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

Newsletter 92 Autumn 2015

Suffolk Naturalists’ Society C o n ten t s

E di to r ia l Ben Heather 1 W ha t’ s o n? 2 Using iRecord: A Verifier’s Point Adrian Chalkley 3 o f V i ew The Dunwich Heath Bioblitz 27 Stuart Warrington, Alison 6 and 28th May 2015 Joseph, Richard Gilbert & Lloyd James Realising the Potential of the Alex Moore da Luz 8 River Stour at Great and Little B r a dley Evolution of a Breckland Caroline Markham 12 Landscape by Richard West Wildlife at home and work G i G ri eco 13 Fungi twitching in November Juliet Hawkins 15 The Tawny Owls in Christchurch Richard Stewart 19 P a r k Arthur Rivett – winner of Pete Su e H o o to n 21 Guest Award 2015 The Wild Flower Society Winter Anne and Dennis Kell 22 Months Hunt My Year 2015 Trevor Goodfellow 24

Gonocerus acuteangulatus , a ka C. J. B. Hitch & K. Carr - 28 the Box Bug Ta nsley A letter to the editor Alan Cornish 28 SNS Members Holiday Offer G r eenw i ngs 29 Ganoderma australe or Ga n od e rm a Neil Mahler 30 a ds pe rs u m ? ISSN 0959-8537 Published by the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH Registered Charity No. 206084 © Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Cover Photo: Red Deer Stag - Margaret Holland www.flickr.com/photos/67065881@N00/ SuffolkThe Naturalists’ Society

Newsletter 92 - Autumn 2015

Welcome to this bumper Autumn issue of the White Admiral newsletter and thank you to all those who contributed to making this such a full edition. I have had to keep several pieces aside due to space limitations and these will be first in the queue for the Spring newsletter in the new year. The main thing I would like to draw your attention to in this editorial is our conference in early 2016. As revealed in the last issue, it will be called “Freshwater Revival” and will focus on the world of freshwater conservation over the last 25 years. We are now able to confirm that we have a full line up of speakers and talks in place including:  Dr Naomi Ewald (Freshwater Habitats Trust) - The Flagship Ponds Project, PondNet and Clean Water for Wildlife  Dr Carl Sayer (University College London) - Norfolk Ghost Ponds Project  Darren Tansley (Essex Water for Wildlife Project) - Aquatic mammals  Dr Trevor Bond (Environment Agency) - River Restoration schemes within Suffolk  Dr Alan Walker (CEFAS) - European eels: the science and the mystery  Dr David Bilton (Plymouth University) - Water Beetles in Conservation Plus, new this year, we will have some quick-fire talks between the main presentations. Please see the advert over the page and remember to buy your ticket soon, to avoid disappointment.

Editor: Ben Heather Suffolk Biological Records Centre,

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

White Admiral 92 1 For more information and to book your place visit www.sns.org.uk/pages/conference.shtml

Autumn Members Evening

Thurs 19th Nov | 7:30pm Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket IP14 2AJ

Talks by Ben Heather on ‘The Year of the Bioblitz’ and Samantha Lee on ‘Operation Turtle Dove’. Plus recorder updates and the return of the popular autumn quiz! Drinks will be available from the bar plus complimentary tea/coffee break at half-time. There will also be a range of books, journals and collecting materials donated to the society by the late David Nash which will be free to a good home.

2 White Admiral 92 Using iRecord: A Verifier’s Point of View

It’s been a busy summer for One problem I often have in Bioblitzes, which seem more verifying a record is when I do not popular than ever. Being at a know the person making it. An Bioblitz watching people poring example may help here. I was over wildlife guides, often with presented with a record of a pond advice from an expert, underlines leech, Helobdella stagnalis from a how important these events are for site I had never been to, recorded public engagement with natural by a person I had never heard of. history and for improving The record said ‘certain’. Now H. identification skills. This year stagnalis is one of the commonest however, I’ve been looking at them leeches in freshwater so it was in a slightly different light since tempting to just verify it as correct becoming a verifier on iRecord. which sets the record on its path to Whilst my points below apply to the National Biodiversity Network the freshwater invertebrates I database. But having spent 30 odd verify, I hear similar concerns from years checking the smallest many other iRecord verifiers. morphological details to ensure These points also apply to all accuracy in my own database, I records, whether from BioBlitzes queried the record. This meant or not. explaining that leeches can’t be If I can get to a Bioblitz then identified by comparison with a verifying iRecord data is pretty picture in a general field guide, easy since I know both who was asking which book or key was used there and what went on, but where and, as this was a leech, asking I can’t attend, verifying records how many eyes it had and in what can be more problematical. This is pattern they were arranged. usually due to lack of detail As it turned out, the record came supplied by whoever inputs the from a Scottish ecological consult- record. Often a shortage of ant who was happy to tell me she computers or WiFi difficulties had used the Freshwater Biological mean that one or two people will Association key by Mann, had input data from lists supplied by noted the two eyes set in front of a those who actually observed the ‘callous scute’ or surface mark. So or plant. This degree of no problems, record accepted and separation can make precise now I both know her name and details even more elusive. that she has access to the right

White Admiral 92 3 sort of keys. If it was not obvious to an ecological consultant to add the key and identification features noted then I probably shouldn’t complain when the general public

on BioBlitzes omit these details. D ia gr am And yet those sort of details are exactly what I and many of my fellow verifiers are looking for. As el lus Before we leave leeches by the way, I have one amateur naturalist from the south coast who sends in lots of leech records. He started off by naming the key and, even more important, attaching photos. I now Megafenestra aurita. This is very know the four or five species he is rare and has only ever been familiar with and I don’t need the recorded 8 times. However, the photos or details until he comes rare M. aurita is identical to the across a new (to him) species. common Scapholeberis mucronata Verifier & recorder have built up a to look at with a hand lens. relationship, the ideal situation. Obviously there is a guide out So far, I’ve been using the word there with a drawing of only the key, but realise that many rare species. To distinguish them naturalists are far more likely to needs skill and a compound carry a general natural history microscope at about 400x guide with them, especially at a magnification with phase contrast BioBlitz. Often such a guide will lighting. With no reply to queries have one or two pictures of typical about details I ended up rejecting members of a family, but no all records even though there information about the number of existed the possibility of an species nor details of morphological important record of a rare species. differences between those species. Whilst at the Flatford Mill BioBlitz When I first became an iRecord in August, a couple of the aquatic verifier, I found I was the only one species I recorded underline the in Britain who did water fleas. importance of checking identifica- Thus I found a backlog of records tion with a key. The water slater from BioBlitzes. Many of these or hog louse is a common inver- were records of a waterflea called tebrate in most waterbodies. There

4 White Admiral 92 Crangonyx pseudogracilis

are two species Gammarus pulex, the most which can usual- common species. However, life is ly be told apart by just not that easy and, although the pattern on the head Gammarus pulex is both common (see diagram). Based on the and the most well-known, there are pattern, the Flatford specimen in fact 5 British species needing a appeared to be Asellus meridianus. key and microscope to separate. In However, at home I checked out this case a quick look under the the genitalia under a microscope, microscope revealed the Flatford which clearly showed it to be an Mill Pool specimen to have been Asellus aquaticus with incomplete none of those, instead it was pigmentation. In terms of iRecord Crangonyx pseudogracilis, a North a note added to the record saying American Amphipod unwittingly that the record was made from a brought into the country by man general guide based on the head and now common. pattern would ensure I only So to sum up, iRecord and marked the record as Plausible. A similarly SuffolkBRO (in Suffolk) note to say which key was used are good systems doing a great and that male or female genitalia deal to stimulate public interest in were observed under the recording and in identification. microscope would allow me to Having taken the time to input verify it as correct. their records, naturalists obviously The other Flatford species alluded want them to be used. As records to above is the freshwater shrimp need to be accepted by a specialist shown in the photograph. Now on verifier to be used, by helping the first look this, most people and verifier you are helping yourself. most guides, would call it Gammarus and in all probability

White Admiral 92 5 So please consider the following: 3. If possible, also note the key 1. Read the small print on your features that convince you that nature guide, if it mentions your identification is correct. more than one similar species 4. And of course, a photo is worth consider carefully before you a thousand words. tick the ‘Confident’ box on your Adrian Chalkley identification. Freshwater Invertebrate Recorder 2. Put in a note saying which [email protected] book, guide or key you used to arrive at your identification.

The Dunwich Heath Bioblitz 27 and 28th May 2015

The National Trust has been As part of these celebrations, the celebrating 50 years of its ‘Neptune Trust has organised 25 coastal Coastal Campaign’ throughout bioblitzes, including four in East 2015. This campaign has enabled Anglia, at Dunwich Heath, the Trust to buy 574 miles of Blakeney, Brancaster and Copt glorious coastline, securing these Hall Marshes. Dunwich Heath is a special places for all to enjoy, and very appropriate place to celebrate it now looks after 775 miles of Neptune, since all three land coastline around England, Wales acquisitions there have been part- and Northern Ireland. funded through this campaign, from the main heath in 1968, to Mount Pleasant Farm in 2002 (now in restoration from arable farmland to acid grassland and heathland) and finally a lovely 15 hectare heathland parcel in 2015. The Dunwich Heath Bioblitz was very well supported by members of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society and special thanks to Martin Sanford and Ben Heather of the Suffolk Biological Records Centre for entering the data into their online system. We have 1098 Docwra’s Ditch records of 669 different species for

6 White Admiral 92 Dunwich cliffs

the 24 hour Bioblitz, of which the Arthur Copping in the south-west, vascular plants made up the boggy corner of the Heath, only the largest proportion with 24% (161 third Suffolk site. In the same site species). We hope that there will be were bog pondweed (Potamogeton a few more records to come in when polygonifolius), pill sedge (Carex the specimens collected for pilulifera), Sphagnum fallax, identification have been checked. Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum There were, as expected, several p a l u s t r e a n d S p h a g n u m records of the Dunwich specialities squarrosum. The beach and cliff such as adder, Dartford warbler, areas were a good place to be on woodlark, nightingale, green tiger the morning of the 28th, as they beetle (Cicindela campestris) and were in the sun and out of the ant lion (Euroleon nostras). chilly wind. On the upper beach Docwra’s Ditch, between Dunwich and shingle, and cliff base, were and Minsmere, showed plenty of good stands of sea kale, yellow- signs of water voles, plus saucer horned poppy, sea beet, slender bug (Ilyocoris cimicoides), water thistle and some thrift. stick- (Ranatra linearis), Thank you to everyone who came water spider (Argyroneta aquatica) to Dunwich Heath to record the and smooth newt, often netted special wildlife. We also had over from amongst the abundant Marsh 200 visitors coming to see what St John’s-wort (Hypericum elodes), was going on at the Heath Barn along with 20 species of water and the pond-dipping sessions were beetles. especially popular. Amongst the more unusual Stuart Warrington, Alison Joseph, discoveries was a colony of white Richard Gilbert and Lloyd James sedge (Carex curta) found by (National Trust, Dunwich Heath).

