The Lowestoft Field Club
Evening Excursion
To
Kessingland Beach Suffolk
Although we met with overcast skies the temperature was still 21c. This time we surveyed the eastern fringes of the northern tetrad of the village TM5288. By walking up Green Lane & down Coastguard Lane & the beach we did not stray into the southern tetrad, which begins just south of the Post Office.
As is common with urban sites we recorded some garden escapes notably Soapwort Saponaria officinalis & Sweet Alison Allysum alyssoides in Green Lane & at the foot of Coastguard Lane we found Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucous.
Also along Green Lane the leaf Tar Spot Rhytisma acerinum was recorded on a sapling Sycamore Acer pseudoplantanus growing through a fence. The walk down to the beach along Coastguard lane was particularly interesting due to the relative abundance of the Duke of Argyll’s Tea Tree Lycium barbarum on the way back we did find some in fruit, along the cliff top path.
Of particular note this evening was a single larvae of the Comma Polygonia c-album on Hop Humulus lupulus. Along Coastguard Lane. The white splash at the tail end mimics a bird dropping affording it some camouflage.
The dune flora produced Sticky Groundsel Senecio viscosus, Hoary Ragwort S.erucifolius & Toadflax Linaria vulgaris. Purple Toadflax L. purpurea was found growing on the cliff by the steps to High Path. On the dunes Marram Ammophila arenaria was typically abundant. The inflorescences however were host to the Ergot Claviceps purpurea. Most plants were affected.
At ground level Sand Sedge Carex arenaria was particually abundant, along with the odd clump of Sand Couch Elytrigia juncea.
East of the dunes the beachl flattens out. Between the shingle & the dunes Common Reed Phragmites australis had formed a large patch as had Glasswort Salicornia sp
Others of note here included Annual Sea-blite Sueda maritima & Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali ssp kali. On the shingle we recorded Yellow horned -Poppy Glaucium flavum & Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus with Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata nearby
Also both subspecies of Curled Dock Rumex crispus were seen these were ssp crispus & ssp littoreus.
Two plant galls were found on the beach, namely the wasp Phanacis hypochoeridis on Cat’s Ear Hypochaeris radicata. & The Aphid Hayhurstia atriplicis on Fat Hen Chenopodium album.
The Silver Y moth Autographa gamma was seen with at least eight on vegetation throughout.
The birdwatchers saw Swift, Ringed Plover & 80 Little Terns. 24 Oystercatchers & 12 Common Scoter flew south close inshore.
Evening Excursion
To
Kessingland Beach Suffolk
Although we met with overcast skies the temperature was still 21c. This time we surveyed the eastern fringes of the northern tetrad of the village TM5288. By walking up Green Lane & down Coastguard Lane & the beach we did not stray into the southern tetrad, which begins just south of the Post Office.
As is common with urban sites we recorded some garden escapes notably Soapwort Saponaria officinalis & Sweet Alison Allysum alyssoides in Green Lane & at the foot of Coastguard Lane we found Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucous.
Also along Green Lane the leaf Tar Spot Rhytisma acerinum was recorded on a sapling Sycamore Acer pseudoplantanus growing through a fence. The walk down to the beach along Coastguard lane was particularly interesting due to the relative abundance of the Duke of Argyll’s Tea Tree Lycium barbarum on the way back we did find some in fruit, along the cliff top path.
Of particular note this evening was a single larvae of the Comma Polygonia c-album on Hop Humulus lupulus. Along Coastguard Lane. The white splash at the tail end mimics a bird dropping affording it some camouflage.
The dune flora produced Sticky Groundsel Senecio viscosus, Hoary Ragwort S.erucifolius & Toadflax Linaria vulgaris. Purple Toadflax L. purpurea was found growing on the cliff by the steps to High Path. On the dunes Marram Ammophila arenaria was typically abundant. The inflorescences however were host to the Ergot Claviceps purpurea. Most plants were affected.
At ground level Sand Sedge Carex arenaria was particually abundant, along with the odd clump of Sand Couch Elytrigia juncea.
East of the dunes the beachl flattens out. Between the shingle & the dunes Common Reed Phragmites australis had formed a large patch as had Glasswort Salicornia sp
Others of note here included Annual Sea-blite Sueda maritima & Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali ssp kali. On the shingle we recorded Yellow horned -Poppy Glaucium flavum & Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus with Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata nearby
Also both subspecies of Curled Dock Rumex crispus were seen these were ssp crispus & ssp littoreus.
Two plant galls were found on the beach, namely the wasp Phanacis hypochoeridis on Cat’s Ear Hypochaeris radicata. & The Aphid Hayhurstia atriplicis on Fat Hen Chenopodium album.
The Silver Y moth Autographa gamma was seen with at least eight on vegetation throughout.
The birdwatchers saw Swift, Ringed Plover & 80 Little Terns. 24 Oystercatchers & 12 Common Scoter flew south close inshore.
