The Magpie's Hoard

Apple-of-Peru

 

 

Apple-of-Peru (Nicandra physalodes)

Growing in the edge of an arable field near Blakeney in Norfolk.

Sanderling

Sanderling, originally uploaded by Roger B.

Sanderling (Calidris alba). Photographed on the beach near Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk.

This poor bird had its foot caught fast inside an old razor shell. We tried to catch it so that we could remove the shell, but it was able to fly far enough to stay well out of reach.

After a couple of attempts we decided that trying to catch the bird was causing it too much distress. It seemed to be feeding OK despite its encumbrance. I hope it was eventually able to free itself.

Norfolk Wildlife (part 10)

Friday was our last full day in Norfolk, so we decided to visit Cley Marshes again.

The weather had turned grey and cold, but we had great views of marsh harrier (at least three different individuals) and a newly arrived flock of pink-footed geese.

Later, as darkness fell on Blakeney Freshes, we had one last glimpse of a hunting barn owl.

~This message was sent from a mobile phone.~

Spider Season

It's that time of year when the house is invaded by spiders.

So far this week I've had to evict three huge Tegenaria that had become trapped in the bath. I'm not sure whether they climb up the plug-hole or fall in from above!

Common Darter

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

I saw dozens of these dragonflies when I visited the Shire Brook Valley earlier in the week. The warm sunshine also brought out a few butterflies, including a beautiful male brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). Sadly he stayed just out of camera range!

Robin's Pin Cushion

A robin's pin cushion gall on dog rose (Rosa canina).

This gall is caused by the actions of a parastic wasp known as the bedeguar gall causer (Diplolepis rosae).

Photographed in the Shire Brook Valley Local Nature Reserve, South Yorkshire.

National Moth Night

Silver Y (Autographa gamma).

National Moth Night takes place on 18th and 19th September 2009. Participants are encouraged to see what moths they can find in their location and the results are pooled into Britain’s largest survey of what species are on the wing.

Organised events are taking place all around the British Isles. In my neck of woods, the Sorby Natural History Society is planning a mothwatch at Holbrook Marsh, on the south-eastern edge of Sheffield. A little further afield, the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Entomological Society will be staging activities at  Waingroves Wood and Edwinstowe, and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has an event at Sprotbrough Flash.

Earthballs

This afternoon I had a walk around Wharncliffe Heath Nature Reserve, on the outskirts of Sheffield. I was hoping to find some fungi to photograph, but it's still a bit early in the season.

By far the most abundant species was the common earthball (Scleroderma citrinum), which is always good for a photo or two. I also found a few brittlegills (Russula spp), but they were well past their best and distinctly unphotogenic.

Jaspers!

Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).

There's a fascinating article in British Wildlife Magazine titled "The folk-names of invertebrates", which Peter Marren explores how some of our creepy-crawlies got their names.

I thought that only Sheffield folk called wasps "jaspers" but apparently the name is widely-used across the British Isles. Peter Marren believes that it is probably a corruption of the Old French word for wasp, guespe.

However they got their name, there certainly seem to be a lot more jaspers around this summer. In 2008 I hardly saw any, presumably due to the cold, wet weather.

Happy Birthday Mr Darwin

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

To mark the occasion, a wide variety of events are being held across the UK and beyond.

If you want to know more about Darwin's life and works, there are loads of really useful resources available on the 'net. The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online has text and images from many of his publication and private papers, plus an account of how the 100th anniversary of his birth was celebrated.

I haven't yet had an opportunity to visit the Darwin - Big Idea Big Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, but it looks great.

You can leave a birthday message for Darwin here. Don't forget to order your free Tree of Life poster and buy a set of Darwin Stamps.