So it’s been a busy couple of weeks coming up to Christmas for the team at West Sedgemoor but we’ve enjoyed every bit of it. Earlier on last week the warden team began restoring the next section of hedge on Red Hill, West Sedgemoor, clearing the bramble and blackthorn and laying the trees left. Whilst hacking away at the trees, one of our weekly volunteers, Vicky, came across a really interesting find hidden on the branches of the trees. Some brown-hairstreak eggs! Fantastic news to know that this species of butterfly is breeding on the reserve as it is in severe decline and therefore a priority species for conservation efforts. Farming practices that involve the flailing of hedgerows containing overwintering eggs are considered to be one major factor of their demise, so this really does highlight the importance of our work we’re doing to restore these incredible habitats. 

Brown hairstreak eggs

The saying ‘good things come in small packages’ must be true because we found another exciting little creature whilst hedge laying, a geometer moth caterpillar. These unusual looking caterpillars have just two or three pairs of pro-legs near their hind ends, instead of the five pairs found in most butterfly or moth larvae. With no legs in the middle section of its body, a geometer moth caterpillar moves in a looping motion, so, luckily for a novice like me, it’s not too difficult to identify such caterpillars.   

Geometer moth caterpillar – Annie Pickering

 

The team hard at work – Paul Parmenter

On to the sightings! Greylake has been a little quieter than expected these past couple of weeks, possibly because of the dry weather we’ve been having as of late and the lack of rainfall which we have got in the past, or because of the climate in Northern Europe where they have been getting short spells of cold weather, nothing too big for the birds to leave, therefore not pushing the birds towards the south of England.  Not all is lost however, our volunteers down at the information trailer, Rob and Jo, have been keeping us updated with their sightings including plenty of ducks; wigeon, teal, shoveler, mallard, cettis warblers singing to bust, great white egret, little egret, cormorant and water rail running along the paths and in the coppice area next to the hides.

 

The team here all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to another fantastic year for our reserves and the wildlife that live in them.

Annie x

Here’s some lovely duck photos taken at Greylake by our residential volunteer David.

 

Male wigeon – David Miller

A female shoveler engaging in some odd behaviour, neck stretching and silently not quacking! - every few seconds. – David Miller

A pair of shoveler – David Miller