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.

First sighting of a bittern this year

Out for a nice post xmas stroll really with Julie around Summer Leys this morning. Not a cloud in the sky and 10 degrees it was a pleasure to be out and if you kept walking you were as warm as toast.

I did stop a couple of times. The first was when there were a group of birders looking out into the reed bed behind the feeding station. On Ruth's suggestion i had a quick look through the scope and there was a Bittern tucked behind a few reeds as camouflaged as can be. Excellent. We walked to the screen hide and got a much better view with the bins. By the time i got my camera out though it had stopped showing. So i turned around for this heron shot instead.
I have been surprised how many Bullfinches seem to have come over this year, from Scandinavia i presume. In previous years i usually only get a few fleeting glimpses of a white arse. However over the last few weeks i have seen some on each trip. Very colourful as was this one on Summer Leys feeding station.

Irthlingborogh surveying

The wildlife trust are looking to purchase a new nature reserve in the nene valley next to Rushden and Diamonds Stadium. It's a massive area and would probably be their biggest reserve in northants. It is an old gravel extraction area and is a bit abused at the moment. The litter and behaviour from the fishermen here is attrocious, makes me feel a little ashamed.

We were on a water beetle and bug survey and are starting to build a big list of species. It is not really the right time of year but it was good to understand the site a little better and take a few photos

Dark Bellied Brent Goose

It was blowing a gale today and thought i would go out for a bracing walk around Clifford Hill barrage lake. Most wildlife was either hunkered down or afloat to keep out of the way of dog walkers around the edge. However I did see this Dark Bellied Brent Goose amongst the Graylags. I haven't seen one of these for many years.

I know it isn't a nature reserve here but was still really surprised to how many people decided not to walk on the banking path but around the lake edge disturbing as much wildlife as they can. Out of the 20 people walking round 6 were walking the lake edge, all women and all with dogs not on a lead, amazing. Considering the sign when i was last there was a picture of a mauled sheep by a dog and a warning all dogs off the lead will be shot, they must be a defiant lot!

As I walked there and back though i went through Abington Meadows where i only met 2 people, only one with a dog and it was on a lead. It did feel that the wildlife trust are either teaching people to be responsible or moving on those that aren't. Either way it seems to be working.

Praying for Water Beetles

I started the autumn Nene Valley invertebrate monitoring programme this weekend with trips to Wilsons Pit and Twywell hills and dales. Del pinched my camera and took a couple of photos, this one looks as though i was praying!

I didn't need to though as there were plenty of beetles around.

At Tywell there 10 species of water beetle including Graptodytes pictus, Gyrinus marinus and the 3 main species of Anacaena. In addition 5 Species Water bug including Notonecta viridus

At Wilsons Pit 13 species water beetle including Hygrobia hermanni, Nebrioporus elegans and Hydroglyphus puscillus. As well as 12 great species of water bugs including Micronecta Scholzi, Sigara limitata and Sigara nigrolineata.

A great start just at the end of the nice weather. perhaps I should be praying for better weather!!