Tuesday 7 June 2016

Tree Following for May and early June 2016 AND #gbb16




 Welcome to my Tree Following post for May and early June 2016. 


These tree posts form part of a wider project initiated by Lucy Corrander from the Loose and Leafy blog and continued by Pat at The Squirrelbasket

I am based in Suffolk, UK, where I have been keeping an eye on a Silver birch, B. pendula. I really enjoy following the Silver Birch B. Pendula and have added in a small Cherry sapling,
Prunus avium Sylvia, for my second tree.

You will find the other Tree Follower links by clicking the Mr Linky button here ... so do take the chance to have a look at the new posts!



 A (one-off) Change ...

I took part in the Garden BioBlitz 2106 - , as a result of hearing about it on BBC Springwatch, and since the area covered by my two trees pretty much spans my garden, I thought I would post the results as part of my Tree Following endeavours for this month.

But first, let's take a look at my two trees, the small Cherry ...

The flowers have gone ... and some weeding is required!

... and the Silver Birch ...

In full glory ...

... with lots of leaves and catkins
#gbb16
I recorded my BioBlitz sightings over the stipulated 24 hour period, though I was in and out during that time. It was a shame that there didn't seem to be a huge amount of avian or insect life about (when I was in the garden), but I'm pleased with the things I managed to see. I looked hard for a Ladybird, but failed to find one.

So here is my 2016 list (and apologies for the strange font sizes: I have tried to standardise these but my html coding ability is extremely limited) ... I am indebted to the folk who use iSpot for a number of the IDs.

Fungus
Plants
  • Bramble
  • Daisy
  • Dandelion
  • Common Nettle
  • White Bryony
Birds (disappointing)
  • Blue tits (3)
  • Wood pigeons (4)
  • Goldfinch (1)
  • Robin (1) 
  • Dunnock (2)
  • Great spotted Woodpecker, female (1)
 Invertebrates
  • Chrysis fulgida Shimmering Ruby-tailed wasp
  • Nola confusalis Least Black Arches moth 
  • Cranefly  
  • Zebra Spider  
  • Clytus arietis Wasp Beetle    
  • Cepaea (Cepaea) nemoralis Brown-lipped snail   
  • Bombus hypnorum Tree Bumblebee  
  • Arion (Carinarion) fasciatus Slug 


 


I find these Ruby-tailed wasps quite fascinating!

Wasp Beetle, who mimics a wasp


#gbb16
MY PREVIOUS TREE FOLLOWING POSTS

5 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

The ruby tailed wasp and wasp beetle are amazing looking insects!

Amanda Peters said...

I have just spent the last two days going through my photos from the Garden Bioblitz this weekend, wanting to get all the names right it can take some time. 67 this year, naming should be easer next year.

Great that you joined in , but you do take good records of your garden visitors, nice to see how the tree is doing and I always love to see the Ruby-tailed wasps.
Amanda xx

Ragged Robin said...

A very interesting post - fascinating to read about what you saw during the Garden Bioblitz. I did it on the Sunday too - bird species were low here (a bit like when you do the RSPB Garden Birdwatch!!). Love your Ruby-tailed wasp - gorgeous insect :)

Hollis said...

The ruby tailed wasp is spectacular, I've never seen anything like it. The wasp beetle is a beauty too--I would say "elegant"

Anonymous said...

Excellent update! And I SO love that ruby-tailed wasp - what magnificent (modern) colours! Reminds me of that vivid "Slush puppy" drink you see churning around in a machine in shopping malls.
If I saw one of those insects I would be so excited!
Best wishes :)