Big Butterfly Count (and a new homepatch species)

I had a tip-off that these beautiful butterflies were on the wing in our area, but it came as a surprise when we found one in our garden yesterday. I have not seen many Brown Argus butterflies in my life, and the few I have spotted have all been in Cambridgeshire at NT Wicken Fen. We have only knowingly had one Common Blue, a male, in our garden so far this year, but I wondered at first if the new sighting could be a female. I checked this website and came to the conclusion that this was unlikely on account of the marked dark spot on the wing and the markings on the outer hindwing, but since four kind folk have now agreed with my Brown Argus ID, I think this is probably what it is (but do feel free to say otherwise - with explanation, please!). 

Yesterday marked the start of the Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation. This citizen-science survey made the national BBC News here in England so I hope there will be a good response, particularly since many species are in decline. David and I did two fifteen minute counts this afternoon on a quiet lane bordered by fields and hedges, now that my 'government shielding' advice allows for time beyond the garden in the company of another adult.  

Meanwhile, I continue to count butterflies in the garden for the Garden Butterfly Survey. 

Oh, and on another note entirely, the BATS were back in the garden last night. It is only the second time we have seen them this year. I saw two, both too large for Pipistrelles, and David saw more at the front of the house. I wonder what they are...

More Twilight Visitors

I mentioned in a recent post that two hedgehogs had been visiting our garden after dark. It turns out that they are not the only animals to wait for the cover of twilight before making an entrance. Many of you who have dipped in and out of this blog over the years will know that we have a Silver Birch in our garden. We also have an Acer Negundo, another large Acer (purple-leaved, this time), a tall white Buddeia and a Hawthorn. These are the species around the edge, creating a sense of enclosure and height. They undoubtedly provide a leafy habitat for some of the small flying insects that are attractive to bats, for each year our vigil has been rewarded with the return of the bats (or with their emergence from the roost) after the long months of winter.

I have been on the look-out since the recent burst of warm weather, but until this evening my vigil had been in vain. I had discounted tonight as a 'bat night' on the grounds that it was cool and blustery. However, on the dot of 9.15 pm I thought I saw a familiar form through the glass. I switched off the light and peered out, and there circling round the middle of the garden were two fairly large bats. They were certainly not Pipistrelles, but that is all I can say: thirteen species of bat have been recorded in Suffolk and I am as yet far from an expert. The creatures did not stay for long, and, in any case, my vision blurred as darkness fell; but I am delighted to be able to say ...

'the bats are back!'

Tree Following ~ Silver Birch in June

This post is the fourth in my Tree Following series, part of a wider project run by Lucy Corrander from the Loose and Leafy blog. I am following a Silver Birch in Suffolk, UK. You will find the other Tree Follower links for June 2014 here ... so do take the chance to go on a virtual exploration of the arboreal world!

WELCOME, Tree Followers et al, to my June update.

My Silver Birch (B. Pendula) has been looking green and leafy since my last update. The photo above was taken on 10 May, shortly after I posted my May bulletin on Mr Linky.

The weather has been mixed so far, with grey cloud being a dominant feature. The temperatures have been mild but it has been cool at dawn. The Blue tits are probably the most frequent visitors to the coconut feeder on the Silver Birch - and as predicted, the roses are in bloom.

DETECTIVE WORK

The month (by which I mean the weeks between posting my May and June TF reports) began with a slight concern. I noticed another birch nearby, and began to wonder whether I was right in identifying this one as a Silver Birch after all!

The two trees seemed similar at first, and in fact, I had not noticed that there were differences. Something twigged (sorry), and I began to realise that the two were by no means identical. I erroneously assumed at this point that the other must be a Downy Birch - purely on the grounds that it differed from my tree.

However, I looked a bit more closely, and noticed that the leaves on 'the other tree' were more forked and less saw-edged than my tree. The other tree's leaves had deeper indentations than the leaves you see above. They also appeared a bit more like a squashed maple leaf and less like the shape of a kite.

Leaves of Silver Birch, B. Pendula [above] and Swedish Birch, B. pendula 'Darlecarlica' [below]

Thanks to Dr D.G. Hessayon's book on trees and shrubs, I have come to the conclusion (and I hope I am right) that my birch is indeed a Silver Birch (B. Pendula). I believe that the other tree is probably the Swedish Birch, B. pendula 'Darlecarlica'. It is not in my gift to photograph this one, but you will find a good picture here.

Mystery solved! I feel somewhat chastened to think that it has taken me this long to make this discovery, but there you go.

BIRD LIFE

I decided to tighten up a bit on my bird observations, so I began to chart the birds I saw on my (B. Pendula) tree or on the feeders hanging from its branches to see if any daily patterns or surprises emerged.

Sightings include (roughly in order of frequency) ...

