W h i t e A d m i r a l

Newsletter 93 Spring 2016

Suffolk Naturalists’ Society C o n ten t s

E di to r ia l Ben Heather 1 Spring Members Evening & AGM 2 W ha t’ s o n? 3 An Invasive Alien – The Asi a n Joan Hardingham 4 H o r net Another Stag Beetle Predator Colin Hawes 7 W i lder ness Tim Gardiner 7 Unexpected visitors - B ra co ni d Martin Cooper 8 w a sp a nd Agonopterix mo th i n the living room! Wild Flower Society Winter Anne K e ll 11 Months Hunt – a follow up Clunch In West Roger Dixon 12 New mammal for Suffolk Dr Simone Bullion 16 Hollesley Marshes Lyndsey Record 17 Valerian as a Nectar Source Richard Stewart 20 Almost another BAP Species Neil Mahler 21 Bee hotels, more than just a H a w k H o ney 22 gi mmi ck Two records in one from Kelsale Jerry Bowdrey 24 New Fungus for Suffolk Neil Mahler 25 More What’s on? 26 A year of Suffolk Biological Ben Heather 28 Recording Online

ISSN 0959-8537 Published by the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society c/o Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH Registered Charity No. 206084 © Suffolk Naturalists’ Society

Cover Photo: Hollesley Marshes by Aaron Howe (RSPB) using a drone SuffolkThe Naturalists’ Society

Newsletter 93 - Spring 2016

I am writing this editorial on the back of what has to be viewed as one of our most successful conferences. ‘Freshwater Revival’ attracted over 175 natural history enthusiasts who were treated to a great variety of talks on the subject of freshwater conservation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers for delivering so well on the brief but also to all the people who helped make the day the success it was. I spent the whole conference videoing the talks and it is my next job to edit these and get them uploaded to the website. The first presentations from what has become referred to as the virtual part of the conference will be available in the coming weeks. There was an huge amount of information to take in on the day so these videos will certainly help me remember some of the finer points highlighted on the day. We were lucky enough to receive extensive press coverage courtesy of John Grant, of the East Anglian Daily Times, who featured a three part serialised report from the day. These can be read here:  http://goo.gl/CBV5Yb  http://goo.gl/WlUizW  http://goo.gl/SwihQp One of the features of the conference was a preview of the soon to be published Suffolk Dragonflies atlas by Adrian Parr. This book, edited by Adrian Parr and Nicholas Mason, is now available to pre-order on the SNS website for £12 (inc. post & packaging).

Editor: Ben Heather Suffolk Biological Records Centre,

c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3 Q H [email protected]

White Admiral 93 1 Spring Members Evening & AGM

14th April 2016 | 7:30pm Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket IP14 2AJ

Ag e n d a :  Apologies for absence  Minutes of the 86th Annual General Meeting  Chairman’s Report – Martin Sanford  Treasurers Report – Joan Hardingham  Secretary’s Report – G e n B r oa d  Any Other Business (The Chairman reserves the right to consider only items submitted in writing 2 weeks before t h e AG M . ) Following the conclusion of formal business and refreshments there will be a series of short presentations on natural history by members and projects funded by SNS.

Drinks available from the pay bar on arrival and hal f -time refreshment break provided (tea and c o ffee ).

New Suffolk Biological Recording Bursary for FSC Courses

The SBRC & SNS have teamed up with the Field Studies Council at Flatford Mill to offer a bursary to support individuals (over

25s ) wishing to attend a selection of FSC courses at Flatford. The bursary will provide up to 100% of the non - residential course fees on the condition of submitting a set amount of records to the SBRC within 3 months of completing the c ou r s e .

More information & the courses offered can be found h ere http://goo.gl/Ay7iwB

2 White Admiral 93 W hat’s o n?

Save the Date - 2016 Bioblitz Events

 Tiger Hill Bioblitz - 7 th May  Africa Alive Bioblitz - 4th & 5th June  Orwell Park Bioblitz, Ipswich - 11th & 12th June  Flatford Mill Bioblitz - 23rd J u l y  Brandon Country Park Bioblitz - 29th & 30th July More details will follow (when available) on the SNS webs i te.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust - Wild Learning Courses

Why not make this year the year you engage more with the natural world? By signing up for one of SWT’s ‘Wild Learning’ courses for adults, you can learn more about the work of the Trust and its reserves, get out in the fresh air, meet new friends and learn a new skill! The courses are specifically for adults and will take place at our five education centres, nature reserves and village halls (so there is bound to be one in your area). Come and learn in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with supportive, knowledgeable tutors. Check out what’s available by browsing our ‘What’s On’ brochure or our website. To book and pay online, visit www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ wildlearning or telephone 01473 890089 to book with our friendly reception team. There’s a great variety on offer: wildlife photography at Captain’s Wood for bluebells in April, with more wildlife photography throughout the year including a Fen Raft Spider workshop. Brush up your birding knowledge with a resident & migrant bird ID by song and sight or learn how to look after hedgehogs on our basic and intermediate hedgehog care workshops. New courses at Iken on the Alde estuary include Breeding Bird Census techniques and Saltmarsh Habitat & Plant life. Experience the world of solitary bees, moths or dragonflies, and learn how to identify tumuli & Neolithic flints and watch a flint-knapping demo at !

