Meagre Pickings during January

 January has been cold, wet and windy and there has been no prospect of getting the moth-trap out.

However, I still like to get out for a walk whenever I can to see what can be found hopping around in the woods or to scan the expanse of Pevensey Levels for Owls and Harriers.

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

On a cold morning a couple of weeks ago, this one was reluctant to move from a patch of sunshine on a fallen tree trunk.

Pevensey Levels.

I enjoy walking out onto Pevensey Levels on a cold sunny day in Winter. Lapwings and Fieldfares were very evident but no Harriers or Short-eared Owls on this occasion. 

After much rain however, the sun shining on the flooded meadows was beautiful.

The Hornet - One of Nature's Architects

 

The Hornet (Vespa crabro)

Back in October 2022, I came across some Hornet activity at the entrance to their nest, in the rotting stump of a large beech tree. The entrance was always guarded by one or two individuals and flights in and out of the entrance were regular.

As I walked past the same nest site earlier this week, I noticed that one side of the stump had fallen away, exposing the old nest within.

The Hornet is one of nature's great architects and it was fascinating to have an opportunity to closely examine the structure of the nest.

The entrance to the nest is at the bottom in the following images and this structure consisted of five brood combs, each separated by evenly placed comb pillars to allow access to all of the brood capsules.

It is tempting to wonder whether the designer of the multi-storey car park drew inspiration from seeing such a structure?

Looking up through the nest entrance, the hexagonal brood capsules of the lower comb were clearly visible.

The nest in context with its surroundings.