Hi All,
The reserve continues to look lush, even though the weather has been a lot drier. I have been walking around with a pair of secateurs, as the briars on the blackberries seem to grow 6 inches in a day! The blackberries are tasty as well! I reckon I picked my earliest ever blackberry back in July.
If you turn right past the Educational Centre onto Redlands, the area is full of tall ragwort. A sight I haven’t seen before on this area. In past years, the vegetation has been short favouring the brown argus butterfly. Many butterflies have been late emerging this year, due to the inclement weather and the brown argus has been no exception. They appear to be making the most of the tall grasses by hunkering down in it when it rains. Quite a few common blue butterflies have also been emerging in the last week.
These tall grasses also favour the wasp spider. I am always amazed how a brightly coloured stripey insect hanging in its web is so difficult to see. Ann Miles had found one and showed it to the wildlife survey group. By looking at this one at a different angle, there was another only a few centimetres away! Then several others were found. The wasp spider, which is part of the orb-weaving family is an amazing mimic. It may look like a wasp but does not sting. It is, however, very quick to wrap up their prey, such as grasshoppers and flies when they dare touch its web.
Look out for linnets there as well. Did you know that a flock of linnets is called a Parcel? Fascinating how these names originate.
Birds, which are not about to migrate, are now starting to moult, so are staying well hidden from predators. So, most birds are not obvious on the reserve at present and their songs and calls are short. Our common terns will be migrating soon. I am so pleased to say that there will be a few youngsters to follow them this year. The Avocets will probably stay around for a little longer, disappearing to their wintering grounds by the coast by October. Up to 6 little egrets have been seen on the Heronries and the odd Great White. I wonder where they bred this year.
The dates for the Wetland bird surveys (WeBS) over winter have now been organised. If you are interested in helping, please let me know and I will pass your name on.
The bird ringers are having a year of downs and ups. Last weekend’s report isn’t out yet, but I hear that it has made up for several sessions where numbers and species were down. The highlight being that they ringed their first Cetti’s warbler and also 2 goldcrest, an adult and a youngster. It must be amazing to hold them, if you think they are under a quarter of an ounce!
Our birds rely on the food chain to be right. We have insect rich habitats, if you look in the right place. Even on a rainy day, Ann proves this with her photographs. Please go to her pin spot blog to see them.
Our small mammal surveys over the last 3 years have proved we have a healthy population of wood mice and bank voles, which, unfortunately for them, are at the end of the food chain.
We have had a few otter sightings (see attached for a super photo by Peter Cariuk).
3 water survey sessions have now been completed. Ann Miles took some very interesting photos of the last session. Look at them at:
Ann Miles Blog: Waterlife Sampling at Paxton (pin-sharp.blogspot.com)
It is always good to hear about your sightings at Paxton Pits.
Let me know at friends@paxton-pits.org.uk
Best wishes
Ann
Ann Thomas