More bugs and an owl, 27th April 2025

While pulling sycamore seedlings at the working session this afternoon, we heard blackbirds creating a commotion, then we spotted the Tawny Owl. It was trying to have a good day's sleep, but the blackbirds were trying to keep it awake and scare it away!

Also several new insects identified, including this Acorn Weevil (the female lays her eggs in acorns) and yet another species of shieldbug.

Spring has Sprung (a Leak), 7th April 2025

The Pond is empty! With the recent long period of dry sunny weather, nearly all the open water in the Pond has disappeared, even earlier than in previous years.

This frog seems to be hiding in the water-cress, waiting for rain. We are hoping that, as in previous years, lots of pond creatures have found refuge in our deep tubs dotted around the pond area. These tubs are marked with sticks, some of which are visible in the photo above. (Note: you can click on a photo to enlarge it.)

The sunny weather has brought out many spring butterflies: several Speckled Woods (photo), and two or three Brimstones and Orange-tips.

There are large expanses of bluebell leaves, but with only a few flowering stems in evidence. We are hoping that there are more flowers waiting to appear if we get some rain. The snowdrops and wild daffodils have finished, but there are at present swathes of Celandines and a few Wild Garlic (photo) to be seen.

Shrimps at Bishop's Pond, 15th February 2025

Not actually in the pond, but under logs, these are not the familiar seawater shrimps, or even the freshwater “shrimp” (Gammarus). Like the Gammarus and the sandhoppers (Talitrus) found in heaps of rotting seaweed on beaches, these are amphipod crustaceans. The ones we found today might be Arcitalitrus dorrieni, the Landhopper, Woodhopper or Lawn Shrimp, or perhaps Cryptorchestia garbinii. You can see a photo and more information at https://bmig.org.uk/species/arcitalitrus-dorrieni.

We'll need to catch one to inspect it more closely, but as soon as they are uncovered, the little blighters immediately leap about all over the place, like large demented fleas. Also under the logs, but less surprising, are woodlice, which are isopod crustaceans. Isopods are flattened from top to bottom, whereas amphipods are flattened from side to side, and therefore tend to fall over on to their sides. Both need to live in damp places, if not actually in water like most other crustaceans, because they need to keep their gills moist in order to breathe.

Insects and flowers, 15th June 2024

We are continuing to discover and sometimes identify lots of new wildflower and insect species at the Pond. Here is a Digger Wasp (a species of Ectemnius, possibly E. lituratus) spotted by Ian. Digger wasps are solitary wasps which do not make communal nests. At the previous meeting on 3rd June there was a 14-spot ladybird, which I've never seen before. It rejoices in the Latin name of Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, which you may (or may not) recognise as referring to its 14 spots.

We also saw several Orange-tip butterfly caterpillars. The Pyramidal orchid is back again this year, this time with two flower-spikes. Sadly there was a dead hedgehog, or what remained of it, mostly skin and prickles. Badgers are suspected of killing hedgehogs, using the claws on their powerful front legs to unroll the hedgehog.

Flowers and insects, 26th May 2024

The bluebells have all but finished, but the Red Campion is out, along with other species. The following were spotted today, amongst other kinds too numerous to mention. The Pyramidal orchid has not only survived, it is now producing two flower spikes in place of the one last year.

Insects noted included a young caterpillar of the Orange-tip butterfly, so it's good to know they are breeding on site. (to be completed!)

Finally, a pair of blue tits were feeding their young in one of the nest boxes.

Turning green, 8th April 2024

Vegetation is growing rapidly around (and in!) Bishop's Pond. Here's a speedwell, probably Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).

And not just the plants are increasingly green. You may remember a News post on 20th January 2024: Hibernating shield bugs which included a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) which was into its brown winter coloration.

Well, today we found a couple of them, both already in their summer green colour. At risk of seeming to be obsessed with shield bugs, here is one of them.

And here is another new species, Rhombic Leatherbug (Syromastus rhombeus), which is strictly speaking not a shieldbug as it belongs to a related family.

Spring colours, 4th March 2024

Although we did not have a full working session on 4th March, a couple of us had a look around the site before the rain began. The snowdrops are going to seed but the wild daffodils are making a splendid display, although some unknown culprit has been chewing many of the trumpets. Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is in flower, ready to supply nectar to feed the queen bumblebees when they emerge from their winter quarters. Many other species of plants are showing signs of growth, promising more colour later in Spring.

Some unexpected splashes of colour right now were provided by several clumps of the Scarlet Elf-cup fungus (Sarcoscypha coccinea) on dead branches lying on the ground among the ivy.