W h i t e A d m i ra l

Newsletter 84 Spring 2013

Suffolk Naturalists’ Society C o n t e n t s

E d it o r ial Ben Heather 1 C hala ra - Ash Dieback Steve Scott 2-3 Suffolk Bat Group Update and looking Sue H o o to n 4-6 f o rwa rd Newton & Wrigley Steve Piotrowski 7 Beetling about on Orford Beach Chris Hitch 8 -9 Recording Purple Hairstreaks along Richard Stewart 10-11 Westerfield Road A Short Update on Suffolk Dormice Liz Cutting 12-14 Stag Beetle Predators Bob Stebbings 15-16

Two interesting records from the Adrian Chalkley 16-19 Grove Farm monitoring project The impact of street lighting on Adrian Knowles 20-21 p lan ts Alder Gall/Fungus Colin Jacobs 21 Where is Thorpe Ness? Caroline Markham 22-23 AGM & Spring Members Evening 24-25 Rosehill sale notice 25 Geo Suffolk Field Meeting 26 Halesworth Festival of Ecology 27 Events by Suffolk Butterfly 28 Conservation ISSN 0959-8537 Published by the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH Registered Charity No. 206084

Cover photograph of Brimstone taken by Matt Berry at Holywells Park, Ipswich http://www.greenwings.co/ Newsletter 84 - Spring 2013

Even if the weather isn’t showing it, there are a few signs that spring may indeed be on its way. I am writing this editorial on another day disrupted by snow (12th March) and remembering that only a week ago we were experiencing temperatures that, in some places, exceeded 15°C. With that heat came the first messages, through the Suffolk Natural History Yahoo group, of Brimstone butterflies on the wing, in West Stow and Sudbury. A species I always associate with the changing seasons, I thought Matt Berry’s excellent capture on the front cover may spread some hope that winter will soon end. As I continue my editorship of the White Admiral I would like to thank all who have contributed to what is a very full issue, but please keep sending copy in, this is your newsletter! Please also turn your attention to the back pages of this edition where you will find details of the SNS AGM and some interesting events that will be running this Spring/Summer. One of these events is the SNS, SOG and SWT Taster Day, on 29th June, at Knettishall Heath. This promises to be a chance to sample and see what we do and is open to all, expert or novice. More details to follow… For snippets and other news please visit our website www.sns.org.uk or follow @SuffolkBRC on twitter.

Editor: Ben Heather Suffolk Biological Records Centre, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QH [email protected]

White Admiral 84 1 C h al a r a ash dieback

Don’t panic! Scientists think that disease has spread through Europe this disease has been with us for since the early 1990s, and was three or four years, but I couldn’t finally discovered in the wild on point you to a single mature tree the east coast of Britain in October that has died. There really is no 2012. Although we might expect to need to act in haste, but be aware see a spread across the whole and be prepared. country over the years, the initial Chalara fraxinea is a fungus that hot spots appear to be in Suffolk, spreads from ash leaves into the Norfolk and Kent. tree and blocks the water-carrying The Forestry Commission is vessels, thus starving the tree of working with Natural England on water and minerals. Young trees guidelines on the ecological aspects and fresh growth may die quickly, of Chalara, but in the meantime as but older trees can survive for a professional forester, I would years. suggest the following basic dos and First observed in Poland, the don’ts:

2 White Admiral 84  Don’t plant ash, certainly not Forestry Commission until the disease has run its Woodland Officer. course and/or resistant strains  Do keep access to woodland are developed. open. The risk of woodland  Do use this as an excuse to visitors spreading the disease plant other trees. The is low, but take sensible woodland cover of England is precautions – for example, 10% compared to the European brush leaves and twigs off average of over 40%. There are boots, clothing and other items many sensible alternative taken into the woodland, and native species with which to wash boots and bicycle wheels replace ash (pick the right tree etc… when returning home for the right place), and if from a walk. Avoid routes native is not a key factor, there which go from wood to wood to are some close visual wood. If organising a parish replacements such as walnut walk, for example, it might be and hickory. sensible to provide washing  Don’t coppice or pollard. facilities (some bowls or trugs  Don’t fell mature ash trees just and stiff brushes at the end). because you suspect disease or It’s worth pointing out that there because an unscrupulous tree are many new diseases and pests surgeon tells you so. Obviously, of trees that have hits these shores health and safety is in the last few years, some as paramount, but employ a fully serious as Chalara, but less qualified member of the infamous. It is important to keep Arboricultural Association or an eye on the health of all trees. follow the guidance in “A For the latest information keep an common sense approach to tree eye on www.forestry.gov.uk/ safety” (www.ntsg.org.uk). chalara. Specifically you might like  Do consider burning, burying to look at the three videos we shot or composting ash leaves in late last year, two on identifying gardens or tree collections to the symptoms and one on limit the spread of C. fraxinea biosecurity. spores.  Do continue to manage Steve Scott woodland. There are many Forestry Commission options so contact your local

