LET’S LOVE WHAT WE HAVE

 IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOVE WHAT WE  HAVE 

Living in Cornwall, as in any other place, there are distractions which prevents us seeing what is actually around us. For many people they will not get the opportunity to be able to spend time examining what is there; to be able to see the beautiful naturally world or have the time to witness the harm that is being done. Cornwall Wildlife Trust along with other county trusts play there part in communicating what is needed. Areas that can be taken possession of where nature can co-existent with farming. Helman Tor near Bodmin has recently been acquired and is under the Trust’s management. 

The other morning on BBC Breakfast a member of the RSPB was being interviewed in connection with the loss of seabirds and in particular mentioned Sand Eels. They are an important seabird food but these are being fished for human needs, reduced for their oil, fish meal and animal feed. The problem is that we take and do not give enough back. Maybe that is about change but not without considerable effort by those who care. Marine reserves allow regeneration and that is the same for areas managed by trusts. 

OTHERS DON’T LOVE OUR LAND OUR AS MUCH AS I DO

One evening there was a programme about the state of our rivers. For example the River Wye is in dire need of help along with chalk streams that have been reduce to nothing because of extractions from the chalk aquifers. Although the water companies get fined millions raw sewage can legally be pumped into our water systems and the sea where people swim! There is an amazing piece of engineering for the Thames that will treat London’s sewage to return it to us as clean water and that is good. With Thames and Southern Water being fined millions why should a CEO be allowed to earn a million or more? Paul Whitehouse, an angler, presented the programme and one point he made was the profit the water companies were making. It appears to me that should have been used to prevent sewage spills or am I being too naive? That’s what happens when water utilities were sold into the corporate world. 

Then on the morning of the Labour Party Conference a sound bite in relation to sanctions to be imposed on water companies. And the people who allow the spillages. Isn’t that about bloody time!

THE SMALL ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING.

The Platt was not only going to be about birds and trees as we wanted to discover what else was growing and living there. It is easy to pass over the smaller things but we paid attention to what was next to our feet. There was a small ground hugging silver leafed plant we noticed. We checked it out to discover it was Marsh Cudweed - Gnaphalium Uliginosum. Not a plant that shows itself off but one with distinct features and one that has attracted the attention of herbalists for its properties.  It is little used now although it seems every thing has a value.

This is information I gleaned.

“Marsh Cudweed is a low-growing perennial plant that typically grows to a height of 10 to 40 cm. It has a dense rosette of green, oval-shaped leaves that are covered in fine hairs. In the summer, Marsh Cudweed produces clusters of tiny white or yellow flowers that sit on top of long, thin stems. The flowers are a favorite of many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and flies.

In our photo the little brown buttons seem to be the result of the flowers. The cluster of flowers we will look out for next summer.

More information is as follows.

Fruit:

A tiny achene with a white, hairy pappus.

Leaves:

Greyish or silvery-green, alternate, short-stalked, lanceolate leaves. Cottony in appearance. Leaves have entire margins.

Other Names:

Brown Cudweed, Cotton Weed, Low Cudweed, March Everlasting, Marsh Cottonweed, Mouse-ear, Mud Cudweed, Petty Cotton.

 

BIRDING IN THE HEAT IN ALICANTE

BIRDING IN THE DESERTED FIELDS IN PROVINCIA DE ALICANTE’s DESERT

We always want to be out there and this morning we were. Our expectations were low and what we achieved was very little but we did it.

The N332 was abnormally heavy so we headed in land from Gran Alacant. There was very little to see except a swarm of both House Martins- Avion Comun and Barn Swallows - Golondrina Común still going south. We seem to be betwixt the seasons with some still going away and nothing, it seems, coming in from the north. It is exceptional times with temperatures being so high. 

We headed to Parque Natural de El Hondo. On the way we discovered a very low flying light brown raptor that could be a  Common Buzzard - Busardo Ratonera, being mobbed by Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar but we did it see enough of it to decide.  One to remember and to look again.

El Hondo was very disappointing. It needs to be trimmed and the water was muddy too. Red-Knobbed Coots - Focha Moruna were swimming in open water while both Great Reed & Reed Warblers - Carricero Tordal & Comun called and flew. We saw only one Marbled Duck - Cerceta Pardilla and not one wader. We left quickly.

Santa Aguada was as dry as a bone and the fields are waiting to be cut and harvested. What we wanted was a flooded field but we did not get one. El Pinet, we tried, and found two Dunlin - Correlimos Común, one Black-tailed Godwit - Aguja Colinegra, one Black-winged Stilt -Cigüeñuela Común and a Ringed Plover - Chorliejo Grande.  That is not a good return.

(PS. It must have been Trev’s fault as he flew in today!)

And that was that! Our plan is to wait for the rain and go out then. Let’s hope the ducks and waders will have arrived. 

LARCH TREES

When I had time to absorb what trees were there I was delighted to see a line of relatively young Larch Trees. I had been acquainted with a mature one during my childhood when one clung to a road side bank in the village. In a way this species is iconic to me and then on the edge of The Platt was a line of six of them. They are needle droppers and we never had a cuppa without a needle adding to the flavour but that is what being outside is about. 

I had read Benedict Macdonald’s & Nicholas Gates’ book Eden - A Year in England’s Eden. This Eden lies near The Malvern Hills where there is direct reference to an old, still existing orchard, where the habitat is ideal for wildlife especially, in this case, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. These old style orchards were the orchards of my childhood which sadly were soon to be replaced by slender trees planted in rows. I loved those old orchards and remember the birds that nested within.
And so when I returned to Cornwall I found that by chatting to a neighbour he had both the Lesser & Greater Spotted feeding on his feeders. That delight was transferred just up the road where both species called from the top of a Larch most mornings. It was a delight particularly as the Lesser Spotted is rare. There were other delights too.

