No Rest For The Wicked

Phew, it has been a bit non-stop the last couple of weeks and with sick children and the lighter evenings upon us, there has been no time for blogging until now.

 Two weekends ago I took a group to the “Fangs and Feathers Open Day” at the New Forest Reptile Centre http://www.new-forest-national-park.com/new-forest-reptile-centre.html . This is a really worthwhile stop off if you are in the Lyndhurst area of the Forest and the weather is good. It is nothing flashy, just small enclosures containing most UK reptiles and amphibians (and green tree frog!) and the chances of seeing at least a couple of species quite close are pretty good. Despite showery weather we had good views of sand lizard, common lizard, grass snake and adder.

A new feature of the centre, since 2007, is an RSPB Aren’t Birds Brilliant display which is a small building with screens to show live webcams on a goshawk nest (4 eggs laid so far). When the goshawk (I think only one chick made it) fledged last year, they switched to a hobby nest. With staff on hand to talk about the birds this is a really worthwhile addition to the centre. Despite getting soaked we had a really enjoyable time and I got my eye in for sand lizard spotting. Photography through mesh is not easy though. At least you can sex the sand lizards as the male already has his bright green breeding colouration.

A week later I helped lead a reptile walk on one of my sites. Unfortunately, the rainy conditions were not good for reptiles or wildlife in general out on the heath but those attending were still keen to look.

We focused our attention on the survey tins around site, on the off-chance that there might be some sheltering animals. We quickly came to realise however that you can only talk for so long about empty tins. Luckily we did see other wildlife, including this fantastic dor beetle, and had great views of singing dartford warblers.

We were finally rewarded reptile-wise by three slow worms in quick succession, near the end of the walk. Snake-like in appearance, these common UK reptiles are actually legless lizards and like their legged relatives, are able to drop their tails (which continue to wriggle around) to escape predators. Fortunately, we were careful enough not to be given a demonstration.

Back at home, there has been much plant growth inside and out. My white trumpet pitcher (see earlier post) has now produced its first flower, which is a beautiful deep red in colour. My peach tree is also doing well, although I walked into it and half snapped off one of the fruit laden branches that I had carefully tended. I have splinted it, in the hope that I can get at least one of the fruit to juicy maturity!

 My blueberry is also in good flower but I’m not sure how it is pollinated so my fingers  are crossed that it will bear many fruit. 

Unfortunately I had been hit by two  pests and diseases new to me - vine weevil and redcurrant blister aphids. I am trying an organic soap spray for the aphids and looking into naturally occuring nematodes to control the vine weevils, which seem to be in most of my potted plants. Those that I have picked out seem to be going down well with the garden bird population.