Smooth Sowthistle on the A26

The Smooth Sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus, is a plant that I commonly see, but am often unsure of! It is an erect annual, rarely biennial, that may often reach one and a half metres high. It is very common throughout the British Isles, on wasteland, arable, and wood edges. It may be commoner than spiny in coastal districts, less so at higher altitude.

It may be eaten as a rather tough salad leaf, rather bland, or possibly cooked like spinach.

A fairly good character is the hairless nature of the mature leaves, which are a dull (not very shiny) grey-green, and lightly toothed - but clearly lacking the crisped double-toothed spininess of Sonchus asper.

The stem is smooth, and there are no masses of glandular black (spiny) or yellow (perennial) hairs on the capitula, although a few scattered hairs might be present. However, there may be some woolly hairy patches just below the capitula - referred to in Stace as the phyllaries perhaps?  Like all the sowthistles, the stems are hollow and release latex when bruised or cut.

The leaves may be slightly hairy, but only when young. The leaf tips are shaped generally like triangular arrow heads. The leaf bases are pressed around the stem on each side, and the basal tips reflexed so that the pointed tips then point outwards, as seen in this helpful photo from the University of Texas.

The leaves are very variable in shape but often the basal lobes of the leaf (ending in the auricles?) are relatively large, as in this photo from the University of Graz.

The uppermost younger leaves may well be rather simple toothed rounded-triangular in shape, as in this photo from Visoflora.

The very lowest leaves may have a long petiolate base.

The flowers are generally pale yellow a little like the marsh sowthistle, (perennial = deep yellow, spiny = deep golden yellow), and produced from June until October. In the West of Scotland however they may be a darker yellow in colour, like the other species.

The capitula should be about 20-25 mm across, 10 - 15 mm high, often "sowthistle" urn-shaped when closed. The achenes should be yellow and transversely wrinkled (rugose), although I cannot actually see this in the photos on the web.

Down to East Lock

There were a lot of Wheat Stem Borer, Cephus pygmaeus, sheltering, and in one case mating, on the buttercups in the field margin of the wheat field. Not a major pest perhaps, but still likely to have an impact on the harvest.

I was very glad to see a female Platycheirus, perhaps P. scutatus, from the shape of the abdominal markings in the same field margin, along with a tiny Nomada, perhaps Nomada flavoguttata.

Geranium dissectum, Ranunculus acris, repens and bulbosa together with Ficaria were all seen. Filipendula, Hypericum maculatum (?), Green Field Speedwell, Veronica agrestis, Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog, Holcus lanata,  there were a lot of Chaffinches, some Skylarks, and one Cuckoo. 

A brief return to Beacon Wood

I went back to Beacon Wood for a brief walk with Monty, driving through a sharp rainstorm just before I arrived. The weather improved greatly during the visit.

As I arrived at the clearing with the picnic table, I saw a fat wasp on the leaves low down on the treeline, which turned out to be Chlorotoxum cautum, a wasp-mimic hoverfly.

A quick whizz around a breezy access trail and reservoir

At nearly 4 pm I set off with Monty through the village to the start of the Access Trail, across Great Court, then down towards Victoria Lane, Malt Cottage and the Reservoir, then back along the River Bourne, the Green Lane to the Red Pond and then reversing our course back through Great Court to home, getting back towards 6 pm.

I found a Periphyllus aphid species on the Sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, on the Access Trail together with aestivating nymphs, and again on one of the trees just downstream of Goldhill Mill, together with a small midge species. On the English or Atinian Elm, Ulmus minor 'Atinia', there was evidence of a leaf-curling aphid, presumably originally caused by Eriosoma ulmi, but now apparently inhabited by a "normal" green aphid.

There were apparent fledgelings for the Greylag/Whiter Goose, and for another pair of Greylags on the reservoir. A small group of Goldfinches were in the tall hedge running South of the reservoir to the River Bourne. I saw one Swallow over the field to the East of the Bourneside bridge, and one Swift over the Acccess Trail. There were Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Robins and Blackbirds along the Green Lane section of the Access Trail. Woodpigeons and Chaffinches were everywhere.

