Catch up

Tuesday 16th February 2021

The COVID vaccination programme continues apace and the news outlets inevitably speculate on when we will be freed from the current restrictions.

In normal circumstances I would be finalising the Joy of Wildlife programme by seeking permissions for our activities from the owners and managers of the sites we wish to visit. But uncertainty over when we will be able to meet up and what constraints we will be obliged to follow has made me reconsider my approach.

There seems little point in issuing a programme which starts in April when it is highly unlikely that we will be able to meet as a group by then. I think it will be far better to wait until we get more definite news about if and when we can resume our activities before putting plans in place and issuing the programme.

I have news but first a couple of photographs that were sent to me a little while ago to lighten the mood.

Firstly, a butterfly spotted during a holiday. Not a British species but one found in Spain, Portugal and the South of France, a Spanish purple hairstreak (with a swollen-thighed beetle as a companion).

Photograph: Christine Littlewood

Secondly, a Green brindled crescent that came to rest on the house of the photographer.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

"Bioslog" - This is the term coined by one our group to describe the task he has set himself for 2021. Our intrepid Bioslogger is Neil Nash who is going to attempt to identify 1000 species within Telford and Wrekin. Remarkably his total already stands at 223 species, the vast majority of which are birds and trees from 28 locations within the council's borders. 

Neil does not want to do this alone. He invites all of you to let him know of any sightings that you may may make in the area (email: oakashhazel@gmail.com). Please give him help. I have put the details on the contacts page.

Here are a few of the photographs he has taken in his adventures so far.

Amaurobius sp.:

Witches butter:

Italian cuckoo pint:

Mouse spider (there are two similar species Scotophaeus blackwalli and the very rare S. scutulatus)

The couple of photographs above lead nicely onto a couple of photographs of spider's webs caught on a cold and frosty morning.

An Amaurobius web:

Photograph: Bob Kemp

And a Zygiella web:

Photograph: Bob Kemp

To almost repeat myself! The last two photographs lead nicely onto a couple of photographs that show a couple of rare lichens.

The first was found a a hazel a couple of years ago in Wales at Ceunant Llennyrch, if my interpretation of the information passed on to me is correct!

Photograph: Bob Kemp

The almost black, big, domes (fruits), slightly clustered and surrounded by a brownish suffusion  (just below the middle of the picture) is the very rare lichen Pyrenula hybernica.  It is normally found on the west coast of Scotland  – only recently discovered in Wales. The little holes (difficult to see) on the tip of the domes are always off-centre.

The second is more local  having been found on top of The Wrekin:

Photograph: Bob Kemp

My informant tells me that the yellow is the common Map Lichen we see all over the place. But this one is infected with a brown lichen Protoparmelia atriceda. The fruits can be seen. Apparently it is the only known English example since the 1960’s.

And now back to our favourite winter subject - snow fleas.

Obviously the latest restrictions have curtailed our efforts to find out how widespread this insect is within Shropshire, but in between lockdowns I managed to visit Ragleth Hill where, after searching several patches of Polytrichum moss,  I found one female snow flea.

Not the best photograph but clear enough to see what it is. I hope there were some males around to keep her company and ensure the next generation.

Shortly before the Christmas break and the latest lockdown a covid secure group met at Lodge Hill close to the Lawley. Despite the abundance of polytrichum moss we were unable to find a snow flea. But as the day drew to a close a leaf was turned over and it was covered in springtails. 

By the time our unflappable photographer had changed his lens, found a suitable surface to rest the leaf, etc. then took a photograph, most had disappeared. The resulting photograph was posted on Flickr and a springtail expert was able to identify two species.

Photograph: David Williams

The large one is Protaphorura aurantiaca and the small one Tomocerus minor.

Back on home turf our photographer was experimenting with a new set-up and took this brilliant photograph of a Dunnock.

Photograph: David Williams

And finally, hot off the press, I received the following photograph of a planthopper, Balclutha punctata, today.

Photographer: Bob Kemp

It is a fairly common species and overwinters as an adult in evergreens. This one was found on a wall under a yew tree.

That's it for now.

Take care.