Back to .... Homepage ---------------------------------------------------- FRIENDS OF EMSWORTH WILDLIFE This is a community web site dedicated to the observation, recording and protection of the wildlife of the Emsworth area Please send your observations and photos to Brian Fellows . . . brianfellows at tiscali.co.uk WILDLIFE DIARY JULY 1-16, 2010 Wildlife photo gallery - 2010 . . . EXTERNAL LINK . . . use BACK button to return DIARY ARCHIVES March 1-15, 2010 . . . March 16-31, 2010 . . . April 1-15, 2010 . . . April 16-30, 2010 May 1-15, 2010 . . . May 16-31, 2010 . . June 1-16, 2010 . . . June 17-30, 2010 Wildlife News Summaries . . . Fortnightly summaries of the local wildlife news   FRIDAY JULY 16 EMSWORTH Bath Road On my way to the harbour this morning, I caught Les and John of HBC cutting the grass verge on the millpond edge of Bath Road. I asked them to be selective in what they cut, avoiding any wild flowers. Specifically, I asked them to leave the nice patch of Ladies Bedstraw that always flowers well on the verge opposite house number 6 and the line of flowering Yarrow on the edge of the millpond. Being keen supporters of the waysides project, they were quite happy to do this. Black-tailed Godwits I went down to the harbour again with my scope to look for Black-tailed Godwits. But it was much too windy to see anything clearly. I counted 38 Godwits, a few more than yesterday, with one colour-ringed bird, but it was too far to make it out with any certainty. I picked up the red on the left tarsus and lime on the right, but that is as far as I could go. Soldier Beetles Red Soldier Beetles are always attracted to the large white flowerheads of Hogweed on Brook Meadow, variously feeding, fighting, mating and just lounging around. I always thought they were carnivores, but they were definitely pushing their heads into the flowers, after the nectar and pollen? Soldier Beetle feeding on Hogweed flowers THURSDAY JULY 15 BROOK MEADOW A host of Cinnabar caterpillars have demolished a small Common Ragwort near the Seagull Lane gate. Ragwort is not a common plant on the meadow. A spendid Red Admiral was sunning itself on the vegetation. Other butterflies seen during a short walk included lots of Gatekeepers and singles of Large and Small White and Meadow Brown. The first ripe Blackberries were on the large Brambles on the north path, though I suspect they will not taste sweet. WEDNESDAY JULY 14 EMSWORTH Emsworth Harbour Following the Godwit news from Kent from Dudley Hird (see below) I decided to go down to the harbour to have a look at the Godwits that are usually there at this time of the year. I slightly misjudged the tide, which was already well in on the eastern side of the harbour. It always rises much faster on the east than on the west of the town. I found 32 Black-tailed Godwits along the shore line, most of them in fine breeding plumage. They were in water, but I was able to check most of them for colour-rings and none were ringed or flagged. The only other waders on the mudflats were a few Oystercatchers, Curlew and Redshank. I shall need to go again when the tide if further out. The Mute Swan family with 5 cygnets was in the harbour beneath the quay. Wickor Bank I walked down to the track towards the Great Deeps, making a note of the plants. I logged 69, but only the most obvious ones, and I am sure I missed a lot more. The first Lesser Burdock was in flower on the bank. BROOK MEADOW Sharp-flowered Rush arrived on Brook Meadow last year, with just a few plants on the western side of the Lumley area. However, this year it is far more extensive on the Lumley area, the flowering plants standing tall over most of the surrounding vegetation. It is a much taller plant than the similar Jointed Rush. Tall plants of Sharp-flowered Rush are well-established on Brook Maedow Red Bartsia is also growing exceptionally well on the Lumley area, where I have not seen it before. It has just started flowering. The Black Knapweed is also looking very good in the same general area. Pepper-saxifrage also looks good in the usual place on the eastern side of the Lumley area, but no flowers as yet. This is certainly a remarkable year for plants. GODWIT NEWS Dudley Hird reports: Hope you have lots of godwits with you by now. We have a couple of thousand at sites we have looked at so far. It is well worth being out every day as the movement is continually changing at the moment. Our problem is not being able to cover more than two sites in the same day !! Just to let you know that we have had the following godwits with us this passage up to this morning. O+YY, L+GG, O+WY, L+RG, L+GL, O+WW In addition your good friend RYL-RLY first sighted this passage July 2 one day earlier than in 2009. Was interested in HootyOwl66 recent sighting of GG-GG which combo. makes it French scheme from Guillaume Gelinaud. Anything more on this godwit to your knowledge ? LANGSTONE HARBOUR RSPB ISLANDS NEWS UPDATE Chris Cockburn reports: The end of an