White Admiral 84 3 Suffolk Bat Group update and looking forward

Suffolk Bat Group was formed in 1984 as a specialist group within the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and is the county’s main point of contact for all bat conservation related issues. It is one of 90 bat groups nationwide and co-operates with The Bat Conservation Trust and species, of which two new species Natural England. The aim is to have been discovered and one assist in the protection of bats in rediscovered after many years Suffolk through advising house- absence in the county. holders, landowners, builders and Suffolk Bat Group was very busy developers. in 2012 and one highlight was Over the years much effort has producing a new distribution atlas been put into protecting, enhanc- for bats in Suffolk, in conjunction ing and creating hibernation sites, with SBRC. This updated the carrying out surveys using bat atlas, from 2000, shows the spread detectors and computer software, of different bat species throughout establishing bat box projects and the county. carrying out specific surveys on The new atlas not only shows, due barns and churches. Over 2200 to an increase recording activity records have been collected on 13 and improvements in bat detecting technology, a rise in the number of bat records collected, since the last atlas in 2000, but also an increase in the number of different species being recorded. The new atlas can be downloaded from the SBRC website (www.suffolkbrc.org.uk/) and the Suffolk Bat Group pages on Bat Surveying © Arthur Rivett Suffolk Wildlife Trust website

4 White Admiral 84 (www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ Suffolk Bat Group bat detector species-and-habitats/species- surveys are carried out at various projects/suffolk-bat-group/) . fixed points around a site, Suffolk Bat Group sends all records specifically identified as suitable to SBRC from a variety of sources habitat for bats. The points are that help to update the atlas chosen because they offer good including; sheltered feeding areas for bats so  Bat roost visits for Natural as to maximize the amount of England feeding activity detected. Batbox Duet bat detectors are used in  Monitoring of bat hibernation conjunction with digital recorders sites to record bat echolocation and Bat detector surveys  recording times are synchronized,  National Bat Monitoring running for 90 minutes. Analysis Project (NBMP) surveys of the recordings is done later on  Bat walks / events computer using Batscan and Batsound analysis programmes. No experience is necessary to take

Distribution map for Barbastelle bat from Suffolk Bat Atlas 2011

White Admiral 84 5

part in these surveys and reports are provided to landowners on managing their woodland for bats. The NBMP surveys are organised by Bat Conservation Trust through a volunteer network to monitor the status of many of our bat species across a range of habitats. Anyone can take part in these surveys and some are aimed at beginners as Barbastelle bat © Arthur Rivett well as experts. BCT provides on -line tutorials to help identify the detector and are willing to species encountered volunteer for a survey, please get (www.bats.org.uk) and there are a in touch. We are hoping to get whole series of surveys that you funding for lots of bat detectors to can get involved in. Regular counts loan out to members for NBMP of breeding colonies do not require surveys so if you’re interested in any bat licence and are easy to taking part, do let us know as this carry out. Slightly more involved will help our funding applications. are the Field, Waterways and All records will help to fill in the Nathusius’ pipistrelle surveys; gaps in the bat atlas maps so if you these involve walking a set route of fancy coming getting involved in 1Km twice per annum with a bat bat surveys, you can join in the detector and counting the number fun! and species of bats encountered Sue Hooton whilst walking and/or at fixed Chairperson Suffolk Bat Group point locations. Surveys at [email protected] hibernation sites require a licensed 01473 890089 batworker so are aimed at trained individuals. To further promote the NBMP surveys, Suffolk Bat Group is planning more training workshops for 2013 so if you know of a bat roost near you or have a bat

6 White Admiral 84 Newton and Wrigley

newts almost at will. It employed two hunting techniques; either swimming through thin

phragmites reed margins, stirring up sediments in shallow water with its feet and then duck- diving to retrieve its prey or, by hovering over the water surface and then plunge diving at the Soap fans would sight of a newt. The gull was recognise Newton fearless in pursuit of its prey, Photo by: Jon Evans and Ridley as the ignoring bystanders and becoming fictional brewery completely submerged. portrayed in Coronation Street, B l a c k - h e a d e d g u l l s a r e famously serving its ales in the undoubtedly opportune feeders Rovers Return. As a slight and, although Birds of the deviation from this title, a rather Western Palearctic states that enterprising black-headed gull amphibian tadpoles and adults (christened Newton) has been are “rarely taken”, it makes no watched devouring literally specific mention of newts forming hundreds of smooth newts any part of the black-headed gull’s (Wriggly) in a small, shallow diet. pond, which has been formed at By late summer, “Newton” was the site of a former car park at looking rather smug, albeit a little RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve plump, however, as winter in Suffolk. approached and the newts were This extraordinary behaviour was no longer in the pond, he ceased originally logged by Reserve his patrols. It will be interesting Warden, Robin Harvey and then to see if he returns again in spring later by Paul Green, Jon Gibbs, to exploit his newly discovered Jon Evans, myself and many food source. others. The gull was seen to make regular forays to a small pond Steve Piotrowski where it would catch and eat

