SPOT THE BEE FLY ETC. ETC. UPDATE 27th APRIL 2023
Here we are again, fresh from a lovely holiday in Crete with fellow members and partners from our camera club, we enjoyed wall to wall sunshine throughout our week with a variety of photographic opportunities, we have included a few in this update.
First up though is this short observation note from Jackie and Tony:
April 9th _ “Morning Mike and Jenny, - just to report signs of the summer - swallows flying over Portland Bill yesterday on a very sunny and wind free (for a change) afternoon.” Best wishes Jackie
(Taken in Crete last week!)
Then from Mike Clift on a visit to Longham Lakes from his home in Dorset:
April 13th – “I intended to send a photo of Blackthorn that I took at Longham the other day. As this is a close up I wondered whether a shot of the group of plants there would be of any interest for Bee Fly?” Mike Clift
You will remember the interesting article from Pat Morris in our last update with regard to the rodent droppings found in their guest bed, - well, Pat decided an official investigation was needed and has produced the following brilliant report of his findings:
April 16th – “Dear Mike, B-fliers may be interested in certain mammal surveys conducted recently. Report attached.” Pat
Trapping Log
Habitat: Guest Bedroom.
Report of gnawed bedding, droppings and other evidence of suspicious and unwanted activity likely to cause distress to guests invited to sleep there. Fortunately, observer is one of my former students and therefore well-trained to adjust to the situation with minimal hysteria.
Day 1: Put out 4 grapes to see if any are gnawed or moved, indicating presence of mammal(s)
Day 2: Morning- All 4 grapes disappeared, action by large mammal suspected
Afternoon - Large Mammal confesses she has eaten them
Grapes replaced with notice ‘do not touch’ (assume small mammals will not read this)
Day 3: One grape missing, one trap closed.
Varmint captured, see Fig 1.
Would not confess to sins, condemned to deportation
Shown skin of bank vole as warning.
Translocation to Ruanda still blocked by court orders
Clandestine release in Surrey instead (Waitrose car park - chosen on humanitarian grounds for easy access to food supplies).
Day 4: Replacement grapes still in place, assumed no further Varmints present at this location
Day 5: Grape gone, large mammal denies responsibility. Trap found to contain a different species of varmint, see Fig. 2.
Given a first and final warning by being shown a ‘Little Nipper’ mouse trap. Deported to Hampshire in an effort to discourage unseemly inter-specific liaison in our spare bedroom.
Day 6: Varmints appear to be lying low.
Day 7-10: No further activity detected.
Local race of varmints presumed extinct. P. Morris 16 April 2023
Thanks Pat, - excellent!!
Bernard is next: Do you remember Emma Sherlock? - The young lady from the Natural History Museum, she presented her talk on Worms and also joined us at the Worm Charming event. Bernard has kindly provided the following link to another of her talks, - ‘Weird but Wonderful World of Worms’
April 16th – “Here is a link to a talk from Emma Sherlock. Emma was one of the favourite speakers we had and she is just as enthusiastic today. https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/2023/04/05/weird-but-wonderful-world-of-worms-tales-from-the-museum-collections/
Some odds and ends from me:
I was out on our regular Tuesday morning walk at Bramshill with Ken when I noticed what I thought was a red flower on a broken branch lying on the footpath, I picked it up and much to our surprise it was actually a deer horn which must have literally been shed minutes previously for the root was covered in fresh, wet blood!
Is it a Roe or Muntjac??
Here are a few photos from Crete:
Mountain Goat
Griffon Vulture flying very high !
Speckled Wood
Flowers galore!
Parasitic Orchid ????
Gladiola
I think enough said, so all for now, - please keep them coming!
Mike and Jenny