Confusion

Wednesday 26th April, Smalley Hill

Our last outing for April was to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Smalley Hill in Telford.

This is a former open cast mining site which was used subsequently for landfill. It was landscaped and is now regenerating as grassland and woodland with a main pool and several other small pools which may or may not be seasonal.

It was very wet.

Definitely a need for wellingtons.

Confusion was the order of the start of the day as three out of the four drivers could not find the private parking area that Veolia had given us permission to use. 

One parked at the new car park for the Huntingdon Lane area and two others parked at the side of the road by the site entrance.

Despite the confusion we all managed to arrive at the site at about the same time.

And there by the edge of the road was a tall fungus, Verpa conica.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

As always the entrance to the site generated a lot of activity. 

Close examination of lichen on a tree revealed some butterfly or moth eggs.

Photograph: David Williams

Eventually we made it to the end of the short boardwalk to be greeted by a large expanse of grassland.

In the distance on the horizon, to the right of the photograph, you may be able to make out a small, dark object - this is an owl box on a pole that I helped erect many, many years ago. As we moved into the grassland there was a large bird sitting on top but it flew off before I could see what it was, but it looked more buzzard than owl. I wonder if it has ever been used?

With such a wide open space it is often hard to decide which way to go. But the mood of the group was to go left.

Here we came across one of the small pools. Suction sampling around its edge captured a Blue shieldbug. It is worthy of two photographs.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Photograph: David Williams

And the tiny flightless wasp that we recognise by it orange abdomen, Callitula pyrrhogaster, caught on camera with a springtail, Entomobrya nicoleti.

Photograph: David Williams

Finding such a small wasp is very difficult in amongst a tray of bigger invertebrates and detritus but, fortunately, we have a member of the group who gleefully spots these and lots of other tiny creatures to keep us on our toes. 

Now for a slug. These creatures rarely get a mention in these reports but here is a lovely, distinctive Leopard slug.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Lunch was taken by a hut that was lapped by another of the small pools on the far side of the grassland. This had a veranda on which those of us without seats could perch and dangle our feet in the water.

From here there was a splendid view of The Wrekin.

Photograph: David Williams

After lunch we left the first grassland and made our way to the main pool.

There was a boardwalk leading to the pool which provided an excellent seat whilst looking through the contents of a tray.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

One of those contents was an “inconspicuous” ladybird Nephus redtenbacheri.

Photograph: David Williams

Also hanging about in the neighbourhood of the pool was our first damselfly of the year, a Large red damselfly.

Photograph: David Williams

From the pool we moved into an area of drier grassland.

Or so it was supposed to be.

It was still pretty wet underfoot.

But it had a decent view of its surroundings.

Another vacuum sample required careful study …

Photograph: Bob Kemp

To find another small ladybird. This one had a red tip to its elytra and abdomen, Scymnus haemorrhoidales. I wonder why it got that name!

Photograph: David Williams

We returned to the first grassland where we continued to look for invertebrates around the edges of the smaller pools. A Slender groundhopper was discovered and photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

Time to go home.

On his way back to his more distantly parked car one member spotted a herd of about 120 Fallow deer in a field. 

Photograph: Neil Nash

Other news

Moth trapping by the Shropshire Moth group took place in Severn Valley Country Park. It was a relatively quiet night for moths but there are some interesting moths trapped including this Lobster moth.

Photograph: David Williams

Other finds included:

Herald;

Photograph: David Williams

Iron Prominent;

Photograph: David Williams

Red-green carpet;

Photograph: David Williams

One that may interest an insurance company, Scorched carpet;

Photograph: David Williams

Swallow prominent;

Oak-tree pug;

Photograph: David Williams

And the curiously named Chinese character.

Photograph: David Williams

Thank you to Shropshire Wildlife Trust for giving us permission to enjoy ourselves, Veolia for giving us permission to use their private car parking area and to the photographers for their images to illuminate this tale.