White Admiral 84 7 Beetling about on Orford Beach

In May and August of last year, immediately recognised as carrion two bioblitz recording sessions beetle larvae of the subclass were organised to look at Orford Silphidae, in the genus Silpha and Ness and the finger of stable thought to be either Silpha atrata shingle running down the coast or S. tristis, but without specimens between the river and the sea, it was not sure which. ending at North Weir Point, more It was then decided to send the or less opposite Shingle Street. picture further afield, to a On one of the days, July 5th 2012, colleague in Yorkshire and his a boat was made available to take remarks are included: “They are some of the party down the river to indeed Silphidae larvae, almost be dropped off at various points certainly Silpha tristis. The larvae along the spit. of Silpha obscura are shorter and My brief was to study the lichens more rounded, whilst the larvae of and the first stop was at Orford Silpha atrata, from what I can Beach, OS Grid Reference TM gather, lack the yellow spots on the 426480 (Landranger series, sheet outer edges of the tergites. Silpha 169). obscura is a rare beast, but the While there, a large patch of other two species are common and Cladonia rangiformis, about 1 generally distributed.” metre square, was noted. The adult S. tristis beetle is black Surrounding the patch of lichen and about 15mm long and pictures and half buried in tallish grass or of it can be seen on the Web, under sedge, was what appeared to be a Sipha, as can its distribution, on a fairly recently killed rabbit general map of the British Isles. carcass, due to its gory nature. The There are more spots around the accompanying picture shows some coast, with dense colonisation invertebrate larvae feeding on the around The Wash and the Ouse remains. estuary. However, quite a few None of the larvae were collected, records are inland and it appears but the picture shows them clearly to be almost virtually restricted to and this was circulated to various England, as far north as Cumbria, experts in the hope of getting a with a single record in Scotland determination. They were and none in Ireland. It is known

8 White Admiral 84 from Suffolk, with 1 record south So this is for a new record for of Thetford, 12 records to the Orford Ness and the spit to the southwest of the Brecklands, 2 to south. the east of Ipswich and 1 to the north of Southwold. C. J. B. Hitch

La r v ae of Silpha tristis. Photo by Chris Hitch

White Admiral 84 9 Recording Purple Hairstreaks

along Westerfield Road

Photo by Gary Last

Anyone travelling at a moderate silver coins that had been tossed speed from Westerfield village back into the sunlight’, to quote into Ipswich should be aware of the butterfly expert Jeremy Thomas. abundance of oak trees along the Despite close scrutiny the oaks lane. Several were included as back from the station to Valley ‘veterans’ in a parish tree survey I Road yielded no further sightings, conducted a few years ago. The until the evening of 12th July Purple Hairstreak flies mainly in 2005. Conditions were ideal, with July and early August, is about the continuous sunlight and virtually size of a Small Copper, and its life no breeze. Our normal twelve cycle is dependent on oaks. We minute walk back home was con- first discovered it one evening at siderably lengthened as we Westerfield railway station, counted the butterflies around around nearby oaks and ash. This eighteen separate oaks. We also was a sunlit evening and this time solved the mystery regarding of day is usually best to observe single Purple Hairstreaks recorded them, dancing ‘like a handful of in our garden during the two

10 White Admiral 84 previous years. That evening we yards further on from the counted four around a large Oak Borrowdale Avenue Oak. That still on the corner of Borrowdale left a considerable gap along Avenue, only a few yards from our Westerfield Road until the many home. More were seen in a tall oaks in adjacent Christchurch Sycamore just beyond our back Park. Here we had looked, strain- garden. Obviously our garden ing our necks, unsuccessfully. sightings were of this species pass- However, on 15th July 2012 three ing between these two trees. Oak, were recorded on an Oak at the Ash and Sycamore are normally north end of the park, early the most bountiful in honeydew, afternoon. Further observations the Purple Hairstreak’s main food. were rewarded on 12th August, Ironically we had recently dug out again early afternoon, when a a vegetable and fruit plot under single specimen was seen flying this spreading and tall Sycamore high on an Oak, appropriately just and seen the produce affected by a few yards from the newly created the fallen honeydew, a liquid butterfly garden. These two park secreted by aphids. sightings were about two hundred We have now recorded garden yards apart. I am now convinced Purple Hairstreaks from 2003 to the Purple Hairstreak is present in 2012, with just one blank in 2007. many of the park’s oaks and I will Nectaring has only been observed make it a target species for the once, on a tall Buddleia davidii in park in 2013. 2009. Although 2012 was a poor butterfly year, I recorded the species on a garden Ash just fifty Richard Stewart, SNS Member

Contributions to White Admiral Deadlines for copy are 1st February (spring edition), 1st June (summer edition) and 1st October (autumn edition). The opinions expressed in White Admiral are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society.

White Admiral 84 11 A Short Update on Suffolk Dormice

A lot has happened in the last ten years or so. Suffolk had two licensed dormouse handlers in the first years of this century. Now we have more than a dozen, and the number is growing. This has allowed us to increase the number of sites that are monitored as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP). Usually these sites have a minimum of 50 dormouse nest boxes each (our biggest site has 250) and we typically survey these three times a year. As a Torpid Dormouse - Liz Cutting protected species, surveyors have to be licensed by Natural pg.7-9). The remainder of the England, and the Suffolk & Essex Suffolk sites are ‘natural’, Dormouse Group is active in although DNA analysis of the training surveyors to enable them Bonny Wood population is aiming to obtain a licence and then to to establish to what extent this is participate in the large survey a natural population, or whether effort involved. it has been colonised from the The sites include large and small nearby release site in Priestley woodlands and hedgerows, and all Wood. In terms on ongoing are west of Ipswich. Suffolk has monitoring, it makes no difference two ‘release’ sites (Bradfield of course. Woods and Priestley Wood) where From our monitoring, we know captive bred dormice have been that numbers fluctuate a fair bit, released under controlled and it is best not to rush to conditions (see White Admiral 79 conclusions. The more you learn,

12 White Admiral 84 the more you realise that, despite (especially early in the year), and dormice being one of the better had reduced breeding success. surveyed UK mammals, we Anecdotal evidence around the actually still have huge gaps in our country however is quite mixed; knowledge. On the face of it, 2012 many surveyors reported similar has been quite a poor year for reductions and low numbers, but dormice, with most Suffolk sites there were also reports of good recording significantly lower dormouse numbers at other sites, numbers than 2011. The attached sometimes close to sites with chart shows the dormouse downturns. Hopefully, Peoples numbers per 50 boxes at the Trust for Endangered Species autumn surveys for our three (PTES) will be able to throw some largest sites. light on the underlying situation The most likely factor was once they have all the data probably the abysmal spring/ collected and analysed. summer. Our dormice will have Through a lot of hard work, spent more time than usual in particularly by Alison Looser, we torpor, have probably had difficulty continue to find new dormouse finding good food sources sites in Suffolk, usually in or near

White Admiral 84 13

almost certainly dormice there in 2004, perhaps in small numbers, or perhaps in

areas of the wood not Alison Looser

surveyed. - Suffolk Naturalists’ Society and the Essex & Suffolk Dormouse

Su rv e y i ng Group agreed to fund the purchase of 60 dormouse nest boxes parishes with existing known sites, and these were put out in March so dormouse populations appear to 2012. Of all the sites we survey, some extent in clusters. In 2012, Wolves wood is one of the most seven sites have been added – in demanding, as the coppiced areas the parishes of Layham, Polstead, (likely to be favoured by dormice) Assington, Felsham and are populated with very dense Tattingstone. hawthorn and dog rose as well as In 2011, we added Wolves wood, thick herbaceous vegetation, the RSPB reserve near Hadleigh, mainly in plots fenced to exclude to the list of dormouse populations. deer. This may be good for Interestingly, a survey in 2004 at dormice, but it is really hard work the wood, failed to show any for the survey team (see photo). In evidence of dormice. However you what has generally been a rather can’t prove a negative and we felt disappointing dormouse year in the only negative aspect of the Suffolk, we found only a single wood was that it was very wet (the dormouse nest at our October habitat structure and food check. This winter, we will be availability were ideal for cleaning out nest boxes at all our dormice). A repeat survey in 2011 sites and at Wolves wood, with its however revealed a number of thick bramble clumps, we are also dormouse nests. As the wood is going to spend a little time looking quite isolated and bearing in mind for natural dormouse nests. the fact that dormice really only travel through trees and shrubs Liz Cutting (not on the ground) there were Essex & Suffolk Dormouse Group

14 White Admiral 84 Stag Beetle Predators - Letter in response to Vo l . 8 3 - Colin Hawes’ article on pp 5 - 6

Colin Hawes’ revealing article At first, the bats were feeding recounting the predatory mostly on cockchafers (Melolontha behaviour of a starling and noting melolontha) but by later June were a list of known consumers of this concentrating on the smaller beetle in Britain and Europe, is summer chafer (Rhizotrogus remarkable for the obvious solstitialis). These beetles have a omission of the prime specialist body mass of approximately 1g and insectivores, Chiroptera - bats. One 0.5g respectively. The serotines in third of our native mammal species mid-summer average 22g. are bats and they are almost The northern boundary of the exclusive consumers of insects. grassland rises steeply into an Most insects are caught by bats in ancient bank of a hawthorn hedge the air but some species of bat with many oak trees immediately catch prey on foliage, tree trunks to the south of Whitecliff Road. The or on the ground. latter have grown considerably in In the early 1960s I worked in the last 50 years and are now Dorset and on warm summer dominant on that bank. The soil evenings I tried to locate a colony type is Bagshot sands, known to be of serotine bats (Eptesicus suitable for Stag beetles. serotinus) which fed over a grassy On the warmest evenings some open space, Whitecliff Harbourside very large insects emerged from Park, bordering Parkstone Bay, the bank and flew ponderously Poole (NGR: SZ 031907), now a southwards over the mown grass local Nature Reserve. The essential and immediately the serotines element of this procedure is to be chased and attacked from above. on site early at dusk waiting for The beetles were male stags. The the first sightings of bats to see the bats behaved in two ways. direction they come from. On Sometimes they caught the beetle successive nights one takes up a in the air and flew back to and new position along the line the landed on the trees and shrubs to bats have taken and hopefully, eat their quarry but others eventually after a few nights’ knocked the beetle to the ground observations the roost location is where the bat landed to kill and identified. eat their prey. The chafers were