exceptionally good breeding season is fast approaching, signalled by the fledging of the Mediterranean gulls. By the end of July, the shingle ridge on South Binness island is more likely to be 'home' to roosting peregrines (adults and juveniles) rather than the seabirds. Little terns At least 44 have fledged from Baker's Island, with another 3 partly-feathered chicks likely to fledge. Those birds that re-nested seem to be failing at the very small chick stage - possibly because of the presence of relatively large numbers of black-headed gulls (adults and juveniles) and up to four adult Med gulls (presumed to be failed birds from South Binness Island. The numbers of adults and juveniles has decreased recently, suggesting that some of these terns have moved on. No little terns have fledged from South Binness Island (where four nests were located). Overall, the best results since 2001 and a strong possibility that the harbour (not just the RSPB islands!) will remain the key breeding site on the South Coast. Common terns: Bred on South Binness, Round Nap and Baker's Islands (latter is a first) These birds are having a poor season on the islands - predation of eggs/small chicks by gulls is strongly suspected, but it is just possible that they have had a food problem. Seven have fledged from the islands (1 on Baker's, 4 on South Binness and 2 on Round Nap). Only a very few chicks have been seen recently; but since the nesting adults are barely visible in the annual vegetation, let alone chicks, there is hope that more will eventually fledge (nesting activity continues on all three islands) - but this week's high spring tides and possible gale-force winds might cause problems. Sandwich terns: Bred only on South Binness Island. The best productivity since 2000 and a record number of fledged birds - 112 fledged birds. The family groups are spreading out from South Binness and some will probably come to the Oysterbeds - youngsters are honing their fishing skills (OK, they are practising hovering and diving - but relying on parents for tasty sprats). It is very noisy (and smelly!) out there. Black-headed gulls: Bred on South Binness, Round Nap and Baker's Islands (latter is a first) Goodness knows how many have fledged - but based on counts from the boat, at least 5,500 have fledged (a record!) and productivity is probably the highest since 1999. Mediterranean gulls: Bred only on South Binness Island. At least 65 fledged birds and 80 large chicks have been observed - but, all observations have been made from the boat and looking at the western, southern and eastern shores - no observations have been made of the birds that nested on the saltmarsh areas behind the shingle ridge. Hopefully, a complete count will be possible in the next week or two! Oystercatchers: Bred on all islands; recent observations suggest at least three surviving chicks on Baker's, two on South Binness and three on Round Nap (no chicks fledged on islands in 2008 & 2009!) Ringed plovers: Bred on South Binness, Baker's and Long Islands. Very difficult to monitor their chicks from the boat, but at least two chicks survive on Baker's. TUESDAY JULY 13 HAYLING OYSTERBEDS It was cloudy and cool with a slight drizzle from time to time and a mist on the downs, for this morning's wardening session at the Oysterbeds. Very pleasant conditions. Birds Most of the Black-headed Gull chicks have left the islands, leaving just a few stragglers behind. I could see a few young chicks and some adults still sitting. Common Tern chicks are also well grown with many now fully fledged and flying around. There were still a few small chicks that could be vulnerable and a few adults that appear to be sitting. But overall, it has been a very successful breeding season for the gulls and terns and it has been a pleasure to watch the whole process of breeding from nesting, to hatching, to fledging. Many thanks to Jason and the volunteers for their work over the winter in creating such a splendid breeding habitat for the Common Terns on the islands. Pity about the Little Terns, but next year maybe? The Oystercatcher family with one chick (now well grown) was feeding at the northern tip of the south island, but there was no sign of any other family, though some adult birds were seen. I counted 25 Redshank on the mudflats of the large bed to the north of the lagoon, probably early returning birds? Plants Sea Mayweed flowers line the path from the car park to the lagoon. Spear Thistle and Teasels are flowering for the first time, though the red flowers of Lesser Burdock have yet to open up. Interesting to see how the first florets on the Teasels open as a band across the centre of the heads. There is a veritable forest of them behind the mound, mixed in with Common Ragwort and Weld. An amazing sight and well worth walking through for the experience. Teasels on Hayling Oysterbeds, starting with a central band of florets   The Yellow-horned Poppy plants on the beach are now living up to their