Tag: Garden

The blue, the bronze and the hairy

We have been on somewhat of a quest this year to transform our little urban yard into a plot beneficial to wildlife. Planting a range of native and ornamental plants, constructing a tiny pond, adding a bee box, and creating a small meadow area in a raised bed, we had hoped that wildlife would be quick to colonise this new habitat…

A few months in and our efforts to document our garden visitors, big and small, have yielded a number of interesting and significant sightings. Moreover, the challenge of creating something positive for nature and recording its use has really helped keep me sane throughout this turbulent time. A win, win if ever there was one.

Here’s a quick rundown of three exciting finds…

The blue…

Venturing out into the yard, coffee in hand, and intent on inspecting our tulips before they melt away to mush, yesterday we were graced by a rather superb garden visitor: a Holly Blue butterfly.

Though growing more abundant each year as they expand their range in the North East, these dazzling blue butterflies remain far from a part of daily life here. Found near holly and ivy (the species larval foodplants of which we have neither in the yard) it came as somewhat surprised to find this particular winged sapphire perched atop our stumpy, potted Buddleja – evidently warming up following a particularly chilly night.

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A rather lovely Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

The bronze…

Last year,  we were lucky to note a number of small, shiny bees visiting the garden. Most often encountered around smaller flowers – including our tomatoes – a few grainy photographs and some advice from local experts pointed towards these being Bronze Furrow Bee, Halictus tumulorum. Fast forward a year and our metallic visitors are back and this time, thankfully, they stayed still long enough for a verified identification.

Looking at the NBN Atlas distribution map for this species, records in the North East appear thin on the ground. Whether this is due to scarcity or simply a lack of people with the time to pursue the speedy blighters, I am unsure. Regardless, this would appear to be an interesting record.

The bees continue to visit the garden most days and make for enjoyable viewing as they mill about between planters. Their small size and fly-like appearance are worlds away from what I would traditionally have envisaged when hearing the word ‘bee’.

Bronze Furrow Bee (Halictus tumulorum)

The hairy…

Now, this is an exciting one. For a few weeks now, we have been seeing a number of small, brown yet intricately marked ‘jumping spiders’ in the garden. Similar in shape to the more familiar Zebra Jumping Spider, these went unidentified until (fortuitously) one ventured into the house – found attempting to snaffle the plentiful fungus gnats emerging from our windowsill chillies.

Now, I confess, I know nothing about spiders but thankfully, some people do, thus a specimen was sent off to North East’s county record for spiders, Richard Wilison. Fast forward a few days and the spiders’ identity was revealed as a mature male Hypositticus pubescens.

What makes this record interesting is that there are only previous six records of this species in my area, all dating between 1911 & 1931. That makes our little spider the first record for North East England for around 90 years.

It really is amazing what an open window and a burgeoning pest problem can turn up…

Hypositticus pubescens – quite cute, for a spider…

Adventures in the night garden

There is something quite exhilarating about spending time outdoors by night – each sound, each rustle in the shrubbery and splash in the water indicative of hidden treasures lying just out of sight amid the gloom. Watching wildlife by night is intoxicating, plain and simple, and recently, has become somewhat of a hobby of mine. A pastime born of necessity, with my days of late spent catching up on university work carrying and out a host of more menial tasks, thus leaving little time for adventure.

Last night, I spent three hours in the garden – watching, waiting and, most rewarding of all, listening, with only the blue glow of my actinic moth trap to light my way. My watch beginning at 10 pm as, with the light fading fast, the local Pipistrelles arrived to feed. Their coming timed to perfection to coincide with the departure of the first moths from their daylight hideaways. Indeed, as I watched, more and more moths emerged – springing forth from the Privet hedge and the nearby Hawthorns before heading upwards, often with the bats in close pursuit. I am yet to see a bat actually catch a moth, though I did witness one interesting piece of behaviour as a rather large individual – a large yellow underwing, I think – plummeted downwards, rigid as a stone, clearly having caught wind of its would-be pursuer. An interesting defence mechanism, and something that, to date, I have only seen on TV.

By 11 pm the last vestiges of light had faded and the moth trap had been fired up – the first arrivals, as ever, being the underwings. Followed closely by a number of Smoky Wainscot, Riband Wave and Snout – some of the more numerous species to inhabit my urban garden. Many moths came and went as I watched, with some – a rather beautiful Straw Underwing included – landing conveniently in the trap, and others, missing it entirely. No matter.

Before long, a faint rustling in the compost heap diverted my attention away from the trap. The sound of crunching, desiccated vegetation easily audible as a fleet of Common Frogs began to emerge. Ambling forward, into the open, before splitting up in all directions: towards the lawn, pond, borders and hedge. Easily counted by torchlight, a total of seven frogs were found, with another, concealed in some waterside vegetation, croaking loudly upon my approach. This particular individual joined amid the Water Mint by a delightful Smooth Newt. The latter watched and enjoyed as it emerged from the shallows before slinking, with surprising speed, out of sight. My efforts to facilitate my local amphibians are paying off, it would seem.

Come midnight, I had resumed my watch of the moth trap, adding Light Emerald and Common Plume to my list as I listened to the screeches of a distant Tawny Owl in the park adjacent to the house. I had just about grown tired when another sound caught my attention: an undoubtedly familiar call of a bird above that, for the life of me, I could not place for some time. I did eventually, however: it was a tern. A very unusual addition to the list of animals seen and heard from the garden, and a quite unexpected one, if that – I do, after all, live some way from the coast. Doubtless, this had to have been a migrating bird heading overland on its way South for Winter.