White Admiral 84 15 usually caught in the air and then widespread in East Anglia, tends the bat would go into a circling to fly high and fast and does feed flight pattern eating the beetle on chafers but I do not know of any with crunching sounds being records of it eating stag beetles. clearly heard and wings and legs On mainland Europe, the greater raining to the ground. mouse-eared (Myotis myotis) is Only the largest bats with known to feed close to the ground, substantial canine teeth are large often landing to catch prey. It is enough to tackle these huge reported that this bat smells beetles which have a body mass beetles as it flies low overhead but averaging a bit over 2g (figures also, with its large ears, it will kindly provided by Colin Hawes). hear the noises of insects crawling The serotine lives in East Anglia out of holes and warming their and often feeds close to or even by flight muscles before takeoff. catching prey on the ground. In Serotines often catch prey on the south west Britain, the greater ground and may also hear and horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus smell potential prey. ferrumequinum) feeds in a similar In limited parts of Suffolk where way often behaving like a the stag beetle is known to be flycatcher, grabbing a chafer and fairly plentiful, it would be worth returning to a favourite perch. making observations at dusk to see However, there is no knowledge it if serotines or other bats preyed on catches stag beetles. The noctule them. (Nyctalus noctula), which is Bob Stebbings

Two Interesting records from the Grove Farm Monitoring Project

In the Autumn issue of White 17 of the 20 ponds at the reserve. Admiral, no. 83, Juliet Hawkins Recording continues during 2013 and Rob Parker outlined the and in due course analysis of the monitoring project at SWT’s Grove results will begin to tell us how the Farm Reserve. This is being new ponds are being colonised, undertaken by a team of U3A providing a more detailed picture volunteers with funding provided of mid-Suffolk fauna. However, I by an SNS Bursary. For aquatic feel that two of the new species invertebrates alone the project so recorded are worth a separate note far has amassed 345 records from here.

16 White Admiral 84 Wautier’s limpet Barn Meadow Pond is one of the rapidly, it has been shown to grow existing farm ponds at the reserve, from hatching to egg laying in as which was restored in 2008. little as 11 days. Within the pond Tony Sear & It should be noted, if anyone tries Barney Harrison, two U3A to look for Wautier’s limpet in their volunteers, found a freshwater own pond, that the maximum size snail, a limpet named Ferrissia of the animal is only 3 mm. wautieri (Wautier’s Limpet). One Examining floating leaves and the might expect the native Lake submerged stems of reeds and Limpet, Acroloxus lacustris, in a grasses is the best way to find it. I pond like this but F. wautieri is in suspect that the species was fact an introduced species which introduced in most, possibly all, of has only been recorded from five the Suffolk sites by visiting water other widespread sites in Suffolk; fowl. Coincidentally, the duck leech at Elveden, Elmsett, Holbrook, Theromyzon tessulatum, an Bixley & Lavenham. internal parasite of water fowl, has The species was unknown (or also been recorded at almost all of overlooked) in Europe until 1944 the five sites mentioned above. and was first recognised in Britain in 1976. There is some debate about how it came into Europe but studies suggest that the North American Ferrissia fragilis is a cryptic invader of European and east Asian freshwater ecosystems (Walther et al. 2006). The most likely introduction method is the aquaria supply trade, the usual suspect for unexpected introductions. The species is known by several names; Ferrissia fragilis, F, clessiniana & F. wautieri, the latter being the most commonly used in Europe. Once established and in good conditions the population can build up

White Admiral 84 17 Notodromas monacha, an Ostracod Ostracods are small crustacean arthropods which are housed within a bivalve carapace similar to a very small mussel. Pond dipping children are often encouraged to call them ‘Baked Bean Creatures’, a term which may infuriate serious naturalists, but does describe the animal very well. Very few Ostracods have been waters and is probably widespread recorded to species level in the across the county and vastly under county but at Millers Middle Pond, recorded. The photo shows the Grove Farm an interesting limbs projecting upwards because, Ostracod, Notodromas monacha uniquely amongst British was collected by Lawrence Child Ostracods, N. monacha swims from the U3A group. upside down just under the surface The record for N. monacha is as far film whilst collecting its food. N. as I know only the second for monacha is darkly coloured on its Suffolk, being first recorded by ventral side (which is next to the Ceri Hopkins, the then Assistant surface film) and this is thought to Director of Flatford Mill, from be an adaptation to living in Meadow Dyke, Flatford in 1961. increased UV light and / or The photograph from above shows perhaps as camouflage against the two halves of its shell (the predation from above. The same valves) and you can see the hinge surface film niche is exploited by a between the valves and the paired few very small aquatic inverte- eye spots. The other is taken from brates. N. monacha itself is at most the side showing the limbs 1mm long, the accompanying protruding from between the photos being taken through a valves. It uses the limbs for microscope. swimming and for collecting its The interesting thing about this food, microscopic algae. It is a record is that Millers Middle Pond species typical of nutrient rich still is a new pond dug in September

18 White Admiral 84 2010. It filled a little during the winter of 2010 but no Ostracods were recorded there in 2011. N. monacha has appeared during 2012, but has not been recorded from any of the o t h e r p o nd s on the farm. It is quite possible it was also introduced by birds but then again Ostracods can produce resting stages (diapausing eggs) which may have been carried by References: the wind from a nearby pond during a dry spell, remembering Walther, A. C., Lee, T., Burch, J. the drought in early 2012! A search B. and Foighil, D. Ó. 2006. for the same species elsewhere on Confirmation that the North the farm will be undertaken this American ancylid Ferrissia coming year, but cannot really fragilis (Tryon, 1863) is a prove things either way. However cryptic invader of European it dispersed into this new pond it and East Asian freshwater bred rapidly, Lawrence described ecosystems. Journal of hundreds, maybe thousands of Molluscan Studies 72(3): 318- them across the water surface. But 321 then Ostracods, like many Henderson, P. A. 1990. Freshwater crustaceans are able to reproduce Ostracods. Synopses of the asexually to boost a population and British Fauna (New Series) No. exploit ideal conditions. I would be 42 Linnean Society, London very interested in getting reports of any similar sightings from elsewhere in Suffolk in the future. All images by Adrian Chalkley Adrian Chalkley Aquatic Invertebrate recorder

