The only way is Up

Wednesday 8th May 2024, Pollardine Farm

Pollardine Farm is a large farm in the Gatten Valley which runs alongside the eastern slopes of the Stiperstones. 

The farm has a wide range of habitats including unimproved grassland and pasture, acid grassland, a pool, water courses and woodland. On a previous visit to the farm, on a very hot day in August 2022, we looked at some of the grassland areas and the pool. On this occasion we decided to go to the acid grassland situated on a small hill known as Paulith Bank.

A glorious day dawned for the visit. Unfortunately, on the “best” Wednesday of the year to date with regards the weather, I was not well and could not attend. This report will therefore consist of a brief summary of the day followed by plenty of photographs.

“You missed the first coat free day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“The westerly was cool when we arrived but in sheltered spots it was properly warm, by lunchtime it was very nice.

“We parked in the large parking area and then walked back down the road we had driven along and turned right onto the track to Paulith Wood. 

“We passed the right turn to Hunters Cottage and carried on shortly arriving at an area of the hill which had been quarried and access to the brook (which joins Habberley Brook). The winter rains have scoured the course and there was fallen wood in the brook and we saw Chalcosyrphus eunotus! [This is a hoverfly whose larvae develop in semi-submerged wood. Adults can be found on or close to such wood.]

“We stayed here for quite a while, I think the dipterists could have stayed most of the morning, but we moved on, following the track before turning right and starting to climb up Paulith Bank.

“We stopped a couple of times and vacced sunlit areas, lunch was declared at the second stop. And then on to the top, well actually not the top (c380m) but a flattish area, c280m. There were good views over to the Stiperstones and of areas of the farm we have been to before. 

“After more vaccing we slowly retraced our steps, again stopping by the quarried area and brook and then slowly back to the cars.

“We didn’t need our coats!”

A hoverfly, Chalcosyrphus eunotus.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A fold-winged cranefly, Ptychoptera sp.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A ground beetle, probably Paranchus albipes.

Photograph: John Martin

A leaf beetle, Galerucella lineola.

Photograph: John Martin

Starting the climb.

Photograph: Liz Roberts

A pair of craneflies, Tipula vernalis.

Photograph: Jim Cresswell

A large beetle larva which we believe is a Carrion beetle, Silphidae.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Searching for lichens.

Photograph: Liz Roberts

A click beetle, Selatosomus aeneus.

Photograph: John Martin

A bee-fly, Bombylius major.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A Broom leaf beetle, Gonioctena olivacea.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Keep going!

Photograph: Liz Roberts

A tiny ground bug that can easily be mistaken as a beetle in a tray or a net , Plinthisus brevipennis.

Photograph: John Martin

A mirid bug Harpocera thoracica, usually found on oak in spring.

Photograph: John Martin

Nearly there?

Photograph: Liz Roberts

Another click beetle, Prosternon tessellatum.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A very infrequently recorded fly, Alliopsis pilitarsis. This is only the second time it has been recorded in Shropshire. The previous record was made by Wallace Pugh in 1940.

Photograph: Nigel Jones

And finally, was it worth it?

Photograph: Liz Roberts

I think so!

Other news

A small collection of photographs of creatures chanced upon whilst out and about.

The first is a tiny, bristly, millipede spotted on stonework during a visit to the Wyre Forest, Polyxenus lagurus.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Whilst surveying at Blists Hill this Crucifer shieldbug was photographed.

Photograph: Neil Nash

After a day in the sand dunes at Ainsdale, we came across this larva wandering down the pavement. Worried that it may get trodden on it was moved to the vegetation. I am told it is a Dark tussock.

Looking out of a window my wife spotted this Grey Heron on a neighbour’s roof.

Dicranocephalus medius is associated with Wood spurge which is usually found in woodland. But this one was found on grass at the side of a busy road in Button Oak.

