132nd Annual Report of the NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

2019

THE HASLEMERE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Past Presidents

Colonel William Mason Sir Jonathan Hutchinson, SC.D, FRCS, LL.D, FRS Grant Allen Sir Frederick Pollock, MA, LL.D The Hon. Rollo Russell, FR.Met.Soc. A B Rendle, DSC, MA, FRCS, FLS The Marquess of Sligo, FSA Sir Archibald Geikie, OM, KCB, DCL, FRS The Rev. W A Shaw, MA The Right Honourable, The Viscount Exmouth, FCS F A Oldaker, MA, FRES E W Swanton, OBE, Hon. FLS Dr Arnold Lyndon, OBE Iolo A Williams, FLS Dr Ronald Gray, MA, MD A S Edwards, FLS Gerald Ash, FLS Lt. Col. C J F Bensley Miss Phyllis Bond John Clegg, Hon. FLS Dr Roland Milton, MD A L Jewell, AMA, FLS John Puttick Miss Laura Ponsonby Miss Susie Dickson Richard Muir

Cover: Swallows above old Haslemere High Street by Reg Davis © Haslemere Educational Museum by D Silcock ©

THE HASLEMERE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (Founded 1888. Registered Charity No 279981)

c/o Haslemere Educational Museum, High Street, Haslemere, , GU27 2LA e-mail: [email protected] www.haslemerenaturalhistorysociety.org.uk

President Dr Andrew R H Swan Vice President Martyn Phillis Chairman Margaret Hibbard Vice Chairman Margaret Tomsett Treasurer Michael Haynes General Secretary Sue Bradford Minute Secretary Veronica Carter Membership Secretary Martin Scalway Press Publicity Martin Scalway Committee Members Alan Perry (co-opted) Jolande Murray Dr Andrew R H Swan Julia Tanner (co-opted) Independent Examiner David Boyd Newsletter Sue Bradford (Editor) Martyn Phillis (Cover designer) Webmaster Martyn Phillis Annual Report Sue Bradford (Co-ordinator) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 2019 The year’s activities were: 18 Field Meetings and four Winter Talks (held jointly with Haslemere Museum). These were well attended. The membership stands at 167. At the 131st Annual General Meeting held at the Museum on 27th April, the Report and Accounts for 2018 were adopted. Martyn Phillis became Vice-President, Margaret Tomsett became Vice-Chairman and Veronica Carter was welcomed onto the Committee (later becoming Minute Secretary). Our President, Dr. Andy Swan, organised a BioBlitz for the Society which took place during the weekend of 28-30 June. A report of this follows. The Committee is most appreciative of his hard work and of the participation of leaders and recorders of the events. In late July the Society took part in the Countryside Crafts Day at the National Trust’s Swan Barn. This Report details progress on the Society’s projects funded by our two Bequests, including a new project – namely the purchase and positioning of two Swift boxes. Once again the Committee thanks the contributors to this Report: David Boyd, Examiner of Accounts; the Curator and Museum staff for their assistance; member Sue Bradford for her help co-ordinating this Report and our two Newsletters; and Martyn Phillis, Web Master, for his work updating the web site and producing the covers of the Newsletters. ***** TRIBUTES RICHARD MUIR – AN APPRECIATION Margaret Hibbard and Judith Kusel

It was with great sadness that the Committee learnt in late February of the death of our Past President Richard Muir. As he had wished to retire, he last took the Chair at the A.G.M. in April 2018 when he received gifts with many thanks and tributes for all the years of sound advice. He had always shown great interest in the Society’s activities and had attended nearly all the Committee Meetings. In an article he wrote (Annual Report 2011) he said that although his name appears as a member from 1944, he remembered activities before that date: he went on reconnaissance visits with his father, attended a lecture and went on at least one Foray during WWII. He recalled the unusual sight of Storks being bred in the Museum garden before the War by the then Assistant Curator Robert Blockley. Richard was first elected to the Committee in 1996, contributing to the planning groups charged with compiling the programmes of lectures and field meetings. He was elected President of the Society in 1997 until retirement in 2018. (He was President of the Museum from 1993-2004, then President Emeritus until 2018.) On several occasions when the Society and Museum hosted an autumn Conversazione, when Richard was President of the Museum, he would join with the President of the Society (Laura Ponsonby and later Susie Dickson) in welcoming members. In 2001, when pupils from Wispers School had been invited to speak, the Annual Report said “Richard Muir as President relished his traditional task as anchor man and linked the talks together with great panache.” With his life-long knowledge of Haslemere and its history he gave several talks to the Society. In 1988, when the Conversazione was celebrating the Museum and Society centenaries, Richard talked about local personalities of early days: John Warnham Penfold (architect), Sir Jonathan Hutchinson (founder of the Museum and 2nd President of HNHS), Sir Archibald Geikie (eminent geologist and President of the Society 1908- 11 and 1914-1924) and Canon Aitken. Subsequent talks included the History of Haslemere Parish Church, James Oglethorpe (MP for Haslemere in 1722 aged 25), a more detailed assessment of Penfold (a replica of his octagonal GPO pillar boxes still stands by the Georgian Hotel) and James Stewart Hodgson, a local benefactor who funded street lighting, piped water, and the voluntary fire brigade. As President of both the Museum and the Society, Richard gave HNHS the benefit of his intimate knowledge of both organisations, ensuring that the close ties between them have continued. The Society is greatly indebted to him for all his wise contributions over more than 20 years. The Society offers its condolences to Richard’s wife, Chris, and to his . RAY FRY (Honorary Member) Ray died on 6th May. He was 83 and because of his frailty had been living in a nursing home near , with his wife, Jill, taking him out for countryside visits as much as possible. When Common gained the status of a nature reserve, circa 1964, Ray became the first full-time Warden. Thursley is now a National Nature Reserve and Ramsar Wetland and is famed for its diverse heathland wildlife. Jill said that, as a boy, Ray used to go to Haslemere Museum with live creatures such as frogs and toads for their living exhibits. Ray had a great knowledge and love of birds and invertebrates. He and Jill led many field meetings at and other locations for our Society. To recognise their help they were both made Honorary Members. The Society offers its condolences to Ray’s wife, Jill.

WINTER TALKS On 12th January, to an audience of 85, John Richardson gave a photographic account of the wildlife seen on his property near Plaistow and within a mile of Lavender Cottage. His garden is nearly one acre and adjoins more than three acres of deciduous woodland where there is a small pond. Here John constructed a small hide (with a comfortable chair!) so that, completely hidden, he is able to take close-up photographs. A pair of Mallard, several of dragonfly, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Buzzard, Pied and Grey Wagtail, Common Frog, Common Toad, male and female Roe Deer and a Grass Snake have all come to drink or bathe. John coppiced the Hazel in the woodland to encourage understorey which warblers need for breeding. At one time 9 spikes of Early Purple Orchid increased to 200+. Now most species of woodland butterflies are present. In autumns he photographed many fungi, including more than 200 tiny Fairy Inkcap and is always amazed at how any one species can change its appearance in just 24 hours – making identification difficult. Although there are bird boxes for raptors, when Tawny Owls began to nest they were ousted by Jackdaws. Over recent years, under licence, John and a friend have ringed 900 chicks of Blue Tit, Great Tit and a few Nuthatch. Photos included: male and female Stag Beetle; a Turtle Dove on the lawn: a Brown Long-eared Bat (found by a neighbour); a Wood Pigeon, a Stock Dove and a Collared Dove feeding together; and two House Sparrows, completely white caused by leucism. Producing gasps from the audience John showed how the diseases Avian Pox and Fringilla Papillomavirus are affecting Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Greenfinches. Cleaning birdfeeders and bird baths with special disinfectant is recommended. The audience appreciated John’s philosophy of how he “derives great excitement from seeing creatures close to” and “the uncertainty of what you will see next.” ***** On 9th February, to an appreciative audience of over 40, Dr Jack Salway gave an instructive and entertaining talk on the lives and The Ground-breaking Inventions and Discoveries of father and son – Sir William Henry Bragg and Sir William Lawrence Bragg. Although their achievements are little known today, the extent of their discoveries and scientific work has led to definite benefits to our lives in the fields of radiotherapy, DNA studies and the cause of Mad Cow Disease. In 1915 they were joint winners of the Nobel Prize for Physics for “their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of x-rays”. The mineral Braggite which was isolated and determined by x-ray methods was named in their honour. William Henry, born in 1862, had a difficult childhood, excelled in the mathematical tripos at Cambridge, and aged 23 became Elder Professor of Mathematics and Experimental Physics in the University of Adelaide, Australia. Here he set up an early x-ray apparatus, subjecting first his own hand and then his six-year old son Lawrence who had broken his elbow. Lawrence later said he had been “terrified by the sparks and ozone smell”. William Henry’s lectures were popular and he became a celebrity scientist. He worked on wireless telegraphy. His research career on the ionization of gases blossomed and in 1904, aged 42, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1908, returning to on the maiden voyage of SS Waratah, he observed that the ship had a tendency to list. The following year the ship sank and he testified at the Inquiry. At Leeds University he continued working on x-rays, inventing the X-ray Spectrometer. Here, with his son, Lawrence he founded the discipline of crystallography. (This later led to others working on DNA structure.) Born in Australia, William Lawrence as a boy of 16 studied the Slender Cuttlefish now named Sepia braggi. He studied at Cambridge, was also a physicist and in his work as an x-ray crystallographer, formulated Bragg’s Law which uses x-ray diffraction and is the basis of determining crystal structure. Towards the end of World War I when British tanks were vulnerable to German artillery, William Lawrence devised (with assistance from W.S. Tucker) the Tucker-Bragg Sound Ranger which, by geometry, could ascertain the location of the German guns. For this he received the Military Cross. In the 1930s, while the Bragg family was living in , they became well-known locally for their “Iron Lung.” It was in fact an artificial respirator (later developed in the Bragg-Paul Pulsator). Initially using two football bladders and local boys on bikes to work the hydraulic machine, it kept alive for nearly two years a local man who was almost completely paralysed. Both father and son received many honours and accolades during their lives for their considerable discoveries, reflected in their portraits on stamps from several countries and busts and plaques in Adelaide and in the UK. William Henry is remembered for “his kindness, modesty and gentleness; he had the humility of greatness.” ***** On 9th March to a large audience of nearly 80 (with many guests), David Dungworth, a free-lance Archaeological Scientist, gave a talk on How the natural resources of the Wealden Woodlands were used by Mediaeval Glassmakers. The audience appreciated his enthusiasm for this subject as he summarised the history and archaeology spanning the heyday and decline of the glassmaking in this area and the glassmakers. He explained the techniques of building the furnaces, making the crucibles and how glass was produced. Chiddingfold and surrounding villages provided raw materials: beech and oak wood ash, plant ash (sometimes fern), sand that was low in iron oxide, wood for the furnaces. From the 12th to the 16th Centuries glassmaking techniques (often with diagrams of the furnace design) were described by Theophilus, Georgius Agricola and Laurence Vitrearius. Glassmakers local to Chiddingfold were John Alemayne, the Schurterre family, John Carre (buried in Alfold Churchyard), Peytowe family and the Strudwicks who were yeoman landowners at Kirdford. Chiddingfold glass is mentioned in a poem of 1557. Glass was produced by two blowing methods: “crown” where the molten glass is spun to make a disc and “cylinder” where the glass is swung over the head, split down the side, flattened and cut to make larger pieces. In 1615 a patent for a coal- fired furnace was taken out and at the same time there was a ban on the use of wood fuel for the furnaces (over which there had been much concern). These and the discovery of coal in north England brought an end to the Wealden industry. Two local historians who studied the industry were: Rev. T.S. Cooper (of Chiddingfold c.1900), who, though not involved in fieldwork, recorded local sites; and G.H. Kenyon (of Kirdford) who visited sites and whose book (1967) is still regarded as a standard work. Both were responsible for a glass window incorporating local finds in their local church. Thanks were given to: David for his detailed knowledge revealing many facts of this locality’s important history; to Margaret Tomsett who had brought along glass found on her property near Chiddingfold; and to the Museum for providing a display of local glass not seen publicly before. ***** Following the AGM on 27th April, Michael Joseph gave an impressive photographic presentation with two short audio-videos (set to the music of John Ireland and Hubert Parry) on Creating a Wildflower Meadow. Thirty-five years ago he and his wife Jane began “a wonderful journey and adventure” to create a flower meadow from grazed pasture adjacent to their Woodland Farm Cottage at Adversane, near Billingshurst. Along the way they learnt many things. When undertaking such a project a survey should be carried out to determine the soil type, the slope of the land, whether it faces north or south and the degree of shade. It is first necessary to deplete the soil by removing the turf as wildflower seeds cannot penetrate the thatch in the grass. Then options can be: to sow seed from a reputable supplier (such as Emorsgate); strew seed from cuttings taken from an existing meadow; or plant plugs. Parasitic Yellow Rattle helps to reduce grasses. Creeping Thistle, Nettles, Docks, Bracken and Hogweed should be removed. Records from their final achievement of a beautiful meadow and pond include 250 plant species, 120 moth species, toads, frogs, all three British Newt species, Grass Snakes, Roesel’s Bush Cricket, Long-eared and Pipistrelle Bats and, surprisingly, the Long-horned Bee (Eucera longicornis), a UK Priority Species. After haymaking (when cuttings can be taken to create a new meadow elsewhere), sheep are brought in to graze in autumn. Michael said that 98% of English wildflower meadows have been lost since WWII. In 2013 Prince Charles became involved in the “Coronation Meadows” project whereby, throughout England, each county protects surviving meadows and new “recipient” meadows are created. The audience enjoyed the sensory delights of smelling sweet hay in hessian bags and tasting organic cheese produced from animals that had fed where there are high levels of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). To enjoy a meadow full of wild flowers is very good for everyone’s well-being. ***** Mike Read gave the talk “Wildlife of a Working Forest” on 9th November. He has lived all his life on the western edge of the New Forest and is a professional wildlife and landscape photographer. He spoke of the work and traditions in this (the smallest but the first to be designated) National Park, where there is pressure on wildlife from 15 million public visits annually. Animals have the right of way on the roads. Visitors will drive up to a New Forest Pony and expect it to move, whereas local people know to drive round it very carefully. A true New Forest Pony is about 14 hands high and virtually of only one colour. Many are fitted with a reflective collar to avoid collisions at night. Local pub names and signs illustrate local traditions: “The Snakecatcher,” “The Turfcutters’ Arms” and the “Crown and Stirrup” which refers to when only dogs small enough to pass through a stirrup were permitted in royal hunting times. Ten Verderers control legal matters in the Forest and five Agisters check on animals’ health. The Commoners with grazing rights receive very little at the pony sales – often only £5 for a Pony. Conservation work in the Forest includes: clearance of Rhododendron and Gaultheria shallon, putting bends back into streams, controlled burning to regenerate heather and timber extraction. Mike’s presentation continued with photographs illustrating the seasons. Among these were: Winter: frosts, Roe buck, Sparrowhawk, Crossbill, shore birds and Woodcock. Spring: (Mike’s favourite season) Wild Daffodils, Ramsons, young foals, a Tree Creeper with cobweb nesting material and (with gasps of appreciation!) a Dartford Warbler taking off from a Gorse bush. Summer: Sundew, butterflies, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher and the protected Gladiolus illyricus with crimson-purple flowers and only found in the Forest. Autumn: Red Deer stag bellowing, Tawny Owl, Redwing and pigs eating fallen acorns. Mike said he had recently moved to an Olympus photographic system which had reinvigorated his work. The audience of over 60 really appreciated his obvious life-long love of the Forest reflected in his stunning photography. FIELD MEETINGS Moor Green Lakes Reserve consists of 90 acres (36 hectares) north of the River Blackwater, near Finchampstead. The three large lakes (where once gravel was extracted) are an important site for breeding and wintering birds. An on-going project to ring Black-headed Gull chicks in Berkshire takes place here. Roger Murfitt (Bird Recorder) and Bernard Baverstock (Mammal Recorder), both members of the volunteer Group that manages the Reserve, met 13 of our members on 19th January. Coots, Goosanders, Shovelers, Shelduck, Heron and Little Egrets were soon identified on the water, with Cormorants and Lapwings on an island near two Tern rafts. Through the ’scopes clear views were had of: an Egyptian Goose standing motionless; a Fox devouring a catch on a grassy bank; a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying; and a man-made entrance of one of the tunnels needed by Shelduck to nest. Passing a feeding station a Reed Bunting was located and a Red Kite glided overhead. Overlooking an area known as “East Fen” Roger was able to locate two distant Snipe through a ’scope. The Group hopes that a further 40 acres may be added to the Reserve to provide more wet grassland, reed beds and pools. From the first hide, with a sleeping Swan nearby, Wigeon, Gadwall,(left – photograph Caroline Lemka) Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and a female Pochard were seen, while a Swan and two Herons flew over the lake. Continuing along the path towards a second hide a flock of more than 20 Geese appeared. Roger said they were Barnacle Geese, classified as feral as they had once escaped from captivity. They do not migrate and are resident in the area. From the second hide members were delighted to see a Kingfisher pass to and fro several times. Walking back to the cars a Grey Wagtail and a Little Grebe were seen and members declared it had been a most interesting and worthwhile visit. ***** A misty, dank morning greeted 17 members on 16th February as we listened to an introductory talk on Lynchmere Common from Mark Allery who works on the Common and describes himself as a woodsman, bodger and scythes-man. There were several members who had not visited the Common before so it was fitting for Mark to give a potted history of this 307 acre site of mixed heath and woodland. The Common was previously owned by the Cowdray Estate and purchased in 1998 by the newly-formed Lynchmere Society. With a team of volunteers the aim was to return the area, very overgrown with trees, back to Lowland Heath. Walking in a southerly direction towards Black Hill, Mark pointed out deep ruts made by carts many years ago taking charcoal made on the Common to Fernhurst Furnace. (Mark still makes charcoal on the Common). We saw areas where gorse management on a yearly rotational basis keeps it from becoming too invasive. In some areas the top soil had been scraped back to the Greensand layer, so making a suitable habitat for insects and plants that do not like a nutritient rich soil. Reaching the summit of the Hill, there were none of the expected panoramic views - just a surreal mist enveloping us. It was quiet and still. Then from high up in a Scots came the beautiful song of a Mistle Thrush. Our descent took us back via the pond. Here the area is more lush with birds heard singing: Coal Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Wren and Chaffinch. Mosses and Lichens were in abundance: blue-green fungus Chlorociboria aeruginascens and lichens Parmelia caperata,

