The Hunchback of Llanymynech

Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve, Wednesday 10th October 2018

I thought we were early but we were the last to arrive! Seven of us met in the small reserve car park in Pant. After the usual greetings and discussion of this and that we were kitted up and ready to rumble.

Rather than take the path directly to the rock face we took the track that forks left from the main path about 50 yards from the entrance gate. None of us had ever been down this way so why not?

After passing along this rather nondescript path for a while we found three openings that I assume were lime kilns.

These were checked for the presence of cave spiders but were declared unoccupied, probably as they were quite small and not very dark.

Having clambered up to the kilns to get a look you then have to get down again.

A short distance later the rather dingy path opened out into a small clearing where the sun had broken through the early morning mist that was lingering. It was pleasantly warm here and encouraged us to pause awhile checking out the trees, ivy and dense path-side vegetation.

A red admiral was spotted and photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

And an Aphrophora alni posed on a finger presenting an unmissable photo-opportunity.

Photograph: David Williams

There was a fourth kiln here but it was as void of cave spiders as the first three.

With some reluctance we carried on along the path wondering where it was going to take us.

Then we noticed through the trees on our right a descending slope. Was this a path up to the rock face?

Yes it was. We took it passing a tree that looked rather dirty - the effect of the lichen Opegrapha atra.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Eventually we emerged into the sunshine that had been denied to us by the trees apart from at the clearing mentioned earlier.

What a lovely October day.

The rock face stood proud before us. We then noticed a climber ascending the face. After watching for a while we got on with what we had come to do and explored the grassland in front of the rocks but keeping well away from the climber.

Lunchtime approached and as we sort somewhere to sit down a green mushroom was spotted. 

Photograph: David Williams

This is the Mousepee pinkgill. So named as it smells of … well you can guess the reason!

Nearby a common groundhopper was noticed and remarkably it hung around long enough to be photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

A last sweep of a tree before lunch dislodged a hunchback.

Photograph: David Williams

This is the nymph of the treehopper Centrotus cornutus. When it grows up it retains its hunchbacked shape but looks much cuter!

Lunch. What a wonderful place to be.

Photograph: David Williams

After lunch we decided to head for Wales. 

Photograph: David Williams

On the way we noticed a few hemiptera. 

First a green shield bug.

Then a bordered shield bug which unfortunately was no longer alive (making it easier to photograph).

Photograph: David Williams

And finally a Spiked shieldbug which had a deformed wing.

Photograph: David Williams

And, for a bit of relief from all these bugs, a 24-spot ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

Eventually we crossed the border by passing through the kissing-gate that separates the two quarries. We forged deep into this foreign country and headed for the view point and the seat.

Here we relaxed and took in the view trying to pick out the landmarks noted on the display in front of the seat and reminisced about times past. How we got onto Billy Cotton's Band Show I cannot recall, but we did.

"Wakey! Waykeeeeeeeeeee!". They don't make them like that anymore.

Behind us the very high tripod was set up and captured us in our reflective mood.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

It also captured some rather splendid views of the reserve.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Photograph: Bob Kemp

What was there left to do?

Go home.

So we did.

My thanks to Shropshire Wildlife Trust for giving us permission to survey on this excellent reserve and to the photographers David Williams and Bob Kemp for providing such excellent photographs.