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Number 87 Website : www.nnns.org.uk November 2004

Toad-in-the-hole oooo New Report Team Contents ($•*-' Welcome to the final edition of -if— 'The Natterjack' for 2004. I am delighted (and relieved) to report that Rubyna page 1 The year has seen a few changes as Shiekh and Nick Elsey, who live at Stoke Holy Toad-ln-the-hole we say final goodbyes to old Cross and joined the Society only last year, have New Report Team Report distributor found). friends and of course welcome new taken over the distribution and sale of the Norfolk ( - under new ones too! As we head into winter we Bird & Mammal Report. If you need to contact management page 2 can dream of next years outings them, their phone number (evenings only is 01508 ) 'Not only come to light! and hope for new discoveries in a 494823. Iris and I will continue to hold the stock of {Other ). page 3 world that is at peace - back numbers and handle casual sales of other merry The aquatic soldierfly Christmas and a happy new year. publications. Our number is 01603 457270. potamida in FF David Paul Cemetery. A day on Mousehold Heath. Lake, - Buxton Heath under new management! page 4 Badgers on the doorstep.. Another world? At the end of May this year, something rather strange happened - after 12 years as {Senegal) page 5 Voluntary Warden of Buxton Heath, I left the country! Excursion Reports. Belaugh & Horstead. New management at Buxton Heath? Well, not exactly, as the new Voluntary Warden, Phil page 6 . Davison, has been a member of Buxton Heath Wildlife Group for several years. Although Scole evening. page 7 Phil's main interest is ornithology, he has a good all-round knowledge of natural history, Natural History Day and has put in enough hours at the site to ably take over tire conservation reins. ( Wheatfen Kesslngland Beach. page 8 Supporting Phil in his endeavours will be Colin Thompson, another Buxton Heath regular Bryological excursions 2004-2005 programme) for many years. Colin studies everything that moves, plus everything that doesn't, but ( page 9 perhaps his greatest passion is reserved for the Buxton Heath adders and grass snakes. A compelling Interest In Natural History (Ernest Daniels) Other regulars assisting the dynamic duo will be David Ruthven, Paul Westley, Nathalie page 10 Kausch, Paul Woolnough, Liz Webb, and Rachel Hilsdon. Once again, the "regulars" will Leonard Wise 1929-2004 {Obituary) be joined by students from the University of East Anglia. For some students, the practical Books for sale conservation work is helpful to their environmental studies. For others, it simply gets them away from the concrete of the campus. Whatever the reason for their presence, Buxton Heath benefits from the extra pairs of hands.

Buxton Heath Wildlife Group visits the site on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 1015 until 1630.

And what of me in ? Well, I've formed the Matrafiired Wildlife Group, and I've been logging and photographing since I arrived. It's "business as usual" really, but The quarterly bulletin in a different country. I've also been on field trips with the Matra Museum staff, ex- of the perts from Budapest Natural History Museum, and Gyuri Csoka, the renowned gall expert. Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society

I intend to write again with tales of exotic species. Until then, best wishes to you all,

Rspasred Cfcaniy Na 291604 Colin Penny, ex-Voluntary Warden of Buxton Heath. © Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society !

Its larvae attack the fruits of hawthorn are Oncotylus viridijlavus and Cyllecoris Not only moths (and sometimes other ) and histrionicus. The former is abundant bn come to light Tony Irwin tells me the adult is so hardheads and although Southwood and strongly attracted to white spirit that the Leston (Land and Water Bugs of the species can be a problem when house British Isles, Wayside and Woodland I have been trapping and recording moths painting. Perhaps tins and other similar series) say it is confined to south of a line in my garden for many years and have solvents could be a source of pheromone from Suffolk to the Bristol Channel this been intrigued by just how many other substitutes for biological recording ! was in 1959 and in his recent paper in the invertebrates are found in the moth traps Transactions Ken Durrant tells us it is in the morning. For some time I have As August progresses many of the moths found in both Norfolk vice counties. been trying to identify the insects I see of summer are coming to the end of their Cyllecoris histrionicus is usually found and a selection of those seen in the last flight period and just for a while the in June but occasional specimens few months are mentioned below. numbers of moths are a bit in the dol- survive until September and although

drums. However, it is about this time that both larvae and adults feed on At the moment, on most mornings I find caddis begin to appear in some profusion. (particularly the catkins), in later life the buiying in the traps - not really For some time the particularly large one, adults are pred-acious. welcome as they are known to attack Phryganea grandis has made irregular moths and can cause quite serious appearances in the trap and still occurs are also regular visitors to the damage if left confined too long. now and again but others that I see light traps, particularly Episyrphus Frequently there is the all black Nicro- sporadically through the summer are now balteatus when there has been a large phorus humator which can be distin- in greater numbers. One very obvious influx of migrants. A less common guished from tire similar Necrodes caddis is Glyphotaelius pellucidus which , Eupeodes latifasciatus was in littoralis by the orange clubs at the ends can be readily identified by the strongly the trap on the 30* August and this is of its antennae. Usually, in the early notched outer margin of the forewing and species I have seen only once before, in autumn, there are also one or two of the a noticeably green abdomen which shows 1998 and that was also in the moth trap. orange and black banded Nicrophorus quite clearly through the wings. Another, Numbers are said to fluctuate consider- spp. which can be distinguished from equally numerous, that initially seems to ably from year to year so perhaps when each other by the shape and completeness have a similar notch is Limnephilus it is fairly common there is more night of the orange bands across the elytra. In lunatus but closer examination shows flying ! the middle of August I found a most this to be a pale crescent shaped marking unusual in the trap. The elytra of on the outer margin of the normally Many other species, from a range of Metoecusparadoxus are much reduced in rounded wing. As well as these and other orders, also find their way into the moth width, a dull orange in the male, come to larger caddis there are also several much traps and I do wonder whether they are a rounded point and leave much of the smaller ones and the one I have seen most just attracted by the light or, as a signifi- wings uncovered. The antennae in the frequently in early September is cant proportion are predatoiy insects in male are very heavily bipectinate, look- Mystacides azurea which, as the name one way or another, the presence of ing quite like black antlers. Not only suggests, is blue/black all over the wings. potential food is also a factor. Perhaps I does it look unusual but it has a some- should not have painted the traps with a what unusual life history. The larva starts Not only do the numbers of caddis white spirit based paint some fifteen as an internal parasite of a wasp grub increase in August and September but so years ago! (once it has found the right wasps’ nest) do tire lacewings. For some time the later becoming an external parasite and golden-eyed green lacewings, Chrysope I am most grateful to all my friends devouring the whole of its host. Accord- carnea agg., have been present in tire trap within the Society who have help with ing to Linsenn (Beetles of the British but now their increased numbers are determinations and confirmation of Isles, Wayside and Woodland series) it joined by several of the much small some of my identifications. must be an underground wasp nest and it brown lacewings. The two commonest in seems it must be that of the common the traps at tire moment are Hemerobius wasp Vespula vulgaris, apparently not lutescens and Hemerobius humulinus. being found in the nest of the German Although both are to be found flying wasp Vespula germanica. from spring to autumn, in several over- lapping broods, and both are insects of Both these species of wasps are regular deciduous woods and hedgerows said to visitors to the trap and during recent particularly favour hazel it is only at this weeks, when they have been particularly time of year that I regularly see them in numerous by day as well, large numbers the moth traps. have added another hazard to handling egg trays in the half-light of early morn- It is also in the late summer/ early autumn th ing. Mixed in with the wasps on the 13 that various Henripterans are apparently August was a distinctive with dark, attracted to light. The distinctive shield- diagonally transverse lines running bug, Pentatoma rufipes, has put in across the outer veins of the forewings several appearances and some of tire and with the inner area darkly mottled. more noticeable capsids have been This was Anomoia purmunda, a member recorded. Two that have been a little of the , the picture-wing . more numerous than most in late August 2 The aquatic soldierfly Stratiomys potamida Holkham Lake in Norwich Cemetery Walkers in Holkham Park generally In the opening weeks of August 2004, flowers of a large evergreen spindle make their way to the mile-long lake, Euonymus japonicus in the old wooded part of Norwich Cemetery were which occupies a North/South attracting hundreds of insects with hoverflies predominant. depression N.W. of the Hall, dammed at the North end near the

There were huge numbers of migrants : Episyrphus balteatus, Syrphus and coast road. Bird watchers often head Eupeodes species making up the bulk of the assembly. A wren was present to for this end, where the dam itself take advantage of the situation, frequently snatching insects off die flowers makes a good viewing point for e.g. to feed to a youngster in an overhead tree. the black-necked Grebe which turned up for two consecutive Aside from hoverflies there were many other flies including die Tachinid winters, staying long enough to

Phasia , both the large distinctive males and smaller females. moult into its spectacular breeding But by far the most unexpected sighting came on August 7 th when a female plumage. The other end becomes of the aquatic soldierfly Stratiomyspotamida was discovered dwarfing all else , the winter home for hundreds as it moved awkwardly about the flowers. (literally!) of coot and varying num- bers of several duck species. Stubbs and Drake (British Soldierflies and their allies) say the adults of this striking species are nearly always found close to wet places where the It is not particularly deep. In 2003 larvae live but this was evidently a wanderer and the most likely source is the summer was unusually dry, so the Wensum marshes about 1 km north of the Cemetery location. Tony much so that trips in the electric boat Irwin tells me that the larvae can be readily found at certain Norfolk sites had to be suspended because it was but sightings of adults are infrequent.. constantly running aground, after the Stuart Paston. water-level dropped by nearly a foot. In normally wet conditions the lake

is fed by a number of springs at the Stratiomys potamida south end, one of which can be seen photographed on Beeston swirling into the water quite close to - Common 1 5 Aug. 2004 Francis Farrow the road which runs past the Hall towards the ice-house. A Day on Mousehold Heath Boat trips on the lake, wonderfully st electric Tuesday September 21 was fine enough to tempt me out with the camera, I quiet because of the motor decided to take a stroll over Mousehold heath and search for fungi, but dur- propulsion, reveal a number of ing the day I came upon a sheltered dell out of the rather strong wind, but things which cannot really be appre- catching the sun. I noticed many butterflies, some feeding from the last of ciated any other way. The two the bramble flowers, others just basking on various bushes scattered about islands can be seen from the “other” the area. side; both are used for nesting, by mallard, tufted duck and grey-lag

There were up to a dozen speckled woods, most looking rather tatty and geese. The ubiquitous Egyptian near the end of their allotted life span, several large whites, a few green geese may be here, but as they nest veined whites, one or two peacocks and red admirals. Also just one in holes in trees they could be any- specimen of a lovely pristine comma, this was the rich golden form where in the Park. In warm weather (Hutchinsoni) these are normally associated with the first broods in spring some of the increasingly large carp when the caterpillars are feeding during lengthening daylight hours, second may be seen leaping from the water broods, where the caterpillars are feeding during shortening daylight, like miniature dolphins. Dolphins usually produce the nonnal dark fonn which hibernate, (the butterflies of could at least take a gulp of air while Britain and Ireland. -Thomas and Lewington). airborne, but why do carp do it?

Photographically all these butterflies were fairly easy to get close to, unlike In places the banks are very steep, high summer when they tend to be veiy lively in the warmer conditions, and rising a good fifty feet above the are more inclined to fly early as you approach them. The speckled wood water. Some of the growing males were, as usual, very territorial, and would fly up and investigate any here show that unusual phenomenon insect that flew into their patch. I spent several hours in this sunny glade, of having branches growing lower enjoying, like the butterflies, the last of the summer, - I never did find those than the roots! I’m not kidding you ^n8*- Tony Howes - have a look some time! This steep section also conceals an Another world? underground boat-house, accessible through a stepped gully cut into the Slow-winding channels between high vegetation. A light breeze bank. swishing the leaves, a small boat, a blue sky. The Norfolk Broads? No: a national park in northern Senegal. Over the years, especially at the

Spring migration time, I have it reminded me of my childhood, though: those occasional days with regularly seen common sandpipers or other young naturalists, messing about on the rivers in flitting over the water and feeding Norfolk. on the narrow strip of gravel and mud round the edges of the lake. Verging the channel were not Norfolk reeds but dark, silent tropical Other occasional sightings have been mangroves. We drifted in amongst them, came alongside a boat osprey and black terns and, mixed in gently knocking against the thin trunks. In it, under a doth, was a with the large numbers of common harvest of oysters. The gatherer was away, faking more shells from and black-headed gulls in winter, up the tide-exposed bark. to three Mediterranean gulls. Paul Banham We emerged back into the light. An African fish eagle flapped away from a roost above us, and around the corner there was the roaring din of a colony, youngsters with their heads down parents’ BADGERS necks, chasing their food. Birds, noise and guano were everywhere. ON THE DOORSTEP The place smelt like a serious incident at an anchovy factory.

The guides had a story for every character we met, including the Up until recently I had not seen a solitary grey standing in the shade in the shallows. live, wild badger, so when I learnt that the Pembrokeshire cottage that “His wife tell him: ‘Go get fish!’ Wendy and I were staying in had

regular visits from badgers I was “He have to catch some and bring back to his family. very pleased, I thought maybe, with some luck, we might get a fleeting “But he prefer to mind his own business. Just sit by the river and have glimpse of one as it wandered a very quiet fishing.” through the garden. Then we were informed that the owner of the Suddenly it didn’t seem so different from . Not for old cottage would put food down each harnser, anyway. evening right outside the back window, and that the outside light Wanderer left on would not affect them in any way. It sounded too good to true. be The rest of the week, as night closed gravel, this made it look more in, I sat on a bench outside in the natural and also kept them feeding The first evening we sat inside by the garden, camera and flash-gun on a longer, they would stay about fifteen window, full of expectancy, the food, tripod, the badgers took little notice minutes, then just melt away as a mixture of peanuts and cat biscuits, of me provided I remained very still, shadowy figures into the dark night. was placed in an old baking tin the first two or three flashes made within six feet of our vantage point. them nervous, then they were fine. It Wendy and I both agreed, the After a while the first visitors arrived was noticeable that the mice stayed badgers had made our Welsh holiday - field mice - lots of them, they soon away while the badgers were feed- doubly enjoyable by their presence got the hang of pinching peanuts, ing. and acceptance of us, a lovely picking one up and scampering back experience indeed. into the undergrowth, very entertain- For better pictures I needed their ing to watch, but not what we were heads up, so tried gentle whistles to Tony Howes hoping for. Then just before 10pm a attract their attention, to no avail, I black and white head emerged from tried tongue clicking, whistling the bushes, our first badger had loudly, even shouting at them, they arrived, then a second one, they just carried on eating, and only lifted came straight to the tin and with loud their heads when it suited diem. I snuffling and slurping noises, tucked had dispensed with die tin and was in - we sat spellbound. putting the food on and under the

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more that enjoyment can be facing slopes. Squinancywort, Asper- Scole Moth Evening combined with instruction in learning ula cynanchica was still well in flower, more about our flora, especially Bob sometimes looking pinkish, some- th Leaney whose indefatigable enthus- times white, as the corolla is white on Saturday 17 July, 2004 iasm and patience meant that wild the inside and pale pinkish-lilac on the of plants were still being asked about outside and close by, another member A small but select group members and identified at the roadside and of the bedstraw family, field madder, gathered at Scole just as the heaviest rain of the day was finishing. over garden walls as we walked back Sherardia arvensis . Bob pointed out shower to our parked cars at Horstead after a that the explanation of the name com- The prospects for a good moth long and satisfying day. mon gromwell, Lithospermum offici- evening were really quite poor as rain nale lay in the hard, shiny white for much of the day had cooled the Stephen Martin seeds, literally ‘stone-seeded’. atmosphere and made conditions Ploughman’s spikenard, Inula less than ideal for moth flight. Never- ‘Wildflowers Revealed’ no. 11 conyzae whose basal rosettes so theless, after replacing wet sheets Ringstead Downs much resemble those of the foxglove, and uncovering lamps we lit up and was obviously much favoured by the waited more in hope than expectation. sheep. Dropwort, Filipendula vulgaris, th Sunday 11 July, 2004 which this year has made a tremen- We were fortunate in that it did not dous show, not just here but also on rain again and eventually there was a

