Memorable Moments on the Heath 9: Common Drone Fly
Welcome to the tenth in a series, compiled by Warden Mike, featuring members of the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership team recalling memorable moments on the heath.
Education Officer Michael: Common Drone Fly
When I was asked to write about a memorable heathland moment, I thought it would be an easy task. I’d choose any one of a number of Nightjar encounters I have been lucky enough to have had. Any audience with these spectacular nocturnal superstars is amazing. They come out after dark, flap around like bats, make strange noises, have a history of people thinking they milked goats, and they eat moths – what’s not to be intrigued by?
However, I had a feeling that many of the team would choose Nightjars, so I have opted for something involving a creature considerably smaller and a lot less nocturnal. That said, it is more about a moment of nature connection than the species it involved.
Last summer, I was leading a guided walk called ‘Heathland for Beginners’ at Wildmoor Heath and one of the group was an amazing naturalist in the making. He was only about seven-years old and was an inspiration. He knew so much about wildlife and was brilliant at communicating with the rest of the group. He shared stories of Beewolves and Kites and it was fantastic. One day, he will replace me as TBHP Education Officer!
As we walked along a footpath, we spotted a hoverfly doing what hoverflies do best – hovering about eight feet in the air. It was an Eristalis tenax – also known as the ‘Drone Fly’ – and it was filling the scene with a hum as it kept an eye on its territory.
Common Drone Fly (credit: Michael Jones)
I suggested to the group that if they held a finger up in the fly’s direction, they would sometimes use it as a temporary perch. Without need of any encouragement, the boy enthusiastically held his hand aloft and patiently waited for the hoverfly to take a break on his outstretched finger. Everyone watched in silence, willing the hoverfly to do what I had suggested it might. I was willing it to not undermine my nature knowledge! Within about 30-seconds of expectant pointing, the hoverfly landed on his finger and the whole group marvelled at what had just happened. Hooray! I felt a sense of relief – my experience with showing people wildlife, is that it doesn’t often do what you say it will!
If this moment wasn’t amazing enough, I later learned that when the boy went home, he spent time encouraging his younger brother to point at hoverflies.
I love being able to connect people with nature… and it’s brilliant to know that my enthusiasm is sometimes paid forward and spread beyond the people I directly meet. We can all make a difference!
Heathland connections
If anyone is a local teacher or group leader and would like to find out more about our amazing heathlands, I run a variety of fun free sessions to connect people with their local wildlife, from curriculum-linked lessons (in school or out on the heath) to guided walks and talks. Please do get in touch…
tbhschools@naturalengland.org.uk / www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/schools
Here I am setting off on the “Heathland for Beginners” walk last year!
Michael
Thames Basin Heaths Partnership