Out on the Ranscombe Loop again today (after a tour of Stroodian
supermarkets…) where it was once again a warm affair. We started off at the Albatross Avenue end
and ambled down along side the railway to check out the Green Bridge area. It
was rather quiet with no hoped for Small Blues and just a smattering of Common
Blues and Meadow Browns along with a couple of faded Six Spot Burnets and
Nemophora metallica.
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| Nemophora metallica |
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| A small Rutpela maculata |
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| female Common Blue |
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| Six Spot Burnet |
I was pleased once again to find Gymnosoma rotundatum as at
least from a showing it to the public point of view, it is striking, easy to
identify and cool to remember. An Early
Bumblebee was the only species of note before we crept through the tree tunnel
to get to the fields on the other side.
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| Dingy Footman |
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| Gymnosoma rotundatum |
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| Early Bumblebee |
It had already really warmed up by the time we emerged but
there were a few more Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Brown Argus and Common Blues on the
remaining Creeping Thistle flowers and the fine patch of Corn Mint but as with other recent sites the Wild
Carrot and other blooms were sadly devoid of much in the way of insect
life.
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| Gatekeeper |
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| Brown Argus |
Cheilosia soror and Myathropa florea
were the only Hovers and there were a few Tachinids including several Linnaemya,
Eriothrix rufomaculata and Tachina fera which all proved problematical to photograph
in the warm breeze.
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| Myathropa florea |
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| Not sure what Tachinid is (if it is one) |
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| Not sure what Tachinid is (if it is one) |
At the end of the field there is a large Oak and walking
under its canopy was like entering a shop with the air con on. It was astonishing and a joy! A dead Ash showed some amazing beetle larval damage and a Sallow had been skeletonized at height by Sawflies!
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| Nature's tree tattooists |
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| This huge old pollard Ash had been uncovered at Birch Wood Corner and must have been especially impressive before its previous haircut. |
Migrant Hawkers collected in gangs in certain spots and were
especially numerous by the Meadow Clary spot where a gleaming Brown Hawker also
joined them. The Ectemnius wasps were
still on the Wild Parsnip but there were no Marbled Whites now at the top of
Kitchen Field and the search along the path for Blue Pimpernel was also unsuccessful.
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| Migrant Hawker |
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| Migrant Hawker |
We cut down Kitchen and through the quiet woods where
Episyrphus balteatus had replaced Syrphus ribesii in the battle over the stray
sunbeams breaching the canopy overhead. Even
the Perennial Sow Thistles had now gone over in The Valley and the fields were
an undulating carpet of Composite and Thistle down with the rasp of Meadow and
Field Grasshoppers cutting through. The sky
above was mesmerising being vivid blue with odd fluffy white clouds, wispy shimmering
curtains of cirrus and expanding plane contrails. Bromus commutatus was a new and distinctive
grass that we found and yes I did still have to ask Enid for help – I just do
not do grasses! The small white chalk snails
with brown girdle lines were dotted around the top of the grasses, aestivating
during this period of continued heat.
This is normally something I encounter in the Med and not on the English
North Downs.
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| Come on Mollusc people... help me out please! |
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| Bromus commutatus |
The meadow at Mill Wood once again held several Red Bartsia
bees and the Clustered Bellflowers were at their best while a smart Small
Copper and Brimstone were added. The
Hemp Agrimony was again almost devoid of life.
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| Clustered Bellflowers |
The huge Beech at this point has always been a focal point but I
had not seen the higher etchings some six or seven metres up. The earliest dates I could read were from
Nipples in 1967 and TS + SC on 9th October 1971. As Barry pointed out these incisions must
have been made at this height at a time when the tree had many more climbable
lower limbs. If this was not revelation enough, I walked around the other side
and at a similar height there was a carving of a man in a long coat, losing his
hat and holding a walking stick as he writes ‘Carved by PH’ in the bark. I always say that there is something new to
discover here and today was no exception.
On stepping back this much abused but stately Beech was also
seen to have a face encompassing most of the trunk when seen side on. How had I
not noticed this before either? I consoled myself with the fact that at least I
have always gone up to this tree and paid my respects before moving on.
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Looking left with the eye above the inscription...
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The path through Mill Wood gave us the chance for lunch and
couple of very nice female Silver Washed Fritillary encounters and a Comma even
came and sat on my had to collect sweaty salts (or perhaps some Monster Munch
granules?!). There were Brown Argus and
Common Blues and few Whites and a Buzzard glided over.
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| Comma |
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| Silver Washed Fritillary |
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| Eristalis pertinax |
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| Helophlius pendulus |
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| Silver Washed Fritillary |
There were still plenty of bees on the Marjoram and Bartsia
but with no Hogweed left there were almost no more flies and just the odd
Ectemnius. A Marsh Tit sneezed alongside
and popped up briefly on a stump before flicking away. This was a new bird for Karen.
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| Is this why Black Bryony is so named? |
We crossed Brockles Field where contractors were putting in
a new fence obviously designed to enclose the cattle when they are brought in
and I did not envy them the job in the heat. This was the stretch of path where
I saw the Hornet Robberflies on the 23rd and it was Karen who found
the first one just after my ‘keep your eyes open’ suggestion. It soon vapourised
from view seemingly without taking off but luckily I found a slightly more
obliging individual a little further one which we could all enjoy. They are beast and a half.
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| Hornet Robberfly - Asilus crabroniformis |
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| Hornet Robberfly - Asilus crabroniformis |
There were now only a few Browns in the fields with Small Heath
added to the mix and it was good to find the delightfully subtle (but dry and spiky)
Carline Thistles in flower. These ones
are the tallest I have ever seen as there have been no livestock in this field
all season.
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| Carline Thistle |
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| A Latticed Heath - thought it was bit late? |
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Machimus atricapillus |
The climb ensued back up to the Mausoleum before the
long pleasant stroll back down the hill
to the cars. Speckled Wood still danced
in the glades but Emperor season is now over. Mark went slightly off piste and
spooked a Muntjac which bunded away – the first once I have encountered here
(even if I only saw the tail!).
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| Enough Badger hair for a quality shaving brush |
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| The summer Foxgloves are now long gone over |
Migrant Hawkers were in every opening and a single Volucella
pellucens was on the remaining Brambles near the bridge before we crossed and
headed through the tunnel where three chaps were busy creating their latest ‘art
installation’ with spray paint over the top of what is already the seriously
defaced natural history mural…
Great day with a lot of firsts for me. Thanks Howard. Karen
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