White Admiral 84 19 The impact of street lighting on plants

It is not uncommon to hear two years, this Birch tree in Capel songbirds such as Blackbird, Robin St Mary has retained a patch of and Song Thrush singing well into green leaves below a street light a summers night in urban areas, well beyond the time when the rest where extensive street lighting of the leaves have been shed. The dupes the birds into thinking it is lamp is surrounded by the lower still only dusk. However, the effect twigs on one side of the tree. The this lighting has on plants is photo was taken after a period of usually a bit less obvious. strong winds, showing that the All the same, the photo here shows leaves were not only green, but that there is occasionally a still firmly attached to the twigs discernible impact. For the last and probably functioning as if they were fresh foliage. This phenomenon has been known about for some time, however. As long ago as 1936, Edwin Matzke wrote in the American Journal of Botany (Volume 23, no. 6. June 1936) with observations of several species of tree in New York City (read his paper at http:// www.jstor.org/stable/2436035). Matzke noted that even quite low levels of light could result in a few green leaves being retained on nearby twigs in Poplars (Populus spp.), Planes (Platanus spp.) and Crack Willow (Salix fragilis). Interestingly though, in the spring bud burst was not advanced by the presence of this lighting, compared to unlit parts of the same tree. Further information on this phenomenon can be gained at the web site Photo by Adrian Knowles

20 White Admiral 84 http://physics.fau.edu/observatory/ nutrient loss for trees, especially lightpol-Plants.html, which points those suffering from other out some of the negative impacts environmental stresses. The ability this can have on trees. In extreme to photosynthesise late into the cases, where large parts of the tree night and later in the year is not retain leaves late into the winter, necessarily a good thing. As part of the increased weight of trapped this process, plants actually need a snow and ice can cause bough period of more-or-less complete collapse damage. Green leaves still darkness, so the tendency to bathe hold essential plant nutrients that our front gardens in low levels of would normally be withdrawn into street lighting may be having more the tree before the leaves are shed. of an effect than one might first If these green leaves are damaged think. or killed by frosts, because they have not fallen in autumn, this can Adrian Knowles lead to a long-term significant

Alder Gall / Fungus Lowestoft TM59

In July 2012 I was checking for plant galls on planted Italian Alders (Alnus cordata) along the Kirkley Stream/Spine Road in South Lowestoft (Kirkley). I found my first Suffolk Alder Gall/Fungus Taphrina alni also known as Alder tongue. The reddish orange tongue was only growing on female Cones and numbered less than 20. There are (as yet) no records of T. alni in the British Mycological Society database but I expect there are some unpublished records somewhere. There are a handful of records from Norfolk typically from Ted Ellis. The Common Alder (A. glutinosa) was unaffected by these galls but the leaves were covered in another fungal gall Taphrina tosquinetii at nearby Kirkley Fen.

Colin Jacobs Photo by Colin Jacobs

White Admiral 84 21 Where is Thorpe Ness?

Suffolk’s coastline is characterised Ness, they are undefended, by its ‘nesses’ – large triangular allowing natural processes to sand/shingle beaches extending out operate. Orford Ness and Benacre from the coast. There are five in Ness have protection as SSSIs and, all: Orford Ness (superimposed on in September 2012, GeoSuffolk the shingle spit), Thorpe Ness, designated Thorpe Ness a County Benacre Ness, Lowestoft Ness and Geodiversity Site (CGS). (in Norfolk) Winterton Ness. GeoSuffolk had visited and The dominant wind on our coast is recorded the site in 2008 (for a from the north, so net movement of description of this beautiful stretch beach material is to the south. of coast see our handbook, Earth Thus there is accretion of material Heritage Suffolk). However, to on the north-facing beaches of the create a CGS designation a site ‘nesses’ and loss of material from boundary must be mapped onto the the south side, thus the ‘ness’ itself Suffolk Biological Records Centre moves northwards over an GIS database to supplement the extended period of time. (Perhaps site record. Thus, on July 14th Winterton Ness was once in 2012 GeoSuffolk, helped by Open Suffolk?). In the case of Benacre University Geological Society Ness, this northward movement is members, checked the location of well-documented by V.J. May in Thorpe Ness. the Geological Conservation The field party walked to the Ness Review. 6km in 200 years means at low tide and each individual that it has changed its name from stood at the point on the shoreline Covehithe Ness to Benacre Ness they thought was furthest from the and indeed should today be called cliff. They formed a spread of about Kessingland Ness, (Pakefield 50 metres along the shore and a next?). GPS reading was taken at the The ‘nesses’ are an integral part of ‘central’ person - 52˚11.331’N, the sediment cycle of the Suffolk 1˚37.398’E. It was also noted that coast and, apart from Lowestoft the ‘central’ person was standing