www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/wildlearning

White Admiral 93 3 An Invasive Alien – The Asian Hornet

Like other bee-keepers I am Environment and Rural Affairs) concerned about the possible outlined plans to tackle the 2000- arrival of the Asian Hornet Vespa odd invasive species already velutina in the UK and the BBKA established in Britain, particularly (British Beekeepers Association) ones which cause significant has asked beekeepers and the expense such as Japanese general public to be on the alert. Knotweed Fallopia japonica which The Asian Hornet was introduced costs £166m a year to control. In accidentally to France from China 2015, the updated Invasive Alien in 2004 with some pottery; it has Species Regulation put greater em- spread across our European phasis on preventing introductions. neighbours and is only a short The plan with the Asian Hornet is Channel hop away. See http:// to rapidly intercept the pest should www.nonnativespecies.org. It is a it appear in Britain. 1000 sentinel voracious predator of Honey Bees apiaries have been set up and the Apis melifera and other insects public are encouraged to report with which it feeds its young. It is sightings. Should it be spotted the a master of ‘hawking’ - picking off National Bee Unit and the Animal bees one at a time; and as ‘our’ and Plant Health Agency has a bees tend to drift lazily into the crack response team, trained in hive on returning home, they are France to locate and destroy the easy prey. nests. In 2008 the Great Britain Non- The 1000 reported sightings of the native Species Strategy from Asian Hornet have all proved false, DEFRA (Department of the this is not surprising as wasp

The German Wasp V. germanica The Common Wasp V. vulgaris

4 White Admiral 93

European Hornet – n o t e m o r e European Hornet – n o t e European Hornet yellow on abdomen (Wikipedia b r o w n h e ad commons Sven Teschke, Büdingen ) (eakringbirds.com)

species are quite difficult to Median, Tree, Norwegian and identify. There are 10 species of Saxon are larger. To add to the Vespidae or Social Wasps in the confusion the queen, males and UK, though the Paper wasp workers of each species are Polistes dominulus has only a different sizes. The European tenuous foothold. Many species can Hornet Vespa cabro is notably only be told apart by close larger and generally brown and attention to detail: the markings yellow though the colouring is on the face and the hair colour. See similar to the queen Median, this is http://goo.gl/FNtmZi – see photos much smaller. The European on previous page. Hornet’s head is brown with a The yellow and black Vespula yellow face; the thorax velvety wasps: Common, Red, German, brown and the abdomen mainly Austrian and Cuckoo are very yellow. The Asian Hornet is similar, the wasps we are generally smaller, the face is yellow-brown,

familiar with. The Dolichovespulas: its head and thorax are black and

Asian Hornet Asian Hornet – note yellow Asian Hornet – n o t e feet (Wikipedia Commons, b l ac k h e ad B l u e G in k o ) (Wikipedia Commons Danel Solabarrieta)

White Admiral 93 5 The nests may help identification: the Asian Hornet builds a nest with side entrances in trees and shrubs, as does the German Wasp V. germanica but here the entrance is at the base; the European Hornet builds in hollow trees and the common wasp Vespula vulgaris builds under- ground in old mouse nests or in buildings. Identifying wasps to species level is complex but - better to be safe than sorry – if you see a large dark hornet, notify the specialists [email protected] . Hopefully this threat may get people interested in studying the

Asian Hornet nest – note lateral entrances. whole fascinating wasp group. The (Chris Luck www.planetepassion.eu) Asian Hornet is on the SBRC (Suffolk Biological Records Centre) the abdomen is dark except for 4th list – who will be the first to spot abdominal segment which is it? orange-yellow and it has distinctive yellow feet. Joan Hardingham

Free to a Good Home!

A run of Suffolk Natural History Vol.15 (1969) - Vol. 35 (1999). Collect from Barton Mills or rendezvous at Lakes. Contact: Norma Chapman [email protected]

Contributions to White Admiral

Deadlines for copy are: 1st Feb (Spring issue), 1st June (Summer issue) and 1st Oct (Autumn issue) The opinions expressed in White Admiral are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society.

6 White Admiral 93 Another Stag Beetle Predator

Articles in White Admiral 83 the ground. Unfortunately, David (Autumn 2012) and White Admiral was unable to see the sex of the 84 (Spring 2013) illustrate the beetle, or witness the gull wide range of known stag beetle consuming its prey, but he did predator species in the UK and observe the bird fly off with its Europe. In the UK, thirteen catch. As far as I am aware, this is species were known to prey on this the first UK record of a gull insect, eight of which are birds and preying on a stag beetle. David’s five are mammals. However, the observation increases the number list of stag beetle predators is by of stag beetle predator species in no means complete, as David the UK to 14. Walker has recently shown. On Note: Earlier in July, David Wednesday 15th July 2015 he observed gulls showing the same observed a Black-headed Gull behaviour at the Reade Field (Larus ridibundus), (‘one of many location, catching and feeding on wheeling and circling over Reade chafers in flight. Field’, Holbrook) take a stag beetle in flight some five metres above Colin Hawes

References: Hawes, C. J. Some predators of the Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus: Part 1. White Admiral 83 Autumn 2012, pp. 5-6. Stebbings, R. Stag Beetle Predators: Letter in response to Vol. 83 – Colin Hawes’ article, pp. 5-6. White Admiral 84 Spring 2013, pp. 15-16.

