Great moth, and Crafty Creatures at the FAYRE

One of our Twitter followers found an egg-laying Garden Tiger Moth on the Common a day or two ago. This is a rarity these days, and a great find on our little patch. It's a great moth to look at too: See http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/garden-tiger

It was the Southrepps Fayre today, and despite a dire weather forecast it all went well, with no rain. Southrepps Commons Trust had a big presence, with Dr Tim and his able assistants making dragonflies from reeds cut from the Common. We had hoped to recruit more volunteers, so with luck some of the people who took away our details will decide to join in over the next cutting season.

Cuckoo and marsh flowers

Although the weather seems to have reverted to the grotty stuff we've been enduring for weeks, I managed a pleasant walk across the common this morning, clocking up 27 bird species. The best, for me, was the cuckoo I heard, since I have heard no other so far this year. Various Lower Street residents have been telling me that they have been hearing it, often at an unearthly hour, but I was beginning to wonder if it was going to elude me.

The male reed bunting that has been in residence on the main reed bed was showing well, and singing loudly, but sadly was still too obscured by reeds for a clear photo. A reed warbler was also chuntering away deep in the reed bed at the same time. Those, combined with song thrush, blackcap and chiffchaff all singing at the same time more than made up for the lack of sunshine.

The marsh is coming into flower now. As well as the bog beans that have been showing for a couple of weeks, we also have marsh valerian, orchids and cotton grass in flower. I tried to get them all in a single shot, but that wasn't too impressive, but here at least is some cotton grass.

Help wanted

Hello All

 

Today, John Dowland and I shored up the worst sections of Jubilee Boardwalk, which needed doing urgently.  But we ran out of time when it came to replacing the broken board at the Lower Street end, as it transpired that the bearers are rotten and the whole section needs replacing.  This is a more straightforward job than the one we I did today and is suitable for any 2 or 3 willing persons. Would anyone like to do it for us, ideally when school is off, i.e. at a weekend or during the coming half term holiday, week commencing 27th May?  The job comprises lifting the old section of about 6 feet, laying parallel bearers and nailing boards to them, finishing off the whole thing by stapling on wire netting.  Timber is already prepared and materials are ready.  With several other jobs stacking up for me, it would really be a great help if somebody else could do this one.  It is important because this section of  boardwalk is used daily by a lot of people during term time.

 

Kind regards

John

Reedbed birds at last

Sitting for 10 minutes of the "Chadwick bench" yielded my first encounter with a reed warbler this year; I was beginning to think they weren't going to come this year. At the same time I heard, and saw, a reed bunting, looking like a sparrow on a hot date. And just before that I heard a whitethrtoat, along of course with the usual chiffchaffs and blackcaps.

Bees and deer but not much else

Good to see plenty of bumble bees out and about, but sad that there were few birds in evidence. I had heard several chiffchaffs last week, but this time there was only one singing, and no blackcaps either. Perhaps it was the chilly wind that had sprung up, or maybe it was just the time of day, but they stayed resolutely quiet. I had heard reed buntings previously, but again, nothing today.With luck, I'll get better luck next time.

However, I did see this muntjac in the last area we cut. It clearly had an idea that I was in the vicinity because it maintained its pose for several minutes, looking in my direction. As I crept closer it finally felt the need to slink off into the bushes, but not before I had manged several photos.

After that, once I had crossed the Beck and emerged into the Warren Road side of the common, another muntjac calmly walked off into the bushes there.

Getting there at last

A beautiful day; completely clear blue sky, wall to wall sunshine, and the cold wind has gone. At last the spring migrants have begun to arrive and the flowers are coming out. The warm sunshine has brought some insects to life too; peacock and brimstone butterflies are in evidence, as well as lots of bumble bees.

I heard my first blackcap of the year on School Common this morning, and my first swallow of the area near The Hill. I counted at least six singing chiffchaffs across School Common and the main Common itself; including this obliging individual.

The section of the Common between Warren Road and the Beck is looking very colourful, partly thanks to a fine display of lesser celandines:

Could this be spring?

At last! A warm day, or at least what passes for one in this shivering year. The wind has dropped and this is the second sunny day in a row. No summer migrants have yet made it to the Common, although a reed bunting has been singing. But the frogs are very busy, as evidenced by the decent quantities of frogspawn.