Bristol Naturalist News

Contents / Diary of events

MARCH 2020

Discover Your Natural World

Bristol Naturalists’ Society BULLETIN NO. 588 MARCH 2020

BULLETIN NO. 588 MARCH 2020

Bristol Naturalists’ Society Discover Your Natural World

Registered Charity No: 235494

www.bristolnats.org.uk

CONTENTS

HON. PRESIDENT: Andrew Radford, Professor

3 DIARY of Events

of Behavioural Ecology, Bristol University

Welcome new members

HON. CHAIRMAN: Ray Barnett 4 SOCIETY ITEMS [email protected] Society talk; AGM

HON. PROCEEDINGS RECEIVING EDITOR: 5 Subscriptions; Nature in Avon

Dee Holladay, [email protected] A Notable Observation

6 Bristol Weather

ON EC H . S .: Lesley Cox 07786 437 528 [email protected] 7 NATTY NEWS : Bristol Eco Crisis Bumblebees; Marine changes HON. MEMBERSHIP SEC: Mrs. Margaret Fay 8 Photosynthesis; Sea Eagles 81 Cumberland Rd., BS1 6UG. 0117 921 4280 Australia’s platypus extinction?

[email protected] 9 BOTANY SECTION

Future Field Meetings (up to Sept.) HON. TREASURER: Mary Jane Steer Botanical notes; Meeting reports

01454 294371 [email protected]

13 GEOLOGY SECTION BULLETIN COPY DEADLINE: 7th of month before Future events

publication to the editor: David B Davies, 14 INVERTEBRATE SECTION 51a Dial Hill Rd., Clevedon, BS21 7EW. AGM; Notes for March 01275 873167 [email protected] Wildlife Photographer of the Year

15 LIBRARY BNS Publications; Free ABRs; Library history;

Status of Women

Health & Safety on walks: Members Ed Drewitt’s Ferry Boat trips

participate at their own risk. They are 17 ORNITHOLOGY SECTION responsible for being properly clothed and shod. Dogs may only be brought on a walk with prior BBS; Rookery Survey; Meeting report

agreement of the leader.

19 MISCELLANY Botanic Garden;

Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project

A Newt in the Loo

20 Newt, Lichen and Bumble bee

Cover picture: Bearded tit, with thanks to

Martyn Pratt

Bristol Naturalists’ Society Discover Your Natural World

Registered Charity No: 235494 www.bristolnats.org.uk Diary of events Back to contents

Council usually meets on the first Wednesday of each month. If you have any matters you wish to be discussed by Council, please contact the Hon. Sec. at least a week in advance.

Visitors & guests are welcome, free, at our lectures and field meetings. If contact details are given, please contact the leader beforehand, and make yourself known on arrival. We hope you will enjoy the meeting, and consider joining the Society. To join, visit https://bristolnats.org.uk and click on membership. Members are members of ALL sections.

FEBRUARY Wed 26 Talk: ‘Trains and Trilobites’ Geology 19.30 page 13 MARCH Weekly: Wednesday and Saturday – BNS Library open page 15 Wed 11 Local Moorhen research Ornithology 19.30 page 17 Sun 15 Conham: Bristol-Bath River Path Ornithology 09.00 page 17 Wed 18 Invertebrate Section AGM (before Society AGM) Invertebrates 18.45 page 14 Wed 18 Film Dragons & Damsels + AGM of the Society Society 19.30 page 4 Wed 25 Talk: ‘St Vincent’s Spring’ Geology 19.30 page 13 Wed 25 Talk: The Year of Limestone Grassland Botany 19.30 page 9 Sun 29 Training for BBS Ornithology page 17 APRIL Weekly: Wednesday and Saturday – BNS Library open page 15 Sat 18 “Bristol Rocks” Geology page 13 Sun 26 Ashton Court Botany 14.30? page 9

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Until 4 May Wildlife photographer of the year 2019 MShed page 14 Mon 2 Mar.-6 Apr. 6wk Veg growing course Botanic Garden page 19 Tue 10 Mar. Britain’s Ancient Forest – Legacy & Lore Gorge & Downs 19.00 page 19 Sat 14 Mar. Spring Herbs for Spring Cleanser Botanic Garden 09.30 page 19 Thu 19 Mar. Friends’ AGM + ‘Plant DNA’ Botanic Garden page 19 Sat 21 Mar. Photography workshop Botanic Garden page 19 Sun 22 Mar. Birdwatching boat trips with Ed Drewitt Bristol Ferries 07.00 page 16

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Mr. Chris Buxton & Ms. Lily Buxton (Interests: General, Invertebrates, Mammals, Ornithology); Mrs Julia Clarke & Ms Emily Clarke (General, Botany, Invertebrates, Mammals, Ornithology); Mr Tom Osborne; Ms. Helen Barrett

SOCIETY ITEMS

Contents / Diary

SOCIETY AGM

Followed by the British Première of a film showcasing dragonflies presented by Steve Nicholls DRAGONS AND DAMSELS A film by Steve Nicholls, narrated by David Attenborough

More beautiful than butterflies, better fliers than hummingbirds and with behaviour as intriguing and complex as either mammals or birds, dragonflies and damselfies are the ultimate insects. They’ve been around for hundreds of millions of years, dodging the earliest dinosaurs before we mammals were even a twinkle in the eye of evolution but, because of their age, they’re almost always described as primitive, which is entirely the wrong perspective. To survive that long, you have to be pretty special – and this film, largely shot within a 30-mile radius of Bristol, will show just how special they are.

7.30pm, Wednesday, 18th March at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, Westbury Hill BS9 3AA The Society AGM will be preceded at 6.45 by the Invertebrate Section AGM – see p16

Election of Officers Officers of the Society and Members are required to stand for re-election annually. Section Representatives are elected at individual Section AGMs.

The Presidential Term of Office also comes to an end this year. Consequently, the current President, Professor Andy Radford, will be stepping down from the role. The Society would like to thank Andy for his support and welcome the new President elect, Ray Barnett.

