Edited by

Gareth Harris WSBRC Biological Records Officer

February 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction, Gareth Harris ...... 3

WSBRC Update, Purgle Linham ...... 4

County Recorders’ Annual Reports ...... 7

Amphibians and Reptiles, Gemma Harding ...... 7

Bats, Gareth Harris ...... 8

Diptera, Anthony Bainbridge ...... 10

Higher Plants, Sharon Pilkington ...... 11

Macrolepidoptera, Dave Brotheridge ...... 13

Mammals (excl. bats), Gareth Harris ...... 13

Microlepidoptera, Michael Smith ...... 16

Odonata, Steve Covey ...... 17

Sawflies, K. John Grearson ...... 19

Geology, Isobel Geddes ...... 20

This report and any additional reports not included here can be downloaded from the WSBRC website via the link - http://bit.ly/countyrecorders

Front Cover: Roosting lesser horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros © Gareth Harris, Mat-grass Fescue, Vulpia unilateralis © Sharon Pilkington and Harvest mouse nest, Micromys minutus © Gareth Harris

2

INTRODUCTION, GARETH HARRIS

I am delighted to present the 2016 annual report of ’s county recorders, which once again highlights the breadth of biological recording activity in Wiltshire and the committed experts undertaking and coordinating such work. Thank you to you all, and your respective groups, for all your time and effort in 2016. And not only for the core recording activities. We are immensely grateful for the time and energy expended by the county recorders in collating data and verifying datasets that you receive – your efforts ensure a smoother data flow in the county.

As we near the 2 millionth record in WSBRC we can reflect on how not so long ago we passed the 1 million record milestone – the recent acceleration in recording effort and in data sharing is clearly bearing fruit. However, the greatest pressures are perhaps most evident in verification, with the team of verifiers increasingly feeling a growing burden. The proliferation in recording tools, including those online such as Living Record and iRecord, ensures that the burden upon county recorders and local environmental record centres increases not only in terms of greater volumes of data to use and manipulate, but in increasing volumes of data requiring expert verification. A lack of verifiers willing to adopt resources such as Living Record places additional burden upon the LERCs, requiring us to manually access and download data and share with verifiers to ensure they may be verified and used – doing so incurs considerable time, a luxury that increasingly under-funded LERCs can no longer afford.

Pragmatically, going forwards, we will likely encourage use of iRecord for more obscure/under-recorded taxa, since iRecord is at least favoured by many of the national verifiers. It is of paramount importance that records submitted are verified and used by LERCs as soon as is practically possible – it is therefore not acceptable for records to languish unverified for months and years, simply for wont of a willing verifier. In future, once guidance is available WSBRC will make greater effort each year to access data from iRecord. Furthermore, in doing so, we can access many of the datasets generated by the national recording schemes. This of course has ramifications upon data flow elsewhere in the county and so we will discuss these implications with those affected in the near future. For example, we may be able to access data from iRecord more efficiently on behalf of you all, disseminating to each of you, than for you all to access these data individually.

It is impossible not to be aware that politically, times are changing. And this is felt not only in the fear that our environmental legislation may be weakened and diluted, but is also felt as funding and resources continue to dwindle. And as they dwindle, no replacement funds are yet apparent.

And this is why we need you, your ongoing support and for you to act as our advocates. Imagine Wiltshire without a county biological records centre – how will your data be used to safeguard habitats and species, to inform reserve management or development schemes or policy frameworks? How will data relating to sensitive species and sites be stored and safeguarded, to prevent disclosure to the wrong people whilst ensuring it informs the right people? We all do what we do because we care passionately about our precious natural environment in Wiltshire. And right now, WSBRC needs you to care about us too.

Gareth Harris MCIEEM March 2017

3

WSBRC UPDATE, PURGLE LINHAM

Following Gareth’s introduction I would once again wish to echo his thanks to all our data suppliers. We feel particularly grateful that so many of you have been happy to submit records to us in a more standardised way which makes such a difference to the speed with which we can mobilise and share your information. Our work is not just about numbers of records, it’s about the context and quality, and the quality of the data we receive gets higher each year, in terms of detail, accuracy and currency. This makes a huge difference in terms of how much it is taken into account, particularly in relation to future development work, which continue to run apace here in Wiltshire.

Records As at the end of February 2017 our database holdings were 1,910,794 species records. We reached one million records at the beginning of 2012 after a concerted effort by all personnel to focus on mobilising as much of the data we held as possible. As a consequence of this effort we developed more streamlined processes for handling and checking data to improve its quality and consistency and enable us to mobilise records for use within a shorter timeframe.

In the last five years we have maintained that trajectory and we now hold just under two million records within our database. Over 200,000 records have been added so far in the 2016-17 reporting period (April 2016 –March 2017).

To give an idea of where the increases in records have been over the last five years, the table below shows the number of species observations reported in our Recorder 6 database in 2009, 2012 and 2017 for each main taxonomic group. There have been some tremendous increases in records held for several key species groups such as birds, mammals and moths which are down to improved data exchange and support from County Recorders, County verifiers and local recording groups. Gathering data from consultancy reports, monitoring projects and other work has helped supply numbers of other taxa such as amphibians and reptiles and crustacea.

More generally use of Living Record and other online recording tools has helped to ensure a steady flow of data across a wide range of taxa, even where a local verifier isn’t available. Alongside this we now receive the majority of records in electronic formats, predominantly in Excel, and often in standardised formats such as our standard recording form.