name, showing their extra long capsules (or horns), the longest of any British plant. Long capsules (horns) of the Yellow-horned Poppy on Hayling Oysterbeds I found one plant of White Melilot flowering on the south bund in much the same place as last year, near the wooden barrier at Grid Ref: SU 7138 0321. They always used to grow to the north of the lagoon, on the open space near the interpretation board. Stone Parsley is also out on this bund. I looked closely at the Sea-lavender on the muddy shore, but it was all Common Sea-lavender, with no sign of any Lax-flowered, which I was pleased to find in Emsworth this past week. Grass-leaved Orache is showing reddish flower buds, which never seem to open. Glasswort (aka Marsh Samphire) is looking very lush on the mudflats, almost good enough to eat, which some gourmets do, though it is too salty for my taste. I did actually try some! I have no idea which of the many species of Glasswort this is. Needs an expert. Glasswort (aka Marsh Samphire) is looking good enough to eat on Hayling Oysterbeds   On the north path, Mugwort is showing pale grey buds, but no sign of brown flowers as yet. It is always difficult to decide when this plant is actually in flower. But, there is no missing the pale yellow star-like flowers of Traveller's Joy near the kissing gate, which also have a faint but distinctive sweet smell. The large Buddleja flowers are fully open, but no sign of any butterflies on them. Traveller's Joy flowering on Hayling Oysterbeds   On the Hayling Billy Line, Hawkweed Oxtongue is still showing well, as are the two varieties of Knapweed, Black and Greater. However, there has been no sign of the Salsify plant which was flowering near the north bend last year. Common Fleabane is newly flowering along the main track, along with lots more Stone Parsley (if you can find the tiny white flowers). Plenty of yellow flowers are out where the track bends towards to main road, including Agrimony, Common Toadflax and Ladies Bedstraw. Meanwhile, the yellow daisies of Golden Samphire will soon be out on the seawall overlooking Texaco bay. My personal plant list for 2010 for the Oysterbeds reserve stands at 158. But I am sure there are lots I have missed. SUNDAY JULY 11 EMSWORTH Brook Meadow I was pleased to find some Giant Fescue this morning along the path through Palmer's Road Copse. This is the only place I find any of this surprisingly scarce grass on Brook Meadow. It is also scarce in Emsworth generally, though I did find some on the central track in Hollybank Woods on 30-Jul-08, but not since then. False Brome also grows along the Palmer's Road Copse path. From the open area on the path through Palmer's Road Copse, one can see a substantial growth of Blue Water Speedwell on the east side of the River Ems. Much of this appeared to have short flower spikes, suggesting it is the pure version of Blue Water Speedwell and not the hybrid (Veronica x Lackschewitzii). Stone Parsley is now flowering for the first time this year on the east side of the Lumley Stream on Lumley Road. Hedgehog family This afternoon, Jan, my next door neighbour but one, alerted me to the presence of an adult Hedgehog lying on the roadside of Bridge Road, alive, but not in a good state. It was on its side and panting in the hot sunshine. Jan informed me that she had a family of Hedgehogs in her back garden, with three youngsters - surely the same family that were born in our garden, but then disappeared from about July 2. As it did not seem to be injured in any way, I picked it up from the roadside and placed in a shady area in Jan's garden near to the youngsters. Jan said she would keep me informed what happened. Mallard family The Mallard family which started off with 9 ducklings in the Westbrook Stream a couple of weeks ago, are now down to 4 ducklings, which is about as many as mum can manage. SATURDAY JULY 10 BROOK MEADOW I found a 6-spot Burnet Moth on the meadow this morning. They are attracted to Knapweed flowers which are now open, though this one was on a grass panicle. My last sighting of 6-spot Burnet Moth on Brook Meadow was in July 2005. 6-spot Burnet Moth on Brook Meadow   Ground-elder was flowering on the path from Palmer's Road Car Park to the south bridge. Also on this path was a rayed Knapweed, presumably one of those sown by the council. On the edge of the car park I found Fat Hen flowering for the first time this year. Also, a white flowered Willowherb, possibly Broad-leaved? Fat Hen flowering on the edge of Palmer's Road car park   The first ever Purple Loosestrife is flowering on the on the east bank of the river to the north of the bridge. FRIDAY JULY 9 NORE BARN I spent the morning wandering around the Nore Barn area, including the saltmarshes, shore and woods. I made a number of interesting observations. Lax-flowered Sea-lavender I found several plants of the relatively unusual Lax-flowered Sea-lavender on the small area of saltmarshes to the east of the stream at Nore Barn. This was the