Wexford Natural History Diary June 09

The Lepidoptera of County Wexford

Items to Note:

Irish Hare

"THE LEPIDOPTERA OF COUNTY WEXFORD" has just been published by the Wexford Naturalists' Field Club (WNFC) and is available from Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford, for €10. Launched by Gerald Fleming on 30^th June in Wexford Town Library, this Guide covers all 711 species of butterfly and moth recorded in County Wexford up to 31^st December 2008.  Financed by the Agenda 21 Award Scheme, the Environment Section of Wexford County Council, The WNFC, C & R Print and individual Species Sponsors, this Guide is printed in full colour by C & R Print and is packed with distribution maps, historical information, flight times, food plants and photographs in its comprehensive196 pages.  Local bookshops are being approached to see if they will stock this important contribution to our County's biodiversity record. The Field Club would like to again thank so many of you for your butterfly and moth records, received over the past three years and which have all contributed to making this impressive and comprehensive record, of so many species, such a success.

Mediterranean Gulls

DAUBENTON'S BAT TRAINING COURSES: For those of you wishing to take part in the Annual Daubenton's Bat Survey (takes place every August – two visits to a pre-selected waterway), the last course in Leinster in 2009 is taking place on 14^th July at Marley House, Marley Park, South County Dublin at 8.30pm.  For more information, or if you are able to travel to some other location in the Country before commencement of the Survey season this year, you can contact Bat Conservation Ireland by email on: info AT batconservationireland.org or by writing to Bat Conservation Ireland, Ulex House, Drumheel, Lisduff, Virginia, Co. Cavan.    

Evening Primrose

WILDWATCH WEDNESDAY'S AT WEXFORD WILDFOWL RESERVE: On Wednesday 22^nd July a 'NEW' series of four wildlife afternoon activities are taking place at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve commencing at 2pm.Children must be 7 years or older and accompanied by an adult. Events are free of charge, but booking is essential as places are limited. To book please phone 053 9123406 or e-mail deirdre.toomey AT environ.ie

Wednesday July 22nd: Pond Dipping, in the Snipe Field, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve @ 2pm

Wednesday July 29th: Sand dune walk, Raven Nature Reserve @ 2pm

Wednesday August 5th: Big bug hunt, in the Snipe Field, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve @ 2pm

Wednesday August 12th: Pond Dipping, Raven Nature Reserve @ 2pm

SECOND HAND, HAND-HELD GPS REQUIRED: If anyone has a second hand, working, hand-held GPS that they are not using, which could be passed on to a young Co. Wexford field worker, could they please contact Brian O'Connor on: foleoconn AT gmail.com

WILDLIFE RECORDS: Remember those wildlife sightings of interest – Please submit those records to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 053-9123129 or 'On Line' at www.wexfordnaturalists.com. Again, many thanks to all of you who have passed on those sightings. Records can also be sent to Simon Collins, The Records Officer, W.N.F.C., c/o Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford. So 'do please keep them coming'.

General News and Views

The summer solstice has passed – the first returning Curlew were noted on the North Slob on 17^th (see below) – yes mid-summer has passed and we are heading towards the autumn. That mournful cry of the returning Curlew is a great herald of this particular season change; a sign of new natural history delights on their way. How have our breeding birds managed this year?  What waifs and strays will appear this autumn from far away lands? What other new wildlife records will grace our palate in coming months. One door closes and another opens – yes the four seasons never fail to challenge, surprise, renew and reward those that enjoy watching our natural world.

Cuckoo-Spit: In The Photograph Gallery, below, there are a couple of pictures of Cuckoo-Spit and a picture of the nymph of the froghopper species that produces this frothy substance so well known by farmers, gardeners and nature lovers.

The Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) is the common and widespread example of this species found here in Ireland. Normally between 4mm and 7mm in length they are called froghoppers because of their frog-like appearance and that they can actually jump when disturbed. This insect, a member of the Homoptera Order, is related to aphids and cicadas. Their life-cycle is much like dragonflies and grasshoppers with three stages – the egg, larva, and adult. The female lays up to 100 eggs in the host plant and these hatch into their larva form in the following spring. This larva has no wings and only rudimentary eyes and legs and although looking superficially like its adult form only has a thin outer body layer. It is because of this thin skin that it needs to protect itself from dehydration by, in this case, surrounding itself with a frothy mass of soapy bubbles excreted by the larva. It is this substance that is known as Cuckoo-Spit. Whilst living in this 'spit' the larva moults through a number of instars before emerging as an adult in the summer. Cuckoo-Spit has the additional advantage of protecting the larva from unwanted predators (apparently the 'spit' tastes horrible). The name Cuckoo-Spit came about as the first sightings of this frothy substance appears on the host plants at the same time as the arrival of the Cuckoo. To find out more about this fascinating insect, why not log onto: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g/A812828.

In the Photograph Gallery there is also a picture of a Sparrowhawk pellet and what was in the pellet when 'soaked and broken apart'. Sparrowhawk pellets are small and compact, about 25 to 35mm long, rounded at one end and tapered at the other. The main ingredient is feathers, but you can also see 'in the photograph', a few feather quills, a bird's toe nail and two small feet of one of the prey items. There are small pieces of grit also clearly visible. Pellets are produced by owls and birds of prey who tend to swallow their prey whole. If too large to swallow, they can pull the prey apart with their hooked beak. When the food is swallowed, it first passes down into the gizzard, where the food is broken up, and then on to the stomach for digestion. Some of the harder parts of the prey items are prevented from passing further down the gut. Instead they are squeezed in the gizzard into a compact mass and then coughed up, or regurgitated as the pellet. Very useful when studying the diet of these birds as well as seeing what small mammals and/or birds are present in a particular area (owls and birds of prey are continually hunting so they find small mammals, birds and invertebrates that we may only occasionally see).

Do please remember the young inexperienced wildlife that are currently using our roads – they have no idea about the speed of moving vehicles – I am sure that over the past few days many of you will have seen the increase in dead hedgehogs on our roads as well as a wide range of birds and other animals – please do allow for their inexperience…. More Haste, Less Speed …. It does work

And so to the known wildlife highlights of the month:

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Recent Bird Reports in the County

A Great Shearwater was seen at Carnsore Point on 14th and on 21st. A Sooty Shearwater was noted at Carnsore Point on 21st. 25 Storm Petrel were seen off Carnsore Point on 7th with 5 there on 13th and 20th and 5 also noted off Hook Head on 14th. There were 8 Storm Petrels seen from Carnsore Point on 27th. 7 Little Egrets were noted at Rosslare on 13th. There were 5 Gargany at Tacumshin on 4th with just 3 noted there on 7th and 9th. 2 male Pochard were on North Slob Channel on 25^th. A Buzzard was recorded at Lady's Island Lake on 4th with 1 at Tacumshin on 10th. A Marsh Harrier was at Tacumshin on 7th with 2 there on 8th and 9th, 1 on 10th, 11th, 26th and 29th - there were 2 present on 27th. A Hen Harrier was at Tacumshin on 7th. A Hobby was seen at Our Lady's Island Lake on 3rd with 1 present at Tacumshin Lake from 9th to 12th. A Sparrowhawk was back disturbing a feeding station in Screen on 15th. A Black-headed Gull was seen carrying a large frog to the breeding island at Our Lady's Island Lake on 21^st. Little Gulls were noted at Tacumshin Lake through the month with a maximum count of 8 on 9th.  7 Little Tern were seen on North Slob on 7th with 24 at Rosslare on 13th. Little Terns have taken up residence on Raven Point - a very tricky place due to the number of people walking the beach. A White-winged Black Tern was at Tacumshin and Our Lady's Island Lake from 7th to at least the 9th. The Forster's Tern was at Tacumshin Lake to the end of the month with the odd visit to Lady's Island Lake. A count of 84 Black-tailed Godwit were noted at Tacumshin Lake on 4th. 8 Curlew on North Slob on 17th (autumn is with us already) with numbers increasing from that date. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Tacumshin on 7th and a Green Sandpiper was at the same location on 26th. A Stilt Sandpiper was at The Cull on 23rd and 24th moving to Tacumshin on 25th and 26th. A Little Ringed Plover was at Tacumshin on 26th and 27th. There are more than 6 pairs of Black Guillemot breeding at Rosslare Harbour. A Short-eared Owl was at Tacumshin Lake on 4th, 10th and 13th. A Short-eared owl was visiting Our Lady's Island Lake through the month. Long-eared Owl chicks were 'out and about' in Gorey from 19th. A Kingfisher was noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 24^th. A Turtle Dove was at Tomhagard on 7th with 1 also noted at Tacumshin Lake on 10th. There was a Cuckoo at Tacumshin Lake on 9th, 10th and 12th and also 1 at Raven Nature Reserve on 11th with 2 at Raven Nature Reserve on 20th. Reed Warblers noted in breeding territories at Jamestown, North Slob, South Slob and Tacumshin. A grasshopper was 'reeling' at Carcur on 24^th. Up to 4 Chough noted at Hook on 21^st.

