Nothe 2004 Wildlife Report

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The first butterfly of the year, a migrant Painted Lady, appeared on the extraordinarily early date of 9 Feb, and was followed by a Peacock on 11th and Small Tortoiseshell on 23rd. 15 Apr saw the first cephalopod record of a squid or cuttlefish being attacked by gulls off the pier, while 16th saw the first Red Admiral of the year - the earliest ever - almost unnoticed amongst a flurry of bird migrants. Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars were noted on 18 May.

Small Skipper (third record) and Common Blue, 29 June 2004

Fine, sunny weather on 20 Jul produced a good showing of 23 Gatekeeper and a Small Copper, only the second record, on the landslip, while Wall Brown on 22 Jul was the third record.The re-opening of the toilet block (and moth-trap) on 29th was a welcome development, with the first record of Small Blood-vein and second record of the tiny Small Dusty Wave. 30th saw the first Holly Blue since May 2002 in the NE corner. On 3 Aug a Chalk Carpet moth was an excellent first record of a local coastal speciality. A hot morning on 5th produced a Gurnard caught by the fisherman - a new record - while two Wall Brown butterflies on the landslip and south-east grassland were a joint max. Much evidence of the hoverfly invasion that is hitting the media and the south coast - seemingly a good variety of species, but with plenty of the usual Syrphus balteatus.

The only Clouded Yellow of the year was reported on 7 Sep, while 19th saw the first dragonflies of the year - two Migrant Hawkers and a Common Darter. 27th was warm , with Comma new for the year, a year max 10 Large White and record max five Speckled Wood as well as a Migrant Hawker dragonfly.

17 Oct produced the latest ever Large White butterfly recorded flying about the Newton's Cove gardens. 9 Nov was good for mushrooms, with a good crop of Wood Mushrooms (Agaricus silvicola) there for the picking, but no sign of any Pine Boletus this year. Records continued right to the end of the year, with a Red Admiral on 31 Dec the latest butterfly recorded (but only by a day!).

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis: Present all year. Similar nos to last year, with max 14, one short of the record, on 25 Jun. Monthly maxima as follows:

Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus: Present all year, but not often seen. Noted on 4 dates, 29 Jun - 15 Oct.

Garfish Belone belone: Noted being caught off the pier, at least four on 19 Sep.

Green-veined White Artogeia napae: One on 12 Jun was my third record for The Nothe, followed by singles on 29 & 30 Jul.

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas: Single on 20 & 23 Jul - the second record for the site.

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus: A good year, with a long flight period. Noted 12 Jun (earliest date) - 30 Aug, max three on 22 Jun & 5 Aug.

Peacock Inachis io: One reported on 11 Feb was just beaten by Painted Lady as the earliest butterfly recorded. The only record of the year!

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta: One on 16 Apr, the earliest date for this species. Then just seven records, 13 Aug - 10 Oct, with a remarkable single reported on 31 Dec, by definition the latest record.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui: The earliest ever butterfly recorded was seen on on 9 Feb, with several on 11 Feb, then none until 25 Jun, with max 2 on 19 Sep. A poor year, in contrast to 2003.

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae: One on 23 Feb was the earliest date for this sp in common wuth several vanessids. Then noted 23 Mar - 16 Apr. Bred on site again, with caterpillars seen on 18 May, but no ads seen thereafter.

Marbled White Melanargea galathea: Noted 15 Jun - 5 Aug. Record max 37 (previous max 17!) on 29 Jun. An excellent year - one of the great wildlife treasures of The Nothe in summer. Long may it continue to live here!

Marbled White butterfly - one of The Nothe's great summer wildlife treasures!

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina: Singles noted on four dates, 22 Jun (earliest date) - 5 Aug.

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus: Still doing OK, but lower numbers this year - another local speciality. Noted 17 Jun - 20 Jul, max 5 on 25 Jun.

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria: Noted 12 Jun - 27 Sep, record max five on 27 Sep.

Wall Brown Lasiommata megera: One on 22 Jul (JL) with two on 5 Aug were the third and fourth records for The Nothe.

Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris : Singles on 29 Jun & 23 Jul were the third and fourth records for The Nothe.

Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae: One on 17 Jun with several chrysalids seen. Then up to 3 per day until 23 Jun. A welcome return after last year's blank.

A handsome 6-spot Burnet moth takes the June sun on a flowering head of Cocksfoot grass on the southern slopes, 17 June 2004

Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria: One on 29 Jul and 3 Aug - the first records.

The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae: Two on 20 Jul, with another single on 30 Jul. Larvae noted 20 Jul - 13 Aug - the third records.

Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera: Adults noted calling from 5 Aug to 13 Oct. Max six on 11 Aug.

Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallellus: Adults noted 15 Jun - 30 Aug. Still abundant in the tall grass areas.

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum: Singles on the landslip, 17 and 29 Jun. The first record of a damselfly from the site.

Scarce/Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta: Noted four dates 23 Jul - 27 Sep, max two on 19 Sep.

Spiny Spider Crab Maia squinado: Noted off pier 12 - 25 Jun, max six, then on 9 Aug when one caught by a Great Black-backed Gull..

Squid sp.: The first cephalopod was seen being attacked by two Great Black-backed Gulls off the pier on 15 Apr.