Nominations are: Members Ray Barnett: Member Tim Corner Lesley Cox: Hon. Secretary Robert Muston Mary-Jane Steer: Hon. Treasurer Steve Nicholls Margaret Fay: Hon. Membership Secretary David Davies: Hon Bulletin Editor Section Representatives Jim Webster: Hon. Librarian Botany: Vacant Dee Holladay: Hon. Proceedings Receiving Editor Geology: Richard Ashley Clive Lovatt: Hon Archivist Invertebrates: Mike Hutchinson Alex Morss: Hon Publicity Secretary Ornithology: Giles Morris Mammals: Vacant

Any member of the Society who would like to stand or wishes to nominate a fellow member for election should inform the Hon. Secretary as soon as possible. Many thanks. Lesley Cox

Subscription Renewal 2020 FINAL REMINDER Contents / Diary Subscriptions were due on 1st January. The current rates are:- Single Membership £25-00 ‘Household’ £35-00 Student £10-00

Payment options: • By bank transfer to: Lloyds TSB, Account number 00697372, Sort code 30-92-13 • By cheque to: The Membership Secretary, 81 Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6UG If you do pay by transfer please quote your name as a reference, otherwise there is no way of linking the payment with your membership.

Please note: Members not renewing this month will no longer receive BNS publications

Nature in Avon (Proceedings of the Society) Please submit papers as soon as possible for inclusion in the 2019 issue. Articles on all Natural History and Geology topics are welcome, please send to [email protected] Deadline March 31

A NOTABLE OBSERVATION wo of our dedicated members, David and Anne Jewell, were out for a walk when they spotted an unusual plant. They believed it to be a lichen but could not be sure. T At the Ornithology meeting they mentioned their find to the Section Secretary who forwarded the photograph to our esteemed lichen specialist, ex-President Dr. David Hill. By return, he identified the plant as Peltigera horizontalis and complimented David and Anne for recognising the specimen as a lichen, which many observers do not.

(Larger picture page 24)

Dr. Hill writes: The brown fruiting bodies (like fingers on the ends of the lobes) which are usually flat and relatively circular (as in photo) in P. horizontalis are mostly more upright and saddle-like (i.e., sides folded back) in P. praetextata - To confirm the difference, it is best to look underneath; the thallus lobes - the veins and rhizinae are different. Peltigera horizontalis Well done to the finders for recognizing it as a lichen - © D & A Jewell not everyone spots this!

BRISTOL WEATHER Contents / Diary

January 2020

ithout any prolonged winds from an easterly or a northerly direction January 2020 was a particularly warm month with regard to the records for Bristol going back W into the 19th century. The predominant direction of the winds was from the S to SW direction and this led to the mild temperatures for January and also led to a moist airstream covering the local area. With an average temperature of 7.4°C it was the warmest since 7.7°C was recorded in 2008. The 7.4°C average temperature makes this January the 8th equal warmest (with 1993), since continuous records began in 1891. It was a similar picture with the maximum and minimum average temperatures as one might expect: with the average maximum temperature being the equal 7th highest and the minimum temperature being the 8th highest in over 100 years of data for Bristol. With January’s higher than average rainfall of 104.0 mm it has been the 6th consecutive month of above average rainfall. This is relatively rare as the variation in rainfall often balances out over a shorter time span. The 30-year average rainfall in Bristol for August through to January inclusive is 522.4 mm. In the last six months we have seen 704.2 mm which represents almost 135% of the average. The month also saw the highest pressure this site in Bristol has observed since records began in 1994. At a high of 1049 mb this was higher than the previous record of 1044 mb recorded in January 2019. Individual days also saw extremes of temperatures. The lowest daily maximum of 6.1°C on the 28th was the 3rd highest since data started in 1960. The highest daily maximum temperature of 14.2°C on 14th was the highest since 14.4°C was recorded on 24th January 2016. It was also the 3rd highest since records began in 1938. The lowest daily mean temperature of 3.0°C recorded this January was the highest for the month since 3.7°C was recorded 30th January 2014.

Barry Horton

NATTY NEWS Contents / Diary The BBC and other media outlets have reported that Marvin Rees (Mayor of Bristol) and Ian Barratt (CEO of Avon Wildlife Trust) declared an Ecological Emergency in the City on 4th February in response to escalating threats to wildlife and ecosystems. Bristol Naturalists’ Society played a part in capturing the Mayor’s attention by supplying data on a range of species indicating the extent of the decline we have been experiencing. Detailed explanatory accounts of some of these species were also supplied. Mr. Rees said he would be working with authorities across the West of England and in government to “restore nature nationally and locally” whilst Mr. Barrett said, "This is about stopping the loss forever of much-loved species which were once common in our gardens, parks, watersides and green spaces across the city - swifts, starlings, hedgehogs and butterflies, etc., but it’s about more than that, because we face losing all that wildlife abundance and the benefits a thriving natural world provides us with – clean air, clean water, healthy soils, food crops, natural flood defences and beautiful spaces to enjoy. All of us – from individuals to large city organisations - can now take action from planting a single window box for pollinators, to a whole workforce effort for nature – all actions are transformational.” The BNS was delighted to be referenced in Ian’s speech and will continue to work with him and other organisations to raise awareness and actions to double the amount of wildlife in the city by 2030. See for example, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/04/bristol-declares-ecological-emergency-over- loss-of-wildlife

Bumblebees: Unlike the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Bumblebees are furry and can fly in temperatures that honeybees do not because of this insulation. In addition, the temperature of the flight muscles, which occupy much of the thorax, need to be at least 30 °C (86 °F) before flight can take place. Muscle temperature can be raised by shivering and it takes about five minutes for the muscles to reach this temperature at an air temperature of 13 °C (55 °F). Thus, on very hot days Bumblebees can overheat and usually take to the shade in the heat of the afternoon when temperatures soar. Researchers from the University of Ottawa (Canada) and UCL Buff-tailed Bumblebee (London) have combined to undertake further research regarding the (Bombus terrestris) © H. Pring effects of climate change on bumblebees. Soroye, Newbold and Kerr write, ‘Climate change could increase species’ extinction risk as temperatures and precipitation begin to exceed species’ historically observed tolerances. Using long-term data (1900 – 2015) for 66 bee species across North America and Europe, we tested whether this mechanism altered (the) likelihood of bumblebee species extinction or colonisation. Increasing frequency of hotter (periods) predicts species local extinction risk, (the) chances of colonizing a new area and changing species richness. Effects are independent of changing land uses. The team were able to predict changes, both for individual species and for whole communities of bumblebees with a surprisingly high degree of accuracy by using their new measurement of climate change. The paper also holds out hope by implying ways in which we might take the sting out of climate change for these and other organisms by maintaining habitats that offer shelter, like trees, shrubs, or slopes, that could let bumble bees get out of the heat. The authors point out that, it is in all our interests to do so, as well as in the interests of the species with whom we share the world. Read more in, Science, 2020; 7th Feb. Vol. 367 (Issue 6478): P.685.

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) recently released a new report. There is clear evidence of warming seas, reduced oxygen, ocean acidification and sea level rise affecting UK coasts and seas and, increasingly, these changes are having an effect on food webs, particularly sea bed (benthic) dwelling species, as well as plankton, fish, birds and mammals.

Photosynthesis: Scientists from the US Department of Energy and Washington University in St Louis have been seeking to understand the precise mechanisms by which photosynthesis is achieved. To do so requires an understanding of electron transfer (ET) they say. Nearly 35 years ago, scientists were surprised to discover that after the absorption of light, the electron transfer process had a choice of two possible pathways but plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria only used one of them and it was not known why. What was known was that the propulsion of the electron across the membrane, effectively harvesting the energy of the photon, required multiple steps. Argonne and Washington scientists have now managed to interfere with each one of these pathways to change the electron’s trajectory. The scientists claim this is important because it could lead to the ability to design new abiotic systems and to make more efficient, smaller solar powered devices. Read more in, ‘Switching sides – Re-engineered primary charge separation in the bacterial photosynthetic reaction centre’, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020; 117 (2) P.865 by Laible, et al. Contents / Diary White-tailed (Sea) Eagles: Six young birds were released on the Isle of Wight last summer. Sea Eagles dwarf Golden Eagles with their eight-foot wingspan, so it is quite surprising that one of the satellite-tracked birds has hardly been noticed by the public, having left the Isle of Wight in favour of Oxfordshire where he is ‘hanging out’ with Red Kites. The birds have been released as part of a joint project by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. Four of the six juveniles have survived and it is hoped that 60 more will be released in the coming years.

Australia where climate change has brought exceptional heat, drought and bush fires on a scale not seen before, now has to face the possible extinction of the iconic Duck-billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) a globally unique mammal, as reports of rivers drying up and the animals becoming stranded increase. The range of the Platypus extends over much of the east coast of Australia but even before the disastrous bush fires, the great rivers of Australia, such as those within the Murray /Darling Basin were being usurped by irrigation schemes to support intensive agriculture. Scientists from the University of New South Wales - Sydney and the University of Melbourne write, ‘The unique platypus is currently listed as ‘Near-Threatened’ under the IUCN Red List based on observed population declines and local extinctions, though significant uncertainty exists about its current distribution and abundance. We did the first population viability analysis across its entire range, using distribution and metapopulation data and models that integrate key threatening processes. We quantified the individual and synergistic impacts of water resource development, land clearing and invasive species on population viability of the platypus. Under current climate and threats, platypus abundance and metapopulation occupancy were predicted to respectively decline by 47%–66% and 22%–32% over 50 years. This would cause extinction of local populations across about 40% of the range. Under climate change projections (2070), increased extreme drought frequencies and duration were predicted to further expose platypuses to increased local extinctions, reducing abundance and metapopulation occupancy by 51–73% and 36–56% within 50 years respectively. Predicted estimates of key threatening processes on platypus populations strongly suggested increased risk of extinction, including listing as ‘Vulnerable’, under IUCN criterion A. This adds to the increasing evidence of decline and local extinction of platypus populations. There is an urgent need to implement national conservation efforts for this unique mammal by increasing surveys, tracking trends, mitigating threats and improving management of platypus habitat in rivers.’ Read more in, Bino, Kingsford and Wintle, published in Biological Conservation, Vol 242, February 2020, 108399.

Lesley Cox th February 8 2020

BOTANY SECTION PRESIDENT:- Clive Lovatt [email protected] Contents / Diary

HON. SEC:- David Hawkins [email protected]

INDOOR MEETING Indoor meetings are held from October to March on the 4th Wednesday in the month at 7.30pm - 9.30pm in the Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, Westbury Hill, BS9 3AA. The church is on a bus route and has a free public car park beside it.

THE YEAR OF LIMESTONE GRASSLAND Wednesday 25 March The Botanical Section Committee 7.30 pm In advance of the year’s programme of field meetings to sites of calcareous grassland on Carboniferous and Oolitic limestone in the vicinity of Bristol members of the botanical committee give their personal takes on the subject in a series of short talks and previews of the summer programme. So far confirmed: Helena Crouch will talk on the rare plants of Sand Point, where she will be leading a meeting for BNS in June; David Hawkins will talk about microhabitats in limestone grassland; and Clive Lovatt will draw on his 1987 presentation on the Carex humilis, Dwarf Sedge, grasslands of the Avon Gorge at a British Ecological Society/Nature Conservancy Council symposium.

FIELD MEETINGS – the year of limestone grassland From late March to early October, the BNS Botany Section will organise at least one field meeting a month in or relatively close to Bristol. Many of our own meetings this year will be at special sites on Carboniferous or Oolitic Limestone. More extensive programmes throughout botanical vice-counties 6 and 34 (North Somerset and West Gloucestershire respectively) are organised by the Somerset Rare Plants Group (SRPG) and the Plant Group of the Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society (GNS). A few of these meetings will be joint meetings or will be advertised as open to BNS members by invitation.

