October 2010
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Autumn brings the opportunity for some very rewarding birdwatching. Lots of wintering
geese, ducks and waders are on coastal reserves and in the estuaries. Dark-bellied
brent geese are back in numbers and by the end of the month you can see them in big
flocks on the grasslands at Cudmore Grove Country Park, East Mersea; the Walton Backwaters;
Tollesbury; Goldhanger and St Osyth. With them are big flocks of wigeon and also
large flocks of golden plovers are a delight at East Mersea, Tollesbury Wick and
in the Stour estuary.
Another wader attraction is the arrival of flocks of black-
Walton Naze can be a birding hot spot in October as there is always the chance of
a rare autumn vagrant or two. In recent autumns there have been sightings of a Radde’s
warbler from central and east Asia; yellow-
October often sees a sizeable influx of goldcrests from across the North Sea and Walton Naze is often one of the places where they make landfall, stopping to rest and feed in the bushes. The same can also boast a firecrest or two.
This is the month when redwings and fieldfares flock in from Scandinavia and the
Baltic. Look for them on berry-
There are still a few butterflies on the wing on sunny days. Red admirals feed on ivy bloom. Now we have milder winters in the main (the last one was the exception of course being the coldest for 30 years!) red admirals are now known to hibernate and can be seen again in the spring. Quite often there are a few small coppers of a third brood and where there are still some ripe blackberries comma butterflies feed on the juices before hibernating. Members of Essex Moth Group, including myself, can expect some traditional autumn species at our garden lams and traps. These include the sallow group; feathered ranunculus; lunar underwing; Blair's shoulder knot and beaded chestnut.
Ian Rose, our local fungi expert, is very busy leading fungus forays in local woods. Fortunately the rains of September have produced some welcome "flushes" of fungi and it's best to get to know the identity of these fascinating and colourful growths and to learn from Ian which species which are edible and those which are certainly not.
As well as leading the traditional Colchester Natural History Society fungus foray at Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk on Sunday, October 10, Ian will be out with his trug at Wivenhoe Woods on Sunday, October 31 and at High Woods Country Park, on Sunday, November 7.
UPDATES
Continental moth colonist at St Osyth
In recent years a small greyish moth, Clancy's rustic, which is an immigrant originally
from south-
Hummingbird hawk moths still here
Ian rose reports that a hummingbird hawk moth was still visiting flowers in his Mistley
Garden in first days of October. He has had one or more of these dashing little hawk
moths which came to Britain from Southern Europe and North Africa, nectaring in his
garden since mid-
Interested in moths: note this date for your 2011 diary
If you would like to know more about the colourful and fascinating world of moths
you are invited to the annual meeting and exhibition of Essex Moth Group, of which
I am chairman, at the Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Rd Lawford on Saturday February
26th (10.30am -
If you wish to book early please let me know on 01206-
Bramblings are autumn arrivals from across the North sea. look for them under beech trees where they feed on the mast (nuts) with chaffinches.
Among the most colourful fungi to be seen on the many fungus forays led by local expert Ian Rose is the fly Agaric