It was very encouraging to find that 27 the road verges in the area, was also sporadic stream of moths to be seen. people had turned up for this meeting, much chewed. Other chalk-favouring Species ranged in size from quite tiny many traveling from ‘the East’, and all plants were catmint, Nepeta cataria, Pyralids and Tortrices to the impres- ages were represented from 10 up- salad burnet, Sanguisorba minor and sive Privet Hawk-moth, Sphinx ligus- wards. forecast not burnet saxifrage, Pimpinella saxifraga The weather was tri which had the largest wingspan of terribly encouraging but in the event not yet fully in bloom, eye-bright, any of the moths recorded. We also the morning was dry and the on-and- Euphrasia officinalis agg, and dwarf saw both Elephant Hawk-moth, off ‘soft weather’ didn’t start until the , Cirsium acaule. The ‘star’ Deilephila elpenor and Poplar Hawk- afternoon. plant, a single specimen of white hore- moth, Laothoe populi but equally hound, Marrubium vulgare was much , impressive were the two female Oak attraction is if admired as it was The great here that Ring- photographed not Eggars, Lasiocampa quercus which stead is one of the few areas of unim- well past its best. There were plants 9 settled immediately after arrival and proved chalk grassland in the county. here in 1995, perhaps its only native did not move again. It consists of a dry valley cut through site in Norfolk. Knotted hedge- the chalk strata by glacial meltwaters, parsley, Torilis nodosa, was new - not The busy, blustering Large Yellow and the south-facing slopes support a recorded for the site in the Flora, and Underwings, Noctua pronuba soon rich variety of plants. The area is we found that some of the patches of made their presence felt and they managed by the basil thyme, Clinopodium acinos, had were quickly joined by several rela- and the presence of the Flying Flock, violet flowers and some white. tives, Lesser Yellow Underwing, together with a considerable amount Noctua comes and Lesser Broad- of clearing has improved the area in Paul Westley found a white-letter bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua recent years. En route to the ‘best bit’ hairstreak, Strymonidia w-album, janthe. The yellow flash from their many common flowers and grasses which was presumably breeding in the hindwings contrasted quite attrac- were noted such as ragwort, Senecio elms, nectaring on ragwort, Senecio tively with the velvety red of the Ruby jacobaea, festooned with cinnebar jacobaea, and was a new record for Tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa and moth caterpillars, germander speed- the site. Other more common species the camouflage, when at rest, of the well, Veronica chamaedrys, many of included numbers of grasshoppers, Chinese Character, glaucata im- the terminal leaves galled by the both common field, Chorthippus brun- pressed all present. This compara- midge Jaapiella veronicae, and the neus, and meadow, C. parallelus . A looks exactly like a attractive yellow oat-grass, Trisetum humming-bird hawkmoth Macro- tively small moth it settles but the flavescens. glossum stellatarum was active bird dropping when despite the overcast skies as were name describes the grey/black - When we reached the slopes the several of the commoner butterflies ing on a basically white forewing in set appeal of the chalk flora was including both small and Essex skip- which can only really be seen revealed. Long-stalked cranesbill, pers, Thymelicus flavus and T. lineola specimens. However, on a number

Geranium columbinum with its dainty of the other moths that came to the purplish-pink flowers in pairs on long It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out light it was possible to see the stalks was abundant. There are scat- in good company: my thanks to Bill features that had given rise to their tered records for this plant elsewhere Mitchell (and to all who contributed) vernacular names. The black and in Norfolk, but it is mostly found only in for doing the plant card which white speckling on the wings of the small numbers on chalky soils. Rock- produced a list of 185 species, to typical form of the Peppered Moth, rose, Helianthemum nummularium Francis Farrow for producing a list of Biston betularia\ the very noticeable was common and the strong-smelling the fauna and to Robert Maidstone for white stigma on an otherwise black greater wild thyme, Thymus pulegi- his list of galls and other taxa. forewing of the Dot Moth, Melanchra oides occurred in bright patches on persicariae the two circular thoracic, ; both the south-facing and the north- Frances Schumann tufts looking like glasses when the moth is viewed head-on, of the Spec- plant that has swamped a pond at to match the agarics with the colour- tacle, tripartita and the Scole and the moth has been ful poster behind us and remem- appropriately positioned brown lines recorded at the site once before. bered the names The Foray

and pale stigma of the Bright-line (Subsequently in 2004 it has come to produced 26 species of fungi includ- Brown-eye, Lacanobia oleracea light on a number of occasions) The ing death cap and a diminutive fun- together with the confusingly similarly authorities do say it is probably over- gus on holly leaves called Trochillia

named Brown-line Bright-eye, looked elsewhere. ilici. conigera are all admirably described in the names given to During the three hours the lights were The Wildflower Society were with us these species more than a century run we recorded more than 50 this year and no doubt found the ago. The Bright-line Brown-eye also species, which is a reasonable total reserve much to their liking. As

has another name, the Tomato Moth, when the cooling effect of alirjost a always it gets the public and mem- which it has gained from the habit of day’s rain is considered. Although not bers alike together. I for one enjoyed the larvae feeding on and in ripening an extensive list most of the families meeting Ken Durrant. tomatoes. We also saw a Varied of the larger moths were represented Coronet, compta which is and those present were impressed Lets look forward to another year in another species very much associ- with the variety and beauty of many 2005 and hope we are again blessed ated with the activities of man. This of the species seen. I am grateful to with such fine weather. Our thanks species was first recorded in Britain, all those who came to the eveniipg, for also to Wheatfen warden, David southeast Kent, in 1948 since when it their help in replacing wet sheets at Nobbs for organising the event. has spread rapidly through south the start and for packing up at the end Colin A Jacobs. eastern with the larvae feed- and particularly to John Sutton for ing on the ripening seeds of sweet recording the species we saw. Joint NNNS / william and occasionally bladder Naturalists Society campion. Mike Hall. Shingle Flora visit to The Natural History Day Among the many Yellow-tails, Kessingland Beach. Wheatfen Euproctis similis (another very aptly th named white moth with a golden Sunday 29 August 2004. yellow tuft at the end of its abdomen) Sunday 8'h August 2004 whose larvae feed on hawthorn, Shingle is one of the harshest envi- blackthorn, oak, sallows and many This year we were again blessed by ronments on earth. Shingle in Suffolk other trees we saw a single Brown- the good weather. The thermometer might be a storm beach ridge like tail, Euproctis chrysorrhoea. This is a in the car park read 120°F! jbut a those at Thorpeness. Or semi perma- moth that used to be regarded as a more accurate reading by the cottage nent beaches such as Kessingland. coastal species outside the south repeated last years 93°F. There were In Suffolk there are 859 hectares of eastern and then many exhibits on display including a vegetated shingle, which represents only as far north as Yorkshire. At fine dragonfly and other insects dis- 20% of natural resource. Kessing- times it is now much more wide- play by Ken Durrant. Francis Farrow land Beach is a bit like Winterton spread in Suffolk and Norfolk but this showed a large variety of hoverfly Dunes, Thorpeness Beach and is the first record for Scole. It has an photographs and Martin Collier had a Languard Point but has no protection even wider range of larval foodplants good collection of beetles with 'some from any ecological groups. than the Yellow-tail, can reach pest great literature to go with it. Thte year proportions in some urban areas and as usual Robert Maidstone carine up Five Great Yarmouth Naturalists, Two with the larval hairs causing severe with a great display of deer pelts, Lowestoft Field Club and four Norfolk skin irritation it is a species to treat skulls, wasp nests and all the "Dirty Naturalists Including myself spent the with some caution. Another new- Nature" like creatures fouijd in day exploring the southern Tetrad comer to the site was the yellow form decaying etc. The display of TM5284 at Kessingland Beach in of the Dingy Footman, Eilema grise- his study of Wacton was most inspir- Suffolk. We were lucky enough to ola ab stramineola although the typi- ing especially as he had named the have some eminent botanists with us cal form has been recorded for many site or road that each plant or crea- who added many records to my 76 years. Perhaps the most interesting ture was recorded. I certainly learnt a recorded here already. On the semi moth of the evening was a Pyralid lot about that and will copy his permanent shingle, specialties like which was not identified at the time. recording plan for my own means at yellow horned poppy Glaucium However in daylight the next morning Lowestoft. There were many children flavum, sea kale Crambe maritima it was immediately recognisable as this year which will in time become sea pea Lathyrus japonicas ( which Calamotropha paludella I which is future Naturalists and I was adopted were eaten by the group soon after described as occurring very locally in by one of them, a young girl called announced they were delicious) and large wet fens and marshes and on Katie Bussey. Alec Bull and I were a few scattered sea holly plants Eryn- the margins of flooded gravel-pits and tasked to do the fungi this year, in gium maritium. broads with the larvae feeding in which, we were ably assisted by mines principally in the leaves of Katie, who after helping us with the Jo Parmenter found two good clumps reedmace, Typha latifolia. This is a labeling of our collection proceeded of rock samphire Crithmum marit- mum. and David Lester found lesser 7 W hawkbit Leontodon saxatilis. On the dryer Norfolk & Suffolk Brvological Excursions 2004 - 2005 parts of the shingle There was great stands of rosebay willowherb Chaeme- The following excursions are planned for the Autumn & Spring of 2004-2005. rion angustifolium and well over, biting Beginners will be most welcome; the only equipment needed is a hand lens (x 10 or stonecrop Sedum acre. As we walked southwards to the River Hundred for x 20), and some paper packets for collecting into. Meetings will only be cancelled If lunch a painted lady and a it snows, or there is hard frost. All meetings will start at 10.30 am, unless otherwise couple of red admirals arrived in from the stated. For further information, contact one of the names below.

As we crossed to the dunes several inter- Saturday 6 November 2004 Swangey Fen, Attleborough, The esting plants were found including plenty Trust Very wet fen and carr. Turn west off the All atTM 026 934 onto road of sheeps bit Jasiona montana a good to Great Ellingham and then immediately turn left onto road to Fen Farm. We stand of polypody fern Polypodium will collect here as the reserve car park only holds about four cars and we vulgare agg. and narrow-leaved hawk- may need to bunch up. The Warden, Richard Shuter, hopes to join us. weed Hieracium umbellatum. During lunch along the River Hundred we found Sunday 21 November 2004 Burnt Fen Broad & Marshes by permission rough clover Trifolium scabrum and the of Mr William Nickerson. Turn north off the A 1062 road in Horning into diminutive Jo Parmenter found a close to Letheringtons Lane, then right into Burnt Fen Road. Park at Burntfen, TG pupating elephant hawkmoth larvae on 339 184. its food plant rosebay willowherb. Appar- ently small size is a basic requirement Saturday 4 December 2004 Royal Orchards, Flitcham, A site rich in for finding these creatures! With Bob epiphytes. Would be interesting to see if different varieties of apple are hosts Ellis's hooked pole? He produced blad- to different epiphytes. Meet at TF 719 283 and park in the field next to the derwort Urticularia australis form the orchard. centre of the river. Also along this bank was false fox sedge Carex otrubae water Sunday 19 December 2004 Sea Mere Study Centre, Hingham, by permis- dock Rumex hydrolapathum water cress sion of Mrs Judy Watson. A 20 acre circular lake formed by glacial action, Rorippia agg. marsh woundwort Stachys is SSSI, Turf palustris and brooklime Veronica 50 acres of deciduous woodland, of which 35 acres an beccabunga. As we reached a patch of Meadows, a marshy, species rich area of 35 acres. Meet at Sea Mere Study recently disturbed soil by the Sluice we Centre, TG 039 014. recorded several interesting plants such Centre Whitwell as musk mallow Malva moschata, milk Saturday 1 January 2005 Whitwell Hall Country & thistle Silybum marinum coastal fiddle- Common. Park at Whitwell Hall Country Centre, TG 087 215, The Warden, neck Amsinkia macrantha, green night- Mr Kevin Hart, hopes to join us in the afternoon. shade Solanum physalifolium and a Hills Forest Enter- single plant of the apple of Peru Sunday 16 January 2005 & Holes, Great Hockham, Nicandra physalodes. prise. Park on lane just south of Great Holkham at TL 952 916. Retired forester Eric Rogers hopes to join us. On the way back we passed a strip of of sandy verge where we found a red Saturday 5 February 2005 Sennowe Park, Guist, by permission MrT R fescue rubra agg. We made a Cook. Enter Lodge Gates just north west of Guist and go along the Norwich probable identification of sub species Drive and park at TG 986 254. litoralis. Finally along a bank below the caravan park we found long headed Sunday 20 February 2005 , East Dereham, NWT poppy Papaver dubium and Duke of Reserve. Park inside the wood atTF 934 143. The barrier will be opened at Argylls tea tree Lycium barbarum which 10.00 am. was particually abundant. The total taxa recorded were 112. Saturday 5 March 2005 Captain’s Pond, Westwick by permission of Mr John Alexander. We should find Riccia ftuitans in this eutrophic water. Meet Finally we found several common field at the side of the road where fishermen usually park at TG 278 271. Space grasshoppers Chorthippus brunneus and is limited so please join up in cars. mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus. Sunday 13 March 2005, , NWT Reserve, for mosses and live iworts, NNNS meeting led by Robin Stevenson. Meet at This area has been my patch since I was 11X0 am In reserve car park on by-road south of A47 at TF 698 162. ten and it was an honour to play host to Beginners welcome, both societies and to produce such a good list. This tetrad creeps into Benacre Sunday 20 March 2005 Ponds, Antingham by permission of

NNR so I expect the list will increase a lot Mr P Gray of Antingham Lodge and Mr Alan Davison of Roughton Service more. The day after our visit I went to Station. Park in Lodge Drive at TG 265 325. photograph the rock samphire and was passed by a clouded yellow butterfly as Robin Stevenson, 1 1 1 Wootton Road, King’s Lynn, PESO 4DJ,Tel: (01553) 766788. It arrived in from the sea! Email: [email protected]

In 2006 I have planned a visit to Richard Fisk, 35 Fair Close, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9QR. Tel: (01502) 71 4968. Email: [email protected] Herringfleet Hills which has recently been ; opened to the public by the Broads John Mott, Great Melton Authority. 62 Road, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3HA. Tel: (01603) 810442 Email: [email protected] Colin A Jacobs. "A compelling interest in the natural world"

Ernest Daniels, the Society's longest-serving member, who died on June 29th, had an abiding passion for the study of natural history in almost all its forms, said his younger son Tim at the funeral service on July 7th.

Bom in Norwich, his home all his life, on the 1 1th day of the 1 1th month in 1911, Ernest could hear the rumble of the guns on the Western Front, before they fell silent on his seventh birthday. He went to the City of Norwich School, where he excelled academically. Like most working class boys of that era, he was not able to go to university but instead he put his intelligence and skills in languages (and, surprisingly, shorthand) to good use with the Norwich Union, rising to be a senior investment supervisor, until his retirement in 1971, with one big gap for WW2.

If routine was to characterize Ernest's working life it certainly did not apply to how he spent his leisure time. From his early youth he had a compelling interest in the natural world. In the 30s he was part-owner of a gun-punt in which he explored the Broads while they were yet a tranquil haven for wildlife. He took mountain climbing holidays in at a time when this was something of an exotic pastime.

In 1941 he was called up into the Army, joining an armoured reconnaissance regiment, leaving behind his young wife Bessie and year-old son Mike. He saw active service in North and Italy and would not return home until late 1945. "There is no doubt the war changed Ernest," said Tim. "He saw too much of man's inhumanity to man. He felt he had lost what should have been the 'best days of his life'. War made him in some ways a harder, less patient, man. But what did not change was his love and devotion to Bessie and to us children, and his commitment to their parents."

But there was fim as well! Tim recalled happy days on the coast, full of simple pleasures, much of which revolved around "mucking about in boats"... and nature. The pursuit of rare migrants was an adventure, well before it degenerated into the "twitching" of the current day. The first recorded rustic bunting since 1904, all the way from Siberia, spotting one of the first arrivals of the collared dove and a remarkably tame hoopoe remained vivid memories to this day.

Ernest was "not really a man of his time", said Tim. "I always felt he would have been better suited to the role of a Victorian gifted amateur. Here was a man of considerable talents. Acute observation, an expressive turn of phrase, a sharp and inquisitive mind, he was also no mean sketcher (as shown in his little cameos of places in Italy during the war). Even in his 80s, he was capable of reading a French botanical work in that language.

