Colonists and Non-natives, Isle of Wight - August 2014

The news of a pair of breeding (European) Bee-eaters on National Trust land on the Isle of Wight has now been widely publicised and a steady stream of birders have been going to see the event. Living so close to the Isle of Wight, I was eager to go and get a glimpse of this colourful and spectacular species and so arranged to go over after bird ringing on the 9th August. This is the third time Bee-eaters have been recorded nesting in the UK, the first was back in 1955 when two pairs raised seven young and the second was in 2002 when a pair nested in a quarry in County Durham. 

Initially this rare event was shrouded in secrecy because of the danger of egg thieves stealing the unhatched eggs, but the news was widely circulated once the chicks had hatched. The Bee-eaters have made their nest in a small sandy hill on the Wydcombe Estate and a public viewing area has been set up so that visitors can enjoy the birds, without disturbing them. Details of where to find it can be found here.

Bee-Eater Merops apaister - Wydcombe Estate, Isle of Wight

There are apparently four birds present at the site, the breeding pair and two helpers. We saw at least two birds, as we had two birds together at one point, but otherwise there were just single birds coming and going and hunting in the area. We did get some great views when birds were hunting nearby, on one occasion a large dragonfly was taken, or attempting the see off the local raptors, there were Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawks in the area, but the views were generally distant and so no good for photography (see above). The nest site is hidden from view for obvious reasons so one can only imagine what it is like, but it will certainly include soft sand that will enable the birds to burrow in and create a nest chamber. 

My best experiences of breeding Bee-eaters have been during my visits to south-eastern Turkey, where I visited a mixed Blue-cheeked and European Bee-eater colony. These birds were nesting in a mound (see below), maybe the Isle of Wight birds are in a similar location.

Bee-eater Merops apaister Colony South-eastern Turkey - 2012

Being such fantastic birds I couldn't publish a post about Bee-eaters with only the distant shot that I used at the start of this post and so I have included a couple of shots from my last Turkey trip. 

Bee-eater Merops apaister - South-eastern Turkey - 2012

Bee-eater Merops apaister - South-eastern Turkey - 2012

As we were leaving the Bee-eater site I noticed a Jersey Tiger moth settled on a concrete fence post, so of course we had to stop for a photo. Jersey Tiger was formerly a migratory species only but became established on the Isle of Wight during the 1990s, its range has now expanded onto the mainland. It is a day flying species and on warm days can be seen nectaring on the flowers of Buddlieas and thistles. 

Jersey Tiger Moth Euplagia quadripunctaria - Wydcombe Estate, Isle of Wight

As we had made the effort to come onto the Island our next destination was to visit Ventnor in search of Wall Lizards. Unlike the two previous species, which have naturally colonised the Island, the Wall Lizard is considered to be an introduction. The exact date of the first introduction in the town is not known, but there is information to suggest it was as early as 1841. However according to the Surrey Amphibian and Reptile (SARG) Group website, the first reliable published record dates back to 1960. Whatever the exact date is, the species is now well established on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, with a preference for walls and other rocky habitats that are well-exposed to the sun. The Wall Lizards at this site appears to occupy their own ecological niche and where they does come into contact with the native Viviparous Lizard Zootoca vivipara there is apparently no evidence to suggest a negative impact.

Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis - Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis - Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis - Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Juvenile Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis - Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Castlehaven, Isle of Wight - Moth Trapping

This last weekend (5th - 8th September) was spent on the Isle of Wight hoping for a well-earned rest and some good birding and mothing. The main purpose of the visit was to go to The Bestival to soak up some of the atmosphere, enjoy a few beers and see a few bands…..but I won’t bore you with that. We arrived at our caravan at Castlehaven at around 20:30 on Thursday evening (5^th September), so my first priority was to get my Robinson moth trap on. The weather during the day had been hot and sunny and the overnight temperatures were due to stay warm so I was hopeful of a good catch.

Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria

I popped out to check on the trap before turning in, and it was buzzing. Moths were all over it, the side of the caravan and the nearby bushes. With so many moths around I daren’t open the trap and so spent my time looking around the outside. The first and most obvious species was Jersey tiger, a species I have not trapped in my garden before, but have seen at Titchfield Haven and previously on the European mainland. The other species recorded included green carpet, dingy footman, brimstone moth, oak hook tip and a single angle shades.

Male Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra

Female Four-spotted Footman

I woke early and ventured out to check the trap, armed with a handful of pots and a cup of tea. The trap was rammed and by the end I had recorded 343 moths of 66 species. The highlights were two Jersey tigers, 45 whitepoints, 37 setaceous hebrew characters, three four-spotted footman (2 males and 1 female), a cypress pug, six mullein waves, three dark swordgrass, one Webb’s wainscot, a very large dun-bar and a feathered gothic.

