Purple Hairstreaks

Walked around the Ellough square today recording butterflies and seeing if I could add any more flowers to my Wild Flower Society diary. Found a colony of Purple Hairstreaks (Quercusia quercus )near the Fibrenyle factory, and Chicory (Cichorium intybus)by the Ellough Church Road.

Adders up

Went to one of my survey sites in North Suffolk to record the Adders. Phew what a scorcher. I found 12 Adders and three were females. Also I found this pair of mating frogs. a bit late for that I thought but look at the colour of the female too.

Muscovies and Martins

A walk to Beccles Quay found 13 Muscovy ducks near the visitor centre, recent birdwatching forums have reported a decline or local extinction in the Waveney area.

Also we saw House Martins collecting Mud to repair nests

Sunset

A great Sunset last night

Odd Poppies

Along the Ellough Road I found a colony of Opium Poppies with Pom Pom Flowers.

Burnet Moths

These Burnet Moths had just emerged at Ellough near Beccles

The roadside verge along the eastern edge of Copeland Way Ellough was visited in mid May where I found >50 flowering plants of Lathyrus nissolia Grass Vetchling. This plant is rare away from the coast. Also during this visit I found >200 flowering spikes of Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid.

On this evidence I contacted Sue Hooton of the Suffolk County Council roadside reserves to request a roadside reserve here.

On Monday 22nd June 2009. My partner Eileen Tink and I systematically surveyed the verge to gather a list of plants that could be measured against the roadside reserve criteria. I hope by writing this report that the list is acceptable for Roadside verge protection.

Vascular Plants.
The D. fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid and L. nissolia Grass vetchling are the main species I suggest need protection. We also found five Ophrys apifera Huds. Bee Orchids.
In places there are large patches of Rubus fruiticosus agg Bramble where nothing but this plant grows but the Orchids are spread along a 500m stretch of verge from the farmers access point southwards to the Beccles market sign. The one metre mowing regime will not affect the orchids as they are growing well away from this area and are mainly found against the soil bank.

Lepidoptera.
During our visit we witnessed a mass emergence of Zygaena filipenulae Six-spot Burnet Moths. Their cocoons were attached to the Arrhenatherum elatius False –Oat Grass the most dominant grass along this verge. Nearby we saw female Tyria jacobae Cinnabar Moths egg laying on Senecio jacobae Ragwort.
Of the Butterflies >50 Maniola jurtina Meadow Browns were seen along with a few Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlets. Nectaring on Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed were a few Ochlodes venatus Large Skippers. On 31st May we found a few Polyommatus icarus Common Blues.

Coleoptera.
Whilst systematically walking the strip of verge we found a pair of the long horn beetle Agapanthea villosoviridescens and several Flower Beetles Oedemera nobilis.
One probably more Sailor Beetles Cantharis rustica were seen.

Mammals
A colony of Sorex araneus Common Shrew was located.

Other Insects.
The Gall of the Cynipid Phanacis hypochoeridis was seen on a few Hypochaeris radicata Cat’s Ear stems causing an elongated swelling.

The Brecklands

26 botanist’s including my non (so far) botanist partner joined leader Stephen Clarkson assisted by Stella Taylor and Bill and Carol Hawkins in the car park of the Bridge Hotel Brandon. Car sharing was organised and after a paper of text giving us directions was handed out we set off on a circular route by car to find and record the Breckland specialities.
Our first stop was at Cranwich Camp where we immediately saw Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch. As is common with the Breckland flora most plants were prostrate and produced if any very small flowers, My partner was often amused to see for real a rump of botanists and she was not disappointed. Next to be studied was Trifolium scabrum Rough Clover and Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop. The party then walked onto the large field and to the left of the gate was, for many the largest stand of Descurainia sophia Flixweed they had ever seen. The field was massive and the group soon spread out to explore the area allowing the assistant leaders to join the smaller groups to assist with identification. Soon Arabis hirsuta Hairy Rock Cress was seen followed by Astragalus danicus Purple Milk Vetch, Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed Silene otites Spanish Catchfly and Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-Leaved Sandwort. Finally Carex muricata ssp lamprocarpa Prickly Sedge was found.

Our next visit was to the nearby Cranwich Heath. Here we were promised a fantastic sight of one of the top five rarest plants in the Brecklands. But before the grand prize we found the Bramble Rubus boreanus in vegetative stage and a white flowered garden escape Campanula persicifolia Peach-Leaved Bellflower, not far from the car park. Other flowering plants included Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock Rose, Hypochaeris glabra Smooth Cat’s-Ear and Naturalised Mahonia aquifolium Oregan Grape.
Well this super rare plant (of which there were three) was a bit of an anti climax. The plant? Well it was.............. Herniaria glabra Smooth Rupturewort.

