Contrasting fortunes

 Many of us are still waiting for warmer nights and dryer days. I would like warmer nights hoping to catch more moths in our moth trap. This spring has been a disaster for those of us who count moths and butterflies. Except for Orange Tips in early May, I have hardly seen any butterflies at all. The numbers of moths I have recorded is easily half of those in the same time period for the last two years. Fortunately I am still getting some beauties like Maiden's Blush and Ruby Tiger.

 I have had distressing reports from the north of our county of  Brown Long-eared bats brought into care in need of feeding. This is more evidence of lower numbers of moths there as well.  

The rain washed caterpillars off tree leaves, leaving none for those birds that collect there for feeding their young such as Blue and Great Tits. We have noted several of our nest boxes have had 50% loss of young after hatching. Robins and thrushes that are ground feeders have not been affected.

The wet weather, though bad for moths and butterflies, has been good for many of the wildflowers. Not only those we have planted, but all the others. Marsh Cinquefoil, Orchids and Buttercups have been doing well as you may see below.

 

 

Lighter evenings mean I can also help with some pond dipping sessions for Scouts and Beavers. In one of them, as we were looking at Banded Demoiselle nymphs, this adults paid us a visit. I can't remember ever having one this close before.

 

 

  

wildlife in abundance

Dragonflies start to come out in late May and I had organised a walk to see how many were around on Cuerden valley Park. I had a short presentation so folk could know what to look for and then set off down the Meadow Path. Turning left after the wooden bridge ( Link Bridge) we scanned the River Lostock in several spots What a wonderful display. A few Banded Demoiselles on the river, but several more in the grasses at the edge. There were also some Large Red damselflies. We paused at the new Dipping Platform and were delighted here as well. Despite several doomsayers predictions of little pond life being left after we cleared out the ditch, we had a plethora of creatures. Large Red, Azure, Blue-Tailed damzelflies and some more Banded Demoiselles were noted with pleasure there. Photos by Alan Graves are of Banded Demoiselle and Blue-Tailed.

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During Half Term week we organised a Wildlife Week on Cuerden. Monday was "Discovering Wildlife" We had some doing crafty stuff making dragonflies, others trying puzzles or guessing which skull belongs to which animal, or which feather belongs to which bird.. We also had some owl pellets for the kids to open out to see what Mr Barnie had for breakfast.

            

    

It was a busy week with finding critters that lived in the river, catching bugs in the meadow and making a Heron nest. The week involved great teamwork between staff and volunteers from Cuerden VP

 

I certainly enjoyed sharing all the wildlife experiences with the children and feedback would suggest they all enjoyed it too, One response said "It was well good"

Persistence Pays Off.

 For some time I have been trying to take a colleague and her family to see badgers. We tried a couple of times in April and had alovely time. We saw a hare, a wood mouse, some bats, heard an owl and even had a Roe Deer bark at us. However no sight or sound of any badgers. These were good but not what we were hoping for.

  

Another friend contacted me and said he had some badgers that had started coming out of a sett near where he walks. We organised a date and went to the meeting place. There was a bit of a walk then carefully down a slope. It had been raining which made the grass slippy. We then positioned ourselves ion a spot where my contact said would be best. The midges that evening were very hungry and feasted on our blood. Suddenly we heard a snuffle then a sight of a nose at the end of a black and white face. There was a female badger. Even more exciting she was followed by at least two cubs and more adults. What a thrilling half hour we had watching healthy badgers, especially the young ones having fun. The midge bites were worth it to have this wonderful experience.