June on Hothfield Heathlands

We have had the driest spring since 1956, with river and stream flow already well below average for the time of year, a worry for everyone. Area Manager Ian Rickards reports that “this crazy weather has been beneficial for some insects, but the vegetation is already struggling, which will have a knock-on effect other insects later in the year. Water levels are dropping dramatically, with ponds and water bodies drying out very quickly.” The livestock have water troughs but the thin layer of peat in the bogs can dry out easily and be eroded by wind when exposed as plants adapted to damp conditions wither. The successive broods of nestling birds mostly eat insects and larvae, which provide moisture as well as protein, so they are also at risk. Over the last few years, a considerable amount of birch scrub has been ‘popped’ (pulled out roots and all) from around the bogs. The ‘popping’ will help keep water in the bog, as trees draw gallons of water from the soil every day. In one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, the value of miniature habitats in gardens - bird baths, even the smallest garden ponds and damp shady wild corners - has never been greater. 

Volunteers Terry Dunk and David Rayner celebrated May Day with the first overnight moth trapping session of the year, in near-perfect conditions. The respectable total of 118 moths of 37 wondrously named species. “It was a right royal pug-fest including 29 brindle pugs, 3 V-pug, 3 oak-tree pug, 3 narrow-winged pug. 7 great prominent plus barred Hook-tip, lunar thorn, puss moth and a maple prominent, a macro, lunar marbled brown, and a small micro (approx 7mm long) Cydia servillana.” Other sightings in May include small heath, small copper, speckled wood butterflies, sallow moth, various demoiselles, green veined white broad bodied chaser, azure damselfly, scorpion fly, Chrysomela populi or Red Poplar Leaf Beetle, basking lizards and various species of hoverfly.  Pleasingly, a mobile piece of lichen feeding on oak leaves proved to be the caterpillar of the rare light crimson underwing moth caterpillar, Catocala promissa, which only occurs in parts of the southernmost counties near oak woodlands. Green tiger beetles zip along so are tricky to photograph. Will Glasson reports that these amazing little predators actually move so fast their brains can't process the visual information so they have to regularly stop to get their bearings.  

On his evening bird walks volunteer Neil Burt has spotted or heard 3 singing nightingales, at least 3 recently arrived spotted flycatchers, plus green and greater spotted woodpeckers, yellowhammers, chiffchaffs, blackcaps, mistle and song thrushes, 1 swift, 2 whitethroats, 1 kestrel, a linnet, 5 each of mallards and tufted ducks, a jay, a reed bunting, 2 stock doves, 2 pied wagtails.

Gracious, an article from me without much about the bounty of midsummer flowers! Do go and find them for yourself.