Another trip out...

10th  August 2018

      A trip out to Fingringhoe Wick E.W.T Nature reserve.

 

July and August are fairly quiet months for birdwatching, so what I do is make up the time before the Autumn migration begins, is look for other wildlife. There is plenty to find, Bee’s, Butterflies, Dragonflies and other interesting aspects of the countryside. Here’s a few things sighted on the walk.

                     

A couple of female Pheasants hiding in the long grass. Hard to see them sometimes, can you see them ? click on photo to enlarge.

               A Small Copper Butterfly ( lycaena philaeas ) enjoying a feed.

Robin's pincushion.

The Robin's Pincushion  is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp,  The gall is widespread and common, and can be found developing on the stems of Dog-roses during late summer; it acquires its reddish colour as it matures in autumn. Each gall holds many grubs, which feed on the gall tissues throughout the winter and emerge in spring as adults.

How to identify  The Robin's Pincushion is a spherical, red, fibrous growth on the stems of Dog-roses. You are more likely to see the galls than the adult gall wasps or the grubs.

             Dragonfly, I believe it to be a Common Darter ( sympetrum striolatum ).