FdSc C&WM Graduation - Winchester Cathedral

♂ Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis), Sparsholt College "shelterbelt"

Boardwalking with HCV Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey

I joined day one of this weekend's "New Members Task"  with Hampshire Conservation Volunteers, building boardwalks at Mottisfont Abbey, Nr Romsey. A cracking day out, learning new skills and building on previous experiences; meeting new vollies and catching up with the regulars.

Activity for the weekend involves constructing two spurs from the side of the original boardwalk to meet outlying features, each new boardwalk requiring a bridge to span the adjacent watercourse.

Photographs show progress at the end of the first working day.

The unidentified bug larvae was found under the bark of a dead tree which was lying wet in the peat at the side of the stream. The dead tree had to have a chunk cut out of it and moved to enable access for the bridge supports (this can be seen in the background of photo 1). The bug larvae (of which there were circa 10) were placed safely back under loose wet bark, when the logs were in final position.

Spring highlights included 2 ♂ brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) butterflies and a single early ♂ orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) on the wing; and 2 (prob 3) chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) in song throughout the day.

For more information on Hampshire Conservation Volunteers go to: http://www.hcv.hampshire.org.uk/

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni L.) on the wing

♂ seen crossing over A32 (just N of J10 on the M27) .. the first butterfly I have seen on the wing this spring .. and some 2.5 months after the first recorded sighting of the year for this species on 8th Jan 2011 somewhere in Wiltshire ..

see http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/ 

Brownsea Island WeBS Count

A small group of us went to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset to do a WeBS count as part of our 3rd year taxa survey portfolio.

The lagoon was much quieter today than I have experienced before in the winter, probably to do with the amount of ice laying across the exposed mudflat reducing the interest for waders.

shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) x 43

gadwell (Anas strepera) x 28

Northern shovelor (Anas clypeata) x 34

wigeon (Anas penelope) x 15

teal (Anas crecca) x 169

cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) x 3

grey heron (Ardea cinerea) x 17

little egret (Egretta garzetta) x 1

Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) x 2

avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) x 16

common redshank (Tringa totanus) x 7 (probably 9)

spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus) x 1

greenshank (Tringa stagnatilis) x 7

black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) x 9

GBB gull (Larus marinus) x 6

common gull (Larus canus) x 1

herring gull (Larus argentatus) sev

black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) x 16

moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) x 6

The only other bird of note a very pale phase buzzard (Buteo buteo) which spooked the mixed duck raft early afternoon.

We also enjoyed some cracking views of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) along the boardwalk tree-line.

For information regarding Brownsea Island go to: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-brownsea_island/

Thanks to Chris Tate - Brownsea Island Warden, for allowing us to participate and providing additional recording materials and Karl Clennell for organising the trip.

Heathland management, Hawley Common, Nr Fleet, Hampshire

Hawley Common Nr Fleet, Hampshire is a derelict heathland owned by the MOD and recently under management by the Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust [HWT] as part of the North East Hampshire Grazing for Wildlife Project. The management plan is to return the heathland to a wet heathland community in good condition. Conservation grazing and scrub management is an integral part of the management plan.

The site is currently dominated by purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea), leggy gorse (Ulex europaeus) and scrubby birch (Betula pendula) intrusion.

I spent a very wind-blown day with the Hampshire Conservation Volunteers helping to clear the  birch and gorse and in the process trampling bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), whilst avoiding damaging the slower growths of dwarf gorse (Ulex minor) on the south and south-eastern walls of a rectangular bund which was probably thrown up originally as an encampment for military vehicles.

The bund is being cleared to provide suitable habitat for basking reptiles. The leggy gorse across the site cut back to promote regeneration and a favourable opportunity for heathland birds, in particular the dartford warbler (Sylvia undata).

Information on the HWT grazing project can be found at:

http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/grazing-project-2.html

Information on the Hampshire Conservation Volunteers can be found at:

http://www.hcv.hampshire.org.uk/

"If you go down to the woods today .." a voluntary diversion

The days volunteering activity with Hampshire Conservation Volunteers  at Burridge Pond Nr Swanwick, Hampshire, managing the scrub layer on the bund behind the pond; turned out to be only a morning's activity due to the good turn out of volunteers and the small size of the site.

The afternoon's newly found freedom provided an opportunity for a sociable walk and bird-watch along the banks of the Hamble and the Cur via Curbridge Nature Reserve, with the added attraction of a well-earned mid-walk pint at the Horse and Jockey, Curbridge.

En route we were unexpectedly entertained by the garish assortment of plastic motifs and votives attached to one of the path side trees. Although not completely sure if the self titled "Fairy House" was the product of some quasi pagan whimsy, or simply child's play?

A sense of play was certainly present in a nearby dead-hollow tree with a tiny dumper truck placed ironically at its centre. And in fairness if you are going to willfully litter in a semi-natural and ancient woodland a GSH is probably the only way to get a conservationist any where near on side?

To add to our bemusement the Horse and Jockey was closed on a Saturday lunch-time?

