Wild news from our reserves – 18 August 2023

Wild news from our reserves – 18 August 2023

Blackheath – Dan Doughty 

The latest news from our reserve wardens...

A rare fritillary

Beautiful photos of silver-washed fritillary by trust warden Gavin Durrant at Reydon Wood - including a variant called Valenzia (greenish/dark form) which occurs in a small number of the species and the first known record of the variant in Reydon Wood.

Five emperors

Five lesser emperor dragonflies were recorded at Carlton Marshes recently in the annual dragonfly survey by staff and volunteers carrying out routine dragonfly survey for the year. This species is smaller and duller in colour than the more commonly seen emperor dragonfly.  

Five lesser emperor dragonflies were recorded at Carlton Marshes – Gavin Durrant

Five lesser emperor dragonflies were recorded at Carlton Marshes – Gavin Durrant 

Hooved helper

‘Sedge’ the Konik pony has been "helping" warden Jamie Smith with fence repairs! 

Don't you just love working with livestock? Sedge the Konik pony "helping" while fence repairs were being carried out – Jamie Smith

Don't you just love working with livestock? Sedge the Konik pony "helping" while fence repairs were being carried out – Jamie Smith 

A risky business

Warden Andy Hickinbotham spotted this male and female wasp spider at Lound Lakes. Mating season is a very risky business for the small male, as the much larger female usually cocoons and eats him afterwards! 

Cutting, bruising, topping and grazing...

We are talking about cutting meadows and marshes, bruising bracken and topping reedbeds - these management techniques, in combination with grazing, help maintain optimum floristic diversity and allow specialist plants to thrive.  

Robin's pincushion

This robin's pincushion was spotted at Lound Lakes. It is a gall caused by the larvae of the tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae. 

Robin's pincushion, a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae – Andy Hickinbotham

Robin's pincushion, a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae – Andy Hickinbotham 

Trimley spectacles

Reserves intern Ella Broom snapped another amazing sunrise at Trimley this week. She was also lucky enough to snap a great white egret and heron together (it is zoomed in so rather fuzzy) but gives us a good comparison of size between the two birds. There are birds galore to be seen out on the flood area at the moment, with green sandpiper, snipe, ruff, and Egyptian, greylag and Canada geese. 

Knettishall in purple

The heather at Knettishall Heath is looking spectacular, and there are loads of exciting insects to be seen including these butterflies and mining bees. 

Parasols in the rain

Parasol fungi are thriving at Dingle Marshes - we wonder if anyone has been taking shelter under them during recent downpours! 

 Parasol fungi are thriving at Dingle Marshes – Jamie Smith

 Parasol fungi are thriving at Dingle Marshes – Jamie Smith 

Lackford Lakes is full of surprises...

Lackford Lakes Visitor Officer Michael Andrews had a bit of a shock when he came face to face with this shield bug and caterpillar dangling in the middle of the trail! We are not sure whether the shield bug was consuming the caterpillar, or just taking a ride.

Shield bug and caterpillar at Lackford Lakes - Michael Andrews

Shield bug and caterpillar at Lackford Lakes - Michael Andrews 

Meadow management

 After a wet June and July, the meadow management season has just started with hay making at Martins’ and Mickfield Meadows, and cutting and grazing at Hutchison’s Meadow. 

Cut and collect

Warden Rachel Norman has been cutting and collecting vegetation on an area of marsh at Snape Marshes. This section used to be rich in orchids, but over the years their numbers have dropped. So, in an attempt to bring them back, we started a cut and collect program using the tractor and Ryetec. As a result, we've noticed a big increase in the number of flowering orchids here this summer. The cut and collect at this time of year really helps the orchids, as it reduces competition, offering them more light and space to grow. 

Warden Rachel Norman cutting and collecting vegetation on area of marsh at Snape Marshes.

Warden Rachel Norman cutting and collecting vegetation on area of marsh at Snape Marshes. 

Conservation grazers

Our conservation grazers are out in force. New additions at Winks Meadow - sheep are rotationally grazed at Winks to help maintain the wonderful diversity of orchids and other grassland wildflowers seen at the meadow each year. The reserve is temporarily closed while grazing is in progress. At Hen Reedbeds, our British white cattle have been happily munching and trampling. 
 

British white grazing within the reedbeds at Hen Reedbeds – Jamie Smith

British white grazing within the reedbeds at Hen Reedbeds – Jamie Smith