UK Wildlife Blog

As I entered Rainham marshes I noticed an abundance of life on the nettles. Including nursery web spiders
Once inside the reserve itself I saw a couple of water voles but couldnt get a good photo of either. I did see my first wild marsh frog of the year thouIts was only a tiddler but quite colourful. I then saw an adult water vole in the open
Moving further round I could hear marsh frogs calling and there were a few alderflys flying round
I then came across this fence post spider munching on a fly
I then found a number of butterflies as a walked along the north end of the reserve:
this small white
This ragged looking peacock
I finally got a photo of a brimstone
And this is the best I could do with the orange tip
ANd alos this holly blue sat nicely drinking salt or minerals from the path gravel

This hover fly was nearby too
There are plenty of small fish in the water at Rainham, such as this stickleback
I had such a good morning I thought I'd go atleast part of the way round a again. I came across this adult marsh frog
And this larger one in the water..
..which then decided to climb out
Further round a number of velvet mites where clambering around
Then crawling across the path was this rather large and hairy caterpiller
When putting it backing the under growth I can across these mating 25 spot ladybirds
Also running across the path I found this Silpha laevigata beetle
And this other species, yet to be Identified
There was another fence post spider about..
..along with some more nursery web spiders

I also saw some marsh frogs fighting but more on that another time.

Now the water voles. I came across one sitting right by the path feeding completely unfazed byt the group of humans starring at it. I took some video and lots of photo but Ill just put a few up for now.

If you still reading WELL DONE! Ive just realised how long this post is getting so I guess Ill just quickly show these photos of 7 spot ladybirds sunbathing with spiders! here with a nursery web spider
and here with a crab spider

Oh and one last thing, since I went to a RSPB (royal society for the Protection of BIRDS) reserve, I should point out I did notice a few of those feathered thingys: these Little egrets
And on the way home a couple of goldfinches

Pat on the back if you made it all the way through! More on water voles and marsh frogs including videos soon

EDIT: the fence post spiders are in fact Zebra jumping spiders - woops!