Noticing Nature Blog

It's Wasp Spider time and this impressive female was in her web in the dry grasses alongside the footpath towards Crixhall Court. The characteristic white zigzag pattern in the web can just about be seen to the right of the spider. She will prey on mostly grasshoppers and crickets. The male spider is smaller and not as brightly patterned. If he survives the mating process, he will tend to keep his distance, as the female will often devour him after the deed is done! Wasp Spid

Showing my age here, but this rather impressive Sunflower did remind me of 'Weed' from Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men (BBC Watch with Mother 1952-54 and repeated often). The lookalike was in the cover crop at Crixhall Court. The use of cover crops and pollinator strips in a nature-friendly farming regime is designed to increase insect life and with it, predators. This will decrease dependency on pesticides to control pest species. Quex Park near Birchington is now producing p

Even with my dodgy eyes, I could see this lovely splash of purple from some distance. In the currently parched landscape, colour is disappearing fast. There is still water in the Wingham River at Great Pedding but it is no longer flowing, certainly not noticeably. It does mean though that plants here are still thriving and this flowering Purple Loosestrive (Lythrum salicaria) was a welcome sight. Purple Loosestrive

This is my second Clouded Yellow butterfly in Staple this week. It is a migrant, flying here from North Africa and southern Europe and always a joy to see. This one was in the stunning cover crop field on the way to Crixhall Court. Clouded Yellow butterfly

A rather attractive little hoverfly, probably Sphaerophoria interrupta, on an oak leaf. Sphaerophoria interrupta

Another selection from around Staple. Clockwise from top left: Wall Brown butterfly, Silver-Y Moth (quite numerous at the moment-they are migrant moths moving up from the continent on the warm air-flows), Brown Argus butterfly and a Small Copper butterfly in my garden.