December notes

Wednesday 6th December 2023, Marl Pool, Radbrook

This wet woodland site is surrounded by existing housing on three sides and housing being built along the fourth side.

The Shrewsbury branch of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust asked us to visit the site. They were interested in getting information to help them decide what management action, if any, they need to take to care of this parcel of land. 

The site was a pool, or maybe two pools, in the past. The pools had disappeared as the site succeeded to woodland. 

The decision was, should they try to restore the pools, or leave it as it is. They asked us to look to see if there were any species whose habitat they may destroy should they try to recreate the pools.

It was a dry but very cold day that accompanied the well wrapped-up group as they wandered onto the site. Note the frost on the nettles!

Venturing off the path to suction sample a large patch of nettles that had grown in a small clearing we were able to find this attractive moth, Caloptila falconipennella.

Photograph: John Martin

Most of the trees had grown tall in competition for light. As a result there was very little for us to sample within our reach, thus most of our searching was in the ground flora, smaller bushes and dangling ivy.

We were able to prise out a 10-spot ladybird;

Photograph: David Willaims

A Birch shieldbug;

Photograph: David Williams

An attractive spider, Diaea dorsata; (did I really write "attractive"?);

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a Cream-spot ladybird.

Photograph: David Williams

Planning ahead I wandered off to see if I could find a suitable lunch spot. As I neared the far side of the wood I was surprised to find a large recently cleared area.

I returned to the rest of the group where we were joined by the local councillor. He was rather surprised at the clearance. The cleared area belongs to the developers, however, the councillor was unaware of their intentions. It did not look suitable to build on. Perhaps they were going to create a pool. To date I have had no indication of is planned in this area.

It was not yet quite time for lunch so we carried on searching, finding a harvestman, Nemastoma bimaculatum;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a tiny spider, Paidiscura pallens, close to a vacated “sputnik-like” egg sac.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

At this point we came across the find of the day. A largish planthopper.

Unfortunately, as I tried to get it into a pot to look at it, it hopped away.

But not too far, it was still in the tray.

I tried again, and failed, as it hopped off out of the tray.

It disappeared into the clothing of one of the group.

I assumed that that would be the last we saw of it.

It wasn’t.

It hopped from the clothing back into the tray. And, this time, I was able to get it into a pot.

Photograph: John Martin

And what a find, Acericerus ribauti. This is a recent arrival to the British Isles and, as far as I know, this was the first time it has been recorded in Shropshire.

I noticed that our equipment was tired and having a rest.

The hint was taken. Time for lunch. We took advantage of the tree felling and rested on some of the laid out trunks.

As we lunched a couple of neighbours called over to us to find out what we were doing. The councillor went over to chat to them. They told us the area had been cleared within the previous two weeks and that the area supported Great-crested newts.

Lunch over our Great-crested newt “certified” members searched for signs of their presence whilst the rest of us rambled around looking for other things.

Unfortunately, no Great-crested newts or signs of their presence were found.

We had a brief discussion about what advice we could give Shrewsbury branch. It was felt that there would be little to be gained by attempting any clearance and it may be best to leave it alone as “Wet Woodland”, which is an important habitat in its own right. It remains to be seen what becomes of the developer’s area.

Then, we went home.

Wednesday 13th December 2023, Venus Pool

Our last visit prior to the short break we take for Christmas was to the Shropshire Ornithological Society’s reserve at Venus Pool.

From the car park, after the usual meeting and greeting had been completed, we marched to the area of arable land which is used to grow feed for visiting birds.

The first area that took our interest was some of the marginal grassland that was covered with some sheets of corrugated iron. Peering under them, hoping to find slow worms or grass snakes, we had to make do with a Netted slug, which was trying its best, by stretching out, to try and imitate one of the target species.

Photograph: Mags Cousins

Also hiding under the metal sheets were these fungi.

We moved to the border of the planted area and suction sampled the vegetation. A huddle formed as we examined the findings.

Photograph: John Martin

The findings of interest were:

A 22-spot ladybird (on the left) and Rhyzobius litura (on the right);

Photograph: David Williams

And a large rhopalid bug, Stictopleurus punctatonervosus;

Photograph: David Williams

This species of bug is not found very often in this area so it was exciting to find four others and a nymph over the course of the morning.

Continuing the examination of the various samples taken our favourite wasp was spotted, Callitula pyrrhogaster;

Photograph: David Williams

And here are a few of the many 16-spot ladybirds that we found during the day.

Photograph: David Williams

The morning progressed. It was dry, but there was a very cool breeze. This brought about another huddle.

Normally this indicates that something of great interest has been found, but, on this occasion, I think they were imitating Emperor penguins in the Antarctic in efforts to keep warm.

Scanning round The Wrekin came into view.

The sun came out.

That was the sign the huddle was waiting for and they headed off to one of the hides to have lunch.

During lunch we observed the birds on the pool. Furthest away were Shovelers and Teal with a Gadwall coming in to land.

Photograph: David Williams

Nearer to the hide was a group of Lapwings.

Photograph: David Williams

Every now and then the lapwings would be spooked and they would take to the air en masse, swirling above the pool for a few minutes in murmuration like activity before settling back on the pool.

And nearest was a Robin keeping an eye on us and hoping for scraps from our lunches.

We left the hide and headed for the marshy area of the site, where we spent the rest of the afternoon.

Here we spotted a clutch of Giant willow aphids on a Willow.

Photograph: David Williams

The willow was quite abundant and a small group met in its midst to discuss how to escape from this jungle.

A moth was caught, Agonopterix ocellana.

Photograph: John Martin

And this beetle, Galerucella sagittariae, was taken by surprise.

Photograph: John Martin

The marshy area proved to be a rich source of snails. Here are a couple:

Vertigo substriata, also known as the Striated whorl snail;

Photograph: Mags Cousins

And the aptly named Prickly snail, Acanthinula aculeata.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

Our time was up. 

We made our way back to the car park, wished each other all the best for Christmas and the New Year and dispersed to our homes.

I wish all the readers of these reports a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Thank you all for your support and interest in the adventures of the group.

My thanks to Shropshire Wildlife Trust (Shrewsbury Branch), Shrewsbury Council and Shropshire Ornithological Society for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My immense gratitude to the photographers for sending me their images to illuminate the report.