4

Records Held By Taxa Increase in Increase in No. records No. records No. records % Increase Since % Increase Since Taxon group records 2009-records 2012- 2009 2012 2017 2009 2012 2017 2017 slime mould 69 1,134 1,322 1,253 188 94.78% 14.22% fungoid - 70 95 95 25 100.00% 26.32% fungus 5,107 54,454 66,279 61,172 11,825 92.29% 17.84% lichen 4,679 8,525 16,044 11,365 7,519 70.84% 46.86% alga 16 16 18 2 2 11.11% 11.11% chromist - - 45 45 45 100.00% 100.00% stonewort 21 127 304 283 177 93.09% 58.22% liverwort 1,325 2,090 2,834 1,509 744 53.25% 26.25% moss 10,553 16,232 20,948 10,395 4,716 49.62% 22.51% clubmoss 2 51 74 72 23 97.30% 31.08% horsetail 1,292 1,517 2,603 1,311 1,086 50.36% 41.72% fern 10,312 12,309 14,178 3,866 1,869 27.27% 13.18% conifer 6,237 8,101 8,184 1,947 83 23.79% 1.01% ginkgo 1 19 52 51 33 98.08% 63.46% flowering plant 439,826 576,804 852,020 412,194 275,216 48.38% 32.30% flatworm (Turbellaria) 72 96 195 123 99 63.08% 50.77% roundworm (Nematoda) - 1 1 1 - 100.00% 0.00% hairworm (Nematomorpha) - 1 9 9 8 100.00% 88.89% mollusc 1,755 2,158 3,577 1,822 1,419 50.94% 39.67% annelid 285 399 713 428 314 60.03% 44.04% acarine (Acari) 6 18 62 56 44 90.32% 70.97% spider (Araneae) 4,804 10,129 10,420 5,616 291 53.90% 2.79% harvestman (Opiliones) 45 33 55 10 22 18.18% 40.00% scorpion - 1 1 1 - 100.00% 0.00% false scorpion (Pseudoscorpiones) 13 13 14 1 1 7.14% 7.14% crustacean 673 1,041 4,684 4,011 3,643 85.63% 77.78% millipede 37 38 55 18 17 32.73% 30.91% centipede 42 42 53 11 11 20.75% 20.75% insect - mayfly (Ephemeroptera) 554 1,216 4,840 4,286 3,624 88.55% 74.88% insect - dragonfly (Odonata) 5,605 7,374 13,621 8,016 6,247 58.85% 45.86% insect - stonefly (Plecoptera) 4 73 449 445 376 99.11% 83.74% insect - orthopteran 206 1,318 1,483 1,277 165 86.11% 11.13% insect - earwig (Dermaptera) 6 30 48 42 18 87.50% 37.50% insect - cockroach (Dictyoptera) 9 26 26 17 - 65.38% 0.00% insect - booklouse (Psocoptera) 10 11 14 4 3 28.57% 21.43% insect - true bug (Hemiptera) 762 1,102 1,685 923 583 54.78% 34.60% insect - thrips (Thysanoptera) - - 3 3 3 100.00% 100.00% insect - snakefly (Raphidioptera) - 2 6 6 4 100.00% 66.67% insect - alderfly (Megaloptera) 17 29 69 52 40 75.36% 57.97% insect - lacewing (Neuroptera) 35 41 64 29 23 45.31% 35.94% insect - beetle (Coleoptera) 2,128 8,196 12,085 9,957 3,889 82.39% 32.18% insect - scorpion fly (Mecoptera) 11 19 53 42 34 79.25% 64.15% insect - caddis fly (Trichoptera) 296 739 3,283 2,987 2,544 90.98% 77.49% insect - butterfly 47,786 71,251 118,319 70,533 47,068 59.61% 39.78% insect - moth 36,807 80,340 332,710 295,903 252,370 88.94% 75.85% insect - true fly (Diptera) 1,696 2,423 5,629 3,933 3,206 69.87% 56.96% insect - hymenopteran 895 5,199 9,186 8,291 3,987 90.26% 43.40% bryozoan - - 43 43 43 100.00% 100.00% jawless fish (Agnatha) 11 27 50 39 23 78.00% 46.00% bony fish (Actinopterygii) 895 1,175 2,098 1,203 923 57.34% 43.99% amphibian 3,400 4,415 8,904 5,504 4,489 61.81% 50.42% reptile 1,927 2,324 3,458 1,531 1,134 44.27% 32.79% bird 22,556 83,860 312,470 289,914 228,610 92.78% 73.16% terrestrial mammal 27,380 35,387 75,358 47,978 39,971 63.67% 53.04% TOTAL RECORDS 640,168 1,001,996 1,910,793 1,270,625 908,797

5

Of the records now held, the largest proportion- at 45.8% - are for vascular plants as shown in the chart below (for this analysis encompassing records for ginkgo, clubmoss, conifer, fern and flowering plant), followed by moths (encompassing micro- and macro-moths) at 17.4% and then birds at 16.4%.

When this exercise was carried out in 2009, vascular plants made up a staggering 71% of the 640,000 or so records, many of which were records gathered for the Wiltshire Flora Mapping Project. At that time moths made up just under 6% with 36,807 records held, butterflies comprised 7.5% of the total (47,786 records). Bird records were not held in any great numbers at that time as we only received ad hoc sightings and the 22,556 records held made up only 3.5% of our data holdings.

