Trumpington Meadows on World Conservation Day

The CBN Wildlife Trust are cutting their meadows at the moment but leaving wide areas of grassland which offer plentiful nectar and egg-laying sites for the butterflies and other insects. On our recording transect walk yesterday, we recorded 229 butterflies with Common Blue and Meadow Brown being the dominant species. A couple of Clouded Yellows escaped the camera but no Small Blues this time. The meadow by the car park is a particular haven for butterflies with the introduced Marjoram in full flower - the Byrons Pool Local Nature Reserve is owned by Cambridge City Council and managed in conjunction with the  Wildlife Trust. Today is World Nature Conservation Day, observed annually on July 28 to promote the protection and sustainable use of the Earth’s natural resources so it is appropriate to highlight the work of local organisations.

 

Drought Conditions at Paxton Pits

The temperature at Paxton Pits was bearable yesterday for a work session in the morning clearing round the Dragonfly Pond and the Bee banks. I made a circuit of the reserve in the afternoon hoping for some good macro subjects for the camera. Certainly my favourite Jade Hoppers were there hiding in the grass plus Robber Fly and a couple of  Hemiptera. Common Darters and Ruddy Darters are fairly abundant but otherwise very few insects found at all with so few flowers and foliage left. 

Perfect Trio of Subjects at Paxton

 I spent about an hour yesterday afternoon photographing life on South Heronry Lakes and was well entertained by a close Heron, an even closer Egret and a family of Great Created Grebes,. The heron  spent a while looking into the water and eventually struck out and caught a fish. The tongue is obviously important with its barb in forcing the fish down the throat and need a good clean afterwards. The Egret was too close to frame well but a great pleasure to observe. The GCG hatched a few days ago and the two chicks are happily riding around on the adult's back, hopping off occasionally into the water and then returning to safety. So hope that they do not fall victim (as the last brood) to the Cormorants when they are in the water. Distant shots so no great quality.

Hot Afternoon at Hardwick Wood

I was not alone in Hardwick Wood yesterday afternoon as the temperature rose - lots of Ruddy Darters were  hunting prey from sunlit perches while Silver-washed Fritillaries, Gatekeepers and two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were feeding on the abundant knapweed along the Port Way. This ancient track is a model habitat for butterflies and other insects with woodland shelter on one side, a close mown path and a wide unmown area and ditch on the other. (It has been pointed out that the butterfly I photographed on the the Port Way was a Dark Green Fritillary - (not the Silver-washed I was expecting as fairly abundant still inside the wood) - presumably a vagrant from a breeding colony - there are some good chalkhill habitats just south of us).

 

Toft Garden Update

The Wild Carrot, Knapweed, Yarrow and Marjoram are all doing ok in the garden despite the lack of rain and the hot temperatures and the insects are certainly enjoying their flowers. The Gatekeepers are the dominant species; maximum count for one Majoram plant was 15  Gatekeepers and a couple of  Large White (plus the other small insects in the lower areas of the plants). The Purple Loosestrife is in full flower by the pond giving a wonderful backdrop for the frequent visits from the Brimstones while Fennel, Yellow Solidago, Blue Clary and Mallow plus other seedheads all have their microcosm of species.