Delights outweigh the disappointment

Sunday, 26th July 2020

Just in case you think you may have missed an episode of this COVID diversion, you haven't (unless you are a new or occasional reader). I took the week off last week. To paraphrase a well known cricket commentator's advice "If you have nothing to say, say nothing". I followed his advice, as I wish today's commentators would. However, this week I do have something to, I hope, entertain you with, as well as a substantial excellent collection of photographs of wildlife that I have received in the past two weeks or so.

As the Joy of Wildlife Group continues to be suspended due to the current restrictions, our Mushroom Tsar has put together a slide show of photographs to remind us of the creatures that caught our attention pre-pandemic. You can view it by following this link.

Last year on the Butterfly Quest we visited Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire to see Chalkhill blues and Silver-spotted skippers. Although these species were observed and the blues were plentiful, I only saw the wing-tip of a skipper as it rested on the opposite side of a plant from where I was sitting eating lunch. By the time I had manoeuvred into a better position - it had gone. And no more were seen!

With that fleeting glance in mind and the assurance of our Hero of the Quest that they were probably out, we ventured once again, on a glorious but breezy day, to Aston Rowant, to enable me, with luck, to observe at least one whole Silver-spotted skipper. 

Aston Rowant is a large site, controversially split in two by the M40 motorway as it climbs from the plains of Oxfordshire into the Chilterns. Last year we visited the side that is north of the motorway so this time, for a change, we visited the south side.

Having parked our cars in the huge Forestry Commission car park at the entrance to Cowleaze Wood we made our way along a well vegetated path to the meadows closest to the motorway. A gap in the hedge provided us with an early view of the site, the motorway and the land beyond.

A Comma was spotted feeding on the bramble. with a chunk of its wing missing as a result of a close encounter with a predator.

Nearby was a  Gatekeeper.

There was plenty of dock bordering the path but no dock bugs were found until we came upon this leaf just by the exit from the path to a meadow.

Following the path down the hill we passed what looked like a pleasant wildflower meadow on the left but there was plenty of  lepidopteran activity on the vegetation at the side of our path. A Large white posed on a musk thistle.

And we saw our first Chalkhill blue of the day feeding on Marjoram. Many more would follow.

We spotted another meadow to our right and passing a well vegetated bank made our way onto it.

Believe it or not, it was lunch time. Ignoring the drone from the motorway we settled down in the meadow and devastated our provisions.

Whilst overhead a Red kite was prospecting for its lunch.

There was a good view of the north side of the reserve so, as we lunched, we watched to see if there were any butterfly hunters scouring the vegetation. You never know. We may meet them later and be able to ask if they had spotted any of the target skipper.

There were just the two.

Lunch over we meandered around this meadow working our way downwards, keeping an eye out for Dwarf thistle which the skipper is associated with. There was plenty of the thistle including a specimen right next to where I had lunch. I can testify for the sharpness of its thorns as I placed my hand on it whilst getting up from the ground! Unfortunately despite the abundance of the thistle no skippers were seen.

However there was plenty of other insect activity including a pair of mating six-spot burnets.

Leaving the meadow we descended through what looked like an old chalk working that was now covered in Marjoram and other plants.

And into this floral oasis flew a pair of small heath who soon settled allowing me to photograph them.

A bit of a walk now as we passed through a grassland with sheep, up a lane and through a small wooded area which then opened out into a very well vegetated clearing.

Remember the two butterfly hunters we saw over lunch on the far side of the M40? 

We met them here.

Had they found Silver-spotted skippers?

No.

At least we were satisfied that we had not come to the wrong part of the reserve!

A large orange butterfly was observed - a Silver-washed fritillary.

And on a flower nearby a large fly that looked as though it was related to Phasia hemiptera.

Indeed, it is related as I found out later, it is a female Phasia hemiptera. Here is a male that we saw a little later, curiously adopting the same pose.

A Brimstone fluttered by. I then spent several minutes tracking it as it flitted about the vegetation trying to take a photograph. Eventually, after many missed opportunities and blurred photographs, I managed to take one that was reasonable.

Then another Brimstone came along and settled down right in front of me! I took numerous photographs of this but I prefer the one above.

Nearby another tachinid was observed on a St. John's-wort  - Nowickia ferox.

And an ichneumon was feeding on an umbellifer. I have no idea of the species name, there are around 2000 to choose from, but somebody may know.

In amongst all this vegetation I spotted a small pale plant that looked very different to the rest.

Checking my wild flower books at home the closest match I could find was Pale toadflax.

We moved on and began our return to the car still keeping an eye out for the target for the day. It was a bit of a climb!

At the top some kind person or organisation had placed a bench. We took full advantage of it whilst we recovered from our exertions.

A couple passed by.

"Had we seen any red kites?"

"Lots, but none recently" was our reply.

They moved on.

