Spring & Summer 2013 CONTENTS Vol. 33 No. 6 Letters to the Editor 2 ISSN No.00II-023X Natural History Observations 2

Founded by E. Kay Robinson in 1905 The Map and the Word 5 Editor Michael Demidecki Knee Deep to a Grasshopper 9 Layout and typesetting Bryan Sherwood Printing Quantum Print Services Ltd. In Praise of Insects 12 Tel: 01536 408392 From Motorway & Mill Wildlife 13 to Feline Ranges Country-Side is published by British Naturalists' Association © 2013 Control of Canadian Goldenrod 15 Registered Charity Number 296551 A Company limited by guarantee. Identification, Nesting Habits 17 Registered no: 2119195 and Nest Sites for Willow Tits The Marmalade Fly 20 British Naturalists' Association Contact details: Wonderful Waxcaps 22 Post: BM 8129, London WC1N 3XX, UK E-mail: [email protected] A Cotswold Interlude 24 Telephone: 0844 8921817 Website: www.bna-naturalists.org Book Reviews 28 Hon. President Professor David Bellamy Hon. Chairman Roger Tabor Centre Panel Pictures Front Cover: Willow tit Photo: D. Farrar Hon. Vice Presidents Professor Alastair Fitter Top: Nightingale (p.5 ) David Hosking, Tony Soper, Simon King, Photo: D. Hosking Joanna Lumley, Julian Pettifer Back Cover: Shrill carder bumblebee Photo: Ted Benton Professor John Cloudsley-Thompson, Lord Middle: Pink or ballerina waxcap Skelmersdale, Commander Michael Saunders (p.23 ) Watson, Dr June Chatfield, Roger Tabor Photo: J. Chatfield

Editor's contact details: Bottom: Large blue butterfly Corrections: Lower photo (Carabus violaceus with slug prey) Post: BM 8129, BNA, The editor, (p.26) on page 3 of Country-Side Autumn/ Winter 2012 was by London WC1N 3XX, UK Photo: J. McCrindle Gary Palmer and not G. Long, and that on back cover (Stream at Margam Country Park) was by John Glasgow and not Dr. J. Chatfield. Apologies to all four persons.

Notes for Contributors The editor of Country-Side is always glad to receive articles, photographs or drawings for inclusion in the magazine. Contributors are reminded that: (1) manuscripts must be submitted in electronic form, by disk or e-mail together with hard copy, with accompanying photographs and/or drawings; (2) taxonomic names should be in italics; (3) BNA reserve the right to publish any contribution or part thereof received on its website; (4) an abstract not exceeding 50 words should accompany each article; (5) the current issue of Country-Side will give an ideal format.

Please note that Copy for future issues of Country-Side should be sent to the Editor. Each contribution is accepted on the understanding that it is original and unpublished and will be in no way whatsoever a violation or infringement of any existing copyright or licence, that it contains nothing libellous and that all statements contained therein purporting to be fact are true and that any recipes or formulae or instruction contained therein are not injurious to the user. While every care is taken with submitted material, neither the publishers, nor the printers nor the British Naturalists' Association (BNA) can be responsible for loss or damage, however caused. The opinions expressed in editorial material do not necessarily represent the views of the BNA and the opinions expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of either the Editor, Features Editor or BNA. All advertisements are accepted on the understanding that any description of goods, services or accommodation is accurate and true. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information given in advertisements is correct and reliable, the publishers and/or BNA can accept no responsibility nor give any guarantee as to the quality of any product, service or accommodation advertised or as to condition or delivery in the case of any product. Recommendation of any advertisement is not to be implied. The publishers and/or the BNA can accept no responsibility for any loss from the publication or non-publication of any advertisement. If anyone has not received due acknowledgement, the omission is quite unintentional and will be corrected if information of the error is supplied. Copy may be e-mailed to [email protected] Deadline for next edition: 15 September 2013 Observations

Editorial

One of the nicest things about being the Editor of Country-Side is the increased contact it provides with other naturalists, and BNA members in particular. It is always a great privilege to receive their articles, observations and images. Three of the articles in this present issue are based on presentations given at the successful BNA symposium at Moulsham Mill, Essex last October, including one by the guest of honour, the natural history broadcaster and author Richard Mabey. There are more natural history observations in this issue than usual, and I like to think that they provide a snapshot of the time in which we are living. Of course with global warming taking place they are important contributions to the recording of the changes that are occurring in the British Isles – please do keep them coming in.

Butterfly hit and run garden. The butterfly proceeded to fly severe wing or abdominal damage from Tim Gardiner FBNA with assistance gracefully across the road, where it collision with the van. Joseph was still from his son Joseph promptly hit the windscreen of a fast- interested in the apparently ‘dead’ moving white van which clearly butterfly though, walking up to it and seemed to be exceeding the 30 mph prodding it with his finger. Then to our I was enjoying a pleasant walk with my speed limit. The apparently injured surprise (well mine anyway!), the young son Joseph (2 years old at the butterfly fluttered onto the pavement in butterfly flew strongly up into the air time) in warm afternoon sunshine on front of us and stopped moving and was carried away on the breeze. It 23rd May 2012 when something unusual altogether. I could clearly see the reacted as if nothing had happened; it occurred. We were coming back from a underside of the wings which identified must have been stunned and just needed wildflower hunt in Rivenhall (Essex) it as a female orange-tip (Anthocharis a quick nudge to get it flying again. As churchyard, where Joseph had been cardamines).The wings started we walked home I reflected on the first enjoying the ‘big’ (ox-eye) daisies and twitching; the butterfly was time I had seen a butterfly get hit by a cowslips. He had recently become quite unsuccessfully trying to raise itself vehicle and its apparent resurrection. I adept at spotting bees and butterflies, so from the pavement. Then it stopped wonder if BNA members have their it was no surprise when he saw a white moving once again, I assumed it had own stories of vehicular collisions with butterfly flying along the hedgerow of a died on the pavement after sustaining insects.

Earthworms above ground after and during rain. Later in the year to the Rothamstead Experimental June Chatfield FBNA in November 2012, when on Selborne Station directed at agricultural research Hanger in quest of a rare fungus, I was and there was little to help the general Very wet weather during parts of 2012 intrigued to see a reddish earthworm naturalist identify earthworms. A brought earthworms above ground, over 1 metre up on the surface of a window is now being opened on the probably escaping from waterlogged beech trunk. It was probably one of the world of worms with firstly the Opal soil. Although certain species emerge at red earthworms, but I was on too tight a Project run from the Natural History night, when it is moist, cool and dark schedule to roll it over and look for the Museum and Imperial College, London and especially in wet weather to mate, male pore needed to identify it and that (www. OPALexplorenature.org) and being on the surface in the daytime is is only visible in an adult specimen. A following on the formation of the not a good idea for reasons of bird return visit is needed. Earthworm Society of Britain predators, desiccation and harmful Although two pioneer naturalists the (www.earthwormsoc.org.uk). ultra-violet light. Reverend Gilbert White in the Visit these to find out more, take On several days in April 2012 I saw eighteenth century and Charles Darwin part in projects, recording schemes and the blue-grey earthworm (Octolasion in the nineteenth century both studied attend earthworm meetings and events cyaneum), recognised by the yellow the behaviour of earthworms, work on to help put the humble but important patch on its tail, crawling on pavements their identification was mostly confined worm on the map.

2 Country-Side Autumn & Winter 2012 www.bna-naturalists.org Observations

Blue-grey earthworm (Octolasion cyaneum) crawling on a pavement in the Earthworm climbing a beech tree in Selborne Hanger, Hampshire. daytime in rain. Alton, Hampshire. Photo: J. Chatfield. Photo: J. Chatfield

A beetle new to England Paula French

On 17th august 2012 this beetle was photographed by Miss Paula French on her roof garden in London NW10. It was found on a plant, later identified as a variety of Hibiscus syriacus. Images and details were forwarded to our Hon. Book Reviews Editor, Bryan Sage who has a special interest in beetles. He ascertained “that the beetle is the Australasian chrysomelid Paropsisterna gloriosa. Apparently it has been established in eucalyptus plantations in Co. Kerry since 2007. This species has the potential to become a serious pest.” This is believed to be the first time it Photo: P. French has been recorded in England.

A starling murmuration starlings continually circling in the sky. Text and photos by They came together into a “ball” which Michael Demidecki seemed to divide. The starlings that had made up one half headed off in the th On Febuary 17 2013 my wife and I direction of Stroud Road while the had the great good fortune to watch a remainder continued to circle and to starling “murmuration”. We had seen descend ever closer to the trees. They starlings massing in the sky the week made a compact “oval” in the sky which before in Gloucester but this evening we lengthened. Two men started to protest walked in the direction of where they as they walked by on the pavement – a had flown. A few yards down a side road, off London Road, my wife noticed dropping or droppings had clearly extensive bird droppings on the wall landed on them. One of the men clapped dividing the pavement from gardens at his hands and for a moment the group of the front of some flats . The droppings starlings divided but then It came spilled onto the pavement too. Behind together again, and then once more over the wall were six conifer trees. Clearly the trees the birds suddenly descended here was a roosting site but was it “the” and in a moment they were gone. Some the trees; others landed on a nearby roof roost? We waited nearby. There was a went directly into the trees , others and flew from there to the trees. The clear sky this evening and I hoped for landed on the wall and then flew up into time was 6pm (40 minutes after sunset). some photo opportunities against the reddening sky after the sun had set. We didn’t have to wait long. At about 5.15pm there were about 15 starlings flying over the conifer trees. Other groups of starlings joined them and the ever larger flock circled over our heads. By about 5.45pm there were c. 4000 www.bna-naturalists.org Autumn & Winter 2012 Country-Side 3 I was excited to get home and look at time was now 6.10pm (again exactly Sparrowhawk but to no avail-they were the photos I had taken and I was not 40m minutes after sunset). Rather not able to catch up with the predator. disappointed with the results. amusingly, earlier we had seen a man in They turned and resumed their pre-roost On February 19th we watched the a suit and holding an umbrella walk by ritual. murmuration again. This time we beneath the circling birds – obviously No one knows for certain why noticed a Sparrowhawk (we presumed he had walked this route at this starlings form these roosting flocks or this ID) in a nearby tree plucking one particular time before! Once in the trees “murmurations”. It could be that there is bird-we had not seen the moment of the starlings began noisily ‘chattering. safety in numbers, predators such as capture. I continued to watch from the On February 25th my wife went Sparrowhawks finding it difficult to same vantage point as before but my alone to watch the starlings. She came single out a particular bird (however a wife went closer to the trees so she back with an amazing story. The flock Sparrowhawk had managed to do this could observe them coming in. While had seemed larger this night- perhaps 2 on both 19th and 25th February). Also the birds had been calling noisily as and a half thousand birds in all. About roosting flocks are able to keep warmer. they flew overhead, as they entered the twenty minutes before they went into Perhaps the birds exchange information trees they fell silent. As the birds the trees a Sparrowhawk (presumed ID) about good feeding sites – apparently entered five pigeons and two magpies had descended onto the tail end of the starlings can fly up to 20 miles from a flew out, the magpies protesting loudly. flock catching one bird. It flew off roost to feed. Flocks start to build up in The starlings crashed against each other holding a wing by each foot. The November and can reach huge numbers on entering the trees , some falling to starling flock turned then and all two in January and February. Then they positions lower down in the trees. The and a half thousand flew after the disperse to their breeding grounds.

Dinner in a Haslemere garden? Margaret Wells

On 9th February 2013, in the middle of the day whilst having lunch we sudden- ly saw a male sparrowhawk land on the top of our bird feeding station. All the little birds immediately took shelter in the very old privet hedge close by. The sparrowhawk then flew on top of the hedge and could see his lunch below through the bare branches, but could not get between the branches to catch his prey. Standing there for some consider- able time he finally took off in disgust! Our garden has been visited on various other occasions by sparrowhawks and friends living about ¼ mile away down the road have also seen them in their garden. Photo: S. Wells

Reward for persistent plant spotting Ray Ogbom

I make a point of visiting Killard Point in Co. Down on my holiday every year to see the enormous range of wild flowers in bloom. In my experience the weather at Killard Point is often superior to that at other parts of Northern Ireland. The ground has not been farmed for hundreds of years but it is grazed by cattle in the winter to provide the right conditions for summer flowering plants. The site hosts great numbers of common spotted orchids and pyramidal orchids. In July 2012 I was fortunate to photograph a specimen of the small white orchid, Pseudorchis albida, at Killard. From the photograph you will be able to see the difference in structure between the small white orchid and the common orchid species that are seen in the south of England. The moral is “Keep your camera ready for the unexpected!” Photo: R. Ogbom

4 Country-Side Autumn & Winter 2012 www.bna-naturalists.org The Map and the Word

The Map and the Word

Transcript of talk given at BNA Symposium, Moulsham Mill, October 2012

By the process of how we look, of how you’re a vaguely creative writer. Radio smell with just about every other being we then make sense of what we seem to is the last haven of being able to say in creation. Let me start with a little bit ourselves and adjust it to our cultural exactly what you want in the way that of reading about a personal experience. assumptions, that is the area of you want to. And I did for that a series It’s about an incident that happened knowledge if you like I’ve always been of essays called ‘The Scientist and the between me and a gorse bush. Gorse most fascinated in and I suppose except Romantic’ and that was ‘Romantic’ not has been very important in my life. It’s for the very early books are mostly in the sense of ‘sentimental’ but in the always seemed to have been there what I’ve written about. And of course sense of ‘Romantic’ with a capital ‘R’ wherever I lived. And I’m sure all of being a writer rather than a scientist the as was used by the poets and other you will know the saying ‘when gorse absolute pivot of all this is the study of members of the Romantic movement at is in blossom kissing’s in season’ and I language – the word. Words are used of the end of the 17th and early 18th always felt that was also a saying about course by scientists – they believe very centuries, that is an attempt to place, that where the gorse is in meticulously. Sometimes that claim understand meaning in the world, an blossom kissing’s in season because of needs to be severely examined. Words attempt to understand one’s own its habitual liking for the rough are used floridly by people such as feelings and perhaps the very opposite commons where people go out to get myself and poets, and that extravagance of anthropomorphism, that is not away from the sensorial gaze of the needs to be examined closely as well. assuming that animals were in the shape establishment. Anyway this is what That’s traditionally the work of the or thought like or behaved like human happened one afternoon. literary critic and those of you who beings but just the opposite –that we are ‘It’s a June afternoon, and I’m lying keep your eyes to the literary press will a kind of animal and that the business of on my back on a patch of heath. The know there is now an academic investigation and certainly poetry is to gorse and broom flower-sprays are discipline called ecocriticism, which is discover our place in that larger hanging like garlands against the sky. precisely to establish a new system of concerto of animals. The smell is tropical – vanilla and asking questions about the way we talk ‘The Scientist and the Romantic’ melon are there along with coconut. Out and write about the natural world, and went down very well – I mean of the blue, I’m hit by an extra burst of nobody is immune to this. Don’t sufficiently for Profile to bring out a scent. It seems to fill not just my nose, imagine that because you’re an book of the talks under the slightly but my eyes and cheeks. I wonder for a entomologist and all you are doing is more appealing or at least seductive title moment if a breeze has got up, but it’s a looking very closely at the small lives of ‘The Perfumier and the Stinkhorn’ day of dead calm. A few minutes later it of small creatures and writing extremely (Mabey, 2011), which was the name of happens again, and I recall noticing fastidious papers about that, that you one of the essays, which looked around these rhythmic gusts with other kinds of will be immune to the antennae of five essays on the senses and really they flower – lilacs, lime blossom, ecocritics. They will examine your were about my, often in a very personal viburnums. I wonder if it’s a kind of presumptions. They will examine the way, trying to examine the way in olfactory illusion, a momentary dulling cultural attitudes that lurk behind your which we processed the information of attention. Something in me, not the supposedly objective prose. They will that we get through our senses. Of plant. Violets do this because of a look very closely at your findings and course senses are the only ways in chemical called ionone, which briefly see how you have summarised them, which we gain factual knowledge about anaesthetises our scent buds. The flower and see what it says about you as a the outside world. itself continues to smell but we lose the person and about the world in which we ability to register it. Then a couple of live. One of the key five essays was about minutes later, the nose recovers and the That balance between one’s curious smell which is arguably the most scent reappears. Or is it that some plants and preoccupied gaze upon the natural ancient of our senses, and certainly one budget their precious scent molecules, world and my fascination, a lot of that is used least by naturalists, which is emitting concentrated puffs as come- people’s fascination, with how that a shame precisely because of its ons to insects? Then I have a more look, that process of looking actually extraordinary history and its amazing outlandish thought. Does the gorse affects us is something which I explored sensitivity. And I wanted to look at the smell me, and know there is a living quite specifically a couple of years ago way in which we experience smell – thing near it? Is it directing its fragrant in a radio series on Radio 3 – it was a how we use it and how we share that come-ons my way? programme slot called ‘The Essay’ business of chemical communication ‘This was an outrageously which is one of the nicest outlets if with the outside world which we call egocentric notion, but not out of the www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 5 The Map and the Word

But I’ve seen a film of the dodder ecosystem or an entire world in which that is specifically biochemically these chemical messages are buzzing programmed to go for tomato plants and about, the idea of ecological this dodder moved several feet with the relationships assumes a whole new end of its tendril, in which there are grandeur and I ended that particular sense receptors, waiving in the air. It essay with a quote from an absolute refused to be diverted by red ping pong hero of mine, somebody who I think of balls which were put in its path in the the three or four authors that have laboratory because it was responding to actually changed my life he was one – smell – to chemicals not to the sight of Lewis Thomas, the great American red tomatoes. But as soon as it was biologist. In fact he was a physician and close enough to a tomato for it to pick wrote a completely ‘off the wall’ up the signature chemicals from its column in the New England Journal leaves it took a direct path, and began to ‘Medicine’ which was eventually entwine itself around the tomato stem, published in the 1970s as ‘The Lies of a digging in the little tendrils and Cell’, and he had a wonderful vision of attaching the receptors that actually the entire planet self – regulated by its enable it to take nourishment out of the smells: ‘In this immense organism, Flowers of European gorse (Ulex europaeus) tomato plant. chemical signs might serve the function Photo: M. Demidecki So the communication that goes on of global hormones, keeping balance question. Natural smells are not just around us, and at us and from us, by and symmetry in the operation of chemical means is really astonishingly various interrelated working parts, random chemical emissions. They’re complicated and sophisticated. And if informing tissues in the vegetation of part of a complex messaging system you look at it like that it’s very the Alps about the state of eels in the between plant and plant, animal and reasonable to say, if we look back at the Sargasso Sea, by long, interminable plant. Rats emit an airborne chemical ancestry of human beings, at the time relays of interconnected messages signal – a pheromone – when they’re the first primitive organisms were between all kinds of other creatures.’ afraid, which turns on a natural recognising each other and recognising One of the other essays in ‘The analgesic in other rats in the vicinity, to things that were not themselves by the Scientist and the Romantic’ was prepare them for pain. When oak leaves chemicals that they gave off towards obviously about hearing and I pretty are seriously munched by insects they each other, how this chemical process much devote the whole of that essay to emit another pheromone, which eventually gave way to a nervous a personal fascination with bird song. promotes the production of extra tannin system, and as one wag has remarked Not so much again by what it is though in neighbouring trees, and makes their ‘our brains are just outgrowths of our that is fascinating enough, but again leaves more bitter to marauders. noses!’ And it is fact that we have 3000 what it means and what it does to us. I Mopane trees in Africa, a favourite food genes which have a role in smell don’t dispute in any way, even though I of elephants, do the same, and send out perception and just three which have a think some of my writing colleagues do, warning messages to other trees when role in the perception of colour, which a very simple explanation of bird song they’re being browsed. The elephants shows in evolutionary term just where as the marking of territory, sexual are wise to this trick. They eat only a the senses stand in the hierarchy of display and to some extent mood in the few leaves from each tree, and move importance. So I rest my case – I think spring. I think that’s all perfectly upwind to new trees. ‘We can’t hear the the gorse was smelling me! common-sense and much of it has trees calling to each other,’ wrote Colin Then I loved this as a grander idea. actually been proved by some fairly Tudge, ‘but the air is abuzz with their That as soon as you begin to imagine an elegant experiments. It doesn’t quite conversations none the less, conducted in vaporous chemistry.’ And when you accept that it’s entirely possible for plants to be smelling human beings! I’ve seen a film of an American variety of dodder – not a problem plant in this country any more but you will know it, the thin thread like parasite of chiefly things like thyme and gorse and heather in this country which is entirely rootless, has no chlorophyll and moves about in the motion of a snake searching for its prey. You can’t often Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) see this, it’s too slow in this country. Photo: D. Hosking

6 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org The Map and the Word

explain why birds go on singing for so inward reflective quality. The bird listener. It’s a good theory – probably long when the purpose of that simple persisted and the performance began to unprovable, but it’s a way of changing function is well done, but nonetheless build into something very pleasingly the parameters of how we think about it’s acceptable which to me makes it all structured and compact. I began to what’s going on between a bird and its the more fascinating that we enjoy bird wonder what determined the order of mate when singing is happening. And I song. Why on earth is that? Why are the the phrases. The idea that the bird was like it because it seems to me to put bird territorial marking songs of a consciously choosing each one, as if it song through a completely different completely remote species or group of were reading from a score, would strain route –on a par with human music species so capable of moving us, of even my bird bias credulity. But if not because that is precisely manipulating reminding us of our childhoods, of was its brain firing them off our emotions. reminding us of places where we’ve automatically, much as a computer with The last piece in the book is called been, and inspiring music? Perhaps it a random selection programme might ‘The map and the word’ which is the inspired the first music – that would be do? This doesn’t fit too well with the title of this presentation. I look quite a very kind of teleological argument to fact that nightingales’ songs gradually often at the ways in which technology say that the reason we like bird song is become more complex during the can actually enhance our senses and because it sounds like music or that it spring as they practice more, and hear sometimes take us out of our own was music, and something that we in and recollect other birds’ phrases. human preconceptions, abolishing that the very first stages of human Across the lane the rows of lavendar ‘in front of the eye’ binocular vision communication copied from in some bushes were just beginning to show that we very often condemn to. My way. But it’s hard to go beyond both of purple. I could hear the shouts of hearing for bird songs has rather sadly those presumptions and listen to bird children playing in the village steam diminished considerably over the last song for what it is, the two and the phrase ‘absent-minded’ drifted couple of decades – in common with presumptions being on the one hand into my head, which of course doesn’t large numbers of older people I’ve got that it is simply a contained biological at all mean the mind is absent but high tone hearing loss. There was a very function avoiding physical contact by describes a state where concentration interesting correspondence not so long vocal contact – by vocal contest, and on drifts in and out of full conscious ago in ‘British Birds’ which I think was the other extreme that it is a prototype awareness. As if to prove my point the started by Richard Porter who was of a kind of music. John Clare, who is nightingale very unusually sang a quiet noticing that there was a succinct another great hero of mine, was a but elaborate phrase twice as if it were a discrepancy between his records on his fastidious listener to bird song and he thrush, as if it were suddenly pleased common bird census return forms was the first person to attempt a with what it had expressed. We can compared to some other recorders who scientific transcription of a never know what is going on in the were rather younger than him. He began nightingale’s song. One started up in consciousness of a bird when it is to have the courage to think ‘well is it the garden outside his house in singing but on that langrous afternoon I not, might it not be the case that it’s me Northamptonshire and he attempted to felt I could begin to understand the that’s at fault rather than the birds not write down phonic notation which nightingale if I saw its singing as being there? Are population declines actually caught the sound of the bird. analogous to my own whistling, when being fictitiously produced because the And I was very interested to see him my mind is on something else, observers are sensorially prejudiced?’ going beyond those two conceptions of something which is partly unconscious This produced a wonderful song: the scientific conception and the but also dependent on my musical correspondence about this subject, Romantic conception and trying just to knowledge and mood. Richard Dawkins about the extent to which the age of a pinpoint what a song sounded like. And had a very interesting theory about bird recorder might need to be taken into I had the opportunity to try this myself song, particularly about bird song rather account in order to verify the accuracy one day away on holiday in France. just about bird notes, And that is of their bird song records and during it So one June afternoon in Provence I something that was prompted in him by somebody wrote in with the description was pleased to find myself truly reading Keats’ ‘Ode to a nightingale’ of a wonderful American device called listening to a nightingale for perhaps the when Keats compares the mood in ‘Song Finder’ (NSE) which uses just first time, not probing it for symbolic or which he is listening to the nightingale the same technology as bat detection poetic resonances, but simply trying to to being drugged by opiates. In fact we but for bird song, that is it transposes hear what it was doing. It was very hot now know he was drugged by opiates if bird song down by two or three octaves and we’d just taken a driving break for you read the recent biography of Keats. – you can choose. And I was very a stroll through the fields. I hadn’t Dawkins says that what is happening excited and got in touch with the guy expected a nightingale –it was quite late when a male bird is singing and there’s who produced it and it sounded a very in their singing season. But one started a female present is that he’s emotionally bona fide machine and I got one, and up, hesitantly in the hedge by the lane. manipulating her, just as in the way a indeed it works quite dramatically. We sat down in the shade of the bushes chemical excites our sense or other Suddenly I can hear chiff chaffs and and just listened. It wasn’t a loud singer creatures’ sense of smell, so sounds can swifts again where I couldn’t before and certainly not a virtuoso. Its phrases excite the emotions, the feelings, the using it. But what was most remarkable were short, modest and had a kind of receptivity, the behaviour of the is the universe it pitched me into. www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 7 The Map and the Word

Suddenly what I took for granted as the shape and balance of the world assume which the animal lives with grace, was sound of an English landscape was that in some way Europe and North absolutely analogous to the conscious completely transformed by new noises America are at the top and the Pacific, choices humans make out of what they which weren’t just those I was missing the third world, is at the bottom. This is believe to be their taste. So I finished because of my hearing, but the ways in just a convention of the way we draw that talk with a suggestion in fact that which other notes were being changed maps. Similarly to see Norfolk and using a word like that actually jump by the technology. I had a sudden Suffolk as flat is a convention of the starts us in the way that a piece of glimpse of the fact of what one knows way we refuse to get out of our too technology does. It changes the intellectually but needs something like easily assumed position as observers at parameters of the way we see the world. that to put into one’s heart, that the ground level. And I was struck one day And I think that it’s quite reasonable to world out there does not sound the same standing on a fen by what a different think that language ambitiously used is to the other things that live in it as it view one would have if one suddenly itself a piece of technology. It is like a does to us. It’s obvious but you need to turned the fen upside down so that all microscope or a telescope or the ‘Song hear that through a pair of ear phones to the pools, the dykes would suddenly Finder’. It jumps us out of our actually really understand it and to become elevations, mounds, linear presumptions about how the world is grasp it. And that sense of technology, hedges. It would be a landscape of and what our relationships are to it. of being able to throw into disorder considerable complexity and concavity So I finished the series like this: one’s assumptions about how one and I wrote a little piece about it, ‘Clare sees taste as a faculty of all perceives the world, is of course suggesting that it was a good exercise to living things. Gary Snyder describes something we’ve all been doing for do this and to suddenly realise that there animal trails as narratives. Henry centuries. Telescopes, microscopes could be unflatnesses in the world that Thoreau creates a poetic analogy of didn’t just make one see things nearer – simply weren’t visible to us because of botanical taxonomy. Marcel Proust it changed the whole cultural who we were and how we look at it. glimpses the role of scent as a universal conception of what the world was like. And if you then turn the thing back carrier of memory and message. It brought into human conversation down again – the way that we normally Richard Dawkins interprets bird song as layers of organisms, ways of life that perceive it –you can suddenly emotional persuasion. Lewis Thomas we simply hadn’t known existed. The understand the vegetation in a quite new has a vision of the earth, seen from world became bigger, it became longer way that’s a kind of outgrowth of this space, as a single cell. All these and wider. So technology I think does extraordinary geography – turbulent remarkable insights begin with a change one’s culture, the framework in geography under the soil. So there was specialised, near – scientific revelation, which one investigates the natural this way in which a disruption of a point but are transformed into a common world. And the map is one of those of view can actually, I think, open quite perspective by a leap of the things. And I got interested for another new worlds to us. And I concluded the imagination, through the ever – fresh reason in the idea of the visual map of piece and will conclude again now with air of language. The word becomes a East Anglia if you like, where I live. just going back to John Clare. He was map of the new World.’ And the assumption that the outside able to understand the relationship he world had is Norfolk, in Noel Coward’s had with other creatures in the world by References words, is ‘VERY flat’. It always assuming their physical position. He NSE The Songfinder, a digital bird song seemed to me not just an insult but a used quite often to prostrate himself in hearing device. New York: Nature Sound Electronics Inc. See www.nselec.com traducement of the fact. Anyone has to bogs. When he was writing his travel just a few miles in north Norfolk wonderful poem ‘The snipe’ he is down Mabey, R. 2011. The Perfumier and the or many parts of Suffolk to see in fact in that position understanding that from Stinkhorn. London: Profile Books Ltd. extraordinary elevations up to two or the snipe’s point of view the reeds and three hundred metres. But I became rushes are like a forest. And he wrote interested in something which came into elsewhere a remarkable poem called that assumption from a different angle, ‘The shadow’s taste’ in which he makes which was to do not with our vision of the incredibly bold move that sounds the way we take for granted that our anthropomorphic on the surface but five and a half foot tall front mounted isn’t, of saying that animals have taste. eye vision of the world is the one we And what he meant was that they take as a reference point. It’s a similar unconsciously have preferences for the way in which the map of the world has places that they should be, for the things Photo: T. Thomas always had Europe and North America that they should eat, for the creatures Richard Mabey is described by The Times as at the top of it. The conventional globe and organisms that they should keep “Britain’s greatest living nature writer”. could be the other way up, and many company with. And he suggests in this Richard is author of ‘Food for Free’, ‘Flora other Australian geographers are poem that even though it is Britannica’ and over 30 other books. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by St. arguing that it should be. And it’s a unconscious, or so we like to assume in Andrews and Essex universities. In October serious matter of political geography the animals, this taking on assumption of a 2012 he was given BNA’s highest award fact that most assumptions about the habitat, a preferred habitat, a habitat in ‘The Peter Scott Memorial Award’.

