Don't forget your waterproof

Wednesday 17th July 2024, The Bog

My goodness, where does all the time go?

Somehow, I have failed to find time to write a report for this visit until now.

And we have made a further visit in the meantime so two reports for the price of one!

But, as these reports are free, that is not really much of an offer.

Starting with the interestingly named area of Shropshire known as the Bog. 

Or if you prefer Bog Mine.

This is an area of the county in the foothills west of The Stiperstones. It is the site of a former mineral mine and mining village. This fell into disuse long ago and now the undisturbed remnants provided a range of wildlife habitats for us to explore.

A very early find was an Emerald damselfly.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Then came the question I always dread … 

“Which way shall we go?”

I felt that the sensible option would be to start at one end, by the pool in the highest part of the site, and work our way down from there.

No-one seemed pleased by this suggestion, so, we decided to start in the middle and see where the mood took us.

This involved leaving the car park and crossing the road to the other side.

Most did …

But a couple lingered …

And lingered …

And …

Well, eventually, I cracked and returned to them and suggested, in the nicest possible way, that they join the rest of us.

Which they did but not before finding a Gorse shieldbug nymph.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Having regrouped, a couple of observations of large insects were made:

A Green tiger beetle;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a larva of an Emperor moth.

Photograph: David Williams

Inspecting the flora in a sparsely vegetated grassy area revealed a fern, Moonwort.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Although this plant is not thought to be threatened it is declining.

Suction sampling of the grassland revealed the tiny flightless wasp that the group, well one person in particular, has become extremely adept at finding, Callitula pyrrhogaster.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

It has become known as “the boy”, which is an insult to the animal, as it is the female of the species!

Let’s not dwell on that.

And now, a couple of the recycling community.

Leopard slug.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Green cellar slug.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Curiously this is also known as the Irish yellow slug. Green or yellow? You decide.

The Bog is an area known for its colony of Grayling butterflies. And the butterflies did not disappoint.

Photograph: David Williams

In a year when butterflies have been noticeable by their absence it was refreshing to find good numbers of Grayling on this site. 

But there were very few other butterfly species seen during the day!

The Graylings' thoughts had turned to producing the next generation, but this pair were rudely interrupted by a third.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Later on in the day a Grayling egg was photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

Lunch.

This was enjoyed on and around a bench with a fine view to the west of the site.

Lunch over we carried on doing what we had done before.

A male Mottled grasshopper posed briefly.

Photograph: David Williams

A wasp, Tachysplex pompiliformis was captured and photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

A Cream-spot ladybird was beaten out of a tree, then returned after it was photographed.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A Common lizard was observed basking in the sun on a log.

Photograph: Neil Nash

The nearby sheltered pool presented a mirror like surface.

The pool’s bankside vegetation provided a home for this reed beetle, Donacia versicolorea.

Photograph: David Williams

Nearby, a Birch leaf-roller, Deporaus betulae, had been busy proving homes for its eggs and larvae.

Photograph: Caroline Uff

And, after much searching through the many larvae that we found during the day, the larva of the micro-ladybird, Rhyzobius litura, was identified.

Photograph: David Williams

Time was pressing and the draw of the Bog Visitor Centre and the thought of afternoon tea was beginning to cloud the judgement of those present.

But it was due to stay open for another two hours yet, so no need to rush to get there.

I suggested we move to the higher part of the site.

This involved passing the car park.

As we passed the cars there were murmurs of rebellion.

Great powers of diplomacy and persuasion managed to overcome this, and we made the short climb to the second pool.

Here we spotted a Common blue damselfly on the poolside vegetation.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a pair of Emperor dragonflies were observed in their “wheel” mating arrangement in a tree.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

The lure of the delights of the Visitor Centre became too great to resist.

Wednesday 24th July 2024, Rhos Fiddle

The weather forecast was for overcast but dry conditions until some light rain arrived late afternoon.

So, it was disappointing to drive through a very heavy shower as we made our way to this distant outpost of the county (for most of us – some lived much nearer).

Thankfully it had stopped raining by the time we parked at the site.

But getting out of the car we realised how cold the stiff breeze was.

“It’s the end of July, I should be in shirt sleeves now” I thought as I donned yet another layer.