On the bank of the reservoir, the trefoils were in good flower. On the way back along the Church footpath I checked the Bittercress on the side of the tarmac - and it was Hairy Bittercress of course, with only four stamens. There was also Green Alkanet and Common Fumitory along the same path.

Rushing around Dene Park with Monty

A lovely old Peacock butterfly on the path through Knight's Wood, obviously been through the wars, having been repeatedly pecked!

Duke of Burgundy and Dingy Skipper at Denge Wood

This was a brilliant British Butterfly Conservation Society Kent Branch trip, and it was particularly nice to see Peter and Margaret again.

I stopped at the pull-in in the Northern half of the woods first, and found a nice Nomad Bee, Nomada flava or panzeri, generally regarded as two common but indistinguishable species.

There was also a lovely Common Carder Bumblebee, Bombus pascuorum close by, nectaring on the Yellow Archangel.

This is a better photo of the Yellow Archangel, Lamium galeobdolon, just further along.

Sometimes early Hazel leaves show these purple markings, I think.

There was also a neat spider,

The group did see some Dingy Skippers, including a fresh mating pair, but I only caught a glimpse of this apparently very worn individual:

There were quite a few Green Tiger Beetles, Cicindela campestris, on the paths. Both of these appear to be males, as you can see at least the ivory-coloured left-hand mandibles quite clearly. The second male has fewer cream spots on the elytra.

There was a nice Rove Beetle on a bonfire site on Bonsai Bank, seemed to be way out of the damp habitat associated with this genus, particularly Paederus riparius, but it might still be Paederus littoralis I suppose, or maybe another species.

Throughout the day we saw Brimstone Butterflies, Gonopteryx rhamni, and I caught this battered male(?) trying to snack on a primrose flower.

Hoverflies and more Whimbrels at Cliffe

As on several occasions, one of the two Eristalinus species was present, and this time I was fairly sure it was Eristalinus aeneus. I saw two females, apparently. The abdomen was fairly glossy over the entire surface, and the eyes were not very hairy, with no evidence of hairs below their midline.

Kemsing

The weather was generally warm, but with a fresh breeze and occasional spots of rain.

Primrose, Cowslip in fantastic numbers, the hybrid between the two, False Oxlip?, Germander Speedwell, Wood Speedwell, Lesser Burnet-Saxifrage, Wild Strawberry, Common Milkwort, Sanicle, Bluebell, Yellows Archangel, Dogs' Mercury, Nettle, Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Moschatel, Lesser Celandine, Wood Avens, Goldilocks, Creeping Buttercup?, Field Buttercup, Wood Forget-me-not, Daisy, Ribwort Plantain, Dandelion, Beech, Yew, Ash, Oak, Hazel, Walnut, Whitebeam, Cherry,

Birds were perhaps a little thin on the ground, with Blackcap, Chiff-chaff and Wren being the main singers.

A grey evening on the Access Trail

A slight breeze and grey skies kept the temperature down this evening.

My first surprise was re-finding the tiny patch, about 2 square metres, of Shepherds's Needle, Scandix pecten-veneris, just by the Victoria Lane entrance to the Access Trail, just a little further on than I thought I had seen it two years ago. The unequal petals can be seen in the picture below, and the "comb-like" fruit can be seen in the one below that.

There are Forget-me-nots all over the countryside at the moment, and I think these are one of the common ones, either the Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis, or the Wood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica, with longer pedicels and larger, flatter flowers. I think it is very difficult to tell, and I must get my measuring tape out next time I'm walking!

In the wood there was one plant of Winter Cress, Barbarea vulgaris, probably, and there were many more in the Bourneside marshy area. The upper stem leaves are probably too "toothed" for his plant to be Early Winter Cress, Barbarea verna.

As far as birds went throughout the walk, it was very nice to see the occasional Swallow sweeping past, and also to hear a Garden Warbler, and later on, somewhere to the South of Style Place, a Cuckoo. Throughout the walk there were plenty of Chiff-chaffs, Chaffinches, Woodpigeons, Robins, Blackbirds. Here is a picture of a a Wren in a willow by the river from the Bourneside marshy meadow.