A second well-timed diversion to Hook with Warsash, enabled us to bird the high tide roost at the Bunny Meadows and follow it up by a quick pint at the Rising Sun whilst we collated the final and most important bird list of the day the "pub window list".

The "pub window list": turnstone (Arenaria interpres), pied wagtail (motacilla alba), rock pipit (Anthus petrosus), bh gull (Larus ridibundus), redshank (Tringa totanus).

Please N.B. this blog item does not represent the views of Hampshire Conservation Volunteers, if you would like to find out more about the great work they do please go to:

http://www.hcv.hampshire.org.uk/

Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) Coppicing, Crab Wood Nr Winchester

IOW Wasp Spider

This photograph of a ♀ wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) with her newly made egg sac was taken at a site on the IOW.

mini-beasts of Brittany

Following on the theme from Monday's invertebrate session in Ower Wood - these mini-beasts were photographed on Chuck and Fe's recent trip to Brittany. From top to bottom: brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni); spiked shield bug (Picromerus bidens); large marsh grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum).

All pictures copyright Chuck Eccleston.

Hornet (Vespa crabro L.) Ower Wood, Sparsholt College

Stockbridge Down - Spotfly hotspot !

The end of a hard day's scrub-bashing at Stockbridge Down with Hampshire Conservation Volunteers was rewarded with great views of five spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) - a total of eight individual birds had been seen earlier in the day by Dave Hurst and Ed; willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) and chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) provided added interest.

Goswell Brook (Study Centre) incidental highlights

A days volunteering activity with Hampshire Conservation Volunteers at Goswell Brooks (New Forest Tree Study Centre) constructing pathworks also gave some opportunity for exploring the local wildlife.

Highlights on the day:

♂ small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) which alighted on the picnic table during the morning's first squash break.

A mid day sojourn to check the tins for reptiles in which three out of seven tins were productive: one tin producing singles of common lizard (Lacerta vivipara), a large ♀ slow worm (Anguis fragilis) and a grass snake (Natrix natrix). The second tin produced a single common lizard - disturbed from basking on top, the third another grass snake.

Birding wise a 3J robin (Erithacus rubecula) was very confiding taking the opportunity to feed around the aggregate stash  as we filled wheelbarrows, disturbing the ground and revealing tasty morsels for it. An ad. robin had done similar recently at Minstead Study Centre - picking its way through the disturbed soil beside us as we dug 4.5 ft holes to sink deer fence straining posts.

Singles of grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and ♀ mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) on the pond, and up to three buzzard (Buteo buteo) provided the rest of the interest.

singing Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Ower Wood, Sparsholt College

My first singing Chiffchaff of the spring, Ian's second - but he was just as chuffed on getting two in two days.

Brimstone, Sparsholt College Campus

First brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) of the year noted at lunchtime outside Fitgym's, on campus.

Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon), Sparsholt College

Candlesnuff fungus Xylaria hypoxylon

Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools describes this fungus as common and widespread, growing on the dead wood of broadleaved trees (Sterry P. and Hughes B. 2009). I have it on good authority (my wife) that if you lightly flick the fungus - the spores come out of the top like smoke - apparently I missed this little trick - and the fungus itself - at the last Swanwick Lake fungi foray.

5 great birds; 1 MEGA ! (and a bank vole): Ian's birding photos

bearded reedling Panurus biarmicus (Norfolk, October)

juv. hen harrier circus cyaneus (Norfolk, October)

common crossbill Loxia curvirostra (New Forest, June)

woodlark Lullula arborea (New Forest, June)

kingfisher Alcedo atthis (Norfolk, October)

The MEGA ! Brown shrike Lanius cristatus (Surrey, October)

... and the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Surrey, November)

A bird in the hand

Parabuteo unicinctus

The Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus is a raptor of the south western states of USA, Central and South America - a bird of savanna, chaparrel and other semi-arid habitats. It is a social bird and will often be found hunting in small family groups, working cooperatively to exploit larger quarry. It's natural sociability making it an ideal bird to be trained for falconry (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2009 [Online]; The Peregrine Fund, 2009 [Online]). Peter Harvey took the opportunity today to study the species close up and in the hand when a falconer asked permission to hunt through his garden-side wood.

Not a Bird ? Sparsholt College reptile sp.

Anguis fragilis

Anguis fragilis

Taking a short (and much needed?) break from blogging recent avifauna spp. sightings, it is time to include the photo record of a slow worm Anguis fragilis found under felt in the shelter-belt at Sparsholt College on 22nd September 2009 Given the size and colouration of the slow worm (iridescent gold, with black / brown sides and a central dorsal stripe), I would identify it as a juvenile. This slow worm was not the only specimen to be found. However, the first was to swift (!) to be caught when the tin was lifted. The juv. reptile showed its contempt for disturbance by defecating in the hand.

ARKive provides a brief guide to the biology of this reptile, along with some stunning video footage of the sp. http://www.arkive.org/slow-worm/anguis-fragilis/biology.html Although any information the website provides regarding the slow worms legal status needs to be double-checked against both Natural England and UK Biodiversity Action Plan websites.

The slow worm is protected under Schedule 9 Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Dartmoor Study Tour: Devon hedgerows

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