Clearly some species groups are recorded at a much greater level than others and this reflects aspects such as recorder interest and ability, ease of identification and numbers of species within each taxa. This will likely always be the case, but it’s encouraging to see increases where they occur and continue.

Recorder Support Despite imminent funding cuts our aim at WSBRC will be to continue to encourage and support recording in areas where there could be more records. To do this we will continue to try to recruit new County Recorders and we will also be looking out of county for expertise where it maybe doesn’t exist locally, or where this might support local recorders. We also hope to lead on and support further atlas projects so if you have a desire to publish one for your subject area do get in touch to discuss it.

This year we have held various training and events to encourage and support recording and recorders such as the recent Recorders’ Forum which was a great success, with approximately 100 attendees and numerous fantastic speakers. We have also run courses for Living Record online recording system, Basic Botany & Phase 1 training in conjunction with partners including the WWT Wild Connections project, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the Chalke Valley Cluster partnership. So far next year we are planning to run Hedgerow survey training and Grass ID and we will look at other new subjects for training courses if there is demand and resource available to run them.

Staffing There has been a lot of change within the team once again this year, with Alison temporarily leaving us at the end April to have baby Finlay. Providing cover for her until April 2017 we were lucky to be able to employ Gareth Harris and Jasmine Walters, both working part-time. Kathryn Hand was offered a role she couldn’t refuse working on urban forest research and so she sadly left us in November. Despite her brief time here she contributed a great deal to our work and her skills are much missed. Subsequently we were able to offer a part-time role to one of our volunteers, Grace Elwood, and Jasmine became full-time.

In addition we have been joined by Isabella Stephens who is undertaking her work placement year from the University of the West of England with us in a voluntary capacity. We have also been lucky to be supported by all our volunteers over the year – thank you to Iain, Katy, Jonathan and Andrew.

Purgle Linham, WSBRC Manager - [email protected]. March 2017

6

COUNTY RECORDERS’ ANNUAL REPORTS

The following are a selection of annual reports from the Wiltshire and (VC 7 and 8) County Recorders and some of its recording groups. For additional reports not represented here or for more information visit the relevant group’s website or contact the individual County Recorder.

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES, GEMMA HARDING

Records There has been a good flow of records via Living Record which I am happy to say I am now finally getting to grips with and verifying. A number additional records have come through via email to Wiltshire Amphibian and Reptile Group (WARG) and through active recording projects and events.

Active Recording and Monitoring Projects/ Events

Wichelstowe toad monitoring: WARG are continuing to monitor this site and volunteers have rescued hundreds of toads (see Figure 1), along with newts, frogs and grass snakes from the gulley pots around the housing development. After liaising with the site ecologists over the past few years regarding this issue Keystone Environmental and Swindon Borough Council have now finally installed ladders and protectors to prevent amphibians dropping into the gulleys (Figure 2). We will however continue to monitor the area and see how effective the covers and ladders prove to be.

Figure 1. Toads rescued from gulley pots at Wichelstowe

Figure 2. Amphibian ladders and mesh installed on a gulley at Wichelstowe

7

Rushey Platt: WARG and the volunteer warden are continuing reptile surveys at Rushey Platt and the nearby sections of the railway path and border with Wichelstowe.

Blakehill Nature Reserve: Volunteers at Blakehill are continuing to monitor amphibians and reptiles whilst surveying for other wildlife and are providing useful data and frequently recording all four widespread reptile species (slow worm, grass snake, adder and common lizard).

Future Projects WARG have some new volunteers for 2017 and are keen to start undertaking more surveys and monitoring as well as pond restoration projects within Swindon. The recently announced changes to legislation for great crested newts may well impact upon Wiltshire, although this is unknown at present. To prepare for a potential landscape approach to amphibian conservation within the planning sector we will need a good understanding of amphibian distribution across the county. This will be paramount in ensuring this approach, should it be rolled out in Wiltshire, is as beneficial as possible. We are hopeful that we can work towards producing a Wiltshire atlas for amphibians and reptiles over the coming year which will provide valuable data for this process.

Gemma Harding, County Recorder, Wiltshire Amphibian and Reptile Group - [email protected]

BATS, GARETH HARRIS

Introduction Wiltshire Bat Group continues to grow and develop, gaining new supporters and members. During 2016 Will Ponting stepped down as Chair (and was thanked for his contributions and for enabling a smooth transition from Steve Laurence to a new refreshed group); Richard Dodd was welcomed to the role. Will remains as treasurer and membership officer. Jenny Bennett also joins the team as group secretary. We have continued to rebuild and launch new partnerships, for example, with , NE at Langley Wood NNR, Porton Down DSTL, Help4Heroes at Tedworth House, Underhill Wood and many more.

Wiltshire Mammal Atlas Project A detailed account of progress upon the atlas project is detailed within the annual report from Wiltshire Mammal Group. WBG has made significant contributions to the atlas project, through the numerous members’ projects as well as encouraging members to submit any current or historic bat data they may hold. Key bat group projects include the Savernake Bat Project, Bat Initiative, Woodlands, stone mine swarming and hibernation checks in the Bath & Bradford-on-Avon SAC and the Wiltshire- wide surveys for rare woodland bats.

Savernake Forest Project This is perhaps the longest-running and best known of the group’s projects, comprising monitoring of a Barbastelle colony in bat boxes, hibernation surveys of the disused railway tunnel and autumn swarming surveys. During 2016, a Barbastelle maternity colony was studied in a bat box within the Forest. During the hibernation surveys of the tunnel, a Lesser Horseshoe bat was a welcome addition to the species list for the site.