New poetry book published:

Wilderness by Tim Gardiner

A new collection of natural history trees and the destroying angel poems by Tim Gardiner has been fungus. Notes and photographs published by Brambleby Books accompany each poem to further (April 2015). The collection is titled aid the reader’s understanding of ‘Wilderness’ and aims to reflect the the species and habitats men- emotional connection between poet tioned. and wildlife, focusing on an array One poem (over the page) ‘Dedham of species including glow-worms, Veil’ reflects the passing of a storm large marsh grasshoppers, oak on the Essex/Suffolk border.

White Admiral 93 7 Dedham Veil Publisher: B ra m b l e b y B ook s Standing by the veteran black poplar Format and Pages: the gathering breeze rustles delicate branches, Paperback 120pp decaying leaves tremble and fall at my side I SB N: 9781908241344 aware of the thunderous storm’s advances. Retail Price: £ 7. 9 9 Dedham’s lonely tower disappears from view, Brambleby Books Discount Price: £ 6 . 5 0 as the distant beams of falling rain decorate the isolated pastures anew. Restless cattle seek shelter under willows as the heavens above are painted black, the first vengeful lightning bolt flashes and strikes the ghostly hay stack. No longer the optimism of light and shade, which separated the perfect autumn sky and generations of painters duly made. Joyous bird song follows the fire storm spears of light pierce Flatford’s empty frames, colour returns to the blood-red fields of corn the Vale reborn by the cleansing rains.

Available direct from Brambleby Books www.bramblebybooks.co.uk/wilderness.asp or from Amazon.

Unexpected visitors - Braconid wasp and Agonopterix moth in the living room!

My wife and I were just settling was struck by its unusual red down in front of our wood-burner “eyebrows”. one evening in January when I I posted the photos on the noticed a small wasp on the wall. I Facebook UK Bees, Wasps and caught it in a pot then Ants group page where Devon concentrated on the TV. Next day I Henderson, a keen amateur took some photos of the wasp and Hymenopterist suggested that it

8 White Admiral 93 Braconid wasp

looked like a male Braconid, head (i.e. the “eyebrows”), the possibly Doryctinae. As luck would swollen maxillary palp and the have it, a chapter about British wing venation, including the Braconids which includes a key is stigma on the hindwing. available as a free download from I like to record my local wildlife via the Royal Entomological Society the SBRC and iRecord. However (RES) website. I had started the genus Dendrosoter was not working through the key when Dr included in the taxonomy. If that is Gavin Broad, Senior Curator of changed in the future then this Hymenoptera at the Natural could be the first observation History Museum, identified the in- recorded. That does not mean that sect as a Dendrosoter protuberans. the wasp is particularly rare, only He explained that the key that few people record Braconids. characteristics of this species are The majority of the Dendrosoter the raised sculpted areas on the wasps that occur in Britain are

White Admiral 93 9 Dendrosoter protuberans (m al e ) - d et ail s Bark beetle galleries in log

ectoparasitoids of beetle larvae published association between that live beneath bark or in dead Dendrosoter protuberans and ash wood. The female wasp locates the beetles. It was introduced in the beetle larva within a log, USA from Europe in an attempt to penetrates the bark with its control a beetle (Scolytus ovipositor, injects the larva with multistriatus) which can carry paralysing venom and lays a single Dutch Elm disease and a egg on it. The wasp larva emerges Czechoslovakian study found it to from the egg and feeds on the be an important parasite of beetles beetle larva until the wasp pupates associated with fungal diseases of and the beetle larva dies. The next oak. I asked Dr Mark Shaw, an spring, if the wasp has survived expert on Braconids and one of the the winter, it chews a hole in the authors of the RES chapter, about bark and emerges. this wasp and ash and he informed But how did it find its way into my me that numerous specimens of living room? The most likely route this species have been raised from was in wood for the wood-burner. A ash bark beetles in the National glance at the logs in the basket Museums of Scotland. confirmed that many of them had Since finding the wasp, I have been been home to beetles. closely observing the log-store and The galleries in this kiln-dried ash front room walls in the hope that log have been made by beetle they will yield further interesting larvae. But I could not find any insects!

10 White Admiral 93 Agonopterix m o t h

Less than a week after finding the I have read that the hibernating Braconid, my wife noticed a small adults hide themselves in dense moth fluttering across the living cover, scrub, thatch, wood stacks room. It has been identified as an or even indoors! Agonopterix species by Dave Martin Cooper, Ipswich Grundy on the Facebook UK Micro Moth Identification group page.

