We have had to keep the back door shut at home because a queen buff-tailed bumblebee has been coming in. I assumed that it’s been looking for a place to hibernate. However, is it looking for a place to nest? Since the 1990’s it has been noted that the later generation queens have been nesting instead of hibernating over winter as there is more pollen around than there used to be in winter. My Mahonias are well in flower. I used to expect them to start flowering in January. Other good food sources are winter honeysuckle, and, on the reserve, we have dead nettles, willow and hazel. Look out for flowers as you walk around. Bumblebees and other hardy insects will be making the most of them.
There are still butterflies flying. I’ve seen a couple of red admirals in the last few days. They will be looking for somewhere to hibernate, if the weather decides to cool enough. I’ve also seen common darter dragonflies enjoying the sunnier recent days. However, I haven’t seen a migrant hawker or a willow emerald since 21st October on the reserve. It is definitely late for them, if you do see one in November. If you do, please let me know.
The bird ringers were out last weekend. The 3 redwings were one of the highlights. However, having treecreeper and Britain’s smallest bird, the goldcrest, in the hand is also awesome.
I’ve seen both fieldfare and redwing on the reserve. Always on the move, listen out for their high-pitched seep contact call. Siskin and Redpoll have also been flying over in their mixed flocks. They will be likely high in the alders eating the trees’ seeds. The British Trust for Ornithology are wondering if more of these birds will come into our gardens this year, as the main food, wild berries, have been early this year. I’ll be interested if they come into your garden.
Weighing out ingredients to make a cake earlier on, I realised that the 170grams I had on the scales was about the weight of our smallest water bird, the little grebe. They have bred well on the reserve this year. A small dumpy bird with a fluffy rear. They are a fantastic diver with feet set well back to help them swim underwater. AI is at great pains to tell me grebes are not ducks as they have lobed instead of webbed feet. Interestingly they are distantly related to flamingos- just a slight size difference!
Goldeneyes are now on the lakes in small numbers. They always seem a later arrival. The Water Bird Survey, this coming weekend, will tell us more. I am hoping a few common gulls will be seen. A bird I haven’t seen on the reserve for a while.
Our next few Friend’s work parties are working on the invertebrate bank in the wooded area next to the Haul Road (part of the Site of Scientific Interest -SSSI). You go to places on the reserve you wouldn’t normally see, when you join in with our sociable Thursday and Sunday work parties.
Please contact me if you are interested in joining in either of the above on friends@paxton-pits.org.uk .
Best wishes,
Ann Ann Thomas 3.11.25