Gabi and I have joined the team at Tewkesbury Nature Reserve doing some hedge laying and cutting back grass (the old-fashioned way). The reserve is on flood plains near Tewkesbury and is often totally submerged in winter, hence it is set aside as a green space for the local community. There's no shortage of work to do to manage and improve this site. Sessions are on Tuesday evening, so if we're aching a bit on Wednesday mornings, that's why!
A couple of Scarlet Tiger moths (#81) around the garden this morning enabling me to get decent photos, and my first ladybird, #124 a Harlequin Ladybird. These ladybirds are non-native ones from Asia that have been accidentally introduced and are increasing fast in population - I hope that they can co-exist ok alongside the native ladybird species.
Undertook a site survey on the Overbury Estate for the local FWAG (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group). Happy to report there were plenty of skylarks and other farmland birds on the hill, where the fields are managed very sensitively: low grazing levels, wide field margins, minimum spraying. Lots of butterflies and wild flowers too, including white campion, grass vetchling and common rockrose.
I noticed many of the leaves have lumps forming, mostly around the leaf edge. Turns out these are caused by #106 the Plum Leaf Gall Mite. Apparently this is harmless. Wish I could say the same for the extreme damage done by #3 the Woodpigeon, which have pecked at most of the leaves except on outermost branches, and in the process either eaten or knocked off all but a handful of the many plums that were forming on the tree.
I was not aware how different plant species have their own species of aphid. Here we have #18 Broad-leafed Dock with its own #95 Dock Aphid, which in turn are being "farmed" by #107 Common Black Ant. The ants feed on honeydew which the aphids secrete, and at the same time they protect the aphids from other insect predators.
Very few fungi at this time of the year, but I start out with an obscure one - reedmace brittlestem - that specialises in growing on dead stems of the bulrushes that are growing in my small container pond.
Starting the tally on 1st June, I'm quite quickly over 100 species. Even getting that far I've learned a lot about species I never really noticed or studied before, especially the weeds. The birds are not so easy to see right now - in nesting mode they're keeping themselves discretely hidden in thick foliage - and I didn't really try to get to grips with the insects yet, which anyway due to cloudy weather have not been so evident. Common flowering plants though are looking good...
Passionate about nature, based in Gloucestershire UK; this site is about creating a wildlife friendly family garden and exploring the diversity of animal & plant species that share it with us.
As a nature lover and wildlife gardener I started wondering about the biodiversity in my backyard and just how many species from plants to insects to birds to mammals might live in or visit it.
Much of the wildlife in my small, village garden has been present right under my nose for years without my really appreciating it, so on the way I am learning a lot about different species and how to make a wildlife-friendly environment for them; also getting engaged more in conservation activities around Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
My garden species tally started from zero on June 1st 2018, the target is 1000 species - let's see where it goes.
I'm very interested in your comments & advice: whether it's about the blog, some help with identification or just how to make my own little Eden better for wildlife. So please leave a comment or drop me a line if you feel like it!
Graham Tompsett
microedenproject@gmail.com
Powered by Squarespace.
