Tuesday 18 September 2018

Snakes, Damselflies & Spiders.....Pevensey Levels in September

The name Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) is somewhat of a misnomer for this water loving reptile. Although it is often encountered basking in sunny spots on grassy banks, it is very much at home in water where it can be found in pond margins and in open water, hunting for frogs and other amphibians.
 
Yesterday, I watched this Grass Snake in hunting and stalking mode.
 
 
Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
 





 
 
My search for more colonies of the Willow Emerald Damselfly on Pevensey Levels continues.
 
Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (male)



 
 
I usually see adult Fen Raft Spiders well into October but I haven't seen any in recent weeks. Perhaps the hot summer months allowed plantarius to have two or even three quick successive broods and now the females are spent. I have however been seeing plenty of juveniles and sub-adult plantarius in the water margins. The photograph below looks to be of a sub-adult male.
 
Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) (sub-adult)

 

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Willow Emerald Damselfly on Pevensey Levels

The Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) has been establishing itself as a breeding species in south-east England since the turn of the 21st century. Over the last few years, I have been on the lookout for it on Pevensey Levels. Rather than travel to where it is known to occur, I have been keen to find it closer to home and on Friday 7th September my patience was rewarded when I spotted a single male holding territory. Two days later, whilst watching the same male, I saw a second individual holding a neighbouring territory.
 
 
Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (male)
 
 
 
 
Also seen on the levels during the past week.....
 
 
Blood-vein (Timandra comae)

 
 
European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) (female)

 
 
The ghost-like shed skin of a Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)