• TFb7  Robin (frequently below feeder)
• TFb2  Great tit (frequently on feeder)
• TFb6  Blue tit (frequently on feeder)
• TFb10 Dunnock (frequently below feeder)
• TFb4  Blackbird (frequently below feeder)
• TFb8  Magpie (frequently dive-bombing feeder)
• TFb11 Starling (on or under feeder, frequently three birds at a time)
• TFb9  Wood Pigeon (perching around the feeder area)
• TFb12 Carrion Crow (on fence at back of Silver Birch) - first seen on 14 May 2014

I also have a new bird species on the block, the beautiful Goldfinch (TFb13). I had planted up some bedding plants in a pedestal planter on the patio, when minutes later I looked out to see two Goldfinches perching on the metal rim. One flew up into the Silver Birch while the other plucked some strips of fibrous hanging basket liner, presumably for a nest. The Goldfinches returned today, and I am really hoping that they will stay around as they are such colourful and delightful birds. You will notice that the one below is not on my Silver Birch! Sadly I didn't have my camera to hand when the Goldfinches landed, but these are such fine birds (despite their messy nests) that I wanted to re-post an earlier picture.

Goldfinch

The only other new bird to settle in the vicinity of the Silver Birch was a sleek brown one with a slightly speckled chest, slightly larger than a Satrling. I didn't think it was a Mistle Thrush as its speckles were not very pronounced. I wondered if it was a female Blackbird like this, although its eye markings were more prominent. Today I saw the bird again in the company of three other juvenile Starlings - mystery solved, I think!We also think we had a fleeting glimpse of a Coalt-tit, but are not entirely sure. This would be another new species for my Silver Birch birdlist, but I won't add it until it re-visits and I can be sure.

There have been no further sightings of ...

• TFb3 Long-tailed Tits
• TFb1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
• TFb5 Song Thrush

However, the members of the Blue tit brood have delighted us with their antics on and around the coconuts that hang from the Silver Birch.

INSECT LIFE

The main insect immediately below the Silver Birch was a large Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola). It was busy devouring a leaf when I looked down and saw it. According to the RHS, this species can cause a lot of damage to lawns.

We have been very excited this month as BBC Springwatch has come to our (relatively) local nature reserve, RSPB MInsmere. I first spotted the colourful Ruby-tail Wasp on the Minsmere site back in August 2012. It was scuttling over the surface of a wartime tank-trap. I am delighted to report that I have had several more sightings of this unusual insect on sunny days on the wooden posts around my patio, metres from the Silver Birch. Of course, the juxtaposition between the birch and the wasp may be of little significance: who knows ...

Ruby-tail Wasp in my garden, 1 June 2014

I am sitting at my window as I type, peering out into the semi-darkness. We have had bursts of warm sun today. We have numerous moths flying around the kitchen and a pair of skittish bats in the garden, flitting alongside the feathery forms of the Silver Birch branches. It will soon be the longest day.

MY PREVIOUS TREE FOLLOWING POSTS

• April to May 2014
• March to April 2014
• February to March 2014

Seasonal Splash: Minsmere, with dabbling ducks!

We had some fine spring sunshine at the weekend. The male Teal in the photo above was almost doing a handstand, as it dabbled! I guess the blue (rather than green) on the head was due to a combination of the glass in the hide and the iridescent fall of light. Teal are on our Amber conservation list.

I mentioned recently that the nesting boxes were looking colourful at Minsmere. Here are a few more des res for birds and bats.

What a plump Greenfinch! His bright flash of yellow-green caught our eye as he flew off before I could take a better photo.

We watched a number of Lapwing at some distance from the North Hide. Again, their iridescent plumage sparkled in the sunlight.

The rabbits are usually very docile, and this one above was no exception. You can see the new Stinging Nettle shoots sprouting up - like the weeds in our garden!

This is a close-up of one of the bat boxes. Unlike the bird boxes, these ones do not have a circular hole in the front.

There were plenty of ducks about on the mere. This is a male Garganey. It is somewhat larger than a Teal, and easily identified by its head stripe.

I always feel it is such a shame that the dome of Sizewell Power Station dominates the landscape of the reserve.

Here is the Garganey again.

The tint of turquoise caught my eye!

This large Mallard was making the most of the Spring sunshine.

I think this is a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler, though I always find these birds very hard to identify with accuracy! Please let me know what you think ...

And finally ... back at home a new take on 'coconut cake'! This piece of coconut, emdedded with seeds and mealworms, fell to the ground after some wild trapeze antics from the local Great tits, Blue tits, Long-tailed tits and Robins. Look at the bill marks!

You can read about local migrant 'arrivals' here ... and the Minsmere Bitterns here. 

Butterflies and Moths (14): Spring is on the Wing!

Small Tortoiseshell

I spotted my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year in our garden on some white heather today. Sadly my photo (taken through glass) was too fuzzy to post ... so here's one I 'took earlier' (in 2010). I have just noticed a pair cavorting through the air as well. I saw my first Small Tortoiseshell on the same clump of heather, one Valentine's Day in the snow - so these butterflies today are running a month behind!

Update: 18.30 ~ we have just spotted our first bat of the season. A sign of things to come.