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LOCAL
WILDLIFE DIARY - 2009
This is a personal diary
of recent wildlife news and observations, mainly from
Emsworth and the local area.
Included are links to
selected wildlife
photos. Click on
link to see photo and use your back button to return to
this page.
DIARY
ARCHIVES . . .
June
(1-15) 2009
May
(1-15) 2009 . . .May
(16-31) 2009
April
2009 . . .
March 2009
. . .
February
2009
Wildlife
Summaries
. . . Fortnightly summaries of the local wildlife news .
.
Wildlife
photo archive
. . .
External
link to a selection of wildlife photos from the past
couple of years
.
. .
THURSDAY
JULY 2
EMSWORTH
Insects
There were plenty of
butterflies on the wing on Brook Meadow on this hot and
sunny morning. Meadow Browns and Large and Small Whites
were the most numerous. I have yet to see a Green-veined
White. Other butterflies seen were Red Admiral, Peacock,
Small Copper and Comma.
I
was particularly pleased to get a good view of the
underwing of a Ringlet.
Ladybirds
were also in abundant on Brook Meadow, mainly 7-spots,
but also a few Harlequins.
I also
saw a Cinnabar moth on Brook Meadow.
Black
Bent-grass (Agrostis gigantea)
Following the discovery
of Black Bent-grass near Dolphin Lake yesterday, I saw
more examples of this tall and rather handsome grass
around the town today, including some on Brook Meadow. I
am now fairly sure of the identification as all the
features fit, including the size of the plant, its rough
furrowed leaves with long blunt (usually broken) ligules.
Inflorescence
of Black Bent-grass
Other
plants
I was pleased to see the
bright pink flowers of Broad-leaved
Everlasting-pea appearing above the jungle of
Brambles and other vegetation on the Seagull Lane patch.
I had almost given up on it coming through this year.
The only Great
Mullein I know growing in "the wild" in Emsworth is
now flowering on the footpath behind Lillywhite's Garage
at Grid Ref: SU 7518 0584.. I was surprised to find some
Pellitory-of-the-wall also growing on the soil (not the
wall) on the edge of this path.
The Prickly Lettuce on
the eastern side of Slipper Millpond at Grid Ref: SU 7528
0563 is not yet flowering. It was in flower at this time
last year. However, flowers are now opening on the
Golden Samphire growing on the Hermitage Bridge
wall over looking Slipper Millpond.
Other
observations
A dense shoal of
thousands of small silvery fish was in the harbour
immediately beneath the main sluice gates of Slipper
Millpond.
Two adult
Cormorants were on the main raft on Slipper Millpond,
the first of the summer returns.
Walking out this evening
to deliver Brook Meadow Newsletters, I saw a
Hedgehog cross over Warblington Road, narrowly
avoiding being run over by a car.
BOSHAM
Jean and I went over to
Bosham this afternoon where we watched House
Martins visiting two nests under the eaves of the
roof of the cafe overlooking the harbour. These are the
nearest House Martins to Emsworth I have seen this year.
Hemp Agrimony was
flowering in the churchyard, the first I have seen this
year.
RSPB
LANGSTONE HARBOUR UPDATE
Chris Cockburn reports -
No numbers yet, but here is a forecast as we approach the
final few weeks of the breeding season:
Mediterranean
gulls - good productivity from the birds that nested
on the shingle ridges. Much pestering of 'successful'
Meds by the failed birds and suspicions about possible
predatory behaviour of failed territorial
Meds.
Black-headed gulls
average to poor productivity (given 5000+ nests, the
number of fledged birds will be significantly lower) -
but happy foxes!
Sandwich terns -
very poor productivity (probably causes - fox and/or Med
Gull predation and piracy by black-headed
gulls)
Common terns -
very poor productivity, as for Sandwich terns.
Little terns - a
few chicks seen today (including 'feathered' birds) but
hopefully, more to come; continued apparent nesting
activity on South Binness & Baker's Island. The final
outcome might not be known until late July/early
August
Watch this
space!
WEDNESDAY
JULY 1
EMSWORTH
Swifts
The regular group of
eight Swifts were flying around the houses in Bridge Road
where I live for most of the day, sometimes, but not
always, screaming as they went. Interestingly, several of
them would cling momentarily to the eaves on my next door
neighbour's roof, where there is a hole where Starlings
nested earlier in the summer. I have seen this behaviour
in previous years. I think these could be the youngsters
playing at entering possible nesting sites.
Small
Copper
I saw the first Small
Copper on Brook Meadow since 2007. It was resting on the
western path through the north meadow.
Black
Bent-grass
I found a good patch of
what I think is Black Bent-grass, tall and handsome, on
the edge of the public footpath to the west of Dolphin
Lake.
TUESDAY
JUNE 30
HAYLING
OYSTERBEDS
Despite Jason's dire
warnings of dangerously hot weather, conditions were
remarkably pleasant for my wardening session at the
Oysterbeds this morning, warm and cloudy with a cooling
breeze.
Birds
The great
Black-headed Gull show continues on the
main islands, with hundreds of youngsters now developing
fast, many of them flying, though some still quite tiny.
I counted 30 juveniles on the Stoke Bay shore which had
presumably flown there. I met Jason towards the end of
the morning and he thought some young Black-headed Gulls
had already left the site.
I
captured ten young Black-headed Gulls in this
photo
As for Common
Terns, I did spot some chicks and had a particularly
good view of one on the north island. There was plenty of
comings and goings with fish. Many adults appeared to be
still sitting. Jason thought Common Terns were doing
well, with 35 chicks counted last week.
Not such good news about
the pair of Oystercatchers on the north island.
Jason said they lost their chicks which means only one
family of two young have been raised on the site this
season.
I spotted a pair of
Ringed Plovers in the regular place at the start
of the spit in Stoke Bay, though they did not give the
appearance of nesting. Jason confirmed that they had
failed last Friday. The only other birds of interest were
six Curlew on the Stoke Bay spit and two Shelduck
on the main lake to the north of the lagoon.
Butterflies
Lots of Large
Whites were flying on the reserve this morning,
including strongly marked females. Other butterflies
included Marbled White, Small White, Comma, Meadow Brown,
Large Skipper and Small Heath. I was hoping for my first
Gatekeeper of the year, but no luck. However, Jason did
see one on the reserve this morning. The Buddleja is in
full bloom on the north path, waiting for butterflies,
but there was none on it when I passed.
Other
insects
I saw 7-spot
Ladybirds pretty well everywhere, particularly on
thistles, Oraches and feasting on black fly on burdocks.
There were also lots of Ladybird pupae. Red Soldier
Beetles were also on the thistles.