"Ernest's abiding passion was his study (and I do mean study) of natural history in almost all its forms: mysteriously, only fungi seemed to elude him. He was one of the first members of the first 'conservation' organisation in the country, the Norfolk Naturalists Trust, while the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society admitted him to membership at the earliest allowable age of 16. Ernest was an energetic member and office holder with the Society and he lived to complete a record-breaking 76 years of membership just three months ago."

His early love was birds and insects, particularly caddis flies and water beetles, but as these all succumbed to the depredations of agro-industry and development after the war, Ernest shifted his focus and developed a deep interest in botany. His ambition in retirement was to see every single British wild plant in its natural habitat. He and Bessie managed well over 90% and saw most of the UK in the process. Among the other projects of his retirement was a systematic survey of the ferns growing in every Norfolk churchyard: he was also a major contributor of data to A Flora of Norfolk.

"I and my children recall that a country stroll with him was always a voyage of exploration and unexpected discoveries. My daughter recalls a feature of these walks as 'his posterior protruding from hedgerows 50 metres behind the main party, complete with flat cap and walking stick' as he explored something which had caught his eagle eye. She adds that 'his general appreciation of the whole natural world, from tiniest plant upwards will stay with me forever, and I'll endeavour to pass it on to future generations.' A tribute Ernest would surely be delighted with." w

Leonard Wise 1929 - 2004

th It is with great sadness that we report the death, on 10 February 2004, of Leonard Wise, known to all simply as "Len", who was a founder-member of Buxton Heath Wildlife Group.

Len was bom in Hackney and lived in throughout the war and the blitz. He joined the Post Office Telephones Test Section (research and development) at age 16, and later did National Service in the Canal Zone and Cyprus. Once back in civilian life, Len returned to his former work, eventually transferring to the International Office. He married Betty in 1955, and soon after, accepted a transfer to Norwich in to provide a better

environment for family life.

Len retired from British Telecom in 1989. His interests included first-aiding, pistol and rifle shooting, classical music, natural history and conservation, local history and archaeology, and astronomy.

I first met Len on a conservation task with the Sunday group NEWS (Norwich Environmental Weekenders) in 1990. Soon after, we visited Buxton Heath together, and I suggested we start a group to care for this site on a regular basis. Typical of Len, he thought this a "cracking idea", and so the BHWG was formed.

During the early years of the Group, Len used to dash about the site, seemingly doing the work of two men, but gradually, worsening arthritic joints slowed him down. Even so, he hardly ever missed a Saturday visit on the

grounds of ill health. Sometimes, he really wasn't well enough to be there, but he would never, as he put it, "let us down".

In the last two years before his death, Len found the Buxton Heath terrain very difficult to traverse, and instead, spent most of his time keeping the pathways clear for visitors. What we call the Western Track will always be known unofficially as "Len's Track" - he spent so many hours working there.

I will always remember Len as a real gentleman, who gave a cheery welcome to all, whether Norfolk-born or students from far away countries. Colin Penny

BOOKS FOR SALE Date for the diary:

Tuesdav 21st December - 1930hrs A Text Book Of Botany Lowson Revised by Howarth & Wame 1962.

th A PRESENTATION BY THE A Manual of Zoology Borradaile 6 edition revised 1930. Norfolk Flora Group Practical Zoology Marshall & Hurst Revised edition 1924. Withfestive refreshments Agricultural Zoology Theobold 1913. Conference Centre A Laborotary Guide to Vertebrate Dissection Aplleton 1929 Easton College 1» miw— m — wpmmwmmmwf wmmimrQrm* Elementary Botany W. Watson 1926.

Elements of General Zoology W.J. Dakin. 1928. /would all contributorsN. / please send your notes etc. \ Life of the Wayside & Woodland By T.A. Coward Colour photograph of / to the editor as soon as possible \ Tiger beetle on book cover 1923. Has original dust jacket. I by January 7th, 2005 to the \

Farrow, 1 Excellent condition ( following address: Francis \ 'Heathlands', 6 Havelock Road, / Common Weeds of the Farm & Garden Harold G Long \, Norfolk, NR26 8QD./ Signed copy 1910. \ or by email to: / X^francis.fOvirgin.net H The Life of Vertebrates Young 1955.767 pages.

Insects of British Woodlands R. Neil Chrystal 1937 with dust jacket.

Flowers of the Fields Rev C.A. Johns 1948.

I am open to offers on the above. All are in good condition. Please telephone (01502) 569136. Colin A Jacobs 10 w '-fivr-iw- II mz £>. 29k A HISTORY MUSEUM *4 FEB 2005 EXCHANGED

Number 88 February 2005

Toad-in-the-hole.... Programme Change Contents Another new year and the first edition of ‘The Norfolk Natterjack' The subject of Mark Cocker's illustrated talk to the for 2005. 1 trust this new year has Society on Tuesday, 19th April, 2005 at 7.30p.m.has th pogel started well for you all. On 6 Jan- been changed to 'The Galapagos Islands'. The venue Toad-in-the-hole uary there were two remains the John Innes Centre. Programme Change (19th April 2005) foraging in the garden and on 9* Grovel time!

January a Peacock butterfly was Mark's talk on 'Bird's Britannica' previously ( Errors corrected). spotted also in the garden. I’m sure scheduled for the April meeting has had to be be page 2 Home Birds 2004. in the antici- these mild winters will spell dis- postponed until October due to a delay Noisome Ferment of the aster for many insects if they pated publication date of his book of the same title Earth (Fungi). emerge too co-authored with Richard Mabey. Apologies to early. page 3 members for this change, but we look forward to the Wells East Bank

( Winter birdwatching). Throughout the year I will be bonus of an evening devoted to the fascinating A long way from home natural history of the Galapagos. pleased to receive your comments (Adder). and natural history notes for page 4 Not only moths come to light! 'Natterjack' and if you are leading (2 ) an excursion please arrange for a (Other insects). Another record of Stratiomys short account of the day to be potamida in Norwich. passed on to me. Many new and pages 2004 Norfok Young Nature exciting discoveries are waiting to Writer Award be found. Good hunting. pp (Competition winners). page 6 ‘Millennium Atlas + 5‘ - nearly inn ago there! (Butterfly Conservation records appeal).

Predator / prey relationships Late in March [1905] a southward (Piratical wasp). migration of Cetacea was observed Grovel time! New Ladybird for Britain off the Norfolk coast. They were (Harmonia axyridis). New Warden “Scoulters” (White-beaked Dolphins), In my haste to let members know that Rubyna (Hales Green). Grampuses or Porpoises. Mr Lowne, Sheikh and Nick Elsey were taking over the distri- of Fuller’s Hill, saw the shoal passing th bution and sale of the Bird and Mammal Report, I Yarmouth (on the 19 ), their “ranks" committed the cardinal sin (for a journalist, albeit extending, he stated, from the retired) Wellington Pier to the St. Nicholas of misspelling Rubyna's name. It is Lightship. Three or four at a time "Sheikh", not "Shiekh". Mind you, somewhere "1" sprang from the water, and all were down the line the final disappeared from my merrily making south. He thought name. These things happen! they seemed about 6 feet each in length, and were, in his estimation, David Pauli Porpoises. They must have mustered two or three hundred. My apologies to Davidfor dropping the last Tfrom his name. For some reason the DTP programme From ‘Natural History Notes from didn ’t print exactly what it showed on screen, possi- Yarmouth’ by AH Patterson - NNNS bly it was just outside - Transactions Vol. VIII - page 315. the textframe limit. Ed. © Norfolk & Norwich NaturaSsis Society 1 1

! Frettenham from Spixworth and 33 Herring 63 HOME BIRDS 2004 ; Crostwick parishes. 34 Cormorant 62M ; 35 Turtle Dove 58 Readers may recall that a list of birds The list provided is in rank, name and i 36 Wren 57M recorded on, over or from from home j i number of days recorded - the suffix 37 Sparrowhawk 56 at Frettenham (TG240171) during | M meaning recorded in each month. 38 Green Woodpecker 53M 1998, 2000 and 2002, appeared in j I i 39 Goldfinch 49 The Norfolk Natterjack nos. 64, 72 i 1= Wood Pigeon 350M 40 Fieldfare 41 and 80. During 2004 (a leap year), I 1= 350M 41 Grey Heron 40 again maintained a daily list, this time | ! 3 Collared Dove 349M 42 Pheasant 36 on 350 days (compared with 343, 343 4 Blackbird 345M 43 Coal Tit 35 and 352 in the earlier years). Blank 5 Chaffinch 337M 44 Long-tailed Tit 3 days were as follows: one each in 6 Stock Dove 328M 45= Red-legged Partridge 30 January, February and March, three 7 Blue Tit 326M 45= Skylark 30 in May, two in July, one in August, 8 Carrion Crow 324M 47 Goldcrest20 two in October, and five in Decem- 9 Greenfinch 31 9M 48 Whitethroat 1 ber; there were no blank days in ! 10 Magpie 3 13M 49 Teal 9 April, June, September and Novem- 11 Great Tit 300M 50= Warbler 7 ber. 12 Rook 288M 50= Linnet 7 j 13 House Sparrow 239M 52= Greylag Goose 5 In general, daily observations were | 14 Dunnock 23 8M 52= Yellowhammer 5 gathered over periods of between one 15 Black-headed Gull 229M 54= Mute Swan 4 and six hours; two hours having been i 16 Mistle Thrush 225M 54= Hobby 4 the average. The 2004 daily average 17 Robin 213M 54= Cuckoo 4 was 22.2 species (compared with 18 Jackdaw 199M 54= Sand Martin 4 20.2, 22.7 and 21.6 in the earlier 19 Pied Wagtail 191M 58= Blackcap 3 j years). In all, 72 species were noted i 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull 58= Spotted Flycatcher 3 in 2004 (likewise compared with 75, 173M 60= Shoveler 2 75 and 69). 21 Common Gull 170 60= Marsh Harrier 2

22 Kestrel 14 1M 62= Bewick’s Swan 1 Twenty-eight species were observed j Gull I 62= Pink-footed Goose 1 I 23 Great Black-backed in each month. Four more species, 136M 62= Canada Goose 1 Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch, Lapwing | | 24 Jay 133M 62= Egyptian Goose 1 | and Mallard, ‘missed-ouf only in 62= 1 j 25 Swallow 125 Shelduck February, February again, August 26 Song Thrush 12 1M 62= Oystercatcher 1 and December, 2004, respectively. 27 Great Spotted Woodpecker 62= Lesser Spotted Woodpecker j j

1 120M j Habitats visible from my vantage | 62= 1 I 28 House Martin 115 Garden Warbler point include gardens, a small fish- 29 Swift 99 62= Siskin 1 pond, rough pasture, species-rich | 30 Lapwing 84 62= Bullfinch 1 hedges, arable farmland, a mostly j 31 Mallard 71 62= Reed Bunting 1 wooded, worked-out chalk pit, and I 32 Redwing 66 the Stone Beck valley, dividing Geoffrey Kelly

NOISOME FERMENT OF THE EARTH possible. The nature of fungi very often is to grow in rather shaded conditions, with the natural light

limited, so I find it an advantage to use flash, espe- During the last few months I have concentrated my photography outings mainly to the subject of fungi, cially for those that grow in woodland. I always use the attraction for me is their diverse range, so many a tripod, this particular piece of equipment allows shapes, colours, and sizes. The great advantage of me to get the camera right down on the ground, course is that what ever you do they are not going to giving an earth worms view of the subject. run or fly away, always a problem with birds and mammals. So you can take your time, and compose By using a wide-angle lens it is possible to have the an attractive photograph, taking out the odd leaf or fungi well shown, but with the natural terrain also grass blade of grass, even adding vegetation if deemed showing in the background, be this woodland, desirable. meadow, or what ever. I have had much enjoyment and pleasure over the last few months finding and

The object for me, and it is a very personal thing, is photographing these superb creations of nature. to create an attractive picture out of the materials at Putting names to them is a different matter, many do hand, but to have the finished result as natural as not have common names, and as I don’t class myself 3? as a mycologist, am not into referred to them as ‘The evil "A long wav from home" th spore counts etc:- therefore l of- ferment of the earth’. In the 17 ten have difficulty identifying to say, century Gerard had this In August 2004, my stepson Clive them. ’Some are venomous, Others not and his family spent a few days so noisome, and neither of them camping in the New Forest. The A good friend, George McCarthy, very wholesome meat’ He also weather was rather mixed, including has been an inspiration. In 2001 talks about the country practice he published a book of burning ‘Fusse Balls (puff several very wet days. ‘Photographing Fungi In The balls) ‘To kill or smother bees, for Field’ it's full of beautiful photo- which purpose they fitly serveth’. As is often the case with camping, it graphs, each one a work of art. It rained on the last day, so they were is not a technical book, just a Collecting fungi for the table is unable to travel home with a dry celebration of these enchantingly considered by many to be a tent. The rain was so heavy that all beautiful manifestations of the worthy practice, but unless the they could do was quickly pack natural world. poisonous varieties are well things into the car and make a quick known it is probably best left to escape. Fungi have not always been the experts, it would be so easy to looked upon with favour, in 185 become unwell, or worse. BC the physician Nicander Tony Howes Back in Norfolk about ten days later, it was a lovely sunny day, and the Wells East Bank family decided to go to Eccles beach, near .

It’s the end of October, and starting to feel like winter. That means that my favourite bird-watching perch, on top of Wells East Bank, is getting Once on the beach, Clive tipped the interesting again. The Brents are around, croaking away, and there seem to windbreaks out of their bag, and was be a good scattering of young ones this year. A few weeks ago a single taken aback when a 9" Adder

Greenshank turned up, feeding in its frenzied fashion, so different from the dropped out as well ! resident Redshanks. They just walk about, prodding in the mud here and there, while the Greenshank charged around in shallow water, its beak The young reptile must have sought stretched out, no doubt catching Gobies or shrimps. shelter in the bag from the New Forest "monsoons". It had somehow

The winter population of Grey Plovers is back. They call out plaintively to remained uninjured when the wind- each other, and always look thoroughly fed up to me, hunched up as if they breaks were stored in the bag, and are feeling the cold, which they must surely be used to, nesting in the far then survived for over a week in the north. They go around singly, unlike their cousins the Golden Plovers, boot of Clive's car. which fly in large flocks, often with Lapwings. A couple of Bar-tailed Godwits have adopted the area, perhaps for their winter quarters. Their Clive managed to get the small beaks being straight, they can “walk around their own heads” while the Adder into a bucket and then beak is plunged into the mud; Curlews can’t do that! released it in the Eccles dunes.

Being slightly biased, I would have

A couple of weeks ago I was doing my usual check on Egrets, of which preferred its new home to have been half-a-dozen can sometimes be seen from that spot, scattered over the Buxton Heath, but, given the marsh. Two, apparently in company (which is unusual), through the unusual circumstances, and armed binoculars resolved into an Egret and a Spoonbill. Previously I have only with no proper collecting equipment, seen Spoonbills on Holkham fresh marshes, in spring. It seemed that there I think Clive did an admirable job. was some sort of “love/hate” relationship between the two; the Egret would occasionally lunge at the Spoonbill, even though the latter was distinctly So, if you're wandering through the bulkier. The Spoonbill would then fly off for a few yards, and both would Eccles dunes next summer, and you begin feeding again, the Egret spearing its prey, and the Spoonbill sifting see a nice little Adder, just with a side-to-side movement. They were there again the following day, remember, it may be the "New but I haven’t seen the Spoonbill since then. Forest Adder", a long way from home. The numbers of Pink-feet passing over the town have been quite incredible, Colin Penny, their long skeins filling the sky as they commute between their roosting and feeding areas. These lines of geese are featured, by the way, on the new fence either side of the equally new gates of my old stamping-ground, Wells Field Study Centre. The gates themselves are even more impressive, featuring schools of fish and very realistic kelp - all the work of a black- smith artist! i . Paul Banham 3 8

Not only moths come to light in one of the traps. This is a really handsome insect with ! (2) green thorax, black abdomen with, in the female, a pair

It is an Even some wingless have been found in my of conspicuous orange -red side patches. moth traps and some of the most regular are harvestmen autumnal species with larvae known from cow dung, compost heaps and from the rotting fruiting bodies of the like Oligolophus tridens, which found its way in on the th bracket fungus Polyporous squamous. Interestingly die 20 September 2004. This is one of the commoner only other specimen I have seen was a year earlier in ground living species, which is said to favour “open September 2003, also in the light trap. woodland”. It does climb quite commonly at night and may have “drifted” into the trap from the trees that are th the the I leaf beetle in close-by. At end of October, on 29 , found a the trap, which I thought was Chrysolina oricalcia

th (confirmed by Martin Collier). This is uncommon Earlier in the month, on the 5 , I was a little surprised to (Notable B status) with larvae feeding on various umbel- find a whirligig beetle scuttling around the bottom of the lifers and whilst the regularly recognised foodplants are trap. It was a shining black with a brassy lustre and was cow parsley and upright hedge-parsley it also feeds on identified by Martin Collier as the common Gyrinus hemlock, which grows in some profusion in and around substriatus. This is a common species found in still or the garden. stagnant water, an apt description of the adjacent pond in which I have not seen whirligig beetles for several years rd Continuing the of flightless species, on the 23 but presumably they are still there. A couple of days later theme I micropterous female Tree Damsel the delightful two-tailed mayfly Cloeon dipterum was in November found a Fly, apterus in the trap. This is a predatory the same trap. This again is an inhabitant of still water “drifted” into with emergence from late April to early November. The tree-dwelling bug, which again may have the trap surrounding trees. I do find it sub-imago, or dun, is the Pond Olive or Lake Olive of the from However somewhat difficult to explain flightless arthropods fly fisherman, which name is also given to the male imago, or spinner, but the fishermen know the female, regularly coming to light. which this specimen was, as the Apricot Spinner. My thanks to Martin Collier for identifying the whirligig th beetle and confirming the identity of others. On the 10 September one of the caddis flies in the trap was a comparatively small, banded one which is not Mike Hall unlike the migrant moth, Nomophila noctuella the Rush Veneer, when seen through ageing eyes and the wrong glasses. It was Mystacides longicornis, which is common in ponds and lakes and known to fly fishermen Another record of as the Grouse Wing. A larger caddis, Halesus digitatus, an autumn flying species was present in the traps for Stratiomys potamida in Norwich much of September.

I was intrigued to read of Stuart Pastons’ recent

"unexpected sighting*' {Natterjack because I Also through most of September I saw the crane-fly 87) Tipula paludosa which although on the wing from April too saw a female Banded Genera) Stratiomys th th to October is most abundant in the autumn. On the 30 potamida in Norwich in early August, on the 6 to September they were joined by just one Tipula oleracea be precise. another of the more undistinguished species of crane-fly describe sighting as which has the same overall flight period but is most However, you could my even

more unexpected because I found the insect at my frequently seen in May and June. I have always thought place of work, sitting quietly third-floor it a little confusing for non-specialists and particularly on the children that both crane-flies and harvestmen are known windowsill in the main Norwich Union office block as daddy-longlegs. in Surrey Street!

th Realising it was slightly off course, and wanting to On the 1 October I noted a broad-nosed weevil in the confirm its identification (this was the first trap that caught my eye because its elytra were covered

example I had seen), I potted it and took it home. with pubescent scales. It was obscurus, a Having consulted Stubbs and Drake (British common and widely distributed species in open grassy

Soldierfiies and their allies), I released it next and herbaceous areas. It is polyphagous, probably morning in more suitable habitat near Fen. parthenogenetic as no British males are known, and is also wingless which makes its presence in the trap quite th Andy Beaumont intriguing. About the same time, on the 25 October, I found the most attractive soldier fly Sargus bipunctatus m. 4 2004 YOUNG NORFOLK > NATURE WRITER AWARD

The prizes in the 2004 Young Norfolk Nature Writer Award, set up in memory of Michael Seago, were won by two of the youngest entrants. Seven-year-old Emily McLaren won the up-to-1 1 age group with her diary of her visits to

Sheringham and Commons, and James Goldsmith, 1 1, won the 1 1-15 group with his essay on “A Year in Colby”, in the style of the Eastern Daily Press In the Countryside columns that Michael Seago wrote for many years. They received their engraved plaques and £50 cheques from Mrs Sylvia Seago at a ceremony at the Norfolk

Wildlife Trust’s reserve. The award is jointly organised by the Trust and the Society.

Emily’s diary included a map of the commons with specific areas neatly coloured. She included a description, with her own drawings, of the life cycle of the and other notes on lizards, slow worms, ramshom snails and hedgehogs. What the judges liked was the inclusion of lists of species that Emily had noted on her visits. A recorder for the future?

What particularly impressed the judges about James’s essay was his description of what he did after he found a hedgehog that had been injured by a garden trimmer - as you can read in the extracts that follow:

“Who says the countryside is a boring place for children to live. I have lived in Colby with my family for a year now and every day is a new chance to spot wildlife of every kind, from butterflies to deers, hares to hornets.

"The year started for me in the autumn. The first thing I noticed was the barn owls screeching in our copper tree at night keeping me awake, closely followed by its hooting cousin the tawny ... After the cornfields were cut there was a twitching sea of ears from hares that were foraging in among the stubble.

“As we moved into winter a family of pheasants decided to set up home on our compost heap . . . Early one snowy morning I was greeted by a fox who darted off like a rocket when he noticed me coming. I was concerned that he may have attacked the pheasants but they all survived and remain regular visitors to our garden. After I saw the fox I made sure that my pet rabbit was extra secure.

“The best sighting of the winter was the wonderful barn owl, gliding across a local meadow. We saw this magical bird of prey several times over a period of two or three weeks. I loved watching its graceful beauty as it scanned the meadow for rodents.

“As the weather began to warm up there was a flurry of activity among the garden birds, with nests being built all around the garden including wrens, blackbirds, chaffinch and robin. The male pheasant was kept busy keeping an eye on the four females, flapping his wings and screeching like an old car home.

“I think that blackbirds make clumsy parents as their babies all fell out of the nest while they still had very little in the way of feathers. Unfortunately they all died apart from one who could be heard cheeping all around the garden for weeks as his worn-out parents kept up a continuous stream of food. Amazingly we think he survived. He could certainly fly last time we saw him.

“While passing a nearby field I noticed some hares. To my amazement two got on their hind legs and began boxing. This went on for a few seconds before they chased off. This for me was the highlight of the year.

“The most unfortunate find of the year was a hedgehog which I named ‘Bertie’. He was wandering in the road injured by a garden trimmer. I took him to the local hedgehog rescue but he was too badly injured and he died a few days later. The lady at the hedgehog rescue told me that this happened a lot in our area. This sad incident has prompted me to do a leaflet drop in my local area, asking people to check for wildlife before they use trimmers.”

5 .

‘Millennium Atlas + 5’ - nearly there! Alburgh, Anmer, , Brooke, Broome, Burgh St Peter, Caister, Chedgrave, Ditchingham, East and West Winch, Back in May’s Natterjack I published an article explaining , Freethorpe, Gillingham, Gorleston, Great the new 5-year national mapping project for butterflies. At Yarmouth, Grimston, Haddiscoe, Halvergate, Harleston, that time several of Norfolk’s 10-km squares had virtually Harpley, Hempnall, Hemsby, Hilgay, , no species recorded during 2000-2004. Well, it hasn’t Hockwold, , King’s Lynn, Kirby Row, Loddon, been a great summer for filling in those gaps - not like last Massingham, Newton Flotman, Pulham, Raynham, year. But you’ve certainly been trying! To all those Reedham, Rougham, Roydon, Rudham, Saxlingham who’ve contacted me and sent records, very many thanks. Nethergate, Scratby, Seething, Shotesham, Snoring, The 65 squares wholly or mainly in Norfolk now have an Southery, Tasburgh, Terrington, Thurlton, , average of about 23 species per square, with a minimum Watlington, Weasenham, Weeting, , Woodton, of 13 and a maximum of 31. I’ve scoured some of the Wootton ‘teen’ squares to find extra species and it can be a struggle, since most lack nature reserves or other non-agricultural Dates aren’t essential - the only important things are the habitats. Some of the more localised species may be place and year, and some idea of numbers if possible. Your genuinely absent. help will be greatly appreciated.

Of course, there are still a lot of silly gaps, and I would Patrick Bonham (Butterfly Conservation county recorder) really appreciate it if any members living in or near the Woodland View, Dixon Road, NR28 9EA following places would let me know at least what they’ve (tel. 01692 403917, email [email protected]) seen in their gardens over the last five years:

off the hoverfly’s abdomen and Predator prey s / relationships New Warden I flown off with it.

On the 24th July 2004 1 was in my After short while the I am now the Wildlife Warden for garden looking at a crab spider, j a wasp returned and attacked the remainder Hales Green in . Any Misumena vatia, on sea holly. It had |

I records from this site will be grate- caught what looked like and could of the hoverfly, showing no fear of the spider and eventually wresting fully received for inclusion into an have been the hoverfly Eristalis ! annual report. For those who have i the it. tenax and was duly extracting its prey away and flying off with site it is off nourishment. Suddenly a common not visited the situated The spider retreated without show- the A 146 Beccles - Norwich Road wasp, Vespula vulgaris, flew in and | ing any sign of attacking the wasp. at TG3 75965. set about attacking the prey very j Roland vigorously. In a short time it had cut Rogers Any records or for further informa- tion please contact me on (01502) New ladybird arrives the Genetics Department, Cambridge I 569136, Mobile: 0781 0576427 or in Britain I University. Dr Majerus said, “This is without doubt the ladybird I have least by email: [email protected] | Harmonia axyridis, which is vari- I w anted to see here. Now many of our ously called the harlequin ladybird or ladybirds will be in direct competition Colin Jacobs | the multi-coloured ladybug, is a ! with this aggressively invasive deadly threat to many insects, includ- i species, and some will simply not ing other ladybirds. i cope”.

Introduced from Asia into North jr Would all contributors Michael Majerus can be contacted at America for bio-control of , the | / please send your notes etc. to \ ! the Dept, of Genetics, University of harlequin has swept across the States. / the editor as soon as possible by Cambridge CB2 3EH; e-mail: I April 1st, to the following In the last decade its catastrophic ; 2005

[email protected] If anyone ( address; Francis Farrow, increase in numbers has threatened | i finds these ladybirds please also \ ‘Hcathlaods’, 6 Havelock Road, endemic North American ladybirds \ Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8QD , : let our insect recorders know; Tony and other predators. Harlequin orby emailto: S i Irwin, Castle Museum, Norwich and ladybirds are still sold in continental > ’V franeis I#virgin netS Ken Durrant, 18 The Avenue, v Europe by bio-control companies, and | i Sheringham, NR26 8DG. Ken is writ- it now roams across , ing an account of the first Norfolk and Holland, with numbers soaring j

i records for annually. the 2005 '"Transactions'

Now, it is in Britain. On 19 September 2004 an ‘odd’ ladybird was found in a garden in Essex. The ladybird was ' identified by Dr Michael Majerus of //

Adult Larvae 6 m \ THE NATURAL HISTORY MU6EUI

28 APR 2005

B XCHANG&at: 6SNERA1 LIBRARY NATTERJACK

Number 89 Website: www.nnns.org.uk May 2005

Toad-in-the-hole.... Contents Again my thanks to all contributors. Mike Hall continues delving into his moth trap for

other insects and there is also an update on tree aphids. We have requests for information

on wood ants, spotted flycatchers and anything from the Blakeney area and Colney Wood Toad-in-the-hola. near Norwich. For a more light-hearted moment check out the articles under the 'What's Norfolk Spotted Flycatcher Project 2005. th in a name' banner. There is also a chance to test your knowledge of 19 century south page 2 What's in a name? Norfolk local names for birds. pp Are they serious?

( Quirky scientific names). NORFOLK SPOTTED FLYCATCHER PROJECT COOS Local bird names {ftev. Gilpin's 1888 list). page 3 The Spotted Flycatcher, an attractive nest. This contributes valuable information The Boreal Gossip

( Machine translation). summer visitor, is the subject of a study by to a national database used for analysis of Illegal immigrants from West Norfolk ringers which commenced in 2003. breeding biology. If sufficient data is Africa The population of this delightful species in collected, we would be able to determine (Toads). A frog or two for lunch the declined in success are UK by 78% between 1972 and whether changes breeding (Heron). 1996. It is therefore a species of high contributing to the population decline, and, page 4 Not even moths come to light! conservation concern, and is listed as a red if birds prove to be site-faithful, whether (3) data species. It nests in scattered locations over-winter survival is declining. If the (Winter insects). across Norfolk, and there are probably no owner of the land on which they are nesting The hoverfly ranunculi in west Norwich. more than 600 breeding pairs in the county. is happy for us to do so, we shall arrange for Invading aphids a local bird ringer to visit the site to ring the (Recent colonists). pages The aims this of study are to determine the nestlings with a colour ring and a metal Wood Ants in East Anglia preferred habitat and site fidelity of the BTO ring. In this way it will be possible to (An appeal for records). page 6 Spotted Flycatcher in Norfolk, and to monitor if the same birds return to the site in Woodpeckers. monitor their breeding success and over- a subsequent summer. Birds will only be Mystery tree (Pear). winter survival. In 2003 and we ringed if the landowners give their consent. 2004, page 7 invited members of the public to report ExcursionReports: East Winch Common. sightings of nesting flycatchers to us, and If you find a Spotted Flycatcher nesting in Research Committee made arrangements to ring the nestlings. In Norfolk, or the birds appear to have set up (Blakeney records wanted). all, 22 pairs of flycatchers were monitored territory in your area, please contact me pages Colney Wood and 54 nestlings were ringed in 2003, and 29 during the day/early evening and leave a (An appeal for records). Bramble meeting. pairs and 20 nestlings in 2004, a less message if necessary. I will send you a BSBI successful nesting season. In 2005 our aim simple form on which you can record your is both to determine whether or not flycatchers’ breeding activity. If you would 2003/2004’s nestlings will return to their like to help with the project but have no fly- natal sites, and also to expand the study to catchers nesting close by, you can volunteer include new sites. In order to collect more to help monitor the sites so that nest record information in 2004, we are hoping that both cards can be completed to determine hatch- birdwatchers and non-birdwatchers ing and fledging success or failure, and to The quarterly bulletin (whether they participated in 2003 or not) look for colour ringed birds from the 2003 of the will report any breeding pairs that they come and 2004 seasons. Norfolk & Norwich across. Rachel Warren Naturalists’ Society SPOFL Project Organiser We also complete a “Nest Record Card” for rf\varr@care4free .net or Orriy Nc the British Trust for Ornithology for each telephone 01603 593912 © Norfolk & Norwich Naturafcsts' Society Are they serious?

Scientists take theirjobs very seriously. But sometimes, just sometimes, they let the mask slip. Here is a list of Latin names given to creatures whose discoverers were in a more flippant mood than usual at the time: Agra cadabra a carabid Apopyllus now a spider Ba numbugi a Fijian snail Cyclocepnala nodanotherwon a scarab beetle Dissup irae fossil fly, very hard to see Eubetia bigaulae a moth, yes it is, you betcha by golly Ittibittium a tiny mollusc Heerz lukenatcha a'braconid The following three articles were Kamera lens a protist La cucaracha a pyralid sent in independent of each other Notnops, Taintnops, Tisentnops spiders yet they all deal with the naming They were originally in the Hops, but were separated out into these new genera 1994 of species, whether it is scientific, m Pieza kake a flv local or foreign - Ed. Ptomaspis, Dikenaspis, Ariaspis types of fish Remove the '-aspis' to get it Tabanus rhizonshine a horse fly Veraepeculya a braconid Vim vidivici Ytu brutus a water!