8 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org Knee Deep to a Grasshopper

The New Forest valley mires It was with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s warnings about the treachery of the great Grimpen Mire (in The Hound of the Baskervilles) in mind that I embarked on a survey of the New Forest’s valley mires looking for Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) in early October 2012. Mires are favourable hunting grounds for the naturalist, with frequent plunges through the springy surface of the mosses into the squelchy peat a Large marsh grasshopper, Stethophyma grossum notorious pleasure! The New Forest has Photo: T. Gardiner approximately 75% of north-west Europe’s valley mires and 80% of those in lowland England, making the Forest important in an international and national context. These valley-bottom wetlands associated with river catchments have declined like so much of our natural heritage, the main causes being afforestation with conifers and drainage. Fortunately, most of the New Forest valley mires are protected by designation as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) ensuring they should be safe from further damaging land management practices.

Surveying the Orthoptera of valley mires Bog bush-cricket, Metrioptera brachyptera Valley mires (also known as bogs) are Photo: T. Gardiner the haunt of scarce orthopterans such as grasshopper, with the added bonus of Erica tetralix and Sphagnum mosses. the large marsh grasshopper possible sightings of the bog bush- Despite an intensive hour long search Stethophyma grossum, a species cricket Metrioptera brachyptera, a for a sighting, I had not seen my included in the National Red Data List Nationally Scarce species which it can quarry. Nevertheless, eight bog bush- for Insects due to its rarity. Recent be seen with in the New Forest. crickets were noted in the vicinity of records are from the New Forest and the valley mire, which was pleasing Somerset Levels in the UK, although it A bush-cricket on the bog and a good indication that Orthoptera appears to have become extinct in my As the weather was relatively warm and were plentiful despite the advancing native East Anglia. On fleeting trips to sunny, I parked at Puttles Bridge and autumn. What I did note was how the New Forest I had never seen the followed the line of Ober Water as it sheltered the mire was in its location in largest of the British grasshoppers and passed through the valley, reaching the valley bottom with woodland on the wished to fill this gap in my knowledge Clumber Inclosure, the site of the large slopes and along Ober Water. This of the Orthoptera. Armed with details marsh grasshopper record I had obtained created a very ‘warm’ microclimate in of recent records from the New Forest, from the National Biodiversity the valley akin to a ‘suntrap’ sheltered I began my search, albeit very late in Gateway. As the sun broke through the from the worst effects of the prevailing the active insect season in early clouds, I heard the distinctive ‘popping’ winds. I will return to this matter later. October 2012. I decided to survey six stridulation (or song) of a large marsh I also spotted several meadow valley mire sites on 2nd October to try grasshopper male from an area of bog grasshoppers Chorthippus parallelus and find the elusive large marsh myrtle Myrica gale, cross-leaved heath on the edge of the mire, again affirming www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 9 Knee Deep to a Grasshopper

maintenance of the unique hydrology of these river catchments and valley mires is likely to be essential in their future conservation, particularly in light of predicted climate change and warmer, drier (don’t laugh!) summers. Sheltered valley-bottoms, as found along Ober and Shepton Water, appear to be important for late season large marsh grasshoppers and bog bush-crickets, perhaps due to their warmer microclimate than the more exposed mires in the Forest. In such sheltered locations, the seasons for scarce New Forest valley mire near Pig Bush orthopterans may be extended and these Photo: T. Gardiner valley-bottom mires deserve special study. my view that the lack of any significant to the valley bottom mire, which was frosts or very cold weather meant a nestled between two steep slopes. Hunting high and low premature end to the Orthoptera season Immediately, I noticed a male large What became apparent when inspecting had been avoided. marsh grasshopper hopping to and fro the heathland on top of the valley on the Sphagnum moss. Capturing it slopes near Pig Bush was the Stuck in the mire carefully in a jar, I observed its abundance of the field Chorthippus Visiting two mires near to Hawkhill distinctive yellow and black markings brunneus and mottled Myrmeleotettix Inclosure, I again drew a blank with and the red underside to the hind femur. maculatus grasshoppers on the dry regard to sightings of the large marsh Releasing the grasshopper onto the lichen heath with sparse Ling Calluna grasshopper despite the presence of mosses, it quickly jumped into a deep vulgaris in a short, pony grazed sward. apparently suitable mire habitat. The pool to escape from its captor where it These two grasshoppers were not seen presence of a single common remained buoyant on the surface film. It on the valley mire at the base of the groundhopper Tetrix undulata lifted the proceeded to kick its hind legs slopes due to their preference for dry spirits though. A heavy rain shower powerfully to reach the edge of the pool habitats with plentiful bare earth. And passed over as I waded around the mire and climb out. To the best of my the reverse can be said of the bog bush- and the wind gained strength leaving the knowledge, this kind of swimming cricket and large marsh grasshopper, landscape very wind swept and cold, behaviour by the large marsh which would be very unlikely to be with little woodland or scrub to shelter grasshopper has not been reported found together on the dry heathland on hardy orthopterans. It seemed that the before in the UK, so to see it in the wild the valley slope and are restricted to the bog myrtle and cross-leaved heath was truly exciting. wet mire (although the former species provided little shelter in their lee. In my euphoric state I almost trod on can be found on drier heath than the Perhaps the absence of a sheltered a nearby female which, after capture in latter). It is the close proximity of the microclimate on the Hawkhill mires was the jar, was measured at 3.5 cm in two polar opposite orthopteran an important reason behind the dearth of length, underlining its status as the assemblages which makes the valley late season grasshoppers and bush- largest of the native British mires and their transition to dry crickets. grasshoppers. The female was duly heathland so interesting. released on to my car windscreen to A pig in the bush is worth two allow it to be photographed without The mystery of the lady of the lake grasshoppers in the hand interference from surrounding In another area of valley mire near Slightly disconsolate due to the absence vegetation. After the photo shoot was Bishop’s Dyke, I found a female of any sightings of the large marsh finished, the female was returned to the common groundhopper on the edge of a grasshopper so far, despite hearing the mire. Bog bush-crickets were again raised earth embankment, which was stridulation of a male adjacent to Ober noted in some abundance, it seems this approximately four metres wide and Water among the bog bush-crickets, I insect forms a companion to the large one metre high. The bank is 7.25 visited another known site near Pig marsh grasshopper on the valley mires kilometres long and encloses 202 Bush on the road to Beaulieu. As I of the New Forest. hectares of low-lying mire habitat and drove to Pig Bush, Conan Doyle’s novel The Pig Bush valley mire had reminded me of the raised, earthen sea ‘The White Company’ sprang to mind, Shepton Water adjacent and seemed the wall banks of East Anglia. There is although it was sadly noted that “The wettest of the bogs surveyed with apparently no satisfactory explanation great bell of Beaulieu” (the opening line Sphagnum mosses dominant, for the origin of the bank; the most of this classic work) wasn’t ringing! interspersed with patches of bog myrtle convincing one is that it enclosed a Parking at Pig Bush, I followed the path and cross-leaved heath. The huge decoy lake or a medieval deer

10 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org Knee Deep to a Grasshopper

park. The latter scenario seems more (this process is known as behavioural means death to man or beast” on the unlikely than the first due to the boggy thermoregulation). great Grimpen Mire may explain why nature of the ground which would For much of the trip I had been the relatively undisturbed New Forest probably be unsuitable for deer when concerned with the absence of certain valley mires are so favoured by compared to drier parts of the Forest. grasshopper and bush-cricket species Orthoptera over the easily accessible (to Due to numerous recent sightings of which are generally common in other ponies in particular) and heavily grazed both the bog bush-cricket and large areas of the UK. The absence could dry heaths. It seems that ponies marsh grasshopper (and my sighting of a have been partially related to the generally stay off the valley mires due common groundhopper) from within the advancing autumn as individuals of to their treacherous nature, although I area enclosed by the embankment, it some early maturing species (such as did come across one quizzical pony appears that the rare orthopterans of the the common green grasshopper sunk knee deep in a bog, the only decoy lake have been able to recolonise Omocestus viridulus) had already died. apparent benefit being the easy access the recovering valley mire after the However, it became evident that dry which this afforded to the surrounding water levels were dropped at some heathland was lacking in species, with vegetation due to its lower position! historical juncture. The fascinating only the field and mottled grasshoppers unsolved mystery of the embankment is recorded (Table 1). This contrasted with The first time ever I saw this clearly one Sherlock Holmes would be five species in valley mires and four in grasshopper proud to have on his books! grasslands, a total of eight species for So to conclude, I had fulfilled a long both habitats combined. standing ambition in finding the large Punctilious ponies stay off the mire It has been noted in the literature marsh grasshopper, which is a relatively It has long been said that various species (Marshall & Haes 1988, Grasshoppers simple challenge in a New Forest of Orthoptera in the New Forest have and Allied Insects of Great Britain and summer, but not a nailed down certainty been detrimentally affected by the Ireland) that the dark bush-cricket in October, even though the species is excessive grazing of ponies leading to Pholidoptera griseoaptera and meadow known to be present into November in a continuously short, grassy swards more grasshopper have been affected by mild autumn. Given the extremely wet akin to a bowling green than a well- excessive pony grazing on the summer, it is likely that numbers of managed conservation area. Short heathlands of the New Forest in recent grasshoppers were reduced, although grassland and heathland swards have a decades, which would appear to be the relatively dry weather in September lack of cover from avian predation and confirmed by this study as both species may have allowed insects to survive inclement weather, which will both were not found on dry heath which was into early October in the sheltered New contribute to the absence of Orthoptera. heavily grazed by ponies, only being Forest valley mires in 2012. The Short swards are also subject to greater found in relatively undisturbed valley observation of swimming by an adult extremes in their microclimate; for mires or unmown grassland (or both). male in a boggy pool was also notable example, in midsummer temperatures Valley mires seemed to be a haven for and a first observation of this behaviour near the ground can exceed 44oC in such Orthoptera in this study with five for the species in the UK. It makes environments, which is above the 35- species recorded. This may be due to the perfect sense for a grasshopper of mires 40oC range for ‘optimum’ grasshopper specialised requirements of wetland to be able to swim, thereby reducing the development and growth. This species such as the large marsh chances of accidental drowning in extremely ‘hot’ microclimate in grasshopper; however, the other four boggy pools. summers such as 2003 (severe drought) orthopterans can be recorded on dry can render heavily grazed environments heath so their absence from that habitat Acknowledgements without ungrazed, tall grass refuges is surprising. I was accompanied on the survey by my unsuitable for grasshoppers in It appears that the villainous parents, Judith and Adrian, who advised particular, which must disperse to taller Stapleton’s (who was interestingly a me to stay off the wettest mires, a vegetation to cool down in the shade naturalist in Conan Doyle’s novel) warning which of course I duly ignored! observation that “A false step yonder Thanks are also extended to my aunt and uncle, Janet and Brian Read, for providing board and lodgings for the Table 1: Species of Orthoptera observed in dry heath, valley mire and unmown grass- trip. land sites in the New Forest area in early October 2012 (X = indicates presence)

Species Dry heath Valley mire Grassland

Bog bush-cricket X Common groundhopper X Dark bush-cricket X Field grasshopper X X Large marsh grasshopper X Lesser marsh grasshopper X Meadow grasshopper X X Photo: M. Gardiner Mottled grasshopper X In May 2013 Dr. Tim Gardiner was Roesel’s bush-cricket X awarded the BNA's David Bellamy Award. www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 11 In Praise of Insects