Wild Flower Society Winter Months Hunt – a follow up

Wow, what a month! December temperature was 7.9°C, which was 2015 turned out to be a record 4.1°C above the 1981-2010 long breaking month in so many ways. term average, making it the Throughout England and Wales we warmest December for over 100 saw unseasonably mild weather, years. which brought with it severe Here, in East Anglia, the average flooding across parts of North temperature for December was 10° Wales, northern England and C, which is 5.4°C higher than the Scotland. Here rainfall totals were 1981-2010 long term average. Of 2-4 times the monthly average. particular note were the warm According to the Met Office (http:// nights, with the average daily goo.gl/ACvUmq) the UK mean minimum temperature of 7.2°C

White Admiral 93 11 and lack of air frosts. These are flowers appearing noticeably temperatures more comparable earlier than might be expected. with October or April rather than Primroses, celandine, barren December. Whilst other parts of strawberry and cow parsley were the UK recorded their wettest ever all recorded in flower on 1st December, East Anglia fared a December. little better with only 53.3 mm of Those trees that are generally the rain, which is roughly in line with first to flower in the spring, amounts expected for December. namely hazel, alder and cherry As has become a family tradition, plum were all recorded as we repeated our Wild Flower flowering (i.e. shedding pollen) in Society winter months hunt (as December. However, the strangest reported in White Admiral 92 – anomaly for me was holly, Autumn 2015) for December 2015. traditionally, a tree that flowers in Of the previous 4 years, 2011 had May. It seemed a little incongruous the highest number of wild plant to have adjacent trees with flowers species in flower for December at and berries (it was mostly the male 133. December 2015 topped this trees that were in flower) at the with a record number of 149 – a same time. reflection of our exceptionally mild As I write this half way through weather. Whilst people were re- January and with the coldest porting early flowering daffodils, nights of the year (down to -5°C) winter aconites and snowdrops in just recorded I wonder how some of their gardens before Christmas, so these early flowering species will naturalised ones were also found in fare? Only time will tell. the countryside. Several species were recorded for the first time for Anne Kell December, with traditional spring

Clunch In

The term ‘clunch’ is used to developed marker bed in East describe hard layers within the Anglia, occurring within the Lower Chalk that are used as building Chalk (Cenomanian; 98.9 – 93.5 stone. The most commonly used Ma) at the base of the Grey Chalk. layer in West Suffolk is the It was deposited onto an irregular Totternhoe Stone. This is a widely surface, channelled into the Chalk

12 White Admiral 93 The clunch at Kentford church shows how easily it weathers.

Acid rain and frost shattering are particularly important.

The fine church at Lakenheath shows extensive use of clunch. The brown

stone in the photo above is a coarse ferruginous sandstone – Ca r sto ne.

White Admiral 93 13 Internal and external carved clunch columns at Santon Downham church

Marl. Other hard bands include Norfolk, often forming a positive the Melbourn Rock and Chalk feature in the landscape marked Rock, but they are not used so by springs and spring-line settle- much in Suffolk. Totternhoe Stone ments. It is generally about 6m is a grey-white colour, sometimes thick, but thins northwards. with a green tinge due to the The Totternhoe Stone contains a presence of glauconite, and can be distinctive mid-Cenomanian fauna. silty or gritty as it contains This includes bivalves, such as comminuted shell material, Chlamys fissicosta and Oxytoma, especially Inoceramid bivalves. It the belemnite Praeactinocamax is usually compact and well- primus, and the ammonite jointed. Acanthoceras rhotomagense . The Totternhoe Stone outcrops Several brachiopods species, fish, from Burwell (Cambs), where it is trace fossils and other remains also known as ‘Burwell Stone’, through occur. Mildenhall and Lakenheath to A soft limestone, Totternhoe Stone Brandon and northwards into was traditionally hewn from

14 White Admiral 93 quarries using a type of two-edged outside. Rough clunch walling can battle-axe or sawn into blocks. It commonly be seen in many West was easily carved but also Suffolk villages and farms, but it weathers readily and was thus has also been used in more often used for interior work. substantial buildings. No working However, if properly dried, quarries survive today. traditionally during the summer Roger Dixon months, it became harder and more durable and was used

A fine example of a clunch building: the Victoria National School in Brandon, established in 1813.

Clunch has historically been used as infill to doors and arches at Exning church. Recycled clunch is used nowadays in restoration work.

