Thanks to Joel for this update. In his own words. Ed
This year’s Bioblitz was the Island’s most successful to date with 515 different species recorded, more than any other Bioblitz previously held on the Island.
The focus of the Bioblitz was Martin’s Wood, Newchurch with kind permission of Mrs Norah Boswell. Martin’s Wood is a new woodland planted on fields once used to grow sweetcorn. It links Lynch Copse and Youngwoods Copse and is named after Mr Martin Boswell a local resident and farmer.
Exploring the wood by night
The event started on the evening of the 26th May, with a band of intrepid wildlife spotters exploring Martin’s Wood by night.
All sorts of exciting animals were found including evidence of nocturnal animals, including rare bats, moths and even a barn owl hunting for its dinner.
Daytime discoveries
The event continued on 27th May, where the public descended on Martin’s Wood to help experts find as much of the area’s wonderful wildlife as possible.
Over the course of the day the species tally kept growing and growing with the final count exceeding previous events with 515 different species.
Exciting finds
There were many exciting finds, including Marsh Fern, a nationally rare species; eight species of damselfly and dragonfly, including the Scarce Chaser; thirty three species of hoverfly, which resemble bees and wasps and a micro moth Pammene germanna found for only the third time on the whole Island.
Swarms of children gravitated towards the ‘bug hoover’ and they then spent the afternoon investigating the different minibeasts found using the Ecochallenger’s equipment.
Wight AONB would like to thank all organisations involved in this wonderful celebration of the Island’s fantastic wildlife.
Image: © IOW AONB
