theweatheroutlook

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DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
10 June 2023 18:36:59
Two points:

- I drove over to East Sussex today for a meeting, about 60 miles, and there were 6 animal corpses on the roads, 4 badgers and 2 foxes. That's more than I would expect. Were the badgers searching for food away from their usual haunts? And if you multiply up, that's quite a large cumulative death toll.

- More cheerfully, on the insect front, enough honey  bees on the campanula (lactiflora? - the low-growing one) to attract attention by the amount of buzzing, and aphids a-plenty on the lunaria.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
11 June 2023 06:47:27
https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/gbab 
We had that badger back in the garden last night. 🦡


 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Retron
11 June 2023 07:10:49

I think we are fighting a losing battle now. It's not just the run of bad weather it is the lack of insects and their larvae.

Originally Posted by: fairweather 


If it's insects you want, come to my garden - I've come in from a half hour's tidying up (mainly brambles and stickyweed) and saw plenty of insects, including (rather puzzlingly) several bumble bees in the large hazel tree. No idea what they were doing with it, but they seemed obsessed: I saw at least four at a time crawling over the leaves, and by the buzzing sound overhead and behind me there were more in the tree.

There were also plenty of other insects flying around, I disturbed clouds of them as I pushed through the longer grass... and ended up with "spit" on my trousers, which I think is from a froghopper.

This is still relatively early in the day, I expect the hoverflies and more will appear later on.

The first clovers are now opening on the lawn (which seems to have acquired buttercups from somewhere too), and the fuchsia is now well in bloom. No bees on them, though, which is unusual. I still don't know why the bumble bees (with brilliant white tails) were so fascinated with the hazel leaves though!
Leysdown, north Kent
Retron
11 June 2023 07:22:46

https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/gbab 
We had that badger back in the garden last night. 🦡
 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


They always seem exotic to me, but that's because there are no badgers on the island where I live. That said, there were no foxes up until the 1950s (any previous ones having been killed), but when the new bridge was opened in 1959 some trotted along the pavement and onto the island. There are now (apparently) quite a few around, but they're seldom seen out in the open... they're definitely not urban foxes!

I can't imagine it'd be as easy for badgers to make the trek.
Leysdown, north Kent
Retron
12 June 2023 09:08:32
I've got the day off work today, so went out to investigate that hazel tree in the garden.

Even as you approach you can hear the buzzing, and it's now positively swarming with bumble bees! There must be a nest nearby, although I still can't figure out why they're so obsessed with the hazel leaves. Upon closer inspection there seems to be a white powder (?) on the leaves, maybe that's what they're after.

A few of them have now found the fuchsia bush, and it looks like the box hedge is about to come out in bloom, they're sniffing around that too.

That's the second time in three years that I've had a bumblebee nest, the last one was under the shed (and wasn't anywhere near as populous as this one must be - the buzzing has to be heard to be believed!)

EDIT: Perhaps it's just honeydew they're after? Looking for photos of leaves with honeydew shows a similar "powder" look!

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bee-faqs/bumblebees-and-aphids-2/ 

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/bee1.jpg 
https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/bee2.jpg 
https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/bee3.jpg 

UserPostedImage
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Leysdown, north Kent
+1
Roger Parsons
12 June 2023 10:30:06
We spotted a bee orchid in the grass next to the village hall where we have our Monday exercise class, and a Little Owl sitting on a shaded gate on our way home. What's the third interesting thing going to be, I wonder?
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Saint Snow
12 June 2023 14:29:50
There was a great feature on Springwatch last week about an RSPB report into how grouse moor gamekeepers were continuing to kill [protected] hen harriers, and raid their nest to destroy eggs.

They had some twat from the C*ntryside Alliance on, who just denied everything and tried to cast doubt on the RSPB study.

 

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
Roger Parsons
12 June 2023 14:59:12

There was a great feature on Springwatch last week about an RSPB report into how grouse moor gamekeepers were continuing to kill [protected] hen harriers, and raid their nest to destroy eggs.

They had some twat from the C*ntryside Alliance on, who just denied everything and tried to cast doubt on the RSPB study.

