Hainault Forest

AUGUST

AUGUST 2024

COMMON TERN

Sterna hirundo

Common Terns are occasional summer visitors. They hover over the lake looking for fish before diving to snatch one from the water.

THE ODD COUPLE

Columbidae

Doves and pigeons belong to the same bird family and share similar characteristics. Doves are generally smaller, pigeons are often larger and stockier, although this distinction is not consistent. This unusual pair were spotted by Foxburrow Road.

WASP SPIDER

Argiope bruennichi

Wasp Spiders build large orb webs in grassland which catch grasshoppers and crickets. Males often get eaten by females too so have to take care when mating. They often wait at the web's edge ready to pounce when the female moults into a mature form. At this time her jaws are soft so he is less likely to become a victim. Males are smaller than the females and pale brown.

MAYFLY

Cloeon dipterum

A tiny mayfly (5 mm length) resting on a buckthorn leaf. It is the commonest British mayfly species, often found around small lakes and ponds from May until October. Males have turbinate (top-shaped) eyes that are believed to assist in locating isolated females in a mating swarm. Females are ovoviviparous producing eggs that form inside the maternal body. The eggs hatch as soon as they are released and hit the water. The aquatic larvae consume algae and pond detritus. Adults do not feed, instead their main motive for living is to mate.

JERSEY TIGER

Euplagia quadripunctaria

The Jersey Tiger originates from the Channel Islands and since 2017 has become a prolific sight in the Hainault area. It flies during daytime from July to September and many people mistake it for an orange-coloured butterfly when flying. The larvae feed on nettles, hemp-agrimony, plantains and other shrubs.

COMMON GRASS MOTH

Agriphila tristella

A very common micro-moth that flies from June until September. Its larvae feed on various grasses. This species is easily disturbed when walking through long grass.

COMMON FROG

Rana temporaria

Common Frogs can be found in various colours, ranging from all shades of olive, brown or grey, but seldom are they bright green. There is normally a dark patch behind the eye and dark bands on the legs. Individuals are able to alter colour in response to light and temperature conditions.

RED-SIDED PARASITE FLY

Eriothrix rufomaculata

This bristly fly visits flowers during summer and autumn especially umbellifers such as Hogweed and Wild Carrot. There are reddish markings on the abdomen with a black dorsal line in between. Its parasitic larvae develop inside moth caterpillars.

BOX BUG

Gonocerus acuteangulatus

This is a late-instar nymph of a Box Bug. Only a decade ago this species was very rare except at Box Hill in Surrey where it fed on Box trees. After gaining an appetite for other foodplants it has since rapidly spread across the country and is now most frequently found on hawthorn and buckthorn.

CINNAMON BUG

Corizus hyoscyami

Brightly coloured bug measuring about 9 mm. Once considered a coastal species but now becoming more frequent inland. The family Rhopalidae are scentless plant bugs that lack well-developed scent glands.

HYPERICUM RHOPALID

Rhopalus subrufus

Found on stinging nettles this red bug is associated with woodland clearings. They overwinter as adults and the new generation appears in August. Length about 7 mm.

GORSE SHIELDBUG

Piezodorus lituratus

This is a final instar nymph of the Gorse Shieldbug. The new generation of adults appear late summer.

COMMON GREEN SHIELDBUG

Palomena prasina

Common Green Shieldbug nymphs feed on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs.

BUFF-TIP

Phalera bucephala

These are freshly hatched eggs of a Buff-tip, an unusual-looking moth that resembles a birch or oak stem when at rest.

Young larvae can sometimes be found in large groups on the underside of leaves. They feed on broadleaved trees such as birch, sallow, oak and hazel.

As Buff-tip larvae grow they become more distinctive with an obvious upside-down 'Y' on the face.

RUDDY DARTER

Sympetrum sanguineum

This dragonfly is common around well vegetated ponds. Males are red and have club-shaped abdomens. Females have ochre-yellow abdomens with black markings and are not club-shaped. Both sexes have black legs.

NON-BITING MIDGE

Chironomus agg,

Non-biting midges are found around water when females are ready for egg laying. Their larvae, known as 'bloodworms', live at the bottom of lakes and rivers. Males have prominent plumes on the head.