Green Lane Wood reserve complex, Trowbridge () Keith Cohen and Lis Weidt continued the monitoring of Green lane and Biss Wood under contract to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, and supported by a number of WMG and WBG members. High numbers of Bechstein’s bats were recorded once again. During radiotracking a large maternity was found within a tree, the largest documented maternity colony in the UK.

CWP Bat Initiative 2014 This project, coordinated by Gareth Harris & Will Ponting, supported by CWPT, continued in 2016. Detailed bat box monitoring continued, supporting ringing studies of soprano pipistrelle bats, as well as monitoring a number of

8

roosts such as Daubenton’s and Natterer’s maternity colonies. Ringing studies of soprano pipistrelle bats were continued by Will Ponting.

Braydon Forest Project 2014 This spin-off of the CWP Bat Initiative was launched in 2006, coordinating bat survey and monitoring across the Braydon Forest, particularly focussing upon rare woodland bats. Ringing studies of Bechstein’s Bats at the core study site (using bat boxes) continued in 2016.

Wiltshire Bechstein’s & Barbastelle Project 2016 This project was launched to promote the survey of woodlands across Wiltshire for the Bechstein’s bat, working in partnership with Bat Conservation Trust, Wiltshire Council and Forestry Commission and others. Monitoring of the Easterton barbastelle colony continued throughout the year. A series of trapping surveys across the county recorded barbastelle bats, through detectors and trappings, including Langley Wood NNR (barbastelle trapping and detector records, greater horseshoe detector records), Tedworth House Help4Heroes (barbastelle detector records), near (barbastelle detector records) and Underhill Wood (barbastelle and lesser horseshoe detector records).

Monitoring at the Bath & Bradford-on-Avon Special Area of Conservation Area and surrounding area: hibernation surveys and autumn swarming surveys Dr Fiona Mathews (Exeter University) and bat group supporters continued the winter monitoring of a number of limestone mines and tunnels across the Bath, Bradford-On-Avon and area. Autumn swarming surveys continued at a number of sites in autumn 2016, including some astonishing catches of bats that contributed to wider studies of horseshoe bats and rare woodland bats such as Bechstein’s bat. All data are contributed to WSBRC annually, however hibernation counts are currently lacking.

Other studies Bat work continues on a number of sites across Wiltshire; Standlynch Farm, Downton – monitoring of bat boxes and roost visits, within a project area that supports a wide range of bat species, including barbastelle and Bechstein’s bat. (Jenny Bennett); The Moot, Downton – public engagement and bat monitoring continued here in 2016. (Jan Freeborn); Swindon Bat Box Project – monitoring continued in 2016 (Charlotte Bell).

Details of any species recorded that are a County first, rare or unusual to Wiltshire on your particular vice county. Bechstein’s bat: a record maternity colony found in 2016. (Cohen & Weidt). Barbastelle; barbastelles were also trapped at a number of locations in the Savernake Forest and surrounding area, including new locations for Wiltshire. Leisler’s bat: a number of records have been received, primarily from ecological consultants undertaking extensive monitoring with static detectors, and/or using auto-ID software. Whilst many of these records may demonstrate characteristics of this species, it is largely impossible to verify these records. This species remains poorly known in Wiltshire with a single confirmed record remaining (Jim Mulholland’s recent record of a radiotracked bat). Was it a good or bad recording season? Give details as to why. Bat work was consistent at all long-term study sites in the county in 2016.

Were most of the records collected by you/ a recording group/the public? WBG members and other county bat workers have submitted a large amount of current and historic data.

Due to the complexities of bat recording, relatively few records are received from outside of bat groups and consultancies. During 2016, Bat Conservation Trust promoted use of iRecord to submit bat data, calling upon county recorders to verify these data. In Wiltshire, iRecord is not promoted for use by the bat group, small numbers of records are submitted through Living Record and excel spreadsheets remain the preferred route for recorders and verifiers.

9

The Future – 2016 Project development is expected in 2017, in regards to: Sourcing of hibernation counts relating to the two SACs; Expansion of the Trowbridge Woodlands studies; Rare woodland bat surveys in south Wiltshire, targeting Underhill Wood, , Grovely Wood and others.

Gareth Harris, County Recorder, Wiltshire Bat Group [email protected]. February 2017

DIPTERA, ANTHONY BAINBRIDGE

This has been a quiet year for me, at least so far as surveying and recording are concerned. As time goes on I find my entomological scope becoming broader, and my interest in other groups widening and deepening. Not that flies are any the less absorbing; perhaps, as age creeps up on me, I simply want to learn more and look more widely. At the same time I spend more time watching closely and more locally. I seem to spend hours lying on my lawn looking down into my pond; how else would I have observed a mat of the springtail Podura aquatica; or identified the water beetle Dytiscus semisulcatus which arrived from nowhere and disappeared as quickly; or been able to photograph Spring hatchings of Aeshna cyanea – the process never ceases to fascinate – and of course none of these are Dipteran.

But back to the flies: I’m always pleased to find that other keen observers are out and about and occasionally ask me to confirm their identifications during the year. Marc Taylor has noted Limnelia quadrata (fam. Ephydridae), below left. and Eristalinus sepulchralis (fam. Syrphidae), below rt., from Blakehill Farm.