‘The clunch of West Suffolk’ was part of a GeoSuffolk display on Breckland at the Geologists’ Association Festival of Geology at University Collage London in November 2015

White Admiral 93 15 New mammal for Suffolk

Photo by Peter Dean - Gl i s G li s (Edible Dormouse) In December 2015, an edible large pieces of felled timber are dormouse (Glis glis) was trapped in moved from areas where they are a house near Saxmundham. This present. Unfortunately, they can non-native species is renowned for be a pest of forestry and orchards being a favoured food of the as well Romans, although they were not living in the wild in Britain until 1902, when Lord Rothschild released an unknown number of animals into Tring Park in the Chiltern Hills. This introduced population has been slowly expanding and a series of satellite populations have also be found further afield, although none of these are close to Suffolk. It is unknown how this animal came to be found in Suffolk, but they can be transported when

16 White Admiral 93 as readily entering houses. Any possible sightings in Suffolk should be reported to Simone Bullion at , to assess whether there are any other locations where they may now exist.

Dr Simone Bullion [email protected]

P h o t o s : Right: Edible dormouse found in Suffolk - Simone Bullion Below left: Gl is g li s - Roger Wasley

Hollesley Marshes

Just imagine an area of After a lot of consideration we grassland that has very decided to create a new 13ha little standing water, freshwater wetland habitat. The very few breeding and design consisted of a shallow passage waders and wetland with a high percentage of yet has so much islands, some grassy, some bare potential with a and some covered in sand or little imagina- gravel. A sluice would be installed tion. Hollesley to control the water level, dropping Marshes was it in the spring and summer to falling well short expose extensive muddy areas and of our aspirations ultimately make it very attractive and targets for the to breeding waders. Lastly, an reserve, this was electric anti-predator fence around mainly due to the the margin of the wetland would layout of the field system keep the local foxes as mere and our inability to raise the spectators. water levels high enough to The objective of the scrape was to create shallow pools. primarily attract breeding waders,

White Admiral 93 17 such as Avocet, Ringed Plover, across the land and moving Lapwing and Redshank, and 16,000m³ of soil. This material was certainly passage and roosting used to form a low bank around waders, but also hopefully the perimeter of the site and build breeding terns such as Little, up a higher area to the south of the Sandwich and Common. All these field. species are under pressure in the Once the land was lowered we then Alde-Ore Estuary, from loss of hab- set about creating 10 kilometers of itat, disturbance and predation. On deeper features using a rotary the nearby Havergate Island, ditcher. As part of the project the Avocets, terns and smaller gulls RSPB purchased a replacement have all but been replaced by rotary ditcher from the USA. This Lesser Black-backed and Herring specialist machine is powered by a Gulls relocating from elsewhere in very large tractor and can create the Estuary and the long-term some fantastic features on wet future of the island itself is far grassland. In addition to creating from secure due to sea level rise. the deeper features the machine So creating a new habitat for these created a fine covering of loose soil species on the ‘mainland’ will which would produce a perfect bed hopefully help to secure their for invertebrates to flourish. future in the local area. To create the islands for terns we And so the wetland creation imported 1250 tonnes of shingle ground works at Hollesley started from a local quarry in Wangford. in August 2013 once all of the This was enough to spread across consents required to progress the one hectare of island. This was laid project had been granted. It took on a geotextile which should the contractors 11 weeks of hard suppress the grass growth and work to form the basic shape of the keep it suitable for terns for some wetland. The striking thing about time. these earthworks was the sheer The islands have very gently industrial scale of them and from sloped edges to create lots of the outset of the build we knew the feeding edge for young Avocets, lower Alde and Ore would never be Lapwings and Redshanks and the same again. The work on the hopefully Ringed Plovers and wetland was undertaken by Barry Oystercatchers. These edges Day and Sons Ltd and they started should prove popular with passage by taking off an average of 20cm waders.

18 White Admiral 93 To manage the water we installed Blue Headed Wag, 11 Ruff, 50 two sluices to control water levels Dunlin and 25 ringed plover. The on the site. This is a very simple breeding bird figures for 2014 were system of diverting water from the amazing for year one with 41 pairs current ditch, through the wetland of Avocet fledging 82 young, 25 and then fed back into the same pairs of Lapwing fledging 60 ditch system. This has worked young, 3 pairs of Ringed Plover very well and the water supply for fledging 9 young, 3 pairs of the wetland is more than sufficient Oystercatcher and 10 pairs of to keep it wet if required even in a Redshank fledging 30 young. This dry summer. To keep the grass is the highest level of avocet and rush in check across the site productivity on the Suffolk coast we will be using Konik/Exmoor for 30 years. ponies from the nearby Minsmere 2015 Breeding season also reserve. This hardy Polish pony is exceeded our expectations with 50 at home in this mix of shallow pairs of Avocet, 31 pairs of water and grassland and will graze Lapwing, 8 pairs of Redshank, 4 the site every year to maintain the pairs of Ringed Plover and 3 pairs required short grass conditions. of Oystercatcher to name a few. The final task was to install the 5 However, unfortunately productiv- foot high anti-predator fence ity was not as high as the previous around the edge of the wetland to year due to a rogue pair of crows prevent mammalian predation. that were seen on a regular basis The combination fence is a high specialising on eggs and chicks. We tensile badger mesh which is dug hope that this will just be a one off into the ground with five strands and that our wader chick survival of electric wire. This was rate will start to increase again completed by the end of March this year. Hollesley marshes is a 2014. great spot to visit, it has birds on It was clear in our first breeding the scrape all year round which season (2014) that the project had can easily be seen from our been a complete success. A variety viewing mound or from up on the of scarce birds appeared from the see wall. day of flooding, including Glossy Lyndsey Record, RSPB Ibis, Temminck’s Stint, Garganey,

See front cover for aerial photo of the Marshes taken by Aaron Howe (RSPB) using a drone.

