Birds

28/06/16

At least 8 Swift over Area 5 this evening.

26/06/16

Not much seen during my walk this morning in Area's 4 and 5. Highlights were several Blackcaps were calling,also a couple of Chiffchaff. JuvenilleRobinandBlackbird wee also seen. At lunchtime a Sparrowhawk flew over my garden

25/06/16

In Area 4 a Kingfisher flew close to Paul Bright Thomas's garden.

24/06/16

In Area 4 a juvenilleGrey Heron flew from the Emminto a nearby tree as I walked past.

18/06/16

A Kingfisher was seen flying gtom the back gardens of Arthur Road towards the river in Area 5.

16/06/16

A male Blackcap was singing its glorious song from deep in the bushes in Area 4 today.

15/06/16

I have been away in Norfolk for a few days, so it always reassuring to come back to 2 calling Red Kite soaring on the thermals over my garden.

10/06/16

At 05:15 this moring a Ring necked Parakeetflew over my garden. I suppose that it must be roosting locally. 4 were seen later in the evening.

08/06/16

After the rain a calling Ring necked Parakeet flew over my Area 5 garden. 2 more were also seen in Area 2 earlier in the day.

05/06/16

Early evening over his Area 4 garden, Paul Bright Thomas a Lapwing fly over.

04/06/16

During my wanderings in Area's 4 & 5 this morning both Green Woodpecker and Great spotted Woodpecker were seen and heard. Chiffchaff was still calling and a pair of and Mallard were flushed from the river.

02/06/16

Over Area 5 this morning at about 06:15 a Cormorrant was heading N .A Great spotted Woodpecker has been visiting my garden fat feeder for the last two days.

01/06/16

A cold start to June, but the Birds still have feed young. Over the Emm in Area 10 by the Sailing Club approx 20 Swift were feeding at tree top height. In Area 4 a Little Egret was in the Emm near Ripplestream Bridge.

Insects

26/06/16

Seen tody in Area 5 was the Shieldbug Coreus marginatus.

18/06/16

Visiting my favourite Nettle patches today in Area 5 proved very fruitfull . Seen were the Snipe Fly Rhagio tringarius, several Speckled Bush CricketLeptophyes punctatissima nymph's. The Common Nettle-tapArithophila fabriciana moth and the very distinctive bug Calocaris stysi .

011/06/16

At the risk of being repetitive, having spoken with my neighbour today it would appear that Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus numbers on the lawns in Area 5 on the 9th were up to 8. This female was on my drive.

09/06/16

In Area 5 early evening a Speckled Bush CricketLeptophyes punctatissima nymph was on vegetation in my garden. Coming home at 21:40 there were 3 male and 1 female Stag BeetleLucanus cervus, on my neighbour’s lawn and fence.

08/06/16

Sitting out in the evening in Area 5 a Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus was walking up my tile hanging. There were als 4 or 5 Diamond Back Moth Plutella xylostella flitting around the garden.

07/06/16

In Area 2 at lunchtime the first Common Blue Polyommatus icarus butterfly of the year was seen near its food plant Birds -foot Trefoil. Later in the evening in Area 5 a Common Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha or Maybug was trying to get into a lighted window.

04/06/16

Walking around Area 4 & 5 this morning it soon became clear that there had been a fall of Diamond Back Moth Plutella xylostella These tiny moths migrate to the UK most years, however the weather system of the past few days seems to have deposited millions of them over most of England except for the far west. Meanwhile on the Nettes by the river a Tetragnatha extensa spider was seen. These are stretch spiders and they adopt the habit of stretching their legs out in front and behind to produce a stick like effect.

02/06/16

Walking along the river, whilst a lot may not be seen to be happening the vegetation is always worth a look. The Alder trees leaves had been infected by the Alder gall mite Eriophyes laevis Alder trees can be host to the Alder gall mite which produces these wart-like structures on the leaves. The galls are spherical and little more than 2 mm in diameter. Each wart has a narrow opening on the underside of the leaf through which the mite will leave when fully grown in the autumn. The mite spends the winter in an alder cone or in the bark of the tree and then, when the leaves appear in spring, promptly lay their eggs on a leaf, the warts appear and provide a home for the next generation of mites. The galls are green at first but become red with age. They can affect an entire leaf stopping its development but not every leaf on the tree will be infected thus leaving the tree undamaged and so able to host the mite over the winter and support new mites the following year. It is all in balance. Also on the vegetation was the Dance Fly Plutella xylostella.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

Fungi

16/06/16

Chicken of the Woods - Laetiporus sulphureus

Molluscs

04/06/16

Anywhere near the river at the moment you can see Amber Snail Succinea putris on the vegetation. These very light amber to orange brown in colour snails enjoy lush, damp, well vegetated places.Also seen wereKentish Snail Monacha cantiana

Fish/ Crustacean

Plant/Trees

07/06/16

In Area 2, patches of Birds-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus are in flower. One of the more evocative names for Common Bird's-foot-trefoil is 'Granny's Toenails' which gives an instant, and perhaps not-so-pleasant, impression of the claw-like seed pods of this abundant and sprawling species.Also seen were large patches of Red Campion Silene diocia .

04/06/16

In Area 5, by the pond, Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus are in full flower.Also appearing are Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare and Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi .