Issue 3 September 2007

The newsletter for biological recorders in Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral

In this issue: Woodlice in Cheshire Predator and Prey Studies for Halton Schools Rhia McBain’s Introduction to Biological Recording

Special feature: This issue has been produced with the support of Enter the NBN Gateway p.6

Cover photograph - Chrysotoxum bicinctum © copyright Jeff Clarke WELCOME to the third ADONIS LADYBIRD IS Rocks!! edition of the The Sentinel. I hope you enjoy the balance of articles in FIRST FOR HALTON rECOrd, Cheshire’s natural history database, is undertaking yet another the latest edition. We need a regular recording project. Following the sucess of supply of contributions and if your the Heritage Lottery Funded “Unlocking interest group has so far not been the Past” and “Halton Bluebell” projects, represented why not write one for rECOrd is turning its attention to recording the next edition. Also required are the geology of Halton. “Bringing Geology small articles of 500 - 800 words and to Life in Halton” is a project aimed at snippets of interest 150 - 200 words. linking aspects of Halton’s biodiversity If you have good quality images with its geodiversity. The project has to help illustrate your text please recently commenced after securing a £45k

Adonis Ladybird © Jeff Clarke grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. supply these as a JPEG of TIFF at Five sites are being selected for biological a minimum of 300 dpi and 1600 A guided walk at Pickering’s Pasture LNR during a recent Country Fayre provided an unexpected bonus. Sitting and geological recording, two of which pixels on the longest edge. on top of a Wild Carrot flower head, the diminutive will then gain interpretation boards and Images and articles can be stood out as something out of the ordinary. trail leaflets. The final product will be an emailed direct to the editor at A quick trawl through the literature and on various update of Halton’s Local Geodiversity websites soon confirmed the suspicions that this was Action Plan. rECOrd is now recruiting jeff.clarke@halton .gov.uk something different. The Adonis LadybirdHippodamia volunteers for a number of aspects Jeff Clarke, Editor variegata is the first known specimen in the Halton area. An interrogation of the reECOrd website revealed at of the project, including the steering total of three records from within Cheshire. The first group, field recorders, researchers and NEWS IN BRIEF record is from Wallasey Sand Dunes in 1994, then two data inputers. If you are interested in from the Alvanley area in 2004. The is probably receiving more information, or feel you MAMMAL SYMPOSIUM easily overlooked as a variant of Two-spot Ladybird but could help, please contact Tom Hunt at it has a slightly slimmer elongated shape and it was this [email protected] feaure that alerted the finder on this latest occasion. AT CHESTER ZOO or ring 01244 383749. Jeff Clarke– Wildspace Officer The Cheshire Mammal Group will be holding Tom Hunt - Biological Halton Borough Council a one day symposium on British Mammals on Records Officer rECOrd Saturday 1st December at the Lecture Theatre, Chester Zoo, commencing at 9.30 am. The Biodiversity Training Presentations will cover a range of topic of both Project is a 5 year project national and local interest, the morning will funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Field mainly be dedicated to species related topics Studies Council. It aims to such as Water Voles and Bats. The afternoon promote, encourage and session will consist of speakers from the Cheshire enhance biological recording and other local mammal groups who will amongst volunteers in the describe some of the projects currently being Shropshire and wider West undertaken in their region, there will also be Midlands region by the a selection of display material. Refreshments provision of free training and lunch will be provided on the day. in recording techniques and species identification. At the same time, there will be an exhibition This works in two ways, firstly by offering a number of artwork by the well-known wildlife of public events, and artist David Quinn, some of which will be then arranging bespoke events with recording groups, societies and organisations to enable them to used to illustrate the forthcoming book on better target free training at their members. It is likely that around 40 events will be arranged and Cheshire Mammals, due out in 2008. funded by the project during 2007, with similar numbers targeted for each year until the end of 2010. As well as the more easily represented groups, some weight will be given to the areas of natural history For further information contact : that are known to be difficult, or where few recorders exist. There are also monies available to start ValCooper 01925 604503 (home) to train trainers of the future, so that we continue the chances of future involvement of volunteers. or e-mail [email protected] Another aspect of the project is progression. We are aiming to bring in people at the bottom of the skills pyramid and progress them over the 5 years of the project. In doing so we hope it will bring a certain amount of sustainability to what we do, rather than work in a short-term way. I know from Deadline for the submission experience as an entomologist that these things take time and there are no short cuts to these skills. If you want more details of the project, or our courses, please feel free to get in touch or view our website. of articles and images Pete Boardman for the next edition is Biodiversity Training Project Officer December 31st 2007. Tel: 01743 852100 - [email protected] www.field-studies-council.org/biodiversity 2 Woodlice in Cheshire by Steve Gregory 20 species of woodlice have been recorded album. Other species, such as Recording Scheme from Cheshire (there are 39 found in Britain). the False Pill-woodlouse Cylisticus convexus, The woodlouse Recording Scheme (see contact Four species, pusillus agg., thrive on the disturbed conditions found details below) is happy to check identifications asellus, Philoscia muscorum and Porcellio high on sparsely vegetated ‘soft’ sea cliffs. or even identify collected specimens (by prior scaber, are ubiquitous and together with the Many woodlice tend to occupy sites disturbed arrangement). The Scheme is currently collating pill-woodlouse are the by human activities. Stone walls or rockeries woodlouse records from around Britain and five most frequently encountered species. are good places to look for Porcellio spinicornis it is hoped to publish an updated woodlouse However, the woodlice of Cheshire are relatively and the less common Armadillidium spp., whilst distribution atlas in a few years time. unknown, a fact which which prompted a compost heaps are likely to turn up This is a good opportunity to help improve field trip by experts of British Myriapod and pruinosus or even Porcellio dilatatus or P. laevis. the knowledge of woodlice in Cheshire and to Isopod Group in 2003. This added Armadillidium In ants’ nests the tiny white Ant Woodlouse get your records included in the new atlas. I depressum to the Cheshire list, but it is certain Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi, can be found. would urge anyone who has woodlouse records that other species await discovery, including at Thus, sites such as old churchyards, railway to send them to me as soon as possible and least three coastal species high-lighted below. sidings and disused quarries can support definitely before October 2007. I am happy to accept records in any format but records in an electronic format would save me time that is Woodlice recorded in Cheshire [*or recorded in adjacent counties] better spent on preparing the text! Please don’t Ligia oceanica – Sea Slater miss this chance to get your dots on the map! Androniscus dentiger – Rosy Woodlouse Haplophthalmus danicus – Spurred Ridgeback Haplophthalmus mengii – Menge’s Ridgeback [*Miktoniscus patiencei – White Black-eye] Trichoniscoides saeroeensis – Coastal Red-eye Trichoniscus pusillus agg – Common Pygmy Woodlouse Trichoniscus pygmaeus – Least Pygmy Woodlouse [*Halophiloscia couchi – Pale Shore Woodlouse] Oniscus asellus – Shiny Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum –Striped Woodlouse Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi – Ant Woodlouse [*Armadillidium album – Beach Pill-woodlouse] – Southern Pill-woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare – Common Pill-bug Cylisticus convexus – False Pill-woodlouse Porcellio dilatatus – Round-tailed Woodlouse Porcellio laevis – Glossy Woodlouse – Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio spinicornis – Painted Woodlouse Porcellionides cingendus – Western Woodlouse Porcellionides pruinosus – Plum Woodlouse

extremely diverse Oniscus asellus © copyright McWilliam Steve Woodlouse habitats woodlouse communities. In terms of both species diversity and species Deciduous woodland, especially in damp Steve Gregory (Scheme Organiser) rarity the coast is the most interesting place to spots and where calcareous soils occur, can Non-Marine Isopod Recording Scheme look. Here the large Sea Slater Ligia oceanica (up be productive for woodlice. Turning logs and e-mail: [email protected] to 30mm) is common on rocky shores, but there is large stones will locate most species, but c/o Northmoor Trust, Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, a great number of smaller species. Some, such as those partly embedded into stream banks nr Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4QZ the pale Trichoniscoides saeroeensis, are as little or damp hollows are better for small elusive tel: 01865 407792 as 2mm in size. Many species occur in the ‘splash Pygmy Woodlice (e.g. Haplophthalmus and zone’ at or just above the zone of accumulated Trichoniscoides spp.). However, non-standard Essential Reading ‘strandline’ debris bordering salt marsh, sand methods could turn up the unexpected. For Harding, P.T. & Sutton, S.L. (1985). Woodlice in dunes, shingle beaches or at the base of cliffs. example, in acidic oak woodland, the rare Britain and Ireland: distribution and habitat. Careful searching in such places may well reveal pill-woodlouse may be Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. Huntingdon Miktoniscus patiencei, Halophiloscia couchi or found in ‘beetle’ habitats several metres above Hopkin, S.P. (1991). A Key to the Woodlice of ground level under loose bark, or in rot holes. Britain and Ireland. Field Studies. 7: 599-650 3 Lessons in Life and Death by Jeff Clarke I have been involved in small mammal trapping, on and off, for some twenty five years, but it is only recently, in the last five years, that I have done so on more than an occasional basis. The reason for the increase is directly correlated with my full time role as Wildspace Officer for Halton Borough Council. Part of my remit is to work extensively with High Schools to facilitate environmental field studies on Local Nature Reserves in Halton. To further this goal I have worked closely with advisors from the LEA, specialist teaching staff from the City Learning Centres and individual teachers, to provide curriculum based lessons in a

field setting. The value of these lessons Wood Mouse © Jeff Clarke becomes clear when you realise that is reflected in the variety of small There is always an air of anticipation the only alternative teaching strategy mammals resident on the site. as we start checking the traps. Very for most of the subjects covered is few of the students, no matter what straight text book learning. Through In order to deliver lessons with age, have ever seen a ‘wild’ small this process it quickly became clear comparable data I always set thirty mammal before and certainly none that by giving students access to Longworth Traps for each session, has ever seen one being handled. As ‘real world’ experiences in the natural at specified locations within the we always start with the woodland environment they gained and equally reserve, fifteen in woodland and traps the first thing that drops into importantly, retained far more woodland edge and a fifteen in the plastic bag is almost invariably knowledge about the ecological grassland. Traps are baited with grain a Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus. We processes they are required to study, and casters. The casters are vital as then weigh and measure the , than could ever be achieved through any shrews accidentally entering from the tip of the nose to the base entirely classroom based study. the traps would starve to death very of the tail, I also clip the fur for future quickly without suitable food. identification purposes. The animal is The majority of field lessons take then placed briefly in an examination place at Oxmoor LNR. This reserve has School groups arrive on site by tank so that the students can study the benefit of breeding Kestrels and 9.30am and are familiarised with the mouse’s anatomical features. We locally breeding Common Buzzards the technical equipment used in pay particular attention to the obvious and as such it is an ideal site to the recording process. This includes features, such as counter-shading, study ‘Predator & Prey’ relationships, PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants), that enable the mouse to evade an important topic in the Science Data Loggers & Digital Cameras. We potential predators. Each new animal Curriculum. In addition the site has begin processing the small mammals is processed in the same way, though a broad range of habitats and this immediately this is completed. only the first example of each new species is placed in the viewing tank.

On average I catch nine mammals in the fifteen woodland traps, at the start of autumn this can be as high as thirteen out of fifteen. By early spring this number can drop as low as four per fifteen and is a reflection of low population levels at this time of year. Only three species of small mammal have so far been trapped within the woodland, Wood Mouse (66%) Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus (33%) and Sorex araneus (1%). Based on examination

Bank © Jeff Vole Clarke of the traps it is clear that many shrews enter traps but escape. We then switch to the grassland Spring/Summer 2007 proved to be a Many people I am sure question where the species mix is significantly bumper breeding year for the local the value of this kind of study. Does different. Short tailed field VoleMicrotus kestrels and owls and was reflective it stress the captured ? Yes agrestis is normally the dominant of the very high small mammal of course, but we do our utmost species captured here, typically 40% populations. Indeed the mild winter of to handle the animals gently and of the catch, followed by Wood Mouse 2006/7 enabled many small mammals with care and for the minimum (30%), which through its ubiquity lives to survive the winter in good possible time. We also avoid up to its alternative name tag of Long- condition, many breeding very early. trapping in the breeding season. tailed Field Mouse. Bank Voles (20%) In fact there were often too many The real value comes from the fact feature, but normally only along the small mammals for me to process with that we are able to enthuse and field edges, Common Shrew accounts the school groups, not something I encourage so many students, many for almost 10% of the catch. Very had experienced before in March. A from very deprived backgrounds, occasionally there will be a Pygmy typical catch rate in March would be open their eyes to the value of the Shrew Sorex minutus in the traps which nine out of thirty traps; in 2007 it often natural world and I know for a fact probably reflects its preference for topped twenty out of thirty (max 23). that we have encouraged some to grassland and its ability to escape. take a greater interest in science We tended to have higher catch rates as a direct result of their visit. The mammal trapping at Oxmoor on mild, damp, windy nights. I believe LNR has been carried out regularly this to be a response to the lowered between the months of October and risk of detection by predators such as Acknowledgements: March since 2002. Many hundreds owls, as their movements are masked Ray Weaver, Nicola Grey, Graham of mammals have been handled in to some degree by background Holland, Nick Aymes (City learning that time and this relatively long term noise, making them harder to detect. Centres staff), Staff & pupils of the trapping programme has produced Fur clipping showed that Wood following High Schools. St. Chads some fascinating observations. Mouse are more likely to turn up in a Catholic High School, Halton High Perhaps the most important of different trap following mild, windy, School, The Heath School, The these is that we have been able to nights than on cool, still, nights. Bankfield School, Sts. Peter and Paul plot and demonstrate the cyclical Catholic High School, Fairfield High nature of the Field Vole population Badgers occasionally break into School, all of whom were involved and in so doing predict way back traps and presumably eat the in the gathering and retention in the autumn of 2005 that 2006 contents. On one occasion I found a of the data used in this article. would be a poor breeding year for trap broken open and explained to the Common Kestrel. So it proved with the total failure of the Oxmoor LNR pair and also the vast majority of pairs in the biological recording area covered by the Sentinel.

The Field Vole crash of 2005/6 brought about a change in distribution of the Bank Vole on the reserve. By the end of the trapping period, in the absence of Field Voles, we began to record odd Bank Voles appearing in traps up to thirty metres from the nearest available woodland cover. When trapping resumed in early October Field © Jeff Vole Clarke Small numbers of Field Voles began the students what had happened, Oxmoor LNR is an excellent site reappearing in traps, these were showed them where the badger for mammals and the complete mostly young animals but we were still had been snuffling through the leaf list of species recorded follows: capturing large Bank Voles well out in litter etc. only to discover a Bank Hedgehog, Mole, Water Shrew, the grassland. However by the end of Vole still cowering in the discarded Common Shrew, Pygmy Shrew, autumn the Bank Voles had retreated tunnel section of the trap. Daubenton’s Bat, Common Noctule, back to the woodland edge. This Common Pipistrelle, Soprano would seem to be in response to an Very often you find a trap entrance Pipistrelle, Brown Long-eared Bat, upsurge in the Field Vole population. stuffed with leaves. By using a webcam Rabbit, Brown Hare, Grey Squirrel, This return to normal distribution we were able to uncover the culprit. A Bank Vole, Field Vole, Water Vole, was maintained through into March Wood Mouse will attempt to secure a Wood Mouse, Brown Rat, Red Fox, 2007 by which time the Field Vole stash of food and hide it from potential Badger, American Mink, Stoat, Weasel. population was clearly rebuilding. competitors, mainly other Wood Mice, by literally burying the evidence. A Gateway to Biodiversity Information by Mandy Henshall As a reader of the Sentinel you are www.searchnbn.net receives rights are required to see the full probably already involved with, an average of 120,000 visits per resolution of the data, then this must or have an interest in, biological month. Visitors to the site range be sought from the administrator recording. Indeed, this involvement from naturalists interested in the for the particular dataset. Whilst means that you are one of the distribution of particular species in there is no direct cost to casual estimated 60,000 people who collect the UK, government agencies that users associated with viewing or biodiversity information in the UK monitor changes in populations of downloading the data (assuming they (Co-ordinating Commission for threatened species, and the general have permission to do so from the Biological Recording (CCBR) report public interested in the wildlife data providers), the NBN Gateway’s 1995). The UK government, through in their area. But how does the terms and conditions (available on the its conservation agencies, and local Gateway work? The system is very site) cover copyright and intellectual government and conservation and simple. Currently almost 22 million rights in the data, and must be wildlife-related NGOs also collect individual records from 199 datasets adhered to, such as acknowledging biodiversity data and one of the covering plants, mammals, birds and sources. Sometimes, if a private principal elements for the collation invertebrates are warehoused on the organisation has to rely on limited and interpretation of these data is Gateway’s main server and these can funding to support its work, it may the network of local records centres. then be queried and displayed on a allow a reduced level of access to data, This may not be news to many of you map of the UK in a number of different but may require payment for detailed reading this article, but did you know ways. For instance, you can look at access or the right to download data. that there is now a system which aims a specific area at Ordnance Survey to make as much of this information grid map level or you can select one The NBN relies on joint working available as possible? Until recently, of the vice counties, as well as zoom between the many organisations all the collected data have been held in to a particular locality to find out making up the Network and local by many different organisations and what has been recorded there. The records centres are a key part of this. individuals in a variety of formats, from NBN Trust’s policy is to encourage all Close working with local biological computer databases to handwritten data providers to allow as full access or environmental records centres will hopefully allow the NBN in due course to disseminate huge amounts of data. LRCs provide a vital service to local data contributors and users, and are seen by the NBN Trust as potentially the local manifestation of the NBN. All biodiversity data need to be interpreted to maximise their value and LRCs, with their local knowledge, are well placed to undertake the task of giving context to their and other people’s raw data.

