Month: Jun 2021

Posted in Allotment, nature

Witnessing the Solstice Dawn Arrive

Posted on by BITM

On the eve of the Summer solstice I love to go to sleep early with my curtains open so I can wake up naturally and see the sunrise; it helps me align with the seasons and appreciate nature in a different way. This year I awoke at 3:50am and immediately opened the window so I could enjoy the dawn chorus. Initially the predominant birdsong was that of Blackbirds (Turdus merula), occasionally punctuated by the calls from a Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), a murder of very vocal Carrion crows (Corvus corone), along with a male Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in the distance too. The crescendo came around 4:10am but it wasn’t until finally at 4:42am, when things had quietened, that I heard a few more birds singing. There was a lone Dunnock (Prunella modularis) and then a Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) at about 4:50am; followed much later by Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) which I observed in the Rowan (Sorbus) tree nearby.

It’s interesting to notice an order to the bird song. Blackbirds are the first to be heard, almost like they are an alarm call for the other songbirds; clearly eager to catch the worms.

I also learnt another birdsong last week, heard around midday on Thursday. Hidden somewhere amongst the treeline next to a field, was a Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis); the song can be heard here on the RSPB website.

This warbler visits the UK from Southern Africa (from countries south of the Sahara) between April and October. Once the males arrive on these shores, they will establish territories and build nests for prospective partners (approximately ten to fourteen days before the females arrive).

These birds are about the same size as Great tits (Parus major) and named after the white plumage on their throats. Males can be differentiated from female due to their grey heads. They feed on insects as well as fruit and berries later in the year.

After being concerned that I wasn’t seeing many butterflies and ladybirds the previous week, last week
it finally became warm and sunny enough for them to venture out once again. It was lovely to witness a couple of Small tortoisehell butterflies (Aglais urticae) along with some bumblebees visit a Scabious plant in one garden.

Plus there was a loveliness of Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) at the allotment, hunting down on all the aphids which also appeared.

Posted in Allotment, nature

I’m Yellow and Black but not a Bee; What am I?

Posted on by BITM

Cooler temperatures and very wet weather meant that insect observations were few and far between last week.

In sunnier moments, bees were still visible but I haven’t noticed many moths, butterflies or ladybirds recently; I do hope that changes soon.

However there were a few momentous insect observations last week. I discovered a Mining bee nest on the allotment. As there was an Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria) on the plot last year then it could be evidence of another one making its home there.

The other insect, one I got to learn about later in the week, was a stunning parasitic wasp; possibly an Amblyteles armatorius (however identification is difficult to be completely certain).

If it was an Amblyteles armatorius then it’s hosts can be several species of moth caterpillar, such as the Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba).

The yellow and black parasitic wasp was 15mm in length (antennae included) and is often seen in June; although there is a second generation later in the year too. Adults can be noticed feeding on pollen from plants with umbellifer flowers such as Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) or Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). There was Lovage (Levisticum officinale) in flower in the garden where the parasitic wasp was noticed, so perhaps it had visited that before flying off to find another plant.

Posted in nature

The Mystery is Finally Solved

Posted on by BITM


At the beginning of the second lockdown I started walking different routes to explore my local neighborhood further. On one of these investigations, I came across a large tree that I didn’t recognise. I was intrigued as seed pods had remained on the branches throughout winter. I suspected that it was from the legume (Fabaceae) family and determined to eventually discover what tree it was.

Every so often I would check on its development, then about a month ago leaves began to appear but it was only in last week that the mystery was finally solved. On route to the allotment I noticed that beautiful scented flowers were hanging from the tree and the sound of lots of bees buzzing all over it was incredible. Finally I could identify it as a False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), a large hardwood tree which at full height can reach 25 meters.

The magnificent tree in full bloom.
The close up photo of the False acacia bark.

Named by Carl Linnaeus, Robinia was in honour of two Royal gardeners to Henry IV of France; Jean Robin (1550-1662) who was also a botanist, along with his son Vespasien Robin (1579-1662). Pseudoacacia was given to the tree because of the similarity of the leaves and spines (thorny growth on the shoots and young branches) to those of an Acacia; Pseudoacacia literally translates as False acacia.

The spines just about visible on the branch in the foreground.

