Nature Notes May 2024
Nature Notes May 2024
As we arrived at Sparham pool car park on a warm sunny day to the beginning of May, we could hear a Blackcap singing in the trees nearby. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Lesser Whitethroat were all heard as we walked round the disused gravel pit, now a wildlife reserve: the summer warblers had definitely arrived. Later we could hear a distant Cuckoo calling along the valley. An Orange-tip butterfly dashed past. In a sheltered hollow, there were three Hairy Shieldbugs sunning themselves on a Foxglove leaf. As we walked on we could see a Great Crested Grebe sitting on her floating nest well away from the bank, to protect it from predators. Her mate sat nearby on the water guarding her; their chestnut head plumes glowed in the sunshine. Suddenly we heard the ‘kirri-kirri-kirri’ calls of Common Terns. They were back! Looking up, we could see the bright white plumage of five long winged, graceful birds circling each other, as they announced their return from Africa to breed on the Wensum Valley gravel pits. Most Common Terns nest on the coast but some make use of suitable inland habitats where there is good fishing and suitable nesting areas. Some of these birds may nest on the specially made tern rafts provided on some other the pits, but others may take their chance on the gravelly island here, with Black-headed Gulls as noisy neighbours. We walked part way along the Wensum Way and here were drifts of spring flowers: Red Campion; white Jack-by-the-Hedge and bright blue Forget-me-nots made a welcome splash of colour and the Hawthorn in the hedges was in full flower, while the oak leaves were their very special spring green. The air hummed with insect activity: spring was rushing on towards summer.
Rufus had taken some wonderful pictures of the young Blackbirds and Robins in his garden. Muriel reported that the Swifts were back on 6th May over her garden. She also had Mint Moth on her mint and a mating pair of Large Red damselflies in the garden. The recordings of Swift calls will be switched on in St Mary’s tower on 14th May. Please look out for any Swifts around the tower and let me know if you see any, especially if they are going up to the louvres.
Do let me know if you see any interesting wildlife (rachel.42rr@btinternet.com)
