The Wildlife Group Update

Share a close encounter with wild life:

This beautiful upside-down cup and saucer like construction was made by a long thin wasp slightly bigger than the “home” it was making (50p in picture for scale). It is Maureen’s “Potters Wasp” nest that traditionally used her shed for their home. Interestingly they vacated the old shed when it became damp and recolonised the smart new shed - obviously, a discerning bunch. I tried to find the exact species but failed, can anyone help identify this wasp please?

What we have done in June:

We raked up the Spring wildflower area in Ditcheat Churchyard and did some maintenance of Ditcheat School Wildlife area.

Visits: Our two all day outings have been a tremendous success. I appreciate that many of you can’t join us for a mid-week all day outing, for which I apologise, but they have been blessed with great weather and superb wildlife sights which we all enjoyed.

Yarner Woods is a pure Oak wood and its specialities are the melodious Wood Warblers, Pied Flycatchers who look like men in Dinner jackets and the flash of red that is the Redstart. The woods are part of a greater nature reserve with downland and a river valley along the Bovey. On our return journey, we went into Topsham and Bowling Green Marsh to see estuary birds, the numbers of Whimbrel(over 100) was an unusual sight and the grand total of different species we saw in the day amounted to about 75 different birds.

Martin Down and Garston Woods were two more A1 habitats. The sheer numbers and diversity of the flora, insects and birds was stunning,for example, large quantities of Adonis Blue butterflies. We tried to look after our creature comforts and I am pleased to say we excelled at it! We ended the day at an excellent hostelry called the Horseshoe Inn in Ebbesbourne Wake, complete with entertainment in the form of Morris dancers.

Meeting up:

  • Thursday 20th July at 7.30pm Owl Prowl with Chris Sperring.

Limited to 15 people cost £10pp. Booking essential, see contact below.

  • 19th July at 10am for Ditcheat Churchyard survey

Tips: July is often a month for second broods of birds, so when hedge cutting or pruning climbers take care. If you haven’t done so already, leave your Summer wildflower area to grow.

Contact information:

Bridget Wadey:

email:

or phone: 01749 860240

  • You can follow our activities by:joining our emailing list; contact Bridget see above,
  • through the FTN news( there is usually a monthly update on the Wildlife group
  • or , this site publishes our meetings and activities as they happen. The Wildlife Group has its own tag