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Country Reports for August 2004
This must be one of the best seasons for insects for a very long time. Butterflies are nectaring on a wide range of plants in the parish. I have just seen two fresh Clouded Yellows that had obviously just emerged. This bright yellow migrant butterfly often now produces broods in this country and in mild winters the larval stage has been recorded as over wintering on the South Coast. Our own Hover Fly population has been boosted by very large numbers of migrants and this has led to reports of humans being driven from Essex beaches by their numbers. More unwelcome are the large numbers of wasps, which have been devouring the raspberries, loganberries and plums before they can be picked. Help is at hand as I have had many reports of Badgers not only digging out bumble bee nests but also those of wasps. Geoff Stone had a nest partly destroyed by a badger. He decided to finish the job but the wasps were ready for him and he ended up being stung. He suggests that the badger is probably protected from stings by their thick fur. I think this is unlikely and that they are made of sterner stuff than us humans. Once a wasp or bee stings the scent attracts more insects to the site of the attack so a digging badger must suffer many stings to their less protected face in getting to the delicacy of the brood cells. A badger dug out a hornet’s nest from a woodpile in our garden. Though I have always found hornets to be reasonably docile, but when aroused they can give a considerable sting. A friend of ours ended up in hospital after only three stings when he accidentally strimmed their nest in a heap of grass cuttings.Graham Ayland, School Road brought several attractive (Syl and I thought they were attractive) Leaf Beetles to be identified. There are over 250 species of Leaf beetles in this country and these belonged to a species whose larval stage is spent in water. The plants in the border near his garden pond had all suffered severe leaf damage.
Stuart Grout, The Pines had the Kestrels return this year to their regular nest site in the garden. One of the young fell from the nest, possibly ejected by a stronger sibling. Stuart put the chick in a large cage in the garden and fed it daily. It was finally released at the beginning of this month and has continued to return to be fed. A real success story.
Andy Goodey reported a Quail, which he saw on the ground and in flight in a cornfield off Queenborough Lane. Quail winter in Africa and breed throughout Europe and South-eastern England. They are very difficult to see and are usually found by their call. In shape they resemble a small partridge (Grey Partridge about 30 cm, Quail about 17 cm). I have only one other record for Rayne and that was probably an escape.
Beryl Whiteside saw a Little Owl at the Gas Trap in Pods Lane. In the past a pair has nested near here in a hole high in an ash tree though I have found them at ground level in old hollow stumps. We have had a Yellow Hammer in the garden and more surprising a Reed Warbler, which must have mistaken the marginal vegetation round our pond for a reed bed.
Marion Swetenham has found the skin of a Grass Snake in her garden. I have not seen the skin but one person thought it belonged to an Adder. I would like to hope they were right but it is unlikely.
Roger Jiggins 01376 324 311, email r.jiggins@btconnect.com
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