Other unbelievable names can be found on the following website: Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature - http://home.earthlink.net/~misaak/taxonomy Submitted by Hans Watson

LOCAL BIRD NAMES ~ from the Rev. Gilpin’s “The Flowering Plants and Birds of Harleston in Norfolk (1888)

Blackcap Reed Bunting Blood Olph Bullfinch Brown, Grey or Red Linnet Linnet Butcher Bird Red-backed Shrike Cuckoo's Mate Wryneck Devil or Deviling Swift Dow-fiilfer Mistle Thrush

Dobchick Little Grebe Fulfer Fieldfare Fulfer Mistle Thrush Green Linnet Greenfinch Ground-oven Willow Wren (Willow Warbler) Test your knowledge? Half Jack Snipe Hamser Heron The following five birds were Kentish Crow Hooded Crow also in the Rev. Gilpin’s list King Harry Goldfinch Can you give them their usual Mavis Song Thrush English name? Nutcracker Nuthatch

Peewit Lapwing 1. Gadder Penny Wagtail Pied Wagtail 2. Capering Longtail Reed-bird Reed Warbler 3. Hayjack Spink Chaffinch 4. Puddingpoke 5. Titlark Meadow Pipit Smee Duck

Answers on page 8 Submitted by Mike Hall 2 I HISTORY MU6EI 29 APR 200! The Boreal Gossip Illegal immigrants NGS West Africa Older members may recall that in earlier times (before Wells) I used to The amusing account of an Adder that was smuggled back to Norfolk from teach French. I still keep in touch, Hampshire, brought to mind an incident after one of the birding trips that I with trips to France when possible, led to The Gambia in the early 1990s. and regularly by listening to French radio news before getting up. In On the night before we were due to fly home, I left my trainers outside on mid-February there was mention of the veranda, in order for them to dry out before I packed them in my an incursion of Waxwings into luggage the following morning. As is my usual habit when packing, the next Eastern France, so later that morning day I stuffed them with dirty socks and other items needing to be washed I “googled” the French for and deposited them in my suitcase. Waxwing: Le Jaseur Boreal, and found a good web-site, one of a A couple of days after returning home, I decided to give them a clean and series covering all French birds. took them into the garden to shake out any sand and other debris, and to my surprise two West African Toads fell out!

I noticed that Google offered a translation, so, in a spirit of Not being sure what the position was regarding their importation, I phoned mischief, I called it up. It began and was told that quarantine was not necessary and that I with the English for Waxwing, had probably not broken any laws. The problem then was what to do with which you will see as the heading them! With his veterinary knowledge and contacts at London Zoo, Ian for this piece. Under “nesting” it Keymer was the obvious person to contact and he duly rang up one of the states: “It builds its nest in a shrub curators at the zoo. Although they had no West African Toads, financial starting from vegetable elements, restraints prevented the addition of any more animals to their collection. and papers the bottom of sleeping Janet Keymer came to the rescue and the toads became part of the bags and hairs.” (“Duvet” can mean menagerie at Gresham’s Prep School. sleeping-bag or down.) The moral of the story is always check your shoes in the morning before

I tried “Song Thrush”, and found: putting them. After all they could have been scorpions! “the grive musician often does not Moss Taylor come on the manger, however, she visits the surfaces of nourrissage discreetly.” You will have realised by now that, if they can’t find the A frog or two for lunefi English word they will stick in the French (grive musicienne) hoping I had the dubious pleasure of watching a heron eating its lunch recently. that no-one will notice! The bird had flown into the open water in front of the fen hide at Strump-

shaw, it landed in the middle after a long, shallow glide from the direction Under “Starling”: “Young people: of the river. After a good look round to make sure the coast was clear it because of their grey plumage mice waded across to the shallows at the left of the hide. Peering intently into the and of their dark nozzle, the young water it moved slowly along the reed margin, then out shot its long sinuous people are often confused with other neck and a frog was dangling from the tip of its bill. species.” (here, “young people” = juvenile). Or how about the Black- Within minutes another frog had met the same fate, and yet another, in the headed Gull: “In winter, it has a task half hour or so that the bird stayed in the pool it had eaten six. It now very sinks behind of the eye”? This slowly waded back to the centre of the water and just stood for several perhaps needs an explanation: minutes on one leg resting from its labours before flying off, much heavier “tache” can mean “task” or “patch”. and less hungry, “Sombre” means “dark”, but it is also part of the verb “to sink” (as of Each frog was dunked in the water several times, and manoeuvred around in a ship). Oh, the perils of machine the bill before being swallowed, a distinct bulge in the herons neck could be translation! seen as the poor old frog went down, still alive and kicking. My sandwiches didn’t seem to have their normal appeal somehow. Paul Banham Tony Howes

3 1

Not Even Moths Come To Light (3) Invading aphids (when the ground is frozen and it is snowing)

Twice in 2004 we found aphids we Just as it that seemed winter was finally retreating and one or two of the didn’t recognise on exotic trees in early season moths were coming to the traps we were treated to the cold Norwich city centre, and with it the snap of weather at the end of February. I had seen two or three beetles in prospect of a ‘new to Britain’ tag. December and early January - the small plant-climbing Twice we contacted Rothamsted th Demetrias atricapillus with a yellowish red body and black head on the 13 Research Centre to find out if December, the flea beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala which can be a serious they’d been recorded by their rd pest on oil-seed rape and turnip crops on the 23 December, the little pill monitoring network of aphid traps. beetle semistriata, which is found everywhere and often in After being assured on both large numbers, on the 6th January - but with the appearance of Ophion occasions that our finds were old

8 * news we asked Rothamsted for lutens, one of the larger and more obvious ichneumon wasps, on the l the list of tree-feeding species that February and the ground beetle Trechus quadristriatus, which is wide- th are currently invading the U.K. spread and a regular visitor to the traps, on the 1 I thought the “season has started”. So, of the recent colonists, in the city centre we’ve found: Then the weather changed, the snow fell and the traps were turned off as • Crypturaphis grassii - a blowing snow and hot lamps do not mix very well. When the worst of the Mediterranean species wintery weather was over, by the end of the first week in March, every- widespread on Italian where was thoroughly chilled and even though moths did start to appear alder Alnus cordata again there was nothing like the number or variety expected during March. • Appendiseta robinia - an It would be very wrong to assume that this means a decline in either American species occa- numbers or species as I am sure they were still about but not bothering to sionally on false acacia fly much let alone visit lamps. Pheromones would still attract male to Robinia pseudacacia female and when mating has taken place there is no need for any further • Ttnocallfs nevskyi - an activity other than egg laying which rarely necessitates flying - many Oriental species that is spring species have wingless females anyway. widespread in Norfolk on various British elms Ulmus

By the middle of March I had seen a few moths, a number of earwigs and spp, first found in the DK in th on the 10 the ground beetle Amara aenea so I shall be very surprised if I Great Yarmouth in 1996 do not see just as much variety in the traps as last year and the early season species in their usual numbers next year. We’re also on the look-out for ® Tinocallis takachihoensis - on Mike Hall elms, very similar to T. The hoverfly Criorhina ranunculi in west Norwich nevskyi but with a black head and thorax The most spectacular fly to be found in the early spring is the large, furry, • Hopiocaliis pictus - another mainly black -haired hoverfly Criorhina ranunculi, which has two forms, Mediterranean species on red-tailed and white-tailed, and thus resembles a queen bumble bee. British and exotic , similar to several native

On the early afternoon of 5 April I was fortunate to find one, a red-tailed oak aphids but with form, resting on foliage of cherry laurel in my rear garden in west Norwich. banded antennae and This was my first ever sighting of the species and a welcome addition to the black markings on dorsal garden list. It’s presence was almost certainly due to the blossoming plum surface trees a few feet away. In addition I have a sallow in my front garden whose blossom would also be a lure. The good news is that these species seem to be at low densities on individual trees and C. ranunculi is mainly a southern species-it occurs in Norfolk but is almost they aren’t known to carry plant certainly under-recorded owing to its early appearance (peaking in late April) viruses. We would be keen to and its habit of frequenting the tops of flowering shrubs when it is know of any sightings and Graham difficult to distinguish it from bumble bees. is happy to confirm specimens sent in alcohol. It’s certainly an insect to look out for in areas where there are early flower- Jit Thacker ing trees and shrubs and the illustration in British Hoverflies by Stubbs and (Mastridhouse.fsnetco.ukV and Falk will aid identification if one is seen close enough for scrutiny. Graham Hopkins (15 Matlock Road, Stuart Paston Norwich, NR1 1TL) Suffolk records, she states in the text that there are no ’Wood Ants” in East Anglia? records from the region, except to record (p.83) that “Between Cambridge and Bury St. Edmunds there is a This note is a request for records of Formica rufa L. large patch of coarse sands on which wood ants are in East Anglia. said to occur, but the record is unconfirmed". Barrett [1965] failed to find wood ants at any of the Suffolk The "wood ants" of the Formica rufa group are the sites, whilst doing field work for his national survey of most spectacular British ants, well known for building Formica rufa [Barrett, 1968], large nest-mounds from vegetable debris, usually in open woodland. The workers range in size from 4-9mm The situation in Norfolk is mysterious. Barrett [1979] and are bicoloured, the black abdomen contrasting with shows an old record north-west of Norwich in grid the head and thorax, which are reddish-brown with square TG1 1, which is presumably the same as one black patches. Foraging trails from a large nest may noted by Yarrow [1955], "Edwards' MS., 1911, locality extend over 100m to aphid-bearing trees, but insect unknown". Elsewhere in Norfolk, Breckland can claim prey is also taken, both trees floor. from and the forest one or two anecdotal records. Perhaps the most reliable The workers are aggressively territorial, and readily bite is the report by the late, renowned, travel writer (and and spray formic acid. Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society) John Hillaby, who, during wartime army service stationed near Of the four British species in the group, only Mundford, described pulling a wood ant nest apart with Formica rufa is likely to occur naturally in East Anglia. bare arms, in search of myrmecophilous beetles. As Identification details can be obtained from a number of anyone who has done likewise could testify, this is not references [Collingwood and Barrett, 1964; Bolton and an action easily forgotten. The site was on the edge of Collingwood, 1975; Collingwood, 1979], Our region a pine wood in the grounds of the now-demolished contains plenty of habitat that would appear suitable, as Didlington Hall (ca. TL7797). Mr Hillaby had no doubts does the climate, yet there are few records of F. rufa, of the ants’ identity, recalling how the event had much none of them recent. The reasons for this are unclear, amused his fellow soldiers [Hillaby, 1982, New Scientist and are presumably historic. East Anglia must have column and personal communication]! An uncon- been largely covered in forest in prehistoric times, and ventional, but more recent “record” featured in an partial clearance by man should have benefitted wood episode of the TV comedy series “Dad's Army”, ants. The Breckland and Sandlings heaths may have screened around 1970. The location shots for the series become too barren for F.rufa, yet the general absence were filmed nearThetford (so could also have been in of the species is still a biogeographical puzzle. Small, Suffolk) and in the episode concerned, "Corporal Jones" local populations may have been introduced to estates accidentally put his foot in what was clearly a wood ant as the pupae ("ants' eggs") have used as food for been nest, or part of one, with predictably comic results. A pheasants. If these or isolated natural populations die surviving cast member, when asked later about this out, for whatever reason, recolonisation from distant scene, could not recall whether the ants were found inhabited sites across large tracts of East Anglian arable locally and used opportunistically, or intentionally land would be unlikely. brought in as a “prop” from elsewhere. As the nearest known inhabited sites are in Essex and near Peter- There are confirmed records from the extreme south borough, a local origin is perhaps the more likely, unless of Suffolk, from "Bentley Wood", and Holbrook Park there was an alternative “theatrical” source of supply. immediately to the south of Ipswich, and Assington Thicks about 12miles (20km) further west [Yarrow, 1955; Barrett, 1968], In Bentley Wood, renowned Suffolk entomologist Claude Morley observed “a very strong colony” of F.rufa for at least five years at the end th of the 19 century. Others were stated to be present in the same wood [Morley, 1899], Nelmes [1938] noted that F.rufa had been “fairly numerous” at Bentley but listed the site amongst several extinguished by fire at the time of writing. The woodlands around Bentley were Just beyond the borders of East Anglia proper, to also once notable for their butterfly fauna, including the the south is a small cluster of records in Essex, most "UK endangered" heath fritillary Mellicta athalia Rott.) ( still with thriving populations [Harvey, 1998]. To the west and a number of other rare species, most now extinct in and north is only a thin scatter of sites in Bedfordshire, Suffolk. It is clear that much good habitat has been lost Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. There is one long- or degraded in that area. Few published details exist of extinct site on the Greensand at Gamlingay, south-west the Holbrook Park site, other than that the first record of of Cambridge [Barrett, 1968] (but no records at all from wood ants appears to date from May, 1894 [Morley, this geological formation in West Norfolk). In the 1930's, 1899]. At Assington Thicks, apparently first recorded by Wragge Morley introduced several colonies to land ad- Harwood in 1920, [Morley, 1935], Nelmes [op. cit noted .] joining the orchards of Messrs. Chivers and Co., the jam only two nests. More recently, gamekeepers knew manufacturers, at Histon, just north of Cambridge. nothing of the ant, which must have been long extinct These survived for at least a few years [Wragge Morley, (Barrett, 1975, personal communication). Nelmes [op. 1953], cit.) is contradictory about East Anglia - whilst listing the Therefore, the authors would be grateful for records of 34pp. wood ants from anywhere in the East Anglian region - Collingwood, C.A., and Barrett, K.E.J., 1964. The identi- although sightings from Norfolk and Suffolk would be of fication and distribution of British ants. Trans. Soc. Brit. particular interest, reports from adjacent counties will Ent. 16(3) 93-121. also be welcome, as F. rufa is of conservation Collingwood, C.A., 1979. The Formicidae significance and is generally declining. Information on (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and . Fauna historic records, even where the species is no longer Entomologica Scandinavica, vol. 8. Scandinavian present, would also be useful. Science Press Ltd, Klampenborg, Denmark. 174pp. Harvey, P.R., 1998. The modem distribution of ants

N.C. Blacker (c/o 1, Lowry Way, Lowestoft, Suffolk, (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Essex with their regional NR32 4LW. Email: [email protected]) and rarity and threat status. The Essex Naturalist 15 (New P.J.Attewell (69, Thornbury Gardens, Boreham Wood, Series): 61-111. Herts., WD6 1RD. Email: [email protected]) Hillaby, J., 1982. New Scientist (no further details avail- able). References Mendel, H., and Piotrowski, S.H., 1986. The Butterflies of Suffolk, an Atlas and History. The Suffolk Naturalists' Barrett, K.E.J., 1965. Ant Records and Observations for Society, Ipswich. 128pp

1965. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var., 77: 248-252. Morley, C., 1899. The Hymenoptera of Suffolk. I. Barrett, K.E.J., 1968. A Survey of the Distribution and Aculeata. Plymouth viii+22pp. Present Status of the Wood Ant, Formica rufa L. (Hym., Morley, C., 1935. The Hymenoptera of Suffolk. Trans. Formicidae), in England and Wales. Trans. Soc. Brit. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 3: 17-52. Ent, 17:217-233. Nelmes, E., 1938. A Survey of the Distribution of the

Barrett, K.E.J., 1979. Provisional atlas of the insects of Wood Ant (Formica rufa) in England, Wales and the British Isles: Part 5: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ants. Scotland. J. anim. Ecol., 7: 74-104. Second edition. Biological Records Centre, Monks Wragge Morley, D., 1953. Ants.The New Naturalist, Wood. Collins, London.xii + 179pp. Bolton, B., and Collingwood, C.A., 1975. Handbooks for Yarrow, I.H.H., 1955. The British ants allied to Formica the identification of British insects, 6 (3c): Hymenoptera: rufa L. (Hym., Formicidae). Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 12:1-48. Formicidae. Royal Entomological Society of London.

