The Irish Naturalist

By Owen Beckett

Tag: Ireland

Siskin

January and February 2021: some highlights…

March 1, 2021 /

For the wildlife enthusiast, winter can be a dull affair. Many insects will be hibernating, migrant birds such as warblers, Swifts and Swallows will have left our shores and I could count on one hand the numbers of wildflower species which are brave enough to bloom during these cold, short days!

For many, attention is drawn naturally to the animals which remain conspicuous at this time of year, especially birds.  I am no different. Whilst dreaming of warmer days ahead filled with colourful flowers and a wealth of insects, I content myself during the interim with the birds that are attracted to the bird feeders in my garden and occasionally, further afield.

This winter, I decided to experiment a bit with the bird food I put out. Usually, peanut feeders and breadcrumbs on the ground would attract Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Robins, Chaffinches and Dunnocks, with Song Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits, Jays and Goldfinches visiting occasionally.

I decided to add some sunflower hearts and it wasn’t long before the variety increased substantially. Within the last month, Siskins have become regular visitors. These are typically found less frequently in gardens and tend to live in wooded areas with Alder and coniferous trees. Redpolls often inhabit similar areas and they too have been seen in the garden recently. The other new regular visitor is a lone female Greenfinch, which despite only appearing on her own is a nice observation to make as this species has fallen dramatically in numbers due to Trichomonosis, a disease which first appeared here in 2006.

The Song Thrush appears to have become a more frequent visitor, as have the Long-tailed Tits and Pied Wagtails (although this could be down to food availability in the wider area, rather than the greater variety of foodstuffs in my garden). Goldfinches too are more abundant than ever, with counts into double figures not uncommon. It is interesting to watch the bird hierarchy at the feeders, as Goldfinches tend to rule the roost and feed first, followed by Great Tits, Blue Tits then Coal Tits. The Siskins and Redpolls seem to be on the same level as the Goldfinches, but when the Greenfinch appears, all the aforementioned birds quickly make way! Blackbirds and Song Thrushes seem to ignore this, whilst Robins, Dunnocks and Chaffinches seem willing to tolerate other species but display a complex hierarchy amongst their own.

There are several other species which have appeared once or twice this winter, one of them being the Mistle Thrush. This robust thrush is paler and stockier than the Song Thrush and during the winter will associate with other thrushes in large flocks. It seldom visits gardens, preferring to feed in fields, along hedgerows or on the edges of woodlands, so to see a few individuals gorging on the Privet berries beside my house was a nice surprise!

The Collared Dove and Jay are two larger birds which only visit periodically. The former is a recent colonist in Ireland although can be found commonly in farmland and urban areas across the country. The Jay is a reclusive woodland-dwelling crow, which sometimes nests in the copse close to my house. They visit the garden searching for bread or peanuts periodically throughout the year and when they do, there is often little left by the time they have finished!

The Yellowhammer too has been seen for the first time in the garden this winter, as has the rare Brambling. Yellowhammers have undergone a rather stark decline in recent decades, likely as a result of hedgerow removal and and the increasingly common practice of ploughing and sowing fields in autumn, which removes the stubble which sustains them during the winter. They can be heard singing in my local area in spring, but to see a female in the garden was special! The Brambling on the other hand is a rare winter visitor from Scandinavia. It often wanders from its breeding range looking for food and during this time it will often associate with its close relative the Chaffinch. Unfortunately my new longer range lens did not arrive in time to photograph either species well, so my rather poor shots will have to suffice until next winter when I will (hopefully) get some better shots.

Moving on, some recent mild weather towards the end of February has tempted to early spring flowers to bloom. Colt’s Foot has appeared over the past few days. This flower looks similar to a Dandelion but blooms earlier and interestingly, it produces flowers before its leaves, the opposite of most other flowering plants. Hazel catkins have also appeared and a few shy Lesser Celandines are tentatively opening their petals in response to the mild sunshine. I’ve also seen a few early insects on the wing, notably several Honey Bee workers foraging on Gorse and winter Heather and a few Droneflies (Eristalis tenax).

I couldn’t finish without mentioning the humble Common Frog. During a visit to Breen Wood in Co. Antrim recently, I came across many croaking adults in some of the shallow pools along the main trail. One of these was buff-coloured with a greenish tinge, which I have been told is a rare colour variation. Frogspawn was abundant here, indeed I don’t think I have ever seen so much in all my life! There is also a smaller amount of fresh spawn in some patches of shallow water close to my house, which I will monitor over the coming weeks to check on the progress of the next generation!

