The Natural History Of Staffordshire: Fauna and Flora (1 Viewer)

[Adam M]

Been abroad for a few days and I am shocked at how much things have changed in such a short time period. Things I have noted so far on my return.

Ox-eye daisy
Birds foot trefoil
Pink purslane
Greater knapweed
Ragged robin
Yellow flag iris
A lot more buttercups in flower
Pignut is now flowering in large numbers in the top meadow at Coombes.
Bluebells are starting to go over
Hay meadows are now almost a foot taller than when I last saw them; a full week ago!
Also several species of grass I am hoping to get to grips with in the coming weeks (he says for the third year running).

Does anyone else think that hawthorn flowers are not only late this year, but present in MASSIVE quantities? A few of the trees at Coombes look like they are covered in snow! I'll post some pics when I can.

Adam

 

[Adam M]

Moth trap last night

Beautiful golden Y 1
Common swift 2
Heart and Dart 2
Pepper Moth 1
Spectacle 2
Angle Shades 1
Pale Mottled Willow 1
Clouded Bordered Brindle 3
Shuttle Shaped Dart 1
Flame Shoulder 1

Adam

 

[Adam M]

Yellow rattle in flower down Reg Mitch Way this evening.

Few moths in flight this evening, including a common swift I caught by hand, but I didn't get home in time to stick the trap on.

Adam

 

[minkstone]

Over on Parkhall wetland walk had a stoat nearly run into my terrier, good job she is blind, new moth for the yard last night a hart and dart.
Stu

 

[Topspot]

Blithe meadows

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A walk south of the Weston Coyney bridge for a change and the meadows are looking beautiful with more Water Avens than I can remember,and have not seen this species anywhere else in the upper Blithe,with hoards of bees around. The speedwell in profusion think they are field speedwell..still learning,loads of bush vetch and trefoil.

 

[Gronk08]

Had 3 what I think were Garden Chafers in our garden yesterday.

Anyone know if these are common around our area?

Was good to see any way, have now seen 3 different chafer species around the country.

Tim.

 

[Adam M]

Totally forgot, a hornet was seen at Coombes Valley on Thursday 31st May. It was positively MASSIVE! Sadly no one had a camera handy to take a photo.

Adam

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Speedwell

[/ATTACH]

A walk south of the Weston Coyney bridge for a change and the meadows are looking beautiful with more Water Avens than I can remember,and have not seen this species anywhere else in the upper Blithe,with hoards of bees around. The speedwell in profusion think they are field speedwell..still learning,loads of bush vetch and trefoil.

Hi Topspot, Your Speedwell is Germander. John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Chaffer

Had 3 what I think were Garden Chafers in our garden yesterday.

Anyone know if these are common around our area?

Was good to see any way, have now seen 3 different chafer species around the country.

Tim.

Hi, Have you checked Staffordshire ecological records in the Beetle Atlas. John

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Water Averns

[/ATTACH]

A walk south of the Weston Coyney bridge for a change and the meadows are looking beautiful with more Water Avens than I can remember,and have not seen this species anywhere else in the upper Blithe,with hoards of bees around. The speedwell in profusion think they are field speedwell..still learning,loads of bush vetch and trefoil.

Hi Topspot,
Water Averns is an uncommon plant in Staffordshire, you should report your sighting to the Staffordshire Flower recorder John Hawksford, e-mail [email protected] with photo and grid ref.


John

 

[Gronk08]

Hi, Have you checked Staffordshire ecological records in the Beetle Atlas. John

Hi John

Thanks for the info, doesn't look too common I have submitted my sightings, great looking beetles, got some nice shots as well.

Tim.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Moth Trap

Recent moth trapping at home hasn't been too good, but on June 1st I had a Heart & Club which is a garden first and quite rare this far north.

Others include Treble Bar, Lime Hawk-moth, Dark barred twin-spot Carpet, May High-flyer, Small Yellow Wave, Heart & Dart, Turnip, Shuttle Shaped Dart, Bright-line Brown-eye, Waved Umber, Cinnabar, Scalloped Hazel, Peppered Moth, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Common Marbled Carpet.

Nick

 

[minkstone]

First hawkmoth for me in the trap this morning, a poplar hawkmoth,a clouded border, two clouded-bordered brindle, three common swift.

Stu

 

[alrewasbirder]

Bees at Whitemoor Haye

Hi.
Hopefully I have attached a photo of a load of bees swarming around each other creating a ball 30 feet in the air. The ball was roughly 8 inches in diameter. Anyone know what they are doing?:t:

 

[etudiant]

You've captured a pretty rare phenomenon.
A hive has split and a new colony is getting established.
The ball of bees has its queen at the core and is getting ready to select a new hive site, depending on the reports of scouts sent out from this group.
Normally, the bee keeper would have a new hive ready for this new colony, so this may be a wild swarm.
Do note that African honey bees, now spreading across the US, are much more frequent hive splitters and much more aggressive in defending their colony, so you might have paid a painful price for such a picture of them.

 

[minkstone]

Talking about bees had loads of tree bumble bees in the yard today, there were loads of them. Stu

 

[Adam M]

A red necked footman was seen and photographed in the churnet today. Not the commonest of moths in the county.

Dingy skipper seen by the weevil at coombes this week.

Adam

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

highlight from last nights trap
a female ghost moth

also caught this week poplar grey , lime and poplar hawk moth.

 

[alrewasbirder]

You've captured a pretty rare phenomenon.
A hive has split and a new colony is getting established.
The ball of bees has its queen at the core and is getting ready to select a new hive site, depending on the reports of scouts sent out from this group.
Normally, the bee keeper would have a new hive ready for this new colony, so this may be a wild swarm.
Do note that African honey bees, now spreading across the US, are much more frequent hive splitters and much more aggressive in defending their colony, so you might have paid a painful price for such a picture of them.

Cheers Etudian for the reply. No pain no gain so to speak!! What you said makes sense as where I took that photo from, behind and to the left is a tree which the bees have been using for a hive, I have been watching them all summer whilst watching the Blackcaps and Treecreepers. Think these are one of our native bees as been quite approachable and no stings.

 

[Adam M]

Incredible views of a baby hare at my girlfriends farm. It was so unafraid of us that I got some photos on my phone, will upload them when I am next at home.

In my portable moth trap in one of the meadows there last night, I had 14 common swifts, 1 clouded-bordered brindle, 1 pepper moth and a brocade sp. (probably beautiful brocade).

Learning grasses is going well. Already up to speed with yorkshire fog, cocks-foot and meadow fox tail from just walking along the drive. Need to get out there with a key to learn a few more.

Oh, greater butterlfy orchids are out at Coombes now. Ask in the visitor center or office for directions to them.

Adam