Photos Marc Taylor

John Grearson reported Volucella zonaria (fam. Syrphidae), our largest hoverfly. This was once regarded as scarce but may now be seen in most years, and is always remarkable. John also noted the characteristic leaf mines of Agromyza abiens (fam. Agromyzidae) in borage (Borago officinalis) – although this is a very catholic insect and forms its mines in many diverse plant species.

Carol & John Taylor reported Villa cingulate (fam. Bombyliidae) from Westonbirt; not strictly within our bailiwick but an encouraging sign that a species recorded as ‘rare’ a few years ago may be on the increase – or are we simply observing more carefully?

10

Photos John Grearson

From the & Westdown section of the Plain Training Area (SPTA) Marc Arbuckle recorded Bombylius canescans (fam. Bombyliidae) – scarce but locally frequent, according to the best current authority.

I’ve been repeating my talk, ‘Why Flies’ this year, aiming to get Mr. and Mrs. Everyman interested enough to become more than spasmodic commentators, but instead to observe more systematically and record what they see. Perhaps I’m over-optimistic; time will tell.

Anthony Bainbridge, County Diptera Recorder - [email protected]. January 2017

HIGHER PLANTS, SHARON PILKINGTON

Overview

It was another busy year with the recording focus once again on generating records for the BSBI’s Atlas 2020 national flora recording project. More than 30,000 records were submitted, with data entry being undertaken by individual recorders on spreadsheets, thereby greatly reducing the amount of data entry time required by the joint VC recorders. Notwithstanding that, Richard and I still had plenty to do with the seemingly never-ending tasks of verifying and managing the quality of the dataset and entering data from numerous other sources. The use of online recording tools such as Living Record and iRecord is slowly gathering momentum and although these provide much better accessibility to biological recording systems for occasional recorders, verifying such records now vies for time with more traditional recording duties.

With only three recording seasons left to collect records in Wiltshire in support of Atlas 2020, we are now most concerned about ensuring reasonable coverage across the county. In 2016 the recorders, working alongside the Wiltshire Botanical Society, organised two field meetings (near Calne and Oaksey) to improve coverage in the north of the county. We found nothing spectacular, but these meetings attracted a good number of enthusiasts and helped some of the less experienced members to improve their ID skills.

Elsewhere, initiatives by individual recorders helped to improve recording coverage in e.g. NW Wiltshire and on . The society also hosted an interesting range of walks and field meetings across the county and beyond, which were well attended.

Notable records

As always, the high level of recording activity generated many significant new finds in Wiltshire but one in particular stands out. Mat-grass Fescue Vulpia unilateralis (NCR) was found by Paul Stanley in highly disturbed chalky ground on the edge of the cross-country driving area on Salisbury Plain. Its well-heeled associates included Fine-leaved Sandwort

11

Minuartia hybrida, Dwarf Mouse-ear Cerastium pumilum and Broad-leaved Cudweed Filago pyramidalis (which was found in the same area new to Wiltshire in 2013).

Paul also stopped in a layby on the A36 in the Wylye Valley and came across the newly described hybrid between Blue Fleabane Erigeron acris and Bilbao’s Fleabane Conyza floribunda on an adjacent bank. Paul seems to somehow sniff out rarities in the most mundane of places – his last hybrid fleabane was on a trading estate in Calne.

A Wessex Water pumping station near was the setting for a most unlikely discovery, by Ellen McDouall. Whilst undertaking an ecological survey of the site she came across an odd-looking crucifer with hanging seed-pods which turned out to be Northern Yellow-cress Rorippa islandica, new to Wiltshire. A rather rare species of the far west of Britain, it is thought it probably arrived on the tyres of vehicles or equipment.

Above - Northern Yellow-cress Rorippa islandica (Ellen McDouall)

Left - Mat-grass Fescue Vulpia unilateralis (Sharon Pilkington)

In , Dave Green and Tom Cairns found a small population of Butterbur Petasites hybridus. Although this is a common plant, all previously documented Wiltshire populations comprised male plants so this find, of a small patch of females, was very interesting.

Some interesting weed species also turned up in 2016. At North Wraxall, Dave Green found an odd-looking speedwell which turned out to be Crested Field-speedwell Veronica crista-galli. Further south, the Cholderton Estate, on the Wiltshire-Hampshire border, turned up yet more arable weeds, although their origin is not known. Few-flowered Fumitory Fumaria vaillantii was found, intriguingly in the same area where it was last recorded in 1904. Ground-pine Ajuga chamaepitys is a rare eastern plant that has never been reported from Wiltshire so its sudden appearance on the same estate is intriguing.

Austrian Chamomile Anthemis austriaca has probably been with us for some time but is almost certainly mis-recorded as Corn Chamomile A. arvensis, these days a scarce arable ‘weed’. The best way to tell them apart is when the plant is in seed. The achenes of the former are rather compressed and have several weak ridges on each face; those of Corn Chamomile are not flattened and have 10 strong ridges. Austrian Chamomile is beginning to appear widely around the country as a bird-seed alien and may also be increasingly introduced in wildflower mixes and as a seed contaminant.

12

Deaths

Wiltshire sadly lost two of its veteran botanists in 2016. Ann Hutchinson, BSBI VCR for VC8 from 1976 to 2003 and Beatrice Gillam, pivotal in the compilation and writing of the 1993 Wiltshire Flora both passed away. Jean Wall, who was also very active in collecting records for the flora, has also just passed away (January 2017) after a long illness.