 

Originally Posted by: Saint Snow 


Such rules do not apply to the entitled, Saint. "Serfs you are and serfs you will remain."

https://www.historyhit.com/why-was-the-peasants-revolt-so-significant/ 

 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
fairweather
13 June 2023 18:01:15
........ plus the most recently prosecuted for poisoning about 15 birds of prey (they found birds and an illegal pesticide in his shed!) got a suspended sentence and a paltry fine (£980?) which his boss will pay anyway for him doing so much good. Never ever heard of a gamekeeper being sacked for this so they should fine the land owner for collusion - like about £1m.
S.Essex, 42m ASL
+1
Roger Parsons
14 June 2023 15:48:20
Not sure where to post this...
Shark that ate swimmer alive to go on display at Egyptian museum
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/shark-ate-russian-swimmer-alive-140006196.html 
 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
17 June 2023 14:56:26
"Honey bees aren’t an endangered species; they’re causing chaos".
Says the lady who wasn't able to tell the difference between a bee and a wasp when they appeared in her house.
“Wasps!” I wailed to my analyst husband, Chris, who like me is 44. I frantically vacuumed them up and deposited them outside as fast as they arrived...
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/other/honey-bees-aren-t-an-endangered-species-they-re-causing-chaos/ar-AA1cDtXd?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=9b4cbe8e1e014f1594c07efc93bff06f&ei=34 
Make of this story what you will. Some fragments of truth but the overall picture is honeybees are not endangered anymore.

Nick
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
17 June 2023 15:00:35

Not sure where to post this...
Shark that ate swimmer alive to go on display at Egyptian museum
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/shark-ate-russian-swimmer-alive-140006196.html 
 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 



Not sure what to make of the story apart from the fact that the shark ate a Russian. A cunning Ukrainian ploy?
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
Retron
17 June 2023 16:02:25

"Honey bees aren’t an endangered species; they’re causing chaos".
Says the lady who wasn't able to tell the difference between a bee and a wasp when they appeared in her house.
...
Make of this story what you will. Some fragments of truth but the overall picture is honeybees are not endangered anymore.
Nick

Originally Posted by: NMA 


I posted a comment on the real version of the story, which interestingly has only a quarter of the comments that the freebie version has!

It's an interesting point wrt honey bees. I rarely see them in my garden, as has ever been the case, with bumble bees being at least an order of magnitude more common (or two orders at the moment with the nest I have). There are several commercial hives a few hundred metres away, but I guess those bees don't wander far.

The snag is it's hard to tell a farmed bee from a wild one...
 
Leysdown, north Kent
Roger Parsons
17 June 2023 16:42:53
You guys are living dangerously letting me find this subject!!!!!!🤣
Honeybees are as "native" as any feral species can be. They have been in the UK for a long time. Remember that pretty much everything in the UK is an immigrant! I have a photo on my website of a Roman mosaic with Cupid robbing a "Skep" hive. Honeybees will happily live wild in the UK and trouble no one. We've had a feral colony in a redundant chimney - no issues.
The concern is many indigenous bee species are having a difficult time, mainly due to a steady loss of habitat and native flora. If they have to compete with the "superorganism" of a honeybee colony they may find the going gets tough. This is especially true when large numbers of bees are pollinating monocultures of a farm crop, such as oil seed rape, at the expense of their natural setting. Overpopulation of any species is also a danger as far as epidemic disease is concerned - bees or humans. As far as people are concerned, being near an apiary can be a recipe for trouble when hive jobs are being carried out. Responsible beekeepers won't put people at risk. If anyone wants to know more PM me and I'll give you a link to my bee webpage.
p.s. Honeybees will fly quite a distance to forage - 5 miles is often quoted. I used to be the LBKA county spray liaison officer, keeping records of all the hives in Lincolnshire so farmers knew where they were and could liaise with beekeepers to avoid spray accidents. I worked out there was not one Km square in the county honeybees could not reach!!!!!
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
18 June 2023 07:24:27

You guys are living dangerously letting me find this subject!!!!!!🤣
Honeybees are as "native" as any feral species can be. They have been in the UK for a long time. Remember that pretty much everything in the UK is an immigrant! I have a photo on my website of a Roman mosaic with Cupid robbing a "Skep" hive. Honeybees will happily live wild in the UK and trouble no one. We've had a feral colony in a redundant chimney - no issues.
The concern is many indigenous bee species are having a difficult time, mainly due to a steady loss of habitat and native flora. If they have to compete with the "superorganism" of a honeybee colony they may find the going gets tough. This is especially true when large numbers of bees are pollinating monocultures of a farm crop, such as oil seed rape, at the expense of their natural setting. Overpopulation of any species is also a danger as far as epidemic disease is concerned - bees or humans. As far as people are concerned, being near an apiary can be a recipe for trouble when hive jobs are being carried out. Responsible beekeepers won't put people at risk. If anyone wants to know more PM me and I'll give you a link to my bee webpage.
p.s. Honeybees will fly quite a distance to forage - 5 miles is often quoted. I used to be the LBKA county spray liaison officer, keeping records of all the hives in Lincolnshire so farmers knew where they were and could liaise with beekeepers to avoid spray accidents. I worked out there was not one Km square in the county honeybees could not reach!!!!!