The NBN Trust supports the principle that, wherever possible, environmental information should be freely available to all, as this generally benefits the environment by increasing awareness, enabling better decision-making and reducing risk of record cards. Now however, the to their data as possible. All records damage. However, in a small number National Biodiversity Network or NBN are available at least at 10km scale of cases, public access to information (a collaborative project involving and many at 2km or 1km. Some are can result in environmental harm. the UK’s wildlife conservation also available at 100m resolution (or The Network recognises that in such organisations, the government and better) although usually you must cases, availability of information country agencies and many voluntary be registered on the Gateway and may need to be controlled; although groups) makes species data as freely logged in to see records at this level of the presumption remains in favour available as possible in a digitised form detail. Access to all the datasets held of release and restrictions will be on the internet, via the NBN Gateway by the NBN is individually controlled interpreted rigorously. The Network web-site (www.searchnbn.net). by data administrators appointed by has a standard of good practice for the data owners. If enhanced access managing ‘sensitive information’ and the criteria defining this are carefully to make best use of it. Added to local authority planners with direct applied when the sensible release of data supplied from elsewhere, such access to data on their internal GIS. information comes into question. as from the UK Biological Records The data access controls are still in Centre, the NBN Gateway allows place and the NBN Gateway terms Bringing so much data together collation of most of the known data and conditions still apply, so the use (almost 22 million records as at the on this species in the region. of web services will not affect the end of January 2007 were available standards we have already defined. on the Gateway) from many different Development of the Gateway is now places has created an invaluable tool focused on creating the tools which However you use the data on for those individuals and organisations allow users to integrate the data and the Gateway and interpret the information, it is, without doubt, an incredibly useful resource. Information about the distribution and abundance of species and habitats is vital if we are to make informed decisions to help protect our wildlife. What is even more important however, is the passion of, and ongoing biological recording by, the organisations and individuals who are out in the field doing the hard work. Only if this continues will we be able to monitor changes to our nation’s wildlife in the future.If your organisation is interested in providing

interested in the wildlife of the UK. The information is proving to be invaluable for analysis and has recently been used by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to collate trends in species (www.jncc.gov.uk/WildlifeStatistics)