Sharon Pilkington, County Recorder, Wiltshire Botanical Society - [email protected].

January 2017

MACROLEPIDOPTERA, DAVE BROTHERIDGE

The year started very poorly. What seemed a persistent cool easterly breeze in most of May and June kept numbers and species down.

The year later livened up with some choice migrants, highlights being an Oak Processionary Moth, from , a first for the county, and an adult, from Stourhead, and larva, from , Deaths Head hawk moth.

Other unusual records were Webbs Wainscot from E Swindon, L album Wainscot, Balsam Carpet and Pauper Pug from Farley, Hoary Footman from Chippenham.

2 x Four Spotted Footman from Everleigh Ashes, Grey Birch from Highworth and Rosy Footman from Avebury were a few of the unusual location records.

Gypsy Moth were still recorded in N Swindon including a larva. A few scarcer wainscots, Brown Veined and Twin Spotted were recorded from widespread locations.

Sadly , this year no Jersey Tigers seem to have been recorded, but, to end on an interesting note, a Mediterranean Brocade was bred in Highworth from a larva found in Tesco's celery!!! A first for the county, but of course, adventive!!

Finally, as usual, I pay tribute to my Co recorder, Wayne, whose huge efforts with the initial screening and presentation of records have massively contributed to the enabling, this year, of over 42,000 records from all but 1 of the counties 10K squares, to be batched for passing to the SWBRC and BC for inclusion in Wilts and National records.

Dave Brotheridge, Wiltshire Macro-moth Recorder, Butterfly Conservation - [email protected] February 2017

MAMMALS (EXCL. BATS), GARETH HARRIS

Introduction Following recent improved coordination within the mammal group and improved communication, the group receives a steady flow of data from members, friends and partner organisations, including The Friends of Bentley Wood, RSPB, Owl Pellet Analysis and a number of Wildlife Trust reserves and dormouse monitoring projects. Furthermore, increasing numbers of observers are submitting data using Living Record.

Atlas Project & Living Record 13

2016 marked the final year of the Wiltshire Mammal Atlas Project, so a slight downturn in recording activity was offset by (and the result of) the production of the atlas. During 2016 considerable time was spent; a) liaising with and encouraging members, ecological consultants and various partner projects to share their data, b) working with WSBRC staff and volunteers to capture submitted data, c) verifying thousands of records submitted to WSBRC, to WMG, Living Record and iRecord, seeking additional information where necessary, d) downloading datasets from Mammal Society, PTES, Bat Conservation Trust, BTO and others from the NBN Gateway for inclusion in the atlas, e) working with WSBRC in production of maps, f) working with a team of authors to produce the species account text and analyses.

A funding application to the Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Publications Society successfully raised funds for WSBRC to support production of the maps and data management, in support of the atlas project.

At time of writing, the atlas document and mapping is almost complete and on track for launch at the Wiltshire Recorders’ Forum on the 22nd February 2017.

Initially the deadline for data submission, to be included in the atlas, was set as the 31st January 2016, however, data continued to flow I during the spring and summer, and as a result, numerous datasets were included as well as records from the early part of 2016.

As the project nears an end, attention is turning to addressing gaps in knowledge identified by the atlas project, including the range of harvest mice, distribution of hedgehogs and small mammal trapping.

Wiltshire Bat Group have offered considerable support and data sets to the atlas project, including data from the stone mine autumn swarming, Marlborough tunnel, rare woodland bats etc. Their “tiger team surveys” in 2016 helped to plug gaps in knowledge at under-recorded sites across the county. At this time however, the atlas is seriously lacking hibernation counts for horseshoe bats for much of the county preventing an estimate or assessment of populations in Wiltshire, although such shortcomings are not the fault of the bat group.

Considerable data have been collected through Living Record and this system remains the preferred route for casual mammal observations – there has been regular communication with users of LR throughout the year. Verification has been undertaken weekly/fortnightly throughout the year.

A small number of records have also been submitted through iRecord – this remains a less popular recording method, and is largely supported by the Mammal Society’s Mammaltracker smartphone app. These records have been verified monthly.

It is increasingly obvious how the quality of data and record varies between LR and iRecord – generally-speaking LR receives data from a greater number of local recorders, who typically provide better records with more background information (which makes them easier to verify). Users of iRecord typically, but not always, submit fewer records, with less background information and are therefore often harder to verify. Further information is often required prior to verification but users of iRecord respond less frequently than users of LR when further information is requested. LR is not without its flaws and quirks, however it remains the preferred route for records if only because records typically have more information and observers are more responsive to requests for further information.

Dormouse Survey & monitoring Dormouse monitoring continued on a number of sites contributing to the PTES’ National Dormouse Monitoring Project, with a number led by members and several pre-dating the group too!

Dormouse monitoring in the Braydon Forest, to confirm if this species remains at this location, continued in 2016, with new monitoring established at another location and plans afoot for another too. Thus far, surveys are ongoing at , negative at 2 sites and newly established at another. There are very few records for this

14

species in recent year, with a single record since 2010, and concern mounting over the possibility of extinction in .

In all, surveys in Wiltshire were mixed in 2016. A preliminary assessment of data suggests monitoring in south Wiltshire indicated numbers in line with previous years (e.g. Bentley Wood and ), whilst elsewhere numbers were significantly lower (in line with findings elsewhere in the UK).

