Counting the days

 Saturday 17th April 2020

Covid restrictions permitting it is now less than a month to the day when the Joy of Wildlife group can meet again. Whilst there will still be guidance to follow it will be the first step back to some form of normality for the group. 

In the meantime I have an update to give on Neil's "Bioslog" as well as a selection of photographs that have been sent to me over the last few weeks.

Photograph: Neil Nash

The above photograph is a Lesser stag beetle and is one of the 460 species that have now been recorded from 62 locations within Telford and Wrekin on the "Bioslog". As Neil reports the species numbers have been boosted recently by spring flowers and emerging invertebrates, such as this green tiger beetle spotted at Patten's Rock Quarry.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Birds account for the most species with 107 being recorded mainly by reports from Priorslee Lake and the Weald Moor including Great white egrets, Oystercatchers, Shelduck and Wheatears.

The Spring sunshine has brought about frantic bee activity with plenty of mining bees on the wing and in some cases, like this Tawny mining bee, nesting in the lawn.

Mammals have also been found during this exercise including Otter (identified from their stools and tracks) and Water vole on the Weald Moor and also muntjac in woods near Limekiln.

Neil puts out a plea for help to record fish species. If there is anyone out there who can assist please get in touch with him (see Contact Details page).

I finish this "Bioslog" update with a picture of a Rosy woodlouse. This is one that I have not knowingly seen before. What a delightful creature.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Now a catch up on some of the photographs that have been sent to me over the past few weeks. As always my thanks go to all of you who are willing to share their findings.

But first I start with a couple of my own that reminded me that Spring and warmer weather was at long last alleviating the difficult period that the latest lockdown had put us through. First a Pine ladybird that I found enjoying the sun on the side of  the house.

And then this cowslip put in an appearance.

It is toad patrol time as males can be found sitting on the waiting to grab a passing female.

Photograph: Ian Plumridge

The photographer feels obliged to move them to the grass at the side of the road but he believes the toads probably just return to the road. Fortunately in that area there are not many cars about. Which is also lucky for this Great-crested newt as it wanders across the road.

Photograph: Ian Plumridge

A visit to Berrington Church to look at the lichen did not yield any photographs of the lichen but did include one of the church (to put the visit into context).

Photograph: Bob Kemp

One of the spider Salticus scenicus.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

And one of a distant Wrekin dominating the horizon.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

On the domestic front the following photograph shows Yellow rattle seedlings emerging in the photographer's grassland. Out of interest when does a grassland become a meadow, is there an official definition of a meadow? 

Photograph: David Williams

A visit to Highgate Common at the end of March yielded sightings of Black oil beetles going about their business.

A female (with slightly kinked antennae)

Photograph: David Williams

A male (whose antennae are much more kinked)

Photograph: David Williams

And finally finding each other and doing what comes naturally

Photograph: David Williams

In the first week of April a few of us gathered at Quarry Wood, an Shropshire Wildlife Reserve near Hinstock. In times past it was a wintering site for thousands of birds but of late, I am informed, the bird numbers have reduced drastically. It is a small patch of woodland, mainly deciduous with some conifers. Unfortunately Rhododendron is the dominant species and has almost wiped out the ground flora and the species that depend on that flora, and is preventing natural regeneration of the woodland. That said it did not stop us exploring and seeing what we could find.

Photograph: David Williams

The wonders of modern technology helped us identify this moth - Dyseriocrania subpurpurella. A mobile phone was used to take a photograph of the moth. It was posted on a forum and within half an hour the county recorder had responded with the species. As I do not have suitable mobile phone I cannot indulge myself in this form of identification.

The site lives up to its name by having a quarry, long dis-used, and this area is almost free of the "R" plant. Vacuum sampling of this area uncovered the pseudoscorpion Neobisium carcinoides.

Photograph: David Williams

Sampling an extensive patch of moss uncovered a first instar Common earwig nymph. In the photograph it has been photobombed by a staphylinid beetle (or is it the other way around?).

Photograph: David Williams

No need for the vacuum sampler to find this Hawthorn shieldbug. It was found on my net which was leaning against a picnic table.

Photograph: David Williams

Sunbathing on a birch tree trunk was a 7-spot.

As we left the site a quick vacuum sample of the roadside verge disturbed this beetle, Bembidion quarimaculatum, from its hiding place.

Photograph: David Williams

The following day, taking advantage of the sunny dry weather, another small group visited the sand quarry next to Venus Pool to look for a rare small stalkball found a week or so earlier by a colleague. 

Photograph: John Martin

The fungus is Tulostoma brumale. To quote the county fungus recorder "this is quite a find and new to Shropshire". It is normally coastal but is found occasionally inland. The nearest sighting to Shropshire was in Herefordshire and that was in 2008.

We found quite a few more on this trip.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

The other attraction at this site were solitary bees. There was literally a buzz about the place as bees frantically flew around the sandy vegetation looking for mates and nest sites. The vast majority of the bees were Colletes cunicularis (we had been told this already) the rest remained a mystery.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Historically a species found in sand dunes but colonies have been found inland more recently. It is easy to see why this former quarry can be a suitable alternative habitat.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

We think that most of the bees were males awaiting the emergence of females.

When a female did appear she was quickly pounced on.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Often by more than one male.

Hanging around was a bee with a red abdomen, possibly a Sphecodes.

Sphecodes are cleptoparasites of many bees. They hang around nesting sites taking the opportunity to enter a host nest where it will open up a cell, destroy the host's egg or grub, replace it with its own then reseal the cell.

Another inhabitant of the sand was the spider Arctosa perita, another species found in sandy habitats.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A few days ago we visited Aquelate on a remarkably warm day - far warmer than the weather forecast predicted which meant that we were cooking inside our multiple layers donned to keep out the cold. There was quite a bit of butterfly activity with Orange tips patrolling the woodland edge and a few other species dotted around. But the main attraction were the bluebells which were nearing their peak.

And to finish a chance sighting of a Sparrowhawk at rest on my neighbour's garage roof.

Until the next time. I am counting the days.

Keep well.