Bootless in Haughmond

Wednesday 8th January 2025, Haughmond Hill

A cold and very frosty morning greeted us when we arrived at Haughmond Hill.

We parked and met at the roadside close to the access point at the southeastern corner of the site. 

The recent snow had gone but the water from the snow melt, and the sub-zero temperature, had left the road coated, in places, in sheets of ice...

As I soon discovered when I went for a free session of ice-skating when rounding the car. Fortunately no harm was done but it prompted me to put on my boots which, I hoped, had a better grip.

A thorough search of the car boot soon revealed the truth…

I had left my boots at home!!!

What should I do?

Fortunately, a colleague had a spare pair of wellingtons, which I donned with great gratitude.

Getting on to the site from the cars required careful navigation over various patches of ice, but once we were on, the paths were fine and reasonably easy to negotiate.

My grand plan was to take the lowest path that followed the southern and, if we got that far, the western border of the site, rather than take the usual route up to the summit.

Unbeknown to me we missed that path and took the next path departing from the main track a few yards further on.

As we were going along this path, I soon realised we (I?) had made a mistake. However, as it was taking us to a part of the site I had not visited before, we followed it as it made its way gently upwards across the slope.

The vegetation up to this point had been tall scrub, dominated by Gorse, which yielded very little to our searching but now, where it had opened out, we were able to find a micro-moth that is usually seen as a leaf mine in the leaves of Apple and similar trees, Lyonetia clerkella.

Photograph: John Martin

Not long after, we found the larva of the Ingrailed Clay moth.

Photograph: David Williams

Looking around we had a good, but not unhindered, view of the snow-capped Wrekin.

Moving on, the path took us through a couple of areas of Eucalyptus. This seemed a strange tree to find on these slopes. 

Photograph: David Williams

The species was later identified as Eucalyptus urnigera. Here is a picture of some of its leaves and fruits.

Photograph: John Martin

There are no Shropshire records of this species, but Forestry England has, apparently, done some experimental planting on Haughmond fairly recently. We did not see any seedlings so it may be that they will not spread.

We carried on traversing the slope and slowly getting higher up the hill, pausing every now and then to take a look at the vegetation and using our bits of equipment to try and discover what was lurking there

.

The answer was very little, as any sensible beast would be well out of harm’s way and not tempted to venture forth.

Amongst the leaf litter we found a springtail stalking ground beetle, Notiophilus biguttatus.

Photograph: John Martin

And yes, it does prey on springtails (and mites).

Also found around this time was the larva of a Speckled wood butterfly.

Photograph: David Williams

Time for lunch.

Refuelled we headed straight up the remaining short distance to one of the main paths through the woodland near the top of the hill.

Decisions, decisions! Which way to go?

We delayed this by spending time investigating the vegetation around the area where we had emerged, finding another micromoth.

This could not be identified to species as it would need dissection to confirm its identity. It was either Acleris ferrugana or Acleris notana.

Photograph: John Martin

We decided to go right, leading us back towards our starting point and started the long trek...

Photograph: Liz Roberts

Pausing every now and then to check our surroundings, finding:

A patch of fungus identified as Lycoperdon pyriforme, known as Stump puffball.

Photograph: Liz Roberts

A fly with big red eyes, Opetia nigra.

John Martin

And a wingless wasp that we have not identified.

Photograph: David Williams

After a while our path met the main track on which we had started our day’s journey. We took it, continuing our periodic dives into the undergrowth to see if we could find anything of interest.

A small plant bug, Dicyphus stachydis. This is a very common bug and found on woundwort, nettles and many other plants.

Photograph: John Martin

Another bug, This time the ground bug Peritrchus geniculatus.

Photograph: John Martin

By now we were within sight, although some distance away from, our cars. As the cold was penetrating our many layers we decided we needed an excuse for a huddle for a mutual warming session before making the final descent. A quick suction sample of the more luxuriant vegetation at the side of the path was undertaken to give us that excuse.

Not everyone was included!

Photograph: Liz Roberts

Was he warm enough or ....?

Our final treat of the day was to see The Wrekin capped with snow, surrounded by mist pretending it was Mount Fuji.

Photograph: David Williams

My thanks to Forestry England for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing, the photographers for their excellent images and allowing me to use them in this report, and most importantly on the day, the lender of the wellingtons.

Happy New Year

By the time this report is available it will be 2025. May I wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you for the interest you have shown in the activities of the group.

Wednesday 11th December 2024, Blakeridge Wood

After Storm Darragh had done its worst throughout the country, I half expected our long-planned trip to Blakeridge Wood to be cancelled due to fallen or unsafe trees in the conifer plantation.

When I received an email from Forestry England the day before the visit, I expected the worst but, to my surprise, they were perfectly willing for our visit to go ahead even though, at that time, they had not inspected the wood for damage. 

