Ruby-tailed wasps and emerging dragonflies
This is the weekly Wildlife Sightings column by Paul Sevens, as it appears in the Chichester Observer Newspaper June 22, 2107
A bright male bullfinch on the wire fence near the office window bird feeder – a pair have been visiting the feeder for the past two weeks.
The hot sunny weather is perfect for dragonflies to emerge so today I am walking the path along the back of the Wetlands Discovery were the boat safari runs. Out my way out of the building I see a ruby tailed wasp emerge from a hole on our wall display of insect homes. A spider appears from another hole hoping it had caught a meal but the tiny wasp struggled free.
The raised pond is busy with damselflies as I pass. The spiked-water milfoil breaking the surface is flowering and two dragonflies zoom into view – one is a four-spotted chaser!
Insects are plentiful as I work my way down the path. I immediately spot a newly emerged black-tailed skimmer, its wings still shimmering as they dry in the sun. Hairy dragonflies are chasing each other down the channels. There is an abundance of meadow browns active among the wetland plants now flowering in the summer heat. Pink herb robert, yellow greater bird’s foot trefoil, bittersweet nightshade, creamy meadowsweet and purple meadow vetch are all flowering fresh this week, joining the dominating oxeye daisies in the water meadows. Along the path I spot yellow loosestrife flower and the tiny yellow loosestrife bees circling the flowers.
In the reeds at the far end of the path I hear a reed warbler singing, maybe getting ready for a second brood. We did this spring’s last Breeding Bird Survey on Thursday and recorded young sedge warblers and young greater spotted woodpecker as well.
As I approach the wet grassland by the Lapwing hide I see 4 grey herons and what looked like a great egret all jostling each other in the air before flying off. Both species fish and hunt onsite but they won’t like the other so close! We have had random sightings of a great egret over the past month.
From the Lapwing hide I see a pair of oystercatchers probing the mud. A lapwing takes to the air and a grey heron returns, circles and flies off again. The long grass obscures any lapwing chicks that once may have been easier prey.