White Admiral 93 19 Valerian as a Nectar Source

Photo by Richard Stewart - Valerian outside French windows at home

In Suffolk I tend to associate recorded just four: the occasional Valerian with the shingle beaches Large White and more frequent along our coast, there are some Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell good clumps at Shingle Street and and Red Admiral. These are, a long proliferation at the edge of incidentally, virtually the same Aldeburgh’s shingle beach. Here it species as recorded on the plants blooms in deep pinks, reds, whites at Aldeburgh. and variegated colours. We have a The main feeding activity is at similar abundance in our back dusk when moths come, including garden at Westerfield road, the migratory Silver Y and the Ipswich, though just the deep pink spectacular Hummingbird Hawk and restricted to our patio. A moth. Our 2015 records list glowing profusion spreads right fourteen garden visits, six of them across the view from the French to Valerian, one in light rain and windows in our lounge, over four two in July as late as 8.35pm. Any feet high in places and on eye level visit of this superb and frenetic when we are seated. The other feeder is an event to be treasured, advantage is a long flowering perhaps more often in future as period. Although five of our this migrant is slowly garden’s nectar sources have overwintering in sheltered spots attracted ten or more species of and could follow the Red Admiral butterfly Valerian has so far as a more resident species. I

20 White Admiral 93 actually timed one visit; visiting Regrettably Valerian is a vigorous fifty florets took just thirty seconds coloniser and has now started to on the first timing and forty on the penetrate our house foundations at second. I wasn’t able to see if every the back-so it will have to go. We time produced nectar but much will however keep the plants must be needed to replace the growing in pots. energy used. Richard Stewart

Almost another BAP Species

Doing a spot of gardening in up to protect itself in dry weather Aldeburgh recently, I spotted what and expand when rained upon. 4 I thought were the seed heads of remained intact so I took these Holly Hocks which I had previously home to examine in detail and just dead headed, but what were check out the spore measurements. these doing near the base of an G.corollinum is a BAP species overgrown Leyland Cypress? I almost confined to Norfolk and broke one up in my fingers and to Suffolk in the UK. my surprise realised there was a Looking up details in my reference spore sack inside. Immediately I book it mentioned this as having a thought to myself ‘Weather smooth base with no soil attached Earthstar’ (Geastrum corallinum) and this was how I found my so called because of its habit to curl samples - now all I had to do was

G.floriforme (Right: 20 minutes after a good soaking with a pipet)

White Admiral 93 21 measure the spores under the Earthstar (G.floriforme). Never microscope. mind, still a rare species and one I Sadly, my spores measured 6-7 µm hadn’t seen before. and not 4-5µm, which told me I Neil Mahler had found the very similar Daisy

Bee hotels, more than just a gimmick

We’ve seen them in garden centres, walk into a small in various different forms and nail hole. I guises, twee wooden boxes pointed this out crammed full of bamboo canes and to Adrian and pine cones and sold off as bug we noted that hotels. However, do these actually there were a few benefit the insects they are other nail holes intended for, or are they just a cute in the beam, garden decoration jumping on the which had been bandwagon of greenness and ‘save completed and the bees’? Often I have seen them sealed. I took a in the gardens of friends and specimen and gave it

relatives, hanging on garden fences to Adrian, who later or from trees, swinging idly in the confirmed I had found a breeze (the hotels, not my friends), small bee by the name of Heriades always as empty as they day they truncorum, a small to medium were bought. I resisted the sized bee, which caps the nest tube temptation of purchasing such an off with a pine resin cap. item for years until I witnessed Interestingly, it was only the 5th something one day last year (2014) record for Suffolk. during a bioblitz at Suffolk Wildlife

busy provisioning nest holes This got me thinking. Maybe the

Trust’s . It was holes in these bee hotels were just coming to the end of a successful too big? So, during the cold winter day and some of us were chatting, months, I set to work and using an H truncorum by coincidence, to Suffolk old pallet from my workplace and Hymenoptera recorder Adrian knocked up a rough looking Knowles. I was leaning against one wooden frame, backing it with a bit of the old oak supporting beams of of old hardboard from an old the farm when I suddenly noticed a cabinet that was being turned into Photo right: Two small bee land on the beam and firewood. Then, with some 8ft