The lime green pinnate leaves (containing 3-11 pairs of leaflets) will turn yellow in autumn, so the tree has interest later in the year too.

Close up of the aromatic flowers against the pinnate leaves.

However that is where the similarity stops as Acacias are part of the Mimosa (Mimosoideae) family. In fact this tree, as I suspected, is from the legumes (Fabaceae) family. The flowers and seed pods resemble those of peas and beans plus the roots have nitrogen fixing nodules. In some countries, like South Africa and Australia, suckering roots can lead it to become invasive.

The scent coming from the flowers was similar to orange blossom and very obvious from a distance as I walked towards it. The White Flowers, with a hint of yellow at the base hang down in groups (racemes) and appear in May and June.

One if the many visiting bumblebees enjoying the nectar and pollen from this tree.
Posted in Allotment, nature

Time to Make Daisy Chains?

Posted on by BITM

It was encouraging to witness dragonflies zipping about and mating over the past week; another sure sign of summers arrival for me.

Down at the allotment, it’s been wonderful to see the addition of a pond on a neighbouring plot. I’m excited to see what inhabits it; hopefully some beneficial wildlife will find it soon, perhaps some dragonflies of our own.

The predominant flowers on on recently mown grass are still daisies (Bellis perennis) although White clover (Trifolium repens) and Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) have begun to bloom alongside them.

My White clover and Bird’s-foot trefoil seedlings, down at the allotment, are coming along fantastically; I look forward to eventually transplanting them to my wild flower patch. Unfortunately, the Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seeds didn’t take.  Perhaps the weather earlier on in the year wasn’t conducive to their germination so I’ll try to obtain plants in autumn instead. Ideally I need them to control the grass so the other wild flowers have a chance to thrive.

I love seeing daisies everywhere. I love their simplicity, abundance, cheerful yellow center along with the fact they open during the day and close at night. Seeing them always brings back memories of making daisy chains as a child, which makes me smile. When I doodle flowers, it’s the daisy shape I always begin with before venturing onto others such as dandelions and foxgloves.

I even mend clothes with daisies after the inevitable holes in my work tops appear, mostly thanks to roses.

Therefore, I also enjoy seeing Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) join in the grassland mix as well which they did last week. When the grass on the verges is left to grow long for pollinators, it is these taller daisy flowers that can be seen looking upwards towards the sun.

Other tall wildflowers that began to bloom in the unmown grass last week were Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Common  mallow (Malva sylvestris) and White campion (Silene latifolia). These plants are also great for pollinators, especially the latter whose might time scent is a temptation for moths. In fact this flower was added into Elizabethan pot pourri due to its clove aroma.

Posted in Allotment, nature

Blossom Watching

Posted on by BITM

Warm sunny weather has finally replaced the wet conditions we seemed to be stuck in all May.

As I write this, meteorological summer has begun so the change in weather is rather fitting.

It has been fascinating to follow the seasons so far this year; paying particular attention to the timing of tree blossom arrival. After the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), the ornamental Cherries (Prunus) took over alongside the Crab apples (Malus). Then for the last few weeks Rowan (Sorbus), Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) and Hawthorn (Crataegus) have been blooming and continue to do so.

More wild flowers are joining in the visual performance as Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Common vetch (Vicia sativa) started putting on a show too.

  • Delicate Common vetch flowers

Even on the allotment, the Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) has begun to bloom alongside the vibrant Geums, which is a great combination.

  • Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) visiting the Phacelia

The bees have been enjoying their nectar and pollen, along with a Hairy shield bug (Dolycoris baccarum) who came to visit on them Saturday (see photo below).

We do have blackthorn hedges nearby so I guess it had been overwintering on those.

I’ve noticed that the Chive flowers are particularly loved by worker Red tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius); this isn’t too much of a surprise as I know they have short tongues, plus once they have found a good food source they will repeatedly visit the same plant.

Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) numbers are increasing on allotment too. Plus one Female Wolf spider (Pardosa amentata) carrying a blue egg sac was spotted.

It is always a joy to share my plot with beneficial insects, as I don’t use insecticides.

It was nice to have a long weekend, it gave me a chance to walk through the local woodland park which I hadn’t done for a few weeks. Lots of butterflies were flitting about, including one Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria).