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Dartford Warblers on the Gower Peninsula

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Greater Gwent Biodiversity Action Group Glamorgan Biodiversity Advisory Group G w e n t - G l a m o r g a n Recorders’ Newsletter Issue 11—Autumn October 2014 ‘Pan-species Listers’ on the Prowl Welcome to the eleventh issue of the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ This summer, a couple of well-known ‘Pan- subsp. ramblaianum). We immediately species listers’ visited my local patch want- found one, seen under the first log turned. Newsletter. Quite a few of our re- ing to find a Ghost Slug (Selenochlamys As we were focusing on this individual sev- corders have been looking at some ysbryda), along with a few other interesting eral others slowly came into view. They of the more obscure groups of inver- species that are found locally. have the habit of staying motionless, they tebrates this year. First up is an even fold up their legs then keel over as if article about the invertebrates that Editor: For those of you that don’t know, dead, so can be difficult to see, but over some ‘Pan-species Listers’ recently ‘Pan-species listers’ are those recorders thirty were seen on the day. Further into recorded (p1-2). Another ghost slug who produce a list of all the animals, the woods we quickly picked up several has been spotted and photographed plants, fungi and protists they have ever more target species, plenty of Lithobius attacking a live earthworm (p8)! tricuspis, a Stone Centipede which seems seen in Britain, Ireland and the Channel The strange and wonderful contents to be rare in Wales; Dilta chateri - a Bristle- Islands. It can get very competitive with of the Severn Estuary strandline has tail (see photo overleaf) described new to been recorded (p15-16), and Ich- ratings for recorders and locations. For science as recently as 1995 and currently neumon wasps have been identified more information about ‘Pan-species Lists’ only known from Wales; and many Malaco- as they visit a moth trap (p18). see www.brc.ac.uk/psl/about limax tenellus (Lemon Slug), an ancient woodland indicator species. Margam Country Park hosted a After a 11.30 am meet in the park-and-ride Welsh Bat Night event combining One turned log produced a fair number of near Bargoed train station, the first stop slug species, Limacus maculatus (Green volunteer training, public bat walk, was a site closeby where Ghost Slug can Cellar Slug), Limax maximus (Leopard and bat surveys into one super be found fairly readily. A thorough search of Slug), Lehmannia marginata (Tree Slug), event (p12). The ‘Flora of Conifer the usual places were drawing a blank, and Arion flagellus (Green Soled Slug), Mala- Plantations in Neath Port Tal- had me worried as I regularly comment on colimax tenellus (Lemon Slug), Arion ow- bot’ (p20-21) gives us food for how easily they can be found here. enii (Tawny Soil Slug), Arion intermedius thought. Perhaps we ought not to (Hedgehog Slug), and one of those new Propolydesmus testaceus, a scarce Milli- rule out recording on conifer planta- finds for Britain, Arion cf. iratii (Pyrenean pede, didn’t disappoint as they were every- tions as they have the potential to Dusky Slug). The native Terrestrial Flat- where along with a few other more common be very biodiverse. Enjoy the news- worm (Microplana terrestris) was also Millipedes including Nanogona polydes- letter! found. Once you get your eye in, they moides and White-legged Snake Millipede seem to turn up fairly regularly in suitable (Tachypodoiulus niger). Further searching Rebecca Davies, SEWBReC places. Debris that has good contact with revealed a very small Ghost Slug under a (Editor) bare soil can be very productive, it is sur- stone in a damper part of the site, followed prising how common these flatworms are. closely by a much larger specimen from leaf Included in this issue (not all listed): litter. Photos were taken and the slugs re- Time was nearly up, so it was up to the ‘Pan-Species Listers’ on the Prowl 1-2 turned. We were also hoping for Ar- Common just above Aberbargoed for a gonemertes dendyi (Terrestrial Flat Holm Island 2 Smiling / Nemertine Worm), an SEWBReC Update 3-4 introduced species native of Species of the Month Challenge 7 Western Australia, but it was Fungi in and around Brynna Woods 7 not to be. Perhaps it had been a little too dry for these spe- Ghost Slug 10 cies’ requirements. As we were Dartford Warblers, Gower Peninsula 11 leaving the site, we came across another Ghost Slug Margam Country Park Bat Blitz 12 from under a small board close Springwatch Hedgehog Survey 13 to the entrance, tucked in with House martins of Cardiff Bay 14 several Arion owenii (Tawny Soil Slug). Notes of the Severn Estuary Strandline 15-16 What’s hiding in your moth trap? 18 It was Groesfaen Woods next for a quirky looking Harvest- Expect the Unexpected 19 man (Sabacon viscayanum The Flora of Conifer Plantations in NPT 20-21 Propolydesmus testaceus © Christian Owen Issue 11—Autumn ‘Pan-Species Listers’ on the Prowl (cont…) catus. It can usually be be A. contaminatus mixed in with A. found here in high sphacelatus, both common dung bee- numbers, and is possi- tles. It appears it was still the wrong bly one of the best time of year for them…too early per- places in the UK to find haps? The Watford Coleoptera Group them. We didn’t have has a interesting page on sampling to go far before finding dung for beetles (www.thewcg.org.uk/ the usual home for pages/dungsampling.htm). these charming little beetles, on this occa- A successful day all round with many sion it was horse dung! invertebrates found (not all mentioned It initially looked like we here), and a good number of ticks on hit the jackpot as one my personal list. Dilta chateri © Christian Owen sample was crawling Christian Owen with Aphodius. On scarce dung beetle - Aphodius conspur- closer inspection they all turned out to Flat Holm Island It has been a busy summer on Flat Holm Other activities on the trips include a Island! Species Total Ringed variety of surveys including beach Willow warbler 14 cleans, vegetation, bat, moth and slow May saw the annual gull count take Chiffchaff 18 worm; general island maintenance jobs place on Flat Holm. This year’s gull including DIY and painting; and habitat count was facilitated by members from Robin 30 management tasks including vegetation the Flat Holm Society and it has been Goldcrest 14 clearance. running since the early 1980s. The esti- mated Lesser Black Backed gull popula- Greenfinch 3 The Flat Holm Society costs just £10 a tion on Flat Holm for 2014 is 3456. Blackcap 21 year to become a member and mem- These numbers are down slightly on last Dunnock 16 bers are eligible to take part in our grant year, this is believed to be due to the funded trips to Flat Holm Island. If you House Martin 33 domination of Wild Turnip in the gull col- are interested in becoming a member ony. As a result of the densely populat- Sedge Warbler 2 please email ed turnip plants, there was increased Blackbird 5 [email protected], or check out our website competition amongst the gulls for prime Garden Warbler 1 nesting sites. Due to fewer barren areas www.flatholmsociety.org.uk, or like us on the plateau, many attempted to nest Reed warbler 2 on our Save Flat Holm Island Facebook around the barracks, the lighthouse, on Treecreeper 1 page. derelict structures and paths, and in the Whitethroat 1 grasslands on the northern side of the Island. The turnip seems to occur in Meadow pipit 4 Jo Morgan, Grants Officer, Flat Holm approximately ten year cycles on Flat Rock pipit 1 Society Holm so it will be interesting to see what Wren 1 next year brings. Song thrush 4 The gull count was followed up with a trip in July to carry out the annual gull This trip also saw Flat Holm Society ringing programme. This year 151 Less- members conduct a butterfly survey er Black Backed Gulls and 12 Herring and the following species were counted: Gulls were ringed by members from the Cardiff Bird Ringers Group and staff Species Total from the BTO. Biometric data from the Small White 8 birds was also collected. Green Veined White 1 September saw another volunteer week- Meadow Brown 1 end take place on Flat Holm. One of the Small Tortoisehell 9 main objectives of this trip was to carry Red Admiral 10 out autumn migration bird ringing. The Cardiff Bird Ringers had a successful trip with the following birds being ringed: All of these trips are run by the Flat Page 2 Holm Society and are funded by a grant from Environment Wales Issue 11—Autumn October 2014 SEWBReC Update SLA UPDATE formats for our Recorders’ Forum his dedicated service as Chair of SEW- events. At the end of 2015, we will BReC over recent years and look for- Sadly SEWBReC has been feeling the seek detailed feedback from partici- ward to his continued involvement as effects of cuts in public sector funding pants and choose the most popular an ordinary board member. There re- during the 2014/15 financial year. One format for future events. The changes mains a single vacancy on the Board local authority user has stopped using are driven by the need to make better of Directors following the AGM. If you our services and two others for whom use of our limited financial and staff are interested in joining the board, we had done some paid contract work resources, as well as the wish to inte- please get in touch with the SEWBReC in the previous financial year have not grate our AGM into another (more ap- office.
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