Forestry England did place some reasonable conditions on our visit: to keep away from any wind damaged areas; and not to venture past any fallen trees that blocked the forest track, as an emergency vehicle would not be able to reach us in the event of an accident.

Having agreed to these conditions, and finding no roads closed due to fallen trees (or road works), we met at the westernmost of the two entrances to the wood.

Following the entrance track into the wood we soon came across promising looking patches of Polytrichum moss.

Despite two suction samplers being trained on each patch we found, we did not, regrettably, find any snow fleas. They are proving highly elusive at present.

What we did find were several pseudoscorpions, which all turned out to be the same species Neobisium carcinoides.

Photograph: David Williams

This species is known as the “Moss neobisium”. This name was most appropriate as they were found in and around moss.

Also uncovered in this early flourish of activity was a staphylinid beetle, Syntomium aeneum.

Photograph: David Williams

We continued to follow the forest track as it slowly gained altitude. To the right side there was a narrow band of ground vegetation before the woodland took over on a gentle rising slope. To the left there was a larger band of ground vegetation before it fell away as woodland.

The above photograph is looking back at a section of the track we had followed. But it was taken a little later where the track had levelled out a little. However it gives you an idea of the terrain.

Finding an isolated fallen Douglas fir, we had the opportunity to search the upper branches, a treat normally denied to us.

Why?

Because it normally is out of reach.

In the event not much was found but we did notice a couple of Pine cone bugs, Gastrodes grossipes.

Photograph: David Williams

Finding a slightly sheltered spot with a convenient ledge in the banking we settled down for lunch.

Over lunch we spotted a flock of about 40 Siskin flitting about in the tops of the trees. 

During the day we heard Crossbills but I do not remember any being spotted.

Refreshed we continued our gradual climb until we reached a more open area.

This area proved too attractive to the assembled company and quite a long time was spent exploring the area although invertebrates proved hard to find. 

Whilst the others busied themselves in this area I had a little wander further along the track. The scenery changed very little until it suddenly opened up briefly on the left as the ground fell away sharply in a steep-sided valley.

When I came across a couple of trees lying across the track I remembered Forestry England's conditions and returned to the rest of the group.

Time was marching on, and the cold wind was starting to penetrate our defences so we returned down the track to the entrance.

At the entrance we noticed this gash in a tree that had grown a fungal garden.

Despite the difficulty we had in finding invertebrates our dipterist reported that he had found 16 species of a fly family known as Lesser dung flies, a record for a day’s visit to a site. This is no mean feat as these flies are very small, black, and, with a few exceptions, indistinguishable in the field.

Similarly our botanist stated that the flora found at the side of the track provided a selection of species that wasn't bad for December in an upland conifer wood. He felt that the limestone-rich track must have increased diversity on the edges.

Whilst not an exciting day out, the site still provided rewards for our efforts.

Wednesday 18th December 2024, Shelve

Another Wednesday, another trip to a Forestry England plantation!

This visit was to their plantation at Shelve.

On arrival we found other cars present in our chosen parking spot. This made it difficult for us to get all our cars in, as the site had attracted a bumper turn-out for this last outing of the year.

Fortunately, just as we were about to give up and move to an alternative parking spot, the owners of two cars returned and drove away providing us with enough space.

Phew!

That unexpected hitch had gone away.

I have started recent reports by noting our lack of success in locating our favourite winter invertebrate, Boreus hyemalis (Snow flea).

Well…

On this occasion we were SUCCESSFUL!!

Hooray!

A suction sample of some small Polytrichum patches about 10 yards into the woodland edge, revealed FOUR – 1 male and three females.

We were all delighted. Several of the attendees were excited as this was the first time they had seen this species. They have now been inducted into the Snow Flea Appreciation Society.

Here is one of the females, distinguished by its ovipositor at the tip of the abdomen.

Photograph: David Williams

And here is the male, with the blunt tip to its abdomen and short erect wing stubs.

Photograph: David Williams

Unfortunately, despite inspecting lots of other patches Polytrichum during the visit, we did not find any more.

From the car park we followed the main forestry track at snail-pace as it rose gently between lines of conifers. There was a generous amount of ground vegetation at the edge of the track.

We searched this thoroughly looking for things of interest, uncovering:

A Long-horned beetle, Pogonocherus hispidus;

Photograph: John Martin

A fungus, Lycoperdon excipuliforme, known as the Pestle puffball;

Photograph: Liz Roberts

A weevil, Otiorhynchus singularis, known as the Clay-coloured weevil;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

An attractive red and black staphylinid beetle, Scaphidium quadrimaculatum;

Photograph: David Williams

And a second staphylinid beetle, Ontholestes tessellatus.

Photograph: David Williams

We eventually came to a clearing where most of us spent the rest of the morning exploring the vegetation on the banks and slightly beyond.

