Moth trapping at Williamwood Farm 21 July 2016

Our local Natural History Group had been to Williamwood for a visit on a lovely summer evening, and we had taken our moth traps to set out afterwards. Michael and Shirley had invited us on a couple of previous occasions to moth trap on their farm and it had been a while since we last tried. Visiting was therefore an ideal opportunity to have another go!

We have four traps -  2 run on batteries and 2 on mains electricity. On a warm, still evening we were going to put out all 4 traps around the farm. The 2 battery traps were set on the edge of a wood, and by a railway bridge on a disused track. The mains traps were both set within a newly planted wood with a thick undergrowth of grasses, wild flowers, reeds and rushes.

It was getting towards 10pm by the time we put out the last trap and we could already see moths fluttering about. As tempting as it was to stay and catch some with a net, we went home. Many more were attracted by the car lights as we drove home.

We returned to collect the mains traps first. All around them were moths hiding in the grasses and reeds. So covering the trap to look at later we set about collecting the moths from around the traps. As we worked, there were small day-flying moths fluttering about in great numbers, but no time to catch them. The grass was very dense and it was difficult to see the moths as they sat quietly, but persistence paid off and many moths were collected. The most popular moth found around the trap was definitely the Drinker - a spectacular looking moth.

 

Male & female Drinker

 After collecting numerous moths we transported the traps back to a central point where they could be emptied. Similar collections of moths were made around the battery traps too. To say we were excited about opening the traps after finding so many moths around them, would be an understatement!

We were not disappointed!

Shirley stayed with us for a good while to see what moths we had, and to learn the names of some of them. Michael had jobs to do on the farm but called in occasionally to see our finds. There was plenty for them both to see!

 

 

We had a fantastic collection of moths from the traps.

The bucket trap produced 180 moths of 25 different species. The most numerous was the Common Rustic or Lesser Common Rustic (it is difficult to distinguish between the two unless you disect them!) with 38 individuals. They were closely followed by Large Yellow Underwing (32 individuals), Small Wainscot (25 individuals), Smoky Wainscot (17 individuals) and Six-striped Rustic (14 individuals).

 

 

 Here are some of the more spectacular moths from the bucket trap.

 

The Skinner trap with the very bright bulb produced 133 moths of 33 different species. The most popular were as with the first trap but we did have some different specimens too.

 

 

 The battery trap on the edge of the wood presented us with 28 moths of 18 species, Large Yellow Underwings being the most numerous.

 

 

The final trap by the disused railway track produced 26 moths of 18 different species. Not surprisingly Large Yellow Underwings were the most numerous but we did get moths we hadn't caught in any other trap!

 

 

So, all in all, we had a brilliant night. A total of  367 moths with 52 different species.

We will definitely be going back again!

 

The WildBunch visit Williamwood Farm

 

Michael Clarke had told members about his style of farming when he came to talk to the group earlier in the year. We were pleased to accept the invitation to have a tour around the farm, see the Nature Trails and some of the livestock.

Luckily the weather stayed fine for us and a special executive trailer was provided for those who would struggle walking round the Nature Trails.

 

The remaining visitors started their wander along farm tracks and through newly planted woods towards the nature trail loch.

 

We then returned to the farm buildings to meet up with the special passenger trailer for a guided tour along further tracks and into fields where we met up with Highland Ponies, Highland Cattle and other crossbreeds from the herd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were then treated to more close up views of Shirley's Highland Ponies in the farmyard

 

 

 

 Now back at base we were treated to refreshments and a chance to chat informally with our hosts. Many thanks were given to Michael and Shirley for the evening, they had given us a fantastic insight into their enthusiasm for all activities on the farm.

Floral Favourites June 2016

There was fantastic weather at the beginning of the month - quite a heatwave. The sun has been shining and encouraging the faces of many flowers to smile. There has been an explosion of colour in the garden and there are more and more flowers to look at all the time. They are of every colour in the rainbow.

 

 

Some flowers make great clumps of colour - such as the geraniums and chives. Like the sage they attract bees galore on a sunny day. Others are more subtle with their individual blooms, like the paeony.

 

 

The foxgloves have been reaching up to great heights this year and several plants together make a lovely sight. They seed themselves around the garden too. The oriental poppies have had huge blooms this year too, looking great with their black velvet centres.

 

 

The warm weather has meant lots of beautiful scents around the garden too, especially in the evenings. Our dwarf lilac has been especially "smelly" as we walk past it, and the roses are coming into their own. It has led to the use of some of the petals in Rose Petal Syrup, which I have not made recently. It really tastes and smells of roses and is delicious on ice cream!

 

Although they are not actually in our garden, we have also collected elderflower blooms to make Elderflower Cordial this year. We find this a very refreshing drink on hot summer days, and have even been out and bought a Black Elder (which has pink flowers) to plant in the garden.

 

 

 June

June is red, yellow, pink and green,

The colours of the rainbow are there to be seen.

In all its shades - orange, purple and blue,

Wherever you look - in every hue.

A sea of colour, a hum of bees

The sights and scents cannot fail to please!

Great clumps of flowers looking their best,

This year they've certainly passed the test.

Then - at last - the rain descended,

Our mini drought, in June, was ended!