Spring is just around the corner and after a winter under lockdown, I can scarcely remember a time when I have been looking forward to it so much. Bees and butterflies will soon be on the wing and hopefully I will be able to write about some new sightings in my next post!

Common Blue, Killard Point, Ireland, June 2020

Killard Point: Some recent highlights from one of Ireland’s finest nature reserves.

September 16, 2020 /

Killard Point is a small headland situated south of Strangford Lough along the coast of County Down. It is comprised mostly of coastal meadows with smaller areas of dune, scrub and cliff-face, each with their own highlights. Its primary drawing card is its plant diversity but in my opinion it is also very much an underrated site for insects, something which kept me coming back throughout the summer!

Butterflies

The variety of butterflies which occur here is not exceptional, but it is a definite hotspot for several more localised species and the numbers of such species here can be exceptional. Dark Green Fritillaries can be found in unimproved grasslands and rough heathy sites across Ireland, but are often much more abundant at the coast and here they can be seen in good numbers throughout June and July. They are joined during this time by the Common Blue, which linger on until August. There are two Satyrid species which occur here in large numbers; the Small Heath and Meadow Brown. The former is seen mostly in May and June, then again in smaller numbers in August whilst the latter is seen from June-August, with a definite peak in July.  The Grayling (which is local in Ireland) also occurs here although I have never seen it. The site also attracts several other ‘generalist’ species like Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Small White and Painted Lady, whilst the migratory Clouded Yellow also occurs here in the autumn in favourable years.

Bumblebees

The density and variety of wild flowers are a big attraction for bumblebee species and I have recorded several species here, some common and others scarce. One of the commonest bees here is the Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius). This species has declined in Ireland and shies away from areas of intensive agriculture, but is abundant here due to the pristine unimproved meadows. It is commonly seen feeding on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Restharrow, Common Knapweed and Field Scabious. The Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee (Bombus rupestris) which uses the previous species as its host occurred here at one stage, although it is not known whether it still exists at the site. Although I have yet to find it, the strong host populations would suggest that it is certainly possible. Other common species include the Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and the White-tailed Bumblebee complex (Bombus lucorum agg.), a group of closely related bees that cannot be separated without DNA testing.  The Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) is also very abundant and occurs here alongside the similar yet much rarer Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum). The latter is a much-declined bumblebee of damp unimproved grassland and flowery meadows and Killard Point is one of the few sites in NI which is still inhabited by this species.

Solitary Bees

Killard Point has several south-facing glacial till and sandy cliff faces, as well as numerous  consolidated sandy patches, all of which are prime nesting areas for a variety of solitary bees. It is a very important site in a national context with dozens of species recorded here. This year I managed to see a good variety of these, including the rediscovery of the very rare Colletes daviesanus, which had not been seen in Ireland for 40 years. Other less common species seen here included Andrena nigroaenea, Nomada goodeniana and Lasioglossum nitidiusculum, in addition to commoner species like Halictus rubicundus, Lasioglossum villosulum and Lasioglossum calceatum, in addition to various Sphecodes species. The site offers great potential to find new populations of solitary bees and I intend to return in the spring to see if I can add to my list of species seen here.

Other Insects

For me personally, bees and butterflies are the main focus but I still keep an eye out for any other insects that happen to cross my path. Whilst walking across Killard during the summer months, it would be hard not to notice the numbers of Cinnabar and Six-spot Burnet Moths. They are both medium-sized, black and red day-flyers that favour open grassy areas, with the Cinnabar emerging in May and the Burnet in June. Other moths I have seen here include the migratory Hummingbird Hawkmoth and the local Yellowtail Moth.

Grasshopper species include the Common Green and Field Grasshoppers, which in turn attract the predatory solitary wasp Tachysphex pompiliformis. The site in general is great for solitary wasps, as I have also seen potter wasps (Ancistrocerus sp.), Ruby-tailed Wasps (Chrysis sp.) and the impressive Amblyjoppa fuscipennis. Social wasps include the Norwegian Wasp (Dolichovespula norwegica).

