Brief reports November – December 2022

Wednesday 30th November 2022, Purslow Wood

I was unable to attend this outing and no report from any of the attendees has come my way other than they found five Snow fleas and walked a long way in their pursuit. However, I have been sent a couple of photographs.

A pair of snow fleas mating. 

Photograph: David Williams

A springtail stalker, the beetle Notiophilus biguttatus.

Photograph: David Williams

Wednesday 7th December 2022, Millichope Park

A cool and frosty day, but gorgeously sunny day, greeted us for this trip to Millichope Park. The last time we were here, in the summer, it was so hot and oppressive that it was all we could do to resist just lying down in the meadow and going to sleep. C’est la vie!

An early arrival did some rooting around in the area around a stream, whilst the rest of us got ready, and found the nest of a harvest mouse constructed in amongst the vegetation.

Photograph: Neil Nash

As we were still primarily searching for Snow fleas we girded our loins and headed up the hill to the woodland.

The features of the lower slopes were mostly passed by.

Just as we were ignored by some Greylag geese flying overhead.

Photograph: John Martin

We found Polytrichum moss but unfortunately all the snow fleas had left early for their Christmas vacation.

However, vacuum sampling frequently collects beasts that you would not normally notice, for example, this attractive tiny flightless wasp, Callitula pyrrhogaster.

Photograph: David Williams

An Orange ladybird graced us with its presence.

Photograph: David Williams

One type of organism that was encountered quite often during the day was a Slime mould. Here are some that were photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

Lunch was taken in the shade of a large beech tree. Nearby the remains of another beech were slowly and artistically fading away.

An opportunistic Eyed ladybird tried sneaking up to take advantage of the food being consumed.

Photograph: John Martin

After lunch we continued to desert the cars and roamed in search of more woodland and moss. We found both but, alas, the snow fleas were still enjoying themselves elsewhere.

We turned for home, descending onto a valley that had remained frosty.

Lower down this sloping valley we came across a magnificent oak.

Photograph: John Martin

This is the Millichope Oak and its sight inspired the following verse.

The Millichope Oak

Four hundred years surveying the scene

On a grassy knoll in this valley of green.

Now still I stand, majestic and proud,

Lifting my branches to each passing cloud.

The huge girth of my trunk, furrowed and rough

Anchors me firmly, steady and tough.

The winter sun dapples upon my crisp leaves,

A rustle of orange in the cool breeze.

Extreme summer heat has changed Nature’s call,

My leaves cling on tightly, reluctant to fall.

Thus in December I’m still clothed in gold,

A beautiful sight as the year grows old.

Footsteps slow and eyes gaze in wonder

To think I’ve survived through sun, rain and thunder

And deep in my heart many secrets I hold

From long ago days, ne’er to be told.

Margaret Mitchell

Not everyone was awestruck by the oak.

Photograph: John Martin

The contents of the tray were obviously far more interesting!

Nearby stood a hawthorn adorned with some Mistletoe.

Photograph: John Martin

Once more the view, illuminated by the late afternoon sun, made us pause.

Photograph: David Williams

Eventually, after a bracing, sunlit and very enjoyable day, we made it back to the cars for our journeys home.

After the trip I received this photograph of some tiny wasps found in leaf litter collected during the day. The divisions are 1mm apart, so the smallest is about 0.5mm in length. Remarkable.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

Wednesday 14th December 2022, Poles Coppice

Our last Snow flea hunt of the year took place in the woodland that surrounds a number of quarries in this nature reserve situated on the hills above Pontesbury. Despite extensive searching we again failed to find any.

It was very cold and very frosty but the sun was shining.

It was no surprise that very little was found. We took lunch in a sunny spot.

Photograph: John Martin

After lunch we continued to explore the woodland and stumbled across a clearing from which there was an excellent view to a distant Bromlow Callow.

Photograph; John Martin

Back to the woods and some afternoon finds:

A moss, Schistidium crassipilum;

Photograph: John Martin

A lichen, Ramalina fraxinea;

Photograph: John Martin

And a Robin who had found a woodlouse (more than we had!). Unfortunately the woodlouse remained unidentified.

Photograph: John Martin

We were undecided if the tiny creatures under the bird’s eye were mites or ticks.

Eventually we emerged from the far end of the wood and turned for home. We crossed a field which led to a second field which afforded an excellent, if rather hazy, view over Pontesbury.

Some of us took the opportunity to do some public engagement …

Photograph: John Martin

whilst others indulged in some winter sports …

Photograph: John Martin

before we departed from the site.

I received this photograph later of the “periscope” spider Walckenaeria acuminata found in leaf litter collected sometime during the day. 

Photograph: Nigel Jones

My thanks to Forestry England, the owner of Millichope Park and Shropshire County Council for allowing us to visit their sites. My gratitude to the photographers for providing their excellent images that supplement my efforts and Margaret for her verse.