IMG_20240611_140020
11/06/2024 An invitation by Woburn Safari Park (Katie Chapman ) for BNHS/BIG members to carry out another survey of their native flora and fauna, thus continuing an almost annual association since 2014.
The day and month in weather terms so far has/wasn't conducive to finding invertebrate animals but it didn't stop a good assemblage of enthusiasts before 10am by the Woburn Lions where we were greeted by Katie and fellow employee Amy. We convoyed from there through the park passing Rothschild Giraffes, Rhinos and Elephants to the main car park at the centre where we transferred to the park Land-rovers and first on to the emptied rhino paddock for our first area of interest. SP97103452 which we entered through the rhino house and a series of challenging narrow gates . Here the gang spread out far and wide in a hunt for their target species. For me the highlight was a very fresh Broad-Bodied Chaser and 3 very inquisitive Ostriches outside the enclosure..
After an hour or so we moved on to another even larger area of wooded grassland from which it's occupant, a beautiful Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) had been temporarily evicted .(SP964338)
it was difficult terrain to negotiate but like true explorers life was revealed and documented before tummies rumbled and bladders urged a withdrawal for lunch at the centre, generously provided by Woburn to sustain endeavours.
After lunch grey clouds and spits of rain decided several members of the group to retreat leaving a small band to continue to the wild flower area being cultivated by Woburn (SP960342) where even without any sun there was lots to interest everybody including a small pool for Graham.
From there we finally wandered down the nearby bank and across to the Xmas Tree Field in search of rare sawflies etc (SP959341) where to noisy trumpeting of a annoyed elephant we made yet another net search and I found my first exciting butterfly of the day ( a flighty Meadow Brown) and two sawflies for Andrew.
Overall a good but quite exhausting day.
Thank you Katie, Amy and Woburn for taking us old farts of the streets for a day
IMG_20240611_140020
11/06/2024 An invitation by Woburn Safari Park (Katie Chapman ) for BNHS/BIG members to carry out another survey of their native flora and fauna, thus continuing an almost annual association since 2014.
The day and month in weather terms so far has/wasn't conducive to finding invertebrate animals but it didn't stop a good assemblage of enthusiasts before 10am by the Woburn Lions where we were greeted by Katie and fellow employee Amy. We convoyed from there through the park passing Rothschild Giraffes, Rhinos and Elephants to the main car park at the centre where we transferred to the park Land-rovers and first on to the emptied rhino paddock for our first area of interest. SP97103452 which we entered through the rhino house and a series of challenging narrow gates . Here the gang spread out far and wide in a hunt for their target species. For me the highlight was a very fresh Broad-Bodied Chaser and 3 very inquisitive Ostriches outside the enclosure..
After an hour or so we moved on to another even larger area of wooded grassland from which it's occupant, a beautiful Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) had been temporarily evicted .(SP964338)
it was difficult terrain to negotiate but like true explorers life was revealed and documented before tummies rumbled and bladders urged a withdrawal for lunch at the centre, generously provided by Woburn to sustain endeavours.
After lunch grey clouds and spits of rain decided several members of the group to retreat leaving a small band to continue to the wild flower area being cultivated by Woburn (SP960342) where even without any sun there was lots to interest everybody including a small pool for Graham.
From there we finally wandered down the nearby bank and across to the Xmas Tree Field in search of rare sawflies etc (SP959341) where to noisy trumpeting of a annoyed elephant we made yet another net search and I found my first exciting butterfly of the day ( a flighty Meadow Brown) and two sawflies for Andrew.
Overall a good but quite exhausting day.
Thank you Katie, Amy and Woburn for taking us old farts of the streets for a day