Whitethroats and Sand Martins at Leybourne Lakes

Quite a few Whitethroats, Sylvia communis, were to be found, defending territories or setting up nests.

I think the one I was photographing here from the first bridge across the stream might perhaps be a male, as although its head wasn't so clearly grey as I would have expected, it wasn't truly brown either. There is quite a clear eye-ring, and I rather think that the brown on the head might be superficial and might be about to wear off. It is still quite early in the season, and most of the females have perhaps not arrived yet. It is known that the males arrive first, and prepare "cock-nests" for the approval of the female. This bird does seem to be the same bird throughout (there appears to be a dimple in the forehead just to the left of the beak in at least some photos), there was a distinct pinkish tinge to the breast, and it was singing well in between visits to the nest, on the other side of the stream, so it is at least possible that it is a male.

The next two pictures are perhaps more clearly a male, if indeed it is the same bird!! To be honest the only thing I can really suggest is that it is an adult, partly because it must be as it is nest building, but also because the iris is not anywhere as dark a brown as would be expected in a juvenile bird, and so the light brown of the iris clearly contrasts with the dark pupil in the centre! The inside of the eyelid is said to be reddish, and I wouldn't strongly disagree, although I wouldn't strongly confirm either!

The beak is also quite well shown in the picture below. The upper mandible is dark horn, the lower is flesh-yellow except at the tip where it is also dark horn. The cutting edges are flesh-yellow. The inside of the mouth is yellow-pink.

The legs are brown (not as pale brown as I have read) with the toes perhaps slightly darker.

In the nominate subspecies, Sylvia communis communis, the moulting process is a complete moult post-breeding before migration, although perhaps partly suspended for the migration period, and then a partial moult pre-breeding.  In the Eastern subspecies, volgensis, rubicola and icterops, the post-breeding moult is partial, and the pre-breeding moult complete.

Nominate males then arrive on the breeding ground with fresh head and body plumage, i.e, the head and body will tend to be browner than the text-books generally suggest. The wings and tail are likely to be more worn, perhaps explaining why it is very difficult to see the normally stated white edging to the tail in this particular bird.

The post-breeding moult is primaries and secondaries descendent, working from P1 outwards towards P10, and S1 outwards towards S6. The suspension of moulting, if it occurs, is more likely to delay the moulting of the secondaries than the primaries.

While I was watching the whitethroat, there was also a Moorhen fussing about on the bank, before it slowly swam off.

The Muscovy Duck was by the feeding area:

The Greylag Geese were present in small numbers around the feeding area, looking in good condition.

One pair had three fairly new goslings.

The Mallards are looking well paired up, and svelte! Here is a drake.

There was one Muscovy drake as well.

Way out in the middle of the Ocean, there were Sand Martins skimming over the water and feeding, but too far away to be more than a blur in the photo.

There was an Andrena species female solitary bee in the shelter by the side of The Ocean, with a shiny black top to the abdomen, but I couldn't be sure of the species. Quite possibly Andrena nitida? (2021 guess).

A breezy grey Broadwater with the warden

This amazing green wood stain is caused by Green Elf Cap fungi, Chlorociboria spp., and is one of the components of the famous intricate marquetry known as Tunbridge Ware.

Lots more information on Chlorociboria and Tunbridgeware on Tom Volk's page,

There is some incredibly rare Chalybeate wet woodland there with the iron staining the mud bright orange-red and the green Greater Tussock Sedge, standing bright green among the orange surrounds.

The ground flora in and around the muddy pools is springing into emerald life:

This dead hedge helps with health and safety, and also reduces the risk of dogs entering the water, which could cause a lot of ecological damage, as well as risking the dog itself becoming at the least very dirty and stinky!

The RSPB have some really good interpretation signs, informative with great visuals:

This log-pile is on one of the smaller heathy patches near the car-park with refuge patches close by - unfortunately clear of adders when we checked this morning!