likely to be seen. It was therefore a with a scattering of Shrubby Seablite at Woodpeckers pleasure to see two of these robin sized the very edge, where the dunes begin, wood- peckers at Strumpshaw during a which here are planted with Pines and While working in the garden this after- walk through the woods there earlier this Holm Oaks. A quarter mile or so from noon my attention was drawn to the week. the boardwalk is a rather stunted decidu- sound of greater spotted woodpeckers Tony Howes ous tree, which for years we saw only in calling from the woods nearby. I went winter, when parking in L. A. R. was indoors for the binoculars and was then Mystery Tree free (mean? what do you mean, mean?). able to see two of these charismatic birds chasing one another through the Its buds were rather lumpish, brown and If you go onto Holkham Bay via the trees, all the time calling. I could see alternate, and didn’t seem right for any board-walk at the north end of Lady them flaring their tails and spreading sort of Willow, which, along with - Anne’s Road, take a look at the Pine their wings in a courtship display. es, grow amongst the Pines at the Wells plantation on the right. The trees are in end a mile or so away. Furthermore, it straight lines, having been planted in (I Most years I find a nest, usually by is within a couple of yards of the highest think) 1956, with a few in-filling listening for the continuous clamour of tide-mark, and must surely be at least replacements subsequently. Every now the young as I walk through the woods splashed with salt water during northerly and then you will come across one with during early summer, silver birch seems storms. When at last I finally saw it in a trunk at least twice as thick as its the most favoured tree for the nest hole, early summer two years ago it was neighbours. However, this is not the live or dead, preferably the latter. It’s at covered in blossom: white, and pretty mystery. Look up the tree, and you will this time of the year that they often visit obviously a pear! What an unlikely see that the cones are much bigger than the bird table in the garden, and take place to find a fruit-tree. I went back those on the Corsican Pines alongside, beakfulls of suet back to the youngsters. later in the year hoping to pick-my-own and appear at regular intervals along the The adults tend to get quite scruffy at pears, but there were only leaves. branches. They are Monterey Pines, this stage, with feathers worn and a Perhaps the salt-laden air inhibits which grow much faster than Corsicans, ‘well used ‘ look about them. development. How did it get there? I and were not among the few species suppose it must have been from a core chosen for planting in the 19 th century. Its veiy unusual to see lesser spotted thrown away at a picnic. There are woodpeckers now in these woods, they good-quality apples to be found on the For the mystery you will have to turn have always been the rarer of the two landward side of the dunes near Wells left when you get to the end, and follow species, but in past years I saw them beach car-park which I assume got there the edge of the bay north- westward. more frequently than I do now. They that way, but they are not so close to the What was a sandy beach only a few dec- are mainly birds of the woodland sea. ades ago is now incipient saltmarsh, canopy, this alone makes them less Paul Banham mainly Samphire and Annual Seablite, 1!1!1

i Reports

% 2005-06 Field Meeting location John Innes Centre W Indoor meetings

EAST WINCH COMMON confined to the eastern part of the noon, after recording some 60 reserve included the liverworts species, and headed towards the Sunday 13th March, 2005 Cephalozia connivens, Gynocolea flesh pots of King’s Lynn where tea inflata, and two species of Pellia - and cake were waiting. A small but select group of experi- Pellia endiviifolia and Peilia enced bryologists met in the epiphylla. A disturbing discovery Robin Stevenson reserve Car Park, and - in the (by Mary Ghuliam), was a small absence of any beginners to be REIIAReiieOMMITTCe colony of the alien liverwort induced into the delights of moss Lophocolea semiteres, found on a hunting - decided to concentrate After a certain amount of ( path. This seems to be spread- on recording the site as thoroughly turmoil, I have taken on the ] ing and, because it is such an as possible. The site is spread over chairmanship of this committee j efficient competitor, may be having four 10km grid squares, however,] for an initial period of a year to an adverse effect on smaller liver- the northern two only include small see if it can be made something j wort species. However, in this areas on the fringe of the reserve, of rather than allowing it to fell j instance the colony was not in a so they were ignored, and record- by the wayside* I have been in position to affect anything more ing effort concentrated on the two touch with John Sizer who is j interesting. larger portions of the site, which is Overall Warden for the National j divided into eastern western Trust in North Norfolk and he and I A few mosses, such as Fissidens ‘halves’ by grid Easting 70. tells me that they would like to incurvus } and Didymodon insulanus update their records for several ! were added to the eastern site list, The site has had a lot of manage- properties in the Blakeney whilst the most notable absentee Point complex such as Blakeney ment work done on it recently, seeming to be Leucohryum Freshes as well as the Point which had cleared away a lot ofj glaucum which had been found on itself* With regards the latter, acidic scrubby woodland, though it j the last visit by the NNNS. not bird records from the Point will be some time before this ] itself as someone has recently recovers into heathland. However, j The western part of the reserve been writing these up. Any other the ponds and damp areas, which | contained many of the same records, especially for inverte- were cleared several years ago, j species encountered in the morn- brates etc*, please send either to were in good condition and quickly j ing, though with me, or to Janet (Research yielded six species notably fewer of Bog-moss or i species of Sphagnum. However, a Committee Secretary) whose Sphagnum. However, several other j group of sallows growing near addresses will be found in the species proved elusive, though i some shallow pools, produced a new programme. Ifyou work by there is no real reason to fear that nice crop of epiphytic species, Email, it will have to be Janet! they have been lost. The only including Cryphaea heteromalla Other projects are being investi- exception to this may be Sphag- and Orthotrichum - gated, but nothing has been num molle, which has not pulchellum a been i species confirmed at the time ofwriting . seen for many years. which seems to be be- : coming much commoner. The two V - 1 Alec Bull thallose epiphytic liverworts, After a pleasant lunch, taken in the | Metzgeria furcata and Metzgeria sun, the party looked at the wood- fruticulosa, lands remaining on the eastern were also found. j fringe, before crossing back into the I Tired, mossed-out, but western part of the reserve. happy, the Species group left the site in the late after- which seemed to be I .

COLNEY WOOD BSB1 Bramble Meeting (North Norfolk) Friday evening July 15th to Colney Wood is a burial park set in twelve acres of mature woodland located on the July 17th 2005 edge of Norwich overlooking the Yare Valley. After extensive research and consul- Sunday , tation with landscape and wildlife experts, funeral directors and bereaved families, We shall be meeting first at School, Holt on the Friday Colney Woodland Burial Park opened its doors in 1999. Greshams evening followed by a visit to Heath as a ‘taster’ The Park enjoys a distinctive landscape of low-lying valleys alongside an unusual escarpment. Gentle paths lead through areas naturally enhanced by the beauty of On Saturday we start at silver birch, oak, beech, sweet , pine and ash trees. According to season, Severalls and go on from there to Park and Pretty Comer there is a profusion of bluebells, foxgloves and many other varieties of wildflower. Sheringham and end the day at .

Colney Wood has been established with the prime aim of offering an appealing and On Sunday we meet in the car park at meaningful It seeks to alternative to conventional burial and cremation choices. Bacton Woods where there is a wide provide a natural choice both for the bereaved and those who wish to plan for the range of species. We shall probably future during their own lifetime. The Park offers a perfect environment for quiet note be able to go into the woods contemplation and remembrance. themselves due to tree felling operations, but will go on, first to Crostwight Common in a reduced Colney Wood is a haven for wildlife and natural plant growth, reinforcing the number of cars, then back to Bacton concept of the Renewal of Life. This can be especially meaningful for those having for remaining cars and on to Bryant's to face either their own mortality or the permanent nature of the loss that they have Heath, and with a final experienced. stop at Westwick. The exact location for the last call has yet to be made as

it has been arranged recently to Education is important to us at Colney Wood and we have a policy of education to compensate for a shorter visit than all age groups in order to further the understanding of good woodland and wildlife hoped for at Bacton. management. We have carried out much research into the bird life at Colney Wood like to and have developed our own "bird book." We are keen to extend this book to include If any Society members would leam more about this intriguing information about die host of other wildlife that the woodland supports - wild group of plants they will be most animals, butterflies, insects, wild flowers, fungi and bats. Increasingly we realise welcome, and don't forget, I shall not how much this matters. Mankind has relied upon woodland to provide for all his always be around either to do the needs. What more suitable place then for us to be buried here - at one with our brambles for you or to give you ancestors and nature and yet providing hope and beauty for future generations to instruction on some occasion in the an s.a.e. enjoy. distant future so, send me for a full itinerary which will enable me to book your names in either for Any help that the Norfolk Norwich Naturalists can provide to help us with this & the weekend, or for either of the task would be gratefully appreciated. The woodland is open 7 days a week and all days. Before the end of May please. are welcome to visit and walk through the woods. On the last Sunday in the month Alec Bui there is a tea shop open serving hot drinks and refreshments and we are currently hosting a photographic exhibition in the woodland shelter by two members of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists Photographic group, Brian Macfarlane and Tony Howes. Colney Wood Burial Park, Watton Road, Colney, Norwich, Norfolk

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8 : NATURAL THE j HISTORY MUSEUM

11 AUG 2005 |

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NATTEL rJACK

Number 90 Website www.nnns.org.uk August 2005

Toad-in-the-hole.... Just the thing for the young’uns Contents,

My thanks for all the contributions Toad-in-the-hole. during those long days of the Research Committeer and my apologies if your article is Young Norfolk Nature Writer not in this issue as unfortunately we summer holidays! of the Year Competition 2005. have had to bid farewell to no fewer Invertebrates of maritime soft than four prominent members of Young Norfolk Nature Writer of rock cliffs. the Society. Have a good summer Observations of nectaring the Year Competition 2005 Insects on Alexanders. and send in your observations, pp KS«> Not only moths come to light Closing date: September 30 th A day with the owls RESEARCH COMMITTEE (Barn Owls). page 4 - The Research Committee are Could you see yourself as a nature writer? Do you Background and barbastrelle take an interest in what you see in the Norfolk currently carrying out two surveys bat update. countryside? you keep a record of the birds and The maddest March hare which it is hoped will lead to man- Do story ever? agement plans, and a dissemin- butterflies that come into your garden? Do you take A trap by any other name ation of results in future issues of a close look at what goes on in your school or (Snails). Transactions and further records village pond? pages Rusty Groundsel are invited from visitors to either (An appeal for records). site to be incorporated in our If so, why not have a go at writing a short article or Exchange Journals (NNNS library - Norwich results. producing an illustrated diary about any aspect of Castle Museum). nature in Norfolk. Royal Norfolk Show, Hapton Common is an important page* site in the Tas valley. It is served ExcursionReports: will by a public footpath and in any You could win a £50 prize and a trophy. Entries Gittin & Stubbin s Wood, page 7 case, is open access. The owner be judged in two categories: Up to 11 years and 11- Warren Farm- is anxious to have a management 15 years. Entries must be no longer than 800 words. ( & Horsey Dunes). plan for the site, which lies beside the minor road towards Hapton The prizes and trophies are being generously Great Hockham. page* from the B1113 about half a mile donated by Mrs Sylvia Seago in memory of her late Obituaries: from Rattees corner. There is a husband Michael who devoted 60 years to studying George Garrard. Dr. Robert Jones. small car park at the entrance, and writing about Norfolk’s birds wildlife. and other page I* which is clearly signed. Dr. Geoffrey Watts. Entries should be submitted by: Dr. Joyce Lambert. Catfield Hall Fen is being th September 30 , 2005, resurveyed, (last done in 2000) to the following address: following some changes in man- agement. The owners welcome Young Norfolk Nature genuine naturalists with the Writer of the Year, proviso that they would like a Norfolk Wildlife Trust, ‘phone call first so that they know Bewick House, who is on site. For the telephone 22 Thorpe Road, number, please contact Alec Bull Norwich NR1 1RY. on 01603-880278. Records may be sent either to Alec, or our sec- If you have any questions, please telephone - retary, Janet Negal. Details for 01603 625540. both are on the current programme. © Norfoik & Norwich Naturaists' Society Invertebrates of maritime soft rock cliffs Observations of nectaring insects on Alexanders Coastal soft rock cliffs are a much neglected habitat that provides the ideal habitat conditions for many rare insects, spiders and other invertebrates.

Many of these species are only found on soft rock cliffs in the UK and so I am employed as a gardener at the protection and sensitive management of these areas is vital to their Hopton Holiday Village four miles survival. Information on these habitats is limited; however, the current south of Great Yarmouth. The Park available data would suggest that the soft rock cliffs of the UK are some of won the David Bellamy Gold Award the most important in Europe. for conservation in 2004 and this

year I have been tasked with record- Local importance ing the wildlife on the site and pro- With an estimated 12.7km of soft cliffs Norfolk has a significant proportion ducing a report at the end ofthe year. of the UK resource. The importance of local soft cliffs for invertebrates has been recognised through the notification of SSSIs at and Warren Road is situated to the north -Trimmingham, noting outstanding invertebrate assemblages at of Hopton Holiday Village and the sites. Sites which experience very rapid rates of erosion or which are passes through Gorleston Golf inherently unstable are often of more limited invertebrate interest, as they Course onto Links Road in the town. lack the continuity and range of required microhabitats. Nevertheless, some (TG530010) At the point where the species are restricted to such sites, Norfolk specialities being the rove beetle cottages are situated it becomes

Blediusfilipes and the ground beetle livida (also found on the York- Warren Lane and it is here that many shire coast), both of which are found at the base of cliffs. observations have been made during my lunch hour. The lane has a Haw- What are Buglife doing? thorn Crateagus monogyna hedge-

Buglife have been awarded funding by the Esmee Fairbum Foundation for a row along it’s boundaries and there three year project to study and promote the invertebrate biodiversity of soft is an over abundance ofAlexanaders rock cliffs in die UK. Smynium olustratum. This plant has been in flower since the 18 th March th The project aims to: and all blooms were out on the 14 * Increase our knowledge of soft rock cliffs and the invertebrates that April. On this day there were liter- inhabit them. ally hundreds of Drone Flies Erista- * Identify the most important areas of soft rock cliff in the UK for lis tenax nectaring on the blooms. biodiversity. * Ensure that these species and habitats are protected for the future.

The information produced by this project will provide an essential resource for the future sustainable management of soft rock cliffs and dieir immediate surroundings in the UK.

A request The early stages of this project are concerned with the collation of existing th data. If you have any records of invertebrates from Norfolk’s soft rock On the sunny day of the 16 April I cliffs, or any information on the past management of the cliff slopes and observed a Comma Polygonum cliff tops then please contact me. Also, if you are interested in collecting c-album, a queen wasp Vespula new records during die 2005 field season then I would be very interested to vulgaris, Several Yellow Dung Flies hear from you. Scathophaga stercoraria nectaring from this crop. There was nothing Please visit our website www.buglife.org.uk for more information. else in flower along this lane except for Blackthorn spinosa. Nothing was nectaring from this and

I assume the strong scent of the

Alexanders was masking this. I am

sure that all the species mentioned The Invertebrate Conservation Trust nectar from Alexanders and would 170A Park Road be pleased to hear from anyone who Peterborough has recorded any other insects on PEI 2UF this pernicious weed. Telephone: 01733 201210 Colin A. Jacobs Not Only Moths Come To Light (41

little activity in the traps, either March saw very moth j spread. Yet again a cooler period for the first part ofMay moths or anything else, until the last week in the month th meant that it was not until the 19 that I saw the soldier and then very little other than moths. Buiying beetles and beetle, nigricans which has black elytra that in particular Nicrophorus humator, were much in evidence I are heavily clothed with a grey pubescence giving them a for several days after the 25 th March and several green superficial grey appearance and a week later saw the first of lacewings Chrysopa cornea agg. which had overwintered I several of the orange/yellow , Cantharis rufa successfully, started to arrive from the 22nd onwards but then j which does not have the same covering. In the same it was the doldrums again until nearly the end of April with I rd just a single 2-spot ladybird on the 25h ofMarch. week, on the 23 May, cockchafers, Melalontha

melalontha, started to appear in the traps and still do in the

Between the 28 th April and the 3 rd of May there were middle of June. The water beetle IlybiusJuliginosus on the j th numerous St. Mark's Flies, Bibio marci, in the traps but as 25 May with the large caddis fly Phryganea grandis and the j th soon as the night time temperatures dropped a little they 14-spot ladybird, Calvia 14-guttata on the 27 were all of j th first in disappeared. On the 29 April I was perplexed by a small note until the cold snap during the week June meant j virtually again. winged insect that was like no moth I recognised. It was nothing j only when I looked at it in good light and with decent a j the nights start to become a little warmer it will pair ofglasses (then with a microscope) that I realised it was As now j 'catch a moth-fly. The Psychodidae are small flies thickly be few days 'lag' before moths and other insects up' clothed j with hairs and scales (hence the common name) and this one so hopefully the next two or three months will be more j interesting. was the cosmopolitan Psychoda altemata. With larvae feed- I ing in decaying organic matter it is common and wide- Mike Hall

A Day with the Owls into a belt of conifers. We had a We went onto Buckenham where we good view as she jinked between the had two sites to look at, the first had in residence. One beautiful May morning a friend, trees, then a sparrow-hawk, probably a family ofjackdaws visiting us for the day, and myself with a nest in the wood, saw her and The youngsters were just getting through, decided to check some of the nest gave her a hard couple of minutes as their feathers coming they in tree. last wouldn’t prizes in a boxes along the Yare valley. These the owl perched a The certainly win large boxes have been put up mainly two boxes were both empty, just a beauty competition, all scrawny and for the use of bam owls, but other few pellets showing that owls were pink, quite ugly. The second box adult species use them as well. This short using them now and again. looked more promising as two left the and flew resume tells of what we found. bam owls box down towards trees on the edge of the fen. that our lad- The first farm at Postwick has five Unfortunately we found der too short to have a look in, boxes, the first erected (1999) has was now been in use for four years and but I would think it was being used sixteen young bam owls have flown for nesting. from it. But this time it was empty, the owls had moved three hundred Two more sites were visited totaling yards to a box set up in some old four boxes, no more were found stables. There we found two young- occupied but it had been an interest- sters alive and well also one dead ing day. It does help to have a pair and partially eaten chick and two of binoculars with you, as a close infertile eggs. We disposed of the scan of the entrance hole can often dead youngster and the eggs. Last give clues as to whether the box is year this box had been home to a being used. All boxes when made family of stock doves. are treated with a wood preservative, brownish green in colour. When

The third box to be looked at was there are owls in residence a pale about half a mile away along the line is quite discernible just below valley, this also had young bam the entrance hole where the claws owls, all healthy and well. The hen mark the wood, also lack of spider bird had flown from the box as we webs and general debris give the neared the oak in which it was game away. placed, she went less than fifty yards Tony Howes Paston Great Barn - Background and barbastelle bat update.