The programme so far: ASHTON COURT Sunday 26 April David Hawkins and Jenny Greenwood 2.30 pm tbc Woodlands and neutral grassland. Further details to follow.

ULEY BURY Wednesday 27 May Clive Lovatt 6.00 pm A joint meeting with the Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society to look at the very species-rich open east-facing Oolitic limestone banks of this Cotswold hill-fort, where the rare Drabella muralis (formerly Draba muralis) Wall Whitlowgrass, occurs.

STOKE PARK Saturday 30 May David Hawkins and a BNS entomologist 2.30 pm A joint meeting of BNS Botany and Entomology sections. This Bristol City Council site, so prominent beside the M32, is soon to be subject to cattle-grazing. As well as benefitting from cross-pollination, we should be able to gain a base-line knowledge to allow us to comment on the effects of the new management.

IDENTIFYING PLANTS OF LIMESTONE GRASSLAND Date in June tbc David Hawkins and BNS Botany Section committee members as available Time tbc Intended as a training meeting. We are likely to concentrate on the range of grasses.

SAND POINT Thursday 25th June Helena Crouch 6.30 pm A visit to this justifiably popular limestone promontory, where Koeleria vallesiana, Somerset Hair-grass (not recognised there until the early 1970s!), and Trinia glauca, Honewort, grow together, along with many other rare plants. For a preview of what to expect, come to our March meeting, where talks on limestone grassland species will include one by Helena on the rare plants of Sand Point. Contents / Diary COOMBE HILL, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE Sunday 5 July Clive Lovatt 2.30 pm A joint meeting with the Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society, visiting the GWT reserve for Stachys alpina, Limestone Woundwort and the stunning Oolitic grassland slopes of Coombe Hill.

NAILSEA Sunday 30 August Clive Lovatt 11.00 am A joint meeting with the Somerset Rare Plants Group. We will look at the area around Backwell & Nailsea Station before moving to Nailsea for some urban and urban fringe botany. We hope to see Fallopia dumetorum, Copse-bindweed (see cover photo and account in the October 2016 edition of the BNS Bulletin).

AVON GORGE WHITEBEAMS Sunday 27 September Libby Houston (Details to follow) Time tbc

BOTANICAL NOTES Contents / Diary INDOOR MEETING REPORT AGM Wednesday 22 January 2020 At the AGM, with nine members present, Clive Lovatt gave a summary report of the Botanical Section’s activities during 2019. The report will appear as part of the Society’s Annual Review in Nature in Avon for 2019, expected to be published in May 2020. Detailed monthly reports have been published in this Bulletin. Annual reports of botanical finds in the two halves of the traditional BNS area of coverage are published in the Somerset Rare Plants Group’s annual newsletter (expected by early March 2020) and Gloucestershire Naturalists’ Society’s publication, The Gloucestershire Naturalist later in the year. The Committee as elected last year, Clive Lovatt (President), David Hawkins (Secretary), Helena Crouch, David Hill and Libby Houston, and Jenny Greenwood were together approved to continue in office.

Recorders’ reports and members’ evening, Wednesday 22 January Clive kicked off his annual report of plant finds in the VC34 West Gloucestershire part of the Bristol area with a dot map showing the relative number of species in each monad. There are gaps north and east of Bristol, but Helena and Clive agreed that the coverage is equivalent to where the Somerset side was two or three years ago. Most of the finds Clive showed had been previously reported in the BNS Bulletin, but at least here they were in colour and on screen. At the end, Clive dropped in some historical material on GHK Thwaites that he had not yet published in the BNS Bulletin. Thwaites left Bristol in 1849 to run the Botanic Gardens in Sri Lanka and never returned. He was a foreign member of the BNS. The three slides contrasted his life in 1840’s Bristol when he was contributing specimens, drawings, and descriptions to the algae in Sowerby’s English Botany, with pictures of him in his gardens 10