Plants
There is a fine display
of Goat's-rue in full flower in the overflow car
park behind the Esso garage at Grid Ref: SU 7175 0297.
Black Horehound is
in flower at the start of the path leading to the lagoon.
Spear Thistles are
flowering, though there are a lot more to come.
There is a fine Lesser
Burdock in full flower (my first of the year) on the
northern bank of the lagoon, just before you get to the
information board.
Other newly flowering
plants noted this week were Perennial Sow-thistle, Sea
Couch, Wild Carrot, Annual Seablite, Grass-leaved Orache
and Spear-leaved Orache, plus Marjoram, Traveller's Joy,
Lesser Hawkbit, Field Scabious and Greater Knapweed on
the Hayling Billy Line. Teasels are showing a red sheen
on their heads, but are not quite in flower.
Walking back to the car
park, I had a discussion with Jason about Hoary
Cress which is now seeding along the shore . In view
of its copious seeds Jason wondered if it was an annual,
though Francis Rose describes it as "a bushy perennial
herb with runners". Jason also wondered if Hoary Cress
grew in such abundance elsewhere on Hayling Island. I was
not sure.
Martin Cull was on site
with two machines cutting and removing an area of dense
thistle growth which Jason hopes will, in time, return to
grassland. Jason is concerned about the poor state of
grassland on the reserve with the recent increase in
Rabbits.
Cattle
check
I checked the three
cattle, ie two Highlands and one black and white Shetland
cow on Creek Common as instructed by Pete Potts at
11.30am. All three cattle were together, sheltering in
the shade of trees and seemed to be in good condition so
far as I could see. The water trough was also full.
Visitors
There was a good flow of
visitors throughout the morning, though no birdwatchers.
I counted 12 dog walkers with 17 dogs and 9 other walkers
without dogs. Six cyclists and one jogger also passed
through. I did not see any fishermen today, though there
were some bait diggers to the north of the reserve. There
were no incidents.
EMSWORTH
An evening walk around
the local millponds produced some interesting
observations.
The first juvenile
Black-headed Gull of the year in Emsworth was on
Peter Pond. I wonder if it came from Hayling Oysterbeds?
The first flowers are
open on the Golden Samphire on the inside wall of
the bridge overlooking Slipper Millpond.
In the region of 30
Swifts were flying high over the town, by far the
most I have seen in the area this year.
MISTLE
THRUSH IN SOUTHSEA
Mistle Thrushes appear to
be getting rare birds. I have not seen or heard one for
ages. Caroline French told me about one she saw on the
pitch and putt course in Southsea yesterday. It must have
a family too, as its beak was full of food. Caroline also
reprots at least eight Swifts in the sky.
MONDAY
JUNE 29
BROOK
MEADOW
Plants
I went over to the meadow
this morning to help with the quadrat plant surveying
that the conservation group are doing. When I arrived
Graham Walsgrove told me about some orchids the group had
found, flowering in new locations..
A Bee Orchid is
flowering on the Lumley area for the first time at Grid
Ref: SU 7514 0604. A Southern Marsh Orchid is
flowering on the centre meadow north of the causeway at
Grid Ref: SU 7513 0602. Both these orchids are growing at
least 100 metres away from others on the north meadow
which is good news that they are spreading. It is
possible the that I have brought in Southern Marsh Orchid
seeds from Fishbourne Meadows.
I found a grass during a
quadrat survey which looked like Yellow Oat-grass.
This would be a new plant for Brook Meadow. The specimen
I brought home was past its best and had only a few
spikelets but I am fairly sure it was not False
Oat-grass. The ligules were collar-like and the leaves
slightly hairy as required by Rose. I will need to look
at other Yellow Oat-grass to make sure.
Insects
I saw my first
Ringlet of the year on the Brook Meadow site,
though Graham Walsgrove did see one on Jun 25.
SATURDAY
JUNE 27
WEST
MARDEN - NORE DOWN
This morning I led the
Havant Wildlife Group walk from West Marden to Nore Down.
The weather was cloudy, but warm. Six members attended:
Heather and Derek, Fay, Christine, Nigel and me.
Parking in Noredown Way
(at Grid Ref: SU 7714 1358), we walked through the
village, turned left through fields to the woodland and
then on to Nore Down. After a break on Nore Down
surrounded by Pyramidal Orchids and Ladies Bedstraw, we
walked up Oldhouse Lane and back to West Marden through a
wheat field and woodland overlooking the village.
Everyone was delighted with the walk which was not one
the group had done before.
Birds
Apart from eight Swifts
flying over West Marden village and several Song Thrushes
singing throughout the walk, there was little of any bird
interest, with most other birds now keeping themselves to
themselves as they go into their post breeding moult.
Insects
and spiders
Of the butterflies there
was, as expected, numerous Meadow Browns on the wing,
though we did not see any Gatekeeper which should be out
soon. Marbled Whites were all over Nore Down; I
gave up counting when I got to 30, so there was probably
many more than that.
My own highlight was
my first Ringlet of the year on Nore Down, which I
have been looking for on Brook Meadow for the past few
days. I think I spotted a couple on the down.
Near the village we
spotted a cluster of black Peacock caterpillars on
some nettles.
We saw lots of
"Nursery-web spiders" (Pisaura mirabilis), so
called because the female spins a silken cocoon into
which she secrets her eggs and stays on guard nearby
until the spiderlings emerge. We did manage to see some
spiderlings in the webs.
Other
wildlife
Walking up Oldhouse Lane
we spotted what we thought at first was a small deer in
the woodlands to the left. However, when it started
hopping away we realised it was in fact a Brown
Hare.
PLANTS
The main interest during
the walk was certainly in wild flowers. For this report I
have dealt with the plants in four categories depending
on where they were mainly seen.
Village
The group stopped to
admire a sweet smelling rose which was clambering
over a large tree in one of the gardens of West Marden.
There was a large tree
with distinctive pale leaves in one of the gardens in
West Marden which Nigel thought could be Silver Lime
(Tilia tormentosa).
Woodland
False Brome, with
unbranched drooping panicles, was very common in the
woodlands. But I only noticed one tuft of the much taller
and more upright Hairy Brome, with well branched
drooping panicles, in the woodlands overlooking the
village at Grid Ref: SU 7697 1343.
Along the path from West
Marden towards Nore Down we found a substantial growth of
Deadly Nightshade at Grid Ref: SU 7738 1299. It
had flowers open and green buds forming.
Other plants seen in the
woodlands included Wood Speedwell (with hairs all round
the stem), Woodruff (leaves only), Nettle-leaved
Bellflower (not yet in flower), Wood Sedge, Wild
Gooseberry (Grid Ref: SU 7722 1325) and Wild
Raspberry (Grid Ref: SU 7727 1324).