As they disappeared from sight our gazes alighted on some farm buildings next to the reserve in the valley. And circling low about these buildings, close to some tall trees there were around a dozen and a half red kites.

We tried to catch the attention of the enquiring couple but to no avail.

Reluctantly vacating the bench, we continued our return to the cars. Turning a corner we were taken aback to find another hillside meadow in front of us. This meadow was every bit as good as the ones we had already seen, maybe florally richer. 

The journey home was delayed and this meadow explored.

Well, the highest part of the meadow was explored! We did not want to lose too much height!

At the end of the meadow a pair of socially distanced benches drew us towards them.

Our two butterfly searchers reappeared.

"Any Silver studded blues?"

"Yes" was their (annoying) reply. They had come across one close to where we were but it had disappeared in a flash when caught in the breeze.

We just had to take a look for it, and it was down the hill!

But we did not look for long before finally, really returning to the cars.

However, the car park had other ideas and delayed us even further.

In the middle of the car park was a large beetle between 25 and 30 mm in length

At first we thought it may be a female stag beetle but finally decided it was a Lesser stag beetle.

An excellent way to finish a wonderful day when the general delights of the site far outweighed the disappointment of not finding our target species.

But not finding any Silver-spotted skippers gives us a good excuse to go back!

And now the first in what hope will be an occasional series - Photographer at Work.

I am able to include lots of photographs due to the dedication of the many photographers that join me in various outings. What we rarely acknowledge is the difficulties and discomfort they have to endure to achieve their perfect shot for us to enjoy. 

Ideally I would have liked to start the series with one of our contributors sticking his camera followed by his head into a bank of nettles to take a snap of glow-worms. Sadly, that stinging event was not captured on film, so I bring you a gentle introduction of what it takes to photograph a Lesser stag beetle.

And now the results of their efforts that they have very kindly sent me in the past couple of weeks.

A 10-spot ladybird from a garden in Church Stretton

Photograph: Catherine Wellings

A pair of 14-spot ladybirds from the same garden

Photograph: Catherine Wellings

A new arrival in Shropshire, the ground bug Aphanus rolandri. Easily identifiable from the orange patch on its wing membrane. According to the photographer, it can run very fast.

Photograph: Maria Justamond

A Blue-tailed damsel fly at Venus Pool that was fascinated by my hat.

A Brown hawker in a garden in Horsehay

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

A micromoth, Caloptilia semifascia.

Photograph: Graham Wenman

A Cinnabar larva reaches the tip of the Ragwort in Stoney Hill, Telford

An Emerald damselfly also at Stoney Hill

An Essex skipper at an unknown location

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A Grayling from a garden in Church Stretton

Photograph: Graham Wenman

The hoverfly Helophilus pendulus and its eggs by a pond in Horsehay

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: David Williams

A Large heath on Whixall Moss

Photograph: David Williams

A Purple hairstreak caught with its wings open.

Photograph: David Williams

And a Purple hairstreak in its more normal pose with its wings closed.

Photograph: Graham Wenman

A conopid fly, Siccus ferrugineus.

Photograph: Graham Wenman

Silver-studded blues at Prees Heath:

Photograph: David Williams

A Six-belted clearwing found at Venus Pools

A Slow-worm from Brandyhill.

Photograph: Graham Wenman

And finally a Whixall Moss specialist, a White-faced darter.

Photograph: David Williams

Thank you to all the photographers who have supplied these photographs.

Keep well.

S is for Squinancywort

Sunday, 12th July 2020

The covid virus may be stopping larger organised groups such as the Joy of Wildlife getting together, but as the guidance has changed over the weeks, relaxing the strict lockdown that we endured, a few of us have been able to get out and about.

I had a message last week that said that if we were considering any outings then the beginning of the week was going to be the best weather. So plans were laid.

And changed at the last minute as a trip to RSPB Coombes Valley became an outing to Oldacre Valley, part of Cannock Chase.

The weather was fine, well put it this way, I do not remember it raining as I set off. Our meeting point for our twosome socially distanced entomology outing was the Glacier Boulder car park. Unfortunately as I slowed down to turn into the road leading to the car park I was met by a barrier and a large sign proclaiming "Road Closed".

What to do?

I decided to carry on until I could find somewhere to stop.

A few seconds later I noticed our hero of the Butterfly Quest coming the other way. As he was the other half of the twosome I was concerned!

I found a car park a few hundred yards further on and turned round to go back. 

Just as I was leaving the car park our hero was beetling along the road flashing his lights at me. 

I retreated, and he joined me in the car park.

Not quite at our expected rendez-vous we decided that we could still get to Oldacre Valley, but it would be a more devious route.

It was still not raining so I put on my waterproof to guarantee that it stayed fine.

Before leaving the car park we noticed Cinnabar larvae on the ragwort.

