A yellowhammer singing in the heathland south of the Quarry, yesterday and again this morning, in the same tree. It’s song is said to sound like “A little piece of bread and no cheese”, hence the title.
I am unable to find any previous records of Miris striatus or Fine Streaked Bugkin so am presenting this record of a nymph on the Firehills this Tuesday 12-05-2020 as a new species record for the Country Park. Many thanks to Taughtus for providing the ID.
Just had a record of Phyllotreta undulata, Small Striped Flea Beetle, from 20th May, on the Firehills last year verified. There being no records for the Country Park on either iRecord or the NBN atlas, I shall consider this a new Country Park record.
Walking up Brakey Bank this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find some Bluebells out in flower and fully out too. Not many but plenty of Wood Anemones, a few Celandines and a couple of Red Campion too. That coupled with finding two Gorse Shieldbugs on Monday makes one feel that despite the incessant wind and rain, Spring is still able to make it’s presence felt.
HBC have purchased 6 Exmoor ponies, yes 6 not 5 as announced on Facebook. They are currently in the heathland compartment behind the Quarry closest to the Coastguard cottages. They arrived on Saturday but today was the first opportunity to get a decent photo due to the atrocious weather. Still windy this morning but a bit of welcome sun.
Saw this 7 Spot Ladybird this morning on the Heras fencing around the site of the new visitor centre. As it was on the inside, I was shocked to see that it had neither hard hat or hi-vis!
Spotted one of the Exmoor ponies yawning this morning and took this short video. Very tiring work it must be for them as I also caught 2 of them looking like they were fast asleep yesterday!
This week the parking ticket machines at the Country Park that have been locked up since one was broken into in November have been brought back into use. A Ranger also informed us that as from 1st April there will be an increase in the charges. £2.50 for 2 hours, £3.50 for all day and £50.00 for a season ticket. We also know of at least one enforcement ticket being issued today.
Ghostly goings on in the Quarry? Well actually no. These webs are created by Tetranycus lintearius the Gorse Spider Mite. The adults are half a millimetre long and bright red. A native to Europe, it has been introduced to other countries as a biological control measure, although it does not actually kill gorse it can reduce flowering and stunt the development of branches. The mites pierce the tissues of the plant whilst feeding.
I could not resist posting a photo of Hastings’ new Shannon class lifeboat the Richard and Caroline Colton out on exercise about 0.5 nautical miles off the Firehills yesterday one of a series of exercises this week. A bit of a grey day and I hope for a clearer photo sometime soon.
Hastings Country Park N R CONSERVATION GROUP 