Other Wildlife News in the County

MAMMALS: There were 6 Risso's Dolphins at Carnsore Point on 1^st with 3 noted at the same location on 27th. A Minke Whale was seen outside Tuskar Rock on 2nd and a Humpback Whale was at Hook Head on 21st. There were 91 Common Dolphins noted on Cetacean Ferry survey on 27th with 1 Minke Whale and 3 Killer Whales also noted on this side of the Irish Sea. A Minke Whale was seen off Tuskar Rock on 29th

BUTTERFLIES:  Painted Ladies were recorded almost daily in Coolcotts throughout the month. There were 38 Small Blue, 3 Small Copper, 35+ Small Heath, 40+ Wood White, 160+ Common Blue, 7 Painted Lady, 14 Speckled Wood and 1 Clouded Yellow at Raven Nature Reserve (Point) on 1^st. There were 2 Common Blue, 3 Large White, 8 Green-veined White, 2 Wood White, 20 Speckled Wood at Coolcotts on 2^nd with Red Admiral, Common Blue, 12 Speckled Wood at same location on 3^rd. There were 8 Speckled Wood and 5 Green-veined White at Coolcotts on 4^th and a Green-veined White with 3 Speckled Wood at same location on 5^th. A Painted Lady was noted at Crosstown on 7^th. A Green-veined White, 2 Wood White, 5 Speckled Wood were at Coolcotts on 8th. There were 3 Painted Lady a Large White and a Green-veined White at Scarawalsh on 8th. There was a Painted Lady at Arthurstown and 3 in Wellingtonbridge on 11^th.  A Large White, 3 Green-veined White, 5 Speckled Wood and a Meadow Brown were noted at Coolcotts on 12^th. Then on 13^th there were 3 Small Blue; 12 Painted Lady; 35+ Small Heath and 1 Meadow Brown on North Slob (a new 10km Square for the Small Blue). Also on 13^th there was 15 Small Blue; 1 Meadow Brown; 8 Common Blue; 7 Small Heath at Raven Point. On 14^th there were 3 Small Blue; 5 Meadow Brown and 6 Painted Lady on North Slob and on the same date there were 8 Large White at Raven Nature Reserve. On 14^th there was 1 Small Tortoiseshell; 1 Common Blue; 2 Large White; 2 Small White; 4 Green-veined White and 1 Wood White on Great Saltee Island (this is the first record of Wood White on Great Saltee in over 20 years). Also on 14^th there were 3 Green-veined White and 5 Meadow Brown noted at Coolcotts with 2 Painted Lady and a Speckled Wood at Hayestown. 15 Speckled Wood, 3 Green-veined White, 4 Ringlet, 48 Meadow Brown, a Small Copper, 6 Small White and a Common Blue were noted at Coolcotts on 16^th. On the same date a Speckled Wood and a Meadow Brown were noted at Duncormic and a Painted Lady was at Woodgraigue.  