White Admiral 92 7 Realising the Potential of the River Stour at Great and

Little Bradley

The Dedham Vale AONB and failing to achieve their expected Stour Valley Project (DVSVP) is ecological condition, it is the delighted to announce that river responsibility of the relevant restoration works have taken place countries to get their rivers to this Autumn on the River Stour at “good” status/potential. The upper Great and Little Bradley. Dr. River Stour is one such waterbody Trevor Bond, a Geomorphology whose WFD status is not currently Technical Specialist from the good. It is hoped that the Environment Agency, designed the installation of various large woody- river restoration enhancements debris features will greatly and oversaw their implementation enhance a significantly degraded with the help of colleagues. watercourse by creating habitat Attention was focussed on this and moderating natural fluvial stretch of the River Stour mainly processes, which will contribute to due to species-poor levels of improving the status of the river. freshwater flora and fauna This stretch of the River Stour was recorded here, along with the identified as an area where absence of key in-stream habitats. significant ecological improvements It is hoped that river restoration could be made due to the river’s schemes such as this one will help variation in depth, width, flow to improve the ecological condition velocity, tree cover, in-stream of the River Stour by removing the structure, marginal habitat and pond-like habitats that occur bed substrate availability. Unfortu- throughout much of this area and nately, prior to the restoration replacing them with typical enhancements, the ecological value headwater habitats. One of the of this stretch was limited due to largest drivers for habitat poor water quality caused by enhancement along the River Stour agricultural run-off and barriers to is the Water Framework Directive longitudinal connectivity. (WFD). Where watercourses are

A Degraded Stretch of the River Stour

The first section that runs from Brook to the Bradley Road Bridge, downstream of the confluence of is approximately 700m in length. the River Stour and the Kirtling The river is heavily vertically

8 White Admiral 92 EA at work in the River (left). A log jam (right).

incised which prevents the between April and September. As a establishment of significant consequence of the slow flow there marginal vegetation. Even within is a lack of submerged and the channel where features have emergent macrophytes, with little formed, semi-aquatic and riparian flow diversity during normal flows. plants have barely colonised due to These conditions are favourable for the nature of the substrate, which the build-up of algae. There is no is characterised by gravels and large woody-debris within this part sands that are both transient and of the channel as well (despite the contain little organic matter for relative abundance of riparian roots to exploit. Also, trees only trees). Downstream of the weir the occur sporadically in this section river is visibly denuded and and they provide little cover and characterised by a lack of water there is no physical interaction and near static flows. between the trees and the river. In section three, there are also In section two, there are a series of areas of relatively stagnant water. weirs that cause stagnant flows

Woody Debris Solutions!

In order to improve the wood that spans the entirety of unfavourable conditions described, the channel, when possible, a variety of woody debris features they consist of a single piece of were installed by the Environment large wood, cut to the Agency’s Field Team in October dimensions of the channel. The 2015 under the guidance of the log jams will perform a number EA’s Fisheries, Biodiversity and of vital functions including Geomorphology team. forcing fine sediment to fall out  Log Jams - Constructed of of suspension and accumulate

White Admiral 92 9 straight. Due to the lack of in- stream refuges in certain locations, it was necessary to use complex flow deflectors that are bushy and have more than one limb. All woody material installed had to be securely held in place to ensure they are not mobilised during periods of high flow. This was done using wooden stakes that were driven vertically into the river bed and affixed to the large woody-debris using timber screws.  Tree Planting - Trees will also be planted in areas of riparian habitat where their absence

Locations of river enhancement works was contributing to the relatively poor ecological upstream of the structure, condition of the river. The tree thereby reducing its entrain- planting will serve the dual ment downstream. It is also purpose of moderating river hoped that water falling over bank erosion (the root the log-jam will generate a structure provides protection) small scour pool from which and ensuring that large woody gravel is excavated and debris finds its way into the transported downstream to river channel. Native species create further features. The log including alder, willow, oak, -jams will also oxygenate the hawthorn, dogwood and spindle water and provide refuge for will be planted. organisms. It is hoped that the restoration  Flow Deflectors - Numerous work carried out on this stretch of flow deflectors were installed in the River Stour will act as a start- order to accentuate sinuosity in ing point from which a more com- areas that are exhibiting prehensive and all-encompassing meander initiation and vision for the upper Stour valley encouraging bed scour in could be realised. Outside of this reaches that are comparatively habitat creation project it is hoped

10 White Admiral 92 that a long term strategy can be with reducing longitudinal adopted for the gradual removal of connectivity for other organisms the weirs. These structures act as and sediment. a barrier to fish migration along Let’s Not Forget Little Bradley!

Further downstream, in Little Bradley, similar restoration works have taken place that have markedly improved the in-stream habitats of the River Stour. The installation of woody brash mattresses (pictured right), have significantly improved the habitat diversity within the river. The brash mattresses provide shelter for fish and invertebrates from predators and high flows. Log The Stour at Little Bradley deflectors were also installed to increase flow diversity, which in Increasing localised flow speeds turn creates different speeds of can clean the gravel substrate and water creating contrasting habitats provide important spawning for different creatures to live in. habitat for fish.

Should you require any further details on the river restoration schemes please contact the new River Stour Project Officer, Alex Moore da Luz on [email protected] or 01394 445224.

“A Field Guide in Colour to Beetles” by K.W. Harde, 1984.

This book was one of many natural history books owned by my late husband Keith Morris, a member of SNS, who sadly died in 2009. As this book is highly valued, I would like to make it available in return for a donation to A Rocha UK, the environmental charity in which I am involved and since February this year owns the 12 acre nature reserve Foxearth Stour Meadows on the Suffolk/Essex border. The donation will go towards managing the reserve primarily for dragonflies, which Keith was passionate about, but of course all wildlife will benefit. Contact Maureen Morris by email at [email protected]

White Admiral 92 11 Evolution of a Breckland Landscape by Richard West

The Breckland of tion of sand and gravel deposits Suffolk and here provides invaluable Norfolk exhibits a information on the evolution of the variety of ground landscape in this later stage of the features of peri- Pleistocene of East Anglia. The glacial origin diagrams are most revealing and formed subse- include detailed maps of patterned quent to the great ground plus geological sections of Anglian ice sheet which covered the gravel pits. 40 pages of East Anglia about 450,000 years excellent illustrations accompany ago. Permafrost, prevalent during the text - many taken from the air, post-Anglian cold phases, and but also photographs from ground water in the Chalk Professor West’s extensive walking underlying much of the area were survey. This holistic approach to significant in the development of landscape studies is refreshing, these relict landforms. This new stimulating and, as Professor West book by Professor Richard West admits, possibly incautious, but contains an analysis of periglacial will inspire those of us who are landscape features – dry valleys, interested in this area of the patterned ground and ground ice Suffolk/Norfolk borderlands to hollows, in the area around further investigation and study. Beachamwell, Norfolk. Further- Caroline Markham more, Professor West’s investiga-

Evolution of a Breckland Landscape: chalkland under a cold climate in the area of Beachamwell Norfolk by Richard West is published by the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society supported by GeoSuffolk and the Geological Society of Norfolk. Available from SNS at Ipswich Museum (£10) or from www.sns.org.uk/pages/books.shtml

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.

12 White Admiral 92 Wildlife at home and work

Chrysura radians I regularly check the wildlife in my number of solitary bees and wasps. garden but in recent years I have Some of these were probably begun to study it in more detail, always present but it’s only just particularly from when I now that I’ve actively looked for, participated in the Garden Bioblitz taken note of and tried to identify surveys. The idea of the Garden them. Bioblitz was to record as much Similarly at work on a lunchtime wildlife in your garden over a walk I’ll be checking areas and one twenty-four hour period and of the highlights occurred more by submit results online. This deeper accident. I was going to lunch with interest has expanded to when I some colleagues and showed them am out and about including around a Bee-wolf, Philanthus triangulum, my workplace. colony right by a path. This colony One area that I’ve become has grown over the last couple of interested in is hoverflies and years and, while watching, we first . I was familiar with saw a couple of sand-digger wasps some of the more common species Cerceris arenaria , t h e n but the more I looked in the unexpectedly a ruby-tailed wasp garden, and elsewhere, the more I species, most likely Hedychrum came across further species. I don’t niemelai. I managed to obtain a keep a specific list but the number few photos and we drew a large of species of hoverflies I’ve crowd of other colleagues and other encountered in the garden has workers from the site, all risen and I have now recorded a interested in what we were looking

White Admiral 92 13 acuteangulatus (left). boops (right)

at, especially admiring the colourful Another fascinating species I’ve ruby-tailed wasp. found in the garden this year has In the garden I will often have the been Astata boops, a solitary wasp camera to hand in case I find that hunts shieldbug nymphs. One something, finding it is useful to landed on the ground and struggled obtain photos for later identifica- to take off, it climbed some grass tion, and on one such as occasion I stems to gain some height, still spotted a ruby-tailed wasp land on carrying it prey beneath its body, the wooden garden table. I managed and flew a short distance, landed to get a number of photos, looked again before eventually flying off. online for identification and finding Other interesting insect records it to be Chrysura radians submitted over the last year from the garden the details on the online recording include bug species that have web site iRecord. Subsequently the recently colonized the county, identification has been verified. Rhyparochromus vulgaris and Box Further research has found the only Bug, . It recent Suffolk record of C. radians has definitely been the case that the was in 2002 (Knowles, 2003). I’d more you look the more there is to seen many photos in books and find and then identify, so hopefully online of ruby-tailed wasps but I’ll be able to find further never in the field and had always interesting species in my garden wanted to see one, so to see first one and at work in the future. at work then another species in the Gi Grieco garden has been a bit of a highlight.

Reference: Knowles, A. (2003). Aculeate Hymenopteran Recorders’ Report for 2002. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc., 39: 63-65.

14 White Admiral 92 Fungi twitching in November

Autumn 2014 was an amazing around the parish (including the year for fungi but I thought it tip of Little Waldingfield too) in a better to keep the delights of our variety of habitats that included local patch around Milden until ancient and young woodland, autumn time in 2015 so that it is species-rich County Wildlife Site timely for anyone interested to hay meadow (not very good for potter around their own patch - fungi), tightly mown grass, the front lawns or further afield into vegetable patch and even arable ancient woodland - while it’s fresh fields. Here’s just a sample from a in their mind! In November 2014, I couple of these habitats. recorded around 100 species

Woodland Amanitas in November

In an area of less than 1000m2 in Despite years of enthusiastically our neighbour’s adjacent ancient searching for fungi and struggling woodland, part of the SSSI Milden to identify the various species with Thicks in Little Waldingfield, in an armoury of expensive books, I one morning in early November have never knowingly found so 2014, I was able to identify over 34 many Amanitas in one small different species of mainly macro- patch, so it was with huge fungi (i.e. the relatively big ones). excitement that I set about Within the bright coloured identifying them. Armed with Geoffrey Kibby’s relatively cheap brittlegills, funnelcaps, fibre caps, (cheap at c. £17 for the many years milkcaps, bonnets and jelly fungi, I it must have taken to put together) recorded four different species of colour A4 guide The Genus spectacular, slightly sinister, but Amanita in Great Britain (2012) it incredibly glamorous fungi from was quite straightforward to go the genus Amanita: the snakeskin through the keys which focus on grisette (Amanita ceciliae), the features such as cap colour, stem panthercap (A. pantherina), the and volva (and not microscopic death cap (A. phalloides) and the identification of spores), and this blusher (A. rubescens). All were enabled me to confidently identify growing in the soil amongst the them to species level. The photos of leaf litter of mixed broadleaves, most of the species are essential notably oak, hornbeam, ash, hazel back up to the species accounts. and silver birch. Geoffrey Kibby has published sev-