Just to give you an idea of our progress we were now about 150 yards from the car park!

Finds around this time were:

A beetle, Loricera pilicornis;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A gall on Gorse caused by the weevil, Stenopterapion scutellare;

Photograph: John Martin

And a liverwort, Diplophyllum albicans, known as White earwort.

Photograph: John Martin

We lunched in the clearing then retraced our steps to a footpath that followed a wayleave, intending to follow it to the edge of the plantation, which bordered the road, then walk back along the road back to the cars.

Unfortunately, a tree blocked the path.

Plan B was enacted.

We followed a winding track through the woodland that we believed would also lead to the edge.

After a while we met another path that led back to the car park, visible through the trees.

Looking up we noticed the darkening clouds and after a little indecision(!) we decided to follow the path back to the cars.

It was just as well that we did, as no sooner than we got back to the car park than it started to rain.

My thanks to Forestry England 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.

Seven Layers

Wednesday 4th Deecember 2024, Rhos Fiddle SWT Reserve

Imagine that you were driving along a quiet country lane through the very sparsely populated upland grasslands of south-west Shropshire, on a cold, misty day, in December, and you happened to notice a group of people in a field waving nets around, carrying trays, sticks and leaf blowers.

What would you think?

…?

It is your imagination at play here, I am not going to suggest what you might think, but I know what I would!

Rhos Fiddle is a large upland grassland/heathland site managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. During our visit earlier this year I noticed large amounts of Polytrichum moss on the site, which attracted me to the idea of a winter visit to see if we could find Snow fleas.

Rather than keep you in suspense, we did not find any.

As it turned out, we found very little else on the day. But we had some fun trying.

However, our meagre findings were crowned by the first record in the county of Phthitia longisetosa, a small fly.

How do you pronounce that name?

We also came across this red hairy mite.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

I think I have got ahead of myself.

Back to the start.

On arrival, as we left the pleasantly warm transport, we were hit by the bitingly cold, damp atmosphere.

We scrambled for appropriate attire to try and retain what body heat we had for as long as possible. I even heard the phrase “wearing electric socks”. 

Are discussions about electric socks (and other items of clothing) going to displace electric bikes in our conversations?

When fully dressed I counted my layers – seven – plus double gloves and two hats.

Would that keep me warm?

Time would tell.

We negotiated the stile and waddled onto the site, aiming for the area where we had found the Polytrichum previously.

Soon the sound of a suction sampler was heard as a rough patch of vegetation was too tempting to resist.

This first sample revealed two micro-ladybirds:

Coccidula rufa;

Photograph: David Williams

And Nephus redtenbacheri.

Photograph: David Williams

Despite our best efforts body temperatures were dropping, and it became necessary to huddle up.

I noticed a gorse with a couple of flowers braving the elements.

Someone observed a moth perched on some heather. It was not going anywhere in the conditions and surrendered willingly to the warmth of a glass tube in the hand, where it was photographed.

Photograph: John Martin

This is Acleris hyemana, a strikingly marked moth providing a flash of colour at a drab time of year.

The site is grazed, as part of its management, by sheep and cattle.

After a while our paths crossed.

Photograph: John Martin

I am not sure who was more curious, the cattle or us.

Judging from the photographs I have received from the group taken during this visit it may well have been us, as a third were of the cattle!

Photograph: David Williams

But maybe some of the cattle were equally curious. As the photographer remarked “The friendly locals were captured with my phone as every time I put my bag down to extract my camera from it, they rushed me!”.

Do they associate camera bags with food?

Here is one of the locals.

Photograph: David Williams

And another.

Photograph: David Williams

Tearing ourselves away from the cattle and concentrating on matters entomological we found the “bendy” beetle, Encephalus complicans.

Photograph: David Williams

Here is the same beetle with its abdomen folded over its back.

Photograph: David Williams

I am not aware that it has a common name, so time to give it one…

How about “the Contortionist”?

We’ll see if it catches on.

It was lunchtime.

A strong breeze had sprung up and it was suggested we shelter from it behind some gorse.

The gorse provided some relief, perhaps, if you were one of the “have-nots” (i.e. do not carry a seat) who sat on the ground, but for the “haves” there was little shelter.

Lunch over we carried on for another hour or so before the chill finally overcame our clothing and we retreated back to the cars.

On the way we spotted a picture-winged fly, Tephritis vespertina.

Photograph: John Martin

But the day was not over as it was known that Tree sparrows and Bramblings had been seen nearby. A splinter group wandered off in search of these.

They were successful in their quest, finding both.

Tree sparrow.

Photograph: John Martin

Brambling.

Photograph: John Martin

And a flower, Red lungwort, for good measure.

Photograph: John Martin

Now, we made our way to our homes.

My thanks to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust 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.