Birds and other animals

Admittedly, species under this category do not draw my attention as much as they perhaps should, as I tend to be looking towards the ground during my walks here, not skyward! Nevertheless i have still managed to come across a few local or less common bird species whilst I have been here,  the chief among these being the Sand Martin. Whilst not rare, it is a patchy species in Ireland and requires large sand or clay banks for nesting. The Skylark is a much-declined bird in Ireland and has suffered due to changes in crop cycles and agricultural intensification, although it still occurs at Killard Point. Meadow Pipits share the long Marram grass with the Skylarks, whilst the Kestrel can be seen hunting in these open areas, sometimes in threes or fours. Along the shoreline, Oystercatchers are a common sight and Common Seals sometimes beach themselves when it’s quiet.

Plants

As an area of unimproved grassland devoid of herbicides or fertiliser, Killard supports a wonderful array of plant species. In spring it sees a mass-flowering of the attractive Spring Squill, along with its relative the Bluebell which creates a wonderful carpet of pale blue across parts of the reserve. The meadows support several legumes such as Kidney Vetch, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Restharrow whilst Tufted Vetch grows in some of the more scrubby areas. Other plants in the meadows include Wild Thyme, Field Scabious, Common Knapweed, Eyebright, Lady’s Bedstraw and various Hawkweeds. Thrift, Scarlet Pimpernel, Wild Carrot and Wild Radish grow close to the sea here whilst White Stonecrop grows along the old stone walls nearby. The main attraction for botanists however is the variety of orchids that occur here, particularly the presence of the elusive and stunning Bee Orchid. Other commoner orchids include the Common Spotted Orchid, Twayblade and Pyramidal Orchid.

 

Irish Shieldbugs

May 18, 2019 /

Shieldbugs are some of Ireland’s most familiar insects , getting their name from their shield-like body. They belong to the order Hemiptera or ‘True Bugs’, which also includes other familiar insects like Pond Skaters, Water Scorpions, Aphids and Flower Bugs.

Most shieldbugs are herbivorous, using their pointed mouthparts to feed on sap from a variety of plants but some may be carnivorous, feeding on soft-bodied moth or beetle larvae. They mostly hibernate as adults, hiding away in sheltered places to emerge and breed in the spring. The eggs are laid either individually or in clusters and the nymphs which subsequently emerge resemble the adults but are smaller, with no wings and a more rounded shape and are often seen in the summer months. They will spend 6-10 weeks in this stage before moulting and reaching the adult stage.

In Ireland there are 17 species of Shieldbug present, but only 6 of these have been recorded in my area. The commonest species in my garden is the Green Shield Bug, Palomena prasina which frequents hedgerows, shrubs and trees, feeding in particular on bramble. It is found throughout Ireland but is rare in the north and the central counties.

Another common species in the garden is the Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) which is almost always found on gorse bushes. It is slightly smaller than the previous species with varying shades of green, blending in with gorse seed pods rather well. It is common in Ireland in areas of heath, scrub and gardens.

The third is the appropriately named Forest Shieldbug, Pentatoma rufipes. It is easy to identify being the only brown coloured shieldbug in the garden. It is fond of feeding on Oak and Alder trees but I suspect the ones that I have observed are feeding on Willow, Ash or Hazel. It is typically seen in the Autumn.

Two other similar-looking species that occur in the garden from time to time are the Hawthorn (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) and Birch (Elasmostethus interstinctus) Shieldbugs. As their names would suggest they feed primarily on Hawthorn and Birch respectively, but will also take Hazel, Oak and Aspen. Both species are predominantly green with brown markings, with the Birch Shieldbug being slightly smaller and brighter.

The final species, the Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) is a recently established species, having spread northwards from the south of Ireland; my observations are possibly Ireland’s northernmost record! It is a peculiar member of this family being the only representative covered in hairs (hence its name). It is reportedly found in tall grassland, scrub and woodland edges and feeds mainly on Blackthorn.

I would suspect that the habitat in my local area would be suitable for a few other species, such as the Bronze and Parent Shieldbugs, but I am yet to see them. Maybe if I spend enough time clambering through thickets and scrub I’ll find a few to add to the list!

Spring Butterflies 2019

May 4, 2019 /

After a long winter, the first few days of warm sun and clear skies were very welcome. With it, there came the first few butterflies of the year. In the north of Ireland, it’s Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells which emerge first, usually in late March where they will be found sunning themselves and feeding on dandelions. They often are quite tattered and dull, due a long winter spent in a tree hollow or shed having emerged the previous summer. It’s only in late April or early May however that the variety of butterflies starts to really increase.

