Where is everybody?

Wednesday 13th November 2024, Rectory Wood and Field

After the relatively dull weather we had been experiencing so far in November we were greeted by the sun. But this was accompanied by a very cool breeze.

Lots of extra layers were donned!

Rectory Wood and Field is close to the centre of Church Stretton. The grassland and woodland are set on banks rising to meet the Long Mynd. The site includes a stream and pools. The wood contains mainly mature native broadleaf species, with supplementary mixed planting.

On entering the site the first thing I noticed was that there were very few areas that could be described as level. It was going to be an exhausting day!

Photograph: David William

A large sycamore close to the entrance was the first part of the site to attract our attention.

An Orange ladybird was found.

Photograph: David Williams

Then a large patch of scrub surrounding a few small trees became the focus of our activity.

I noticed later the attraction of this area was a bench!

The bench was the centre of attention and envy for a while as some members of the group were sent out on forays into nearby vegetation and others waited for the results of the forays to be revealed.

Findings during these expeditions from the bench were:

A “lonely” slime mould (probably);

Photograph: Neil Nash

A micro-moth, Caloptilia rufipennella;

Photograph: John Martin

And a psudoscorpion, Neobisium carcinoides.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

After a while the lure of the seat diminished, and we moved on, down the grassland towards the entrance to the woodland, checking the grassland/woodland edge vegetation on the way.

One small group “broke away” and wandered down to the bottom of the hill and explored the vegetation in that area, locating:

A Cream-spot ladybird;

Photograph: Graham Wenman

And an Angle shades moth larva.

Photograph: Graham Wenman

Entering the wood, we were shielded from the cold breeze, and, although we were also in shade, it seemed a good spot for lunch.

But, before lunch could be taken, we just had to apply the suction sampler to a patch of Polytrichum moss that had been found.

Regrettably no Snow fleas were spotted.

Yes folks, its Snow Flea time again. 

We are hoping for more success this year.

The moss did not yield anything of great significance, and we settled down to lunch, with a good view of the hillsides opposite, including Helmeth Hill, which we will be visiting, weather permitting, soon.

Refreshed we followed the path through the woodland.

Very, very slowly.

During our snail-like progress we spotted a harvestman, Opilio canestrinii.

Photograph: David Williams

Pausing in a warm sunlit spot, we noticed several flies on leaves in a tree taking advantage of the sun and warmth.

After a while I decided to move on. 

I took a path to the left. 

I wandered along this path for quite a while ...

Then realised that no-one had followed the supposed leader!

Where was everyone else!?

Then I heard voices …

On a lower path.

When it became clear that the paths were not leading to the same place, I used modern technology (a mobile phone) to make contact.

Only to find that, although a couple had wandered deeper into the wood, most of the group had not moved from the sunlit spot.

I returned to the sunny spot …

But they had all gone …

Except one ...

Who told me that the others had returned to the grassland!

The two of us made our way back to the grassland (using different routes), where we met some of the others hunched over trays.

Slowly over the next quarter of an hour or so we magically reassembled in this area.

Whilst they were away the woodland wanderers had found another micro-moth, Psychoides filicivora.

Photograph: John Martin

And some ferns which had been planted in a fernery within the wood:

Dryopteris cycadina;

Photograph: John Martin

And Polystichum polyblepharum.

Photograph: John Martin

Having reassembled and exchanged pleasantries, a small group made another breakaway, to visit a site where earth star mushrooms had been seen.

Meanwhile, the rest us remained in the grassland and continued our searches of the vegetation around us.

Finds during this time included:

A rather dapper Lesser dung fly, Sphaerocera manilis - Lessser dung flies are usually very small and featureless;

Photograph: Nigel Jones

A micro-ladybird, Nephus redtenbacheri;

Photograph: David Williams

A fungus, Xylaria longipes, known as Dead moll’s fingers;

Photograph: Neil Nash

Another fungus, Ascocoryne sarcoides, known as Purple jellydisc;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A Hawthorn shieldbug;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A Buff footman moth larva;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a log, which was host to Eyelash fungi and a slime mould.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Eventually, after the breakaway group rejoined, we decided to call it a day and head back to the cars and home.

By the way, the attraction drawing people away from the main event was this.

Photograph: John Martin

A collection of earthstar fungi, probably Geastrum triplex, which was found close to the site. 

My thanks to Church Stretton Council for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing, and to the photographers for their excellent images and allowing me to use them in this report.