White Admiral 92 15 Amanita ceciliae - Snakeskin grisette

Amanita pantherina - P an ther ca p

Amanita phalloides - D ea th c a p Hygrocybe psittacina var psittacina - Parrot waxcap

16 White Admiral 92 Amanita pantherina - P an ther ca p Agaricus urinascens

Hygrocybe psittacina var psittacina - Parrot waxcap Laccaria amethystina - Amethyst deceiver

White Admiral 92 17 eral of these similar keys to British Our young 10-25 yr old plots of species of Boletes, Lactarius, woodland in November actually Agaricus and Tricholomas and yielded some different species to whilst some do involve spore the ancient woodland that appear identification and chemical tests, to enjoy the slightly lighter and for anyone seriously attempting to grassier conditions with soils that identify these fungi genera to haven’t had centuries of species, they do help immensely accumulated leaf litter – milkcaps, and take one a whole new step club and pipe fungi, poison pie forward from the plethora of fungi fungi (Hebeloma sp), knightcaps guides that describe thousands of and blewitts. fungi with a small description and one tiny image.

Cricket pitches and front lawns

Equally rewarding as a trek to my waxcap guide by David Boertmann nearest ancient woodland, is a (The Genus Hygrocybe) is out of potter in November around some print in English so unless your tightly-mown grass. Suffolk isn’t Danish is excellent, you have to quite as good as the damp West rely on a very good but brief Quick Country when it comes to waxcaps, Waxcap Key (no pictures) which the Hygrocybe, but amazingly in you can download from the 2014 I found no fewer than three internet for free. waxcap species on Milden cricket The closely-mown lawn swards pitch (the 22 yard central pitch is also tend to be good for deceivers the best bit) the golden wax cap (Laccaria sp), bonnets (Mycena sp), (Hygrocybe chlorophana), the lawn funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa) parrot wax cap (H. psittacina var shaggy parasols (Chlorophyllum psittacina), and the snowy wax cap rhacodes), and various Agaricus (H. virginea). Add two more species species which non-mycologists - the slimy wax cap (H. irrigata) lump together as ‘you know, those and the pale meadow waxcap (H. edible proper mushrooms’, which, pratensis var pallida) as well as of course, the yellow stainer that those already mentioned, that were grows on our lawn is definitely not all found on our front, rather for some, or the sometimes huge, mossy lawn on 8 November - and un-appetising urine-smelling that’s quite a haul of waxcaps for macro mushroom Agaricus Milden. Sadly, the really good urinascens that I find on the

18 White Admiral 92 cricket pitch. In addition, to be tightly mown to yield lots of depending on what trees are incredible fungi, but I find October growing close by, some other and November the best months to species turn up that have get out and find them. And when it mycorrhyzal associations with comes to identifying, it’s best to trees, such as red-cracking boletes start off taking home one or two (Xerocomellus sp) with oaks, and samples rather than an entire some milkcaps such as coconut- basket that deprives of a smelling milkcap (Lactarius meal and that you never get glyciosmus) with birch. around to identifying! Woodland doesn’t need to be Juliet Hawkins ancient and grassland doesn’t need

The Tawny Owls in Christchurch Park

In his book ‘Portrait Of An Owl’ thousands, have stood to watch it Reg Snook credits me with the first for more than seven years. sighting of a resident tawny owl in Photographic evidence suggests it Christchurch Park ‘about 8am on is the same one and in 2014, just Monday 22nd September 2008’. I travelling from our house into was the first to report it but Ipswich and back, we saw it 102 dogwalkers saw it the day before times. It is mainly absent from the and then alerted my wife Marie beginning to the end of spring, and myself as we passed by. Thus which is the breeding season, and started a remarkable story that perhaps the most memorable reached the national newspapers. photo, of the owl surrounded by Most people, including dedicated vegetation covered in hoar frost, naturalists, hear but seldom see was taken by Bill Baston. tawny owls, because of their However, local photographer Paul largely crepuscular and nocturnal Sherman, who has recently habits. The one in this park is published an illustrated book about highly visible in daylight hours, the four seasons in the park, has near the top of an oak on the path made the most detailed from the Westerfield road gate photographic study, with diligent down into Ipswich (the oak itself is searching producing a family on the right, about fifteen yards portrait of the two adults and three from the path and easily found by fluffy young. Reg remarks in his looking for the flattened earth). book that tawny owls are Here thousands, probably tens of monogamous.

White Admiral 92 19 probably explains its considerable tolerance to ‘big events’ in the park (one noisy and illuminated ‘fun machine’ was just a measured fifteen yards away). Dissection of nearby owl pellets has revealed a diet of young rat, house mouse and wood mouse, to which can be added young birds. The park’s varied habitats offer plenty of prey, as do the large mature gardens nearby. We hear hunting owls from our house which is

Mabel by Anne - Marie Stewart about five hundred yards from the park and The owl is called the Spinney is nearby, Mabel, as a result linking Westerfield road of a young girl and Tuddenham road - a winning a ‘name the relatively undisturbed green owl’ competition in a corridor. The owl’s presence local paper. Its hole is often leads to conversation close to the top of an oak and once between strangers and my I remarked to someone nearby that favourite sight was of a family it wasn’t there, only to be handed watching it, with one adult slowly his binoculars as the top of its head lifting a young girl, clutching pink was just visible at the bottom of plastic binoculars, to a height and the hole. This hole is probably the angle where she could see it. breeding place and extends deeply Until recently my sightings have down the tree. It also has another always been of the owl in its tree, purpose. Owls are, in daylight sometimes scratching and hours, vulnerable to mobbing by preening, often in early morning other birds so usually seek out facing the eastern sun, with deep cover like ivy clumps. This feathers fluffed out. However, on one is more vulnerable, especially 15th August 2015, as I returned from noisy resident jays, so once it from butterfly watching on the has had enough it simply retires to North Downs, I was at the right the hidden depths of its hole. That place and at the right time, 7.39