In December 2012 a flurry of articles in advance of industrialised mono-cultures, the ‘serious’ press celebrated the 50th relic populations of many species have anniversary of a book that – according thrived in the relative neglect combined to many – inspired the current phase of with ‘unofficial management’ of many concern about the environment: Rachel of our urban and ex-industrial sites. Carson’s Silent Spring. Carson’s However, if ‘wildlife’ means our message about the effects of pesticides warm-blooded relatives with fur or turns out to be just as important now as feathers only, this may not be so all those years ago. There is evidence obvious. Such habitats as the complex of that a new generation of pesticides is flood defences, waste dumps, old implicated in the alarming decline of quarries, ex-industrial sites and patches bee populations. But why should we of grazing land that stretch along both care? Two sorts of reasons are often sides of the lower Thames Estuary are given. One is that bees are crucial to the Brownfield site (Canvey Island) havens of wild diversity. But to pollination of many crop plants – on Photo T. Benton appreciate this you have to shift to the some estimates more than one hundred access arrangements. Second, there small scale and near-at-hand. Media commercially grown crop plants in needs to be far greater public coverage of the ‘bees and pesticides’ Europe depend on the ‘pollination understanding and communication to issue persistently confused hive bees, services’ of bees. The other reason that allow people to appreciate the huge bumble-bees and the more than two is often given is that a decline in the wealth of beauty and wonder that still hundred species of ‘wild’ bees that population of one species, or a group of survives in the neglected edgelands, occur in Britain. Each species has its them, might be an indication of a more verges, embankments and ‘brownfield’ own particular – or more general – widespread deterioration in the sites of urban and suburban Britain. relationship with the flowers from which environment that affects a whole range Despite the efforts of organisations such it gains nectar and/or pollen. Some are of other species that depend of them – as Buglife, so-called ‘brownfield’ sites important for the survival of the rare with potential knock-on effects for are still too often seen as prime targets flowers with which they are associated – human populations. for development. Yet these often have others are important to us for the fruit I agree, these are two good reasons huge actual and potential value both for crops they pollinate – and so on. for getting worried! However, it is wildlife and for the well-being of large These despised patches of important not to lose sight of other urban human communities. brownfield ‘wasteland’ are home to no reasons for caring - and Carson’s title In the Introduction to a 1999 edition less than five of our most threatened gives us a clue: ‘Silent Spring’. She of his Unofficial Countryside Richard bumblebees and many more ‘solitary’ species. Learning to distinguish the calls our attention to the necessity for Mabey made the point in his inimitable species, and watching their diverse ways human well-being of our sense of way: belonging to a world that we share with of interacting with one another and with ‘Increasingly the so-called other life-forms. While it is absolutely the flowers they visit, where they nest brownfield sites are barricaded by razor basic that we acknowledge our physical and how they provide for their offspring wire and guard dogs, as if they dependence on the health of the earth can give a lifetime (or several!) of contained some delicate crop. What they and its web of life, this should not be at pleasure and fascination. Bees are do contain, of course, is something the cost of forgetting the emotional, important pollinators – but given a much more robust and precious – a cultural and meaning-giving aspects of a different set of planning priorities and a whole urban ecosystem of majestic rich and active relationship to (the rest more world-open culture, they can be so of) nature. triffids, migrant birds, opportunist much more! animals and feral children.’ If we take this seriously, it suggests Ted Benton is Professor of Sociology at the not only that ‘nature’ needs to be However, slowly, realisation is University of Essex in Colchester and Hon. protected, but also that everyone should dawning that the ‘unofficial vice-president of Colchester Natural History Society. A distinguished entomologist, he is be able to engage fully with the non- countryside’ is not just a refuge for the author of two books in the prestigious Collins human world in their daily lives. In turn, opportunist species, but a vital reservoir New Naturalist Library series: ‘Bumblebees’ there are at least two changes that need for some of our most threatened native (for which he was awarded the Stamford Raffles Prize for 2007 by the Zoological Society to be made. First, the value of wild-life species (not forgetting the ‘feral of London) and the recently published rich urban spaces must be recognised in children’!). As the ‘official countryside’ ‘Grasshoppers & Crickets’. He was the ‘development’ strategies, and in free has become more hostile with the recipient of BNA’s David Bellamy Award 2012.

12 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org From Motorway & Mill Wildlife to Feline Ranges

– In the Humanised Landscape

Lecture given at BNA Symposium, Moulsham Mill, October 2012

These might seem eclectic topics but roads (allowing for similar widths). group of urban cats was in Fitzroy they are for me interlinked-areas that I Although corvids will take carrion road- Square, London W1, which also housed have explored through my life, and in kill on the tarmac, the observers’ results my publisher’s offices! The square was two of them, motorways and cats our found far more corvids were on the initially built by Robert Adam in 1794, guest of honour, Richard Mabey, had a motorway verges. Numbers of and the final side added in 1827-9. connection with me for which I am now motorway verge corvids were greatest My London study was the first to able to thank him. I also thank him for from February to April & October to monitor the behaviour, ecology and joining us today in the third, a December corresponding with moist establish the ranges of an urban centre watermill! banks, and lowest in June to September feral cat colony. My study developed Roads & rivers are routes, both corresponding with drier conditions. and Fitzroy Square became the first historic & renewed, both have their With the support of mechanical biologically monitored trap-neuter- associated wildlife, including on their engineers I found that vibrations return (TNR) feral cat site. verges & banks. Kestrels hover over simulating motorway conditions would The centre of the square held a motorway verges using the uplift of air cause earthworms to surface. grassed garden behind railings under into which to hover, water voles until (Subsequent work in seeking to huge London Plane trees, which gave recently were a common animal of the understand the evolutionary advantage the cats a large secure retreat area. The riverside bank. Today we are meeting in of earthworms surfacing in response to surrounding paved area provided me a timber-framed historic watermill, vibrations was to take me to a study of with an invaluable grid to help locate Moulsham Mill, that stands alongside hedgehogs that grub the soil for the position of the cats. Nonetheless, to the River Chelmer, and this is a mill earthworms, and other types of be able to follow their movements I had recorded in Domesday so its history predators of earthworms which include to develop feline field skills based on goes back to Saxon times as does its foxes and cats in urban environments. not trying to hide from the cats (they landscape management. They increasingly made me aware that will easily spot that) but by behaving in Roads too have an antiquity, but in much of wildlife lives within a a way that they accept your presence. the UK a little over a half century ago a ‘humanised landscape’, for that while For example I found that cats new generation of roads began to we are one species among others we reciprocate slow blinking to each other emerge, - motorways. Today’s guest of disproportionately modify the when they are at ease. honour, Richard Mabey and I first met environment of many others). These were pioneering ecological 40 years ago when I co-organised (with One of the reasons for holding that studies, for in my London urban & Edward Basil Bush) the “Motorways & symposium was to demonstrate a body suburban studies, Jane Dard’s in the Biologist” symposium in October of evidence that the huge combined Portsmouth dockyard, and David 1973 at North East London Polytechnic acreage of verges potentially offered McDonald’s on farm cats, were the first (now University of East London) much needed habitat for wildlife, domestic cat home ranges to be chaired by Professor Kenneth Mellanby especially in intensively arable areas. established. (Tabor, 1973). I presented a paper on my The symposium contributed to the The cats of Fitzroy Square were the study of crows, rooks, vibrations & change of attitude to motorway verge black and white cats Jellicle cats of TS earthworms, in which the effect of management. Elliot, genetically black with white vibrations from motorway traffic caused Richard was writing his “Roadside spotting. Pre-neutering, the males held earthworms to surface and opportunist Wildlife Book” (Mabey, 1974) and ranges of around 2ha. The females corvids benefitted (Tabor, 1974). included a thanks to the “Motorways & stayed before and after around slightly At that time motorway grass was the Biologist” organisers and referred to over 0.2ha. except one (‘Protective kept short, so surfacing earthworms some of the presentations. It was a Queen’) whose range was more than were quite exposed to predation. Many fortuitous connection, for appreciating double the other queens. people across the country acted as my studies on cats he kindly introduced The main study was from 1977- observers helping with my study, me to Terence Blacker then at Arrow 1987, over which period the colony spotting numbers of corvids on Books/Hutchinson publishers. As a number gradually declined. motorway & non-motorway verges, result after a further 6 years of my field I also carried out a study on the including the M4 motorway police in work research my book “The Wild Life domestic house cats of suburban Wiltshire who kept immaculate records. of the Domestic Cat” was published Barking in East London’s 19th century More corvids were found on motorway (Tabor, 1983). terraced housing and small gardens verges than on the verges of smaller Serendipity smiled, for my key study from 1976-1978 where I found the www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 13 From Motorway & Mill Wildlife to Feline Ranges

average neutered female to hold only sourcing from which homes the hemp agrimony, brooklime and 0.029ha. and the average neutered tom unexpected collection of ‘prey’ items of ramsons, upstream in abundance and 0.11ha. Even though working with a bra, pants, flip-flops, towels, sponge etc, butterbur immediately above the mill. It house cat population it was important as seen last year on the BBC’s ‘One also retained a range of damselflies and that they could just accept your Show’! dragonflies, banded demoiselle in large presence and just get on with their lives. I lived for 12 years at Bulford Mill, a numbers shimmering on the water. The When radio tracking collars were watermill on the River Brain in Essex. sluice also injects oxygen into the developed they were too heavy for My two cats there were Leroy & water, much needed by invertebrates small cats, but the new technologies of Tabitha. True to form her range was far and fish when rivers carry more organic small GPS units and cameras small smaller than his, and she was not a matter in sewage effluent than is ideal. enough to fit on a cat’s collar, (‘catnav’ competent hunter. Leroy in comparison, The mill stream’s resident and ‘catcam’) have revolutionised over followed properly in the footsteps of the kingfishers lived off the many small the last few years the mapping of cat generations of working mill cats before fish. For me, before I moved away in activities and areas. What inevitably him, and was an experienced hunter. 2004 it was a very real delight to see the took me years to compile I am now able The land around the mill had a much return of the otter to the mill after an to achieve in days! higher population of yellow-necked absence of decades. It helped to If you wish to see something of mice than wood mice, and that was compensate for the arrival of the mink what I have been able to do recently reflected in his catches. When the sluice and the loss of the water voles. with this technology please take a look was up and the mill-head water was Here at Moulsham Mill, it is also a at ‘The Secret Lives of Cats’ film and down allowing them access into the Domesday mill, and modified as all report (Tabor, 2011). mill, parties of yellow-necked mice mills across the centuries. In the 1960s Fortunately the new technology even mountaineered up the inside of the as part of a flood alleviation scheme the findings support those early studies. building to the fourth floor, which River Chelmer was diverted away from For example, I found Zillah a neutered would have been a significant the mill, and its leet filled in. This has female in urban housing in Brighton consideration to millers with bins full of left some original meadows but others (similar to that of the earlier study at grain at that level of the 5 storey enlarged, but with less diversity. It will Barking), to hold a range of 0.024ha, building. Cats then were definitely on be interesting to see the findings of this virtually identical. Similarly in similar the mill’s staff, to the extent that the morning’s survey. housing in Brighton a neutered male ancient wooden doors had cat holes to Our wild landscape and the species Maxwell held 0.17ha, so the pattern of allow cat access, but too high for contained as Richard Mabey males holding larger ranges than rodents! highlighted year’s ago in ‘The females is generally consistent. I found It is a chastening thought that Unofficial Countryside’ (Maby, 1973), the rural farmland house cats Little John domestic cats living feral, and owned are rarely in virgin territory, but in a and Freddie to hold 5.6ha and 2.55ha, cats, have been part of our wildlife in man-managed one, and roads, rivers significantly larger areas than town cats, Britain, and integrated with it, far longer and their mills and introduced species again consistent with the earlier than many other human-introduced including apparently domestic ones like findings. These cats hunted along species, such as the rabbit, brown rat, the cat are all part of the reality. hedgerows and around outbuildings fallow deer, grey squirrel, etc. References rather than in the fields. These studies Unlike a riverside house, a watermill unambiguously reveal that what cats has a view along the length of the water Mabey, R. 1974. The Roadside Wildlife Book. David & Charles. can hunt or catch are related to range as it usually straddles the leet or channel size and location, cats catch far less in made centuries before from the main Mabey, R. 1973. The Unofficial towns than in the country where the river to enable it to function. It is an Countryside. Glasgow: William Collins Sons & Co cats’ ranges are far larger. integral part of the historic waterway This consistency is very reassuring landscape, and at Bulford Mill as I was Tabor, R., ed. 1973. Motorways and the Biologist, Proceedings of Symposium held for GPS is carried out by satellite-‘eye’ technically the ‘miller’ I was still 25th October 1973, North East London view that does not require me to be responsible for the control of the mill’s Polytechnic (Motorway Research Project). there on the ground unlike nearly 40 sluice. When currently so much Tabor, R. 1974. Earthworms, Crows, years ago, and it does seem that my abstraction is made from rivers and Vibrations and Motorways. New Scientist. field skills decades ago worked, and my streams in Britain, a mill sluice is able 62: (899), 482-484 presence did not disrupt the cats’ pattern to maintain a head of water despite Tabor, R., & Spence, P. 1975. Possible of range activities. reduced summer flow. At Bulford Mill Evolutionary Advantages to the Earthworm The new technology enables me to it can hold water up to a mile upstream in Surfacing; in Motorways – Environment make range comparisons at the same and therefore retain moist banks and & the Community, Proceedings of time of year with greater precision. It marshland in its 5 acres of retaining Conference held 8-10th Apr. 1975, ed. M. McDonnell, North East London Polytechnic has also enabled me to undertake land. (Motorway Research Project). unusual detective work in finding where That keeps marsh marigold, Tabor, R. 2011. The Secret Lives of Cats, ‘Denis, the Cat Burglar’, (a small black meadowsweet, great willowherb, report & film at www.rogertabor.com. and white suburban cat in Reading) was gypsywort, hemlock, wild angelica, Bayer

14 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org Control of Canadian Goldenrod