22 White Admiral 84 opposite and about 50 metres north which extends under the sea at of the point where the boundary this point. Abraded pieces of crag marking the northern edge of from the submarine outcrop are Thorpeness Common intersects the commonly found on the beach here. cliff. The latitude and longitude Could it be that its position astride data were given to Ben Heather at this relatively hard rock formation SBRC to plot on a large scale map, has stabilised the ness, restricting kindly reproduced here (with the its movement northwards? boundary of the CGS subsequently drawn by GeoSuffolk). Not only Caroline Markham, GeoSuffolk does this concur with the visual

record made on the field trip, it References: also coincides with the ‘Thorpe Ness’ label on the 1998 OS map, so May,V.J., 2003. Benacre Ness, there has been no discernable Suffolk. Coastal Geomorphology of movement in the last 14 years. Great Britain. GCR Series. Thorpe Ness lies at the north-east Markham,C.J., 2010. Thorpe Ness. end of the Coralline Crag outcrop Earth Heritage Suffolk. GeoSuffolk

White Admiral 84 23 84t h ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and Spring Members Evening

7.30 p.m. Thursday 11th April 2013 Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket, IP14 2AJ

AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the 83rd Annual General Meeting 3. Chairman’s and Treasurer’s Report – Joan Hardingham 4. Secretary’s Report – Gen Broad 5. Election of members to the Council: Tony Prichard to be co-opted back onto Council - proposed by Martin Sanford, seconded by Joan Hardingham. Ann Ainsworth to be co-opted back onto Council - proposed by Roger Dixon and seconded by Martin Sanford Colin Hawes to be co-opted as an ordinary member proposed by David Walker and seconded by Gen Broad. David Walker to be co-opted as an ordinary member from April - proposed by Martin Sanford and seconded by Adrian Chalkley. There are vacant positions for a Programme Secretary and two Ordinary Members of Council. 6. Rosehill 7. Any Other Business (The Chairman reserves the right to consider only items submitted in writing 2 weeks before the AGM.) Refreshments Tea and coffee will be served at the close of formal business.

Following the conclusion of formal business and refreshments:

 Presentations by Diane Ling, of Suffolk FWAG “Suffolk Native crayfish survey” and Colin Lucas “Suffolk Leafhopper survey 2012”, both projects funded by SNS.  Other member presentations are welcome.

24 White Admiral 84 The Society’s publications will be on sale during the evening.

Directions The Cedars Hotel is situated on the B1113 between Stowmarket and Needham Market. From the A14, turn off towards Stowmarket on the A1120 and then turn right onto the dual carriageway. The Cedars Hotel is on the right hand side, clearly signposted.

A map is available on The Cedars Hotel website: http://www.cedarshotel.co.uk/map.html

Notice in connection with the sale of Rosehill Wood

The Charity Commission has agreed that SNS may sell Rosehill Wood. This land was given to the Society under the will of Mrs Frances Elizabeth Rivis. It forms a charity is known as Trust property held in connection with Suffolk Naturalists’ Society (charity no. 206084-1). This has been agreed by the Trustees of SNS and notified to members at previous AGMs. The sale is subject to a new Scheme being drawn up. As the land is defined as designated land, SNS Trustees must, before entering into an agreement for a contract for the disposal, give this notice to their members under section 121 of the Charities Act 2011. The site is an area of about 14 acres of mixed woodland once attached to Rosehill house on the A1094 at Farnham, Suffolk IP17 1JU. It would be sold freehold, through a land agent. Representations need to be made within one calendar month of the next SNS AGM on April 11th 2013. Any such representations should be sent to the Chairman of the Suffolk Naturalists’ society, c/o The Museum, High St. Ipswich IP1 3QH.

White Admiral 84 25 Field meeting: The geology of Suffolk’s lost c i t y – D u n w i c h

Norwich Crag sands St. James’ Church – o ve r 20 & overlying gravels different rock types

Sunday July 7 th, 2 0 1 3 Leaders: Roger Dixon and Bob Markham Dunwich and its history will be familiar to many of you. However, the processes and materials that have shaped that history may not be so well known. This field excursion will examine the coastal marine processes that have led to the rapid retreat of the cliffs (1 ½ miles in the last 2,000 years) and the unconsolidated sands and gravels of which they are made, the Norwich Crag and Westleton Beds. In an area that is not noted for its local building stones, Dunwich village is, however, of great interest and serves to illustrate not only changing styles of architecture and materials, but also changes in industry, agriculture and commerce, and social and political history. The leper chapel, for example, illustrates Norman decorative stone-work and St. James’ church contains a surprising variety of ‘foreign’ stone. The boundary wall of Greyfriars contains Coralline Crag, currently being restored using Crag from Sudbourne, and other local stone is in evidence. Optional extra: after lunch (beach café, pub or bring packed lunch) we will visit a nearby former gravel pit to examine the Westleton Beds in more detail. The present is the key to the past – how do geologists interpret the environment of deposition? Meet at the public beach car park (TM 479707) at 10.00hrs. Our geo-walk will take about 3 hours, and will include walking along 1km of beach shingle. A leaflet on the geology of Dunwich can be downloaded (free) from the GeoSuffolk web-site: www.geosuffolk.co.uk