 

June wildlife sightings from a garden in Annan

There have been plenty of birds in the garden this month, and as the month has gone on there have been more sightings of juveniles feeding and gathering together. They make quite a noise too - the juvenile chorus goes on all day and the feeders empty very quickly. We are still filling the feeders as the adult birds are having second broods and still need food for themselves. It has been quite comical to watch the young birds flying about and then suddenly flapping like mad because they are not too sure where to land! The goldfinches have been around just about every day, eating the seed heads on our centurea plants. I usually dead head them to stop them seeding everywhere but might have to rethink that for some of them now.

 

 

Monthly max is as follows:

Blackbird - 4 adults 2 young

Blue tit - 2

Carrion crow - 2

Coal tit - 1

Dunnock - 1 adult, 1 young

Goldfinch - 4 adult, 1 young

House sparrow 47 adult, 6 young

Jackdaw - 12

Rook - 3 adult, 1 young

Starling -  adult, 12 young

Swallow - 1

Swift - 25

Woodpigeon - 2

Wren - 1

There has been a great increase in bee numbers this month too - although we haven't always counted as carefully as we could have done! We have noticed them while gardening and tried to identify the species correctly. We were very pleased to see more Tree Bumble bees around this month after our first sighting of one last month. They seem to like the flowers on our raspberries!

Monthly max:

Buff or white-tailed bees - 4

Carder - 3

Honey - 5

Tree bumble bee - 4

 

Unfortunately there seems to have been a shortage of butterflies in the garden this month though. Even the early species like Orange Tip and Green-veined White have only been seen once, but we were very pleased to see a Painted Lady and a Small Copper - again only one of each!

 

 

DGERC Species to look for in July:

Wool Carder Bee - Anthidium manicatum

 

 

This solitary bee is at its northernmost edge of its range here in D&G. It has a dark abdomen with a pattern of yellow spots along its side and yellow markings on its legs and face. The male also has 5 formidable looking spines at the tip of the abdomen. Most D&G records are from gardens and favourite plants are Lamb's-ear and Catmint.

Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui

 

 

Painted Lady butterflies are migrants arriving in summer. Their numbers vary from year to year and there has been a welcome early influx during the nice weather earlier last month. It is quite a large butterfly, related to another migrant that we see in this country - the Red Admiral. The wings of the painted lady are orange , sometimes fading to a pale peach, with black and white markings on the wing tips. The underwings are mottled.

Remember  - DGERC always welcome details of sightings.

Wanderings at Williamwood Fri & Sat 1st & 2nd July 2016

 

 

Williamwood Farm is where farming and nature go hand in hand. It has about 300 acres of grassland, producing beef and lamb - but nature and conservation are very important too. Improving biodiversity is very important to Michael and Shirley Clarke.

Plantlife is working with farmers to help them provide homes for wildlife on their farms, but are also working with politicians and the general public to recognise that the wildlife we have depends on farming.  

Williamwood were hosting a visit from Plantlife yesterday and encouraging visitors to go for a Wild Flower Walk with them on the farm. To give visitors an insight into some of the wildlife that is on the farm - although not always visible during the day! - Michael had asked us to put out our moth traps on Friday night and see what was about.

We were quite lucky on Friday night as the wind died down and the anticipated rain showers held off, so with the County Moth Recorder we set 5 traps. Saturday started with sunshine so we began by emptying the traps.

 

 

This was also the final weekend of the Riding of the Marches in Annan, and Williamwood Farm is a traditional stopping off point for the Principle Riders. Luckily we had just finished emptying the traps in time to see their arrival.

 

 

 

What a sight were the approximately 100 horses that came through the farm!

 

 

 

The principles were given refreshments at the farm before they rode off across country to rejoin the rest of the parade.

 

 

 

As the wild flower walk wasn't until the afternoon we then had time to go home and see the Riding of the Marches parade through Annan.

The streets were full of people and the band were having a last minute practice.

 

 

 

 

 

The horses and riders we had seen at Williamwood were joined by riders from surrounding towns so that they were now about 200 in number!  Then the rest of the parade followed on!

 

 

 

What a brilliant show - and only one quick shower of rain!

Then it was back to Williamwood for the wild flower walk.....

While we were waiting for walkers to assemble we showed them the moths caught on Friday and answered any questions that arose ... and then we set off for the walk.

 

 

Not only did we see and hear about wild flowers, but Michael gave us an insight into running the farm and explained about their breeding programme too. There were masses of wild flowers in areas that had been planted with new trees ...

 

 

We were also keeping a look-out for other wildlife as we walked around the farm...

 

 

The damselflies were all around the loch - too many to count - and many looking as if they had only just emerged and were drying out before flying off.

 

 

We learned a lot from the other members of the group about the wild flowers, and saw fields of them as we followed Michael around the farm. The orchids in one field were a fantastic sight to see. The Plantlife volunteer and members were all very knowledgeable and passionate about flowers, but were willing and eager to share that passion with others  - at a level that was appropriate to those who were not such experts!

To conclude the afternoon we were offered tea and cakes on our return. Michael and Shirley's hospitality was excellent, the talk at the tables was interesting and there was no sense of a need to rush away. An excellent afternoon with knowledgeable, passionate and informative people.