Rain showers continued to fall, reviving the ground at last. Between the downpours I noticed Cuckooflowers (Cardamine pratensis) begin to bloom last week.
So named because it flowers from late April, around the time male Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are heard in the UK once the birds return from Africa; signs that spring is well underway.
The last time I heard Cuckoos was in Shropshire many years ago. At the time, I only heard the males call of “cuck-oo’ in the distance. I have never witnessed the females call which can be heard here (Garden birds). I have never seen these birds either; perhaps one day, although their conservation status in the UK remains red (reasons for this is explained by the BTO website).
I love witnessing wildflowers being pollinated; yet more proof that patches of wildflowers are essential for pollinators. Last Sundays walk resulted in such a sighting. As I walked past an area where White dead-nettles (Lamium album) were blooming I became aware of a gentle buzz. A solitary Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) was visiting the patch of flowers.
These long-tongued bumblebees require deep flowers to collect nectar (a pollen basket can be clearly seen on it’s leg).
An insect that I became aware of later in the week was a Violet ground beetle. I have never seen one of these beetles before; it was so mesmerising as it glistened in the daylight.
This shiny insect is one of our largest beetles in the UK at 20-30mms. (Photo enlarged to show detail more clearly.)
It could have been one of two species of Violet ground beetle, either Carabus violaceus or Carabus problematicus, as they are difficult to tell apart (it’s all down to the amount of dimples and ridges apparently). As both can be found in gardens, if I had to make an educated guess, I would say it was a Carabus violaceus ground beetle (the more common of the two, especially in gardens). The Carabus violaceus can also inhabit farmland and meadows where as Carabus problematicus is predominantly found in woods and heathland.
Active at night, it doesn’t fly but will rely on running fast to capture pray and find shelter if disturbed. During the day, it predominantly hides under logs or stones; however I noticed this one when I moved a clump of soil. I was very conscious of taking its photo as quickly as possible before I covered it up once again. This adult beetle, along with their larvae, feeds on other insects alongside slugs, snail and worms.
On the 31st January, I undertook the RSPBs Big Garden bird watch. Most birds, I’d normally see, were clearly hiding but I did notice some within the hour. Those birds I saw were; 1 Carrion crow (Corvuscorone), 2 Robins (Erithacusrubecula), 1 Coal tit (Periparusater), 1 Blackbird (Turdusmerula) and 2 Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus). I enjoy taking part in this citizen science project each year; it’s interesting to see how the results differ each time.
Due to the frozen ground last week, I was still able to go for my regular exercise in the local woodland park. Various tree species were waking up from their winter sleep. Beech (Fagus) and Oak (Quercus) had started budding while others were developing catkins.
Last years leaves and new buds on a Beech tree.Old Oak leaves alongside new buds.
As well as the Hazel (Corylus avellana) other trees had catkins hanging from them too. Hazel catkins are the earliest to flower in the year, from January to March (see my previous post A Snowy Adventure).
Then the Alder (Alnus glutinosa) is the next tree to bloom with both male and female catkins. The male catkins are longer than the female ones which flower from February to March. Also hanging from the Alder trees were some small dark brown shapes. These woody cone-like fruit develop from the previous seasons fertilised female catkins; these can remain on the tree (even when the seeds have been shed) well into the following year alongside the newly formed catkins. I also noticed leaf buds growing on the trees last week too. When the buds burst, I shall update the Woodland trust Nature’s calendar with my findings.
Unfortunately I was unable to capture decent photos on location so I collected part of a fallen branch to take home.
One small female catkin above a group of larger male catkins. On the tree (before fertilisation when they develop into the rounder, woody fruit) the female catkins point upwards while the male ones hang down. A magnified view of two unfertilised female catkins.A leaf bud with one of last years fertilised female catkins.A magnified view of the Alder tree seeds that had remained in last seasons female catkin.
I find Alder trees fascinating and the rough, fissured bark beautiful.