first Lax-flowered species I have ever found at Nore Barn, and, in fact, the first I have seen anywhere in Emsworth. My only other sightings have been at East Head, Chidham, Langstone and Thorney Island. Common Sea-lavender was more widespread on the larger area of saltmarshes to the east of the Nore Barn stream. Lax-flowered Sea-lavender from the Nore Barn saltmarshes - 9 July 2010   Other plants of the saltmarshes and shore Other plants of the saltmarshes included Grass-leaved Orache, Sea Purslane, Common Cord-grass, Red Fescue, Annual Seablite, Sea Plantain, Sea Couch, Common Glasswort, Sea Beet and the highly aromatic Sea Wormwood, which I do not recall having recorded here before. Meanwhile along the shore, Golden Samphire was mostly in bud, with a few flowers open. Other flowering plants noted on the shore included Field Bindweed, Crow Garlic bulbils (they are doing well this year), Wild Carrot and Spear Thistle. Timothy vs. Smaller Cat's-tail Walking along the path to the west of Nore Barn Woods, my attention was caught by some grasses with small panicles rather like those of the Smaller Cat's-tail that I discovered on the Havant Road wayside on July 7. However, having read the relevant sections in 'Grasses of The British Isles' by Cope and Gray, I now think they were, in fact, just small versions of Timothy. Cope and Gray stress how these two species overlap in almost all characteristics, saying specifically that panicle length and ligule shape are of very little help in distinguishing them. Width of leaf was one of the features they suggested could be used, with Timothy mostly more then 4mm and Smaller Cat's-tail mostly less than 5mm. Using this feature the Nore Barn grasses were clearly distinguishable from the Smaller Cat's-tail that I found yesterday, all having leaves well in excess of the 5mm limit. Other observations Two other plants of interest I found in the woods, which I do not recall having seen there before, were Rosebay Willowherb and Tutsan. False Brome was a fairly common grass. A summer flock of 26 Mute Swans were in the stream area. Birds heard singing in the woods were Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren and Woodpigeon. Butterflies seen included Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and a Marbled White on the shore. THURSDAY JULY 8 BROOK MEADOW Purple Loosestrife I met Gavin Miller on the south bridge this afternoon. We were chatting about the young chap, Jacob, who caught a Pike from this bridge a few weeks ago, when Gavin pointed to a tall flowering spike emerging from the rampant vegetation on the east bank of the river to the north of the bridge. I was pretty sure it was Purple Loosestrife which I have never seen on Brook Meadow before. This new addition take the Brook Meadow plant list to 218 herbs and a grand total of 326. My total for 2010 so far is 244. WEDNESDAY JULY 7 EMSWORTH Brook Meadow A Song Thrush perched for a photo this afternoon, one of a number of sightings on the meadow this year.   Hogweed plants seem taller than ever this year on Brook Meadow, some a good 3 metres tall.   Emsworth Millpond The Mute Swan family with 3 cygnets was on the pond this afternoon. I think this could be the family that has been in the harbour near the quay, having lost 2 of their original 5 cygnets. There were at least 12 juvenile Black-headed Gulls on the millpond. Smaller Cat's-tail I did a review of some of the local waysides. I found an excellent growth of Smaller Cat's-tail (Phleum pratense ssp bertolonii) on the Havant Road verge at the top of Valetta Park. Although this is said to be a common grass, it is the first I have ever come across in the local area. My only other sightings of it were on Portsdown Hill east of the A3 on 7-Jul-07 and 21-Jun-03. Smaller Cat's-tail grasses on the Havant Road wayside - 7 July 2010 TUESDAY JULY 6 HAYLING OYSTERBEDS It was a fine morning for my regular wardening session at the Oysterbeds. The birds were good and there was a steady flow of visitors. I spoke to a couple of fishermen walking along the south bund and asked them not to fish in the lagoon. They were fine and said they only fished from the outer seawall. I chatted with another chap from Hindhead who used to fish at the Oysterbeds many years ago when the walls were crowded with fishermen. He did not like all the changes that had a taken place since he left, but "good for the birds, I suppose". I was interested to see the new Visitors Guide to Langstone Harbour in the shelter, which I thought was very good indeed with a simplified map of the harbour, showing a walk right round the harbour and various points of special interest. Birds As always, I was greeted with a great cacophony of bird calls as I approached the lagoon where the terns and gulls are nesting. Most of the Black-headed Gull chicks were fully fledged and could be seen everywhere around the Oysterbeds. However, there were still some broods of small chicks, while some adult birds appeared to be