Dating from 1581, Paston Great Bam is of exceptional cultural, biological and architectural importance. As well as being an outstanding example of one of the few remaining Great Bams in the region, the bam also supports nationally and internation- ally important populations of bats. The site is owned by the North Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust and managed by English

Nature for its wildlife.

Paston Great Bam provides a home for a range of wildlife, including one of the UK’s rarest mammals, the barbastelle bat.

The barbastelle is a rare and threatened species throughout its range in Europe and Paston Great Bam supports one of the few known maternity roosts in the UK. Barbaselle bats were first discovered at Paston in August 1996 by the Norfolk Bat Group as part of an ongoing programme of identifying summer and winter bat sites in the county. The discovery of the barbastelle bat colony at Paston Great Bam presented a unique opportunity to discover more about the requirements of this elusive species and in 1999 English Nature commissioned the Bat Conservation Trust to carry out research and monitoring work on the colony. This work has since continued annually and has provided a wealth of information about roost sites within the bam, the size and behaviour of the colony and their foraging activity in the surrounding area.

Monitoring work has also illustrated the importance of the countryside surrounding the bam and radio-tagging studies have shown the barbastelles to feed along Bacton cliffs and even along the strandline on the beach!

In total, seven species of bat have been discovered using the site: soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle, Nathusius’ pipis- trelle, brown long-eared, noctule, Natterer’s and barbastelle bat. Some species, such as the Natterer’s bat typically utilise a range of roost sites throughout the breeding season. Large bams with a variety of suitable roost locations can therefore provide important breeding sites for these species. The most recent species of bat discovered using Paston Great Bam is Nathusius’ pipistrelle - a rare species in the UK with just a handful of known breeding localities.

The current monitoring programme at Paston aims to provide the following information:

* Counts of adults and young throughout the breeding season

* Dates and duration of site occupation * Roost locations in the bam throughout the year * Impact of temperatures/humidity levels on bats inside the bam.

The Bat Conservation Trust lias recently produced its second annual monitoring report, covering the period Februaiy 2004 to

February 2005, entitled ‘A behavioural study of barbastelle bats (Barbastella barbastellus) at Paston Great Barn ’. The results presented in this report show that, despite population numbers in the barbastelle breeding colony been slightly lower than in 2003, they were still higher than during the previous four years. The maximum pre-parturition count was 35 in 2004 (compared to 36 in 2003), whereas the maximum post-parturition count (adults and young) was 50 in 2004 (compared to 55 in 2003). The continued success of this colony is testimony to the careful planning and execution of the repair works which are required to ensure the bam continues to provide suitable conditions for bats into the future.

If you would like to obtain a copy of this report or w ould like to more about Paston Great Bam, please contact me at: English Nature Offices, The Smithy Workshops, Wolferton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. PE31 6HA or telephone 01485 543044.

Ash Murray-Site Manager, English Nature

'fhe Ttech Jfee Uoty A Trap ByAny OtherName it was eight o'clock on a March morning when my breakfast During the spring this year my wife was having problems with coffee was interrupted by a loud crash on the cottage roof and mice, or a mouse, eating off seedlings in the greenhouse and the the sight of furry a brown body hurtling past the window. 1 offending rodent seemed oblivious to the live traps set all around. rushed to look out and to my astonishment saw a hare tenta- As a final measure she brought in a snap trap - The Better tively shake each leg, then its head, before it ambled slowly Mousetrap’ - and baited it with peanut butter. away across the garden.

The next day the mouse was caught, unfortunately a wood What could be the explanation of this hare-raising leap from mouse, and the trap re-set. A couple of days later a mature space? 1 can think of only one. Saxlmgham, near Blakeney, is garden snail was firmly imprisoned but undamaged in the trap. surrounded by arable farmland where buzzards have become Subsequently three more snails were similarly caught, all initially increasingly common in the last few years. Perhaps one unharmed, and in. all cases gardening instincts overcame natural over-estimated its ability to lift the hare, failed to maintain its history ideals with the snails being released and then stood on - but grip let and go immediately above my pantiles? 1 am delighted they were left out for birds who subsequently ate them. The moral that it survived and will always remember the hare that paid me from this tale is that snails go well with peanut butter - perhaps In a flying visit more ways than one* June Hulbert Mike Hall

4 \%f Rusty Groundsel Royal Norfolk Show

June 29th/30th 2005 To the Botanist and the non - botanist the common weed of gardens and disturbed ground. Groundsel Senecio vulgaris agg., is never worth a second This was our fourth appearance at glance. A closer look on the other hand may find you looking at the Rust the show, and what a success it fungus is said to have Puccinia lagenophorae Cooke. This modem mst was, being runner up, in the ‘Best come from Australia and was first recorded in the UK in 1961. AtHopton Rural Educational Stand’ section, for Holiday Village where I am gardener, this rust has decimated one stretch of which we were awarded a certificate pathway and all plants of the Groundsel are severely affected. Other plants and £200. on the site are unaffected. On looking though a binocular microscope the success was down to the fruiting bodies are very beautiful indeed. They have orange circular discs The spiders! This was our main theme with a buff edging and are uniform in size. In some cases the whole stem this year, along with the photo- may be affected or just the leaves. In Darlington (1968) an illustration of graphic gallery and the 'Notable Coleosprium senecionus looks to be very similar at this stage to P. Lageno- Trees of Norwich’ display. phorae.

The ‘Spiders of Norfolk’, with live In the British Mycological Society database there are two records for East specimens proved very successful Suffolk. It is also recorded in Fungi and Slime Moulds in Suffolk with the children and adults alike. Thanks must go to Peter Nicholson all the I have also recently found the Daisy Beilis perennis rust Puccinia distincta and Robert Maidstone for hard work involved in putting it to- McAlpine on site, which is my only Suffolk record although for recording gether. The photographs, text and purposes can be counted for Norfolk. My other Norfolk record comes from specimens from Peter were superb. Wacton near Long Stratton. This mst can decimate the daisy population, The star of the show, however, was and according to your point of view is either a good or bad sign. This the Cave Spider (Meta menardi) first recorded in 1997 after occurring on cultivated forms for species was collected and shown in an original many years. Yellowing leaves with wavy edges and raised areas are drainpipe by Robert. To view the diagnostic; the plants are normally more erect than usual. spider the drain cover had to be lifted - a test not for the faint-hearted!

Please look out for either of these rusts. I would welcome any material for examination especially the Daisy Rust. These can be sent in empty film Brian McFarlane’s photographs, particularly his sequence of Barn canisters with a note of how many plants are affected and the site / soil Owl and Kestrel clashing in a mid-air details, with the normal six figure grid reference to 22 Oxford Road, tussle over a food catch, was Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 1TW. stunning and caused much interest. Colin A. Jacobs References: Rex Haney’s display of collected Redfem M. Shirley P, Aidgap British Plant Galls Field Studies Council leaves and wood cross-sections Darlington A (1968) The Pocket Encyclopedia of Plant Galls Blandford Press London. various tree species for people Ellis M.B. & Ellis JP (1985) Micro Fungi on Land Plants Croom Helm. from interest. Wurzell B. BSBI News no 80 Jan 1999 p. 20 Common Daises under threat. to identify also found much This was the backdrop for Rex’s Acknowledgements: book, 'Notable Trees of Norwich’, Mrs J.P. Ellis for confirming the rusts and proof reading the article. just published by the Society in time Mr. R. Maidstone for an update on the status of the Daisy rust at Wacton in Norfolk for the Show. A good number were sold to the public, which were signed Exchange Journals by the author.

t. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History (from the British

: must also go to those who : Entomological and Natural History Society) Thanks helped on the stand over the two 2. Systematics and Biodiversity (from the Natural History Museum) days. The question is, since we have 3. Essex Naturalist (from the Essex Field Club) set such a very high standard can 4. Suffolk Natural History (from Suffolk Naturalists Society) we better this in 2006? 5. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

6. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumbria w mm* w.mi'mnm'immmkm.nmnmumvmiimnmn'm'n.mimimnmnm* mmmtmn mm

As always, copies of these and other journals to which the Museum and Museum

staff subscribe are available to Society members when visiting the Shirehall. Please

note an members can consult the books within the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists'

Society library by appointment Please give me a call on 01603 493636. Tony Irwin - Curator of Natural History Norwich Castle Museum 5 w *&? mjWi r&viz m 0 §55t Reports

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Gittin & Stubbin’s distinct and low hills because lost in winter. The leaves of the one the flat hilltops were too wet to be other native species of lungwort Woods economically cleared for agriculture ( Pulmonaria longifolia) are normall whereas the hillsides could more white-spotted and this plant is in any easily be drained and eventually case native only to a small coasta Sunday 10th April 2005 used for arable. Even the recorded area of central southern England. ownership of the woods stretches But unfortunately, the leaves of intro- A party of 20 or so members and back all of 1000 years. duced species and of selections and others gathered in a layby on the hybrids which have long grown in and A143 between Wortham and Botes- We first visited Gittin Wood, contain- escaped from gardens in our region, dale on a pleasant April morning prior ing much ash, field maple and hazel, though usually strongly white-spotted to moving off to see the rare unspot- and an impressively rich ground flora, are not invariably so - and Suffolk ted or Suffolk lungwort. Such is the not only in terms of number of lungwort itself can occasionally show allure to botanists of this nationally- species present, which include most faint pale-green spotting! rare ‘red data’ woodland perennial of the ‘usual’ plants of the woodland herb of poorly drained, fertile soils, floor that one can think of - wood Martin pointed out that unspotted that one of the party had driven south anemone, bugle, wood dog-violet, lungwort is now presumed to be from Yorkshire for the day to see it. sanicle, bluebell, herb bennet, mos- native at its Suffolk stations because Pulmonaria obscura is thought to chatel, ransoms, yellow archangel it has been rarely cultivated in Britain, grow wild in Britain currently at only etc., but also considerable spreads of it grows in semi-natural ancient three clustered Suffolk sites, namely some of these and, amazingly, of woodland rather than being restricted Burgate, Gittin (‘Gittin’s’ to the locals) herb paris and purple-spotted orchid. to thoroughgoing man-made habi- and Stubbing’s Woods. Access to Also present much less densely was tats, and it is recognised as native in these privately-owned ancient woods twayblade, but this wood is unfortu- neighbouring countries in compar- on the boulder clay, devoted now nately not in the Suffolk oxlip belt. able habitat-types and plant com- mainly to shooting, is very rarely Bee-flies were observed making the munities (albeit no nearer than permitted - apart from guided-tours most of this floral variety, and the 400km away in the Belgian on an open day on or about May Day, birders in the party were pleased to Ardennes!). It’s true that it was not by which time other plants in flower hear a lesser-spotted woodpecker. first recorded at a really early date perhaps outshine the lungwort - so here (1842), but then it is rare and special thanks are due to Mr. D. We had entered Gittin from the south easily overlooked. In Gitting, the Laughlan for kindly allowing us to visit by way of its central ride, whereupon argument for its being native seemed and explore freely the two latter of occasional plants of unspotted lung- persuasive to a number of members, these ancient woods of the Suffolk wort were immediately apparent at for though many clumps grow near boulder clay. the wood edge with the flowers at the principal rides, they are well dis- different stages of maturity, thus tributed along them, and some plants We were fortunate to have for our ranging in colour from some pinkish can be found deep in the woodland leader Martin Sanford, the BSBI Suf- to mostly bluish-violet shades. folk Plant Recorder, who has studied interior. Like primroses, lungwort Though the Lungwort has been and written about the lungwort. In flowers are heterostylous, their styles known to grow in these woods for at addition, David Orr, a local resident being either thrum- or pin-eyed to least 165 years, its identity was firmly but long-time member of the Society promote cross-pollination, and pro- determined rather more recently, despite living in ‘foreign parts’ south duction of seedlings is good. In especially once chromosome counts of the Waveney, was on hand to Stubbin’s (which we visited in the could be made. Most of us have to be enrich the visit with his detailed local afternoon after lunch back at the content to differentiate Suffolk Lung- knowledge, current and historical. cars), the lungwort is much more wort principally by its unspotted, The woods, though once long ago localised, growing mainly in a large rather dark-green leaves, which are essentially a single complex, are now and luxuriant patch in the sunny and grassy rectangular clearing that the Society, which brought our clumps of grey lichen, which Pat

almost splits the wood into east and number to 13. It was immediately Negal pointed out and identified as west parts. The woodland ground obvious just how widespread and Cladonia rangiformis. Mixed with the flora generally was much less rich in prolific were the plants of Heath Dog grasses were plants of Hawkweed, Stubbin’s (a wetter wood than Gittin) Violet, Viola canina ssp. canina, Hieracium umbellatum, with upstand- with plentiful perennial mercury, but which was one of the species we had ing old stems and Robert Maidstone the expanse of primroses which come to see. The brilliantly blue pointed out galls on these stems, thickly carpeted this wide centra flowers were outstanding but the which had been triggered by the gall clearing was magnificent - surely leaves were more difficult to see and wasp Aulacidea hieracii. Four there can be no greater profusion in some cases seemed non-existent. Mouse-ears were found within the anywhere in the county. The wood However, damaged leaves were dunes; Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium

itself is notable for its hornbeam. noted and both Mary Ghullam and diffusum, Little Mouse-ear C. semi- Hattie Aldridge found leaves that decandrum, Sticky Mouse-ear C.