The Cheshire area itself has already benefited from some important project work carried out with the help of the Gateway, namely the release of a major dataset concerned with Great-crested Newts in and around the county. The project stemmed from United Utilities’ need to make maps available through the Gateway data to the NBN Gateway contact their data available, but importantly, into their own systems, such as the Gateway help desk team at as the dataset also included other websites. Web services, as they are [email protected] or visit the contract data from consultancies, as known, are now available and being library section of the Gateway well as data supplied from rECOrd, used by a number of organisations. at www.searchnbn.net where the Cheshire and district local records you will find useful information centre, it represents nearly all the Web services, quite simply, allow third in our Data Provider Pack. known data so far available for this party applications to be developed protected species from the Cheshire which access data from the Gateway region, which is a major focal point for and allow their integration with other the species in Britain (and ). websites or other desktop computer applications. This means, for example, This project demonstrated quite that a recording scheme can present clearly the power of the Gateway species distribution maps, built by to make even highly detailed data the Gateway, on their website; or a available in a way that allows others Local Records Centre can provide Summer Madness? by Rhia McBain I feel there are a few things you should know before you attend these sessions though. All of the sessions I attended involved packed lunches (make sure you take a large enough lunch as some of the days can involve a fair bit of walking!), but even if it doesn’t mention packed lunches make sure that you take a little snack just in case – and make sure you take lots of water with you. Another thing I found vital was to take notes as it is impossible to memorise all the information. It is helpful to take any guide books you have on the subject with you because you will be familiar with using them. On the day you will get recommendations for guide books that have proved most useful for the experts.

I found these sessions invaluable and would recommend them to anyone as they are interesting whether you are a beginner or seeking to expand your existing knowledge. All of the experts were enthusiastic and were so knowledgeable that it was

© copyright Rhia McBain a privilege to join them. These sessions are a great After being brought up in a small village, where I my birthday they decided I had gone beyond just opportunity to meet like-minded people. Each was made to understand and respect the flora and a bit weird, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and training day had some different faces as well as fauna around me, a part of me always knew that I would most definitely do it again. The day involved familiar ones, but everyone was very friendly and would like to learn and share as much as possible an indoor session in the morning including a everybody thoroughly enjoyed the sessions they about the environment. At eleven, I moved up to presentation about otters, their habitat, distribution, attended. In fact these training days have helped Chester and since then I have been interested in why they may be in trouble in Cheshire and how to give me back the excitement in the environment the effects of humans on the environment. There we can help them to re-establish in this area. There that I had lost after changing to city life. I can no seemed to be much less flora and fauna up here, was an interval half way through the presentation longer pass by a bush buzzing with life without everything seemed to be about brands and labels and at the end questions were answered followed stopping to see which bumblebee species is causing and not about species and their habitats and antics. by lunch break. After lunch, we were taken out for all the noise - and I am not the only one affected. However I was very lucky and attended a high school a walk around the park to see what signs we could My mother still brings grasses back from walks to which taught environmental studies from year 9. I find of otters visiting the area. Unfortunately due to see whether she got her identifications right !!! enjoyed this subject so much that I took it at GCSE the rain earlier on there were very few signs of the and then took Environmental Science at A level. I am otters, although we were shown the otter bridge Checking out the Fungi ID table, now in my second year at university studying (yes which allows the otters to cross underneath the or possibly supplementing you guessed it) Environmental Science and have now road safely. Even though few signs were found it the packed lunch! decided that I would still like to fulfill my childhood proved to be a very interesting day and I found new dream to do something within the environmental friends who understood a little more about my field and try to make a difference in some way. ‘madness’, as they were there for the same reasons.

I have been a member of Wildlife Trusts for as I then attended a variety of different training days long as I can remember and now I am a member including bumblebee id, reptiles, wildflowers, of Cheshire Wildlife Trust. I discovered they phase one habitat surveying, and grasses and were holding training days, giving people the sedges days. Each of the sessions I attended opportunity to learn about a great variety of proved as interesting as the others. The only things, from how to identify different species of day which did not have an outdoor session was grass and wildflowers to how to track otters. The the reptile day, but this was due to the weather training days included both indoor and outdoor (it had been raining very hard all day and so it activities to allow everyone to put into practice was unlikely that any reptiles would be about). what they were learning. I attended as many of If you are at all interested in the environment, these training days as I could, but unfortunately learning about different species or identifying many were filled by the time I rang to book. habitats, then I can think of nothing better. I intend to attend as many of the next sessions The first training day I attended was the otter as possible to build on the knowledge from last session, which was actually held on my birthday. year and to gain knowledge in other areas. When I told my friends that I would be doing this on © copyright Rhia McBain