Alder are native to Britain and found on wet land, next to water or in marshes and woodlands. They naturally thrive in moist conditions although can also grow in drier areas such as the edges of mixed woodland. Alder wood is durable when wet and actually becomes stronger rather than rot when submerged in water; a characteristic that makes them useful in flood mitigation, boat building, sluice gates, and even the construction of Venice which is mostly built on Alder piles. Alder wood is also used in the creation of charcoal, gunpowder and making clogs.
The pale wood turns a deep orange colour at the point at which it’s cut (while the rest of the wood remains pale); leading to a superstition, in Ireland, that it was bad luck to walk past an Alder tree on your travels. However, traditionally alder branches were also taken into houses to prevent Woodworm. Alder wood is particularly liked by various species of beetle larvae (collectively referred to as Woodworm). It is hoped that the beetles will lay eggs in the Alder rather than the furniture or fixtures; the branches once infested can then be removed.
There is also a traditional use for Alder flowers as a green dye; believed to be used as camouflage by outlaws like Robin hood and fairies.
For fun, I looked up Alder wands used in the Harry potter series. Only one is mentioned, that owned by Quirinus Quirrell. The wands qualities are described on the Wizarding world website.
The roots of Alder are nitrogen fixers. Nitrogen from the air is fixed into the soil, replenishing the levels and aiding soil fertility, through the bacterium Frankia alni.
As well as improving soil, Alder are great for wildlife too. The seeds are eaten by Redpoll (Acanthis flammea), Siskin (Spinus spinus) and Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). The leaves are food for the caterpillars of the Alder kitten (Furcula bicuspis), Pebble hook-tip (Drepana falcataria), Autumn green carpet (Chloroclysta miata) and Blue-bordered carpet (Plemyria rubiginata) moths. Bees visit the catkins for an early source of nectar plus Alders provide habitats for the Checkered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) butterfly, Small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) butterfly, some species of Crane fly, Otters (which create nests amongst the roots) along with mosses, lichens and fungi that like damp conditions.
However, these trees are also threatened through infection by the Phytophthora fungus (together with some other broadleaf tree species). In Alder this disease is referred to as Alder dieback and eventually causes the death of any infected tree. For more information see the Forest research website. There aren’t many Alders in my local woodland park compared to other tree species so it would be sad to see them disappear. Given my newly acquired knowledge I will keep a special lookout for any ill health in these trees; thankfully no infection is being exhibited at the moment.
I am feeling cozy, sitting on the sofa, as I reflect on last weeks observations on a dark evening.
Along with the earlier sunsets, fresh mornings have begun to take hold too. I have been noticing a lot of changes occurring with trees throughout the week. Their leaves are turning autumnal and I have been able to pick fresh apples as I work. Lots of conkers are falling around the bus stop too.
One of the apple trees with lovely sweet apples is pictured below. There were other trees with Russet and Cox apples.
The Rowan tree outside my home continues to have Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) feeding on insects. Plus I have also seen a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and two Long tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) eating insects on it’s branches, along with a Blackbird (Turdus merula) feasting in the berries.
Mr Blackbird wasn’t camera shy.
I still saw Small white (Pieris rapae), Red admiral (Vanessaatalanta) and Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies as they took advantage of the late flowering perennials.
On Wednesday I noticed a Painted lady butterfly as well as a Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum) visiting some Ceratostigma willmottianum which is still blooming while the leaves are turning red.
Some plants have been flowering all summer, such as Geraniums and Verbena bonariensis, and now bloom alongside Sedums, Asters and Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) painting gardens in muted colours.
Sedums and Verbena bonariensis looking lovely amongst ornamental grasses.
Geranium still flowering.
A Painted lady butterfly collecting nectar from an Aster flower.
Autumn crocuses blooming in the lawn.
Cutting back faded perennials was one of last weeks jobs which meant I disturbed a lot of Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata). So I spent quite a bit of time rescuing them from garden waste bins too.
Lastly, as I walked home late on Wednesday, I ended up seeing a beetle walking across the path in the moonlight and enjoyed the view of the Waxing gibbous moon amongst the clouds.
Bee in the Moment 