20 White Admiral 92 pm to be exact. It flew just ahead very rare opportunity to see such a of me from the tree, across the visible manifestation of a wild and path and into deep foliage on the usually secretive bird, just a few other side. hundred yards from the centre of Reg Snook notes that captive owls Ipswich. have lived for over twenty years so Richard Stewart there is still time to see it. It is a

Arthur Rivett – winner of Pete Guest Award 2015

Last October, Arthur clocked up more than 30 years of dedication to bat conservation - a massive achievement which continues to inspire newcomers to get involved. He is a founder member of Suffolk Bat Group and he helped set it up back in 1984, serving as its first Chairman for the next 12 years. However, the wider SNS communi- ty may not know of his involvement in the discussions that led to the establishment of the national bat charity, Bat Conservation Trust, when he was the Eastern Region Representative with Bat Groups of Britain. Thirty years later, Arthur is still on the Suffolk Bat Group committee, is active as a volunteer roost visitor as well as being the Group’s Trainer and supports anyone keen to train as a roost visitor or wanting experience for a survey licence. He has embraced the technology of bat detectors & computer sound analysis and after Arthur Rivett

White Admiral 92 21 group surveys, writes up all the enthusiasm and inspiration in reports so that landowners get the making a difference, both to bats best advice for managing their and to people, and helping make trees and woodlands for bats. He Bat Conservation Trust’s vision also masterminds the hibernation become a reality. checks across the county and his There were 12 nominees this year experience in dealing with lots of and nominations were circulated batty situations over the years is around bat groups and others for like a library for others to borrow people to vote. I’m delighted that from. Arthur got the highest number of To mark more than 30 years of votes cast this year so is the proud dedication to bat conservation, recipient of the Pete Guest Award Suffolk Bat Group nominated for 2015! Bat Conservation Trust Arthur for this year’s Pete Guest Vice-Chairman David Gibbons Award. This award is presented kindly collected this award on annually by Bat Conservation Arthur’s behalf at the National Bat Trust to individuals who have Conference in September – we’re made an outstanding practical pleased that his efforts have been contribution to bat conservation. recognised and thank everyone The award is presented in memory who voted for him. of Pete Guest, who was an Sue Hooton inspirational figure in bat conservation for more than 20 Chairperson, Suffolk Bat Group years. The criteria for the award www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ includes: dedication, innovation, suffolkbatgroup

The Wild Flower Society Winter Months Hunt

The Wild Flower Society, of a ‘come and find’ nature and established in 1886, is a national others are walks led by someone society created specifically for with an intimate knowledge of the amateur botanists and lovers of local flora. There is always wild flowers. The Society organises something of interest whatever meetings across the country your level of expertise and there is throughout the year in places of usually someone on hand to help botanical interest so that members with identification and the can learn more about our native mastering of botanical keys. flora. Some of these meetings are

22 White Admiral 92 The aims of the Society are:  to promote a greater knowledge of field botany among the general public and in particular among young people;  to advance education in matters relating to the conservation of wild flowers and of the countryside;  to promote the conservation of the British flora.

Members are encouraged to keep due to climate change. In addition, an annual diary of their finds and members were also set the to submit records to their local challenge of noting down how recorder. For a bit of fun there many different species they found have traditionally been a number in flower (or with spores in the of other challenges throughout the case of ferns) in December, year. Historically, the recording January and February – the year ran from March 1st to October Winter Months Hunt. 31st, so to see the New Year in, the We have been involved in the Society asked members to record Winter Months Hunt for the last anything they found in flower four years and it is amazing how during the first week of the season many different species are still in and to round off the year, anything flower during these bleak winter they found in flower during the months. Searching for them adds last week. These records have been interest to our winter walks maintained since 1921 and now around Suffolk. The table below form an invaluable database, shows the number of species we especially when looking at changes have seen in those four years.

Number of different plant species found in flower in each of the winter months from 2011 to 2015: Year December January February Total number of different species 2011/12 133 115 61 160 2012/13 97 58 51 135 2013/14 109 111 92 177 2014/15 93 67 59 136

The vast majority of these plants species seen in our adjacent have been seen in Suffolk, but the counties of Norfolk and Essex. The numbers do include one or two variation in numbers largely

White Admiral 92 23 reflects the nature and severity of (Tripleurospermum inodorum), the winter in any particular year, Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Common with greater numbers being found field speedwell (Veronica persica) in milder winters and early frosts and Sweet violet (Viola odorata). In or snow reducing the numbers able addition, four further species were to survive in others. Many of the found in every month bar one in all plants found in flower in December four years. These were Hart’s- are hanging on from the previous tongue fern ( A s p l e n i u m summer, while those in flower in scolopendrium), Annual nettle February are heralding in a new (Urtica urens), Greater periwinkle spring and include the traditional (Vinca major) and Field pansy early flowers such as Snowdrops (Viola arvensis). (Galanthus nivalis) and Winter So what will you be doing on your Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis). winter walks this year? Why not 14 plant species were found in rise to the challenge and see just every month in all four years. how many different species you These were Daisy (Bellis perennis), can find still in flower. You may be Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa- very pleasantly surprised at how pastoris), Hairy bittercress much colour there is still in the (Cardamine hirsuta), White and countryside at this time of the Red dead-nettles (Lamium album year. and Lamium purpureum), Winter If you want to find out more about heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), the Wild Flower Society go to Annual meadow grass (Poa www.thewildflowersociety.com, annua), Groundsel (Senecio where there are details of vulgaris), Chickweed (Stellaria membership and our events. media), Dandilion (Taraxacum a g g .), Scentless mayweed Anne and Dennis Kell

My Year 2015 by Trevor Goodfellow

At home in April, I found a male orange tip butterfly (see left) without the black spots on the upper forewing (ab. antiquincunx Bryk). As this was the first of the year for me, I didn’t immediately realise how unusual this was.