2 Speckled Wood were noted at Woodgraigue on 17th. There were 3 Speckled Wood and 4 Common Blue at Tacumshin Lake on 18^th and on the same date at Our Lady's Island Lake a Painted Lady, Common Blue and Speckled Wood were noted. On 20^th there were 9 Small Blue; 18 Wood White; 6 Painted Lady; 56 Speckled Wood; 13 Small Heath; 15 Meadow Brown; 9 Ringlet at Raven Nature Reserve. Also on 20^th there was a Ringlet; 7 Meadow Brown;  1 Wall Brown; 30 Common Blue; 4 Large White; 60 Small Heath; 8 Painted Lady; 4 Green-veined White and 1 Red Admiral at Ballyteige Burrow. Also noted on 20^th were 2 Speckled Wood, 6 Meadow Brown and 7 Ringlet at Coolcotts. A Small White and 17 Meadow Brown were at Coolcotts on 21^st. Also on 21^st there were 8 Ringlet; 60 Small Blue; 65 Small Heath; 5 Painted Lady; 2 Green-veined White; 12 Common Blue; 2 Large White; 3 Wood White and 50 Meadow Brown at Raven Nature Reserve. 71 Meadow Brown and 41 Ringlet were noted at Coolcotts on 22^nd. On 23^rd a Silver-washed Fritillary; Dark Green Fritillary; 7 Wood White; 3 Large White; 35 Small Blue; 8 Common Blue; 1 Red Admiral; 20 Speckled Wood; 120 Meadow Brown; 40 Ringlet; and 80 Small Heath were noted at Raven Nature Reserve. On same date an amazing count of 391 Meadow Brown, 140 Ringlet and 10 Speckled Wood were noted at Coolcotts. A Small Tortoiseshell was at Coolcotts on 24^th. On 25^th a Red Admiral was noted at Our Lady's Island Lake and at Coolcotts 161 Meadow Brown, 135 Ringlet, 8 Speckled Wood and a Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral were noted. On 26^th 23 Red Admiral were noted with 6 Small Tortoiseshell and 9 Speckled Wood on North Slob with a Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood noted at Holdmanhill and a. Painted Lady also noted at Woodgraigue. On 28^th 1 Gatekeeper;  1 Dark Green Fritillary; 40 Meadow Brown; 20 Small Heath; 5 Common Blue; 3 Painted Lady; 5 Speckled Wood; 40 Ringlet and 4 Red Admiral were noted at Raven Nature Reserve. On 27^th 150 Dark Green Fritillary; 30 Meadow Brown; 12 Common Blue; 2 Painted Lady; 2 Speckled Wood; 1 Green-veined White; 14 Ringlet; 3 Red Admiral; 4 Small Tortoiseshell were noted at Ballyteige Burrow. On 29^th there were 7 Green-veined White; 3 Small Blue; 2 Wood White; 1 Red Admiral; 1 Painted Lady; 1 Dark-green Fritillary; 18 Small Heath; 2 Speckled Wood; 47 Meadow Brown; and 143 Ringlet  noted at Raven Nature Reserve. A Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 2 Small White, 250 Meadow Brown and 265 Ringlet were noted in Coolcotts on 30th. 