Nore
Down - Grid Ref: SU 773 128
Nigel was literally
straining at the leash as we approached Nore Down. When
we finally got there he was off searching for orchids.
The Pyramidal Orchids were not difficult to find,
though the Fragrant Orchids were not so easy,
particularly as they were past their best in flowering
and were going to seed. There were a large number of
Pyramidals, but I think we only found 9 Fragrants. Two
flowering together were at Grid Ref: SU 7733 1289.
Somewhat surprisingly, we did not see any Common Spotted
or Bee Orchids.
Other less common plants
included Clustered Bellflower, Nettle-leaved
Bellflower, Squinancywort and Greater Knapweed.
During the break on Nore
Down we pondered over a single stemmed yellow daisy,
which from its general hairiness I would guess was
Rough Hawkbit.
Heather found a nice
flowering bush of Sweet Briar with its distinctive
apple-scented leaves on Nore Down at Grid Ref: SU 7733
1277.
Other plants on Nore Down
included Hedge Bedstraw, Ladies Bedstraw, Salad Burnet,
Agrimony, Field Scabious, , Bladder Campion, Silverweed,
Marjoram, Wild Thyme, Selfheal, Hairy St John's Wort,
Restharrow, Eyebright, Musk Mallow, Common Gromwell,
Crosswort, Cowslips (finished flowering), Fairy Flax,
Milkwort, Hoary Plantain, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Corn Mint
? (not in flower) and Wild Mignonette.
Grasses included Timothy,
Quaking Grass, Yellow Oat-grass and Glaucous Sedge.
Fields
We found a good patch of
Scented Mayweed mixed in with Pineappleweed at the
start of the footpath to West Marden from Oldhouse Lane
through a large wheat field. The flowers were highly
aromatic, but the hollow flower head, clinching the
identification was demonstrated by Nigel with his
penknife.
We were hoping for Field
Pansy on the edge of the field, but there were none.
FRIDAY
JUNE 26
SWIFTS
Eight Swifts were
screaming around the Bridge Road houses this morning. We
get Swifts every year here in Emsworth, but they have
been a bit scarce this year. The most I have seen so far
is 10, but I expect that number to rise as the families
emerge. They do seem to have gone down over the years.
The most I have ever had is 60 in 2003, but the usual
maximum is between 12 and 20. I am not sure where they
nest.
BROOK
MEADOW
Plants
This afternoon I helped
with a quadrat plant survey on the Lumley area of Brook
Meadow undertaken by the Conservation Group. I was
surprised at the large amount of Sharp-flowered Rush
(Juncus acutiflorus) in this area, a plant which has
appeared for the first time ever on Brook Meadow this
year.
Insects
The first Marbled
White of the year was flying around the Lumley area
this afternoon, two days earlier than the first was seen
last year. Other butterflies included lots of Meadow
Browns, Large Skipper, Large White and Comma, but
no Ringlet.
COLOUR-RINGED
SPOTTED REDSHANK
Barry Collins saw the
colour-ringed Spotted Redshank W+GY back on Thorney Deeps
today. This bird was recently seen and photographed in
Sweden where it probably bred. See diary entry for June
18. It was ringed last autumn at Thorney and was seen a
number of times on Thorney Deeps and at Nutbourne during
the winter, mainly by Barry Collins. I had my only
sighting of it on 21-Nov-08 in Nutbourne Bay.
THURSDAY
JUNE 25
BROOK
MEADOW
Ladybird
Larvae
Walking around Brook
Meadow with Margaret and Martin Baggs this morning we
came across a large number of Ladybirds on Common Nettles
on the north bend of the river. They were in various
stages of their life cycles, including larvae, pupa and
adults. This set me doing a bit of research on a subject
I previously knew very little about.
I found the Ladybird
Survey web site useful with information about the life
cycle of Ladybirds, plus a list and images of the most
common British Ladybirds and their larvae.
See . . .
http://www.ladybird-survey.org/ladybirds.aspx
My first photo shows a
typical 7-Spot Ladybird pupa. I have previously
incorrectly been calling all these early stages larvae!
I was particularly
curious about the all yellow Ladybird without
spots shown in the second photo. From the life cycle
shown on the Ladybird Survey web site this is clearly one
of the new generation of Ladybirds having recently
emerged from its pupa. The life cycle diagram shows this
as happneing in August, so this one appears to be at
least 6 weeks early.
Patrick Murphy sent me a
photo of an Ladybird larva that he took on Brook Meadow
last Monday. After a search on Google I finally
identified it as a Harlequin Ladybird larva.
See the following link .
. . http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php/photo/61659
Butterflies
Meadow Browns and Commas
were numerous on Brook Meadow his morning. I also saw one
Common Blue, one Large Skipper and one Red Admiral, my
first of these for some while. Graham Walsgrove told me
he had seen a Ringlet on the north meadow, in much the
same palce as he first saw it last year on 13-Jul-09.
However, when we went looking for it all we found were
Meadow Browns.
Patrick Murphy was lucky
enough to see the first (and maybe only) Small
Tortoiseshell on Brook Meadow last Monday (22 June) on
the path north of the north bridge.
Wild
flowers
Pyramidal Orchids
- Jennifer Rye pointd out a group of 3 Pyramidal Orchids
which had finished flowering in the centre of the North
Meadow at Grid Ref: SU 7506 0616. I was very surprised
that I had missed them in flower despite a good deal of
looking. I was even more surprised when Jennifer told me
she had planted two of them herself next to the one that
I thought had come up by itself last year. Jennifer
reassured me they were grown by her neighbour from native
seeds. Well, well.
Bee Orchid - There
is just one Bee Orchid flowering on the north meadow at
Grid Ref: SU 7507 0614, where previously I had thought
there were two.
Great Willowherb
is flowering for the first time on exactly the same date
as last year.
Bulbous Buttercups
- I checked the Buttercups flowering near the Lumley
puddle, but found they all appeared to have swollen stem
bases meaning they are Bulbous not Hairy Buttercups.
Grasses
Common Couch
(Elytrigia repens) - Common Couch is only found in one
small area of the Brook Meadow site, alongside the path
to the east of the Lumley area at Grid Ref: SU 7515 0602.
This is the awned version of Common Couch. Its identity
was confirmed by Martin Rand during his visit to Brook
Meadow.
Tufted Hair-grass
(Deschampsia cespitosa) - Tufted Hair-grass is only found
in one small area of the Brook Meadow site, in the north
eastern corner of the south meadow close to the plantd
Horse Chestnut saplings at Grid Ref: SU 7512
0599.
