Gravel Scrapes and Acid Pool Margins

At the start of the week, Carol and I set off for Rye Levels to check on life in the gravel scrapes and ditches. I knew that we were probably a little late to see Marsh Helleborines at their best and so it proved to be the case with only one plant still sporting a few fading flowers. Star species of the day was the Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda) several of which were basking amongst the weed in the ditches.

 

 

Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda)     

 

On Wednesday, I met up with Bob on Ashdown Forest to search some of the acid pool margins that are hidden away in the heathland, to see what might be emerging. These pools rarely disappoint.

 

Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus).

 

 This seven-legged individual is displaying what I consider to be fairly typical fimbriatus markings (in comparison to D. plantarius) with a pronounced orange cardiac mark down the centre of the abdomen and with broad, well defined white bands along the abdomen sides. However, you can get quite similarly marked individuals of plantarius and less well marked specimens of fimbriatus which can be very confusing!

 

Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) (male)

Black Darter (S.danae) (teneral female)

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) (freshly emerged female) 

 

Brown China-mark (Elophila nymphaeata)

The Other Raft Spider

I have been out early every morning this week in order to visit a couple of local woods for early rising butterflies. Patiently standing around in bramble and bracken patches peering up at oak trees is not Carol's idea of fun and so before the accusing finger of neglect could be pointed in my direction, Carol and I went for a walk on Ashdown Forest yesterday. 

 

Some of the acid pools here are home to the Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus), a close relative of the nationally rare Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius). The markings of fimbriatus are as variable as they are in plantarius but as far as I am aware, the populations of these two species do not overlap in East Sussex which makes for straightforward identification. Most of the time, with practice and familiarity, I have found that some subtle differences can be seen.

 

A Barred Red moth (Hylaea fasciaria) was flying around on the heathland and there was also an emergence of Southern Hawker dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea) in progress with several freshly emerged insects drying their wings amongst the pool-side vegetation.

 

 

Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) (female with egg sac)

 

 

Barred Red (Hylaea fasciaria)

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)

Ashdown Forest (part 1)

Another of my favourite haunts is Ashdown Forest. Its heathland landscape with acid bogs and pools is home to many creatures that thrive in this special habitat. The Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) is one such heathland specialist that occurs in small populations here and I can spend many an hour looking for and watching this pretty butterfly.

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) (male)

Silver-studded Blue (P.argus) (female)

Silver-studded Blue (P.argus) (mating)

The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a close relative of the Fen Raft Spider (D.plantarius) but seems to prefer rather different habitat conditions (at least in East Sussex). It appears to thrive in some of the acid pools found on Ashdown Forest. This female (below) is on the hunt and using her submerged legs to feel for the vibrations of approaching prey.

 

The Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata) occurs sparsely on Ashdown Forest. The subspecies that occurs here (ssp.pulchella) is associated with sphagnum bogs.