“Why did I come without a fleece?” someone was heard to mutter.

Rhos Fiddle is a Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve in the south-western tip of the county. It is a site of upland heath that has (according to the SWT website) the feeling of ancient wildness. The website continues (slightly paraphrased): the pools and surrounding wet heath make this a good place for wading birds, particularly curlew and snipe. Dragonflies are plentiful too, including the black darter. Sphagnum mosses, cotton grass and bog asphodel are present in the wet areas; in April through to June yellow mountain pansy is found in the drier grassland.

We started with the wet rough grassland  by the cars. Here we found a Ringlet butterfly clinging to a grass stem and a large hoverfly, Sericomyia silentis braving the weather.

Entering the site proper the suction samplers were soon in action, which is more than can be said for the animals that maintain the site which had decided to take a break.

Back to the suction samplers. The contents of their nets are emptied into a tray and examined, often by many people at once.

It is amazing how long the contents of a tray can keep you entertained.

Here are a couple of a tray’s temporary inhabitants:

A soldier beetle, Cantharis flavilabris;

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

And a harvestman, Mitopus morio.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

We progressed slowly through wet grassland making our way towards a large patch of gorse and some drier ground. 

A large insect was spotted in a grass tussock. A horsefly, Tabanus sudeticus.

Photograph: David Williams

This caused a frenzy of photographic activity, captured towards its end here.

The fly was very tolerant as it was snapped from all angles, even allowing itself to be perched on a finger to get an idea of its size - it can be seen on the middle person’s index finger in the photograph above. 

It then disappeared.

Continuing our exploration, we came across the larva of a Hieroglyphic ladybird;

Photograph: David Williams

And a larva of an Emperor moth.

Photograph: David Williams

The Shropshire Wildlife Trust website stated that the Yellow mountain pansy could be found in the period of April to June. It was now late July, were they still in flower?

“Yes” according to our guide.

And he took us to see some of them.

As the pansies were close to some dryish ground we settled down for lunch. During this break a few of the group disappeared to do some droning.

Photograph: David Williams

(Do not worry, the owner of the drone has permission to fly on the Trust’s reserves.)

Lunch and droning over, a moth was spotted in the grass.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

We believe that this was a July belle.

It started to rain …

We carried on …

The rain got heavier; waterproofs were donned hastily.

“Why did I not bring my waterproof?” enquired the person who had not brought his fleece!

Fortunately, he had not forgotten his umbrella, which he erected and hid under.

After a short while we realised that the wildlife had also decided to take shelter so we brought proceedings to an end, especially when the offer of tea and scones was made.

The rain stopped as we made our way back to the entrance, but everywhere was wet and it was cold so we carried on to enjoy some fine scones and hot drinks before starting the homeward trek.

Other news

During a walk in Lloyd’s Coppice, Ironbridge, glow-worms were spotted.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

An intruder. This large hoverfly, Volucella inanis, wandered into the photographer’s house.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

An egg of the Pine hawkmoth collected at Prees Heath hatched. Here is the larva that emerged at 1-day old.

Photograph: Tony Jacques

During a Shropshire Spider Group visit to private land in Melverley the photographer captured these images:

A veteran Ash tree;

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A hoverfly, Eristalinus sepulchralis, in flight;

Photograph: Bob Kemp

A Small copper butterfly;

Photograph: Bob Kemp

And a Robber fly, Leptogaster cylindrica which is enjoying a meal of Sloe bug nymph.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

My thanks to Shropshire County Council and Shropshire Wildlife Trust for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers for providing their excellent images for this report.

It’s only a flower

Wednesday 10th July 2024, Hawkstone Park Follies

This outing was our third visit to this site and the first whilst it was open to the public. 

On our first visit we went straight to Grotto Hill at the furthest tip of the site and worked our way back along the Terrace to the White Tower then returned to the Visitor Centre.

Here is a map to help.

The map is copied from the Hawkstone Park Follies website: Link.

On our second visit, during the winter, we stayed in the more sheltered Grand Valley area.

What to do this time?

We headed straight to the White Tower.

When I say "we headed straight to the White Tower", a distance of about 600 yards, it took us until lunchtime to get there, having dallied in several areas on the way. In addition, there was the need to gain about 175 feet of elevation!

