Wom Brook Blog

The predominantly black ladybird photographed above was recently observed on a broken conifer branch found along the Wom Brook Walk.
It is likely that this is not a native species to the British Isles. This assumption is based upon infromation gleaned from the BBC website, which displays a very similar species, called the harlequin ladybird,, and accords it the title of ‘Alien Ladybird’.
Apparently it was introduced from Asia as a means of pest control-its mission to feed on aphids that were damaging food crops. However, the harlequin ladybirds didn’t confine their efforts to aphids-but also attacked our own native ladybirds.

Have a look at the BBC link HERE.

One of the Friends of Wom Brook’s primary aims is to monitor sightings of the resident water voles along the brook in Wombourne. The above photo was taken by Richard Claxton while he was recently videoing one of the Wom Brook Walk’s water voles.

Why is the water vole so important?
Water voles are identified by the UK government as an endangered species, with numbers rather alarmingly having declined by 90% in the last ten years. In addition to being hunted for food by predators such as buzzards, mink also prey on water voles. Dogs and cats can also hunt them, and sections of their natural habitat along the banks of the brook in Wombourne have on occasions been invaded by over-zealous dogs burrowing into the soil in an attempt to reach them.

Some horse riders, blissfully unaware that they are also in breach of a local by-law by riding their mounts along the Wom Brook Walk, permit their animals to erode the banks of the brook in giving them access to the water.

In an attempt to halt the rapid decline in water vole numbers, legislation was introduced in 2008 that empowers the Environment Agency/Natural England to impose a fine of £5000 on any individual or organisation found to be endangering either the lives or the habitat of the water vole.

Hopefully these measures, as well as actively conserving local habitats such as the Wom Brook in Wombourne will help to arrest the rapid decline in water vole numbers, and ensure Kenneth Grahame’s famous ‘Ratty’ (from the book, ‘The Wind in the Willows’) remains a reality and not just a character in a book.

You can view all of Richard’s video footage on YouTube-click on the this link

Sunny summer days, accompanied by the resultant rise in temperature usually encourage bees and butterflies to visit flowers to collect nectar. The above photo was taken on the uncut triangle of field leading up from the Wom Brook to the South Staffordshire Railway Walk.

Naturalists are concerned about the declining numbers of bees across the UK. They believe that a combination of factors are responsible for this decline-disease, prolonged wet weather, and a decline in wild flowers.

The Friends of Wom Brook, working closely with the Landscape Department at South Staffordshire Council are monitoring uncut areas along the Wom Brook Walk, and have recorded several species of bees and butterflies regularly feeding on the thistle and ragwort plants.

The decision taken by South Staffordshire Council, working with the Friends Group, in not cutting certain areas of the Walk has certainly encouraged and increase in insect activity in the area.

So what? Why does this matter? Bees and other flying insects that go from flower to flower pollinate food crops and thus ensure a continuous cycle of plant growth. There’s also a tasty bi-product-honey.

Bees in particular are vital to UK food crop production-therefore all that can be done to promote the well-being of our bee species is essential in terms of maintaining our food crops-hence the need to maintain uncut sections along the Wom Brook.

Last week, the distinctive laugh-like ‘tew-tew-tewk‘ sound of a green woodpecker was heard over several mornings along the Gravel Hill section of the Wom Brook, and along the Railway Walk.

On Thursday, the one photographed above was spotted on a lamp post, having flown from the Brook area, before flying on to the woodland above Redcliffe Drive. There have been a number of sightings along with the accompanying sound of the bird’s distinctive laugh-like call heard over the last few years, leading local naturalists to suspect that a woodpecker has colonised an area of those woods.

Following numerous complaints about the extent of dog mess being left along parts of the Wom Brook Walk, particularly in the Poolhouse area of the village, enforcement officers from South Staffordshire Council yesterday launched a high profile campaign to introduce themselves to dog owners, and to make owners aware of the campaign which will be ongoing for the next few weeks.

Initially dog owners are asked very politely whether they carry plastic bags with them in order to remove dog deposits. If a dog owner proves to be uncooperative, then the enforcement officers have the power to issue an on the spot fine.

Regrettably it has become necessary to resort to this strategy, as increasingly a minority of irresponsible individuals are disregarding the safety of others, particularly children, who are at risk of contracting serious illness if they accidentally come into contact with dog excrement.
The open spaces within Wombourne are for the enjoyment of everyone, and a little fore thought will make a visit to our village’s outdoor spaces a pleasurable experience for all.