False Brome
(Brachypodium sylvaticum) - False Brome is only found in
one small area of the Brook Meadow site, on the edge of
Lumley Road close to the Lumley Stream at Grid Ref: SU
7515 0621. I previously misidentified this grass as Hairy
Brome. Although both grasses are hairy and have dropping
panicles, they differ in that the panicles of Hairy Brome
are branched whereas those of False Brome are diretly
attached to the main stem.
Festulolium Hybrids
(Festulolium loliaceum) - More of these unusual
grasses are coming up along the south path through the
south meadow at Grid Ref: SU 7510 0597. These are in
addition to those present on the north east path through
the north meadow.
Timothy - This
elegant grass is now flowering well around the meadow.
EMSWORTH
Birds
Ten Swifts were
flying over Bridge Road yesterday, the most so far this
year. I saw just five screaming around the houses this
morning.
Plants
Least Yellow
Sorrel (Oxalis exilis) - This unusual plant is
flowering again on the concrete path just inside the gate
of house number 18A Victoria Road at Grid Ref: SU 7479
0621. I first noticed it last year first on 05-Jul-08 and
then again on 16-Sep-08. Its identification was confirmed
by Martin Rand on 30.11.08. The Hants Flora describes it
as very rare.
Spreading Yellow
Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) - This more common garden
weed is again flowering in my front garden as it did at
this time last year. Spreading Yellow Sorrel (aka
Procumbent Yellow Sorrel) is larger than Least Yellow
Sorrel and has dark purple leaves and more than one
flower on each stalk.
Stone Parsley
(Sison amomum) - A single plant of Stone Parsley is
growing through the crack in the pavement right outside
my house. The first time I have noticed it. This is the
plant with a pungent smell of petrol when its leaves are
crushed. It is dscribed a locally common in The Hants
Flora.
Narrow-leaved
Water-plantain (Alisma lanceolata) - There is a plant
with a tall flowering stem in the Westbrook Stream just
south of where the stream goes beneath Victoria Road -
viewable from the small bridge.
SOUTH
MOOR ORCHID COUNTS
Nigel Johnson tells me
the total count of Southern Marsh Orchids on the South
Moor on Saturday 20 June was 4142. Not a record but a big
increase on the previous three years.
Here is Nigel's record
for the Southern Marsh Orchid count since 1995.
These orchid flowering
spikes have been counted for the last fifteen years in
the field to the south of the Autoliv factory SU712052.
In 1995 and 1996 Ralph Hollins counted them and since
then the local HWT Havant Wildlife Study Group has been
counting.
Year Orchid Count Date of
Count
1995 6763 15
June
1996 4319 3 July
1997 2407 28
June
1998 4890 13
June
1999 333 19
June
2000 5614 17
June
2001 491 23
June
2002 5086 15
June
2003 4474 14
June
2004 5561 19
June
2005 5129 18
June
2006 3234 24
June
2007 1367 9
June
2008 996 14
June
2009 4142 20
June
Up to the end of 2006 the
reserve was grazed by the cattle of the late George
Hedley. He controlled the grazing so that the cattle were
taken off before the plants flowered and returned later.
In 1999 and 2001 he forgot to take the cattle off early
enough!
Since the beginning of
2007 the Trust has been responsible for the grazing. I
think we were using fewer cattle, but grazing
extensively, so that the orchid flower spikes were being
eaten in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the field had not been
grazed and the count was much higher than
2007/8.
However the vegetation
now appears more rank than it has been previously. This
year one of our more elderly counters had to give up as
she could not plough through the undergrowth and some of
our shorter members had difficulty seeing the orchids.
Nigel Johnson
TUESDAY
JUNE 23
HAYLING
OYSTERBEDS
It was a glorious sunny
morning for my regular Tuesday wardening session from 9am
to 12 noon at Hayling Oysterbeds.
Birds
The great Black-headed
Gull show goes on with hundreds of chicks of varying
levels of maturity scattered around on the two islands in
the lagoon. Some chicks were on the water and many are
approaching the time when they will fly. One Black-headed
Gull chick was on the Stoke Bay shore, with a few adults,
clearly having flown there.
I could not see much
change in the Common Tern situation from last
week, though I did spot one or two chicks, though they
were not easy to find in the tall grass. Adults were
regularly coming onto the island with small fish, though
mostly for their mates from what I could see.
An Oystercatcher
back on what I assume is a nest on the south island to
the right of marker A surrounded by Black-headed Gulls.
Another Oystercatcher was sitting on a nest (?) on the
north island near marker O. I spotted the one
Oystercatcher chick at the far north end of the north
island with a parent. This is presumably the family I saw
there last week with two chicks.
I saw the regular
Ringed Plover on the south shore where I gather it
has a nest.
Ruth (see below) told me
there was a group of 14 Black-tailed Godwits on
the Stoke Bay shore, but they had left when I got there.
Butterflies
The usual Painted
Ladies were prominent around the thistles,
particularly along the Stoke Bay shore. We should have a
good second brood in late summer.
Meadow Browns were
everywhere as expected along with plenty of Marbled
Whites. In fact, one birdwatcher told me he had
counted up to 40 while walking up the Hayling Billy Line.
I saw three bright red
Cinnabar moths as I did my circuit of the reserve.
Plants
There was not a lot of
change on the botanical front since last Tuesday. The
Spear Thistles along the shore are starting to
open, with lots more to come. One Milk Thistle flower was
showing behind the mound, though these seem to come and
go fairly quickly.
Both Spear-leaved and
Grass-leaved Orache are abundant on the Stoke Bay shore.
Further north on the shore opposite the lagoon I found
Common Sea-lavender in flower along with Common
Glasswort, Annual Seablite and Sea Purslane.
Visitors
The sunny weather brought
a good flow of visitors to the reserve, a refreshing
number without dogs and several birdwatchers. One
birdwatcher named Ruth was just leaving as I arrived. She
said she knew Jason and was heading to Farlington Marshes
to lead a walk there. I also spoke to two birdwatchers
from Bishop's Waltham who were hoping to see Little
Terns, but there were none to be seen. However, they
enjoyed seeing the Black-headed Gull chicks and the
Common Terns.
As I was walking round
the reserve I met Keith, a birdwatcher from Westbourne,
near Emsworth, who to my surprise, knew me from my web
site. In all, I counted 22 visitors, though I may well
have missed some. A fisherman walked along the south bund
and sat down facing the lagoon, but well north of the
islands.
As I was walking down the
Hayling Billy Line I was surprised to see Brendan
Gibb-Gray cycling towards me. Brendan is a Havant Borough
Councillor from Emsworth and is active in various
conservation issues, including the proposed Bridge Road
Nature Reserve.