The tern was not the only migrant heard this night, however, and soon the call of an Oystercatcher became audible as it passed overhead. The high-pitched flight calls of the bird (or birds) followed soon, by the much more exciting sound of a Whimbrel, and then, the honking of geese. It really is amazing what you can hear from the comfort of your own deck chair at night, once the hustle and bustle of urban life has died down and others have succumbed to slumber.

My night outdoors finished as it began: with moths. A graceful Barred Red the last species to enter my trap before it was sealed and concealed for study the next day. Making my way to the house 1 am – placing my feet carefully so not the injure any of the snails moving slowly across the lawn – I found myself rather giddy, and grinning profusely. It really was an evening well spent.

Oh yes, and I am pleased to announce that, following their arrival last Spring, our garden foxes have returned. Hurrah!

 

Common Rustic agg.
Willow Beauty
Elderberry Pearl
Barred Red

Ruby Tiger and other treasures

Having recently purchased a new moth trap only to break the bulb while unpacking it, I was delighted when my replacement arrived yesterday. This meaning that, for the first time this year, I could kick-back in the garden and engross myself in some local Lepidoptera. Well, this didn’t go exactly to plan – heavy rain hampering my efforts after a meagre two hours – though, with 71 moths of 21 separate species languishing in the trap this morning, it could have gone much worse.

The star of the show when it came time to unpack the trap this morning was undoubtedly the superb Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa pictured above. A rather sumptuous looking moth boasting outlandish crimson underwings, and a real favourite of mine. Not a scarce species, by any standards, but a nice one to see in my urban backyard. Of its winged counterparts also nestled within the trap, a Barred Yellow Cnidaria fulvata was also nice to see; while a couple of Bordered White Bupalus piniaria were new for the garden list. The most numerous species obtained were, as ever, the Large Yellow Underwings Noctua pronuba which, typically, burst out in a flurry of frantic buzzing as soon as I lifted the lid. Much to the delight of my cat which soon set off (unsuccessfully) in pursuit of the escapees.

I look forward to trapping more frequently throughout the Summer, and in doing so, uncovering, further, the wealth of unseen life dwelling within my garden.

Double Square-spot, Barred Yellow, Dark Arches, Ruby Tiger, Bee Moth and Small Fan-foot

Rewilding my urban garden

Like any self-respecting nature lover, the idea of wildlife gardening has always appealed to me. By nature, I want to do my bit to provide wildlife with a home and in doing so, conserve the various critters with whom I share my local area. A noble idea that many, thankfully, commit to, though one that has proven somewhat difficult for me. The fact I share my garden with younger siblings keen to utilise the limited space for sunbathing and play respectively, and a parent altogether fond of the stereotypical urban gravel/grass monoculture. Indeed, to date, my attempts to rewild our small patch earth have met with frowns and disapproval – especially when I took it upon myself to plant weeds along the margins of my mothers neat and tidy lawn. Not that I, personally, class teasel as a weed…

Well, fast forward a few months and I am making leeway. I have reached an agreement with my family where the back portion of our garden, a small 5 x 8 meter stretch of gravel (complete with a trampoline and a summerhouse I must add) is mine to do with as I please. Seizing upon this, and in an attempt to increase biodiversity around my home, I have made a few much-needed amendments. Among these: a small pond, a large flowering currant bush, a compost heap, a miniature rockery, and, as of today, a number of planters installed to act as a makeshift meadow. The latter planted with red valerian pilfered from an abanonded garden and a seed mix consisting of cornflower, knapweed, tansy and other lovelies. My initial efforts, while looking wonderfully messy, can be seen below.

While I will undoubtedly have to wait some time for the meadow to begin yielding fruit, I have, however, made a concerted effort to record the species venturing into my little wild space of late, and surprisingly, have reached a grand total of 71. This, of course, includes everything from common garden birds to colonising nettles and pondweed but also, some real gems. Common frogs have spawned in the pond this year, with a grand total of 12 adults observed on one day during the Spring. With these, smooth newts have also appeared and, perhaps more surprisingly, we also appear to have a resident toad. The latter taking a particular shine my younger brothers play house where, for the second consecutive day, he was photographed hiding amid the pillows. The small crack in the outside panels which allows slugs and woodlice entry (much to the horror of my brother) also providing the amphibian with an entry route should he find himself seeking comfort.

One of the greatest increases observed thus far in the garden has come from the invertebrates: the pond harbouring no end of common water slaters, pond skaters and vivid sun hoverflies, but also (as of today) my first large red damselflies – a pair seen copulating on a marigold leaf earlier this morning. The nearby flowering blackcurrant has also proven successful; providing pollen to visiting tree, white-tailed and garden bumblebees in addition to the odd peacock and red admiral butterflies. While speaking of butterflies, a fabulous painted lady was also observed today making the most of the aforementioned valerians. A nice follow-up to last years visiting hummingbird hawk-moth.

As expected, the addition of a compost heap too has worked wonders, particularly for snails: with white-lipped, strawberry and garden snails quick to colonise – alongside myriad slugs, millipedes and woodlice. Though more impressive is the addition of some new mammals to the garden list. With wood mouse and hedgehog new this year – both captured on a camera placed out to document the nocturnal inhabitants of the lawn. Alongside these, our fox maintains his usual pattern of visitation and pipistrelle bats continue to hawk over the lawn by night. Doubtless in search of moths.

Speaking of moths: a quick sweep with a net last night revealed a number of species – brimstone, garden carpet, light brown apple moth and silver ground carpet to name but a few – and with my new moth trap set for delivery tomorrow, the number of nocturnal beasties uncovered here looks set to increase markedly. The trap sure to aid in my efforts to document the wonders lying just outside of my unassuming front door. I will, of course, be blogging quite frequently about developments in the garden; as more species arrive and I spend an increasing amount of watching wildlife at home, as opposed to chasing it around far-flung areas of the country. Stay tuned, I hope I will have more to discuss in a short while.