Nature Notes for July 2009

Our latest survey on Dunyeats Hill with the HCT on the 24th June revealed two adult smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), one juvenile slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) and several common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We did accidentally disturb another nightjar, making two this year, these strange crepuscular birds can be heard churring from dusk onwards here on Dunyeats Hill; they can also be heard this time of the year on Canford Heath and Corfe Hills. On the botanical side the Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) is showing well with their sword-shaped leaves and wonderful bright yellow flowers on 30cm stems, these can be seen in flower from July and August. The Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is very common here and can be seen growing in abundance in the wet part of the heath.

On Wednesday 24th June Anne Jefferies e-mailed me to say she had a queen hornet pay her a visit flying around one of the rooms, she managed to capture it in a jar and after looking at it close up she released it into the garden. On 27th June one managed to gain entry into my house, which I also released, was it the same one I wonder? I e-mailed her back telling her of this, her reply was "she is probably house hunting!" nice one Anne.

On 2nd of July my neighbour phoned me to say he had a snake in his garden and was not sure what species of snake it was. On investigation I found it was a young grass snake and I did manage to get him to hold it while I photographed it, we then released it back into the garden.

There are two new sightings of dragonflies to be added to list of species seen in Broadstone Nature Reserve, the Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) and the Black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). On the 10th July I saw my first Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia) of the year in the recreation ground, and on the same day two beetles of the coleoptera type made an appearance in the garden, a female Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) and a Violet ground beetle (Carabus violaceus).

I will keep you up to date on any new and interesting sightings.

Keith Clements - Parks, Nature Reserves & Heathland

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