22 White Admiral 93

completed chamber

Megachile sp provisions a cell A small parasitic wasp inspects a bamboo canes purchased (the only Adrian who confirmed again, I had thing I purchased for this project) found H.truncorum. I noticed that from Wilkinson’s I cut them all to not many of the larger bamboo the same length (9cm) and glued cane holes had been provisioned them into the box. I specifically and sealed. bought the 8ft canes as these I had also made one of these hotels tapered towards the ends, thus for my own garden and positioned giving me a variety of tube it facing south. I found that that diameters. I also placed in the box this one had much more limited some off-cuts of wood and drilled use, although it had still been them with small holes, again of used. The species I found using my varying sizes. Then, this year, as bee hotel was Leaf-cutter bees the weather began to warm up, I (Megachile sp) and some parasitic took the bee hotel to work at SWT wasps were also spotted hanging and placed it around the filled chambers. against one of our bird feeding So it would seem that it’s not just a posts facing east so it would catch matter of placing bamboo canes in a fair amount of sun and about 4ft a box, but providing holes of from the ground. It wasn’t too long various sizes and positioning the until the warm weather kicked in box correctly. If I had the time, I and soon there was activity spotted would like to do a scientific based around the bee hotel. Due to work, study on this, but maybe I should I wasn’t able to get out to check leave that to more expert, time free what was happening at the hotel hands. I still haven’t bought a bee until mid-summer. On inspection I hotel yet, there’s something more noticed a familiar looking bee going pleasing about knowing that in and out of the various holes. nature has chosen something you I took some photos with my phone created to build a home in. and forwarded them straight to Hawk Honey

White Admiral 93 23 Two records in one from Kelsale

Leptinus testaceus Müller, 1817 (Coleoptera : Leptinidae) and Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus (Pallas,1771)) (Mammalia: M u r i d a e ).

On the evening of November 5th 2015 our cat Tufve bounded in through the back door carrying a small mammal in his mouth. His usual prey is bank voles (Myodes glareolus) with the occasional wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) or common shrew (Sorex araneus) but on this occasion we were surprised to see a female harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), alas, dead, on the kitchen floor. On bending down to pick up the mouse, a slight movement in the fur Leptinus testaceus caught my attention and a small beetle was quickly transferred to a specimen tube. Under the microscope I recognised it as Leptinus testaceus, a beetle associated with the nests of small mammals. We had found several a few years ago, in old bank vole nests uncovered during the breaking up of a concrete path at our previous home in Thorpe-le-Soken, in north Essex. At around 2 mm in length this tiny beetle is highly modified for life as a commensal with small mammals, lacking, as it does, both eyes and wings.

24 White Admiral 93 On submitting the record to SBRC found and widely scattered in and enquiring about its status in Suffolk. This also seems to be the Suffolk, I was contacted by Howard first recorded association with Mendel, SNS Coleoptera Recorder, harvest mice for the County. who informed me that he had Thanks to Howard for information recorded the species only once on the Suffolk status of Leptinus. before in Suffolk, at Assington Thicks, and that it was rarely Jerry Bowdrey

New Fungus for Suffolk

Gunton Wood to the north of Back home, Tony took photos and used to be part of the sent them on to a social media site gardens of the old Gunton Hall where two experts agreed this was which was pulled down in 1963 Rhodocybe gemina which has not and the gardens shamefully been recorded in Suffolk before. became overgrown and neglected. The surprise is that this fungus This benefitted the wildlife but a produces pink spores so is closely lot of the architectural features related to the Entoloma genus. The were lost. In recent years, with only other member of Rhodocybe to help from the Suffolk Wildlife be recorded in Suffolk to my Trust, the locals have turned this knowledge is R.popinalis (formerly neglected area into a community R.mundula) which I found at RSPB woodland and it is now designated Minsmere in 2010. as a local nature reserve. Neil Mahler Strangely, the Ellis’s do not seem to have recorded any fungi for this area, instead the only records in their Suffolk booklet (including supplements) come from members

of the Lowestoft Field Club, by Tony Brown notably Alan Beaumont and Reg Blacker. But then, last September, Tony Brown (also a LFC member) came across something a little bit special whilst hunting around with his partner Anne. Rhodocybe gemina

White Admiral 93 25 More What’s on?

Butterfly Conservation Field Meetings

The Suffolk Branch of Butterfly let the leader know that you are Conservation cordially invites SNS planning to attend, as this will members to join us on any of our avoid you turning up at an event field meetings. The calendar of that has to be cancelled or altered. events can be found on the Suffolk Several of the events are suitable Butterflies website, for novices and youngsters. You www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/ will be welcome to share our events.html, where you will see a interest. range of events spread across the Rob Parker (Suffolk Branch of county and the season. Do please Butterfly Conservation)

Monday 2nd May - FAMILY EVENT Spring Wood Celebration Day Join Suffolk Branch at Kiln Meadow for butterfly and other guided walks, woodland crafts and demonstrations, family activities, music, food and much more. Park at Bourne Park off Stoke Park Drive and take free minibus to the event on Kiln Meadow. Where: Kiln Meadow, off Marbled White Drive, Ipswich Time: 11.00 am to 16.00 pm Contact: Helen Saunders at [email protected] Sunday 8th May - BUTTERFLY WALK Spring Butterflies in King’s Forest (suitable for novices) Map Ref: TL826752 “FC King’s Picnic Place” on the B1106. Assemble by the Information Board in the grassy area. Time: 10.00 am to 13:00 pm approx. Bring packed lunch. Contact: Rob Parker on 01284 705476 Wednesday 11th May and Wednesday 25th May - SURVEYS Dingy Skipper Surveys at King’s Forest Assemble at access track to John O’Groats cottages, on west side of B1106. First count is at King’s Archery Site. Please enquire in advance to notify availability and whether you can assist with

