Hygrotus nigrolineatus

Today we had a detailed Water Beetle training session with richard Chadd and I took along a few of the species I needed to confirm and also a batch of Hydroporus I needed to get a bit more familiar with.

I managed to confirm 3 specimens as Hygrotus nigrolineatus which is a Nationally Scarce A beetle. The specimens I took were from Upton and Wilsons Pit, but John also mentioned he may also have taken one from Titchmarsh.

The species was first found in Kent in 2003 but since this time has spread across England but is more often found in the Midlands. It is associated with recently created still waters with minimal vegetation. The Upton sample was taken from an ephemeral pond over mud and at Wilsons Pit on the recent scrape.

They are an extremely distinctive and pretty beetle although there are a few in the family they can be confused with. For me they looked flat rather than globose and therefore went down the wrong side of the key but after using a micrometer in the microscope it was confirmed.

Nice to know a recent visitor to Britain is at home in the Nene Valley and not causing any adverse effects.

Rutland wander

After a weekend of working thought i would use the day off to go for a wander around rutland Nature reserve.



It was a very pleasant day as the rain kept off although it was getting colder. Had some lovely sights and it was great when this Little Egret flew in to just in front of the hide. They look majestic all in white with the black beak.


Had sme great views of some red head smew, Pintail, Curlew, Shelduck, Golden Plover, Gooseander and this is the only place I see Egyptian Geese. Apparently there is a breeding colony of around 30.

I also managed to get a great view of a pair of scaup amongst a flock of Tufted Ducks. Usually I am looking at females or youngsters but this was a distictive pair and there is no mistaking the white patch on the beak and grey back of this male.

Owls everywhere

I managed to find Blueberry farm at last to see what all the fuss was about. I had really only had half hearted attempts although on bank holiday Tuesday i did make it as far as the lake on the way there but with so much traffic on the single lane road I couldn't bring myself to go any further.

But today - WOW - I had only just got out of the car to put my boots on and there was one quartering in the field. Effortlessly floating above the ground and gracefully turning on a sixpence. occasionally diving onto the ground. The pictures are not great i am afraid as they were either a little far away or i was watching too much to take photos.
There must have been 3 or 4 in each field we visited and were hypnotic. It was really surprising how big they were and the face and eyes so was so large that you thought they were just looking at you until they nonchalantly looked away and changed direction.

If they weren't on the wing they were in a tree or more likely resting on the ground. in all we saw 15 in a short walk an experience i perhaps will never have again.