It is widely recognised that parts of the during the following spring to form a British countryside are being overrun by new aerial stem about 10 cm distant alien plants, with rhododendron and from its parent. The plant’s expansion Japanese knotweed the most often can be prevented by pulling the young mentioned. The Canadian goldenrod, stems before they can form new buds, or also known by its scientific name of by pulling mature stems, together with Solidago canadensis L., attracts less the crucial section just below the publicity. This is a tall yellow-flowered ground. This can be done with a rotatory plant often grown in gardens from wiggle, or by pulling the stem towards where it has been spreading, slowly but the centre of the clump. It works best insidiously, over railway banks and when the soil is a little damp but the other places in the south London vegetation is dry. Pulling is less Canadian goldenrod dominant over much of suburbs and elsewhere. It follows Warren Farm, 2012 effective when the ground is baked hard, another well-known pattern in which the Photo: G. A. Collins or in autumn when the stems become wild flowers of one continent become goldenrod. Visiting that summer, I dry and brittle and are anchored down aggressive weeds when transported to wondered if something could be done by the new root development. another continent in the same latitudes, and noticed that there were bare patches At Park Downs the goldenrod came probably because the insects that feed and animal tracks among the dense up again in the second year but was on them are left behind. Certainly the goldenrod with signs of browsing, clearly weakened, since the stems were Canadian goldenrod has flowers that clearly by roe deer. What they could do, shorter and not so dense. However, attract nectar-feeding insects in I could do, and I began to pull out stems when I counted the stems pulled over a profusion, but in Britain there is very and had soon made a small clearing defined area, there were an equal little evidence of anything feeding on its through which flew a butterfly, a male number in the second year (but that leaves or flower-heads. In contrast, our chalkhill blue with beautiful sky-blue would have been much greater without native species of goldenrod, Solidago wings. On seeing this immediate reward the pulling). It is not at present clear if virgaurea L., supports several species of for my endeavours, I was hooked. the second-year growth arises just from moths and flies, as does the Canadian Work continued but progress was stems broken off above the buds at their species in its native North America. slow. It was an easy task to pull out 600 base, and from seedlings, or if the old This is the tale of two sites in stems each hour, even including a short roots can continue to produce new stems Surrey where goldenrod control by break, but this seemingly high figure into a second year. These second-year hand-pulling has been attempted, one would often only equate to a few stems were pulled carefully and with complete success and the other clumps, since a single well-established thoroughly, right down to the very currently failing, since the goldenrod clump might have over 100 stems. Even smallest, so that by late autumn there outbreak has become so extensive that a day’s work resulted in a cleared area was no goldenrod above ground. In the even a determined volunteer effort over of only a few square metres. third year came the reward – the density three years has only had a marginal Nevertheless, with persistence, the of goldenrod had been reduced very effect. The first site is Park Downs at clearance line was pushed back. At the considerably. From this time on it was a Banstead, part of the Chipstead Downs time I was recovering from a stress- simple matter to eliminate the goldenrod SSSI. It is owned by the local council related illness, and this gentle exercise by pulling out the few remaining stems and managed by the Banstead Downs in delightful surroundings proved as they came up. Problems only arose Conservators. This former broad therapeutic. where stems repeatedly broke off expanse of chalk downland has a So why does hand-pulling work? It through being trapped by a tree root, or serious problem of invasion by scrub relates to the underground growth when the annual cut had left, at ground and woodland, so working parties of pattern of the goldenrod. At the base of level, a dense low scrub of bramble and volunteers were set up to cut back the each stem, just under the soil surface, thorns in which goldenrod could persist scrub each winter. Unfortunately the are the buds for the next year’s growth. as short stems, each with one or two cleared areas were invaded by Canadian There may be over 20 buds, so a single buds at its base, but even in these cases goldenrod, seeding in from nearby stem one year may produce 20 the next! the goldenrod was eventually gardens, and the plant continued to These buds develop into underground eliminated. spread into the grassland, so much so rhizomes which spread outwards during I was lucky in not at first seeing the that in 1994 the county ecologist stated the autumn and winter, giving out roots full extent of the goldenrod outbreak. that Park Downs had been ruined by as they grow, and then turn upwards When the first area tackled was finally www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 15 Control of Canadian Goldenrod

under control, I was told of a second good idea from the site manager was to perhaps tried elsewhere. Regular area, and then found a third and then a involve the general public, by asking mowing, if cut as close as a garden fourth. Later, when a block of scrub dog-walkers and other visitors to help lawn, would certainly be effective, as was felled, the goldenrod came up very control goldenrod by pulling out a would close grazing by sheep or densely from seed that must have handful of stems on each visit. rabbits. But clearly, the single annual persisted in the leaf litter since the plant Those attending the AGM of the cut as practised at Warren Farm, with was cleared from an adjacent open area BNA in 2012 will have seen the cuttings left to rot, has been disastrous, some years before. This fresh outbreak spectacular display of pyramidal promoting the goldenrod instead of was also controlled, and goldenrod orchids in areas where the goldenrod limiting it. The layer of cut stems even pulling at Park Downs, 20 working had been cleared. This orchid has inhibits the growth of plants such as days a year in the mid-1990s, was doubled in numbers with each year of grasses that would naturally flourish reduced to just a single afternoon, once pulling. Other uncommon plants are during the winter and spring when or twice a year, wandering over the site present in quantity, and several rare goldenrod is dormant. With the hand- and picking out odd stems. Finally, in insects have been recorded. Pride of pulling teams, all stems removed have August 2012, a field meeting of place goes to a butterfly, the small blue, been taken to heaps in permanent naturalists explored the whole area and which has a substantial population with woodland, preferably in deep shade, found just two stems. Although larvae feeding on kidney vetch. The where the material has rotted down with management of the site has other variety of wild flowers in the cleared negligible regrowth. This has an added problems, the goldenrod had been areas has attracted much favourable benefit of removing nutrients from the conquered. comment but, unfortunately, only about meadow. The second site is Warren Farm, one-tenth of the goldenrod has been Spraying and ploughing, even deep- lying between Ewell and Cheam on the tackled, even after three years, and the ploughing, would be a temporary south side of Nonsuch Park. The land volunteer effort is decreasing. setback for the goldenrod, but it would was bought by a developer who wished In 2010 fifty people signed a form come back quickly as a rapid coloniser to build on it. After a public enquiry, a expressing their willingness to help. of bare ground. Another suggestion compromise was reached in which Fourteen of them turned up to the first from the Woodland Trust is to plant houses were built on one-sixth of the working party and eight to the second. trees whose shade would eventually site and the rest was given to a Working parties were held twice a week suppress the goldenrod. The plant conservation body. This proved to be in that first year, with an attendance of thrives in partial shade and among the Woodland Trust who planted trees three to five, but numbers dropped in scrub, where it can easily overtop on a third of their land and agreed to the second year and by the third year all brambles, but it would eventually die manage the remainder as a meadow. the original helpers had given up, off under a closed canopy. However, it Canadian goldenrod had spread from mostly for reasons of infirmity or old would rapidly recolonise from seed the railway onto the southern strip of age. The dog-walkers and other visitors whenever the woodland was opened up. Warren Farm and was already well- began with great enthusiasm and left One wonders if woods with rides and established when the Woodland Trust huge piles of pulled stems to be picked clearings dominated by Canadian took over in 1994. After some up, but by the third year only a few goldenrod are the kind of woods that experiments with ploughing and were still helping and there were we wish to create. spraying, and an abortive attempt to set mutterings of “it’s like the Forth Surrey is one of the most wooded of up a hand-pulling team, the Trust’s Bridge”. One more regular volunteer counties with much secondary standard management became a single came forward in 2012, so we had a woodland having developed on former autumnal cut, with cuttings left to rot team of two. We are both prepared to meadows, grassy commons and chalk down where they fell. The intention continue, but new volunteers are downland. Wildflower-rich meadows, was to limit the plant’s ability to desperately needed. If hand-pulling is including calcareous grassland with its produce seed, but this policy only led to abandoned, the goldenrod will resume special range of flowers and insects, the goldenrod becoming dominant over its spread and the pyramidal orchids, form a valuable and declining habitat much of the meadow and in the new kidney vetch and small blue butterfly that needs encouragement. Further plantations (where it was unmanaged), will become just a memory, but to volunteers for 2013 would be very even suppressing some of the newly- overcome the goldenrod, reduce its welcome. The pulling season lasts from planted trees. In desperation, the Trust dominance and see it diminish, the May to August. If anyone can help, planned to use deep-ploughing to bury whole area needs to be pulled. Just one please contact me on 01293-783397 or the goldenrod and the remaining native person working three days a week, or by e-mail to rogerdhawkins@hotmail. vegetation, and start again from the six people for a regular morning, would co.uk. subsoil using wildflower seed and more make a tremendous difference. Such young trees. This idea met with some volunteers would need strong Roger D. Hawkins worked as a computer programmer and then as an invertebrate opposition, and the Trust agreed to try motivation, perhaps, like me, working surveyor, but in his retirement now hand-pulling again, and arranged to help the wild flowers and butterflies. concentrates on voluntary work for wildlife working parties to start in June 2010, Other methods of controlling conservation. He is the author of Ladybirds which I agreed to lead. A particularly goldenrod have been suggested, and of Surrey and Shieldbugs of Surrey.

16 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org Identification, Nesting Habits and Nest Sites for Willow Tit

The willow tit (Poecile montanus) is a breeding bird on the RSPB Old Moor reserve in South Yorkshire. It can be confused with the very similar looking marsh tit (Poecile palustris) as both are members of the Paridae family and are small coffee and cream coloured bird with a black cap. There are 8,500 pairs in the UK (Holden and Cleeves, 2002) compared to 52,800 pairs of marsh tit, and the species has declined by 80% since 1969 (Perrins, 2003). It is a red data list and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) species giving it high importance in any consideration of Willow tit showing the key features in spring fresh condition planning or land use within the breeding Photo: S. Rutherford area. Because of its status and in order feeding habits of both the willow tit and enlarged neck muscle has evolved with to help to promote it as a breeding bird the marsh tit at bird feeding stations as the breeding habit of the willow tit in at Old Moor the reserve team has they tend to be bullied by other birds that it excavates its own nest hole in soft looked at five options to provide both such as blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), wood like a woodpecker (see cover natural and artificial nest sites for the great tits (Parus major) and greenfinch picture). The marsh tit will always make willow tit, they are to: (Carduelis chloris) so don’t stay on the use of naturally formed hollows, an old 1. Provide dead wood by leaving feeders long, woodpecker nest hole, nest box or will standing stumps when a tree is Identification keys start with the even use an old willow tit nest (Cramp felled; head as on the marsh tit the cap is black & Perrins, 1993). Local knowledge of 2. Erect nest boxes filled with wood and appears shiny and extends to the which bird you are likely to find in a shavings; base of the nape, whereas the willow tit given area is obviously a great help to 3. Attach soft wood branches that has a slightly longer cap ending on the positive identification: the marsh tit is have spent 12 months soaking in shoulders which is a dark chocolate more of a woodland bird while the water to host trees; brown colour giving a duller look. The willow tit prefers wet scrubby areas. 4. Plant an orchard as a long term bib of the marsh tit extends down in a The fact that the marsh tit is more soft wood area; and narrow triangular shape ending at the prevalent throughout the British Isles 5. Increase hedgerows and allow throat only slightly wider than the bill; with the exceptions of South Yorkshire some beneficial scrub, in the bib on the willow tit extends wider and South East Scotland may be helpful particular crack willow (Salix on the throat wrapping slightly more too (Sharrock, 1976), however care fragilis) to grow in limited areas. around the collar. The willow tit also must be taken with these clues as the shows a pale wing bar when the wing is ranges of both birds can overlap. This article is to help the reader to closed because of pale fringing around identify the willow tit, look at the the secondries that the marsh tit lacks. constraints of this specialist breeding When both of these birds are at their bird and to consider the five options in most pristine in autumn or with spring this project and the thinking behind fresh plumage these keys work well, them. however, they cannot be wholly relied upon as worn feathering on the head of Identification the marsh tit can dull the look, and wear When seen on a regular basis the on the willow tit’s secondaries can differences between willow tit and remove the pale bar on the wing pre- marsh tit can seem obvious and stand moult. Another identification key that out well. However, on the first or casual can be used is the thick bull like neck of sighting or when seen for only a the willow tit giving a scruffy appearance to the head when compared The glossy black cap and lack of a pale wing bar moment visual identification can be identify this marsh tit tricky. This is compounded by the to the neat head of the marsh tit. This Photo: D. Farrar www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 17 Identification, Nesting Habits and Nest Sites for Willow Tit

(Dendrocopos major) with its ability to break into the nests. The nest site can be two metres from the ground and most nest sites are within one metre, with some nests being at ground level. The nest is only used once with a new nest cavity created for every brood. The size of the tree section that I have found being used for the nest cavity has varied between two metres in circumference for a nest in the main trunk down to a branch of 44 centimetres in circumference found with an active nest cavity. However, the available trees on Old Moor may be giving a false view as An old nest hole in a crack willow tree One of the artificial nest boxes for willow tits most trees on the site are quite young. Photo: S. Rutherford Photo: S. Rutherford The availability of standing deadwood The last key that I will discuss here excavated, usually by the female, but or trees with soft exposed inner wood can be the most reliable when the with some help by the male, into soft or may also be dictating the size of the feathers are not in perfect condition or rotting wood (Witherby et al., 1938). breeding population of the willow tit so even when the bird is seen in low light, The trees found to be used on the Old it is hoped that with the creation of and is that of the songs and calls of Moor reserve include common ash more of this type of habitat numbers these birds, and with a wide selection of (Fraxinus excelsior), apple (Malus will increase from two pairs nesting on CDs to refer to these should present the domestica), elder (Sambucus niger) and the site and up to six pairs around the reader with an understanding of the sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), reserve borders this last season (2012) sounds to listen for. The typical song however willow is the most commonly to six pairs on the reserve and to at least given by the willow tit is a slow used. (This habit of excavation is a sufficient number to maintain the descending, almost piping sound of similar to that of the nest building of the breeding stock beyond the borders. “psu-psu-psu”. The marsh tit is more crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) in varied in its vocalisation with the Highlands of Scotland but with The provision of natural sometimes five different songs. The silver birch (Betula pendula), lodgepole and artificial nest sites typical songs are a variety of either pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia) and Provision of natural nesting sites for pitch, pits or choos in a rapid repetition Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) being the willow tits is being looked at as both a of 4 or 5 cycles sounding similar to the usual trees of choice there and of which long term project providing a permanent coal tit (Periparus ater). The songs of there will be further discussion later). solution by encouraging some new wet the birds will, of course, be only given Six to eight eggs are incubated by the woodland areas with standing and lying at times through the breeding season so female while she is being fed by the dead wood, with some help from the contact calls that are given male for 13-15 days (Witherby et al., artificial nests to maintain the throughout the rest of the year will be of 1938) and the young are then fed by population short term. These solutions more use to the observer to locate and both adults and fly after about 17 days could also provide problems to the identify these birds. The contact call of (Holden & Cleeves, 2010). While both wetland areas of the site as an increase the marsh tit is a small thin sneezing birds are feeding the female will beg for in scrub and mature trees could have a like sound described in the RSPB food as she passes the male when he detrimental effect on the hydrology in Handbook of British Birds as “pit-chu” returns to feed the nestlings (pers. obs.) these areas by the drying effect of the sometimes followed by a “dee dee” The nests of the willow tit have been trees and the filling of ponds with leaf sound – this I find to be quite accurate. vulnerable to take over twice by other litter. This could then affect the The contact call of the willow tit is very birds on Old Moor, on both occasions breeding of two other UK BAB species flat and nasally making a “chicka zee by a blue tit pair (pers. obs.). Mammal – the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the zee zee” sound followed quite often predation on adults by stoat (Mustela water vole (Arvicola terrestris). The with the flat “zee zee” part repeated ermine) and weasel (M. nivalis) has area around the wildlife ponds is one of three or four times. It may be useful to been noted and the prominent avian the favoured areas for nesting by willow say here that this call is slower in danger to adults comes from little owls tits having some scrubby trees such as repetition than the marsh tit call. (Athene noctua) and sparrowhawks crack willow (Salix fragilis) and (Accipiter nisus). Nestlings’ main pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) being Nesting habits mammalian predators are again the stoat allowed to stay around the reed bed Typical habitat that willow tits nest in is and weasel but also the grey squirrel edges in a limited and controlled state, usually a damp scrubby area with their (Sciurus carolinensis), and avian while there will be removal of aspen favoured trees of willow (Salix) and, as predators are restricted usually to the (Populus tremula), silver birch and described earlier, nest chambers are great spotted woodpecker common alder (Alnus glutinosa)

18 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org Identification, Nesting Habits and Nest Sites for Willow Tit

because of their pioneering and so penetrate and encourage the rotting hydrology of the site for other drying nature. Some standing dead process to be quicker and deeper important birds and animals such as the wood will be left. One area that is not through the remaining wood. The part bittern and the water vole that breed on affecting the hydrology of the reserve is felled top of the tree will also be the reserve must be maintained. It is the field next to the children’s play area allowed to stand and will also provide also hoped that increasing the number and this has been planted with trees as nest sites for the willow tits. The of hedgerows and allowing some trees an orchard using local varieties of remaining wood from this work will be to mature and others to stand as cherry, apple and pear. As these trees kept in the area where it was felled in deadwood will result in an increase in develop and grow the heart wood the form of log piles and larger stumps populations of moths, butterflies and becomes soft and the bark opens in to rot down. wood boring invertebrate as well as an cracks that allow the willow tits to The creation of other artificial nest increase of fruit and seeds, with more excavate nests so these trees will sites will supplement soft rotting wood hedgerow related flowers as natural become beneficial in the long term. The and standing deadwood found around food for birds; this will also be of hedges, also away from the hydro the reserve. The first of the artificial benefit to small mammals which will in sensitive areas on the reserve, have been nests to be used by a breeding pair of turn be of benefit to their predators such allowed to grow high and thick with willow tits was an old rotting cherry as owls. mixed species including trees associated tree that had been blown over by high with willow tit nesting; these hedgerows winds near the reserve. It was brought References will also increase the available natural onto the reserve and placed in an area food in the form of invertebrates and where willow tits had been singing and Holden. P & Cleeves, T. 2002. The RSPB seeds of associated plants for this and was used successfully by a pair of Handbook of British Birds. Third Edition. London: Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd. other passerines that is especially willow tits in the same season. There important for nestlings. A sacrificial are three other types of artificial nest Cramp, S & Perrins, C.M. 1993. crop is sown in the field next to this boxes being trialled on Old Moor with Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle maturing hedge and a wild flower the first being a standard nest box with East and North Africa. The Birds of the meadow lies to the west of the wildlife an entrance hole of 28mm designed for Western Palearctic. Oxford: Oxford ponds so these help with the provision a blue tit but which has been filled to University Press. of natural food. A further 5000 mixed the mouth of the entrance with wood Perrins C.M. 1964. Identification of marsh native trees were planted in 2010 in a shavings and chippings to encourage and willow tits. Ringers Buletin. 2:6 10-11 hedge form to increase this long term some nest creation. One nest box of this Perrins, C.M. 1979. British tits. London: project. design has been used. The second type Collins. There is an area of hybrid black of nest site is created by putting up new poplar (Populus x candensis) wood at deadwood, i.e. strapping to another tree Perrins, C.M. 2003. The status of marsh and willow tits in the UK . British Birds the rear of the staff car park; these trees a large branch from a felled sycamore, 96:9 will be thinned to allow other native of about a meter in length and which trees such as oak, sweet chestnut and has been soaked in water for twelve Holloway, S. 1996. The historical atlas of hornbeam to be planted with an months to soften the wood and start the Breeding birds in Britain and Ireland 1875 understory of hazel, bird cherry and rotting process. Four of these nest sites – 1900. London: T& A D Poyser. hawthorn being encouraged to develop have been used in the last two years. Rothschild, W. 1907. The British willow tit over a long period of time so not to The third nest site will be provided by (Parus Atricapillus Klmnschmidti Hellm.). change the habitat too quickly. It is using logs from the hybrid black poplar British Birds 1:2 44-47 hoped that this will be managed, felling, which will be hollowed out and Witherby H.F.Rev., Jaurdain, F.C.R., leaving some standing dead wood of up repacked with the wood chippings and Ticehurst N. F. & Tucker, B.W. 1938. The to two metres high to encourage nesting have a hole drilled in the side so they Handbook of British Birds. London: H. F. & by willow tits. Some of the felling will can be used as a type of nest box. This G. Witherby. use a technique to encourage the heart nest box design is yet to be used. Sharrock J.T.R , 1976. The Atlas of wood to rot more quickly and so be Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. available for use sooner by the breeding Conclusion London: T. & A.D. Poyser. birds. This technique is used on the As with any management work the Abernethy reserve in the Central provision of a change within the Highlands of Scotland by the RSPB to wetland habitat with some scrub left for increase nesting sites for the crested tit the willow tit will have benefits for (which also excavates its nest chamber) other vulnerable red data list birds such Steve Rutherford is Chairman of the in Scots pine, and is produced by as the yellowhammer (Emberiza recently formed South Yorkshire Branch of cutting half way through the trunk of a citronella), song thrush (Turdus BNA. The RSPB Old Moor Reserve in the tree then using a pulley system to bring philomelos) and tree sparrow (Passer Dearne Valley is used as a base for the new BNA branch. An article ‘Old Moor Nature the top half of the tree over. This then montanus). However the balance Reserve, South Yorkshire BNA’s new home’ leaves ragged splits at the top of the between increasing the range of the appeared in the Autumn & Winter 2012 standing dead wood allowing water to willow tit and the need to maintain the edition of Country-Side. www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 19 The Marmalade Fly

emerging on warm days. However adults are not particularly cold resistant: with temperatures below +5C, 90% of females died after ten days. Even with gradual acclimatisation their bodies begin to freeze and die at -8°C (Hart & Bale, 1997). As the spring generation is thought to arise from over-wintering adults, they may be almost absent following cold winters. As with many hoverfly species the sexes can be distinguished by the eyes. (The eyes of males touch at the top of the head.) The population is boosted each year by large-scale immigration from the continent. This is usually quite discrete but on occasions there is a spectacular influx of these flies into Britain, most recently in August 2004 and to a lesser extent in 2011, when large swarms Episyrphus balteatus is probably our most common hoverfly species occurred at various locations along the Photo: B. Sherwood east coast (Rotheray & Gilbert, 2011). Like most insects, members of the shown that temperature during pupal This was caused by a large build-up of hoverfly family do not on the whole development affected the extent of dark flies in continental Europe due to possess vernacular names in this colouration; the colder the conditions favourable breeding conditions. Suitable country. There are however two the darker the flies. E. balteatus can be weather for northward migration - fine common exceptions: the drone fly found in most months due to it part- weather with southerly breezes - helped (Eristalis tenax) and the more hibernating through mild winters, to drift the migrating flies towards the diminutive marmalade fly (Episyrphus balteatus). The latter, despite its small size – no more than 11-12 mm long – has acquired this status because it is easy to identify and is probably our most common species. Adult Episyrphus are marmalade orange/yellow on the upper abdomen with horizontal black bands. It is unique for having distinctive secondary black bands on the 3rd and 4th dorsal plates (tergites) and faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax. However in some the second stripe can be part or almost all missing. Colouration in hoverflies generally can be variable and this is especially so in E. balteatus, which exhibits considerable variation of body colour. Observations in the field suggested this was more likely the effect of temperature, rather than brood Episyrphus balteatus feeding Only material from the face and proboscis, wiped or geographic influences. Dušek & clean by the forelegs, is normally eaten Láska (1974), confirmed this and have Photo: B. Sherwood Photo: B. Sherwood

20 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org The Marmalade Fly

studies indicate that the larvae of two frequently studied species, E. balteatus and Eupeodes corollae, can help keep aphids at commercially acceptable levels in cereal crops. However, the effectiveness can vary on a yearly basis, as might be expected with part migratory species. Despite being one of the best studied, there are still many unanswered questions around the behaviour and natural history of E. balteatus, let alone the other 250 or so UK species.

References E. balteatus have a short thick proboscis with The pollen load attached to hoverfly bodies relatively large broad fleshy labella can equal that of bees Branquart, E., Hemptinne, J-L. Bauffe C. Drawing: B. Sherwood Photo: B. Sherwood & Benfekih, L. 1997. Cannibalism in Episyrphus balteatus (Dipt.: Syrphidae). UK. Visiting E. balteatus only breed development (Schneider, 1948). Entomophaga. 42: 145-152. once before migrating south in the When feeding, hoverflies frequently autumn. stop to clean the face and proboscis, Davies, N.B. 1977. Prey selection and the Males spend most of their time ingesting the cleaned material. Between search strategy of the spotted flycatcher seeking mates by hovering in male- feeding bouts they usually fly to a leaf in (Muscicapa striata): A field study on dominated swarms. The larvae are the sun and clean the whole body, optimal foraging. Animal Behaviour. 25: 4 aphidophagous, so after mating females paying particular attention to the wings Dušek, J. & Láska, P. 1974. Influence of lay their greyish/white eggs on foliage and face; only material from the face temperature during pupal development on close to aphid colonies. The legless and proboscis is normally eaten, the rest the colour of Syrphid adults (Syrphidae, larvae are flattened and translucent so apparently being discarded (Holloway, Diptera). Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Purk. internal structures are visible. They feed 1976). Brun. 15, Biol. 43 (1): 77.81. by grabbing and piercing their prey Some hoverfly species are good bee using mouth-hooks and sucking out the mimics (e.g. Some Criorhina, Pocota, Gilbert, F. 2004. The evolution of aphid’s body contents. They are also Cheilosia and Volucella species) having imperfect mimicry in hoverflies. In: Insect cannibalistic if food supply is short a close morphological and behavioural Evolutionary Biology. Wallingford: CABI. (Rojo, et al., 1996; Branquart, et al., resemblance. There are, however, still Hart, A.J. & Bale, J.S. 1997. Cold 1997). Although lacking eyes, larvae many fascinating and complex questions tolerance of the aphid predator Episyrphus have a sense of light and are mainly surrounding mimicry and its drawbacks balteatus (DeGeer) (Diptera, Syrphidae). active at night. During their first as well (Gilbert, 2004). Many of the smaller Physiological Entomology. 22: 4. as second-instar larval stage they are species are like E. balteatus with their highly susceptible to parasitism, by the yellow and black markings making them Holloway, B.A. 1976. Pollen feeding in Ichneumon wasp, Diplazon laetatorius. look wasp like, but appear poor mimics hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). New When ready to pupate, their skin to us. ‘Warning colours’ can not Zealand Journal of Zoology. 3: 339-350, hardens to provide a protective case, and necessarily be assumed to be a response Jauker, F. & Wolters, V. 2008. Hover the life cycle is completed within a to the threat of bird predation: specialist flies are efficient pollinators of oilseed rape. month. feeders, such as flycatchers can easily Oecologia. 156: 4. It is clear that there is wide variation distinguish them from wasps (Davies, in the diet of hoverflies. The 1977). In addition plenty of other Rojo, S., Hopper K.R. & Marcos-Gar morphology of the mouthparts varies animals such as dragonflies, wasps and Za, M.A. 1996. Fitness of the hover flies with species: some have relatively long spiders eat hoverflies. Episyrphus balteatus and Eupeodes corollae and slim mouthparts, whereas others Like bees and wasps, hoverflies have faced with limited larval prey. Entomologia such as E. balteatus have a short thick long been recognised as important Experimentalis et Applicata. 81: 53-59. proboscis and relatively large broad pollinators of horticultural and fruit Rotheray, G. E., & Gilbert, F. 2011. The fleshy labella with numerous grooves, crops. The pollen load attached to their Natural History of Hoverflies. Wales: more suitable for taking pollen. In field bodies can equal that of bees. Amongst Forrest Text. studies females are more often seen other research, it has been shown that taking pollen than males, and this makes flowers of oilseed rape produced Schneider, F. 1948. Beitrag zur Kenntnis up more than 90% of the diet. Breeding significantly more seeds per pod when der Generationsverhaltnisse und Diapause experiments with E. balteatus (and some E. balteatus was present (Jauker & räuberischer Schwebfliegen (Syrphidae, other aphidophagous species) have Wolters, 2008). Dipt.). Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen shown pollen to be necessary for ovarian As a biological control several Entomologischen Gesellschaft. 21: 249-285. www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 21 Wonderful Waxcaps

