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Richard’s nature notes
With December approaching I would like to recommend as an informative and
entertaining read ‘The Butterfly Isles’ by Patrick Barkham, which is now
available in paperback. It tells of his recent successful attempt to see
the adults of all 59 species of British butterflies in one year. The book
provides digestible information on all these species interwoven into a
series of adventures, interesting encounters and details of past butterfly
enthusiasts. For instance did you know that the famous clown Joseph
Grimaldi went to extreme lengths to search for blue butterflies in Kent
between nightly performances at Sadler’s Wells (as detailed in his memoirs
edited by Charles Dickens)? Details of all locations where he saw
butterflies (none unfortunately in Yorkshire) are included, as well as an
extensive bibliography and a useful index.
There is talk of another hard winter. The thought of more frogs dying under
the ice of frozen ponds is not pleasant. Heavy snow also creates problems
for some animals but benefits for others. For instance, long lying snow is
good for field voles, by providing insulation and protection from
predators.
During the year there was a report that a species of freshwater Corixid bug
(sometimes called a Lesser Water Boatman), which has been recorded near
Broomfleet, is considered to be the loudest animal relative to its size.
Males have a stridulation mechanism that can generate sound in water of up
to 99 decibels. Even though there is a loss of sound on transfer from water
to air it is said you can still hear these bugs when standing beside a
pond.
Invasive species continue to a cause of some concern. A website has been
set up to record the occurrence of the Chinese mitten crab, a species that
can burrow into and damage river banks:
http://mittencrabs.org.uk. When I checked this website a few months ago
there were records from the Humber near BAE Systems and in Market Weighton
Canal. The Killer Shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) is another
invader that has been publicised in the national media. Locally, the
Environment Agency has put traps in Hornsea Mere to see if it is present (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-15107228).
This species, which is considered to have a voracious appetite for other
freshwater invertebrates, was found for the first time in the UK (in
Cambridgeshire) in 2010.
Lovers of hedgehogs may wish to note that there is a new initiative to stop
the decline in their number. When not hibernating, hedgehogs can apparently
travel about a mile every night looking for food and a mate. One idea is to
create one or more holes of about 15 cm in diameter in the bottom of garden
fences or walls, or dig an equivalent channel underneath, to allow hedgehogs
to wander freely between neighbouring gardens, see
http://www.hedgehogstreet.org
A web site from New Zealand (
provided by Heather ) members may find interesting.
http://hiddenforest.co.nz
You can find Rosemary's Turn of the Season
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