Volunteers Work!

Thursday, June 28th 2012

Foxglove volunteers undertake a wide variety of work - yesterday they were building dams, checking tree tubes and carrying out the monthly flower walk.  Ann, Ruth, Brian, John and Elizabeth recorded 88 plants in flower as they walked around various parts of the reserve.  The fen was visited and Common Butterwort in flower and with its seed head was seen, along with many Common Spotted Orchids just beginning to flower.  Early Marsh Orchid was flowering.

A strange looking 'bit of grass' was spotted on the fen and almost ignored until it was examined closely.  Photographing it proved difficult as there was just enough breeze to keep it on the move.  This is likely to be another new species to add to our list - Marsh Arrowgrass.

On the wetland Branched Bur-reed was also flowering and this photograph shows the pollen on the stamens.

Today the jobs included stock taking, fund raising, digging drainage ditches, strimming, helping with school groups and identifying the moths caught overnight.

There were more moths in the trap today than of recent weeks, 40 moths of 18 species, including this Elephant Hawkmoth. As it was warm and windy he was hanging on tight so allowing this photograph of his underside to be taken.

One moth proved difficult to identify, and just to help matters along it refused to open its wings!  However after a lot of perseverance it was found to be a male Bordered White.  It continued to be difficult and the best photograph is one taken inside on some vegetation.  This moth can be a pest in conifer plantations.  2008 was the last time it was recorded on the reserve.

Many thanks again to all our volunteers who work hard to keep Foxglove looking so good and help visitors and school groups to feel welcome and enjoy their visits.

Members of the ringing team are heading to Cape Wrath in the morning.  (For more information about Cape Wrath, visit the Bird Ringing Section on the web site.)  We wish them a safe journey.  If technology allows we should recieve photographs and updates of their activities.

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