The Magnificent Three

Wednesday 28th June 2023, Prees Branch Canal

I was holidaying in Dorset and was unable to attend.

As these things happen, several other regulars were also missing due to holidays or other commitments.

I am grateful to one of the Magnificent Three for providing a summary of the day.

The group met at the Whixall Marina car park at 10.30am more or less.

Although it was overcast it was very warm and slightly humid.

They walked along a permissive path across a field which, although not a traditional hay meadow (too much Yorkshire Fog and other rank grasses), was very nice. There were lots of butterflies on the wing: Meadow browns, Ringlets and Large skippers. 

This path led to Dobson’s Bridge where they joined the towpath. 

Their walk can be split into two parts - the tow path as far as the end of the marina, and the part beyond which ends at Waterloo.

The first part is open but not mown, lots of nectar sources, lots of butterflies, now including a large number of very fresh Gatekeepers. Bearing right at the end of this part the canal is not navigable, there are some trees on the far bank and on the towpath side where there is also a hedge. 

The canal is on an embankment. The most shaded areas had open water but if sun could penetrate foliage seemed to fill the canal. 

At the start they did find a Small Skipper but under the shade Clegs and Mosquitos were in abundance.

They beat, swept and suction sampled quite a lot of diptera with smaller quantities of other groups, including some interesting ladybird finds.

Lunch was taken just after 12.

By 1.30pm it was raining and unlike earlier showers this one lasted much longer. They sheltered until about 2.30pm and then headed back to the cars quickly.

It had stopped raining as they arrived back at the car park!!

Full advantage was taken of the Marina’s café before returning home.

Here are photographs of some of the species found during the visit:

The nymph of a Spiked shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

A female White-legged damselfly;

Photograph: David Williams

An Essex skipper;

Photograph: David Williams

A froghopper which is probably Cixius nervosus;

Photograph: David Williams

A Water ladybird larva;

Photograph: David Williams

A harvestman, Nemastoma bimaculatum;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And an Oak ladybird, Scymnus auritus, larva.

Photograph: David Williams

Oak ladybird larva feed on Phylloxera, a type of Hemiptera, related to aphids. The following photograph shows Oak ladybird larvae on a leaf occupied by several Phylloxera, probably Phylloxera glabra. You will notice that many of these insects are surrounded by circles of eggs. There is also a winged insect which is the form of the species that allows dispersal.

Photograph: David Williams

Other insects photographed were a nymphal and an adult Forest bug;

Nymph - Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Adult - Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a 10-spot ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

Thank you to Canal and River Trust for giving us permission to enjoy ourselves, to Whixall Marina for allowing us to use their car park (and café), to Jim for providing the summary of the day and to the to the photographers for their images to illuminate this tale.