Hard Fern

We have too much fernage here - I ought to cut it back a bit on site more than I do. Having said that the ferns are, Bracken excepted, interesting to look at. Many are also difficult to identify, particularly the larger ferns formed of a crown at ground level and fronds radiating up from it. One that at certain times of year is easy to distinguish is Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant). It is common in Manor Wood and at times the fertile fronds are erect and the sterile fronds spreading.

New Beetle Species - Pterostichus sp

One to almost add to my poor Beetles list (only nine species on it although I definitely have some Ladybirds to add). I can't quite be specific as this Ground Beetle has been divided into two species and to differentiate them requires dissection and examination of the male genitalia. I'll just put it down as Pterostichus nigrita/rhaeticus

Meadows review 2024

Now that the meadows are cut the strange season can be reviewed. There was definitely some major differences in the flower succession and frequency which I think are have been influenced by weather effects and also large numbers of rabbits and deer. Of course the frequency of many flowers does vary year by year as the meadow very gradually heads towards a stable mix of species over decades. It is fascinating watching species spread from often just a few examples to thousands and then recede into some sort of balance. Examples include Lousewort that started with 3 or 4 flowers in the West Field and ended up for the last two years with whole areas dominated by it. This year, hardly any at all in the West Field though it has appeared sparsely in the other fields for the first time. Also Eyebright that has in the last three years taken over huge areas (photo above)whilst the previously ubiquitous Yellow Rattle has subsided greatly. I am interested in the way different species ebb and flow but for eleven years the orchid numbers have just increased year on year from 11 orchids in 2012 to 945 in 2023 but this year only 312! I think there are two main causes, some weather effects and rabbits (and deer) predation. The impact of weather is indicated by the deer and rabbit prove cage I constructed in 2023. In its first year there were 178 orchids in the cage which is about 10m by 5m. This year there were 84, so a drop of about 50%. Neither deer nor rabbits responsible. Also a second cage added this year (this time in the west field) had only 14 orchids and I was expecting a lot more. However outside this cage the drop is much bigger. Orchids outside the cage last year were 945-178= 767. Outside the cage this year were 312-84 =228 so a drop of 70%. I think this extra drop is due to rabbits mainly of which there were record numbers this year. One thing that might have affected the situation is that we were away in April when some orchid rosettes would have been appearing. Had I been here then I would have been protecting them from rabbits so it is possible that more came up and were destroyed in my absence. I think I'll know more next year!

Grasshoppers

It's worth mentioning that there do seem to be reasonable numbers of grasshoppers this year whilst butterflies are in very short supply and also most invertebrates. I haven't been identifying them but this one came and sat on a piece of wood so got snapped and identified as a Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus).

And now Goldfinches in numbers too

We have always had Goldfinches around but usually just a few at a time. Yesterday the flock of Swallows was joined by a flock of Goldfinches - I counted at least 20. Like the Swallows there were a number of juveniles in the flock - or should I say 'charm' of Goldfinches. Surprisingly they were on the ground but I expect that part of the attraction at the moment is the large numbers of thistles that are turning to seed. I have been removing them but there's enough thistle seed still around to feed a lot of Goldfinches.

Swallows still here...

Well it's been a week and the Swallows are still here on a daily basis. The numbers vary from day to day and time to time but there's usually six or seven and often double that. Fantastic to watch them hawking from the house and even better out in the fields as they fly past at speed.

Pine Martens in Manor Wood

Obviously no photo but the first reports are coming in of Pine Marten sightings in Manor Wood which we are abutt all along our Northern boundary. I shall be checking for curly spraint from now on when I am in the wood. Exciting times. It seems that the Martens have come across the river from their release sites in the Forest of Dean.

Swallow central

Yesterday afternoon there were up to 21 Swallows on the overhead electric cables just in front of the house. A lot were youngsters being fed and also being taught to hawk for themselves with the adults flying tirelessly over our fields. What a great sight. It's been quite a few years since Swallows last nested in our barn and whilst there has been fairly regular hawking by one or two Swallows over the fields this year, I was amazed to see so many using the site for feeding. I just hope that this portends some nesting here next year. There was also a couple of juvenile Goldfinches in the mix who rested on teh wires in the middle of the Swallow throng for a couple of minutes

Cranefly

A stunning looking Cranefly on the door jam at the back of the house. I hoped I might easily identify it but I hadn't realised just how many Cranefly species there are and without a book it is difficult. I reckon it is probably Tipula irrorata but might be Tipula truncurum. I'll see if I can decide which it is!