Anyone for bread?

Mousefield and River Severn, Wednesday 21st August 2019

Our first challenge on arriving was to try and fit all the cars in a car park that was quite full. Thankfully with some friendly parking we managed it without blocking in any of the other users.

Then as we were getting ready, having a general chat, and doing all the other things that we always do when we first meet for the day we were presented with a tray of bread.

Photograph: Rob Mileto

The bread was apparently surplus to requirements and needed to be disposed of in the best possible way, i.e. offering it to the group. The offer was accepted with thanks.

And so to the business of the day...

Our first site was the Mousefield Countryside Site, an area of rough grassland providing a buffer between housing and a large area of parkland.

In the main the vegetation had been allowed to grow without any obvious maintenance, except for a small area that had been sown with wildflowers.

The wildflower area had been cut well before we arrived and it was just an area of stubble with little interest on the day. However the long vegetation and shrubs provided us with plenty to look at even if it was difficult negotiating our way about.

A large broom and other shrubs grouped near the entrance attracted a lot of early attention as we found the rhopalid bug Rhopalus subrufus:

Photograph: David Williams

Gorse shieldbug:

Photograph: David Williams

And a Speckled bush-cricket.

Photograph: David Williams

In the meantime the vacuum sampler was put to work searching the grassland.

Early finds were Bishop's Mitre:

Photograph: David Williams

And a 24-spot ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

After all this initial excitement things quietened down a bit as we went about exploring the further reaches of the site.

A flock of young Dock bugs was discovered on bramble (at least that is what it looks in the photograph).

Photograph: David Williams

We worked our way to the middle of the site and to a crack willow that had a number of strange growths on it.

The initial assumption was that it was a gall caused by an insect as is the case with Robin's pin cushions and Oak apples. But in this case we believe that the gall is caused by a virus.

This year has seen a huge number of Painted lady butterflies flying about. And one decided to call in at Mousefield.

As you can see it has had a hard life. Not one for the "I only want a photograph of a perfect specimen brigade".

I found myself at the far end of the site and battling my way through long thick grass, brambles and other vegetation.

I looked around to see where the others were only to find them all seated in a group close to the entrance having lunch.

How could they have started without me?

I gave up trying to force my way though the untrampled grassland and returned, slowly, back to join the others and take on refreshments.

Lunch over, it was time to move on to the second site which was an area of grassland and woodland at the side of the River Severn about 200 yards from Mousefield.

Alongside the path to the site, which borders the parkland, there is a row of conifers, possibly Wellingtonias. In November 2017 a casual beat of one of these trees yielded the first record for the county of the tiny "inconspicuous" ladybird Rhyzobius lophanthae.

Would they still be there?

Only one way to find out.

I beat a tree (not the same one as in 2017) and out fell a dozen or so moving little black dots.

Photograph: David Williams

OK! It is brownish-red and black but they are only about 2mm long and to the naked eye they looked black.

And, by the way, what a wonderful photographs of such a small animal.

The ladybird originates from Australia but was introduced to mainland Europe as a biological control agent. It is now widespread around the Mediterranean region. It was first found in Britain in Surrey in 1999 and is now steadily expanding its range.

As far as I know it has only been found in this one location in Shropshire. It is often found in parks and gardens and is associated with cypresses particularly Leyland Cypress. Keep an eye out for it.

The path provided other diversions for the group as a couple of dead water shrews and a mouse were found. The mouse was bundled up and taken home to see what animals of interest might emerge from it!

The grassland is a long strip running alongside the River Severn from the footbridge to the railway arches. Here is a view from one end.

And here is the River Severn.

Yes ... it really is there.

Again the vacuum sampler was brought into use in the vegetation at the edge of the grassland and checking the catch proved as popular as ever.

More shieldbugs were found. An late instar nymph Green shieldbug in the nettles:

Photograph: David Williams

And a Hawthorn shieldbug nymph attempting to conceal itself behind some hawthorn berries.

Photograph: David Williams

Beating a maple dislodged an Oak bush cricket.

Photograph: David Williams

More careful searching of leaves revealed a magnificently neat collection of eggs.

Photograph: David Williams

As on the other site I meandered to the far end. Unfortunately I found a Japanese knotweed plant growing alongside the edge of the path.

Then I turned around and noticed a bigger outcrop.

And turning the corner at the end of the site there was a veritable hedge of this invasive plant.

Despite its attractive flowers this needs to be eradicated before it spreads further.

Yet again time caught up with us and we returned to the cars and made our way home.

My thanks to Shrewsbury Town Council for giving us permission to visit and survey these sites and to the photographers David Williams and Rob Mileto for providing the additional photographs.