WILDLIFE REPORT JULY - SEPTEMBER 2016 TOP PINE HAWK MOTH BOTTOM PEPPERED MOTH

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Maryann Blake
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1 WILDLIFE REPORT JULY - SEPTEMBER 2016 TOP PINE HAWK MOTH BOTTOM PEPPERED MOTH

Introduction This season we have hosted a wide variety of visitors from local junior and senior schools to the Rotary Club and other interested clubs and societies.

Of course one of the most popular topics are the bee hotels Bees In the last report it was reported that one of our bee hotels; the one on a post facing the field by glasshouse 14-17 was not getting

2 Introduction This season we have hosted a wide variety of visitors from local junior and senior schools to the Rotary Club and other interested clubs and societies. These visits have not only focussed on how we grow our tomato crops but also how we grow in a sustainable and responsible manner, both from an environmental and community perspective. Of course one of the most popular topics are the bee hotels Bees In the last report it was reported that one of our bee hotels; the one on a post facing the field by glasshouse was not getting any use. The best option then seemed to be that it should be moved as it had been empty ever since it was erected there in early Now this hotel has been used but not by the Red Mason Bee which has utilised all of the other hotels but instead by a species of leaf cutter bee. These bees have completed 10 tubes and maybe more that are not filled right to the end. The tubes are divided into cells with cut out leaf discs. Each developing bee larva has its own cell in the tube. The cell is provisioned with a pollen and nectar food supply for the developing bee. The final leaves that are visible in the picture seal up the tube and are firmly stuck into place using saliva. On the day that activity was observed at least two different individuals were visiting the hotel. The photograph shows some finished tubes and they are only recently finished. It is not many days before the fresh green leaves turn a brown colour. The bees have a preference for a few sorts of leaves to construct their cells and rose is a particular favourite. If a bee chooses to use a rose in your garden they can cut out a lot of discs as the bee repeatedly returns to the same plant for another piece making the leaves look very odd. The bee that made these nests is definitely from the genus Megachile, but which particular species remains unknown. They are not easy bees to identify down to species level (or get a photograph of) as they don t spend much time settled on the surface of the hotel on arrival and even less when leaving. Trying to identify which particular species are here will have to wait now for another season when there is more time to watch the bees. Small Emerald Moth Moths The moth trap has been set five times during these three months. We have found 148 insects of 40 different species in the trap. These figures don t include those insects that escaped from the trap as it was opened before they could be counted or examined. There has been huge a huge variation in the number and range of insects captured. In part this is because moth activity is closely related to the weather conditions prevailing on a particular night and because most species gear their lifecycle towards the warmest days of mid summer. Of the moths we are finding most are common or at least not rare. The

3 exceptions in the last three months are the Small Emerald Moth which is a BAP * species. The other BAP species the Cinnabar Moth is seen frequently around the nursery though because this is a day flying insect it does not come to the light trap. * BAP Biological Action Plan The light trap data for the last three months is on the table below. Elephant Hawk Moth There have been several moths that are of interest. The Peppered Moth on the front of this report is the moth that was often in school text books as an example of evolution in action. The grime of the industrial city meant that a rare dark version of the moth became common as it could more easily hide on soot covered tree bark. Our example is the normal peppered version that blends better with an ordinary lichen covered tree bark, as in the picture. There have been several more hawk moths of three different species captured; a Pine Hawk Moth (which was also seen once during last year), The Poplar Hawk Moth and the Elephant Hawk Moth. In total five different species of hawk moth have now been seen this year. Of particular surprise was having four of the very striking Elephant Hawk Moth in the trap at one time. The Pine and Poplar Hawk Moth s have a more drab colouration, much more of a typical of a moth. The Poplar is interesting for its resting stance. It holds it wings in a position that means it can camouflage itself as fallen dead leaves. If the moth is still discovered by a predator it has a bright orange area on its hind wing which it can flash at

the predator with the aim of startling it while the moth escapes. The next picture is of the Poplar Hawk Moth.

still looking a little like dead leaves. The other large moth we captured is the Oak Eggar.

The caterpillar is also of an Oak Eggar moth which was noticed in June of this year.

This is probably a fully grown individual that is looking for a suitable place to pupate.

4 the predator with the aim of startling it while the moth escapes. The next picture is of the Poplar Hawk Moth. Its camouflage is not working well here as it is resting on a part of the moth trap rather than among leaves but the wings are still looking a little like dead leaves. The other large moth we captured is the Oak Eggar. Both pictures of the adult moth are females. The male is a darker colour than the female and is not attracted to a light trap. The caterpillar is also of an Oak Eggar moth which was noticed in June of this year. It is walking along the lowest rail of the metal gate in the reservoir fence. This is probably a fully grown individual that is looking for a suitable place to pupate. It is during the search for a good pupating spot that these caterpillars are often seen. Sometimes they can go on a long journey, even crossing roads in their search. Oak Eggar caterpillars will choose to feed on bramble though heather is their favourite food plant; there is plenty of bramble where this caterpillar was photographed.

The majority of the remaindering moths are small and the usual dull moth colours.

into their names. There are four pictures here of little moths found in the trap, all of which can be matched to their names.

Butterflies The butterfly survey has continued to show a disappointing season.

In the light of this information it is perhaps not surprising that butterfly numbers should be down on our nursery as well.

