4th July

The pictures below show the events of the past couple of days in Bushy Park and the removal of Oak Processionary Moth Caterpillar nest. It shows how difficult they can be to be detected when they are high up in a tree.

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The white line on the trunk of the tree is made out of silk deposited by the caterpillars when they go on manoeuvres, mainly at night but not always. It can lead you to discovering the nest location, just below a broken branch at the bottom of the picture.

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They like to build below a branch or some kind of overhang theyb will offer protection from the elements.

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They can vary in size but can look like half a tennis ball attached to a tree.

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The tree surgeons remove them by sucking them off the tree with a hoover.

Comments

dfaulder said…
Will this work eradicate the moth, or just delay it's progress a bit?
Unfortunately this work will only delay the moths progress. The way we are tackling it on the Royal Parks is as environntaly friendly as possible., other bodies are taking a different less wildlife friendly approach.
birdman_euston said…
5 Jul:

Black-headed Gull 20.

Chiffchaff 3 (pr in area 1 - female calling and gathering insects at E end of Hanover Bridge at 11:15, 'Paul' singing from US Ambassador's garden at 11:20; male singing three-tone song in areas 31/30 at 11:50).

Common Whitethroat 1 (male singing from favourite, dying oak in area 39/40 at 11:35).
morg and rose said…
Hi Tony, After fulfilling some unexpected postal duties:) I took a pleasant stroll through the park. In various parts of the park good numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were singing and several Green Woodpeckers were also seen. Also hawking for insects near Deadman's corner were at least 6 House Martin. Interestingly (after our conversation yesterday) 1 Common Tern flew over the Heather gardens from the direction of the lake towards Brent Reservoir at 1pm.
Hi Morg and Rose.

Thanks for that. I hope it wont be long before the terns bring their young to the park. Hopefully I will not miss out on this, as I like to see them sat on the tarmac not phased by the public.