26 White Admiral 93 other locations. Surveys continue until end of May. Map Ref: TL826738 Time: 10.30 am Leader: Bill Stone 07906 888603 Saturday 21st May - NOVICE RECORDERS Holywells Park, Ipswich Identification and recording. Suitable for novices. Meet: Outside the Orangery Map Ref: TM175433 Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Contact: Peter Maddison 01473 736607 Tuesday 7th June - BUTTERFLY WALK SWT Springs - morning walk (2 hrs) Meet: Reserve car park Map Ref: TM274433 Time: 10.30 am Leader: Peter Maddison 01473 736607

Geo Suffolk - Pliocene Forest Open Day - J une 2 6 th

GeoSuffolk’s Pliocene Forest at Rockhall Wood SSSI, Sutton is part of the Sutton village gardens open day. See Suffolk’s Pliocene pollen interpreted by living trees!

Touching the Tide Events

The strandline on our beaches is one of the most diverse and least studied of any ecosystem. Touching the Tide, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be leading beachcombing walks from now until July 2016 to study the treasures cast up twice daily by the tides. From rock-boring shells to hatchling shells that cannibalise their siblings to metre long shipworms that are actually molluscs check www.touchingthetide.org.uk/ events/ to find a beachcombing walk near you.

White Admiral 93 27 A year of Suffolk Biological Recording Online

Record Distribution & Density 2015

28 White Admiral 93 Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Bursaries

The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society offers six bursaries, of up to £500 each, annually. Larger projects may be eligible for grants of over £500 – please contact SNS for further information. Activities eligible for funding include: travel and subsistence for field work, visits to scientific institutions, scientific equipment, identification guide books or other items relevant to the study. Morley Bursary - Studies involving insects (or other invertebrates) other than butterflies and moths. Chipperfield Bursary - Studies involving butterflies or moths. Cranbrook Bursary - Studies involving mammals or birds. Rivis Bursary - Studies of the county's flora. Simpson Bursary - In memory of Francis Simpson. The bursary will be awarded for a botanical study where possible. Nash Bursary - Studies involving beetles. Applications should be set in the context of a research question i.e. a clear statement of what the problem is and how the applicant plans to tackle it. Criteria: 1. Projects should include a large element of original work and further knowledge of Suffolk’s flora, fauna or geology. 2. A written account of the project is required within 12 months of receipt of a bursary. This should be in a form suitable for publication in one of the Society's journals: Suffolk Natural History, Suffolk Birds or White Admiral. 3. Suffolk Naturalists' Society should be acknowledged in all publicity associated with the project and in any publications emanating from the project. Applications may be made at any time. Please apply to SNS for an application form or visit our website for more details www.sns.org.uk/ pages/bursary.shtml.

See a summary from the conference on twitter by searching #SNSCon2016 SuffolkThe Naturalists’ Society www.sns.org.uk

Goosanders in Christchurch Park by Ben Heather

The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, founded in 1929 by Claude Morley (1874 -1951), pioneered the study and recording of the County’s flora, fauna and geology. It is the seed bed from which have grown other important wildlife organisations in Suffolk, such as Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group (SOG). Recording the natural history of Suffolk is still the Society’s primary objective. Members’ observations go to specialist recorders and then on to the Suffolk Biological Records Centre at Ipswich Museum to provide a basis for detailed distribution maps and subsequent analysis with benefits to environmental protection. Funds held by the Society allow it to offer substantial grants for wildlife studies. Annually, SNS publishes its transactions Suffolk Natural History, containing studies on the County’s wildlife, and the County bird report, Suffolk Birds (compiled by SOG). The newsletter White Admiral, with comment and observations, appears three times a year. SNS organises two members’ evenings a year and a conference every two years. Field meetings are held throughout the year often in conjunction with other specialist organisations. Subscriptions: Individual members £15.00; Family membership £17.00; Student Membership £10.00; Corporate membership £17.00. Members receive the three publications above. Joint membership with the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group: Individual members £30.00; Family membership £35.00. Joint members receive, in addition to the above, the SOG newsletter The Harrier. As defined by the Constitution of this Society its objectives shall be: 2.1 To study and record the fauna, flora and geology of the County 2.2 To publish a Transactions and Proceedings and a Bird Report. These shall be free to members except those whose annual subscriptions are in arrears contact: 2.3 To liaise with other natural history societies and conservation bodies in the County 2.4 To promote interest in natural history and the activities of the Society. For more details about the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society contact: Hon. Secretary, Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QH. Telephone 01473 400251 [email protected]