I met Pete Potts as
arranged at 11.30. Pete is now the Hampshire County
Council Ranger responsible for the County Reserves on
Hayling Island, although, as he was quick to point out,
he also has a number of other reserves to look after.
Pete took me to look at the three cattle grazing on the
reserve fields to the west of the Hayling Billy Line. I
agreed to check the water trough and see that the cattle
are all there and in good condition on my Tuesday
wardening sessions. After leaving me, Pete collected the
pile of rubbish on the Hayling Billy Line from the
clearance by volunteers.
MONDAY
JUNE 22
BIRD
ATLAS SURVEY SU71R
This morning Caroline
French and I conducted the late breeding 2 hour Bird
Atlas Survey TTV for tetrad SU71R in the West Marden area
of West Sussex. The weather was fine and warm with little
wind.
As in the early breeding
survey conducted on 23-May-08 we began in the village of
West Marden, then walked up the road to Forestside. From
there we cut through the fields to the northern edge of
Stansted Forest and then across the large wheat field to
Lodge Farm. We then walked down Oldhouse Lane and along
the lower edge of Nore Down back to West Marden.
Summary
Although we are getting a
bit late in the season, most birds were still active and
in good voice, but for Robin and Dunnock, which were
generally quiet. Overall, we recorded more species this
morning than on the earlier survey (32 compared with 25)
and more birds in total.
Swifts and House
Martins were flying over West Marden, but we could
not see where they nested. The Rookery at West Marden was
deserted, though we did see a few Rooks at Forestside.
Plenty of Swallows were flying at Forestside where
we also watched two Sparrowhawks flying over in
succession, both being pursued by a motley of small
birds.
A lady we spoke to at
Lodge Farm said none had nested at the farm this year,
but there were plenty of House Sparrows around the
farm buildings. A small group of Linnets were
feeding on the roadside verge at Forestside and they took
off with their typical bouncy flight as we approached.
Notable absentees in
today's survey, that we had in the early survey, were
Skylark and Mistle Thrush.
Count
details
Pheasant 3, Sparrowhawk
2, Buzzard 3, Black-headed Gull 3, Woodpigeon 63,
Collared Dove 7, Swift 7, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1,
Swallow 25, House Martin 2, Wren 8, Dunnock 1, Robin 4,
Blackbird 17, Song Thrush 3, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 2,
Chiffchaff 2, Marsh Tit 1, Coal Tit 2, Blue Tit 12, Great
Tit 3, Nuthatch 1, Rook 13, Carrion Crow 5, Starling 5,
House Sparrow 46, Chaffinch 15, Greenfinch 8, Goldfinch
10, Linnet 8, Yellowhammer 1.
Total species = 32. Birds
= 285.
Other
observations
A Fox crossed the road at
Forestside with some thing in its mouth.
Butterflies seen were
Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Comma.
Large-flowered Evening
Primrose was in flower on the roadside at West Marden.
Field Madder and Field Pansy were in flower on the edge
of the large field of wheat at Lodge Farm. The good patch
of Woodruff, which was in flower in the woodland to the
east of West Marden on our last visit in May, was showing
leaves only.
NEWTOWN
NATURE RESERVE
On Saturday June 20, I
attended a very interesting wild flowers and grasses
workshop at Newtown Nature Reserve led by Warden, Pema
Brunet from 1pm to 3.30pm. The weather was fine and warm.
We walked through some superb meadows, some of restricted
access to the public, and onto the saltmarshes, where
groups of schoolchildren were also busy studying the
plants that grow there. Pema had planned to do the
woodland as well, but we did not have the time. But maybe
another time?
I was interested to see
the Hairy Buttercups that were growing near to the
now dead plants of Mousetail at Grid Ref: SZ 4239 9057
that I saw on my last visit to the reserve on May 31.
Pema kindly dug up one of the Buttercup plants (for
educational purposes) with a trowel provided by one of
the participants. This clearly showed the absence of
tubers to distinguish Hairy from Bulbous Buttercups.
I was particularly
pleased to have a close comparison of Common
Bird's-foot-trefoil and the less familiar Greater
Bird's-foot Trefoil.
There was a fine display
of Dotted Loosestrife on the roadside near the
reserve centre, a garden escape, but really none the
worse for that as it certainly enhances the area. Burnet
Rose, with its distinctive small roundish leaves, was
seen in the hedgerows.
We finished the walk in a
wetter meadow which contained Hard and Soft Rush, Marsh
Thistle, Marsh Bedstraw and some Common Spotted Orchids.
I was puzzled by a tall stately grass that I later
identified as Tufted Hair-grass at Grid Ref: SZ
4256 9036.
Other plants of interest
on the meadows included the delicate Grass Vetchling,
Smooth Tare, Dyers Greenweed (flowering on my last
visit), Stinking Iris, Lesser Stitchwort and
Corky-fruited Water-dropwort.
We found a good number of
plants on the saltmarshes near the new boardwalk,
including Common Cord-grass (Spartina), Saltmarsh Rush,
Common Saltmarsh Grass, Common Sea-lavender (with
mucronate leaves), Greater Sea-spurrey (there is no
Lesser Sea-spurrey on the Island), Sea Arrowgrass, Common
Glasswort and Annual Seablite. Somewhat surprisingly at
this time of year, we noticed a single flower of Sea
Aster. Pema said there was also some of the very rare
Small Cord-grass on the reserve, though people were not
allowed into that area to prevent damage to the plants.
NATURE
RESERVE AT BRIDGE ROAD CAR PARK ?
I am getting some local
support in my campaign to curtail council weed spraying
in Bridge Road car park. Local Councillor, Brendan
Gibb-Gray has circulated an e-mail saying that he is
dismayed to hear about the weed spraying and suggests the
small area between the car park and the Westbrook Stream
should be dedicated as a nature reserve. What a great
idea! Brendan goes on to say that tree wardens and other
people concerned about local habitat should lobby the
council and get this mindless spraying stopped, at least
in designated natural areas.
Brendan has spoken to
Andy Paffett of HBC who is the person responsible for
managing the weed spraying in the borough,. Andy thought
the idea of a mini "reserve" was a good idea and, subject
to a review of the area bordering the Westbrook Stream,
it could/might be possible. Brendan hopes it could be
maintained in its natural state, cutting on an annual
basis only, with a small sign telling residents/visitors
what we are trying to achieve and maybe grass cutting on
an annual basis only. HBC would still be responsible for
keeping the car park itself clean and tidy.
The idea of Roadside
Nature Reserves is not a new one and there are many
examples around the country of successful schemes,
including one I know about in Appledram Lane (south) near
Chichester.
Colin Mackey suggests we
need to identify other areas in the ward and see whether
we can offer to maintiain those areas ourselves, keeping
weeds down and the like - at least for a trial period.
