garden

Home – Tuesday 16^th June 2015 

Bee Orchid

Today, I’ve seen the first Greenfinch fledgling in the garden. Altogether we have now had the following fledglings in the garden over the last few weeks: Blackbirds, Starlings, House Sparrows, Dunnocks, Rook, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Stock Dove and Robin.

We’re still getting Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers feeding in the garden so it would be good if we saw some of their fledglings.

It’s 11.45am and the garden is alive with insects: White Tailed Bumblebees, Tree Bumblebee, Blue Damselfly, various Hoverflies. There are plenty of birds as well and I’ve just spotted a Buzzard riding a thermal over the field behind us. It looks as if everyone is enjoying this Summer day.

We tend to let our grass grow a little longer than most people. We do it to allow Bees, Butterflies and other pollinators to have access to the grass pollen. This year is supposed to be a good year for Bee Orchids and allowing the grass to grow a little longer than usual will help them. As it happened our Daughter-In-Law, Dawn had photographed some on her Mum’s lawn just the other day. You can see her excellent pictures on her web site here:

http://dawnmonrose.co.uk/30-days-wild/

Because we’re a pair of old crocks at the moment, Jan with her wrists and me with my mobility problems our Son, Drew came and cut the grass for us today and found a Bee Orchid growing in our front garden, unfortunately it was only discovered after it was cut down but even so it is still beautiful. Perhaps a good lesson for us all. We have never had Bee Orchids before so it was completely unexpected and a wonderful surprise.

Bee Orchid

Keep your eyes peeled (especially when you’re cutting the grass) and good spotting.

New Arrivals

Home – Monday 15^th June 2015   

The Final Three Privet Hawk Moths

The fourth Privet Hawk Moth emerged yesterday and today the last 2 emerged. It must have all happened very quickly. Just before I had my shower I checked the aquarium and the second had emerged and when I returned the third had emerged. So very different from Butterfly emergences.

Privet Hawk Moth

That’s a 100% positive result and the last three will be released later this evening. Just an update to that: they have now all been released. There will be a video of the releasing on our YouTube Channel tomorrow.

The first Blue Tit fledgling has turned up in the garden today but so far I’ve only seen the one.

I don’t know about you but I’m missing Springwatch already, especially the live cams on the red button and the website?

Keep your eyes peeled and good spotting.