For Martin Sanford’s full account showed the distinctive damage glomeratum and Common Mouse- (with C R Birkinshaw) of Suffolk caused by the caterpillars of the Dark ear C. fontanum. On the Common lungwort,, BSBI members can con- Green Fritillary butterfly, with either Mouse-ear Robert spotted galled sult Watsonia, volume 21 part 2 just the mid-rib left or the petiole with- leaves caused by the aphid Brachy- (September 1996), pp. 169-1 78. out any blade at all. Many leaves colus cerastii. The larvae of the fly Many thanks to Mike Hall for secur- were untouched which is supposed horticola had also mined ing access to the Woods, organising to indicate a sparse population of the some of the leaves. the visit, and taking bookings. larvae but a little later in the morning Stephen Martin Francis Farrow found a well grown The particularly small vetch with

caterpillar sunning itself but not on a bright pink/purple flowers which it Warren Farm: violet leaf. This definitely proved the was thought might be Spring Vetch Waxham - Horsey Dunes presence of the butterfly in this part of Vida lathyroides (described as hav- the east coast dune system and was ing dull purple flowers) on closer the second of the species we had inspection later was found to be a Sunday, 15th May, 2005 hoped to see. subspecies of the Common Vetch Vida sativa ssp. nigra which is also It was a little after 1 1.00am that the known from maritime sand habitats. group, who had gathered at the barrier on the roadway to the farm, Almost everywhere we walked we set off towards the dunes. Almost disturbed a small, drab moth Glyph- immediately Marilyn Abdullah com- ipterix fuscoviridella whose larvae mented on the songs of Whitethroat, feed in the rootstock of Field Wood- Willow Warbler and Stonechat com- rush Luzula campestris, which is ing from the scrubby woodland to the When Margaret How pointed out an widespread throughout the area. As north of the road and at the same old nest with 14 pheasant eggshells the Clustered Heath Wood-rush time Janet Negal pointed out a this was thought to be a possible Luzula multiflora ssp. congesta was Marsh Harrier above the grazing reason for the local sparseness of the unusually common this may well also marshes to the south. This was a caterpillars as they were likely to be the larval foodplant. Robert found good start to the day, which was have been food for the chicks. the day flying long-homed moth bettered almost as soon as we got Adela reaumurella and the distinctive on to the dunes. Whilst still on the We were also hoping to determine Lime-speck Pug, Eupitheda centau- path into the dunes Bob Leaney the distribution in these dunes of reata, with the tortrix Cydia suc- pointed out what he thought would Grey Hair Grass, Corynephorus cedana being seen around the be the plant of the day - Dune canescens, another nationally scarce Gorse. Several members of the Fescue, Vulpia fasciculata - which species known to the south of Horsey group spotted both Small Copper and was in some profusion for several Gap. It was found to be widespread Speckled Wood butterflies and yards where the sand was some- and Laurie Hall pointed out three among other insects seen the what compacted. This is only the dune hollows where it was particu- Slender Ground Hopper, Tetrixsubu- third Norfolk record for this nationally larly prolific, being the dominant lata, the sand weevil Philopedon scarce species, having been pre- species over several dozen square plagiatus and the largish ant Formica viously recorded from Holme and yards in each case. Early Hair Grass, fusca were all found on bare sand. In Yarmouth North Denes. We then Airia praecox was also noted within the debris at the base of the vegeta- divided into two groups, one going to the dunes as were Lesser Chick- tion Robert found some small snails the north towards Poplar Farm with weed, Stellaria pallida, Sea Bind- which “smelt little garlic Bob Leaney and Mary Ghullam and a of when weed, Convolvulus soldanella and rubbed" and were species of Oxy- the other to the south towards Prickly Lettuce, Lactuca serriola, chilus probably O. helveticus. A Horsey Gap with Laurie Hall and (common along the Janet Negal. dunes on the caterpillar of the Oak Eggar Moth was north Norfolk coast) which was noted by Nick Elsley, that of the

recorded from the east coast dunes Smoky Wainscot was seen low in the Soon after moving into the dunes we for the first time. Scattered through- grasses and leaf mines of the micro- were joined by two more members of out the various dune grasses were fzL W moth aurella were spotted Great Hockham the one usually found, but is not is in several bramble leaves. planted. The White Poplar also not

planted, as it grows poorly in Breck- Sunday 12th June, 2005 An area with oaks (some of which land conditions. The number of other were well infested with oak marble tree and shrub species seen on our A small party met on a rather chilly galls), sallows and some gorse at walk was surprisingly high and morning after rain at Hockham the back of the dunes, towards included Bird Cherry, Sweet Chest- Picnic Place off the A1075 road, to Horsey Gap, was where we saw the nut, Purging Buckthorn, Wych and explore the adjacent forest. We were Large Red Damselfly, the Hairy hybrid Elm, Goat Willow, Wild greeted by the sounds of a ‘rave’ Aeshna Dagonfly; a couple of Cherry, Holly, Ash, Elder, Blackthorn, deep in the woods to one side and weevils, argentatus and Hawthorn, Gorse and Privet. Partic- motorcycle sports to another, but, P. pyri, one with a green and the ularly fine this year on many a tree infinitely more pleasingly, by our other with a bronze sheen; the gorse at the margins or in open woodland leader for the day, Eric Rogers, who shield-bug Piezodorus lituratus and were towering columns of Honey- had thoughtfully gathered a selection the green shield-bug Palomena suckle in full bloom. White Admirals of leafy twigs from some of the trees prasina. Almost as soon as the call are apparently seen thereabouts, but that we would see on our walk, which of the Whimbrel was heard Nick the few, brief sunny intervals were he us beforehand to aid showed out. did, Elsey pointed out a flight of eight too wan to tempt them We identification. with another group of four seen a however, see one or two other butter-

little later (possibly four of the first flies, including a Speckled Wood. As a retired forester, responsible for eight). Eric pointed out a good number of the planting of some of the stands we trees damaged either by animals or saw, Eric was able to add interesting Near the Poplar Farm camp site at fungal disease, including sycamores information on the history of the the back of the dunes was a damp ring-barked spectacularly toward the forest and the nature of the trees area where Bob and Mary found the top by Grey Squirrels for their sap. from a timber-producing as well as a very rare Divided Sedge, Carex Good sycamore timber now fetches purely botanical point of view. Of the divisa which is more usually found in more than oak. conifers, the Scots Pine was origi- esturine marshes. This was the first nally the preferred species but has coastal record for East Norfolk. Not only the trees provided interest. been greatly supplanted by Corsican Blinks Montia fontana was abundant The Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Pine since forms of the latter yielding at this site and Marsh Foxtail Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, much better timber became available Alopecurus geniculatus was also Wren, Tree Pipit and Pheasant were later in the twentieth century. Also well represented here. Close by the all heard and some seen, and a occasionally present is Western Red dyke Rubyna Sheikh commented on Sparrow Hawk hung in the sky above Cedar and some Lawson’s Cypress, the large number of froglets - almost our pleasant lunchtime picnic site. though Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, underfoot. We saw a Common We were pleased to see bright red with its striking red pollen, is not a Lizard scurrying away from our foot- plants of nationally-scarce Mossy good grower here, finding conditions fall; the evidence of both hare and Stone- crop fairly plentifully along too dry. There is very little Noble Fir rabbit with their droppings among one track (surely now locally com- in the forest, but rather more Silver the dunes together with a couple j mon on suitably dry, sandy, gravelly Fir, from which comes the Canada of rabbit burrows and a Muntjac, j tracks which are Balsam used in preparing micro- seen by Francis nearthe coast road. j well-trodden and often driven over). scope slides. Of the deciduous trees, j We were also lucky to have Robert Silver Warty Birch Betula the or ( j Having had a really rewarding day in Maidstone and Stephen Livermore pendula) is the one preferring the glorious sunshine, which was nicely j with us so that the often-diminutive drier parts, whereas the Downy tempered by a pleasant on-shore j fauna associated with the trees and species (B. pubescens) tends to breeze, seeing a somewhat tired j ground vegetation we passed was replace it in the wet. The Pedun- looking Small Tortoiseshell “cruis- j continuously spotted and examined. - culate Oak and the Sessile the latter j ing” beside us as we walked back to At one point a small cloud of Nem- a lover of shallow, sandy, acid soils - the cars probably summed up the j ophora degeerella enabled Stephen are both to be found and there are delights of the day. We had j to point out that the male has the some Oaks from southern ; recorded more than 90 species longest antennae of any British moth.

Europe which are also fond of acid j of plants and over 50 species sands and therefore thrive, but unfor- of animals and the day was greatly j Thanks are due to Eric for organising tunately don’t produce good timber, i such an enjoyable and rewarding enjoyed by everyone present. We 1 New plantings of Larch are normally all extend our thanks to Bill Mitchell day. of the hybrid, Larix x marschlinsii who suggested the venue and made Stephen Martin. (first noticed growing in Perthshire in the initial arrangements but unfortu- 1904), rather than the European nately could not be with us. I also Larch with its yellowish twigs and thank Martin Collier for help with the Japanese Larch with its red. Of identification of the beetles and the poplars, the Grey (a hybrid of the comments on some of them and Aspen and the White Poplar but at Derek Howlett for comments on the least as old as the Bronze Age), is snails seen. Mike Hall George Garrard 1919-2005 Dr. Robert Jones 1919 -2005

Time rushes on and it comes as something of a shock to Dr Robert Jones - ‘Bob’, was bom in Cheshire in February note that George Garrard’s masterly paper on Ringmere 1919, one of three childrea He joined the Royal Airforce as was published thirty-five years ago in The Transactions an airman in 1939 and served in various theatres, being of The Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society elevated to Pilot Officer in Bomber Command for the entire Volume 22 Part 2. duration of the war. Those close to him knew that he endured many fearsome experiences (over and later in North Africa and the Far East) but was unstinting in his duty. Did his music pupils at the school in which he served have any awareness of the dedication and time involved Near the end of the war he was posted to the Nutt’s Comer in what to them would have been a strange project? The airfield, near Belfast, for a much deserved ‘rest’. Here, he met biology students may have had some inkling of the his wife to be of 59 years, Betty, whom he married in 1946 ongoing, meticulous study but almost certainly had no

comprehension of the importance of the results. In the same year Bob started a degree course in Biology at Queens University in Belfast. With family help the couple

Ringmere and its surroundings have long been associ- bought and managed a traditional comer shop (in what were ated with mysterious changes in water level and conse- peaceful times in Belfast and elsewhere) which they lived over quently the nature of the adjacent vegetation. The whole to earn a living while Bob completed his degree course. of Breckland was at the time of publication in the middle In 1951, pursuing his ambition to teach, the couple moved to of a fundamental transformation. For some years it was Essex and later Nottinghamshire. Bob later accepted a position still possible to spend all day in recording the flora and as lecturer at Strathclyde University where he achieved a PHD fauna without seeing another human. Before that, during in 1968. The couple lived in Cardross, near Glasgow, during the long period of George’s record taking at Ringmere, this period before retiring to Norfolk in 1980. He died on 4 the isolation could be all the more marked. January 2005.

That period of study included the years of the near Dr Jones is survived by his wife Betty who lives in Potter elimination of the rabbit which previously had a Heigham. He is fondly remembered by his beloved wife and profound effect upon Breckland scene. The paper caring relatives in Northern Ireland and Australia. provides an invaluable insight into the influence of the Roy Baker recalls “Bob Jones became a familiar sight at the once ubiquitous rodent and the consequences of its Ted Ellis Trust reserve at Wheatfen in the 1990s. With his removal as well as the rise and fall of the waters. collecting bag, fine mesh net, small glass pipettes and collect- ing bottles he would wander off into the fens looking for water Mention George Garrard to inhabitants of Drayton and mites. When he first came to Wheatfen only one species of Taverham with any duration of residence and they water mite had been identified and in a short time he had immediately recall his services to Drayton as choir- increased the records to 24 species from nine families. These master and organist. Like the pupils, few knew of his included a species new to Norfolk. He would ask Derek contributions to our botanical knowledge. Hewlett and I to gather freshwater mussels for him and we would take them to his bungalow in where they were kept alive in aquaria until he was ready to examine Some of his near neighbours knew him rather better and them for water mites. He made some very interesting were used to seeing him exploring the impoverished discoveries of mites in these freshwater mussels. Bob Jones fields behind his bungalow and the damp wood between was a national expert on water mites and was much admired the road and the railway track which was a keen in his chosen field of study. He will be sadly missed by his naturalist’s delight. Recently, A story recently told to friends in. Norfolk who used his freely given expertise in me told how a neighbour took him to see what was freshwater microscopy.” probably the last plover’s nest ever found on the rough ground before masses of houses filled in the area and the Tony Irwin recalls “He was very much one of the "old school" wood was decimated by the builders in the cause of of naturalists - passionate about his chosen field and modestly ‘tidiness”. George carefully marked the site and returned knowledgeable about others. He published a number of papers on the Norfolk hydrachnid fauna.” with his camera to begin a photographic record of the nest and its family, which was added to his considerable Selected Bibliography of R.K.H. Jones collection of slides. Pictures, however good, are second- 1985 Lebertia sefvei Walter, a most unusual water mite from hand experience and the loss of explorable habitat was a . TNNNS 27(1):66 sad loss to such a practical naturalist. I felt a mutual 1987 Interesting water mites (Hvdracarina) from Breckland. friend summed up George most neatly and concisely. TNNNS 27(5):374 She said, “He was an interesting and an interested man.” 1991 A check list of Norfolk water mites (Hvdracarina) May we all be so remembered. TNNNS 29(1):27-31 Rex Haney 2000 Water mite infonnatioa TNNNS 30(l):28-29 Jitegheen Livermore 021 9 . '

Dr. Geoffrey Watts 1927-2005 THE SECRET OF THE BROADS

Geoffrey Watts, who passed away recently after a long illness, was a member Dr. Joyce Lambert 1917-2005 of this Society for over forty years. Since the early 1960s he lectured in biology to trainee teachers at Keswick Hall College of Education where his Dr Joyce Lambert, one of the extensive knowledge and drive enthused many students to take up natural Society's most distinguished history as a focus of their lives. On the annual marine field studies trips in members, died on May 4 th at the age to North the in developed, March Devon and Gower Peninsular Wales he of 88. Dr Lambert was, as the Daily and passed onto students, his wide expertise in identifying seaweeds and Telegraph obituary summed it up, relating their form and structure to their ecological needs. Many specimens "the botanist whose research he mounted onto cards for ease of identification. Later he extended this revealed that the Norfolk Broads work to studies of our native grasses. Many members will remember his were created not by nature but by beautifully exhibited mounts which he showed to the Society on a number man". Her theory, initially greeted with scepticism but soon proved to of occasions. His collection is now housed at the Gressinghall Museum. This be correct, was presented in her love of grasses included one famous trip across America by Greyhound bus presidential address to the Society where at every stop he would dash out to collect grasses for his collection. in April 1952 and published, The Americans saw him as an eccentric Englishman and he laughingly agreed updated with significant new data, with this description. in the Transactions for that year (Vol.XVII Part IV). In 1974 he completed his doctoral thesis at the University of East Anglia on the allocation of resources in perennial plants. This involved him sampling Dr Lambert, who for 18 years was vegetation at Holkham and Walberswick Nature Reserves and growing lecturer in botany at Southampton University, returned to Norfolk on experimental plots of grasses, plantain and clover. her retirement in 1979 to live in the house in Brundall that her grand- Geoffrey developed an interest in natural history photography where his father had built. Bedridden but eye for a good photograph came to the fore. In 1948 he was the photo editor retaining all her mental capacity, she of the Cambridge University Varsity magazine This interest led him, with spent her final years at Oakwood Bob Robinson, to initiate the photographic group within the Society so that House nursing home at Colney near colleagues could share technical knowledge and enjoy/criticise each others Norwich. work. This group remains very active to this day and is a tribute to these two pioneers within the Society. It is hoped that a full obituary, recalling her Broads studies, will Transactions. Geoffrey was also the driving force behind the Society's detailed survey of appear in the 2006 the Yare river valley through Norwich. He organised groups of experts ft week by week to visit parts of the valley and he brought the whole together in a report published in the Transactions which was used to guide both Norwich and Norfolk Councils on conservation and management of the valley. This organisational ability was used over twenty years ago to Would all contributors reorganize the constitution of the Society and give it a management please send your notes etc. structure of a Council and Sub-committees. Geoffrey became the first Chair- 'to the editor as soon as possible by October 1st, 2005 to the man of Council and guided it through its first three years. following address: Francis Farrow, ‘Heathtands; 6 Havelock Road, Geoffrey sang with various choirs including the Keswick Hall Choir, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8QD, or by email to; Melody, Acapella, Wymondham Choral Society and he founded the South [email protected] Norfolk Singers.

On retirement Geoffrey and his wife Elizabeth planted and developed a 5 acre woodland near their home in South Norfolk. This remains a legacy to his love of the countryside and nature which formed so much of his life. In July the family will be holding a memorial service to be followed by a walk around this wood so lovingly created by Geoffrey.

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