Les

Time To Move

Monday, 16. March 2009, 03:12:42

This blog has has been transferred. I couldn't figure how to add a custom header here , so I had to move. These pages will remain, but all future posts will be at BLOGGER See you there

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There were spells this afternoon when you could believe summer had arrived early. I thought the warm sunshine might mean there would be more insects to photograph, though sadly that was not to be. The bumble bees were continuing their strange behaviour of seemingly burrowing into the grass, the odd fly was buzzing about and a single butterfly flew overhead, too fast for me to identify.

Just about to head for the dreaded Tesco, I noticed this little Zebra (jumping) Spider (Salticus scenicus). Last year I saw only a single example of this inquisitive little species. If any spider can be called cute, this is the one. Often they will walk towards you as you get ever more closer. They keep you focused with their eyes, turning their head sideways and up and down as you move around looking for a good angle for a picture. This one I tried to creep up on (it was facing the opposite way) but it saw me and spun 180deg to face me, and I could see it's eyes following my lens as I got closer.

This is a different Zebra that I saw on an old dead tree.

Fantastically camouflaged, it was stalking that fly.

It almost managed to get within jumping distance of it's prey when I think I frightened the fly off.

I also saw a couple of these Nursery Web Spiders (Pisaura mirabilis). This one was quite large. This species seems particularly alert to any movement and usually scampers off if judged not to be prey size. This one, however, was content to remain bathing in the sunshine.

The last species I saw was this young Wolf Spider (Lycosidae, possibly Pardosa species). It was moving extremely fast and I had to be quick to grab a shot before it was lost in the vegetation.

The only flies I saw were on the dead tree and were well camouflaged, if a little drab. That was it for today. The Wednesday helpers were about the butterfly sanctuary. I think they were planting bedding plants!? - let's hope they're fast growing!

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7th March 2009

Saturday, 7. March 2009, 22:34:25

Weather during my visit this morning was a mix of cloud and sun, with a light to medium gusty breeze. We seem to be past the wintery weather now, and it's not particularly cold either, so maybe conditions are about right for insect life to begin to return to SH.

On my last visit a Ladybird and a Comma butterfly were seen, plus some flies and several Bumble Bees, so as I set-out, I wondered whether there would be other species to add to the early arrivals list.

I walked my usual route several times, though the only activity of any note was at the Ivy bush. Here I saw a couple of hoverflies. They were not particularly active, preferring to spend lengthy periods bathing in the sunshine. Looking over my records from last year, I note that these could be one of two possible confirmed species, Melanostoma scalare and Xylota segnis, and were the most prominent species of hoverfly I photographed in 2008. They have a wonderful brown/golden sheen and their inline wings hide a dark yellow/black striped body.

Identifying anything other than the obvious fly species from a photograph is near impossible, so I'll just note that this one was very beautiful. The photo doesn't do justice to it's actual appearance. It's upper body had a kind of crystaline sheen which sparkled in the sun.

I saw another species of fly too. This one had a shiny body but a dusky matt head. I watched as it danced around the leaf, turning and jumping short distances, which I thought was unusual behaviour for a fly? As I approached it happened to be facing my way, where it remained for a few seconds before continuing it's dance.

Bumble Bees were again about in numbers. As on my last visit, I saw many of them rummaging in the short grasses. This one was very intent in whatever it was doing, it's back legs propelling it forward.

One also found time to do what bees usually do.

Knowing that spiders are to be found almost everywhere, and at all times of the year, I set about looking for some. All I found was this tiny, tiny spiderling. I think it's a young Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis).

Some unqualified thoughts: My expectations for species numbers and diversity at Stave Hill Ecological Park in 2009

Every open area of grassland and meadow has been drastically cut back since last summer. The butterfly sanctuary, the pond area, the windmill area (front and behind), the ivy bush area, the stream area, etc, all are barren of anything which will attract diversity, or sustain it, at least at present.

I know there is still time for growth, indeed the helpers have planted plenty of butterfly/hoverfly/bee attracting plant seeds, but at this time I am concerned that too much has been cleared. It looks as if they were planning for two or three years ahead. Nothing has been left untouched to regenerate itself. It all has to start from virtually nothing again. I can't understand this.

I understand that last year was a pretty poor year for insect numbers and diversity at SH, and that this had been the trend for the previous few years also. If ever there was a time for such major clearing at SH, maybe now wasn't it?

At this moment, looking forward to Spring and Summer, I cannot envisage either insect numbers and/or diversity matching those of 2008, not that I thought either was particularly good then. HOWEVER, I'm no expert, I have no experience in habitat management. I rest assured that those that do, know best, and that all will turn out well.

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