News for August 2010

Hoverflies by the thousands

At the end of July and into August there was a huge immigration of the small hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus ("The Marmalade fly") and gardens throughout North Essex were full of them nectaring on flowers and also eating aphids, much to the joy of gardeners. As well as these migrants there were many other hoverfly species including the spectacular Volucella zonaria, a hornet mimic. Volucella larvae all live as scavengers in the nests of wasps and bumble bees. As well as the invasion of migratory hoverflies there was a big influx in July and early August of silver-Y moths and also migrant hawker Dragonflys.

The small hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus "The Marmalade fly" (left) and the spectacular Volucella zonaria, a hornet mimic (right), are among the many species currently appearing in Essex.

New Damselfly found at Cattawade

During the CNHS field survey meeting at the RSPB Cattawade Marshes reserve led by Russell Leavett on July 28, a specimen of the willow emerald damselfly was found and photographed by David Barnard. This is a new arrival to the UK from the Continent first discovered in East Anglia two years ago and which is now found in a number of sites in Essex and Suffolk.

Willow emerald - photo Roy Cornhill

Water vole sightings

There have been good sightings of water voles at the Mill Pond in Thorrington as a result of mink control in Tendring. As recently as 2008 mink were regular visitors to the pond and water voles were never seen but thanks to local landowners and land managers, co-ordinated by Essex Wildlife Trust, mink have been removed and native wildlife such as wildfowl and water vole, are benefitting.

Mink are also being controlled on the River Colne from Gt Yeldham to Colchester with up to 50 animals removed in 2009-2010. Monitoring is ongoing following a recent translocation of nearly 300 water voles onto a stretch of river from Wakes Colne down to West Bergholt. A substantial number were released on the Woodland Trust's Fordham Hall nature reserve. Some of the water voles are being radio tracked over July and August to provide information about the success (or otherwise) of such projects.

One of the radio tracked water voles, rediscovered during surveys after the release. If you want to take part in radio tracking at weekends over July and August contact CNHS Mammal Recorder Darren Tansley for details.

If you see mink on the Colne, or anywhere in Essex then please contact CNHS Mammal Recorder, Darren Tansley at Essex Wildlife Trust on 01621 862995 or email darrent@essexwt.org.uk.

[About us] [News] [Watching Wildlife] [Watching Wildlife Archive] [Events] [Membership] [Publications] [Recording] [Recorders List] [Contact] [Hillhouse Wood]

© 2005-2010 Colchester Natural History Society ¦ Website design by Ecotrack