30 years later. Two are from the Royal Collection Trust and can be seen on the Trust’s website. One is a corner-of-the-page cartoon-like sketch with Thwaites top-hatted for the visit of the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and the other is a photograph of a pith- hatted and bow-tied gentleman under a tree of Ficus elastica, Indian Rubber Tree. The third was a painting by Marianne North, who has a gallery of plant and associated landscape paintings at Kew and lived her late years at Alderley, near Wotton-under-Edge. This one shows part of the Director’s colonial bungalow (I had something similar but less lavish in Nairobi) and like the sketch mentioned above shows a man with a butterfly net, as does her painting of the entrance to the gardens. As she wrote in her journal, ‘Mr Thwaites showed me his exquisite collection of butterflies…he was one of the most perfect gentlemen I have ever known, and I longed to be able to stay for a while to rest and paint near him and his beautiful garden’. Contents / Diary Helena’s presentation, Some Botanical Highlights of 2019 in VC6, started with one of her favourite sorts of plants, an alien fern. At the SRPG Tyntesfield meeting on 6 September, she and others admired a vaguely Hart’s-tongue-like fern on the ‘trunk’ of a planted tree fern. It turned out to be the Kangaroo Fern, a native of Australia and New Zealand variously Phymatodes diversifolia, Phymatosorus diversifolius or Zealandia pustulata! At present it is treated as an accidental introduction in a garden, and not in the wild, until the hoped-for day it (wait for it) hops over the garden wall – or starts to grow on it. Two other good fern finds in 2019 were: Gymnocarpium robertianum, Limestone Fern on a railway bridge near Mells, quite possibly where last reported by a G. Horner in Murray’s Flora of Somerset (1896); and Dryopteris lacunosa, a segregate of D. affinis, Golden- scaled Male-fern, close to D. borreri, was found new to Somerset near Clevedon and later at Bourton Combe. As BSBI referee for Geranium, Helena had been pleased to find Geranium yeoi (Greater Herb-Robert) in urban Worle, new to Somerset and 130km from its nearest recorded site. As mentioned in these pages in September 2019, Rupert Higgins had found an Eryngium on the verge of the A38 near Bristol Airport. It turned out to be Eryngium bourgatii (Mediterranean Sea-holly), new to Somerset. The second county record of the hybrid between Welted Thistle and Musk Thistle, Carduus crispus x nutans, from Odd Down P&R, Bath was helpfully illustrated by a ‘three-in-one’ picture of the flower-heads of the parents, with the in-between hybrid in the middle. New to Somerset and a third record for Britain was Persicaria glabra (Denseflower Knotweed) near Bath. After the refreshment break, Clive led a quick quiz (with illustrated answers) on old English names of our commonest plants, held over from a Christmas social some years back. Some answers were given from knowledge, for instance Fern Nut is Pignut, Conopodium majus. Some guesses were correct: Churchman’s Greeting in Somerset but Kiss and Go in Dorset, was Mistletoe, Viscum album. Some prodding about Pig’s Bubbles or Squirt Gun, presumably from its blowpipe like stem, was Hogweed, Heracleum sphondylium. The fruits of mallows, Malva spp. justly carry the old name of Fairy Cheeses. Rather to my surprise, Bluebottle wasn’t recognised as Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, even with another folk-name ‘Break your Spectacles’ suggesting its sharp brightness. As to ‘What much disliked weed was known as Bastard Rocket, Scallock, or Bassocks?’, that should have obviously been Charlock, Sinapis arvensis. David Hawkins gave a short probing presentation entitled Algal Gunk. An image of it partially covering a moss made it seem like some slime out of Raymond Briggs’ Fungus the Bogeyman. ‘Had we seen it?’ asked David. We hadn’t but promised to look out. David explained that it sems to be a phenomenon of ammonia-mediated limestone enrichment, which is a rural phenomenon. [The sulphur dioxide pollution that affected lichens in the 1970s was linked to industrialisation.] Since the meeting, committee members David and

Jenny have seen it coating a tree at Tickenham, smothering lichens and bryophytes, and Helena encountered it at Ubley Warren ‘indiscriminately smothering pretty mosses’. We closed the meeting with a discussion on what might happen when (it is no longer ‘if’) so many Ash trees have to be cut down now that Ash die-back (which amongst other effects makes the wood brittle and the branches liable to fall) is embedded into the landscape and woodland management plans. Jenny Greenwood said it even affects the knee-high saplings that seem to lie in wait for space and light under woodland canopies – so the answer isn't ‘more ash wood’. Perhaps, I thought, given that many stands of ash are in secondary woodland which had invaded grassland, it would be an opportunity to roll back the clock.

Parsnip Rash Contents / Diary In a recent episode of BBCs Silent Witness, a key piece of evidence was that the murderer developed a burn on her hand a couple of days after escaping from the scene through a window and accidentally breaking a parsnip stem in the border below. I thought it was only Giant Hogweed that did that, but apparently not. I didn’t catch the credits but maybe they were advised by Dr Mark Spencer, formerly of the Natural History Museum and author of the recent book, ‘Murder Most Florid: inside the mind of a forensic botanist’. I’d always thought a novel about Sergeant White would be fun, where the amateur botanist uncovers a body in the hollow interior of the Leigh Woods pier of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The corpse has bogbean seeds in his muddy trouser turn-ups and is lying on fragments of a rare species of bramble, enabling White to find the crime scene, the pond near the Keeper’s Lodge.

Plant records Helena Crouch tells us that one of our rare plants Hornungia petraea, Rock Hutchinsia, was already flowering at Ubley Warren on 5 February this year and she saw hundreds of plants – adding that it seems to be a good year there (and hopefully will be elsewhere). When I was observing it closely on the Gully scree in the Avon Gorge 40 years ago, I once saw it in flower (but without any stem) before the new year. Being an early-flowering winter annual it does well in a mild conditions and bare rocky spots with a sunny aspect. Frost- heave was the major cause of seedling mortality. David Hawkins has been in the Gully recently looking for the rare moss Entosthodon pulchellus, Pretty Cord-moss, there and reports that it seems to be a good year for it too with more than 2,000 plants visible. There is an excellent account of it in Richard Lansdown’s Provisional Red Data Book of Gloucestershire Bryophytes (2014, a copy in the BNS Library). He reported its national status as Near Threatened and Gloucestershire Vulnerable as the Avon Gorge was its only known county site.

If you’ve found any interesting plants, please let me know.

Clive Lovatt, Stroud, 7 February 2020

GEOLOGY SECTION

PRESIDENT: Richard Arthur Contents / diary HON. SEC.: Richard Ashley, [email protected] Tel: 01934 838850

The Geology Section Annual General Meeting was held on 29 January 2020 in the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol. Nine members attended it. Richard Arthur was elected as Section President and Richard Ashley agreed to continue as Secretary and Field Secretary. The Board Room 1.5 proved to be an excellent venue being easy to access without going through security doors and the layout around a table encouraged much greater interaction between members than would have been possible in a traditional lecture theatre. Useful suggestions were made regarding venues for field meetings and future talks. The business part of the meeting was followed by an excellent talk by Mary- Jane Steer on the geology of the island of Skye and a few words from Simon Carpenter regarding the curating of the Stonar Collection. LECTURE MEETINGS Lecture meetings take place in the Board Room 1.5, Wills Memorial Building. It is situated at the top of the main staircase. Turn right and it is on the right just before the Library Corridor entrance.

TRAINS AND TRILOBITES Wednesday 26th February Talk by David Clegg 7.30pm David Clegg, our former Section President, talks about his journeying in Canada during 2019 including a visit to the famous Burgess Shale quarries in British Columbia and other geological sites. It is hoped that we may see examples of the famous Burgess Shale fossils that are on loan to the University from the American Museum of Natural History.