LONG-WINGED CONEHEAD

Conocephalus fuscus

These bush-crickets mainly feed on grass and sometimes small invertebrates. The common name is derived from the angled shape of the head. Females have a large ovipositor sticking out at the rear that is used to lay eggs. Adults are about 20mm long. Nymphs have short wings and a black stripe along the back.

SOUTHERN OAK BUSH CRICKET

Meconema meridionale

A common species (14-17 mm long) found in oak woodland, first recorded in Britain in 2001. It is a predator of the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner moth first recorded in the country a year after. This is a pale green bush-cricket with a pale-yellow dorsal stripe and two reddish-brown spots on top of the pro-thorax. The female has a long, slightly upturned ovipositor. The tiny wing flaps have become functionless in the course of evolution meaning this species cannot fly.

COMMON RED SOLDIER BEETLE

Rhagonycha fulva

This common beetle in often found on hogweed and cow parsley during July and August. They feed on nectar and pollen and also eat other insects that visit the flowers they are resting on.

DEAD MOLLS FINGERS

Xylaria longipes

Dead Moll's Fingers is a fungus found in damp habitats that feeds on dead or dying wood. Its club-shaped fruiting bodies are 2-8 cm in height, and up to 2 cm thick. The fingers usually appear in tufts similar to fingers of a dead hand.

SNEEZEWORT

Achillea ptarmica

Sneezewort has a liking for damp acid grassland particularly on heavy clay-based soils. Flowers appear from July until September. This was growing at the edge of the recently restored Foxburrows Farm pond.

WATER MINT

Mentha aquatica

Water Mint is a common aromatic perennial found by Hainault Lake and the forest ponds. It has a preference for damp habitats. The green or purple square stems may be hairy or almost hairless.

FLEABANE

Pulicaria dysenterica

Common Fleabane is a perennial found in damp habitats during August and September. Its golden-yellow composite flower-heads (15-30 mm across) grow on erect stems. The basal leaves usually wither before the flowers appear.

HEMP AGRIMONY

Eupatorium cannabinum

Hemp Agrimony is a tall perennial that flowers from July until September. It favours damp locations and is found growing on the banks of Hainault Lake.

TEASEL

Dipsacus fullonum
Teasel has prickly stems and conical seed heads. During July and August the spiky flower heads display rings of purple flowers. When the flower-heads have gone to seed the plant attracts goldfinches and other birds.

WHITE WATER LILY

Nymphaea alba

Water Lilies have a preference for still waters such as that at Sheepwater. Flowers up to 20 cm across appear from June until September. The roundish leaves measure up to 30 cm in diameter.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE

"Hello Geese!" shouted Thomas, as he rounded the bend. "Honk! Honk!", the Geese replied. Thomas was excited: "I'm dropping these passengers off at the 1856 Cafe and then picking up some more. This route around the lake is very popular during the school holidays!"

GUELDER ROSE

Viburnum opulus

Guelder-rose can be found in hedgerows around Hainault Forest. Its large white flowers are followed by clusters of bright red berries during autumn. The berries are an important food source for birds. The berries are mildly poisonous to humans if eaten raw.

BITTERSWEET

Solanum dulcamara

The tiny oval berries of Bittersweet are poisonous. They are extremely common at the edge of Hainault Lake and on hedgerows during autumn.

CUCKOOPINT

Arum maculatum

Berries of this woodland plant appear after the flowers have withered. The berries are toxic to many animals, including humans. However, they are harmless to birds, which eat them and spread the seeds.

BRAMBLE

Rubus fruticosus agg.

The delicious edible fruits that grow on bramble are known as 'Blackberries'. These are safe to eat.

CORRESPONDENCE

(Emails received this month)

2024 is the first year with no swans on Hainault Lake. Where have they gone? The grebes have also vanished and there are even fewer geese than before. I find it all deeply concerning. Val. Nearly correct... except a juvenile swan made a brief appearance on Hainault Lake in March (photographed by Michael Trump), however the website shares your sentiments.

SCORPIONFLY

More next month. That's all folks!

Thank you to everyone that has contributed with pictures, emails, information and identifications.