Large numbers of volunteers support these monitoring projects and receive training too, with a number of people moving towards obtaining their Natural England schedule 5 licences. The purchase of a number of these dormouse boxes and survey tubes was enabled by grants from Forestry Commission, as well as generous donations from a large number of consultants.

Hedgehog Project The countywide Wiltshire hedgehog project, launched in 2014, to promote Hedgehog survey and conservation, was continued in spring 2016, benefitting the coordination by Jasmine Walters.

Owl Pellet Project (Paul Wexler) WMG is fortunate to have the support of one of the UK’s largest owl & raptor nest box projects (which is based in Wiltshire and the wider region) and one of the Mammal Society’s owl pellet analysers for the South-west of England, Paul Wexler. Paul is a WMG committee member and a lecturer at Lackham College. This project, launched in 2013, is making superb progress thanks to Paul.

These events have resulted in a number of records of scarcer small mammals such as Harvest Mouse, Pygmy Shrew and Water Shrew, which tend to be recorded less frequently than more abundant species.

Brown Hare Following a successful pilot in winter 2014-15, wider-scale Brown Hare surveys were launched in November 2015, with 30 people volunteering to survey farmland across Wiltshire. Gareth Harris and Simon Smart delivered training in November 2015, whilst Simon Smart has used his extensive farming contacts to match up willing volunteers with local supportive farmers.

During late winter/early spring 2016, up to 30 volunteers signed-up to deliver hare surveys, of which less than half delivered surveys as per the methodology provided and indicated during the training sessions. However, these surveys generated a number of additional mammal records feeding into the atlas project.

Training events Training events included: Owl Pellet Analyses (January 2016, Paul Wexler), Brown Hare surveys (November 2015, Gareth Harris & Simon Smart). Deer ID & ecology (Cora & Jasmine, February 2016).

Details of any species recorded that are a County first, rare or unusual to Wiltshire on your particular vice county. Otter: a healthy number of records from all catchments across Wiltshire, but sadly another 5-6 road casualties, of which some have been sent to Cardiff University’s Otter Project for post mortem analyses. Harvest Mouse: following analyses of data for the atlas project, the dire lack of information for this species provoked a student project (Hannah Claydon) and a series of nest searches producing records across CWP, Braydon Forest, Marlborough Downs, Salisbury Plain and south-west Wilts. Red-necked Wallaby – further reliable records in the Braydon Forest and perhaps elsewhere. Improved recording of non-native species is required.

Was it a good or bad recording season? Another good recording season for mammal conservation in Wiltshire by a wide partnership of organisations and landowners. Its not possible at this stage to state how many records were submitted in 2016 through online

15

recording tools, WMG projects and direct submission to WSBRC, but it is estimated to be several thousand records. A superb achievement and a great basis for the atlas project.

Were most of the records collected by you/ a recording group/the public? Records were collected and submitted by WMG members, partner organisations and their projects, ecological consultancies and numerous members of the public.

The Future - 2017 Planned activities in 2017 include; Delivery of the Wiltshire Mammal Atlas – to be launched at the Wiltshire Recorders’ Forum, February 2017 Ongoing dormouse monitoring across Wiltshire, with new schemes established in 2017. A proposed training event for Harvest Mice survey, followed by surveys in autumn 2017.

Gareth Harris on behalf of the Wiltshire Mammal Atlas Project & Wiltshire Mammal Group - [email protected]. February 2017

MICROLEPIDOPTERA, MICHAEL SMITH

Many comments have been made in reference to the poor season of 2016 for butterflies and the larger moths, there would appear to be not quite the same level of experience for the microlepidoptera. Naturally some species were more common than usual and others quite scarce; a situation which occurs in every year. The one family which appears to have had a poor season are the Nepticulidae with a high proportion of species occurring at a low or very low level. One cannot entirely link this situation with 2016 as a similar situation occurred in 2015. These very small species are best recorded during or after the larval stage when the larval feeding IN the leaf produce distinctive leaf mines which are a very good, but not always, guide to the species involved. Several recorders have reported some difficulty in finding mines in quantity.

A typical exception appears to be Cameraria ohridella (the chest-nut leaf miner) which must occur in huge numbers on Horse Chestnut. A point worth noting in that context is that occasionally a single tree among a stand can appear to be untenanted which, in theory, could indicate a tree with a different DNA. The only evidence of migration of any significance occurred in early July when millions of Plutella xylostella invaded most of the UK, three figure numbers in and around moth-traps were noted. The invasion was also noted by horticulturalists; crops of brassicas such as Brussels Sprouts in Yorkshire and Cauliflowers in the Channel Islands were severely affected. As far as is known the moths emanated from around the eastern Mediterranean. The various sites from which records have been received indicate a fairly wide area of county has been visited. The number of records submitted has in been made, in most instances, at light. Many species of Micros are best recorded by sweeping or searching for the early stages and in some instances this is the only way of detecting their presence.

There have been 11 species recorded as New in the county namely Ectoedemia heringell at , Dioryctria schuetzeella at Redlynch, Salebriopsis albicilla at Webbs Wood, Hedya atropunctana at Webbs Wood, Eupoecilia ambiguella at the Kiwi, Pseudotelphusa paripunctell at , Thiotricha subocellea at Hawk’s Grovea, Phyllonorycter hosti s at BentleyWood, Duponchelia fovealis at Ludgershall, Cydalima perspectali at Farley, Musotima nitidalis at Lover. Some of these would appear to be recent colonists such as Cydalima perspectalis which has been present in the country either recently or much longer and are gradually spreading, and others which would appear to have been present, probably for many years, and just awaiting detection such as Salebriopsis albicilla. Ectoedemia heringella, a recent visitor is taking up residence. The larvae mine the leaves of Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex) and is evidently common in many places, particularly in Devizes.