ST VINCENT'S SPRING in the Avon Gorge: A little known thermal spring with a long history and a cave Speaker: Dr Paul Wood Wednesday 25th March 7.30pm Paul Wood’s talk will cover both the geology and social history aspects of this spring. It is hoped to include some recent research on the spring carried out by Geography students at the University of Bristol.

LOOKING AHEAD “Bristol Rocks” Bristol City Museum and Art gallery Sat. 18th April It is intended that BNS will be represented at this important event showcasing Geology to the public and particularly young people. We already have two volunteers for this but would like to hear from any other members who can spare an hour or two. If you can help with this event please contact the Section Secretary.

BNS “Blaise Bioblitz” Saturday 16th May As part of this event each BNS section is being asked to arrange a field meeting in the area which members of the public can be invited to attend. This will give us an opportunity to view the almost complete Lower Carboniferous succession exposed in the Trym Gorge.

INVERTEBRATE SECTION PRESIDENT: Mike Hutchinson [email protected] Contents / Diary Hon. SECRETARY: Moth Broyles [email protected] 07809 281421

Invertebrate AGM Wednesday 18th March 6:45pm Venue: Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, Westbury Hill, BS9 3AA This year’s Invertebrate AGM will be slightly earlier in the evening than usual. It will take place just before the main Society AGM which itself has an invertebrate theme. We’ll have time for essential business and an outline of field meetings to come. If anyone would like to share any particularly interesting observations or records for the region from the past year, it would be great to hear about them briefly on the day. INVERTEBRATE NOTES FOR MARCH 2020 From the journals: The current edition of the Entomologists’ Gazette includes a paper on a fall of the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper overnight in a small area in Worcestershire. This is notable as records of movements of insects other than moths at night are not well documented and yet it is a common occurrence eg for aquatic bugs and beetles. It also seems the grasshoppers were attracted to light and it brings to attention the increase in this particular species across southern England since 2000 where it has now colonised dry grassland and is not confined to damper areas as its English name might suggest. The same volume includes an examination on how the LED revolution is changing moth traps and their catches – if we want to be able to compare how moth populations are faring over time we need to understand whether the means to attract them has changed in that period so creating an artificial increase or decrease in numbers. At some point or other most of us may come across the Museum or Carpet Beetle, the common species being Anthrenus verbasci. Like a tiny ladybird in shape patterned with grey and black, the larvae eat dead skin, hair, feathers and other organic material. Hence they can be a pest of natural fibres in carpets and of taxidermy in museums. Despite their ubiquitous nature it is surprising how little we still know about this group. In the Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine Graham Holloway of Reading University challenges the accepted list of British species of Anthrenus and concludes that there are only five resident species not nine as previously claimed. Proof that there is always more to learn about our native fauna. These two journals are both available in the BNS Library (see elsewhere in the Bulletin for details on how to access the Library) along with many other excellent books and journals to help you find out more. March is the month when usually invertebrate activity starts to ramp up. Following a very mild and wet winter your observations on species seen this spring will be most welcome. As Bristol City Council (with Avon Wildlife Trust) has declared an ‘ecological emergency’ in February 2020 (to add to the climate emergency declaration in 2018) and with its ‘One City Plan’ aiming to double wildlife in the city over coming years, monitoring how our wildlife, and that includes our invertebrates, is doing has never been more important. Your observations count, all of them.

POINT OF INTEREST Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019. M Shed from 23 November until 4 May 2020. The ever popular annual exhibition of the world’s best wildlife photographs returns. Ray Barnett, 05/02/20

LIBRARY BNS Library at Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery, BS8 1RL. Contents / Diary HON. LIBRARIAN: Jim Webster [email protected]. The Library is open: Wednesdays 1.15pm-2.15pm, Saturdays 10.15am-12.15pm. Tel. (opening hours only): 0117 922 3651. CLOSED on Saturdays connected with Bank Holiday Mondays, and New Year, Christmas and Easter.

Access to the Society’s Proceedings and Nature in Avon online We are grateful to the Biodiversity Heritage Library and its participating institutions (Harvard and the Natural History Museum in particular) for digitising our Proceedings and Nature in Avon without charge and making them publicly available. To access them you can google “Biodiversity Heritage Library” and use the search facilities, or you can go direct to our own index pages at: http://biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/98898#/summary (for the Proceedings, i.e. up to 1993); and http://biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/99328#/summary (for Nature in Avon, from 1994 to date)

BNS PUBLICATIONS – BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS Members are reminded that the Society has a substantial stock of its Proceedings (now Nature in Avon) dating back to 1868. We also have copies of the Centenary History of Society (1862- 1962) and Special Issues on the natural history of our coastline, Urban Bristol and the Mendips available. Copies of all of these publications are available free of charge at the Library on application to the duty librarian or in advance to Clive Lovatt ([email protected]).

AVON BIRD REPORT – BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS The Avon Bird Report is produced annually by the Avon Ornithological Group, a joint venture between the Bristol Naturalists’ Society and the Bristol Ornithological Club. The BNS Library holds substantial reserves of the Avon Bird Reports on behalf of its own members, going back to 1979, except for 1983-5. For 1979-1982, 1986-1989, and 2010-2011 we have only ‘last copies’, for any member wanting a substantial run. Copies are available free of charge to BNS or BOC members at the Library on application to the duty librarian or in advance to Clive Lovatt ([email protected]).