Another good idea.
FRIDAY
JUNE 19
BROOK
MEADOW
Birds
Two Whitethroat still
singing on the meadow, plus a Chiffchaff and a burst from
a Blackcap. But bird song is now on the wane as birds
complete their nesting and go into moult.
Insects
and spiders
The only butterflies I
saw this morning were 10 Meadow Browns and a Comma.
"Thigh Beetles" (Oedemera
nobilis) were numerous on the white trumpets of Bindweed.
I noticed several
"Nursery-web spider" webs as I walked round the meadow.
Lots of grasshoppers were
hopping around in the grassland as I walked through it.
Orchids
on Brook Meadow
This morning I found
two Bee Orchids in flower on the North Meadow just
south of the large clump of Hemp Agrimony at Grid Ref: SU
7506 0614. This is roughly the same area they flowered in
previous years. I had almost given up on them this year
since they are late. In 2007 we had 12 flowering Bee
Orchids in this area, but last year we only had four.
Shall we get any more this year?
The three Southern Marsh
Orchids on the west side of the North Meadow were the
only ones we had this year and are now past their best.
Two were planted in 2007 and four came up in 2008, but
only three this year.
The three Common Spotted
Orchids that have been out on the North Meadow since May
16 have now almost finished flowering and are difficult
to find. Two Common Spotted Orchids first appeared on
Brook Meadow in 2007, then in 2008 there were five, but I
think we only have three this year.
Other
plants
The first Red Bartsia
of the year is in flower on the North Meadow, a good
three weeks earlier than last year, with plenty more to
come.
There is no sign of the
Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea on the very overgrown
Seagull Lane patch so far this yet. Will it manage to
struggle through? What has happened to this area this
year?
Goat's Beard has also
been having a rough time in this area, with no obvious
opportunity to flower and set seed.
Least
Yellow Sorrel
The rare Least Yellow
Sorrel (Oxalis exilis) is flowering on the concrete path
inside of the front garden wall of number 18A Victoria
Road at Grid Ref: SU 7479 0622. It also flowered here
last year, though much later; I first saw it here on July
5. The plant is described as rare in The Hants Flora.
Last year, I submitted it to Martin Rand who accepted the
record. Martin said this species seems to be spreading
quite a bit, and is probably being under-recorded at the
moment. Ralph Hollins also found Least Yellow Sorrel in
Langstone last year.
WEED
SPRAYING IN BRIDGE ROAD CAR PARK
I am concerned about weed
spraying in the Bridge Road area where I live which
happens from time to time throughout the year. Spraying
not only leaves ugly areas of burnt vegetation, but also
damages a variety of valuable and attractive wild
flowers. I am most concerned about the Bridge Road car
park area which has a large number of wild flowers
growing around it, including at least one in the
Westbrook Stream classified as rare, ie Narrow-leaved
Water-plantain (Alisma lanceolata).
Of particular concern is
the spraying that takes place close to the Westbrook
Stream, which runs behind Bridge Road car park and into
the town millpond, and which I know the Environment
Agency has an interest in.
A list of the 69 plants
that I have recorded in the Bridge Road car park area is
shown in the link. Unfortunately, some of these plants
were killed by the spraying in May, notably, Wall
Lettuce, Fool's Parsley and Pale Persicaria.
Link to the plant list
for Bridge Road car park . . . Bridge
Road car park plants
I e-mailed Andy Paffet of
Havant Borough Council who is responsible for the
management of weed spraying in the borough and asked him
if he could ask the contractors to avoid spraying in the
Bridge Road area to avoid damaging the flora that grow
there. I copied the e-mail to various interested people.
Andy replied promptly
saying that he will try to stop them where the ground is
soft, but plants coming up on hard ground are regarded as
"weeds" and will be sprayed. He said he would have a look
at the area over the weekend and speak to Hampshire
County Council and will get back to me .
There are certainly a
number of areas of soft ground in the car park area which
have been sprayed in the past, including beneath the
planted shubberies. It would certainly be a good thing if
these were avoided in the spraying.
THURSDAY
JUNE 18
SOUTH
MOOR
I spent about two hours
this morning having a good mooch around the South Moor,
mainly looking for sedges and rushes. The vegetation on
the moor was tall, though fortunately not wet. One has to
skirt around a work security fence to gain access to the
orchid area.
Southern
Marsh Orchids
As Nigel Johnson said,
the Southern Marsh Orchids were abundant on the South
Moor, and it looks like a bumper crop. The annual count
by the Havant Wildlife Group takes place on Saturday. In
view of the large number of orchids and the height of the
vegetation the count is not likely to be an easy one. I
am afraid I shall have to miss the count as I shall be
attending a wildlife workshop at the Newtown Nature
Reserve on the Isle of Wight.
Other
plants
As on my earlier visit
this spring on 06-May-09 I had problems with Common Sedge
(Carex nigra) and its look-alikes. Last time Martin Rand
suggested they could be Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea),
but I could not identify this species with any
confidence. I shall send samples to Martin Rand for his
verdict. I think I am safe with the other sedges and
rushes.
I was not sure about the
rather delicate and rough feeling Bedstraw which I
thought might be Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre), though
I am not familiar with this plant. Here is a list of the
plants I noted with location and grid references.
|
Alopecurus
geniculatus
|
Marsh Foxtail
|
east
stream
|
SU 7130
0509
|
|
Carex
disticha
|
Brown Sedge
|
local
|
SU 7130
0508
|
|
Carex
divisa
|
Divided Sedge
|
east
side
|
SU 7123
0510
|
|
Carex
flacca
|
Glaucous
Sedge
|
west
side
|
SU 7123
0510
|
|
Carex
hirta
|
Hairy Sedge
|
local
|
SU 7123
0521
|
|
Carex
nigra
|
Black Sedge
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Carex otrubae
|
False Fox
Sedge
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Carex panecea
?
|
Carnation
Sedge ?