16

Photo Musotima nitidalis Sue Clarke

Other species of interest recorded are Tineola bisselliella the first VC 8 record since 1942; Ancylis laetana 2nd VC7 record; Argyresthia cupressella 2nd Wiltshire record, this and as with the first, both at Rudloe. Recently received records new for Wiltshire include two in 2015 and one for 2012.

The publication of The Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland has evidently encouraged the study of the smaller moths. The introduction of the Micro-moth Verification Guidelines has somewhat fortuitously been introduced at the same time. The combination makes it clear that some determinations have been made by comparing specimens exclusively with the illustrations, as reference to the associated text would have clarified the ID. Dissections are often required with somewhat inconvenient frequency. For some difficult species where photos will suffice two or more GOOD photos clearly showing the important features will be required.

A small number of records have been deleted from the WSBRC database, and one or two others have been corrected where ID are known to be incorrect. This will probably be an ongoing feature.

The checklist (details below) is essential in making comparison to the longer-known and still widely-used Bradley & Fletcher system; there are numerous name changes, adjustments to the taxonomic order and a new decimal numbering system. Familiarity and use of the numbers and names will facilitate (easier for the recorder) data entry.

A useful website for leaf mines is http://www.leafmines.co.uk A checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles: Agassiz,D.J.L, Bevan, S.D & Heckford, R.J.2013. M.H Smith

Michael Smith, Wiltshire Micro-moth Recorder, Butterfly Conservation - [email protected] February 2017

ODONATA, STEVE COVEY

The long winter this year meant that the first Odonata were appearing a little later than recently – although probably around average over a longer period of time! Large Red Damselflies were first seen at Cadnam Common Pond in the [VC8] on 17th April and the first Large Reds in North Wilts [VC7] were seen at Penn Wood, Calne on 3rd May. Most species then appeared in their usual order throughout the season with the usual last sightings being of Common Darter. A pair in cop were seen by the Bentley Wood volunteer group while scrub clearing at the Draining Field Pond on 17th November.

There were just a few records of note.

Nick Adams discovered Beautiful Demoiselles on the River Sem, not far from Shaftesbury and the most South-westerly record to date of this species.

17

Downy Emeralds had yet another good year in the Lower Moor Complex at the Cotswold Water Park; with a sheltered ride yielding roosting ‘flocks’ of a dozen or more [I managed to get 5 in one shot!].

Also at Lower Moor Hairy Hawkers were seen at the education pond by visiting Northants odonatologists Judy and Terry Wood. Over several days they saw a female ovipositing, a male and female in tandem and patrolling males – a site to scrutinise carefully during May next year!!

Scarce Chasers re-appeared in the Caen Hill locks area of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes. There were good numbers of youngsters maturing in the lush vegetation associated with a new woodland plantation next to the canal. Thanks to Phil Smith for the heads up! Males were seen holding territory on the turning ponds – even a pair in cop was found!! Still not absolute proof of breeding though so we must still assume they are coming there from the not too distant River Avon.

Image copyright Mark Briscoe

Another uncommon Wiltshire species, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, was recorded at for the first time in many years on 21st June. Many thanks to Helen Rice for posting images of this superb female on FB.

Image copyright Helen Rice

18

Probably the most interesting and intriguing report however was from Sue Walker. She watched a ‘darter’ emerge from her garden pond in the middle of the Bentley Wood complex SE of Salisbury on 12th June. But the photo she posted on our Facebook group clearly shows a female Keeled Skimmer!

Image copyright Sue Walker

On my suggestion she searched for, and found, an exuvia on moss at the edge of the butyl lined pond [not sphagnum moss]. Photos she sent also showed this to be Keeled Skimmer.

Image copyright Sue Walker

So we have our first ever absolute proof of breeding for Wiltshire – but in a very atypical habitat! The nearest known breeding habitat is 12kms away at Landford Bog/Heath area. Sue will be watching her pond with even greater interest in 2017....

Finally I would just like to give my heartfelt thanks to all who have gone to the trouble of letting me know what they’ve seen out there this year! To view more images and details of what’s been seen this year please visit our Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/441544116004916/

Steve Covey, Odonata VCR [VC 7/8] February 2017

SAWFLIES, K. JOHN GREARSON

Details of any species recorded that are a County first, rare or unusual to Wiltshire on your particular vice county.

Most records were of common species. The best of these was the second county record of Trichiosoma tibiale, a large species found on Crataegus. Paul Darby found a larva of this species at the Conhilt Protected Verge.

Have you noticed any significant changes in the distribution of one or more species in the County?

Nothing significant noted.

19

Was it a good or bad recording season? Give details as to why.

Indifferent spring weather again prevented use of the Malaise traps. Reduced activity by county recorder for various reasons.

Were most of the records collected by you/ a recording group/the public?

31 records in the year of which 7 came from other observers.

K. John Greason, County Sawfly Recorder - [email protected]. 7th February 2017

GEOLOGY, ISOBEL GEDDES

Wiltshire Geology Group has had a very quiet year. There have been no new site designations, no recording or site maintenance.

Isobel Geddes, Wiltshire Geology Group, [email protected].

20