Waxcaps (Hygrocybe) are aristocrats amongst the fungi being part of the ecologically diverse habitats in unfertilised grass, churchyards and mossy old lawns, often of stately homes. They have a waxy texture, consist of cap and stalk (stipe), widely spaced radiating gills and come in a large range of bright colours through pink, red, orange, yellow, green, cream, white, brown and black. When present in some density and abundance they make a magnificent sight. Appearing from September through autumn waxcaps persist well into November. Although more typical of open sites on acid soil, some will occur on calcareous soils but they generally require soils low Sandelwood waxcap (Hygrocybe russocoriacea) with the distinctive smell. Kingsley, Hampshire in nitrogen and phosphorus. With Photo: J. Chatfield agricultural and horticultural Some members returning a few weeks case when the Hampshire Fungus “improvement” of grass habitats later to the site in November reported Recording Group visited the lawn of waxcaps are threatened both here and that they were even more abundant. Gilbert White’s House on 22 November elsewhere in Europe but it appears that The same autumn, on 14 November 2012 when the numbers were well the British Isles remain an important 2011, my attention was drawn to the down, only the one species of waxcap, stronghold for these attractive fungi. great profusion of fungi on the lawn of the snowy waxcap was present and we Waxcaps are recognised as indicators of Gilbert White’s House ‘The Wakes’ in endured persistent cold and rain. the quality and species richness of semi- Selborne by David Standing the Head natural grassland. Lawns of low nutrient Gardener. It is a mossy lawn that is Churchyards soil with thick growth of the springy damp due to being on chalk marl of the Churchyards and cemeteries are man- turf feather-moss (Rhytidiadelphus lower chalk strata that has a high clay made habitats but many have centuries squarrosus) are generally good for content and poor drainage. This has of the same use, regular short mowing waxcaps and in the New Naturalist book been a lawn since the early eighteenth of the turf and generally escape being Fungi by Brian Spooner and Paul century when bought by the White fertilized so they are valuable relics of Roberts (2005) it is postulated that there family and today herbicides and unimproved grassland, a habitat that is could be some beneficial relationship fertilizers are specifically not used, being lost on farms and so churchyards between the fungus and the moss as yet making it mossy and fungus-friendly. are often very good sites for waxcaps. unexplored. Here were snowy waxcaps (Hygrocybe Just three of the Fungus Group virginea) in abundance, yellow and mentioned above moved on to the Chalklands green parrot waxcaps (Hygrocybe second site, the mossy short grass of All On 29 October 2010 waxcaps caught psittacina) and one of the yellow Saints Church in Kingsley a few miles the attention of the Alton Natural waxcaps, and with them quantities of away from Selborne which is on Lower History Society field meeting to Butser the poisonous ivory funnel (Clitocybe Greensand near the Gault clay junction Hill, south of Petersfield in Hampshire rivulosa = dealbata), the ivory bonnet so is an acidic and moist soil but that was “in search of the mountain (Mycena flavoalba) and other small perhaps with some lime from the blackbird”. Whilst we were unlucky fungi. The appearance of the spore building of the church in 1876 and with the ring ouzels that Gilbert White forming bodies of fungi – toadstools – drainage off the Gault. There are no used to record on passage through the above ground is capricious for while burials here as they take place in the Selborne area in the eighteenth century, each species has its particular season of original church for Kingsley of St we were rewarded by a range of fungi occurrence, abundance in one year is Nicholas a mile or so outside the on the chalk grassland that included not necessarily repeated the following village, hence the building of one more parasols, field mushrooms, yellow field year and dry or cold weather may have conveniently situated for services in caps and puffballs as well as waxcaps. an influence too. This proved to be the Victorian times. Here we were

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was found. This is one of the largest waxcaps with a distinctive pink pointed cap and white stem that is also one of the rarer species. I had made a mental note to search again for pink waxcaps at Steep and the opportunity arose in October 2012 when I was asked to help with some fungus sessions at Diggers Club, an outdoor after-school outdoor and nature group run by Caroline Levitt that was based at Steep school just opposite the church. This is a rich area for natural history in spectacular hilly country (hence the name Steep) and the home of the topographical writer and poet Edward Thomas from 1907 inspiring much of his poetry until 1915 Above & right when he enlisted in the Army for World Crimson waxcaps (Hygrocybe punicea) in the War I and left Steep. This churchyard churchyard of All Saints, Kingsley, Hampshire lived up to expectations for Diggers Photo: J. Chatfield Club and we found 20 pink waxcaps rewarded by literally hundreds of that particularly impressed the children colourful waxcaps, I estimated over as well as seven other species of 1,000, and an impressive nine species of Hygrocybe most of which had been Hygrocybe determined by Eric Janke of the Fungus Group and we also had a short respite from the rain. The largest were the crimson waxcaps (Hygrocybe punicea) with yellow ones of the butter waxcap (H. ceracea) and golden waxcap (H. chlorophana), yellow and burials. Again it was on Gault clay near green parrot waxcaps (H. psittacina), the junction with the Lower Greensand. cream of the cedarwood waxcap with its I had visited this churchyard in late distinctive strong smell (H. autumn about 20 years ago whilst russocoriacea), white of the snowy running a field visit on fungi for an waxcap (H. virginea), brown of the adult education class when, in addition slimy waxcap (H. irrigata) and black of to several species of waxcap, the pink or the blackening waxcap (H.conica) after ballerina waxcap (H. calyptriformis) it changes from red, orange or yellow with age and the smaller red limestone waxcap (H. calcifera). The last species Yellow waxcaps (species unknown) has a rough cap and is an indicator of in the churchyard at Steep, Hampshire lime enrichment. Also living in the turf Photo: J. Chatfield at the Kingsley churchyard were three species of yellow clubs (Clavulinopsis) found at Kingsley too. The pink waxcap and an earthtongue (Geoglossum is rare on the continent of Europe and cookeanum) typical of the habitat. The the British populations are of blackening waxcap, initially vermillion international significance with 50% of and yellow with a pointed cap and the the European pink waxcaps being in the parrot waxcap are two of the earliest British Isles. It is a Biodiversity Action species to appear above ground and it Plan species. was seeing parrot waxcap at Kingsley in September 2012 that inspired me to References revisit the site in early November to be rewarded by an amazing sight. Spooner, B and Roberts, P., 2005. Fungi Another productive churchyard was that Pink or ballerina waxcap (Hygrocybe New Naturalist series. London: Collins of Steep church, near Petersfield, calyptriformis) in the churchyard at Steep, Hampshire, this time an old medieval Hampshire Gilbert White’s House church and churchyard long used for Photo: J. Chatfield www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/ www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 23 A Cotswold Interlude

A Cotswold Interlude in search of some of Britain’s Rare Butterflies and Orchids

Last year (2012) my wife and I had to valley, the Chalford Valley, also known top of Rodborough Common. Having make three short visits to the Cotswolds as the Golden Valley. At the bottom of recently read Patrick Barkham’s book – to clear the contents from a relative’s the valley runs the River Frome. This ‘The Butterfly Isles’ (Barkham, 2011), house. Our visits were spread over a valley extends from Stroud for in which he describes his quest to see period of twelve weeks between 14th approximately four miles to Chalford, all of Britain’s 59 Butterflies in one May and 10th July during the wettest an attractive village built on a steep year, I was aware that he had seen the summer weather on record. Whilst there terraced slope and then on into the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly I went in search of some of Britain’s countryside to the village of Sapperton (Hamearis lucina) on Rodborough rarest butterflies and orchids. This is an and beyond to Edgeworth. Common. This was one of the few account of what I found. Running from Stroud in a northerly butterflies Barkham had never seen in The Cotswolds, which lie mainly direction is the third valley. Of all the his life before and he had been taken within the counties of Gloucestershire five valleys this valley, the Slad valley, there by Mathew Oates, National and Oxfordshire, are a region of rolling is probably the best known. It was Trust’s Nature Conservation Advisor. hills and panoramic views, interspersed immortalised by Laurie Lee in ‘Cider In his book Barkham quotes Oates with scenic villages built with the local with Rosie’ (Lee, 1959), the multi- as saying that “there are probably fewer honey coloured stone that give them a million best-selling book, about his life Duke of Burgundies than any other golden glow. It is a region of rare in the valley. Who can forget Lee’s butterfly species in the country”. limestone grassland and ancient beech evocative description of the valley? I parked the car on the plateau at the woods which are the home to a wide “The valley was narrow, steep and top of Rodborough Common which variety of flora and fauna. The region is almost cut off; it was a funnel for winds, extends down a steep scarp slope from designated an Area of Outstanding a channel for the floods and a jungly the plateau and is comprised of mainly Natural Beauty (AONB). bird-crammed, insect hopping sun-trap rich limestone grassland, though on Situated on the western edge of the whenever there happened to be sun some of the lower slopes there is scrub Cotswolds is the town of Stroud, ten …Like an island, it was possessed of invasion and woodland. It was donated miles from Cheltenham. In the past curious survivals – rare orchids and to the National Trust by a butterfly Stroud was the centre of the Roman snails ... The sides of the valley lover who feared that quarrying could Gloucestershire woollen trade. were rich in pasture and the crests destroy it. It is well known for its However, it is not the town that is of heavily covered in beech woods.” butterflies but also national rarities such interest to the naturalist but the five Although this was his description of the as the pasque flower. valleys that converge on the town. These valley a number of decades ago, very I headed along the side of the are a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast, little has changed, and his description escarpment. The conditions were not bursting with wildlife of all kinds. still conveys the essence of the valley as ideal for butterflies – it was windy and The first of the valleys, which runs it is today. cloudy with only intermittent sunshine. in a southerly direction from Stroud, is The fourth valley, again running in a The slopes were a mass of cowslips, I the Nailsworth Valley. At its head is northerly direction from Stroud is the have never seen so many. There must Nailsworth, six miles from Stroud. Half Painswick Valley, the heart of which is have been tens if not hundreds and way between the two towns nestling on the small town of Painswick, often thousands of them. This was the western slope of the valley is referred to as the Queen of the encouraging as this is the plant on Woodchester, a typical Cotswold Cotswolds. Along its length are a which Duke of Burgundy butterflies lay village. Climbing up the valley behind number of beautiful hamlets and their eggs. The number of flowers was Woodchester you arrive at Selsley villages such as Sheepscombe and also significant as the female butterfly Common with extensive views down an Cranham nestled amongst a beautiful is very particular on which cowslips it escarpment to the Vale of Gloucester, rolling and wooded landscape. will lay its eggs. The cowslips must the River Severn and beyond into The fifth and final valley is not so have four medium-sized leaves and the Wales. On the eastern side of the obvious. Some claim it as the Ruscombe plant must be of a size whereby it will Nailsworth valley, between Valley and others the Toadsmoor be covered in grass in the summer, so Woodchester and Stroud, is Rodborough Valley. the leaves do not turn yellow before the Common owned by the National Trust. It was mid-May, and late in the caterpillars are fully fed. Though I did The slope of the common rises steeply afternoon, when we arrived in not see any Duke of Burgundy until it reaches a plateau. Woodchester for the first of our three butterflies this day I did see a speckled On the far side of the plateau the visits. Too late to start work on the wood (Parage aegeria), a butterfly land falls away steeply into the second house so I headed up Bear Hill to the more normally associated with

24 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org A Cotswold Interlude

woodland, and also a green hairstreak still rare, the success of the well have lived as long as nine months (Callophrys rubi) “as well as a few reintroduction programme in one area in before forming a chrysalis to become a early purple orchids (Orchis mascula). particular, the Polden Hills in Somerset, butterfly. When the butterfly emerges Two days later, the sun came out has allowed people to once again see the ants will escort the butterfly to the and it looked a much more promising this magnificent butterfly in Britain. surface taking it to a low plant. They day for finding butterflies on the wing. What a good morning it had will ward off any predators until the The house clearing had to wait as I eventually turned out to be. I could butterfly’s wings have hardened and it headed back to the top of Rodborough certainly empathise with Barkham’s can fly, before the ants return to the Common. The bottom of the valley was comment at the end of his visit where nest. The butterfly will only live for a bathed in sunshine which lit up seeing the Duke “was the crowning few weeks, mating and starting the life Woodchester church with its tall spire. piece of a cowslip-filled Cotswold cycle again. The conservation needs of The vibrant light greens of spring combe on a perfect April (in my case the red ant species Myrica sabuleti are growth added to the scene. There could May) morning.” as crucial as the conservation needs of be no better quintessential English A month later on we made the the large blue for without this symbiotic landscape that morning than the valley second of our three trips to relationship between the two, the large below me. I worked my way along the Woodchester. Before leaving Essex I blue cannot survive. edge of the steep valley slope, just telephoned Sue Smith, leader of the It was with the thought of finding a above the scrub and tree line where Gloucestershire Butterfly Conservation large blue at the back of my mind that butterflies were more likely to be flying, Group, to find out if the comment made we arrived back in Woodchester on 18th sheltered from the wind. I disturbed a on Rodborough Common about large June to continue clearing the house. butterfly, it was a small heath blues being present at Daneway Banks Two days later, with a weather forecast (Coenonympha pamphilus). Then in the Chalford Valley was correct. She of sun, and for once only a light wind, another, but different, it was a dingy informed me that there were indeed the temptation to leave the house skipper (Erynnis tages) which worked some large blues present but I would be clearing for a day and go in search of a its way into deeper grass out of sight. lucky to see them. That was enough for large blue was too great. Reaching the After two hours of looking for a Duke me. The quest was on to photograph a Daneway Banks reserve, there were a of Burgundy I despondently decided to large blue. few more people around than give up my search and retrace my steps. The large blue is one of our rarest previously. Word had got around about I recalled a comment in Patrick butterflies and is one of the world’s the presence of large blues. It was not Barkham’s book referring to most threatened species. It had always long before my wife and I, came across Rodborough Common “It was one of been rare in Britain but declined rapidly two people who only ten minutes before the best sites left for the Duke but you in the twentieth century and despite had seen a large blue settle on some could easily walk around the common many years of effort to halt its decline, wild thyme. Settling down at the spot on a sunny day in April and May and the large blue was pronounced extinct in where they had seen it we waited in never see this perky little aristocrat, so Britain in 1979. Thanks to some ground anticipation. A marbled white discrete are its colonies”. What hope breaking research into its complicated (Melanargia galathea) flew past. A had I therefore of finding this small life cycle by Professor Jeremy Thomas dingy skipper settled on a small bush. A butterfly. Turning a corner into a and his colleague David Simcox of common blue (Polyommatus icarus) combe where the slope changes Oxford University, a reintroduction appeared. A green hairstreak was seen direction a small group of people programme was started in 1983. This as well as a small heath. But still no informed me that they had seen, not became possible when the requirements large blue. And then what looked like a long previously, some Duke of for it to exist became fully understood. large blue appeared. Was it, wasn’t it? It Burgundies at that very spot. I waited Fertilised female large blue butterflies put up another blue. As they separated I patiently with them with growing lay their eggs on wild thyme or wild followed one until it came to rest. I soon anticipation, and then three Duke of marjoram. When the young caterpillars found out I had chosen the wrong one to Burgundy butterflies appeared and with emerge they feed on these plants during follow as a closer look revealed it to be cameras to the ready photographs were their initial stages of development. Once a common blue. Then it appeared, the taken. I lingered there for over half an well fed they discreet a small drop of butterfly I had been waiting for, a large hour photographing and watching these honeydew, which attracts red ants. The blue (Maculinea arion). It settled for a amazing little butterflies. Before leaving species of red ant that it has to attract is short time with its wings closed. A my fellow butterfly enthusiasts, the talk Myrica sabuleti. The ants take the second one followed and settled for an turned to the large blue, one of Britain’s caterpillar back to their nest and ‘milk’ even shorter time but this time with its largest butterflies. It had been seen the caterpillar of its honeydew, which wings open. Just enough time to take a within the last few years a few miles they and their young then feed on. Soon photograph with the telephoto lens to away at Daneway Banks in the Golden after this the caterpillar will seek out the allow me to fully confirm identification. Valley. I took note. The large blue had nesting chambers of the ants and Almost as quickly as they had appeared become extinct in Britain in 1979. proceed to eat the ants’ eggs and larvae. each in turn was gone. Subsequently, it was re-introduced to a The caterpillar, that hibernates in the The final day of our second visit to few sites, most kept secret. Although ants’ nest throughout the winter, may the Cotswolds arrived. The peals of www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 25 A Cotswold Interlude

