Joy of Wildlife Waddlers

Wednesday 4th September, Dingle Farm, Bicton

Dingle Farm is an arable farm with free range chickens and some other animals. An area of the farm has been set aside encourage improved biodiversity. The north of the site is bounded by the River Severn and a small tributary runs down the western edge. There is a separate area of wetland a little way from the main area.

Once we had parked up and prepared, our hosts guided us onto the farm. Unfortunately, they overestimated the speed at which entomologists travel as they strode out passing some rather good-looking rough vegetation. 

A few of us hung back in this area to make some early records. 

However, we soon regathered and entered the first field.

We headed straight to the well vegetated field margin and hedgerow. And insects were soon observed, photographed, or potted and shown to our hosts.

A Long-winged conehead.

Photograph: David Williams

Some Dock bug nymphs.

Photograph: David Williams

And a Roesel’s bush cricket.

Photograph: David Williams

Beating thistles revealed a tortoise bug, Cassida rubignosa.

Photograph: David Williams

Our hosts departed as they had other things to do. We carried on in our usual manner.

The hedgerow and vegetation were very productive.

A Bramble leaf was spotted that hosted three species. From left to right in the photograph a Green shieldbug, a Cluster fly (species unknown) and a Hairy shieldbug.

Photograph: David Williams

A nettle was observed that was inhabited by a cluster of Heterogaster urticae nymphs and adults.

Several leaves of an English Elm within the hedgerow were home to numerous galls caused by the mite Aceria campestricola.

Photograph: John Martin

Not everyone dallied looking at the hedgerow so we became rather strung out. I did a head count and a few of the group had wandered out of sight. 

I was not overly concerned.

They were experienced responsible adults.

They would turn up at lunchtime, if not before.

At some point a Silver Y larva was photographed.

Photograph: David Williams

A gap in the hedgerow took us into a second field. We again headed straight for the hedgerow on the far side.

Unfortunately this was less productive. We had been spoilt by the first.

Lunchtime was fast approaching.

We intended to take lunch at the side of the River Severn. I remembered from my preliminary visit, in the winter, that there was a large flattish area on the river bank, and that access was down a path from the corner of this field.

We made our way to the corner.

No path down.

Oops!

Looking round there was a gate in the corner at the other side of the field. We made for it.

On the way we noticed a pair of Small whites, apparently so busy doing what they were doing that they seemed oblivious to what was going on around them. They made no attempt to fly away as we approached and photographed them and even tried to pry their wings apart slightly to determine what they were.

Through the gate we went and were met by another large field.

Ah yes.

The memory came back.

The path down to the River Severn was in the corner of this field!

We progressed towards it.

A Tree damsel bug was beaten out of the hedge.

Photograph: David Williams

We also found an Orange ladybird adult and larva.

Photograph: David Williams

And towards the target corner we noticed a single blue flower of Chicory that had either survived the hay cut or grown since the cut.

Descending the path down to the River Severn I was rather flustered to see that the flat area I remembered was now covered in fairly dense vegetation!

Including some Orange balsam.

Photograph: John Martin

Gathering by the river was out of the question. But one person did decide to perch there.

The rest of us found a spot nearby that was less vegetated.

As we ate lunch, one of our hosts turned up grasping a cake tin.

The tin was full of Apple cake which was distributed amongst the gathering.

My plan almost worked. All but one did turn up at the lunch spot.

Eventually even he arrived ... and he was carrying an extra bag.

And in that bag were hot cheese and onion pasties.

These were distributed.

What a feast!

Time to move on.

The plan was to follow the path through the woodland away from the river following the stream that formed the boundary to the site.

We passed a Sycamore. This was beaten and out popped a spider, Dieae dorsata.

Photograph: David Williams

Continuing alongside the stream we noticed a plant that seemed out of place – a Tree fern.

This was identified as Dicksonia antarctica, or Australian tree ferns. Here is another photograph showing the fronds.

Photograph: John Martin

On we went.

Just visible through the vegetation was this log covered by a host of fungi (species unidentified). [Post publication the fungi have been identified as fairy inkcaps, Coprinellus disseminatus.]

Here is a closer view of the fungi.

We found some Enchanter’s nightshade. This plant is the host for the stilt bug Metropis rufescens. And one was found.

Photograph: David Williams

Word got back to us from those heading the woodland walk that the path was impassible further on. We left the woodland by heading up the slope into the bordering field.

Near the top of the slope we saw a fungus which "Obsidentify", an identification app, was 98% certain that it was a Collared earthstar, Geastrum triplex.

Entering the field, after a bit of bimbling around the field margin, we started to make our way back.

A hay bale provided a handy seat for a rest.

It started to rain. It curtailed thoughts of moving to another area of the farm. Our rate of progress increased many-fold!

Still, the rain did not deter the occasional pause for observation.

A Fig-leaved goosefoot.

Photograph: John Martin

And a soldierfly was found on a hawthorn, Sargus bipunctatus.

Photograph: John Martin

We think the bipunctatus, i.e. two spots, are the two white areas by the eyes, as there are no spots anywhere else. As with all the soldierflies it has been given a military based common name – "Twin spot centurion".

And now a curiosity. A beetle, we think a rove beetle, that was a contortionist, able to bend its abdomen over its back to form, almost, a ball. Here is a montage of the various poses observed.

Photograph: David Williams

Finally, our new species for the county this week was a frit fly, Chlorops laetus.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

However, that was not the end of the day. When we reached the starting point we were shown into a polytunnel where some hay bales had be laid out for seating and treated to a drink. 

And more...

This was followed by food, a freshly prepared tomato, cheese and potato salad.

We waddled home after an excellent day.

My thanks to the owners of Dingle Farm for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing, for their 5-star refreshments and to the photographers for providing their excellent images for this report.