Month: Nov 2020

Posted in nature

Small Body, Big Voice

Posted on by BITM

Once again, watching birds on my local Rowan tree has become my therapy as I remain inside more.

Last week, along with the usual suspects of Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and Blackbird (Turdus merula) was a Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) feasting on some berries as well as a female Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) making a pit stop.

Another bird I noticed last week, while working in one garden, was a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). I followed a loud bird call towards a hedgerow where I managed to discover this distinctive small bird. It was wonderful being able to connect the call to a Wren; partly because I didn’t recognise the call but mainly because I got to see a Wren (highly unusual in itself, as they often hide themselves away). I wasn’t sure why it was emitting an alarm call, possibly a cat was on the other side of the hedge, hopefully I wasn’t the reason. Almost as soon I saw the Wren it disappeared further into the hedge; my fleeting glimpse ended. The Wren alarm call can be heard on the following link British birdsong.

Posted in nature

What Present Would you Buy for Bees?

Posted on by BITM

It was lovely to see Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) flying around Heathers last week. Heathers are a little out of fashion these day. Hardly ever used in modern garden designs, these plants are usually found in established gardens or only placed in container displays.

However, I think this trend should be reversed. I’d like to see their inclusion in more gardens as they are valuable to pollinators at this time of year.

The photo above shows that Heathers are wonderful additions to gardens in late autumn through to early spring, when Buff-tail Bumblebees still forage on milder days. These shrubs even add visual interest when other plants have started to die back; another reason to include them. For advice on growing Heathers see the RHS website.

Buff-tailed bumblebees are increasingly being seen late in the year as they establish nests well into October and November. Therefore worker bees visiting blooms now and throughout mild winters is not unusual (See the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website) for further information.

To add Heathers (or other winter flowering shrubs) is a wonderful present to give bumblebees, to help them survive into next year.

Posted in nature

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Posted on by BITM

This years fireworks have been matched by the incredibly vivid colours on deciduous trees. Due to the weather in 2020, nature has put on a spectacular display in the UK.

We had quite a few cold and frosty mornings last week. I like waking up to them because it means the sun will shine in a clear sky.

Last Thursday, was one such morning. At one job, leaves had to be cleared near an old swimming pool, which has become a natural pond over years of neglect and a wildlife haven throughout the year. I was conscious of needing to be careful when undertaking this task, due to possible wildlife hiding amongst the debris. I knew there were newts in the pool during the summer and wondered if some might be keeping warm under the fallen leaves; this meant the job would take longer to complete.

Unfortunately there was a group of four in one leaf pile. I didn’t take photos as I didn’t want them to be exposed for too long. Instead I quickly relocated them to a hidden corner nearby and covered them in a thick layer if leaves so they wouldn’t be disturbed again. Consequently I was unable to identify them quickly enough. 

In the UK we have three native species of Newt. (See the ARC Trust for identification)

The most likely species candidate for the ones I found is the Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) However they could have been Palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus). Less likely was that they were Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) as they weren’t dark or warty enough.

I often see frogs in gardens so it’s always a bonus to see other amphibians for a change. I am glad some survived through to Autumn.

The ARC trust have the Garden dragon watch where you can help with a survey, to keep track of Newts living in gardens.These wonderful creatures aren’t quite dragons but in my imagination they a mini version of a fantastic beast.

Posted in nature

Tolkien’s Words of Wisdom are Still Appropriate.

Posted on by BITM

Last week ended with a wonderful announcement in the news, the Great fox-spider (Alopecosa fabrilis), presumed extinct since 1993, has been refound alive (see the BBC News report). This highlights, both the amazing work undertaken by naturalists, as well as the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats.

As an amateur naturalist and gardener, I haven’t undertaken such groundbreaking work but I try to do my bit whenever and wherever I can. I think of J.R.R. Tolkien’s quote ‘Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.’ from The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) in these moments. We can all play a small part in saving nature’s wonderful diversity so that it has a future.

With this at the forefront of my mind I think back to one small act I hope made a difference last week. I noticed a female Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum), identified by the white hairs on the sides of its thorax. It isn’t unusual to see these females fly this late in the season, (possibly a new queen getting ready for hibernation before starting a new nest in spring). However the one I saw was very still; I was concerned it was worn out and required help so I gathered some Verbena bonariensis and Salvia flowers to revive it. Thankfully my instinct was probably correct because it fed from the nectar contained within the posy I laid next to it.

Along with some cultivated plants, a few wild flowers were still blooming, Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Even though the latter flowers through to November, Red clover usually only blooms until October. The Common carder bee feeds from the Red clover flowers along with Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and Red-tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius).

I also learnt some new fungi last week. The Golden waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) which grows on grassland.

This fungi is on red list for threatened fungi in some European countries such as poland and Switzerland but not in the UK

Plus the other fungi I noticed, the Shaggy scalycap (Pholiota squarrosa) at the base of a tree stump.

This is often found next to broadleaf trees stumps, particularly beech (Fagus), and occasionally spruces (Picea) between August and November.