After such a sight we gathered together and walked back to the cars and drove off to Weeting Heath. Not long after we arrived we were met by the site volunteer called (but not to his face) Lord Haw Haw. As many will know it is a Stone Curlew reserve and his face was a picture when he heard that 25 botanists were only interested in the plants by the car park and would not be paying and entrance fee to see the birds!
Due to proper toilets and refreshments we stayed here for lunch and afterwards observed recorded and photographed the one very rare Petrorhagia saxifraga Tunic Flower by the entrance door to the visitor centre. The Epipactus helleborine Broad-Leaved Helleborine was not in flower (yet) and was protected from rabbits by a fence.
Refreshed, hydrated and some fully caffeinated we drove onto the RSPB Lakenheath Fen Reserve. Fifteen years ago the RSPB were looking to create and inland reedbed due to erosion on the coast to assist the Great Bittern to breed in the UK. What they were given was a former arable field often in correctly stated as an old Carrot field. In 2009 the first Bitterns were booming. On arrival I was approached by a birder I knew who informed me excitedly that a pair were showing well by the Poplars. I had to quickly explain to my partner he was informing me of the breeding Golden Orioles of which the reserve is famous for. His enthusiasm was soon deflated when I said we were just here to see the flowers.
As soon as I embarked from the car I said to Eileen (my partner) “Oh look Anisanthera tectroum Drooping Brome”. It was everywhere I had never seen so much. Stephen then showed the group the three Bromes which were my A. tectorum Drooping Brome, A. diandra Great Brome and A.sterilis Barren Brome. Other rarities were Filago minima Small Cudweed, Apera interupta Dense Silky Bent. Stephen showed us all Vulpia cilliata ssp ambigua Bearded Fescue, Papaver dubium ssp dubium Long-Headed Poppy and Geranium lucidum Shining Cranesbill again fenced off from Brown Rabbits.
Our final stop for day one was Maids Cross Hill Lakenheath. Not only is this loved by Breckland botanists but dog walkers too so kneeling was a very dangerous occupation here. Geranium sanquineum Bloody Cranesbill, Cynoglossum officinale Hound’s-Tongue, Scleranthus annuus ssp annuus Annual Knawel, Spirea x pseudosalicifolia Confused Bridewort and Phleum arenaria Sand Cat’s Tail.
Carol Hawkins found Thymus serpyllum Breckland Thyme in vegetative stage and Stephen took us to see in flower T.polytrichus Wild Thyme.
By now we had dodged the showers but on the hill overlooking the air base at Lakenheath from this local nature reserve we saw a water spout over by Mildenhall followed by fast moving rain clouds. We ignored them and they us until we had started walking back to the cars but we just blew a raspberry at the clouds as we had all had a damn good day out by then. Thanks to Stephen and his band of helpers for making the day so plant filled and interesting.

Bee Orchids

Today Eileen and I were invited to survey some private land in the Waveney Valley. we found a small meadow with three Bee Orchids.

Tomorrow we are off to the Brecks to explore the unique flora there.

My WFS Diary arrived today too so at last I can start my woofers list of plants.

Dragon (Not fly)

I attended my second Wild Flower Society Meeting on the 17th June. It was at the Ted Ellis Reserve at Wheatfen. The best flower fro me was a Dragon Arum or Voodoo lily Dracunculus vulgaris It was growing in front of Ted's study window. It is native to Crete a regular holiday destination of Ted.

Great Butterfly Day

Phew a really hot day. walked along the track to Barsham Hall and saw >50 Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies. It was nice to see so many after such a bad few years. a Single Yellowhammer was seen but alas no Turtle Doves. Also of note two Cuckoo's in song,

White Flowers

On the UK botany yahoo groups there is much discussion on white flowers in plants that in theory should be coloured. Today I found a white flowered spear thistle the flowers should be lilac.

Botany Monotony

Hum well I have been out today trying out my new learned skills with Ferns and Sedges.
I visited my favourite site at North Cove. But before I approached the reserve proper I found Rosa stylosa (Short styled Rose) near the entrance gate. the style very distinct from the club shaped Rosa arvensis (Field Rose)Next up was Carex remota (Remote Sedge)
The path between the two hides had me down on my knees looking at Galium uliginosum (Fen bedstraw) and a whole host of Dacytlorhiza fucshii (Common spotted Orchids)

Foxley Wood

Not only am I a professional photographer and writer I am a new member to the wild flower society and this was my first field trip. So Bill and Carol Hawkins thought I might like to write the meeting up. Although I have been a keen recorder and studier of Vascular plants for 30 years, I soon found that I really know very little about plants.

Also my lateness in joining the WFS was due to my totally unfounded idea that they were flower lovers rather than actual plant studiers. I soon found that I was in the company of 13 very good experienced botanists. Unlike most societies they take lunch with them and even stay out in the rain.

So the 14 participants and “Badger” the dog started exploring the wood, this was interspersed by Bill and Carol Hawkins explaining the genus Carex and allied plants. I found this fascinating.

Not far from the car park we found Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common –spotted Orchid) with unspotted leaves and a single all white flowering spike. I soon found that Rosa arvensis (Field Rose) has a clubbed style (I really should read descriptions rather than trying to match the flower in the book and become so frustrated I give up) and how to identify Rubus caesius (Dewberry) by Jizz.

Throughout the walk we were shown several Sedges including.

Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge) which was probably the most frequent by the car parks. C. remota (Remote Sedge) C. sylvatica (Wood-Sedge) C. flacca (Glaucous Sedge) C. otrubae (False-fox Sedge) C. hirta. (Hairy Sedge) C.divulsa ssp divulsa. (Grey Sedge) C. acutiformis. (Lesser pond Sedge) C. pallida ssp pallida (Pale Sedge) C. viridula ssp oedocarpa. (Yellow Sedge) and finally Carex strigosa (Thin-spiked Wood Sedge. ) A woodland rarity.

Otherwise of note was Platnthera chlorantha (Greater Butterfly Orchid) identified by converging pollinia and Geum intermedium (Hybrid Wood Avens)

I learned a great deal on this meeting and feel I should demote myself to experienced beginner, rather than experienced intermediate. I have to admit that I have over-stated my botanical skills in the past and this meeting certainly brought me back to earth with a big bump. Oh I have now gained the confidence to record Ferns Grasses and Sedges using my new found skills.

I for one cannot wait for the next field trip.

I am afraid that I have become very much behind with my birdtrack records. I tried in vain to add them from as far back as March but the web site was so slow and then it kept kicking me out.

I am off to a Wild flower Society meeting on Wednesday I hope the weather keeps dry.

Rainy Day

I should be out nest recording but the heavy rain has curtailed my days out. I was recently sent a Bee to id so I decided to work on that today, I expect it will be a genitalia job so the compound microscope will need dusting down. I still have loads of Lowestoft Field Club records to put onto database and need to catch up on all correspondance.

I dislike staying in the study but I do have a lot of paperwork to catch up on.

There has been a thread on uk botany yahoo groups about whit flowers and here is my Thistle that should have lilac flowers.

Woofing in the Waveney Valley.

The term for a rare plant hunter is a woofer called because they say Woof when they get up off the ground as most botanists are old and cant get off the ground very well.

This morning Eileen and I explored some roadside verges in the Lower Waveney Valley. the plants were more notable than rare and we really enjoyed our walk.

First up was the Suffolk Wildlife Trust Roadside Reserve at Mettingham, this was flagged up by me when I found hundreds of Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis L. in 1998.

We found >50 plants that were just starting to flower. But best of all was Sulphur Clover Trifolium ochroleucon Huds. There were several clumps and looked great. (see right)

Also present was Narrow-leaved Bird's foot Trefoil Lotus glaber Mill. and Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma.

Our next stop was Barsham to see small colonies of Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris Garke. These were very distincive and easliy seen from a moving car but we stopped to photograph them. We then crossed the road to look at a naturalised Leopard's Bane Doronicum pardalianches. L.

The final stop was to Barsham Drain, here we recorded Pale Persicaria lapathifolia L.

A Painted Lady Cynthia cardui L. and several Small Tortoiseshell's Agalis urticae L.

It was certainly a very good morning out.

Fox and Cubs dilemma

I returned this afternoon (In rain) to have another look at the Pilosella aurantiaca sp (Fox and Cubs) at North Cove Suffolk, which looks like ssp carpathicola rather than ssp aurantiaca I have sent a voucher to the Botanical Society of British Isles Hieracium referee. I have only found ssp carpathicola in Suffolk but the flowers on the meadow look different, there is a group of Fox and Cubs at Beccles Railway station and on some lawns at Ellough that are definatly carpathicola but when I see them in a wet meadow I am not very sure.

By keying out in Stace (1997) I arrived at the sub species for him to say that both ssp are dubious. Oh well time will tell.

Roosting Mediterranean Gulls

Nearby we hear lots of Larid Gulls at night roosting on nearby buildlings. I guess they are non breeders. For the past week we have heard two Mediterranean Gulls calling over head before settling on the buildings. The "Oww! " call is so distinctive. I actually saw them this evening as they flew above the car park near our house. Both were un-ringed adult summers.

Dragonflies and othe Insects

Hi this is my new blog so that you can follow the comings and goings of the Suffolk Wildlife in the County.
This morning before the rain. Eileen and I visited the Waveney Valley to locate resting Dragonflies, my task to photograph all Suffolk species this year has been very good but I am still missing the Norfolk Hawker Aeshna iscosoles. On Saturday I saw one at rest but as I moved to take a photograph it flew off!

Still this Female Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva was located at Barsham It was showing two unfurled forewings. I believe the crumpled wings on the Scarce Chaser L. fulva. were caused by a fault in the wing expansion following emergence. I've a feeling the two fore-wings may have got stuck together early on, and not have split apart until just before the wings hardened off. They were thus unable to expand fully. Maybe a spider's web was the culprit?

We then explored one of my favourite insect finding sites near North Cove.
Among the species found were Sailor Beetles Cantharis rustica. Cardinal Beetles Pyrochroa serraticornis. This species differs from P. coccinea as the former has red, not black head and differs from Shizotus pectinicornis by not having a blck dot on the back of the head.




Then the rain fell, just as we were leaving I found two Slowworms Anguis fragilis.