A Variety of This and That
Monday, April 2nd 2018
The Little Grebe was fishing and then taking vegetation to his mate, although I do not think she was over impressed with his enthusiasm to start nesting just yet! The fish was identified as a Rudd. John was able to catch this great photograph.
Back in the warmth of the Activity Room more excitement as we found eggs from our Mud Snails. We await their hatching.
Some of our Holly leaves have brown marks on them. Upon investigation Christine identified them as Holly Leaf Miners. The tiny fly Phytomyza ilicis, lays her eggs in the young, newly grown soft leaves. The larva hatches and begins to mine between the layers of the leaf. It pupates and hatches out leaving a tiny hole. However the story has a twist or two. A parasitic wasp is able to lay her eggs in the larva - yes the wasp larva eats the fly larva - delightful! Continuing, birds like the Blue Tit, then eat the wasp larva. Looking at information on web sites we need to take a closer look at these marks, as depending upon the mark left on the leaf, we should be able to tell if the larva of the fly or wasp has hatched or if the larva has been eaten. And not forgetting this is a new species!
Foxglove is often two weeks behind the surrounding area when it comes to flowering times. The weather has been so cold, spring is very late. Or are we just used to earlier springs? Checking the April blog of 2017, there is a photo of a Marsh Marigold in flower, but the best I can do this April are some leaves.
In some of the hedgerows surrounding Foxglove Blackthorn is beginning to flower. In Foxglove it is still tight in bud.
And finally a Redpoll has been caught that is six years old. These birds only weigh between 9 and 12 grams. Yet another amazing fact from the bird ringing that takes place at Foxglove.
(0) Comments:
There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:
Help Support Foxglove
Friends of Foxglove
The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.
More DetailsUpcoming Events
Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access
Monday 18th March 2024 |
The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.
Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.
Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.
Dawn Chorus
Sunday 5th May 2024 | 5:30am-7:30am
A guided walk around the reserve to experience the dawn chorus and celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day.
Walk starts from the Field Centre at 5:30am.
Donation of £5 per person. Free for volunteers and Friends of Foxglove.
Booking essential. Fill in the booking form by clicking the link below. Pay via paypal or in person on the day.
Undergrowth Newsletter
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- Bumblebee ID
- More Dead Hedging
- Dead Hedging
- Beautiful Bird Boxes!
- Completed Coppice
- Unconventional Scything
- Garden Birds
- Winter Fungi
- Winter highlights
- Happy 2024!
- Wonderful winter workers!
- Making A Start
- Visitor Information (Update)
- Autumn Crafts and Autumn Colours
- Weekend Waxcaps
- Meadows and Ponds
- Meet Foxglove’s New Ranger
- All Work and No Play?
- Field Centre open Sunday 15th October 12 noon - 4.00pm
- Paving the Way
- Getting further, faster - together…
- Brian’s Baler!
- Reserve closed Tuesday 26th September 2023
- The Revolution has begun!
- Learning to Scythe with Steve Tomlin
- A fine time was had by all!
- Bird Ringing
- Galls
- Late Summer into Autumn
- News from the North
- Thank you!
- A Quiet Walk
- Hanging Around
- Mipits
- Common Lizards Again!!
- Species
- Bird Ringing
- Keeping Your Eyes Open
- Weekend opening hours Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August
- We are recruiting!
- Thank yous and Bye Bye
- When the Sun Comes Out
- Weather and Flora and Fauna
- Volunteers at Work
- More Photos from the BBQ
- Jenga
- Volunteer and Bye Bye BBQ
- Summer
- Summer Work
- More Wildlife
- Wildlife
- A Good Growing Season
- Weekend opening hours Sat 22 & Sun 23 July 2023
- Moth News
- Butterfly Roundup
- More Moths
- Butterflies and Moths
- Weekend opening Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2023
- Watching
- Juvenile Birds
- Common Lizards
- The Scrapes
- Nesting birds
- Ooohs and Ahhhs at the Moth Traps
- Co-operative Plants and Animals
- Summer Maintenance
- Moth Update
- Warm Days
- The Bees Return!
- June Flowers
- Lots of Legs
- Sharing Ideas
- Questions
- Caught Chasers!
- Some Bugs and Beasties
- Snow in June?
- Chasing the Chasers and Other Insects
- A Lesson - Perhaps?
- Small Nest Box Time
- Half Term Trail
- A Winding Way Through the Reserve
- Checking the Ponds
- Around the Reserve
- Moths and…
- Wildlife
- Living Creatures
- Roe Deer
- Dippers
- Dawn Chorus and Volunteering
- CES 1
- Hive of Activity
- Job Complete!
- Trial Run
- Flowers
- Natural England
- At Last
- Spring Sun Winter Wind
- Last Photos from Gibraltar and Shy Moorhens
- Winter or Spring?
- More Flowers and More from Gibraltar
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2024
- Blog Posts from - 2023
- Blog Posts from - 2022
- Blog Posts from - 2021
- Blog Posts from - 2020
- Blog Posts from - 2019
- Blog Posts from - 2018
- Blog Posts from - 2017
- Blog Posts from - 2016
- Blog Posts from - 2015
- Blog Posts from - 2014
- Blog Posts from - 2013
- Blog Posts from - 2012
- Blog Posts from - 2011
- Blog Posts from - 2010
- Blog Posts from - 2009