still sitting on nests, though I gather they only have one brood. The Common Tern chicks were not so advanced, though I saw many flapping their wings and jumping around, clearly almost ready for flight. However, there were also many small chicks which remain vulnerable to predation. There was one Common Tern corpse near the southern end of the south island, which Jason said had been there for a few days. One Oystercatcher was still sitting on the north island near to marker M, but there was no sign of the one near marker S that was there last week. Did it produce a family? I did not see any Oystercatcher families. Two Curlew and 6 Little Egrets were on the shingle spit in Stoke Bay. Butterflies It made a nice change to see butterflies on the wing this morning. Whites have been particularly scarce, but there were plenty around today, mainly Large Whites from what I could see. Female Large White on Hayling Oysterbeds Marbled Whites were everywhere and I counted 15 while walking along the Hayling Billy Line. Meadow Browns were very numerous and the first of the Gatekeepers were also out. I watched a Skipper feeding on the patch of Common Sea-lavender (now in full flower) on the muddy shore south of the lagoon, trying to decide whether it was Small Skipper or Essex Skipper, never an easy choice I find. The black tips to the antennae suggested Essex, but I finally decided on Small Skipper, as the scent line on the wing seemed quite strong. Small Skipper ? feeding on common Sea-lavender at Hayling Oysterbeds   Other butterflies seen this morning included a bright Comma and a pair of Small Coppers on the Hayling Billy Line. Richard Somerscocks, a wildlife friend of mine from Emsworth, saw a White Admiral on the Oysterbeds last week, which I think could be a first for the site. He saw it on the Brambles near the kissing gate from the main Oysterbeds to the Hayling Billy Line, a particularly good place for butterflies. Plants There was not much movement on the plant front since last week. There is a magnificent display of Common Ragwort along the path from the car park. The yellow daisy flowers of Hawkweed Oxtongue stand out well along the Hayling Billy Line. Greater Knapweed is in full flower at the northern end of the line and the dark blue flower spikes of Tufted Vetch are showing well further south by the Oysterbeds. EMSWORTH Brook Meadow After a great deal of searching, at last I have found some Meadow Barley on the meadow, just a few tall palnts on the round path around the Lumley area. Common Couch was also evident in the same area. Slipper Millpond Five juvenile Black-headed Gulls were on the pond this afternoon, probably fresh from the breeding colonies in Langstone Harbour. I can confirm that the Mute Swan nest on the west bank of the pond, as expected, has been abandoned. There was no sign of any eggs. The Mute Swan family with three cygnets (including the 'Polish' cygnet) was on Dolphin Lake. The first juvenile Black-headed Gulls return to Slipper Millpond Water Vole As I always do when coming back home, I stopped on the south bridge to look for Water Voles, more in hope than expectation. But today, I was lucky, when I immediately spotted one on the west bank, about 20 mentres north of the bridge, chewing away on bankside vegetation. Water Vole eating bankside vegetation on the River Ems north of the south bridge Juvenile Green Woodpecker Caroline French reports: "I heard a Green Woodpecker at the front of the house this morning making a right racket! When I looked out I saw these two flying up onto the telegraph pole across the road. Looking at the Collins Bird Guide it appears to be an adult male and a juvenile female. I quite often hear Green Woodpeckers not far from my house." Note: Male Green Woodpeckers have a red patch below the eye. In females this is black. Caroline lives in North Emsworth. Green Woodpeckers with the adult below and juvenile above RSPB ISLANDS NEWS UPDATE from Chris Cockburn Little terns continue to prosper - at least 40 flying/fledged youngsters counted yesterday on Baker's Island plus c6 almost feathered chicks and three 'sitting' birds (however, the presence of at least three Med gulls is worrying!). There are two sitting birds on South Binness, but the large numbers of black-headed gulls with their fledglings and some wandering Med gulls does not bode well for successful hatching/fledging. Very few Med gull youngsters seen on water, but plenty of large chicks seen - next week should give a better indication of likely productivity. Some Sandwich tern youngsters are practising flying and fishing and c70 large chicks have been seen. A lot (yes, a lot!) of black-headed gull youngsters have fledged and family groups are now moving away from the nest sites - also orphaned youngsters are becoming noticeable in the harbour - those strange looking wader-like birds with tan/white/black feathering! No common tern youngsters have yet fledged, but nine should do so soon. The reason for common terns