Not long onto the chase we were seeing plenty of butterflies, mostly Meadow browns and Ringlets

Then we saw our first skipper - this was a Large skipper.

Of course, when we find a skipper we have to check if it is an Essex skipper which has recently migrated to the part of the country. This means we have to get a close look at the antennae. Thus, much chasing of skippers is done to try to achieve this.

Unfortunately skippers are faster and nimbler than we are so our success rate in getting close enough to check them is very low. Occasionally we come across a sluggish individual making the identification easier, but this is a rare event.

A funnel web was spotted in the vegetation and there towards the centre was a Funnel-web spider with prey. I have no idea of the species. I managed this photograph before it vanished into the depths of its web in a flash.

As we wandered on, deeper into the valley, we ventured off-piste to look for the "Railway Sleeper" bridge across the stream.

This took us into some very nice habitat,

But it was also very uneven and wet.

I was too busy trying to stay upright and dry to worry overmuch about the natural inhabitants of this boggy area.

After a while we retreated to higher, drier and more even ground.

We wandered on further. My colleague dived off the path again down the hill and (thankfully) suggested I wait until he had scouted out the area.

He returned unsuccessful in the Railway Sleeper quest.

We gave up looking for it and sat down opposite a bank of bramble and other assorted vegetation.

There were lots of skippers skipping about but those we managed to identify were Large skippers. There were also a good selection of hoverflies.

Eupeodes luniger

Towards the back of the back we noticed a pair of Rutpela maculata.

That sighting rounded off a pleasant day in Staffordshire.

And my waterproof had done its job. Not a drop of rain. Indeed it was positively balmy in the afternoon sun.

The following day we had a Butterfly Quest reunion for our hero and two of his supporters at one of our butterfly haunts - the Bill Smylie Reserve on Prestbury Hill, overlooking Cheltenham.

As this is one of the sites for Duke of Burgundy we have visited it before in May. I had never seen it in July and what a wondrous site greeted the eyes as you entered the reserve to see a vast swathe of flower-rich meadow,

 But I need to backtrack. The weather forecast had driven us so far south. It promised better weather the further south you went. Cheltenham was about as far south as I was prepared to travel.

As I set off it started raining.

Apart from the occasional easing, it rained all the way.

I kept glancing up at the sky, seeking out the edge of the rain clouds, but the edge never came into view. 

I parked at the site and was greeted by out Butterfly Hero wrapped in his rain gear with just his face showing.

Then as we waited for our third member to arrive it STOPPED RAINING. 

Whilst it was cloudy all day it did nor rain again until we were ready to leave.

However as we looked across the wide valley, there were always dark, ominous clouds over the far side and frequently a dark smudge between the clouds and the ground indicating that someone was getting wet.

We were very lucky.

It turned out that the day assumed a botanical slant as we spent far more time looking at the flora than the fauna. To be quite frank my occasional sweeps of the vegetation yielded very little of interest (to me).

Thistles were abundant.

Lots of Woolly thistles with their undersized flowers emerging from a huge head.

 

And Musk thistles with a much more flamboyant spread.

Along with these there were the more common Spear, Creeping and Marsh thistles together with Carline and one you need to notice before you sit on it - Dwarf thistle whose sharply spiked leaves can be masked by other vegetation!

In amongst this thistle-fest we did spot a Blackneck moth

And came across the occasional skipper. This one is a particularly docile Small skipper:

We observed several outcrops of this plant:

Squinancywort.

How on earth does a plant end up with such a name?

Apparently the name derives from medieval times when it was used to treat Quinsy, which is a complication of tonsillitis.

Finally we went in search of Musk orchid, which has been found on the hill in the past.

Basically Musk orchid is far too easy to overlook as it resemble a thick blade of grass. Looking for it in a grassland could not be simpler!

As I walked ahead ascending up a steep hill on a diagonal path I heard shouts from behind.

"Here it is."

Somehow (!) I had managed to pass it by when it was within a couple of feet of the path.

In all there were about half a dozen plants in a square yard or so, including one plant on the path itself!

We did not see any more.

The next day was spent much closer to home in Stretton Westwood Quarry, where we had been a couple of weeks earlier to look for glow-worms. There is not much of a tale to tell as all our time was spent in two very small areas - the lowest area of the quarry where we had found the first glow-worm and the grassland by the car park.

Here are a few of the animals and plants we saw and managed to photograph.

A Crescent plume moth. This moth feeds on Restharrow which is quite abundant in the grassland at the quarry.

A very small dock bug nymph

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A Marbled white.

Tucked away under some Ash scrub were these Pyramidal orchids

A Sloe bug (or, if you prefer, Hairy shieldbug) nymph

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Small stag's horn

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a slime mould - Wolf's milk

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

To finish here is a photograph of a Roesel's bush cricket nymph found in the arable field at Venus Pool.

Photograph: David Williams

Keep well.