HARVEST TIME :~
The Ings have now all been mown , for the first time in about six years.
As I mentioned in my last , this is not necessarily bad news, since it will encourage new growth , and just possibly a bit more diversity in the wet meadow flora.
The dominant tall grass on the Ings here is Reed Sweet-Grass , Glyceria maxima, that many mistake for the common reed .It doesn't grow quite as tall , but it's nonetheless impressive.
The downside is the loss of cover for animals of all sizes, from insects to deer.
The first field to be cut is already looking very green, but it will not have time to grow to any great height before next year's breeding season , which may affect the birds that nest in it, such as Reed Buntings .
There will have been casualties amongst the birds and mammals : I found a dead mole ,
an hour or two after the mower had been round , but that is they way of things.
Now to some bad news...
I believe we have now lost our watervoles from the drain , possibly to Mink,
which have been frequently seen along the river.
I have looked regularly for any sign , since they leave little grazed areas, but found nothing.
I will check carefully over the winter, when observation is so much easier, but I don't think we shall see them.
If anyone has seen one recently, let me know.
On the same lines, we have also apparently lost our Sandmartins.
I walked north a week or two ago on a fine day, to watch them in the sandy bank
by Fulford where they have long nested.
Nothing .
Lapwings also absent from that area , where last year they were conspicuous ;
though they are still to be seen on the fields towards Acaster.
And as many will already now, someone has shot the Grey Seal that was active in the river earlier this year.
Nature is very cruel, or should I say indifferent.
But we don't have to add to it.
The animal, according to the RSPCA , had obviously been injured some weeks before it was found. It was shot with a shotgun , which suggests an adult culprit rather a silly boy with an air-rifle.
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INSECTS
A couple of new things :
A Lesser Stag Beetle , which I met sitting on a Tansy flower.
Since we are on the topic of beetles, we are presently having an explosion of 7-spot Ladybirds. I haven't seen any Harlequin ladybird invaders recently .
The Tansy Beetles are doing well in Acaster: I have just walked the flood bank south of Naburn Lock, and they are flourishing there on the numerous clumps of Tansy.
Grasshoppers : ever since I've lived here, I have never seen a grasshopper.
This summer I was delighted to find them in my front lawn ( well miniature meadow really , since I've not mown it this year ). Only Chorthippus brunneus, the common field varity , but nontheless welcome. So far I've not found them elsewhere in the village , but they must be around.
We also have the Small Copper butterfly : just a few , but a new one for my list.
Not a rare species by any means , but nice to have them.
PLANTS :~
We can manage a little rich profusion of wildflowers, in a few corners .
Here's a pic taken by the drain on the Ings about two weeks ago :
Mostly Marsh Woundwort, with Vetch in front and Hemp Agrimony behind.
Some new plants :
Enchanter's Nightshade, growing in the old churchyard.
A great name, supposedly used by Circe to turn Odysseus' sailors into pigs.
I believe it may have been brought in on someone's trousers....
And the Field Pansy , growing in unmeasurable profusion beneath the still uncut barley:~
********************************************************************************************************
The Ings have now all been mown , for the first time in about six years.
As I mentioned in my last , this is not necessarily bad news, since it will encourage new growth , and just possibly a bit more diversity in the wet meadow flora.
The dominant tall grass on the Ings here is Reed Sweet-Grass , Glyceria maxima, that many mistake for the common reed .It doesn't grow quite as tall , but it's nonetheless impressive.
The downside is the loss of cover for animals of all sizes, from insects to deer.
The first field to be cut is already looking very green, but it will not have time to grow to any great height before next year's breeding season , which may affect the birds that nest in it, such as Reed Buntings .
There will have been casualties amongst the birds and mammals : I found a dead mole ,
an hour or two after the mower had been round , but that is they way of things.
Now to some bad news...
I believe we have now lost our watervoles from the drain , possibly to Mink,
which have been frequently seen along the river.
I have looked regularly for any sign , since they leave little grazed areas, but found nothing.
I will check carefully over the winter, when observation is so much easier, but I don't think we shall see them.
If anyone has seen one recently, let me know.
On the same lines, we have also apparently lost our Sandmartins.
I walked north a week or two ago on a fine day, to watch them in the sandy bank
by Fulford where they have long nested.
Nothing .
Lapwings also absent from that area , where last year they were conspicuous ;
though they are still to be seen on the fields towards Acaster.
And as many will already now, someone has shot the Grey Seal that was active in the river earlier this year.
Nature is very cruel, or should I say indifferent.
But we don't have to add to it.
The animal, according to the RSPCA , had obviously been injured some weeks before it was found. It was shot with a shotgun , which suggests an adult culprit rather a silly boy with an air-rifle.
**********************************************************************************************************
INSECTS
A couple of new things :
A Lesser Stag Beetle , which I met sitting on a Tansy flower.
Since we are on the topic of beetles, we are presently having an explosion of 7-spot Ladybirds. I haven't seen any Harlequin ladybird invaders recently .
The Tansy Beetles are doing well in Acaster: I have just walked the flood bank south of Naburn Lock, and they are flourishing there on the numerous clumps of Tansy.
Grasshoppers : ever since I've lived here, I have never seen a grasshopper.
This summer I was delighted to find them in my front lawn ( well miniature meadow really , since I've not mown it this year ). Only Chorthippus brunneus, the common field varity , but nontheless welcome. So far I've not found them elsewhere in the village , but they must be around.
We also have the Small Copper butterfly : just a few , but a new one for my list.
Not a rare species by any means , but nice to have them.
PLANTS :~
We can manage a little rich profusion of wildflowers, in a few corners .
Here's a pic taken by the drain on the Ings about two weeks ago :
Mostly Marsh Woundwort, with Vetch in front and Hemp Agrimony behind.
Some new plants :
Enchanter's Nightshade, growing in the old churchyard.
A great name, supposedly used by Circe to turn Odysseus' sailors into pigs.
I believe it may have been brought in on someone's trousers....
And the Field Pansy , growing in unmeasurable profusion beneath the still uncut barley:~
********************************************************************************************************
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