24 White Admiral 92 My main mission this year was to see a swallowtail butterfly. After failing last year I returned to Strumpshaw Fen at the start of June when there was the best chance of seeing and photographing one. Upon my arrival I saw several cameras aimed at the flower border in front of the reception, a cloud covered the sun, ideal as the swallowtails rested wings Swallowtail open. Then the sun came out and ‘whoosh’, well ok not quite but the flowers came to life with peacock, red admiral, whites and up to five swallowtails at any one time. I was thrilled that I could take some photos straight off the bat and then take a relaxing walk for the rest of the day. At a usual rate only two percent of photos taken were worth keeping, I at least had a few of lovely shots. My walk proved pleasant although frustrating as I found difficulty in getting any photos of a Norfolk hawker and the occasional scarce hawker.

At the end of June I was tipped off that marbled whites were showing at Devil’s Dyke near Newmarket, so off I went and yet again, within 50 yards of the start of the footpath, I spotted one. After a suspected sighting of a small blue, I carried on walking and bumped into a fellow wildlife photographer who explained that dark green fritillaries were also showing further along the path. It was also interesting to hear that lizard and other orchids were in that direction.

(Left) Marbled White

White Admiral 92 25 I found the place he described and sure enough, there were several marbled whites and a couple of dark green fritillaries. I couldn’t believe my luck and as I returned to my car I reflected on my good fortune.

(Left) Dark Green Fritillary

In July, I went along to SWT Bonny Wood with a Butterfly Conservation group organised day to spot purple emperors. I really didn’t imagine that I was actually going to see one for the first time, but we counted four or five that day along with white admiral and silver washed fritillary. Purple Emperor

In mid July, I returned to Devil’s Dyke to look for chalkhill blues, and wow I timed that right; I counted one hundred and fifty males in the first two hundred yards! A scorching day which unfortunately I had to cut short due to my work commitments. I would have liked to stay and help the Cambridgeshire branch of Butterfly Conservation group with their survey; they arrived just as I was leaving.

Male Chalkhill Blue

26 White Admiral 92 As purple emperor photo opportunities were challenging at the Bonny Wood walk, I returned a few days later to try again. Unfortunately, I took a wrong turning (through a gate – a false memory) and got lost. I walked for a couple of hours before getting back on track but my pain was rewarded by spotting a valezina form of a female silver- washed fritillary.

I then visited Theberton Wood to try and improve my photo record of the purple emperor but the weather was not kind that day and blanked. To round it all off I went to Pakenham Wood to catch sighting of the silver- washed fritillaries before they finish. I counted nine plus two tatty white admirals. Several fritillaries were mating that day.

(A b o v e ) V a le z i na form of Silver -washed Fritillary

Later that day at home, I spotted two purple hairstreaks and a white admiral in the garden for the first (and probably last) time. Also, a red kite visited me for a four day photo session! Realising that I was pushing my luck to find, and, get a good photo of white letter hairstreak, I chilled out and looked back on having met some lovely like minded people and had an all together very enjoyable and fruitful summer as far as chasing butterflies

goes. R e d K it e

White Admiral 92 27 Gonocerus acuteangulatus , aka the Box Bug

While recording the lichens at and the adult is a Stanny House Farm, to build up a relatively large reddish brown picture of what is present there, I insect called a squashbug. It varies and a colleague, Katie Carr- from a commoner type, Coreus Tansley, walked the site and in marginatus, as it has a narrower passing, noted several insects on abdomen and “more pointed lateral flowering Umbelliferae at field extremities of the pronotum”. The edges. Whilst stopping back at nymphs, see my pics, have green home for a cup of tea, we spotted abdomens. this insect again which we trapped When first described it was very and photographed, before releasing rare and only known from Box Hill it. near Dorking, Surrey where it was The pics were sent to Nigel found feeding on box, hence the Cuming, who was able to identify name. Today it has extended its it as an early nymphal stage of the range to be common in southeast Box Bug and a good Suffolk record Britain and also its range of food (Nigel Cuming, pers comm.). plants, which now include Notes extracted from the comput- hawthorn, blackthorn, yew and er, as I am not an entomologist are plum. as follows:- Gonocerus acuteangu- C. J. B. Hitch & K. Carr-Tansley latus belongs to the Family

Photos: (Left to right) topside of nymph [for scale: the width of the card is 0.5mm], Au naturell a la monogyna leaf & underside of nymph. See page 14 for adult photo.

A letter to the editor

I read with interest Richard Red Admirals in the Spring edition Stewart’s article regarding Late of White Admiral.