 

Danger of Death

Wednesday 6th November 2024, Bishop’s Wood

Our site for this outing was across the border in Worcestershire at Bishop’s Wood, a Field Centre run by the Fields Study Council. We were invited to help contribute to their on-site records.

This trip was much delayed as we were due to visit in April this year, but the weather did not oblige and we had to cancel. On this occasion the weather was much kinder.

We were greeted in the car park by our host for the day who informed us that as the Centre was expecting children to be on site we needed passes to confirm we were official visitors. We trooped off to the centre’s main building where we signed in and received our badge of certification for the day. 

The badge dangled from a lanyard adding yet another item to the copious amounts of kit we carry around, in bags, in pockets, in our hands and slung around our necks.

However, immediately the request was vindicated as a coach full of primary children arrived.

Bowed under the weight of the extra baggage we made our way out onto the grounds.

The site is a mixture of woodland, some of which is ancient and semi-natural and other bits are secondary or plantation, and grassland. There are also a number of pools.

Curiously the site surrounds an electricity substation so in your wanderings you can find yourself facing a high metal fence with a sign warning of “Danger of Death”.

After a brief perusal of a small meadow close to the centre, where there were quite a few fungi on show, and a slightly longer visit to the vegetation around the car park, we entered a large area of the ancient and semi-natural woodland.

Unfortunately, our searches of the semi-leafless trees and the ground flora yielded only a few invertebrates of interest but, major finds we did make were a giant mushroom; 

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a monkey (or ape).

A Hairy shiledbug, Dolycoris baccarum was found amongst some dead bracken.

A fungus, Helvella crispa, was observed growing next to the path.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a pseudoscorpion, Neobisium carcinoides, was found in a suction sample taken from moss at the side of the path.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

The woodland path opened out into a sizeable grassy clearing. 

The vegetation around this area became our focus for some time.

Here we found our favourite tiny wasp, Callitula pyrrhogaster.

Photograph: David Williams

You will notice that the insect in the above photograph has vestigial wings that are glinting in the light. This led our spiderman to describe the wasp as “not wingless but merely aeronautically challenged”!

Another find around this time was a springtail.

Photograph: Jean Young

We are not certain what the species is, or even the genus. It may be a member of the Katiannidae family.

Moving on, through the woods, we came to a much smaller clearing.

Here we found a Devil’s coach-horse.

Photograph: David Williams

And a spider that has turned up at a few sites recently, Diaea dorsata.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Following the path through the woods it led us to a large grassland where we set up camp, lunched and recharged our batteries.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Refreshed and recharged we spent some time looking around this grassland, locating amongst other things:

A Blue shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

A ladybird, Rhyzobius litura;

Photograph: David Williams

A large beetle, Phosphuga atrata;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a weevil, Sitona hispidus.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Passing through some more woodland a Mottled umber moth was spotted at rest on the vegetation.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Emerging from the woodland we found ourselves in a large area of grassland. This was subjected to more searching, beating, sweeping and suction sampling. Some of the invertebrates found in this area were:

Another ladybird, Scymnus haemorrhoidalis, descriptively known as the Red-rumped ladybird for obvious reasons;

Photograph: David Williams

A moth larva that is possibly a Straw dot;

Photograph: Jean Young

And a Larch ladybird;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Spotted in the corner of the grassland were a couple of gentlemen having a chat about the finds of the day, or, perhaps, the result of the United Sates of America's Presidential Election …

I think not!

More likely photographic equipment or electric bikes.

It started to rain and this determined that the day was to be brought to a close.

On the way back to the Visitor Centre a group of Giant willow aphids on the branch of a willow was spotted.

Photograph: Jean Young

Back at the visitor centre we were treated to a drink and biscuits before surrendering our passes and making our way home.

My thanks to the Field Study Council for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing and their hospitality. My immense gratitude to the photographers for their wonderful images and allowing me to use them in this report.

Hello stranger

Wednesday 23th October 2024, Benthall Hall

No 501. And I missed it! 

After missing No 500 as I was holidaying in Dorset, then having to cancel the next outing due to atrocious weather conditions, I now managed to miss our visit to Benthall Hall due to illness.

This visit was to the grounds of the hall which, in addition to the formal garden, consists mainly of grassland and fields with a couple of pools.