(Aphantopus hyperantus). And then I spotted a fritillary a little way off. It was moving fast across the valley slope, exhibiting the characteristics identification books give for a dark green fritillary. I was hoping it would settle so that I could get a closer look but it was not intent on stopping. Time passed and then another dark green Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) Large blue butterfly (Maculinea arion) fritillary appeared, once again moving Photo: J. McCrindle Photo: J. McCrindle too fast to follow it and photograph it. It was not to be a day when this butterfly Woodchester’s church bells rang out at the coombe a small blue appeared in would willingly be photographed. across the valley as we completed our flight. Over the next two days the prospect house clearing tasks. Having seen one Two weeks later on 7th July we made of getting out in the countryside was not of Britain’s largest butterflies, the large our third and final trip to the Cotswolds. blue earlier in the week, my search this Apart from finishing the clearing of the time was for the smallest British house, my wildlife ambitions this time butterfly, the small blue. Despite its were to see a dark green fritillary name it is not particularly blue and butterfly, and add to the number of although the male does have some blue orchid species I had seen during the last at the base of its upper wings and two trips. As soon as we arrived in similarly a bluish tint on the underside, Woodchester, it was once again a matter it like the female, is predominantly of dropping off our bags and heading up brown. Bear Hill to the car park on the plateau The afternoon weather promised to above the slopes of Rodburgh Common. Silver-washed fritillary butterfly be much better than on the previous This time instead of descending down (Argynnis paphia) Photo: J. McCrindle days so I decided to return once again the common we descended down the to Rodborough Common. No sooner other side of the plateau into the Golden good. “Britain facing flood misery – had I reached the car park than it Valley. It was here that Sue Smith had two months of rain in the next three started to rain. I waited until it stopped told me there was a small colony of dark days” were the newspaper headlines. before setting off down the valley side green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) However, by Saturday, although it was to the combe where the previous month dull and the storm clouds threatened, it I had seen the Duke of Burgundy. was at least dry so we headed off to visit Walking through the grass I disturbed a the fourth valley. This time our marbled white. Turning to my left I destination was the area around the suddenly saw what I had come in small hamlet of Cranham at the top end search of. There, perched on a stem of the Painswick valley. We parked in a with its wings closed was a very small car park on the edge of Buckhold and butterfly, it was undeniably a small Rough Woods National Nature Reserve blue (Cupido minimus). There was just owned and managed by Natural sufficient time, before it flew off, to get England. Walking from the car park a few photographs. By now the sun had into the village there was a magnificent come out and it was warming up considerably. With it came the butterflies. I noted a large skipper (Ochlodes venata), my first of the year. Marbled whites started to appear on the wing. The valley side was covered in a variety of wild flowers. For the first time I noticed that fragrant Musk orchids (Herminium monorchis) orchids (Gymnadenia conopsea) were Photo: J. McCrindle present amongst the common spotted butterflies. As we walked through the orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and grass we put up copious numbers of pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis marbled white butterflies. There were pyramidalis) and there were other also small heaths and meadow browns species of wild flowers now replacing (Maniola jurtina) but in much smaller the cowslips that I had seen during my numbers. A new butterfly for my list Red helleborine orchid (Cephalanthera rubra) first visit to the common. Arriving back this year appeared, a dark brown ringlet Photo: J. McCrindle

26 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org A Cotswold Interlude

display of pyramidal orchids by the side in flower. Further on a white helleborine not to divulge its location. The orchid in of the road. We walked into the village (Cephalanthera damasonium), which question is the red helleborine. It is and out to a flower rich meadow. had flowered and was now dying, was classified as “critically endangered” in Cranesbill, horseshoe vetch, common located. We emerged from the wood Great Britain, protected under the spotted orchid, pyramidal orchid, oxe- into Laurie Lee Field much higher up Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and eye daisy, greater knapweed and other the valley than we had been previously. considered by some as being one of the flowers were present. Skirting the edge The open limestone slope was covered top ten most rare wildflower species in of the village, we passed a church on a in a variety of wild flowers. After some the country. We came across the red highpoint overlooking an intersection of searching we found what we were helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) in valleys. In a field adjacent to the church looking for, a bee orchid (Ophrys one of the beech woods. There it was, which was being used as an overflow apifera), my ninth orchid species. Our with its bright pink pointed flowers, in car park we stopped to admire the final orchid of the day was located by amongst other vegetation, in an area views. An area awash with wildflowers our guide who identified it as a cross where the tree canopy had allowed the and orchids had been deliberately left between common spotted orchid and sun to penetrate. uncut. Walking up a steep lane and out fragrant orchid. Parting company with Our short spell of trips to the onto another common we came across our guide we headed down the slopes Cotswolds had come to an end. I had another species of orchid, common admiring the distant view of Painswick seen over twenty-five per cent of all the twayblade (Listera ovata), amongst church as we descended. butterfly species there are in Great scabious, knapweed, bedstraws and Tuesday 10th July, our final day in Britain and some of the rarest. I had also yellow rattle. Returning to the car, I the Cotswolds. After finishing our seen eleven species of orchid, an array made a quick detour into Buckhold and remaining tasks on the house there was of wild flowers, badgers, foxes and Rough Wood where I came across just sufficient time in the afternoon to buzzards. I had admired the wonderful birds-nest orchids (Neottia nidus-avis). head up the valley slope behind views across valleys and stopped at The following day we ventured out Woodchester to Selsley Common. I had picturesque golden honey stone to another part of the Painswick Valley. read that musk orchids, a nationally Cotswold villages and hamlets. In the Our destination this time was to be scarce species, could be found here. The Painswick valley there is one such Sheepscombe. Following the track from slopes of Selsley Common fall away to hamlet the name of which is Paradise. Sheepscombe Far End we turned off up the west down to the Vale of Gloucester One can’t but wonder how it got its a slope into the glorious flower rich and it was here that I started my search name and speculate that maybe it was meadows of Sheepscombe Common for the orchid. This diminutive little named by a naturalist who wandering and St Georges Field also known as orchid, typically 5cm-15cms was not the valley slopes, amongst the Laurie Lee Field, a Natural England going to be easy to find. As I searched wildflowers and butterflies and other Reserve. After stopping to photograph a the slopes I spotted a number of small wildlife species did indeed think this marbled white feeding on greater blues. Half an hour of searching yielded was paradise. knapweed, we returned to the track into no results. Down in the plain below the a magnificent beech wood called rain clouds were sweeping along the Acknowledgements: Workman’s Wood. Like Buckhold and River Severn and it looked like it would I would like to thank Sue Smith, Leader Rough Woods near Cranham the wood not be long before some of the rain of the Gloucestershire Butterfly is part of the Cotswold Commons and would reach us. Coming upon an area Conservation Group, for her advice on Beech woods National Nature Reserve, with deep undulations that looked like it where to find some specific species of which includes some of the best had in some time past been carved out butterfly. examples of beech woods in Europe. by man I wondered if this were an old I would also like to thank the fellow An orange brown butterfly, amongst the quarry where the musk orchids might be wildlife enthusiasts who I came across in Gloucestershire, who shared their leaves, momentarily attracted my growing. At the bottom of one of the knowledge of the local area with me and attention. I went to investigate but found undulations, I found what I was looking helped me locate specific species. nothing. As we were about to move on I for, a clump of nine small yellow-green spotted it again, this time it flew up high plants, that were unmistakeably musk References: and settled on a tree leaf. A pair of orchids (Herminium monorchis). My binoculars revealed a fritillary. It flew quest to find these orchids had been Lee, L. 1959. Cider with Rosie London: The down and landed on the gravel track, successful and none too soon as the rain Hogarth Press. just sufficient time to take a photograph soon started. Barkham, P. 2011. The Butterfly Isles and identify it as a silver-washed During our three visits I had seen London: Granta Books. fritillary (Argynnis paphia), the largest some wonderful butterflies and ten of our Fritillaries. different species of orchid, including musk orchids that I had not seen before. John McCrindle is Chairman of the Central Moving slightly off the track a local and North Essex Branch of the BNA and two expert who had joined us pointed to a However there is an eleventh orchid that years ago was awarded the Richard Fitter broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis we found during our visit. It is so rare Memorial Medal, a medal awarded annually helleborine), not yet in flower. A and endangered in this country that I did to an individual who is a dedicated active second plant was found, this time nearly not mention it in the text above so as field naturalist. www.bna-naturalists.org Spring & Summer 2013 Country-Side 27 Book Reviews

Otters by Paul Chanin, illustrated by Guy Troughton. Whittet Books Limited 2013, ISBN 13 978 1 873580 84 4. 176 pages, Case bound £14.99. This is Paul Chanin’s third monograph on Otters and I was fortunate enough to be asked to illustrate his first one, published in 1985. Paul and I have both lived through the rise and fall and then rise again of this beautiful native mammal and Paul’s latest contribution, beautifully presented by Whittet Books, can at last give a full account of what has happened. Paul records how the otter hunts first noticed the decline in otter numbers, and by the 1960s Masters were seriously concerned. Paul shows how it was the shameful misuse of persistent chemicals that caused the catastrophic decline in otters and many other wildlife species during this period and we owe a great deal to his research and that of Don Jefferies of the Nature Conservancy Council, based on the Mammal Society surveys, for halting the decline. This latest book by Paul, records that Kent, the last English County to recover a population of otters, had done so by 2011. It covers all aspects of otter biology, plus their relationship with the released North American mink, and Guy Troughton’s illustrations have been extended and added to with an amazing collection of colour photographs by the award-winning Laurie Campbell. Michael Clark A Guide to Freshwater Invertebrates by M.Dobson, S.Powley, M.Fletcher & A.Powell. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, Cumbria 2012. ISBN 978-0-0900386-80-0. 216 pages, Hardback £33. The year 1959 saw the publication of A Guide to Freshwater Invertebrate Animals by T.T. Macan and, although long out of print, it inspired generations of would-be freshwater ecologists for decades. Although little more than a single extended key it was easy to use and filled a gap at the time. The present volume is a worthy successor to Macan’s book. It makes no pretence at being comprehensive since there are far too many species, a lot of which require specialist knowledge. It concentrates on the larger and more conspicuous groups of freshwater invertebrates, but does not totally ignore smaller groups. A series of easy to follow keys lead one to the family and generic level, and sometimes to species. There are also notes on ecology and distribution, and references to the specialist literature.The main strength of this book are the 460 first class line drawings which feature whole animals and the features of importance in distinguishing the different groups. There is also a list and classification of the animals covered by the book, a glossary of terms used, and a good index. Although the price may seem high this book is worth every penny, especially to those just embarking on the study of Britain’s freshwater invertebrates. In addition it is sturdy and compact enough to use in the field. Bryan Sage

Urban Mammals, A Concise Guide by David Wembridge, People’s Trust for Endangered Species. Whittet Books Limited, 2012. ISBN 13 978 1 873580 85 1. 112 pages, Paperback £9.99. With fewer species to cover than in Britain’s Mammals there is more space to include field signs in this volume and, for example, the sonogram of the echolocation of a Common Pipistrelle is well illustrated. The addition of such field signs throughout is most helpful. I would only disagree with the comment that roe deer and Muntjac droppings are difficult to tell apart: the dip in the side of the smaller latter pellets (as shown in the picture) are not found in Roe and the Roe hoof prints are distinctly larger and narrower in shape. David introduces us to what he defines as the ‘built environment’ and the progress the People's Trust for Endangered Species surveying the animals present. As well as gardens friendly to wildlife David emphasises the importance of green spaces and describes the urban patchwork of allotments, cemeteries and brownfield sites where mammals can survive. Distribution maps are included which show the change in status of many: since badgers were first protected in 1973 they have re-established themselves across most of Britain and are widely photographed coming to feeding sites in gardens, soon oblivious to any automatic lighting that might come on with their arrival. There is a colour guide to taxonomy and other useful information at the end. I recommend membership of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and this latest Whittet volume gives full details.

Offers to readers of Country-Side: Order a copy of ‘Otters’ or ‘Urban Mammals’ or any Whittet book at a 10% discount from their website www.booksystemsplus.com: just enter CSDISC into the ‘vouchers code’ box at the checkout; or call Book Systems Plus on 01223 893261 (mornings only) and quote ‘Country-Side’. Order a copy of Guide to Freshwater Invertebrates at a 10% discount (valid until 30 June 2014 and cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts e.g. FBA member discount) online at www.fba.org.uk/shop, by telephone to +44(0) 1539 442468 or by post from The Freshwater Biological Association, The Ferry Landing, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 OLP. Please quote “SP68countryside” when ordering and please add £2.50 for postage if ordering one copy (postage rates for more than one copy are listed on the FBA online shop).

28 Country-Side Spring & Summer 2013 www.bna-naturalists.org