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Cynosurus
cristatus
|
Crested
Dog's-tail
|
local
|
SU 7121
0516
|
|
Dactylorhiza
fuchsii
|
Southern
Marsh Orchid
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Eleocharis
palustris
|
Common
Spike-rush
|
local
|
SU 7127
0522
|
|
Equisetum
palustre
|
Marsh
Horsetail
|
General
|
SU 7123
0521
|
|
Galium
palustre ?
|
Marsh
Bedstraw ?
|
local
|
SU 7125
0520
|
|
Hypericum
tetrapterum
|
Square-st St
John's-wort
|
local
|
SU 7124
0519
|
|
Juncus
acutiflorus
|
Sharp-flowered
Rush
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Juncus
articulatus
|
Jointed
Rush
|
west
side
|
SU 7123
0510
|
|
Juncus
effusus
|
Soft Rush
|
local
|
SU 7121
0516
|
|
Juncus
geradi
|
Saltmarsh
Rush
|
east
side
|
SU 7132
0504
|
|
Juncus
inflexus
|
Hard
Rush
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Lychnis
flos-cuculi
|
Ragged
Robin
|
General
|
SU 713 053
|
|
Myositis
caespitosa
|
Tufted
Forget-me-not
|
east
stream
|
SU 7130
0509
|
|
Scirpus
maritimus
|
Sea Club-rush
|
east
side
|
SU 7134
0502
|
|
Triglochin
maritima
|
Sea
Arrowgrass
|
east
side
|
SU 7133
0504
|
Insects
and Spiders
I disturbed plenty of
Meadow Browns as I moved through the long grasses. I also
saw a few Large Skippers and Common Blues.
"Nursery-web
spiders" (Pisaura mirabilis) were very common.
What I think were
5-spot Burnet Moths were everywhere, particularly
abundant on the flowers of Marsh Thistles, on the flower
head one of which 7 moths were feeding.
SPOTTED
REDSHANK NEWS
Pete Potts reports that
our one and only locally colour-ringed Spotted Redshank
W+GY was recently seen and photographed in Sweden in full
summer plumage.
I last saw this bird on
21-Nov-08 in Nutbourne Bay.
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 17
GARDEN
Jean and I were surprised
to see a Hedgehog snuffling around in the back garden
when we got up this morning. We have not seen one in the
garden for some years. How it got in is a mystery as the
garden is surrounded by a brick wall.
The appearance of a young
Starling in the garden this morning reminded me that this
was the first one I had seen in the garden this spring,
despite the presence of an active nest in a neighbour's
roof. We usually get youngsters on the grass with their
parents, so I wonder if there was a problem this year?
EMSWORTH
Westbrook
Stream
The Blue Water
Speedwell (presumably the hybrid?) is flowering
again, as it did last year, in the Westbrook Stream by
the apple tree in Bridge Road car park at Grid Ref: SU
7474 0608.
Also, in the Westbrook
Stream, a little to the south of the Blue Water
Speedwell, a number of plants of Narrow-leaved
Water-plantain (Alisma lanceolata) are now in full
flower in the Westbrook Stream.
There is another good
growth of Plicate Sweet-grass which I had not
noticed before near the Bulrushes at Grid Ref: SU 7474
0606.
The first Great
Willowherb of the year is flowering in the Westbrook
Stream.
Peter
Pond
Wild Carrot and Rough
Chervil are flowering on the east of Peter Pond
BROOK
MEADOW
Blue
Water Speedwell (hybrid)
Alan Knapp asked whether
any of the Blue Water Speedwell (hybrid) - Veronica x
lackschewitzii that I said was in Emsworth is in West
Sussex. I do regularly see this plant in Emsworth,
particularly on Brook Meadow, which is partly inside West
Sussex. The identification was confirmed by Martin Rand.
There is, in fact, one
currently in flower on the west bank of the Lumley Stream
which is just inside the West Sussex border. I had a look
at it again this morning to check the grid ref which is
SU 7515 0645 in tetrad SU70N. I did see another example
of Veronica x Lackschewitzii further up the Lumley Stream
near Lumley Mill in 2006 at Grid Ref: SU 7522 0636 in
tetrad SU70N, but I have not seen it since then.
Russian
Comfrey
Finally, after many years
of searching since Ralph Hollins first identified it on
Brook Meadow on 05-May-01, I have managed to find what I
think (and hope) is a definite example of Russian Comfrey
on the meadow. There are several purple flowered plants
in deep vegetation on the centre meadow at Grid Ref: SU
7512 0603. They are considerably rougher to feel than the
white flowered Common Comfrey nearby and have no "wings"
where the leaves join the stems.
Other
observations
I have seen several
"Nursery-web spiders" (Pisaura mirabilis) in the
local area just recently, so-called because they build a
web for the cocoon of eggs and then guard them until the
spiderlings hatch.
For the first time ever I
saw two male Banded Demoiselles perched together
on the same blade of grass. I thought they were supposed
to be highly territorial at this time of the year.
Young
Water Vole
Trevor Carter e-mailed to
say on Sunday 14 June at around 9.00 p.m. he saw an adult
and it's young between the 2 trees which have fallen or
grow across the river. The youngster was feeding and
playing with the adult for about 10 minutes and then went
'home' the adult continued to feed for at least another
10 minutes. He also saw a 3rd vole (fleetingly) which was
smaller than the adult but bigger than the youngster that
we had in view for a long period.
This was the first
confirmed sighting of a young vole that we have had this
year. The sightings takes the total to 109 for 2009.
SHARP-FLOWERED
RUSH - new plant for Brook Meadow
I was delighted to find,
for the first time ever on Brook Meadow, what I am fairly
sure is Sharp-flowered Rush. These plants are much taller
and more substantial than the more common Jointed Rush on
Brook Meadow, so I am not likely to have missed them in
previous years. There are numerous plants on the west
edge of the Lumley area, near the cross path from the
Lumley gate, from Grid Ref: SU 7514 0602 to SU 7512
0604.
They have more greener
rounded fleshy leaves and a less open inflorescence than
the Jointed Rush which I am famiiar with and which is
flowering nearby. Both plants have the cross-partitioned
leaves which feel like ridges as you run your fingers
down the leaf. The sample I brought home matches exactly
the Sharp-flowered Rush from Fishbourne Meadows.
However, I need to
clarify the rushes on Fishbourne Meadows. When I was
there last week, I thought Sharp-flowered Rush (Juncus
acutiflorus) was the dominant rush on Fishbourne Meadows.
However, in the New Flora of Sussex Sharp-flowered Rush
is recorded for tetrad SU80M (west Fishbourne Meadows)
but not for SU80H (east Fishbourne Meadows), where it is
replaced by Juncus x surrejanus which is a hybrid of
Jointed Rush x Sharp-flowered Rush. The Interactive Flora
says this hybrid occurs with the parents throughout the
British Isles and is commoner than either in some places.
It is intermediate in tepal shape and size and has low
fertility.
Alan
Knapp's advice
I consulted Alan Knapp of
the Sussex Botanical Recording Society who provided the
following information about the two rushes:
"The absence of the
record for Juncus acutiflorus at Fishbourne should not be
taken as very significant - it probably just got missed.
Both tetrads there were probably recorded together and
it's then incredibly easy to think you have already
recorded something when you have already found it in the
other tetrad.
Be very wary regarding
the diffentiation of Juncus articulatus and Juncus
acutiflorus when they are not in flower.