A POTTED HISTORY OF THE BNS LIBRARY: Part 1 A ROOM IN THE MUSEUM The formation of a Society Library was proposed in 1864 and by 1888 it had about a thousand volumes. In 1905 when the Bristol Microscopical Society was dissolved it took on their library of some 250 books. By 1922, when the Society gratefully accepted an offer from the City Museum to take a room there (our Library had had several homes up until then), we had about 3,000. During the Second World War the library was dispersed, and when re-assembled it apparently contained the best part of 10,000 volumes and over 100 periodicals a year were being added, mostly by exchange. In the old days, sections had financial autonomy and tended to buy in books and periodicals which, after circulation within the section, were deposited in the library, together with donations of rare and sometimes precious books by many active members of the Society, something that still goes on. At times the Library has become overcrowded and in 1960 some foreign periodicals went to the University Library. Currently we have far fewer exchanges (perhaps 30) and the committee have for some while taken the view that the library need not attempt, as it once did, to have a comprehensive selection of the journals of local Natural History Societies from all parts of the British Isles. In 2009 a good run of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club from 1870-1923 was returned to the parent Society. Their archivist turned out to be Peter Crowther, a retired Head of Geology at Bristol Museum and a former editor of our Proceedings. Even now, we have several shelves of Finnish journals from about 1920 to 15

1950 which (despite the frequency of papers written in English) surely deserve a better home. Occasionally, books deemed unnecessary to retain were sold, and some occasionally surface in the second hand market. Contents / Diary When originally established, the collection was specifically intended as a shared resource holding books ‘beyond the reach’ of members and not accessible in the Philosophical Institution or Microscopical Society. Times have changed beyond recognition since then. Many national journals, for example the Journal of Ecology, became too complex for the ordinary reader to tackle, and our library’s subscription lapsed. In any case subscriptions were now more affordable, and the same was true of books, especially as printing in colour improved, meaning that something like Keble Martin’s Concise British Flora in Colour was as good on the suburban coffee table as it was as a field guide, and so it sold well. In a sense, books have gone out of fashion, and not just because houses tend to be smaller and ‘clutter’ is rejected. Up-to-date distribution maps and factual material on natural history can be both deposited and studied online at the press of a button. The author of the New Naturalist Books and Naturalists not so many years ago pointed out the irony that all it needed was a little Kindle not just to start a new enlightenment, but to destroy libraries as well as would a blazing fire. Many old natural history books and periodicals are now out of copyright and are accessible online freely in the comfort of your own home (or by print on demand, leather-bound if you want). Others are only issued in digital format and with historical runs likewise accessible, so what value a shelf-load? And by extension, what value a library of old and out-of-date knowledge? (Humph!) Library stores everywhere have thinned their shelves and a trawl through the principal book-selling website Abebooks (Abe is short for the Advanced Book Exchange) shows just how many copies of once ‘rare’ books are no longer difficult to obtain. Ex-library books (including our own University’s) are often available at bargain prices, sometimes little more than the cost of parking or a bus or short train into our Library, and they are delivered to the door and don’t need to be returned a month or so later. I recently bought a copy of the 1939 Flora of Devon for £3.50, delivered, because it had the parish map lacking from the copy which I paid £18 for 40 years ago. Other challenges with library use are declining membership of the Society and probably its age-profile, but this is not at all a plea for closure: Council are behind us and the Library Committee of eight have a deep affection for the place. We meet quarterly and attend once a month to look after the library and chat with fellow members as they come in to take out or return books. We strongly believe that our 150-year-old Library is a valuable and valued resource. A question I will look at another time is whether library usage has changed during the almost-a-century that we have had a room in the Museum. Expect some surprises. Clive Lovatt, Stroud, 7 February 2020

Ed Drewitt’s Ferry Boat Trips Following on from the success of Ed Drewitt Bristol Ferry wildlife trips down the Avon Gorge, Ed and Bristol Ferries have dates for early morning trips (7am) up the river Avon towards Hanham listening for birdsong and riverside wildlife, 22nd, 29th March and 3rd May, https://www.bristolferry.com/public-trips-and-tours/early-birdsong

Ed's successful Gorge trips will also continue with dates set for the 28 May, 24 September, and 8 October https://www.bristolferry.com/public-trips-and- tours/waterside-wildlife/

ORNITHOLOGY SECTION PRESIDENT:- Giles Morris, 01275 373917 [email protected]

HON SEC.:- Lesley Cox 07786 437528 [email protected] Contents / Diary

Visitors are welcome at all of our field events and talks so do feel free to attend and make yourself known to the walk leader or to the Section Secretary at talks. We hope that members and visitors alike will enjoy the events we have to offer this month.

FIELD MEETING

CONHAM: BRISTOL-BATH RIVER PATH Sunday 15th March Leader: Giles Morris (07712 398903) 09:00 – 12:00 We will meet at Conham River Car Park on Conham Road at ST629721 (or, BS15 3AW) for a walk along the Bristol-Bath River path. The approach along Crew’s Hole Road is narrow and the car park is on a sharp right-hand bend, so needs a cautious approach. We will walk up the tow path and should see and hear a variety of woodland and river bird species. The heronry should be active and there is always the chance of a kingfisher. Also, of interest are the plants, trees and history of this wonderfully hidden site at the heart of a great city. The walk is open to all but please contact the leader if you intend to join us.

INDOOR MEETING

LOCAL MOORHEN RESEARCH Wednesday, 11th March Speaker: Dr. Jane Younger 19:30 Local bird ringers have found some interesting anomalies amongst Moorhens being caught for ringing. Measurements suggested that only 8% might be female. Other interpretations of the data were possible but were equally interesting and were also potentially of national importance. Without hesitation, the Bristol Naturalists’ Society issued a grant for research to be done. In this talk, Dr. Jane Younger will discuss our local Moorhen population and outline her findings.