The last couple of mornings have seen freezing conditions beside the Wom Brook and along exposed sections of the Railway Walk. Meteorologically, these conditions have been brought about by a combination of atmospheric high pressure, little or no cloud cover to ‘hold’ in place the temperature that has been built up during the day, and a slight hint of an Arctic wind coming from a northerly direction.

Therefore the sight of a pair of ducks swimming along the Wom Brook this morning was quite a revelation! Proof positive that duck feathers provide excellent insulation properties! Brrr!

(The male duck [right of photo] watches as his mate feeds on underwater plants).

One of the Friends of Wom Brook committee, Tim (pictured right within the picture of the long-eared bat), reported the following event:
I just had to tell readers about a Long-Eared bat (pictured) that was reported to me at my place of work 3rd October. It was found clinging to some external stairs, so I went to see what I could do to help. Seeing the position it was in I had no other choice but to move it. The weather was also bad so I put it in
a box, found a warm area so that later that evening I could release it.
At dusk I returned to work with the bat hoping it would take to the air, sadly it was only interested in trying to crawl up my sleeve. Returning home I called the Staffordshire Bat Group and they came down that evening to take a
look at it. With their expert knowledge they informed me that it looked underweight for this time of year. It is important to know that long-eared bats are one of the last species to hibernate so we had a window of opportunity till November to increase the
bat�__s weight.
The Bat Group kindly took the bat with them to give it a fighting chance to survive the coming winter. They kept me informed of its progress, and on the 24th October they returned with the bat to release it back in the area where it had been found.
It was a very rewarding feeling of a job well done, and I was pleased that I had played a small part.

One of the July entries in this blog made reference to the shortage of rainfall that combined with the high temperatures being experienced at the time, forced many younger trees to shed some of their leaves prematurely.

Trees lining the Brook fared better-and as they are usually well supplied with water, they kept their leaves, and in turn attracted these buff-tipped caterpillars(arrowed) which happily fed on leaves, providing them with both with nourishment and water.

The above photo shows a couple of water scorpions caught by the Friends of Wom Brook, identified and then returned to the stream. This process was filmed by the BBC.

The water scorpion is in fact an insect, and not a member of the scorpion family! They feed on water fleas, water worms, water lice and small insect larvae. Notice their large front legs, which resemble a scorpion’s pincers. The water scorpion uses these to grab hold of its prey.

Their presence in the Brook would provide food for other wildlife often seen during the spring.

The sting-like tube is a kind of snorkel-a breathing tube-which it uses to breath air before diving to the bottom of the Brook to hunt for food.

Along with the other aquatic creatures found in the Brook on the day of the filming, these creatures are further proof that the Brook is healthy enough to sustain life.

Early autumn is naturally associated with harvest time, when
during this particular season in the year fruits and vegetables that have been
carefully grown over preceding months in our gardens (and on a much wider scale
by farmers) are generally harvested.
We can also expect to see a gradual change in the colours of the leaves that
have finally served their purpose on deciduous trees, before these are soon
discarded, drop to the ground and form colourful carpets between adjoining trees.
Not only do the trees prepare for the forthcoming winter-so do the insects.
One particular species of flying insect-the wasp-is particularly
evident at this time of year.
These stinging insects are easily identified – usually twice the length
of flies, and much thinner than a bumble bee, they have a yellow head and a
yellow abdomen, with black bands (see above photo).
I mistakenly thought that the wasps seen on the cut section of tree (see entry
dated August 17th, 2006-earlier in this blog) were drinking the sap-they were more likely to have
been chewing the wood, in order to provide building material for their nest.
Once all the young wasp larvae back in the nest have matured towards late summer,
then we are likely to see many more wasps-looking for discarded fruit upon which
to feed, before they die off.
Don’t provoke them -especially if you discover a wasps’ nest –they
will defend their home aggressively, and if you start to kill them, this will
make them angry!
Wasps are in actual fact useful members of the food chain-they feed on other
insects.
Only queen wasps survive until the next year, when they start a new colony.
Always be aware that occasionally, some people stung by wasps can have an adverse,
life-threatening reaction-this may be characterised by rapid swelling of fingers, toes, face and the unlucky person has difficulty breathing.
Seek immediate qualified medical assistance.

Sufferers of this condition often wear an SOS-Talisman bracelet or necklace (see above)
An ‘ordinary’ wasp sting can usually be treated by washing with
soap and water, and the affected area treated with ammonia or an alcohol wipe,
followed by antihistamine ointment. Chemists also sell very effective sprays-it
is always good to have one to hand at this time of year.

See the following BBC articles

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5259198.stm

More information about wasps available HERE