Last walk for 2015

Our last NWN walk took place this time in South Norfolk, in the small village of Swainsthorpe. The church where we started our walk from was St Peter’s, a building that is one of 124 existing round tower churches in Norfolk. 4 hardy locals turned up for the walk, which started with the usual introduction and instructions on how to use the detectors. Right on cue, just as the detectors were switched on a Soprano Pipistrelle was heard and immediately seen flying overhead within the clearing in the tree line. This opportunity gave us an ideal chance to observe the distinctive fast erratic flight pattern of a pipistrelle bat.

Our next destination was the village pond a few hundred yards from the church. On arriving at the pond, we picked up a lot of pipistrelle activity, identified again as Soprano Pipistrelles. Captured through the detector, we heard a loud series of wet slaps, clicks and squeaks, a symphony of bat sounds, as the Soprano Pipistrelles foraged over the water surface. We also briefly heard a Noctule bat. Heading over to another pond nearby, we crossed a railway line and picked up some more Soprano Pipistrelle activity as well as some Common Pipistrelle activity, as the bats commuted along the railway line. Unfortunately there was less activity at the second pond and we only heard one Soprano Pipistrelle foraging over the water.

The moth trap which we left in an area that was maintained as a wild flower conservation plot, was a success, giving us a selection of moths to look at. These were Large Yellow Underwings, Lunar Underwing, a Broad Bordered Underwing, a Light Brown Apple moth, a Vine Rustic, Beaded Chestnut, Square Spot Rustic and a Common Marbled Carpet.

Square Spot Rustic

A widespread moth, found in most habitats in Norfolk. Has a distinctive square kidney mark

 and is either light brown, reddish brown or dark, blackish brown. Flies around from late 

July to early October and is attracted to light and can be found in large numbers in light traps. 

Can be found in gardens, pasture habitats and woodland rides. The larva 

feeds on grasses and herbaceous plants like plantains and cleavers. 

Common Marbled Carpet
A very variable species of moth, that can be tricky to identify, though
it generally has  a large central light brown patch on the forewing that is
unmistakable. Has two generations in a year, so can be seen flying
around from May to June, then from late August to early October.
The larvae will feed on woody species of plants such as Sallow, Birches, Bilberry,
Bramble, Heathers, Privets and Hawthorns. Habitats where you are most
likely to encounter a Common Marbled Carpet are gardens, urban parks, broadleaved
woodland, scrub, hedgerows, calcareous grasslands, fens, heathland, moorland
and coastal sites.