failing on the RSPB islands remains a mystery - it is possible that they have had a food problem in finding suitable prey (interesting that Oysterbeds birds were bringing in flat fish and crabs). The limited video evidence suggested that the first nesting common terns were sitting for longer than the normal incubation period and then giving up - there were no signs of predation or interference by gulls, but the video camera was only working from 07:00 to 08:00, 11:00 to 18:00, 19:00 to 20:00 and 22:00 to 05:00. And now for the burning issue. A fire occurred on North Binness Island yesterday - the smoke was first noticed by me at c18:50, but the fire could have started earlier (I was concentrating on patrolling South Binness, Round Nap and Baker's islands). Despite scanning the island from the south and north, no beached vessels were seen, nor were any people seen (no vessels landed at the Broadmarsh slipway from c18:00 onwards, until the Good Tern arrived there). It would be very helpful if anybody who was at Farlington in the evening would tell me if they noticed people on the island or if they saw people in wet clothing - it was high tide! The dry grass fire burned fiercely and rapidly spread upwind and downwind, with flames still visible at 22:30 (glowing embers were still visible at 00:30). The News published a report today, based on an interview at 08:00 - the report contained one or two errors....! I walked out to the island today at low tide, but did not enter the burned areas (they were still smouldering - in fact there is still some smoke visible now at 21:40) - so I still do not know if anyone was trapped out there (I sincerely hope not). It is possible that the fire started without human aid, but given the source location, that seems unlikely. Effects: Birds OK - skylarks and meadow pipits should have finished breeding. Invertebrates will be particularly hard hit - colonies of Essex Skippers, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites will have nowhere to lay eggs, so there is likely to be a shortage of butterflies next year (but site is not special for insects) - ground spiders (including the so-called wasp spider - a magnificent beast!) - will be wiped out - as will many grasshoppers and crickets - presently, the insects are on the saltmarsh -- but that is no place for successful egg-laying (tides!). Not sure how ground dwellers will fare - ants, beetles etc. Quite a few confused voles were seen on the periphery of the burned areas - hate to think what happened to some of them. The burned habitat was often favoured by roosting short-eared owls in past winters - they will have to find other sites, if they return this winter. The oaks might be OK - considering they survive the harsh conditions out there, they will probably shrug off the affects of the dry-grass fire. The fire did not affect the saltmarsh plants (some of which are Nationally Scarce species) - only areas with stands of Sea Couch and other coarse grasses burned - and the reed bed went up in smoke (not that it would ever have supported anything like bitterns or bearded tits!!.) MONDAY JULY 5 EMSWORTH WAYSIDES I did a tour of a few of the local Emsworth Waysides to see what was coming up. The delicate inflorescences of Bent-grasses are showing up well on many sites, mostly Creeping Bents with some of the much taller Black Bent-grass as well. I found my first flowering Common Fleabane of the year on the wayside at the junction of Horndean Road and New Brighton Road. I found two interesting plants on the Christopher Way junction. One upright plant, slightly aromatic and rough with whorls of blue flowers up the stem could Whorled Clary. The other plant was low growing and also rough with parsley type leaves and clusters of fruits covered with slightly hooked bristles which could be Knotted Hedge-parsley. STANSTED ARBORETUM Jean and I had a walk around the arboretum this afternoon. I was hoping for some dragonflies around the pond, but there was none to be seen despite the warm conditions. Following my recent discussion of the flowering spikes of Bulrushes (July 1), I was interested to find the green female flowering spikes of the Bulrushes around the pond were turning green, all from the top downwards. Flower spikes of Bulrushes turning brown at Stansted Arboretum   The wild grass meadows were brimming with Meadow Browns, plus a few Ringlets and at least two Gatekeepers, my first of the year. Gatekeeper showing its underwing with tiny white spots in Stansted Arboretum SUNDAY JULY 4 BROOK MEADOW I went over to Brook Meadow this morning to take photos of the conservation work session. We were all dismayed to discover a pile of garden waste had been dumped over the fence onto the Seagull Lane patch. We think this was probably the work of contract gardeners getting rid of their rubbish for free. I was pleased to confirm the identification of Black Bent-grass (Agrostis gigantea) with its very pretty spreading inflorescence. It lives