Yesterday was jam packed with events that kept me busy all day. It started with the Kids Birdwatching Club which typically for August was populated by just Ben R and his Dad (up until a lovely Hungarian lady and her info filled six year old caught us up!). It was quite gloomy and over cast and not especially warm but we did hear the Bearded Tits and see a few warblers and insects in the woodland and it was good to find several fat Wasp Spiders and a good selection of hawker dragonflies.
There were lots of young Reed Warblers around - Jo Collins
But there was no sign of my Redstart from Friday
Green Sandpipers - were showing well all weekend - John Ferguson
Grey Heron observing....
Migrant Hawker - Tony O'Brien
Things thankfully warmed up for Insect Afternoon and we spent most of the time in the Wildlife Garden where the herb bed was especially productive with three species of Volucella hoverfly, bully boy Wool Carder Bees , at least two species of Mint Moth and several bumblebee and solitary species were busily nectaring.
Wool Carder Bee - you can even see the spur on the rear of the body that the males use to 'bump' rivals in a Ben Hur Charriot race style! - Jo Collins
Blue Mason Bee Osmia caerulescens - diminuative but stunning - these are using one of our bee hotels along with Red Masons and chunky Leaf Cutters...
Volucella zonaria - the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly
Myathropa florea - Jo Collins
The large black Andrena pilipes bee with white pollen baskets
Shrill Carder Bee
Small Torts - Jane Hale
The Pantaloon Beese (Dasypoda hirtirpes) that are living along the path to the Ken Barrett Hide are feeding on Chicory and therefore have filled their hairy leg baskets with white pollen as opposed to the ones on Bristly Ox Tongue in the playground (below) that are bright yellow!
Late Night Opening (also known as Not Closing...) followed on and the wind died right down, the temperature rose and the sun came out before descending in a fiery Mordoresque explosion of colour. The Barn owl was briefly seen and Bearded Tits predictably showed well.
Bearded Tit - David Dent
Sunset - Jean Hollis
The sun went down and the Moth Bulb went on. It was near perfect conditions and the light quickly attracted a host of flies, mossies and midges and rather interestingly several Horned Treehoppers which like a bit like two horned Tricerotops.
Batting for Pips!
Common Pipistrelle Bats clicked over our heads and could even be seen by the light and by 10pm we had attracted several beautiful stripy Jersey Tigers, a Drinker, lots of Brimstones and a variety of small species including several Pugs for Phil to enjoy spending his Sunday morning getting to grips with.
Jersey Tiger by torch light
Amazingly despite the late date, Yvonne found a female Glowworm giving it large in the grass just behind us. Just how we had not trampled it I did not know. She was moved to one of the raised beds and carried on trying to attract a mate.
Glow-worm - Yvonne Couch
So all in all it was a great day filled with Rainham Marshes magical wildlife and the usual assortment of wonderful people that make the place what it is...
14-8-16