BUSY BEES

Another sunny evening on Wednesday 18th meant another walk along the Strood seawall. Another failed attempt to find the rare and elusive oil beetle which normally appears in early spring. A crucial part of the beetles life cycle is dependent on small mining bees similar to the one pictured above. This mining bee is one of the Andrena family and all along the seawall path there are lots of tiny excavated holes dug out by them where they raise their young.

This oak bush proved to be a popular gathering spot for the bees as they sought some shelter from the evening breeze. Also out enjoying the evening sunshine were three small copper butterflies

One of the most noticeable spring plants spreading across the Island in recent years is Alexanders. It grows so fast in spring before any other plants get going and as a result has colonised verges, seawall, grasslands and even gardens. It is originally from the land of Alexander the Great's Macedonia, hence the name and maybe we should encourage people to eat the plant as a control measure, as the plant is very edible and tasty.

Bird-wise a lone sedge warbler was trying his hardest with his little display flight, as he sang his harsh and loud song above the reeds before fluttering back down again. Out in the Channel, the very low tide meant that waders seemed thinly distributed with only 50 redshank the most numerous.

The most unusual sight of the walk was a pair of Australian black swans flying low over the houses close to the Dabchicks as they headed north-west. As they were approaching me it was unclear whether they were cormorants or geese especially as the white wings confused matters. Passing overhead however, the black bodies, long necks and the red bills confirmed this very unusual sighting of black swans. The birds flew low over the Ray Island and seemed to be heading back to the nearby Abberton reservoir, where a couple have been present in recent months.