Orange Tips are real springtime butterflies, emerging just as their foodplant, Cuckooflower begins to bloom. Males will perch or patrol their territory in the hope of coming across a female, who tends to fly slower along the verges in search of egg-laying sites. Green-veined Whites also share this foodplant and tend to emerge around the same time. In early May they are further joined by emerging Small and Large Whites, who tend to prefer gardens and rich flowery areas and the Irish speciality the Cryptic Wood White.

In woodland areas and sometimes in gardens, Holly Blues will emerge alongside the ever-present Speckled Wood. The Holly Blue is one species in Ireland that has been steadily increasing in both range and abundance for several years now. I had never seen one in my garden until around 2012/2013 and now they are seen every spring, with the occasional one in late summer. In scrubby areas, especially near bogland, Green Hairstreaks are a welcome sight. These little green jewels dart around bilberry and gorse bushes before landing suddenly and angling their wings towards the sun to warm themselves up.

Aside from butterflies, there are many other creatures who show themselves once the days begin to lengthen and the weather picks up. Queens of the Early, Garden, Buff-tailed, White-tailed, Red-tailed and Common Carder Bumblebees awake after a long hibernation in our gardens and woodlands and immediately start searching for fresh dandelions and willow blossom to replenish their energy levels before starting a new colony. In more rugged rural areas they are joined by the Heath, Moss Carder and Red-shanked Bumblebees. Solitary bees also start to appear around this time, with species such as the Ashy Grey Mining Bee buzzing in and out of their burrows.

Along with our resident bird species, we welcome visitors from Africa and Europe such as the Cuckoo, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and House Martin to name but a few, who soon fill the air with their songs and calls. With Daffodils blooming, tree leaves bursting out and Bluebells carpeting our woodland floors, how can you not love spring?

Sheskinmore: June 2018

July 16, 2018 /

Sheskinmore Lough is a nature reserve  in the northwestern corner of Ireland and is hailed as Donegal’s jewel in the crown for wildlife. Three quarters of Ireland’s butterfly species have been recorded here, as well as many moths, dragonflies, bees, birds, plants and mammals.

For me personally the reserve peaks in the months of June and July, when the air is filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers mixed with the cool freshness of the Atlantic, Sand Martins and Swallows hawk for insects over the grassland, the songs of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits surround you whilst the butterfly and bees hop from flower to flower. On a sunny day it is one of my favourite places to be and I always love getting the opportunity to travel there at this time of year.

I usually enter the reserve via Tramore Strand. This is a magnificent Irish surf beach which is great for a swim and produces some impressive waves at times, although there was virtually no wind about today, which was ideal for watching wildlife. Behind the embryo dunes there are numerous patches of Kidney Vetch and Bird’s-foot Trefoil, along with a smattering of Early Purple Orchids and various Marsh Orchids. It is always teeming with butterflies, particularly Small Blues which is always a nice sight. Small Heaths and Common Blues also are common here along with Common Carder and White-tailed Bumblebees.

At the far end of Tramore there is a gate into the reserve itself, where the habitat is mostly coastal heath and calcareous coastal grassland. This section of the reserve is rich with wildflowers and insects in particular. Common Centuary, Meadow Thistle, Scarlet Pimpernel, Wild Thyme and Common Butterwort all occur here. It is no exaggeration to say that every few steps I flushed out a Small Heath from the grass; they were everywhere! As always there were a few Small Coppers and the odd Dingy Skipper which is always nice to see and by mid-June the Common Blues and Six-spot Burnet moths typically start to emerge and there was a handful of both species here too. The coastline of Donegal is one of the few areas where I have seen Moss Carder and Red-shanked Carder Bees. Both of these bumblebees are quite scarce and no doubt the abundance of wildflowers and lack of agricultural activity on the reserve appeals to them.

Further along the path there are several large pools in some of the lower dune troughs which host a nice variety of dragonflies and damselflies. The Four-spotted Chaser is one of the larger species, along with the smaller Large Red Damselfly and Blue Damselfly.  I love sitting by the pools and watching Sand Martins and Swallows skim the surface for a drink as they are such fast, acrobatic birds and a real sign of Spring and Summer.

I generally walk back via Ballinreavy Strand, a wide open beach beside the Owenea and Owentocker estuary to observe some of the wildlife there. Usually there are some Sandwhich terns here along with some Curlews, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers, combing the fringes of the water for small invertebrates. Looking into the small tributaries along the beach I saw some small Flounders, which quickly disappeared with a puff of sand when they saw my shadow.

At this time of year I always leave this place on a high and once again it did not disappoint!

 

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