26 White Admiral 84 Halesworth

Halesworth Millennium Green Trust have been awarded funding from the British Ecological Society to carry out an extensive program of ecological research, surveying and training on the Green. This is part of the nationwide series of events the BES has planned for their ‘Festival of Ecology’ centenary celebrations in 2013. The program of events is currently at the embryonic stage but as of present the following is planned: ‘Go Wild on Wednesday’ evening workshops & Sunday daytime workshops Wed 19th June 6.30 - 9pm Geology/Ecology Dale Peck/Richard Wollnough Wed 26th June 6.30 - 9pm Plants Graham Peck Sun 30th June 10am - 3pm Mammals/Reptiles & Kelly Jacobs/ Amphibians Etienne Swarts Wed 3rd July 6.30 - 9pm Hedges & Trees Mike Wade Sun 7th July 10am - 3pm Dragonflies & Graham Peck Damselflies Wed 10th July 6.30 - 9pm Bats Alan Miller/ Etienne Swarts Wed 17th July 6.30 - 9pm Owls

‘Eco Fair’ – to be held on the weekend of the 13th/ 14 th Ju l y

Sat 13th July Science & Surveying Day

Sun 14th July Craft & Creative Day

If anyone requires further details or wishes to lend their expertise for a specialist workshop then please contact: Dale Peck on 01502 578343 or email [email protected] or Nicky Rowbottom on 01502 578470 or email [email protected] http://millenniumgreen.halesworth.net White Admiral 84 27 Future events organised by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Visit to Flowton Brook Spring walk to survey butterflies on 23/04/2013 Farm John Cousins’ 350 acre farm - 01473 726649 Spring Butterfly Watching An indoor training session, followed by 04/05/2013 for Novice Recorders - practical butterfly watching on an Barnham Village Hall/ excellent site. Enrol in advance - Barnhamcross Common 01284 705476 Start of Dingy Skipper Help with surveys for Dingy Skipper. 15/05/2013 Week - Kings Forest Please contact Rob Parker in advance to notify availability for other dates - 01284 705476 Coastal Butterflies Walk around the Covehithe/Benacre/ 26/05/2013 Kessingland area looking for butterflies and other wildlife. Contact Bill Stone - 07906 888603 Moth night at Purdis Lead by Tony Prichard - 01473 270047 08/06/2013 Heath Silver-studded Blue Survey Please register in advance - 01284 28/06/2013 at Minsmere RSPB reserve 705476 Silver-studded Blue Survey Please register in advance - 01284 05/07/2013 at RSPB Minsmere (part 2) 705476

Pakenham Wood for Silver- A chance to look for this recently 14/07/2013 washed Fritillary returned fritillary. Lead by Mike Dean - 07754115368 Butterflies on the Heath Joint event with SWT at Knettishall 27/07/2013 Heath reserve. Contact Matt Berry - 07599 243026 Wildlife Garden visit - An invitation from B.C. member Mrs 28/07/2013 Aldeburgh Trudie Willis, to visit her 10 acre garden, including a Buddleia & Honeysuckle collection

Visit www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk for more details and more events

28 White Admiral 84 Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Bursaries

The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society offers five bursaries, of up to £500 each, annually.

Morley Bursary - usually awarded for studies involving insects (or other invertebrates) other than butterflies and moths. Chipperfield Bursary - usually awarded for studies involving butterflies or moths. Cranbrook Bursary - usually awarded for studies involving mammals or birds. Rivis Bursary - usually awarded for studies into the County’s flora. Simpson Bursary - in memory of Francis Simpson; this will be for a botanical study where possible.

Any member wishing to apply for a bursary should write, with details of their proposed project, to the Honorary Secretary. As applications are normally considered at the Council meeting in May of each year, proposals should be with the Hon. Sec. by 30th April.

Applications made at other times will be considered but, even if considered worthy of an award, may not be successful if all the bursaries for the current year have already been taken.

The following two conditions apply to the awards:

Projects should include a large element of original work and applications must include a breakdown of how the bursary will be spent. 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.

SNS, SOG & SWT Taster Day 29th June 2013 - Knettishall Heath Aquatic & terrestrial inverts, dragonflies, moths, flora, birds, geology & more… More info to come www.sns.org.uk FOUNDED IN 1929 by Claude Morley (1874 -1951), The Suffolk Naturalists’ Society pioneered the study and recording of the County’s flora, fauna and geology, to promote a wider interest in natural history. Recording the natural history of Suffolk is still one of the Society’s primary objects, and members’ observations are fed to a network of specialist recorders for possible publication before being deposited in the Suffolk Biological Records Centre, which is based in Ipswich Museum. Suffolk Natural History, a review of the County’s wildlife, and Suffolk Birds, the County bird report, are two high quality annual publications issued free to members. The Society also publishes a newsletter, White Admiral, and organises two members’ evenings a year plus a conference every two years . Subscriptions: Individual members £15.00; Family membership £17.00; Corporate membership £17.00. Joint membership with the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group: Individual members £28.00; Family membership £32.00. As defined by the Constitution of this Society its objects 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 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 433547 www.sns.org.uk