Breeding Bird Survey The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme for monitoring population changes of our common breeding birds both nationally and within Avon. It is organised by the BTO and involves just two early morning visits in the breeding season (April to June) to an allocated 1km square. Visits typically take about two hours each plus an extra visit in the first year to set up/check the route. We also have a local 'Avon BBS' scheme which is very similar but a little simpler and which adds considerably to our local knowledge. Observers can select their own squares in the Avon scheme which can be in any habitat including urban/suburban areas, subject to the square not already being allocated. Anyone can participate who can identify our common birds by sight and sound - and the emphasis really is on our common birds. The Survey has always had strong support in the Avon Region - in 2019 we surveyed 232 1km squares and recorded 74,218 birds. If you would like to take on a square or would like any further information about BBS, please contact Dave Stoddard - [email protected] (0117 924 6968) - you will be very welcome. A practical BBS training session will be held on 29 March in Westbury-on-Trym and is open to new participants or anyone who would like to know a bit more about the Survey before committing. If you are interested please contact Dave - details above. 17

Avon Rookery Survey Contents / Diary We have had a good response to the request for help with this longstanding Survey which was last undertaken in 2015. However, there are still a few areas that need to be covered - ST36 - Weston-super-Mare, south of Clevedon and west of Puxton/Kingston Seymour. ST65 - South of Timsbury - Paulton, Radstock & Midsomer Norton (BANES portion only c 57 sq km) ST75 - South of Midford - Dunkerton, Combe Hay, Wellow etc ( BANES portion only c.36sq km) ST76 - Bath area south of Charmy Down. There is an observer for this square but she would like to share the coverage with someone else. If you are interested in helping with this Survey please contact Dave Stoddard - contact details above.

FIELD MEETING REPORT Avalon Marshes, 12th January 2020

Despite some late changes, about a dozen members gathered at the RSPB Ham Wall car park for this visit to the south-west’s premier wetland area.

The woodland and scrub around the car park produced a good selection of species, including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing and Goldcrest, though we failed to find any of the Firecrests that have been regularly spotted here this winter.

Moving on to the reserve proper we started to encounter the many wildfowl, heron and wader species that make the Avalon marshes so special. We spent a while picking out several Snipe, whose superb crypsis kept them hidden beside the brightly coloured Teal, Shoveler and Lapwing on one island. Some other species are notoriously difficult to see but are easily picked out by song or calls and this proved true for both Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail. We also added Bearded Tit in this way when they replied from the reeds beside the path to recorded calls being played to the group as a demonstration of what to listen out for!

Some of the group extended their stay beyond lunch to cross Bearded Tit. © Martyn Pratt the road to the older Shapwick Heath Reserve. Highlights here included a Marsh Harrier perfectly positioned at the end of a rainbow, a gathering of about 8 wintering Chiffchaffs picking insects off the reed matting covering the walls of the Scrape Hide, and the spectacle of over 3000 Wigeon on Noah’s Lake which included a good number of smart Pintail.

No real rarities were seen on the day, though one member did go back a few days later and saw the Yellow-browed Warbler that we’d managed to miss by minutes; however, the total of 48 species seen or heard in a few hours illustrates how lucky we are to have such a fabulous wetland habitat on our doorstep. A great day’s birding.

Giles Morris

MISCELLANY

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL BOTANIC GARDEN Contents / Diary The Holmes, Stoke Park Rd, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1JG. Tel. 0117 428 2041 https://botanic-garden.bristol.ac.uk. Email: [email protected]

Mondays 2 March-6 April 6.30-8.30. VEGETABLE GROWING COURSE with Dave Hamilton a sustainable horticulturalist and nutritionist who regularly leads a Guardian Masterclass in Wild Food, has had five books published of which two focus on urban vegetable growing. He has written for numerous gardening magazines. £120 Sat. 14 March 9.30-1.00pm. SPRING HERBS FOR SPRING CLEANSER. Traditionally green spring growth was important as relief from stored winter food, high in fat and protein, low in vitamins & minerals. Many spring herbs were known as active against scurvy. Learn about identification & foraging; how to harness spring growth for health & wellbeing. £35. Thu. 19 March 7.00-9.00pm. AGM of the Friends of the Botanic Garden followed by a talk from Dr Kálmán Könyves, Horticultural Taxonomist, RHS Wisley: How DNA profiling has affected plant taxonomy. Frank Theatre, Wills Physics Lab., Tyndall Ave., BS8 1TL. Free to Friends with membership card; guests make a donation (suggested £5). Use any University car park: nearest are in University Walk & The Hawthorns. Sat. 21 March 10.00- 4.00pm. Spring photography workshop. For a small group interested in plant & garden photography. Join Graham Parish for a guided walk noting Spring highlights. Capture quality images with guidance from the tutor. Finally, an informal discussion & question time. All abilities welcome. Any digital camera will do, but best if your camera has Aperture Priority (A or Av) & Shutter Priority (S, T or TV) modes. £55 Sun. 29 March 11.00 – 12.00pm. Spring foraging herb walk with Chris Roe. A spring herb walk. The Herb Garden will be full of flower. Chris trained at the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and has his own medicinal herb garden in Bristol. He will highlight common plants of springtime and their use for food or medicine, with particular focus on traditional use as blood tonics & tissue cleansers, clearing out dregs of winter. £12.

Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project Contents / Diary Booking and further information: Contact the Project on 0117 903 0609 or e- mail [email protected] . Pre-booking essential for all events.

Details of meeting points are given on booking.

Britain’s ancient forest – legacy & lore Tuesday 10th March, 7-8pm. £5. Julian Hight has travelled widely, camera in hand, documenting stories of historic ancient trees. Throughout this beautifully illustrated talk, Julian will explore the story of Britain’s ancient forest told through its remaining trees and surviving customs. The talk will be accompanied by some specially written forest music spanning the seasons. At Bristol Zoo Gardens. Venue accessible to wheelchair image: © Julian Hight users. Hearing loop in place.

From an ex-Chairman’s basement

Margaret Fay (Hon. Membership Secretary) writes: The attached photo was taken in our basement loo, with access near the door to the back garden. The first time Steve saw the newt, it was curled round and seemed dead, but when Steve bent to pick it up, it whizzed off into the wall crevice to the right of the picture. It's obviously alive and well, as he took this photo some days later [on 16th January].

[…] we live in a very urban environment, with a tiny Photo © Steve Fay back garden and an even tinier pond, mostly bunged up with pond weed. [The newt's] colour is black..

An unusual discovery Contents / Diary

Peltigera horizontalis

see ‘A Notable Observation’ (page 5)

Bumble bees under threat – see

Natty News. (p7)