Barn Owl, Barnacles and Beetles

The weather is feeling more and more wintery but as the sun is shining and it's dry, everything is good as far as I'm concerned. We still have a shortage of the more interesting species of birds visiting The Mere - however there is always something to focus on.

Walking through the fields at dusk I came across a Barn Owl hunting. It was a little too dark to get good images but a couple of photos aren't bad -

Barn Owl in fading light

Our local wintering flock of Barnacle Geese is usually to be seen somewhere around the Mere, usually feeding in stubble fields. Each time I come across them I try a count but as they are closely packed and also a fair distance away, I get differing totals. The average is between 120 and 126 which is a decent flock size for the area.

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese

In the hide at Wassand it has been noted that there are several batches of beetles clustered into the corners where the wooden beams join. These are Harlequin Beetles rather than our native UK ladybird which isn't good news.

Harlequin Beetles in Wassand hide

Harlequin Beetles in Wassand hide

 

The Harlequin Beetle or the Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is a non-native species and is one of the most invasive insect species in the world. It took the Grey Squirrel about a century to spread throughout the UK – but the Harlequin ladybird only needed less than a decade to do the same. This insect was introduced from Asia into America and Europe to control aphids - its usual and preferred prey species - but was either wind-blown or accidentally introduced into the UK in 2004. Since then it has thrived and is becoming a real threat to our native ladybird species.

Identifying the thing isn't simple as over 100 different colour patterns have been recorded, especially from our Seven-spot ladybird, which is itself variable. You can see the variations in the photos above. 
 
However, the Harlequin doesn’t stick to one type of food. Once it has finished off the aphids it then turns its attention to other ladybird eggs and larvae and also the eggs and caterpillars of moths and butterflies. The main reason Harlequin ladybirds pose a threat to our native ladybirds is that they have such voracious appetites that they easily out-compete native ladybirds for food. 

Yes, we could remove these ladybirds from the hide and dispose of them, but there are so many around it would be merely a drop in the ocean, and it would not stop the continuing spread and growth of these invasive insects. It may make us feel a little better though ;)