The additional height was not gained by a gentle slope but a series of steps, some of which were staircase-like.

Photograph: Neil Nash

There were many pauses on the way up…

To look at the view …

To search for invertebrates …

Curculio glandium; Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

For those of us with dodgy knees, to give them a rest …

And, of course, to take in air, and allow our heart rates to settle nearer to normal!

Having got to the Tower we found somewhere to perch and had our picnics, trying to shelter from a stiff cold breeze that had decided to seek us out.

So that’s the first part of the day dealt with.

Or is it?

I have yet to say anything about what we found on the way (other than the weevil).

The small cliff face next to the visitor centre is inhabited by Navelwort, some of which was in flower.

A pair of Orange ladybirds were observed in a Sycamore.

Photograph: David Williams

Another weevil, Otiorhynchus sigularis turned up in a suction sample.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A carrion beetle Phosphuga atrata (which used to be known as Silpha atrata) and a Pill millipede were spotted in the vegetation at the side of the path as we paused on the ascent.

Photograph: Neil Nash

As was this diminutive spider, Paidiscura pallens, with its sputnik shaped egg-sac, on the underside of an oak leaf.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

I am not sure how or where this jewel beetle, Agrilus laticornis, was found. Their larvae feed in woody or herbaceous stems.

Photograph: David Williams

Lunch over, where to go next?

I was one of the last to pack up after lunch and just followed as the others decided to walk along the top of the ridge past the Monument.

As I was striving to catch up I noticed a yellow object hopping around on the ground. I put it in a pot to see what it was.

Photograph: David Williams

It was the nymph of the planthopper Graphocephala fennahi. The adult is one of our larger and more colourful planthoppers. It inhabits Rhododendron, of which there is plenty on the site.

By now, about 2pm, we had managed a further ¼ of a mile. We needed a rest and a chance to regather.

When we were all assembled, there was someone missing.

Apparently, he had raced on to look for a flower that was only found in Shropshire at Hawstone Park and was last recorded in 1995.

A telephone rang…

He had found it.

Where was it?

On Grotto Hill…

The furthest point on the site!

About ½ mile away.

At our present rate of progress we would get there about 5pm!

A dilemma, to go or not to go.

“It’s only a flower” was one comment.

However, the group voted with their feet. We put on our blinkers and strode off towards the hill.

Paradoxically, the height of Grotto Hill is about 160m and our current elevation was around 200m so we needed to go downhill to get to the top of the hill.

Unfortunately, it was not that straightforward as we needed to descend to cross a cutting then ascend again to the top of Grotto Hill.

Walking along the Terrace caused us to descend gently to the edge of the cutting. Then we were faced with more steps, some of which had been cut for the Wrekin Giant rather than you and me by the landscapers.

We crossed the cutting over Western Arch and then started up the hill on some more, gentler, steps before meeting a tarmac lane that took us to the top.

The next issue was to find the plant and its finder.

We needed to pass through some of the cave system to reach our goal.

And there it was, Nottingham catchfly.

Photograph: John Martin

As you can see it had gone to seed.

But there was one plant still in flower.

Photograph: David Williams

Apparently, it was called Nottingham catchfly as it was found on the walls of Nottingham Castle. Sadly, it no longer inhabits the castle walls or anywhere in Nottingham or even Nottinghamshire.

Where we were provided a good view of the Swiss Bridge, a crossing that is not for the feint hearted.

It does not look too bad from here.

It also provided a good view of the hill opposite that boasted a Peregrine’s nest.

A juvenile Peregrine took to the air.

Photograph: John Martin

Whilst some of us watched on.

As we were at the caves we checked for Cave spiders, Meta menardi.

One was found dangling underneath its egg-sac.

Photograph: David Williams

Also lurking within the caves was this fearsome dragon guarding its eggs.

We beat a hasty retreat.

Time to go home. 

Unfortunately we were at the furthest end of the site.

More steps brought groans from those of us whose knees had had enough, but once down at ground level it was then a gentle but unrelenting climb along Grand Valley back to the start.

As the visitor centre was still open we took advantage of the refreshments on offer before leaving the site.

My thanks to Hawkstone Park for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers for providing their excellent images for this report.