MOTHS: There were 17 Silver Y's at Raven Point on 1^st. Cinnabar moths were seen through the month in small numbers at Raven Nature Reserve. A Garden Carpet and a Brimstone moth were trapped at Coolcotts on 3^rd. There was a Pyrausta anguinalis at Kilmichael Point and a Humming-bird Hawk-moth at Tacumshin on 3^rd. A Clouded Border, Heart and Dart, Tawny Marbled Minor (agg) and a Yellow Barred Brindle were trapped at Coolcotts on 10^th. A Willow Beauty, Heart and Dart, Tawny Marbled Minor (agg) were also trapped on 15^th at Coolcotts. A Willow Beauty, Heart and Dart, 3 Yellow Shells and a Silver Y were trapped at Coolcotts on 16^th. A Red-necked Footman was noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 20th. A Square Spot was at Killoughrum Forest on 20^th. A Heart and Dart, was noted at Coolcotts on 22^nd. 3 large Yellow Underwing, a female Ghost Moth and 2 White Ermine were trapped at Woodgraigue on 22^nd. A Riband Wave, Garden Carpet, Beautiful Carpet, Spectacle, Rustic (agg), Fan-foot, Common Wainscot, Smoky Wainscot, Tawny Marbled Minor (agg), 2 Buff Ermine, 3 Heart and Dart, Dusky Brocade and Yellow Shell were trapped at Coolcotts on 23^rd. A Tawny Marbled Minor (agg), Riband Wave, White Ermine, Heart and Dart, Fan-foot and a  Mottled Beauty were trapped at Coolcotts on 24^th. A Brimstone Moth, Burnished Brass, White Ermine, Dark Arches, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Heart and Dart, 2 Rustic (agg), Light Emerald, Dusky Brocade, 3 Yellow Shells, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Six-spot Burnet and a Ghost Moth were trapped at Coolcotts on 25^th. 6 White Ermine, 3 Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, Garden Carpet, Gold Spot, Map-winged Swift, Fan-foot, Double Square-spot, Large Yellow Underwing were trapped at Woodgraigue on 27^th. A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was also noted at Carnsore Point on 27^th. Celypha rosaceana was a new County Wexford record and only the 2nd Irish record at Carnsore Point on 27^th.  A Clouded Bordered Brindle was noted on a house wall in Coolcotts on 28^th. An Eyed Hawk-moth was noted on North Slob on 28^th. A Square spot Rustic, Riband Wave and Buff Arches were trapped in Coolcotts on 29th. Buff Arches, Drinker, Garden Carpet, 3 Yellow Shells, 2 Silver Y, 2 Six-spot Burnet were trapped in Coolcotts on 30^th. A Moth trap on North Slob on 30^th produced 1 Common Footman, 2 Buff Arches, 2 Buff Ermine, 8 Heart and Dart, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Bright-line Brown-eye, 1 Common Emerald, 1 Smoky Wainscot, 3 Double Dart, 1 Middle-barred Minor, 6 Mottled Beauty and 2 Dark Brocade.

DRAGONFLIES:  An Emperor Dragonfly was at Lady's Island Lake through the month. An Emperor Dragonfly was at Coolcotts on 16^th. A Hairy Dragonfly was in Raven Nature Reserve on 24th. 4 Large Red Damselflies were noted at Tacumshin Lake on 18^th. There were 55 Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Common Hawker, 2 Emperor Dragonflies, 32 Azure Damselflies and a Red Damselfly at Raven Nature Reserve on 20^th. 2 Blue-tailed damselflies were in Coolcotts on 20^th with 3 present on 22nd. There were 2 Red Damselfly, 24 Azure Damselflies and 2 Blue-tailed Damselflies on North Slob on 21st. 2 Azure Damselflies were noted in Coolcotts on 22^nd. An Emperor was noted on North Slob from 27^th.

REPTILES: You can imagine the surprise one lucky observer had when he came across a Bearded Dragon in Barntown on 20th - I wonder how long that will survive. Natterjack Toadlets were in good evidence at Raven Nature Reserve through the month. A Leatherback Turtle was seen off Carnsore Point on 27^th