A Sea of Bishop's Mitres

Ifton Meadows Nature Reserve, Wednesday 15th May 2019

Just in case you think that you may have missed the report on our visit to Yell Field, Colemere, let me assure you that you have not. The visit did not take place. It was a victim of the appalling weather. We will attempt to visit the site at a later date.

Right, back to Ifton Meadows.

I generally rely on Google maps to give me timings for a journey. On this occasion Google informed me that it was about an hour to the site from my house. My lift sharers arrived on time and off we went.

We arrived 15 minutes early.

Google what were you thinking?

Yes, I know, Google does not think. It just a piece of software programmed by people like you and me. In this instance the calculations went awry. 

Better to be early than late.

We were early even with the Highways Agency's successful attempt to confuse us. On approaching a roundabout on the A5 we came across a sign that said "St. Martin's" (where Ifton Meadows is situated) in two directions! 

Which one to take? Decisions, decisions!

The right turn was taken and we ended up in Gobowen. We then missed any further signs to St Martin's and ended up back on the A5 a little further north. Fortunately St. Martin's was then signposted at the next roundabout and we got to the site without any further alarm.

We were not the only ones to fall victim to this confusion as another couple took exactly the same route.

Early adventures over we made our way onto the site and spent the first hour or so within a hundred yards of the car park as we investigated a grassland accompanied by the glorious song of skylarks.

Nearby an information board told us a little about the colliery that stood on the site. (You should be able to get a larger image by selecting the photograph in your browser.)

The grassland provided plenty of species for us to try to identify including our first Bishop's mitre shieldbug of the day:

Photograph: David Williams

A Narrow-bordered 5-spot burnet larva:

Photograph: David Williams

And a delightful Small yellow underwing moth.

Photograph: David Williams

The hawthorn and rowan that formed part of the border of the site were in full flower.

I mentioned the sound of skylarks. Part of the reserve is politely out of bounds to visitors at this time to provide a refuge for ground nesting birds such as skylarks. Most people respect this but we were told of an instance a dog owner disregarding the request and allowing his dog to roam free. It found a nest and killed one or more nestlings. The owner was challenged but to no avail as the challenger received a very crude curt response.

Eventually we left the grassland and made our way along the edge of the area set aside for the birds. The path edge was adorned with Bulbous buttercups:

Ribwort plantain in flower:

And youngish trees amongst which the oaks supported a large number of oak apple galls caused by the wasp Biorhiza pallida.

Parent bugs were found creating the next generation in the silver birch.

Photograph: David Williams

As we walked on we were able to take in the views that the elevated position of the site provided.

Time was pressing on - i.e. it was lunchtime. We found a bench and tucked in,

Ever watchful one of the group spotted a Dingy skipper.

Photograph: David Williams

The lunch spot overlooked a large area of sparse grassland where no birds nested allowing us to investigate what lived there. We found more Bishop's mitre shieldbugs. And also a rather nice moth, aptly named a Treble bar.

Photograph: David Williams

We moved on a bit further, found even more Bishop's mitre and a Small copper butterfly.

Photograph: David Williams

We passed through some woodland that was rather plain before emerging on the edge of the "bird nesting" grassland that formed the major part of the site. We found even more Bishop's mitre. One sweep managing to collect EIGHT. Normally we find infrequently one, may be two, on a site. Perhaps half a dozen in total in a season. Today we found well over 50!

This caused us to start thinking about what collective noun would be suitable for Bishop's mitres. The initial suggestion was "Conclave" but as this represents a gathering of Cardinals to select a new Pope it seemed more appropriate to black- and red-headed cardinal beetles. The next suggestion was "Synod" and this stood for a while.

As one or two of us pondered collective nouns others continued to look for insects and were rewarded with a Sandy carpet.

This is not a very gritty piece of flooring but a moth.

Photograph: Stephen Mitchell

Time to go. As we made our way back to the cars … just one more sweep. In amongst the now ever-present Bishop's mitres was a Denticulate leatherbug.

Photograph: David Williams

What a good way to finish.

Once I got home I checked the definition of "Synod" - an assembly of the clergy and sometimes also the laity. This did not seem quite right for this insect. Next stop - the internet and we all believe what we read on the internet don't we. It offered several alternative collective nouns for bishops - "Council", "Bench", "Psalter" and "Sea". Council seems too general; Bench is what our MP's and Lords sit on; Psalter is the book of Psalms; leaving "Sea". This, for me, fits - "A Sea of Bishop's Mitres" is what we experienced today.

(Yes I realise I also used "Sea" in the title of the previous report.)

My thanks to Shropshire County Council for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing, to the photographers David Williams and Stephen Mitchell for allowing me to use their excellent photographs and to the skylarks for accompanying us most of the day.

We will be back to this lovely site.