Photograph: Maria Justamond

And finally these two bugs were spotted in the garden, Dolycoris baccarum (Hairy shieldbug) and Stictopleurus puntatonervosus.

Photograph: David Williams

My thanks to the owners of Pollardine Farm for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My gratitude to Jim for providing a summary of the day and to the photographers for providing the substance of this report.

Peace disturbed

Wednesday 1st May 2024. Farfield Meadows

Farfield Meadows is a Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve just south of Burwarton. It consists of a couple of west facing wildflower rich meadows with wet flushes. 

The site was acquired for the Trust by neighbours. And it was at the neighbours' property that we met and parked.

We were immediately treated to drinks and a place to rest after the drive. This offer was taken up enthusiastically.

As most of us sat, consuming our drinks, “scouts” were sent out to collect samples which we then examined in the comfort of the seats!

This is the way to do it!

A couple of these early finds were a juvenile harvestman which we were unable to identify;

Photograph: John Martin

And a Pine weevil.

Photograph: John Martin

After a short while the pull of the chairs was overcome and we set out to explore the garden and fields of the owners.

In the area in the photograph above we found a Scarlet tiger moth larva;

Photograph: David Williams

And a Dotted bee-fly.

Photograph: David Williams

The bee-fly was quite difficult to keep track of, but it eventually settled to feed at Forget-me-not. This attracted the attention of a Eristalis nemorum hoverfly which, apparently, started to “court” the bee-fly by hovering just above it. (This courtship behaviour is seen quite frequently when a male Eristalis nemorum spots a female.)

Trying to capture this scene is problematic for photographers. Yes, they are both hovering. but they are constantly shifting, so to get them both in focus in a photograph is, to put it mildly, a challenge!

Photograph: John Martin

Photograph: David Williams

Moving on via the wet flushes ...

To the pool.

A Great crested newt was spotted manoeuvring below the water's surface.

Photograph: Neil Nash

And sweeping the vegetation around the pool collected several stoneflies, of which this was one.

Photograph: Neil Nash

By now we had dispersed quite widely with some keeping to the grassland and others venturing into other areas.

Photograph: Neil Nash

It was time for a break.

Those of us still in the grassland returned to the comfort of the chairs to consume our lunches.

Although we had not sounded the lunch gong, and there was no-one else visible to wave to, the other members of the group started to appear from the far-flung places they had gone. It puzzles me how the message “lunch” is transmitted to everyone when no physical communication is used. 

Lunch over and refreshed, we once again tore ourselves from the comforts provided by our hosts and made the short walk to Farfield Meadows.

Photograph: Neil Nash

There being two meadows we decided that we might as well start in the first!

Photograph: Neil Nash

An Ash bark beetle was spotted on some Elm flowers.

Photograph: John Martin

A Blue shieldbug was observed in the marginal vegetation.

Photograph: David Wil;liams

This micro-moth Grapholita jungiella was swept from the general vegetation.

Photograph: John Martin

And suction sampling collected this pair of weevils.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

The large one on the left is Graptus triguttatus and the small one on the right is Ischopyapion modestum.

Another weevil found on the site was Curculio venosus.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

This weevil is associated with Oak, its larvae developing in acorns.

As some of us lingered in the first meadow others wandered into the second.

Other insects that we found and were able to identify and photograph were the ground beetles Nebria brevicollis and Poecilus cupreus;

Nebria brevicollis - Photograph: John Martin

Poecilus cuoreus - Photograph: John Martin

A richly coloured micro-moth Micropterix calthella;

Photograph: John Martin

And a butterfly that is frequently seen at this time of year, an Orange-tip.

Photograph: Neil Nash

Time was marching on. But before we left we were disturbed by the noise of a helicopter that had appeared over the horizon. It started making short runs over the countryside. Gradually it got closer…

And closer and louder …

It seemed to be attracted by our activities, getting closer still …

Until it was overhead AND VERY LOUD.

Was it spying on us?

I think not, but you never know.