up to its name (giant), being far taller than the other Bent-grasses and having flat furrowed slightly rough leaves and long toothed ligules. Creeping Bent-grass has short ligules and Common Bent-grass has long rounded ligules. Butterflies I met Richard Somerscocks, a new recruit to the Brook Meadow wildlife brigade. Richard had got a fine selection of butterfly images on the meadow over the past couple of days, including Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Marbled White, Small Skipper and Essex Skipper - the first on Brook Meadow since 2007. Richard also had a White Admiral on Hayling Oysterbeds, which could well be a first for that reserve. On my recommendation, Richard went to Hollybank Woods where he obtained more fine images of White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries, the image of the latter showing the silver-washed underwing. Here are a selection of the excellent local butterfly photos by Richard Somerscocks   Small Skipper on Brook Meadow 3 July 2010 - Photo by Richard Somerscocks Showing plain orange upper wings with faint black veins   Essex Skipper on Brook Meadow 3 July 2010 - Photo by Richard Somerscocks Showing black tips to the antennae   Ringlet on Brook Meadow showing under wing - 4 July 2010 - Photo by Richard Somerscocks   White Admiral in Hollybank Woods 4 July 2010 - Photo by Richard Somerscocks   Silver-washed Fritillary showing underwing in Hollybank Woods - 4 July 2010 - Photo by Richard Somerscocks   SATURDAY JULY 3 FORT PURBROOK Jean and I enjoyed a gentle walk along the path below Fort Purbrook in warm sunshine this morning. Scrub had been cleared away from the edges of the path during the winter, promoting a glorious display of wild flowers, including masses of Pyramidal Orchids. One of hundreds of Pyramidal Orchids at Fort Purbrook - 3 July 2010 A special delight was the kaleidoscope of colours produced by Marjoram, the Bedstraws, Agrimony, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Ribbed Melilot, Musk Mallow and Musk Thistle, among many others. Ladies Bedstraw was smelling particularly strongly on the hillside below the fort, reminding us of the origin of its common name. Jean surrounded by sweet-smelling Ladies Bedstraw at Fort Purbrook I picked out both Field Scabious and Small Scabious from the size of the flowers and the shape of the bracts beneath the flowers, wide in Field and thin in Small. I would have liked to see Common Milkwort, to see if it was the hairy type, like I found on Nore Down, but I think they had all finished flowering. The usual good display of Rosebay Willowherb was showing well at Fort Purbrook   Marbled White butterflies were everywhere, but there were few other butterflies apart from some Meadow Browns. I got a nice photo of a Marbled White feeding on Greater Knapweed. We did spot one Large White which was my first for some time. Marbled White butterfly feeding on flowers of Greater Knapweed at Fort Purbrook   EMSWORTH Hedgehog family The Hedgehog family that we have had in the garden for the past couple of weeks appear to have moved on. They are no longer in the nest area and we have not seen them for the past two days. I wonder where they will go? Birds The Mallard family which started off with 9 ducklings in the Westbrook Stream a week ago is now down to four ducklings. Insects There were lots of Meadow Browns on Brook Meadow this afternoon, plus a few Commas and a singles of Large White and Red Admiral. I also saw what I think were several Short-winged Coneheads. Richard Somerscocks had a good haul of butterflies on Brook Meadow today, including a cracking shot of the underwing of a Marbled White feeding on Creeping Thistle. Plants The Bulrushes on the east side of the Westbrook Stream are now showing flower spikes in much the same manner as those on Brook Meadow, with the yellow upper male flowers and the green lower female flowers yet to develop their brown. The bright pink flowers of Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea have climbed about the rampant vegetation on the Seagull Lane patch on Brook Meadow. NORE DOWN Heather Mills sent me the following report of the Havant Wildlife Group walk from West Marden to Nore Down this morning that I was unable to lead. "A fine morning when 6 attended this lovely walk around West Marden introduced to us by Brian last year. A flock of Swifts of about a dozen screamed around the village which was good to hear. As we started the walk across the fields a Skylark sang. Very good numbers (circa 40 plus) of Ringlets greeted us with sprinklings of Meadow Browns and Small Skippers with Marbled Whites. Thought we had possible Silver-washed Fritillary but not fully identified. Comma and Speckled Wood. No blues seen. All the usual flowering plants Brian and although I did see a hairy type Milkwort I was not at all sure. We needed your expert guidance! A group of Mistle Thrush was evident and flew around as we took an extension to the end of the walk across the