The most reliable
difference appears to be the density of the septa in the
leaves - much less frequent in J.acutiflorus (about
one every 2cm at most on average) compared to one or more
per centimetre in J.articulatus.
Other leaf/stem features
mentioned in some books are apparently not reliable and
can lead to wrong identification in some cases.
By far the clearest
difference is in the fruits which taper smoothly to a
point in J.acutiflorus and have a sort of shoulder on
them with a little "pip" above it in J.articulatus.
Also all 6 tepals in
J.acutiflorus are the same and are acuminate with a long
fine point and are often curved outwards at the tips
whereas in J.articulatus 3 of the tepals are like this
and 3 are different - shortly acute (i.e. much less
finely tapered) & do not curve outwards (but this
difference can be less obvious than it
sounds).
As far as I know the only
really reliable way to tell the hybrid from the parents
is that it is pretty much infertile wheras the parents
normally develop loads of ripe fruits."
Checking
the rushes
Using Alan's tips I
checked the samples I had collected and confirmed their
identities.
1. On the density of the
septa in the leaves my samples of Jointed Rush (Juncus
articulatus) all had less than 1cm between the septa,
whereas in the Sharp-flowered Rush (Juncus acutiflorus)
the septa were separated by 1.5-2.0 cm.
2. Looking at the
capsules those of Jointed Rush (Juncus articulatus)
narrowed into a definite beak, as described by F.Rose,
whereas those of Sharp-flowered Rush (Juncus acutiflorus)
tapered smoothly to a sharp point. Excellent. I do
believe I have got it!
Having both rushes in
such close proximity on Brook Meadow I suspect we might
get some hybrids ie Juncus x surrejanus . I will keep a
look out for any ie without fruits.
TUESDAY
JUNE 16
HAYLING
OYSTERBEDS
It was a gloriously sunny
morning for my regular wardening session at the
Oysterbeds from 9-12.
Birds
The great Black-headed
Gull show continues with hundreds of chicks of
varying sizes on the two islands in the lagoon, far
outnumbering the adults. It was interesting to watch the
more mature chicks venturing into the water, often
accompanied by one or both parents. Jason thinks some of
them should be in the air by next week.
Meanwhile, the Common
Terns are sitting tight, though most of them are well
hidden amongst the burgeoning vegetation on the islands.
I did manage to spot a chick to the right of marker E.
Jason thinks there are more broods now hatched, though
they are difficult to see. I did not see any Little
Terns.
As for the
Oystercatchers the pair nesting at the far end of
the north island have two chicks, though Jason says they
often take them across to the NW bund. Jason says there
are two other Oystercatcher nests on the north island
though I did not see them. There was no sign of the
Oystercatcher that was sitting on the south island and
Jason thinks it has given up.
As I was exploring the
plants on the shore of the south bund I noticed a
Ringed Plover scuttling away from me. Jason
confirmed there is a nest on the shingle and the bird
would move away from the nest if anyone approached. He
was hopeful of success and that hatching should take
place in about a week and a half.
Insects
Surprisingly few
butterflies were on the wing despite the warm weather. I
saw my first Marbled White of the year along the
Hayling Billy Line. Others seen this morning included
Painted Lady (around the thistles), Meadow Brown, Comma
and some unidentified whites.
I found my first
"Thigh Beetle" (Oedemera nobilis) of the year on a
Corky-fruited Water-dropwort flower head. These are green
beetles with swollen thighs, commonly found on white
umbellifers.
I also noticed the first
grasshoppers of the year in the long grasses.
Wild
flowers
Field Bindweed, Hedge
Bindweed and Large Bindweed are all now out on the
reserve, though there is no sign of the attractive Sea
Bindweed.
Just one Spear Thistle
flower is out on Stoke Bay shore, though the others
should be out soon.
Milk Thistles are
now flowering behind the mound and Scarlet Pimpernel and
Common Centaury are out on the mound. There is a
nice show of Viper's-bugloss on the north path. Sadly,
there was no sign of the Bee Orchids from last week.
Newly flowering on the
Hayling Billy Line I noted Black Horehound, Meadow
Vetchling, Tufted Vetch, Red Valerian, Common Toadflax,
Yellow-wort, Thrift, Sea Plantain, Hogweed,
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill and Eyebright.
Of the grasses Wall
Barley and Yellow Oat-grass are now in flower along with
lots of others.
Visitors
There were a good number
of visitors to the reserve on this sunny morning. No
incidents to report.
I counted 10 dog walkers
with a total of 15 dogs, including the regular lady with
five. There were 12 walkers without dogs, one jogger,
three cyclists (not counting those I saw on the Hayling
Billy Line) and two bait diggers in Stoke Bay.
VERGE
CUTTING AT FISHBOURNE
Ed Rowsell the
conservation officer with the Chichester Harbour
Conservancy joins my dismay with the cutting of the
Roadside Nature Reserve (RNR) at Appledram Lane (south)
in Fishbourne - see my diary entry for June 13. He can
vouch for the West Sussex Highways contractors, as they
were on-site on the Monday or Tuesday afternoon and were
careful not to cut the RNR area. Ed himself was on-site
between 1630-1700 on Friday 12 June and it hadn't been
cut then, so it must have taken place on Friday evening
or early Saturday morning before I arrived with the
Hampshire Wildlife Trust group, clearly outside of normal
council working hours. Ed says a similar incident
occurred last year, which he discussed with the RNR
Officer (Ben Rainbow). They concluded that it was the
result of local action, a suprisingly common and
diffucult to resolve issue.
As for the motive for the
verge cutting Ed thinks it could be as simple as not
wanting the vegetation to encroach onto the path or that
it looks untidy. A local resident phoned him also
dismayed at the cutting. Ed will discuss with Ben Rainbow
to see how he wishes to proceed. He thinks a letter to
all of the local properties might be in order. It might
also be a good idea to ask for local volunteers to look
after and protect this valuable verge. I have a similar
problem with weed spraying by Council contractors in my
local car park, which has a good number of wild flowers,
including some rare ones!
VERONICA
ANAGALLIS-AQUATICA ACCEPTED
Regarding the Blue Water
Speedwells (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) that I found in
the stream at Fishbourne Meadows on June 11 and June 13,
I have heard from Alan Knapp the local recorder for the
Sussex Botanical Recording Society that he agrees with
the identification and has accepted the record. In fact,
Alan says the two plants I found spanned two tetrads
(SU80H and M) and it was a new post 2000 record in both.
Earlier
Diaries . . .
June
(1-15) 2009
May
(1-15) 2009 . . .May
(16-31) 2009
April
2009 . . .
March 2009
. . .
February
2009