The temperature dropped during Friday, and subsequently the moth numbers dropped too. This time we set two traps, a 15w actinic and my 150w MV Robinson. Heavy overnight showers and a moderate south-westerly breeze were not welcome, but by mid morning the sun was out. The MV produced 66 moths of 25 species, with the highlights being crescent dart, a species I have not seen before and another Webb’s wainscot. Interestingly, the actinic trapped 53 moths of 25 species also, but the species mix was very different. It included a broad-bordered yellow underwing, one diamond back, two dark swordgrass, one rush veneer and a male four spotted footman.

Crescent Dart Agrotis trux lunigera

After the traps had been emptied we went for a stroll around St Catherines Point in search of birds. We were hoping for some migrants but a blackcap and whinchat was all that was on offer. At sea there wasn't much going on either, and despite prolonged scanning we only saw a few Balearic shearwaters, a dark phase arctic skua, a few fulmar and an adult Mediterranean gull.

The weather overnight on the 6^th/7^th was still cool and heavy overnight showers made mothing questionable, but undeterred we progressed. Both the MV and the actinic were again put on and we hoped for the best. The MV was again the most productive trap and produced 122 moths of 45 species. The highlights were cypress pug, pretty chalk carpet, single rush veneer and dark sworgrass, and an immaculate clifden nonpareil. This is a species that I have never seen before and found it difficult to contain my excitement at catching one.

Clifden nonpareil Catocala fraxini - This moth was immaculate and very fresh
it is hard to believe it could be in this condition after migrating from mainland Europe

Clifden nonpareil - The under wing on this moth is quite stunning.

Clifden nonpareil

Clifden nonpareil is an immigrant and transitory resident in the UK. It has one generation and is on the wing through mid-August to mid-October. The larvae feed mainly on aspen but in mainland Europe they have been recorded on other poplars.

By comparison the actinic produced 122 moths of 45 species. The highlights being one Jersey tiger, a gallium carpet, one rush veneer, 17 setaceous hebrew characters and 14 white-points.

Clifden nonpareil Underwing - in contrast to the previous moth, this individual
was very tatty suggesting that it was a different moth

We had a pre-dawn start on Monday morning in order to get back in time for work and therefore had to check the trap in the dark. We did not record the numbers of moths, just the number of species in the MV only. In total we recorded 22 species, the unquestionable highlight was another clifden nonpareil. This individual was not in the same condition as the previous nights moth, and therefore the presumption was that it was a different individual….amazing two in two nights!

Overall in the two traps, and despite the weather, we caught 674 moths of 80 species, including several migrants and a few species that I had not seen before.

Titchfield Haven - Bird Ringing 18th August 2012

A busy mornings bird ringing at the haven today, with over 130 birds captured, our highest daily total of the year so far, which was good since it coincided with the second of our public ringing events, so there was plenty for them to see. The total was dominated by Sedge Warblers again, with 51 birds ringed, but alas, still no Aquatic!!! Reed Warbler was the second most numerous species with 42 birds ringed, the catch of both species included a large percentage of adult birds.

Grasshopper Warbler was the third most numerous species; 10 birds were ringed, but unlike with Reed and Sedge, we have yet to catch an adult bird this year. Other species included seven Willow Warblers, five Garden Warblers, four adults and one juvenile and a couple of Common Whitethroats. We did also catch three Blackcaps, two of which were retraps, one, an adult bird from a couple of years previously which was in heavy wing moult and in the process of replacing all of its primaries and secondaries, so he won't be going anywhere for a while.

Today's bird of the day though was not in the nets, but flying over them, and took the form of an Osprey. This bird has been hanging around for a while now and tends to hunt along the River Meon catching Mullet, and once it has caught, it flies over to the Isle of Wight to eat...seems a long way to go for lunch, especially when there is an Osprey platform at the haven specially for it!

Osprey being dive bombed by a Common Tern

After ringing I headed back to the centre to look at a Jersey Tiger moth that was trapped at the haven overnight. This is the first time this species has ever been recorded at the site, and what a cracker it was too! There have been a few caught along the south coast over the last few weeks...think I will have to dust off my moth trap tonight.

Jersey Tiger, Titchfield Haven

Whilst looking at The Jersey Tiger I took the opportunity to get a close up look at a dead Water Shrew that had been found the day before in the Ringing Area. This is the largest of the British shrew species and is distinguished from the other species by virtue of its black dorsal fur and whiter underparts, and of course its larger size.

Water Shrew - Titchfield Haven

Water Shrews feed on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates plus frogs, newts  and small fish, apparently they attack their prey at or just behind the head and can take prey considerably larger than themselves. Larger prey are immobilised by a venom which is produced in the saliva by the submaxillary gland. The venom affects the nervous, respiratory and and blood systems. 

Water Shrew teeth

I was intrigued to see the colouration of the tips of the teeth, apparently the red tipping is due to the deposition of iron in the outer layer of the enamel, and it is considered that it may increase resistance to wear.