28 White Admiral 92 I am happy to inform that on more frequent occurrence but last winter than four occasions over the past (February) when I opened the lid 18 years I have found hibernating to the bunker there were three Red Admiral Butterflies in a hibernating Red Admirals present, disused coal bunker in our Reydon I will certainly be checking again garden. late this winter. I have not looked every year so I Alan Cornish cannot comment if this is a

SNS Members Holiday Offer

Greenwings Wildlife Holidays Butterfly Conservation (EIG) & would like to invite SNS members Greek butterfly expert Lazaros on a specially discounted tour of Pamperis. Over 100 butterfly , Peristeri and species have been recorded so far, Gorge National Park, in several of which had not previously northwest ( region). been known in the area. The holiday will run between 2nd – In 2016 we will focus largely on 9th July 2016. butterflies and moths again, Enjoy a week of wildlife watching however we are keen to record as and surveying in one of the lesser much of the areas flora and fauna visited corners of Greece. The as possible, so if you have skills scenery of the Tzoumerka National that could help we’d be delighted to Park is stunning and there is a have you join our group. great diversity of habitat to To encourage SNS members to explore. It is also an under participate we’re offering a special recorded area, in fact for many price of just £850 per person (a taxa it is virtually unrecorded, so saving of about 23% off the normal there are opportunities to make price). This includes all your new discoveries. accommodation, food, ground Michael de Courcy Williams, a transport, services of the guides naturalist living in northeast and a printed & bound report of Greece, will lead the group with the trip. Not included are flights, the assistance of the National travel insurance, alcoholic drinks Parks staff. We hope to build on and items of a personal nature. valuable survey work done during During the week we’ll stay at two 2014 & 2015 by Greenwings, different locations. Firstly, we’ll European Interests Group of start in Metsovo, a picturesque

White Admiral 92 29 mountainous town sitting at good quality with private facilities 1,200m in the Mountains. and serving traditional Greek food. We’ll spend 3 nights there before To find out more please contact us relocating further south to the on 01473 436096 or email us at charming stone village of Syrrako, [email protected]. Our in the heart of the National Park. website can be found at We’ll stay there for the remainder www.greenwings.co of the week. All accommodation is

About Greenwings Greenwings was founded by Matt Berry & Julian Dowding. Matt has worked in nature conservation for over 17 years, trying to protect, promote and enhance the natural world in Suffolk. His latest project is the design and implementation of an ecological network for Ipswich. Similarly Julian has been involved in conservation as a volunteer for various organisations during the past 20 years and is currently warden for Purdis Heath SSSI in Ipswich and secretary for the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation. They both believe that one of the best ways to protect the natural world is by inspiring people to care for it and that a good way to inspire people is by showing them the wonders that the natural world has to offer and letting them experience it for themselves. In other words, helping people to observe & conserve wildlife - and so Greenwings was born!

Ganoderma australe o r Ganoderma adspersum ?

Readers may remember a scarce was quite a local landmark and Caucasian Elm ( Z e l k o v a several very large branches split carpinifolia) suffering severe storm away and fell onto nearby houses, damage during heavy rain at but local newspaper reports quoted Worlingworth near Beccles May the tree’s owners (SCC) as saying 5th at 3am in the morning. This heavy winds were not to blame.

30 White Admiral 92 This left me wondering if the cause be interested in looking at this could be fungal related so I looked material. up on a database to see what fungi Meanwhile, I returned to the tree a have been reported as occurring few days later when most of the with Caucasian Elm. There were fallen branches had been cut up only 4 species recorded - 2 macro and removed and using a few fungi (Basidiomycetes) and 2 micro remaining logs (which were fungi (Ascomycetes) so I decided to quickly being removed for firewood take a look to see what I could find by neighbouring houses) I and hopefully add a new species to managed to climb up into the tree the list. and see the true extent of the Naturally, things were in a bit of a decay damage which was entirely mess with the road closed for internal. Inside the hollow I could safety reasons, but I introduced clearly see several fungal brackets myself and obtained permission to looking very much like Ganoderma look at the tree whilst the tree australe, so I removed one to take surgeons were having their tea it home to see if I could find spores break. present so that I could confirm Externally, things looked fine with which species it was because G. no obvious signs of disease, but applanatum is very similar but has looking at the exposed heartwood slightly smaller spores. Obtaining where large branches had split in-situ spores from a very hard and away showed the tell-tale signs of woody bracket fungus is quite serious white rot suggesting an difficult as you need to soften the attack by Armillaria spp., material in KOH (Potassium Pleurotus spp. or the more usual hydroxide) to separate the cell Ganoderma bracket species. It structure to release the spores - if would be most unlikely for an any. Luckily, I found 4 spores annual species to be showing which measured 9-10 µm long fruiting bodies in May, but the strongly suggesting this was perennial brackets of certain G .australe as I suspected. Ganoderma spp. would still be I sent off these findings and the present, but I could see none. bracket to Anne at the JIC to help I collected samples of this white rot her narrow down the decay causer. and sent it off to Dr Anne Edwards However, when I received a reply at the John Innes Centre in several weeks later, I was a little Norwich for DNA analysis. Anne mystified because the DNA results had previously told me she would or more correctly, the “ribosomal

White Admiral 92 31 ITS sequence” of the white rot and mixed up and meant to write G. bracket detailed it to be 100% applanatum, so I queried this and identical to Ganoderma adspersum it turns out you have to keep to the - the old name of G. australe. Not name as submitted to the DNA being a trained scientist, I began to database by the original provider. wonder if Anne had made the common mistake of getting her ‘A’s

Loads of Rain!

As I write it is presently teaming xanthoderma) and maybe 50 Hare’s down with rain, the more the Foot Inkcaps (Coprinopsis lagopus) merrier as far as I’m concerned, in the woodchips of the woodland and this brought out a wonderful path on the Moreton Hall estate in display of roughly 500 Yellow Bury recently. Stainer mushrooms (Agaricus

Neil Mahler

young and old

-

Hare’s Foot Inkcaps

32 White Admiral 92 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/

Follow the latest conference developments with #SNSCon2016 on twitter

Suffolk Naturalists’ Society www.sns.org.uk

Willow Emerald by Trevor Goodfellow

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]