road and followed the footpath which gave us views of a Spotted Flycatcher. As it seemed reluctant to show once we got closer, I was not so sure. However Caroline & I stayed long enough to see 2 at least in the same location SU766140, along with a glimpse of Red Kite. Returning to the start of the walk we had Small Tortoiseshell. House Martins were nesting in houses around the pub and the Swifts were ever present. Yellowhammer also heard and Bullfinch seen a couple of times." FRIDAY JULY 2 EMSWORTH Frances Jannaway send me a message that House Martins had been seen at Lumley Cottage near Lumley Mill Farm. If this were the case, then this would be the nearest site for House Martins in the Emsworth area. However, I personally had never seen any there. The cottage next to the farm is named 'Little Lumley', but there was no sign of any nests when I had a look this afternoon. I waited for about 10 minutes, but did not see any House Martins, though Swallows were flying over the farm area. I fear the person reporting the Martins may have mistaken them for Swallows. On the way back to Brook Meadow I noticed the Skullcap were flowering well on the wall of the Lumley Stream in front of the Raglan Terrace cottages. BROOK MEADOW Water Voles I met Pam Phillips who told me she had seen a baby Water Vole in the river, just south of the S-bend, at 7.15am this morning. Pam also told me about another Water Vole that was seen from the south bridge by a neighbour yesterday. These were the first reported sightings for almost a month. Insects I saw the following butterflies while walking through Brook Meadow: 3 Commas, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Marbled White (my first of the year on the meadow) and 3 Meadow Browns. No sign of Ringlet today. Lots of Banded Demoiselles were flying on the meadow. Plants Sharp-flowered Rush is now showing well on the cross path through the Lumley area. There is a splendid flowering of Creeping Thistle on the west side of the north meadow near the north bridge. RALPH HOLLINS NEWS Today I had to visit the Havant Health Centre in the morning and on my way home I found the first Weasel's Snout (Lesser Snapdragon) flowering in the New Lane allotments (good specimens between the roadside fence and the northernmost garden shed) and in the evening I came back from the hospital by a long route via the Broadmarsh 'mountain' on which there is a good show of the rare Hairy Vetchling in the grassland bay north of the path along the north side of the mountain top. I also noticed Hoary Ragwort in several places. THURSDAY JULY 1 BROOK MEADOW Bulrushes Following Ralph Hollins's note yesterday, I had a closer look at the Bulrush flower spikes that are now prominent on the west bank of the River Ems just north of Palmer's Road Copse. They are best viewed from the main river path on Brook Meadow. Ralph noted that "the flowers were striking with the cylinders that are usually just brown being apparently covered with tiny yellow flowers (these should only appear on the narrower upper section of the flower head, I think)." The cyrindrical flower spike of the Bulrush is comprised of densely packed tiny flowers, the upper part being yellow male flowers and the lower part brown female flowers. The plants on Brook Meadow at present show only the upper male flowers. As the following photo shows, the lower female flower spike is still green, with the brown flowers presumably yet to develop. I have looked through other photos taken early in the season, which also show the green lower spikes. Photos taken later show the usual brown lower spikes. Bulrush flower spike with upper yellow male flowers and lower female green flowers, yet to develop Young Whitethroats While examining the Bulrushes I noticed a two young Whitethroats taking insects from a Hogweed flower head. One flew off, but I managed to get a photo of the remaining bird. This confirms the successful breeding of this species on Brook Meadow. However, I have only heard one singing male on the meadow, rather than the three we have had in previous years. Juvenile Whitethroat on Hogweed flower head on Brook Meadow - 1 July 2010 Butterflies I was pleased to see my first Ringlet of the year on the centre meadow. I did not get a photo, though the ID was certain. There were plenty of Meadow Browns flying, but very little else. What has happened to butterflies this year? HEDGEHOG FAMILY The Hedgehog family that we have in our back garden appear to be doing well. There has been lots of snuffling from the nest and the pile of leaves is starting to spread length-wise along the base of the wall. Originally, it was simply a pile. We have had several sightings of the youngsters, though we are careful not to go too close to disturb them. They still do not appear to have taken any of the mealworms, though I am now scattering them around the area. I managed to get the following photo of one of the young Hedgehogs with my x12 zoom. Young Hedgehog in my garden - 1 July 2010