Photograph: David Williams

We assumed it was surveying the power lines in the area. It moved off.

Returned to more natural sounds (plus passing traffic) we made our way back to the cars and then home.

My thanks to the owners and Shropshire Wildlife Trust for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My gratitude to the photographers for sending me their excellent images to illuminate the report.

Spring Treat

Wednesday 24th April, Prince’s Rough

The sun was shining brightly as we gathered in the Burial Ground car park in Westhope.

After a slight delay we set off to reach Prince’s Rough. 

When we were about halfway, we realised that the two of us within the group who knew about the site were not sure how to get there! 

After a brief pause while we waited for some back markers to catch us up (!) we took the opportunity to do a quick explore to check the route.

Once we were all gathered together again, and confidence restored that we knew the way, we strode on towards the site, passing some sheep (possibly Herdwick’s) who took an interest in what we were up to.

Photograph: John Martin

We ascended to the top of the small hill, passing a large farmyard muck pile (that no-one ventured near), then gazed upon our destination which was at the foot of the hill ascending up the next gentle slope.

Prince’s Rough is designated a SSSI as a traditionally managed herb-rich hay meadow. It is situated on the dip slope of Wenlock. According to the SSSI citation, the meadow contains many locally uncommon and scarce plants. There is a wet area associated with a redundant ditch and a small seasonal pool at the southern end of the meadow which add to the overall diversity of the flora.

And what a sight it was when it came into view, with thousands of yellow dots against a green background provided by the multitude of cowslips.

We entered the site through a gate and set about doing what we normally do: observing; sweep netting, beating, suction sampling; grubbing around; photographing; chatting; eating and identifying what we found – not necessarily in this order of time spent – until it was time to return home.

I will let the photographs provide most of the day’s story.

The first meadow that we came on entering the site.

On the right as we entered several Mesembrina meridiana were resting on a tree trunk.

Photograph: John Martin

Beaten from the vegetation, an Angle shades moth larva.

Photograph: David Williams

From the same vegetation a Slender ground hopper.

Photograph: David Williams

In amongst the Cowslips one of several Adder’s-tongue ferns. It has acquired its name as the projecting stalk that bears the fern’s spores resembles a snake’s tongue, and the leaf a snake’s head.

Photograph: David Williams

Whilst most of us pottered about this first meadow one member returning after injury soon displayed glimpses of his old form in the second meadow.

Cowslips!

Photograph: John Martin

A sign of spring, mating craneflies, Euphylidorea dispar.

Another sign, blossom about to burst forth.

A Wainscot species larva.

Photograph: David Williams

Moving into the second meadow, if anything the cowslips were even more abundant. Interspersed with them were Early-purple orchids.

Photograph: David Williams

Photograph: John Bingham

Beating the hedgerow dislodged several small Figure of Eight moth larvae. Here is one of them.

Photograph: David Williams

A ground beetle, Oxyselaphus obscurus.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

More signs of Spring, a pair of staphylinid beetles, probably Stenus similis.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A Dotted bee-fly at rest.

Photograph: David Williams

And a Dotted bee-fly feeding at a cowslip.

Photograph: David Willims

A tiny “wiglet”, the first instar of a Common earwig.

Photograph: David Williams

A view showing the second meadow with Flounder’s Folly on top of the hill in the distance.

Photograph: David Williams

Entering some woodland we were met by this strange arrangement.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

Returning to the meadow a fungus was spotted, Ophiocordycipitaceae gracilis. This develops within the buried larva of a caterpillar then erupts from it when it flowers. The photograph is not of the one found but one found on an earlier occasion.

Photograph: John Bingham

And finally, someone had to do it!

  Photograph: John Martin

To sum up, a comment from one of the attendees, "A splendid day and at times almost warm!"

My thanks to the site manager for allowing us to do what we enjoy doing. My gratitude to the photographers for sending me their excellent images to illuminate the report.