Snakeholme Pit Blog 2018
26th September: Last summer workparty of the year and it felt like old times with just me and Derek turning up. With Derek still recovering from illness, it was James who stepped into the breach.
Could really use a few more bodies............
Manged to get the current year's section cut and raked.
Still some butterflies about including Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper and quite a few Commas.
A lot of Dragonflies over the water especially Migrant Hawkers
19th September: Paths were mowed and new sign installed on gate. Thieves have been up to their old tricks and the "No Dogs" and "Danger Deep Water" signs have all be nicked as well as a couple of the transect posts.
29th August: Time for the meadows to get their annual haircut
.Colin came with his mower, our thanks go out to him again.
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John, James & Ken raked and cleared the cuttings away.
Whilst Colin was cutting, John & I had a look around and came across 4 Box Bugs
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Previously these had only been recorded at Bourne South Fen but it seems that they are rapidly spreading north.
6th June: Pleasant sunny afternoon but no great temperature so this meant only an odd Green-veined White. The Reserve is covered in Ox-eye Daisies at the moment and the insects are loving it. Bees & Hoverflies abound as well as numerous Beetles. Larva found included Mullein Moth, Narow-bordered Five-spot Burnet and Vapourer.
9th May: Derek & I split the workparty into 2 groups, he being one and I the other. While I mowed the paths, Derek put in the new signs to replace the ones stolen previously.
Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Brimstone and Orange-tip were on the wing. Other insects included Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Alder Fly, Scorpion Fly. There was a nice Hairy Shieldbug and the nymph of the Bug Miris striatus. Quite a few nymphs of Dark Bush-cricket and a lot of Dark-edged Bee-Flies.
5th May: Derek Fox reports....."At last 6 species to record on this lovely warm cloudless day. 2 Brimstone - male and female,3 Orange-tip - 2 male and one female, 4 Green-veined White - one busy nectaring on Forget-me-not, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Comma and 2 Speckled Wood in aerial combat busy defended their area near to the Snakeholme Farm bridge.
The meadow,s are looking colourful with hundreds of Cowslips in flower. On the boggy area, there is a good group of Lady's Smock, and on the bank, a large section covered with Bugle.
The tadpoles are now spreading into the deeper water searching for food and are developing quickly.
So to sum up the visit - very happy."
25th April: Lots of insects out at the moment but sadly only Green-veined Whites this morning in the butterfly line. Quite a few bees and a Narrow-bordered Bee-fly. Two species of Tortoise Beetle and the first dragonfly of the year - Large Red Damselfly. The usual Mallard and Moorhen on the water and Chaffinch and Chiff Chaff singing away.
19th April: Derek Fox reports....."Although very warm, only 4 butterflies seen - 2 Peacock and 2 male Brimstones.
Some really colourful patches of Celandine, Cowslips starting to show on both meadows, Blackthorn in full blossom and Adders-tongue just visible in two sections.
Lots of life in the pond - hundreds of tadpoles of both Frogs and Toads. First time I have seen any Newts there (common ones I think?).
Also spotted a few Sticklebacks around the bases of the Reedmace, not sure what species though. So it was a really nice visit for recording week 3."
11th April: Although the water level was high, the tide mark half-way up the bank showed how high it had been. The Reserve is still quite wet but things are starting to come out. Clumps of both Frog and Toad spawn could be seen in the water and the Primroses were in flower in front of the plaque. A male and female Mallard were disturbed on the water and the first Cranefly was out. A Chiffchaff was heard calling.
22nd March: After a postponement due to the weather, Derek Ken & I managed to make it today for a very productive work party. The 2 stream banks were brushcut, the stone area cleared and the areas raked. The wood that had been left on the meadows and near the far seat was cleared away and burnt. We even managed to prune the buddleia and a bit of the hedge as well as strim the Bulrish area on the bottom meadow.
Brimstone was on the wing and birds included Mallard, Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch and Woodpigeon. Celendine , Colt's-foot and Primrose were all in flower.