Now to these trees: I lifted this as I need to know more about what they can give to wildlife. The birds seemed to feed while on the slender branches.

LARCH
A spring-time show off, European Larch is a Conifer full of surprises.  Introduced over 400 years ago, it is a favourite with squirrels, birds and moths alike.  
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Value to wildlife

The seeds of the European larch are eaten by Red Squirrels and a number of birds, including the Siskin and Lesser Redpoll, while the buds and immature cones are eaten by Black Grouse. The caterpillars of many moths feed on the foliage, including the case-bearer moth and larch pug. Larch tortrix moth caterpillars eat the cone scales. (I will have to check on these moths and see if they frequent North Cornwall)

Mythology and Symbolism. 

In European folklore, larch was said to protect against enchantment. The wearing and burning of larch was thought to protect against evil spirits. (we can try that, one evening)

Threats and Conservation. 

Larch is susceptible to the fungal disease larch canker. It can also be affected by larch bark beetle and butt rot fungus. Most recently it has been affected by the Ramorum Disease, which affects and kills Japanese Larch Trees and is spreading throughout western parts of the UK.

There is always risk and I am considering applying for a tree preservation order to ensure they do not attract the attention of a chain saw. The line of trees are between our field boundary and our neighbours stock fence. All trees should be cherished. 

ALICK SIMMONS IN THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

FROM RAPTOR PERSWECUTION UK

New Scientist has just published a thought-provoking opinion piece (republished below), written by Alick Simmons (the former UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer) on the inadequacy of UK legislation that's supposed to protect wildlife. It's hard to think of a more authentic, credible voice on this subject than Alick. He's recently authored a highly-acclaimed book, Treated […]

The full article can be found in the Guardian Newspaper of 23rd September. I have reproduced the last sentence below.

“How do we address sentience in wildlife? Start with a root-and- branch review of lethal control. Then perhaps we can treat our wildlife with a bit more respect”

Does not that sentence sum it up?

BIRDS

During our visit we intended to do many things and we did. I was over ambitious within the time frame of those few weeks as some we could never have achieved. We noted what came our way without actually going out birding. We examined our boundaries and the vegetation within, photographed them all in order that we had a log which we can refer back too. 

I can say the same about butterflies that came our way - large & small whites, Red Admirals, Peacocks, Speckled Woods and maybe a Fritillary. Moths and trapping was beyond me this time but the night air was full of flying insects. All to plan for next time. 

Speaking to the locals there are other birds that have been seen which include both Kingfisher and a Dipper. I had hoped to spend time on a river courses and that will be next time too. We were also a tad late for Nightjars but we did learn of the place to go. 

We were delighted to find out that a Barn Owl was around. Matt had seen it before we arrived and within the first few days we watched it hunting and Michelle was able to get this one sitting on a post. After a few more days we saw it no more. 

Below is this year’s list of the bird species that we saw with some of them entertaining us while we sat and watched. Species List:

Blackbird 

Canada Geese grazing nearby.

Common Buzzard

 

CORVIDS 

Carrion Crow 

Jackdaw 

Jay - just one quick fly over 

Magpie 

Raven - overhead and calling daily 

Rook 

Dunnock - a juvenile & photographed

Hobby - I think - on migration going south. High up and ‘hawking’ as it went and I have seen that behaviour before. So the greater possibility it was a hobby and maybe an adult as it was 30th August. Two other possibilities were a Red-footed or an Elanora’s but in terms of numbers - a Hobby and I will settle for that. I have seen them twice in Spain on migration. One going south and ‘hawking’ and one resting in spring. Good to see. 

FINCHES

Chaffinch 

Gold 

Greenfinches 

GULLS

Black-headed 

Herring 

House Sparrows - doing really way just up the road. 

Nuthatch - on feeder 

OWLS 

Barn - seen flying over The Platt & in the field. Michelle with her Nikon P900 captured it sitting on a post. We all saw one flying over our neighbouring field. 

Tawny - calling every night from Longcarne Farm and other directions. 

Robin

 

Song Thrush - but sadly only one 

Swallows feeding and flying overhead. They nested in a neighbour’s building. 

Stonechat - just up the road from us 

TITS

Blue 

Coal 

Great 

(Willow) only possible and something to concentrate on next time. 

Tree Creeper (just once) 

WOODPECKERS 

Green - always to be heard 

Greater Spotted 

Lesser Spotted 

Wood Pigeon (Note - no Collared Doves) 

Wren I saw three youngsters on a wood pile and they were frequent visitors and if we remained still & quiet they did not care. They were so much fun. 

Totalling 32 and that is a good number as the birds found us!

CHEMICAL ADDICTION

There has been much controversy over non-indigenous species with Himalayan Balsam attracting much attention. There is also much controversy over the use of insecticides with many articles being written. After my last blog and the way it can be eradicated by non-poisonous methods I thought that these two poems are appropriate to add to the conversation. They are part of a ‘wildlife’ collection I have put together.

INSECTINCTION

It's what we do 

corralled into a belief 

of needless control

poison spray spumed

out and over

the un-valued

‘little things’ 

they - at the bottom 

of the food chain

feed the voracious 

predators killing

to eat - that's okay

but we humans 

keep buggering 

it all up - so far

I can see values 

changing - mindsets too

it's the majority we need

‘cides’ it is! 

Insecticides. You can buy ‘em

over the counter like a lottery ticket 

Who cares? Killing is normal, isn't it?

Anyway the clue is in the label 

Insects and cide from the Latin

- killing and the big ‘pharmas’ 

make millions out of killing

Genocide multiple times over!