Mist and occasional sun gave way to sunny periods as the assembled throng set out to explore the site. Unfortunately, the fields were very wet so the footwear of choice had to be wellies.

The grass had been mown so searching was limited to the grassland margins, hedgerows and dead wood. In the conditions prevailing the suction samplers came into their own finding quite a number of beetles and bugs.

Highlights of the day were a couple of Devil’s Coach Horse beetles, a Cramp-ball fungus weevil and flocks of migrating Wood pigeons. 

Here are some pictures from the day.

The hall.

Photograph: David Williams

Some of the springtails found on a wall. They are possibly the species Hypogastrura vernalis.

Photograph: David Wiliams

An ichneumon wasp.

Photograph: David Williams

A Green shieldbug.

Photograph: David Williams

A Dock bug.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

The evidence of several leaf mines on a London plane leaf caused by the larva of the moth, Phyllonorycter platini.

Photograph: John Martin

A Devil’s coach horse.

Photograph: David Williams

A ground beetle, Pterostichus niger.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a second ground beetle, Pterostichus madidus.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Staying with the theme of beetles, here are some more:

Paradromius linearis;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Tachyporus obtusus;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And some Red marsh ladybirds.

Photograph: David Williams

Time for a spot of reflection, relaxation and lunch.

Photograph: Neil Nash

During this time a Cramp-ball fungus weevil was spotted.

Photograph: David Williams

Lujnch over, the group carried on as before. Examples of what they found are:

A larva of The Drinker moth;

Photograph: David Williams

Another larva, this time of a sawfly, but we do not know what species it is;

Photograph: David Williams

A Blue shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

A water beetle, Colymbetes fuscus;

Photograph: David Williams

And a Long-winged conehead.

Photograph: David Williams

Finally, an unusual identification for the group, a thrips, Limothrip denticornis.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Wednesday, 30th October 2024, Badger’s Green

Badger's Green was the first half of a two site visit in Llanymynech.

This is a small patch of grassland, woodland and hedgerows that has been left at the edge of a recently developed housing estate. We were asked to visit the site by Shropshire Council as they had no wildlife records from this piece of land.

The stranger returned!

Getting ready for trip tested my memory. Over the years I have developed a method of preparing for each trip but a few weeks away had me having to think twice about the items I took. And the time it took was, of course, much longer than anticipated. As a result I left the house in a bit of a rush.

My rusty memory was highlighted when, at the site, I realised that I had forgotten to bring a pencil to write down the records of the day in my notebook!

Fortunately, I found a pen in the car.

Badger’s Green did not require much mobility as the whole site was within a 100 yards or so of the cars!

We set up camp in the grassland close to where we parked and radiated out from there.

An early mystery was caused by some beech that had some tiny black spots on it.

Photograph: Mary & Eric Steer

(The size of the spots can be gauged from the millimetre rule at the top of the photograph.)

It has been recognised as a lichen, but the species is “under enquiry”.

Several beetles were found and the one in the photograph below is a Celery leaf beetle.

Photograph: David Williams

A late suction sample revealed the following springtail, Neanura muscorum.

Photograph: David Williams

Lunchtime approached and we decided to move on to our second site for the day before indulging.

Llanymynech Heritage Centre.

After spending quite a while shoe-horning our vehicles in to the parking area we set off in search of a spot for lunch.

This was soon provided by some picnic tables close to, but hidden from, the entrance by the building known as the Stables.

I quickly discovered that my pen had ceased to work as I tried to record a couple of insects found in the hedge as we made our way to the picnic tables. Fortunately, a member of the group came to my aid by providing another which, I am pleased to say, survived the rest of the day.

The picnic tables were then used to sift through a suction sample taken from the area around where we lunched. In amongst the insects and arachnids we found was this orange springtail, Monobella grassei.

Photograph: David Williams

We spent some time in the vicinity of the stables exploring the woodland and ground flora.

As we were not finding much of interest we moved on, passing the Hoffman Kiln to the large areas of grassland.

In this area, in no particular order, we found:

A bristletail;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A beetle larva, possibly a cardinal beetle;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A slime mould with a millipede in attendance;

Photograph: Neil Nash

A collection of fungi on a tree trunk;

Photograph: Neil Nash

And finally, a splash of colour, provided by a Primrose.

My thanks to the National Trust and Shropshire County Council for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing, to the group members who visited Benthall Hall for their snippets of information about the day, and to the photographers for their wonderful images and allowing me to use them in this report.