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 



As soon as I saw this edition of what was (I think?) a widely syndicated piece aimed at different audiences, I though 'light the touch paper and run' Roger.

Are Swifts and other Hirundines really native? And of course when will bee eaters become native? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-65910074  

Anyway here's another story more local to me you might find interesting for Sunday morning.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23588628.plans-advance-new-honey-bee-centre-north-dorset/ 

 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
Roger Parsons
18 June 2023 08:01:00

... Are Swifts and other Hirundines really native? And of course when will bee eaters become native? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-65910074  
Anyway here's another story more local to me you might find interesting for Sunday morning.
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23588628.plans-advance-new-honey-bee-centre-north-dorset/ 

Originally Posted by: NMA 

Interesting, Nick!!! What makes a native species? Come to that, what constitutes a species? Speak to a professional taxonomist and they will probably say "What we taxonomists agree is a species - until we know more." 😁 Advances in the understanding of DNA has markedly improved on earlier ideas based on morphological comparisons, distribution and ability to interbreed to produce fertile offspring. An added source of confusion is the convention over naming species correctly [based on the original identification] and the horrible relentless drive to "improve" common names! Consequently every autumn I have the reeducate myself on current fungus nomenclature as all my books will be annoyingly full of obsolete synonyms! 😱

As far as Hirudines and Swifts are concerned an obvious question is: Where is a migratory animal "native"? Where they breed? Or where they spend most of their time? Given that the environmental/ecological change produces changes in habitat, we can expect to see species' boundaries change. The tragic conflicts surrounding human migration and boundaries are a stark example of this biological process in action.

WRT Beekeeping "Centres" - I have a personal aversion to an overplayed centre-based interpretation of something that is best delivered in a practical way by a knowledgeable person. I know the zeitgeist is for real and virtual snappy interpretation, but as Robert Henlein's saying goes: "A university is a log with a student sitting at one end and the teacher at the other." Honey farms and centres are great - but only as the Icing on the Cake!

 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
+1
Retron
21 June 2023 14:34:36
Today marked the appearance of dragonflies - at least four of them (black and yellow), zipping this way and that around the back garden. I note the usual midge-like insects are reduced in number, can't think why...

(Back in the 80s and 90s at least half the houses in my road had ponds in their back gardens. Now there are only two of us left with them, and the chap over the road has fancy fish in his. Mine's nowhere near that elegant, indeed some would call it an overgrown mess, but I've seen dragonflies for the past four years - so they at least like it!)

 
Leysdown, north Kent
+1
Roger Parsons
21 June 2023 20:17:47
Our garden badger...
https://twitter.com/i/status/1671431971258486785 


 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Roger Parsons
19 July 2023 05:34:41
Some ancient and astounding natural history...
Mammal and dinosaur found ‘locked in mortal combat’ from 125m years ago
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/mammal-dinosaur-found-locked-mortal-150000384.html 


 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
19 July 2023 11:49:41
Interesting Roger which reminds me of this story since it’s connected to volcanoes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66226417 
which of course leads on to this. Living on top of a time bomb is not my idea of bliss. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210730-the-enigma-of-europes-largest-active-volcano 

Someone suggested that New Zealand would make a good bolt hole if the ball goes up. I'm not so sure.
Nick
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
roadrunnerajn
20 July 2023 17:51:23
This morning I awoke to find a stick insect on the outside of our upstairs bedroom window. It was around 8 inches 20cm long. 
After some research it appears that they do breed in Devon and Cornwall and have done for 100 years after they were introduced by mistake from New Zealand.
Germoe, part of the breakaway Celtic Republic.
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
20 July 2023 18:13:01
I've seen a locust in Cornwall. Just passing through, I assume.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Bertwhistle
01 August 2023 06:45:27
Huge numbers of red admirals at Woburn Centerparcs. On two buddleias, counted 47 admirals, 4 peacocks and the odd white, blue and comma.
No fritillaries though, which are often dominant in the Longleat CP.
I wonder if it's natural regional variability or a favourable year for admirals. 
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
01 August 2023 07:36:54

Huge numbers of red admirals at Woburn Centerparcs. On two buddleias, counted 47 admirals, 4 peacocks and the odd white, blue and comma.
No fritillaries though, which are often dominant in the Longleat CP.
I wonder if it's natural regional variability or a favourable year for admirals. 

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 



Numerous Red Admirals around here too in this part of Dorset. A good year for them it seems.
Nick
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Roger Parsons
03 August 2023 07:13:50
I had the pleasure of a pick of Suede Boletes in the garden yesterday. We had some on toast for our tea!
I'm sure you know not to eat anything you are not sure about. [...as the actress said the the bishop!]
Let the fungus season begin.
https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/suede-bolete-2/ 

 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

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