The secret is out

Wednesday 28th September 2022, Earl’s and Pontesford Hill SWT Reserve

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Having gathered in the Reserve’s car park and peered at the site map provided on a board in the corner, we decided the route that we would take to visit the three areas of particular interest that the Trust had suggested we visit. 

Without further ado we set off, at quite a brisk pace (for us), following the path to our first objective – the Upper Ant Meadow.

The path which climbs gently but steadily took us along the eastern edge of the reserve eventually reaching the edge of a pasture. 

We continued to rise as we crossed the pasture to reach a gate giving us access to the ant meadow.

Once there we set about doing what we normally do. Searching for things of interest. 

Unfortunately there was not much about other than a few common invertebrates. However it is just as important to note the common species as well as celebrate the uncommon. 

One species that did catch my eye was Harebell which were widely scattered about the grassland.

A short pause to admire the view through the trees!

It is far too easy to become so absorbed in searching the vegetation that you forget to take in and enjoy the countryside that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy.

We moved on to our second target area of interest, the scree slope which falls away from the foot of the crags.

Some of the group searched for invertebrates that make their living amongst the rock fragments.

Whilst others took the path across the scree to access the crags.

The rest of us rummaged in the vegetation at the base of the scree.

Why did some climb up to the crags, you may ask …

To see if a rare spider was still in residence.

The spider in question is Atypus affinis, the Purseweb spider.

Did they find it, is your next question.

Yes and No is the answer.

They found evidence of the spider’s presence but not a live specimen.

Unfortunately, if they took any photographs of their finds they have not passed them on to me. So I have delved into the archives and retrieved a couple of photographs of what they may have seen.

The most obvious sign of the spider’s presence is its web. 

But, when I say obvious, the webs are not and they are difficult to find, even if you know where to look! 

Photograph: David Williams

The webs are tubes, usually at this site attached close to the base of a rock and then disappearing down a burrow into the soil and vegetation that borders the rock. They are camouflaged by a covering of debris that makes them blend in well with their surroundings.

On this occasion the searchers found about a dozen of these tubes.

They also found some exuvia, the remains of the skin shed when the spider moults. These remains were found on a visit to this site in 2017.

Photograph: Bob kemp

Whilst this delegation was having fun at high altitude the rest of us decided to have lunch.

As soon as we opened our sandwich boxes it started to rain. Just the odd spot at first but it soon built up to a steady stream. 

Fortunately the rain stopped after five or ten minutes.

The high level delegation had not yet returned but we decided to press on. They knew the way and could catch us up quickly.

And so it proved.

No sooner had we started a descent through the woods …

Than we heard their voices behind us.

“Are we going to the centre of the earth?” was a remark I caught.

There was a short deviation from the gentle but long descent when a small clearing opened up on the left.

Exploration of this area was short-lived as the conditions underfoot in this very wet meadow were extremely difficult being pitted with deep hoof marks.

We reached the end of the woodland and the path turned onto a damp meadow.

At this point the High Level Delegation made themselves comfortable and had lunch.

A Weeping Widow mushroom was spotted.

Apparently the mushroom has acquired this name because of the black, watery droplets that appear at the edge of the gills when they are moist. This one must have been very dry as there were only a very few tiny tears in sight.

There followed a brief period of intense activity as a couple of invertebrates decided to pose for photographs:

An Orange ladybird;

Photograph: David Williams

And a couple of Comma butterflies.

Photograph: David Williams

Then the person with the very tall tripod, who took the wonderful photograph at the start of this report, was rumbled.

Here is his secret very tall tripod in action.

Photograph: David Williams

From this wet meadow it was a very short walk to our final area of interest, the Lower Ant Meadow.

It was next door!

We meandered slowly along the meadow to its far end, pausing every now and then to beat, sweep or vacuum sample to record what we could find.

From there we passed into another area of pasture.

In here there was an extensive patch of rushes. Amongst these we found a small ladybird, Coccidula rufa.

Photograph: David Willaims

The ladybird’s companions in the photograph are a couple of planthoppers, Conomelus anceps.

At the exit from this field there was a small pool. Only it wasn’t. It had dried out through lack of rain. The opportunity to get amongst the normally inaccessible vegetation within the pool was not to be missed. The reedmace was carefully inspected for hidden Water ladybirds, Coccidula scutellata and anything else.

Disappointingly nothing was found.

With a final look along the valley, through which the Habberley Brook flows, towards The Stiperstones, we set off on the longish walk back to the cars and home.

To finish here is a photograph of a staphylinid beetle, Metopsia clypeata. Unfortunately I am not sure where it was found, but it turned up in one of the vacuum samples examined during the day.

Photograph: John Bingham

My thanks to Shropshire Wildlife Trust for inviting us to visit this reserve to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers for providing their excellent and varied images that illustrate the report.