The number of different species stayed the same at 13.

Two species the Marbled White and Orange Tip were seen (one of each type) but not during a survey.

5 The majority of the remaindering moths are small and the usual dull moth colours. Most do have some features that make it possible to visually identify them, these distinguishing these marks have then often gone on to be incorporated into their names. There are four pictures here of little moths found in the trap, all of which can be matched to their names. The four moths are Rosy Footman, pebble Hook Tip, Clouded Border and Gold Spot. Butterflies The butterfly survey has continued to show a disappointing season. Data from the Big Butterfly Count organised by Butterfly Conservation is showing that 2016 is the worst year for butterflies since In the light of this information it is perhaps not surprising that butterfly numbers should be down on our nursery as well. We cannot compare 2015 data with 2016 exactly because the route used for the count has altered. Only one part is the same. The east end part remains unchanged. Here there is a sharp decline in individual insects counted from a peak of 86 in 2015 to just 37 in 2016 on any single count. The number of different species stayed the same at 13. There are 6 species that didn t ever get seen on a count this year which have been seen in previous years and no new species to add to the list. Two species the Marbled White and Orange Tip were seen (one of each type) but not during a survey. The Clouded Yellow is a migrant butterfly and does not occur reliably every year. This leaves three species that are absent this year; Ringlet, Large Skipper and Brown Argus. It is very disappointing that these three were not seen at all. At this point all we can do is carry on doing everything we can to create favourable conditions on the nursery and hope next year is better than One species that did well this year was the Red Admiral. It was seen 57 times up from 37 last year. Both The Common Blue and Small Copper butterflies were very late to found this year compared to previous years. It looked as if neither was going to be seen at all but both species did finally get seen on the last months of the survey. Red Admiral (Top) Small Copper (bottom left) Common Blue (bottom right)

The Common Blue population has declined from over 40 sightings in 2015 to just 3 in 2016.

6 The Common Blue population has declined from over 40 sightings in 2015 to just 3 in Small Copper has only ever been seen in small numbers; just three individuals in At least these two pretty insects are still gracing the nursery with their presence. The butterfly counting data for 2016 is in the table below.

7 Birds The survey data for the last 21 months is on this table.

We have added to more species to the all time list; Rook and Common Gull.

During this year we have seen 45 species of bird, two short of our best year with three months still to go. There are two developments that are important to record from the last three months.

While it was assumed that the gulls were using it as a nest site, no one had attempted to find a nest or chicks.

8 We have added to more species to the all time list; Rook and Common Gull. Both of these species of birds have probably been about on the site before but have not been noticed amongst other crows and gulls. This moves our bird list up to 55 species. During this year we have seen 45 species of bird, two short of our best year with three months still to go. There are two developments that are important to record from the last three months. Firstly this is the first year that we have made a proper attempt to find out what the Herring Gulls are doing on the flat roof of the original cold room. While it was assumed that the gulls were using it as a nest site, no one had attempted to find a nest or chicks. This year we discovered two young chicks on the roof confirming what was always suspected. The chicks when they were older would follow their parents on to the ridge of the building to beg for more food. The picture shows one of the chicks following a parent in the hope of more food. Both pairs of swallows had a second nesting attempt and both managed to fledge a second brood. Having swallows nesting in two different places should make our swallow population less vulnerable to nest failure and more resilient to short term issues compared to when only the old pack house is used as a nest site. The swallows have now left for this year. The last swallow seen inside a building and therefore presumed to be one of ours was on the 27 th September. Wild Flowers This is the season when our bushes hedges and trees become the birds larder. Most of our perimeter boundary is laden with berries. This makes it the appropriate season to mention them. The pictures are a selection of the fruits that are on offer. The most common are Blackberry (which is coming to an end already), Hawthorn and blackthorn berries. There is a good crop of hawthorn berries but rather less of Blackthorn. Less frequent are roses and wayfaring trees. There only a few of these though rose is self seeding itself in a couple of places. Their bright red fruit will easily attract hungry birds. The Mountain Ash we planted in 2015 has produced its first fruit. It is still a small tree so not yet very productive, but in time there will be a big crop of bird friendly berries.

Not a fruit but still important to birds.

any trees. There are additional foodstuffs on offer as well.

9 Not a fruit but still important to birds. The young oak trees are producing acorns, not in big numbers yet but the crop is getting bigger. We can presume that the acorns are getting eaten and cached around the site and this could be by Squirrels or Jays. We know there is caching occurring from number seedling oak trees growing well away from any trees. There are additional foodstuffs on offer as well. Elderberries and Hazel Nuts among others are available too. Overall quite a lot of bird food! It should last for quite a while even if there is an influx of birds escaping cold weather in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Exactly the situation the birds want as food resources become scarcer. The nursery is as ready to provide food as it has ever been. Pictures above, from the top Hawthorn, Rose, blackberry. Pictures below, clockwise from left Mountain Ash, Oak, Sloe, Wayfarer.

WILDLIFE SURVEY OCTOBER DECEMBER Toadstools growing in our grassed areas Great Tit at the bird feeding station

WILDLIFE SURVEY OCTOBER DECEMBER 2014 Toadstools growing in our grassed areas Great Tit at the bird feeding station Introduction Winter is always a quiet time for wildlife on the site. Insect activity