Cladonia sp (photograph above by Hugh Searle) and Graphis sp. Members were appreciative of Mark’s love and knowledge of Lynchmere Common and agreed that it had been an amazing and informative morning. ***** Sara Shepley, our leader for the morning of Saturday 6th April, was greeted by 26 members in anticipation of a morning identifying bird song on National Trust owned Common. It was a dull morning with the sun reluctant to shine, however a Blackcap greeted us in the car park with its warbling song, and a pair of Mallards flew off the pond. Walking towards the Heathland area a Chiffchaff was heard, a first time for some members. By the end of the morning everybody could identify this bird, as many sang throughout the morning. Down a narrow path lined with flowering gorse, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch and Goldcrest were heard; only Sara picked up the song of a Redpoll, another was heard later by some members. Turning right on a wide sandy path a pair of Yellowhammer was spotted; there was a lot of discussion as to whether they were in fact Brambling, seen earlier. The general consensus was Yellowhammer. Three pairs are known to inhabit the Common. A Buzzard flew overhead, and much higher a Cormorant was spotted. Also heard were, Warbler, Long- tailed Tit, and Mistle Thrush. In total 29 different bird species were heard or seen. Violet, Primrose, Ground Ivy, Piri Piri Burr were spotted, and two fungi, Coprinus micaceus and Xylaria hypoxylon (the latter commonly known as Candle Snuff). At the end of the morning, a few members accompanied Sara to Milford Common. Here the flowering Blackthorn was particularly outstanding. Our last sighting was of a pair of Treecreepers who did not mind being watched as they went up and around the tree trunks in search of insects. A melodious but chilly morning was enjoyed by all. ***** Marine Life, ancient and modern at Bognor Regis was the subject for the meeting on 18th May. Fifteen members met Dr Andy Swan and Dr Gerald Legg as sand was beginning to appear beyond the shingle as the tide was ebbing. Andy explained how the chalk of the South Downs dips southwards and Bognor has one of the best exposures of grey London Clay. Unexpectedly, boulders known as “Bognor Rocks” covered in seaweed began to appear. Gerald said there were big reefs of these further out to sea, and, indeed, by the afternoon’s end when the tide had receded considerably, the dark reef was visible on the horizon. Reminding members of searching rock pools as children, everyone began looking in pools, exploring the breakwaters and peering beneath seaweed fronds. Living species identified were: red, brown and green algae, sponges, Beadlet Anemone, casts made by Lugworms and tubes made by Keel Worms. Several live crabs were found - Hermit and Green Shore Crab - and the empty carapace of a Spider Crab. A tiny bright orange mollusc (similar to a woodlouse) found on the boulders was a chiton and another chiton with bristles was also seen. The small, grey sand coloured creature with three valve-like sections was Molgula manhattensis. This lived up to its English name of “Sea Squirt”!

Mussel fossils. Photograph by Martyn Phillis Hermit Crab within Netted Dog Whelk Photograph by Hugh Searle Although no fossilised sharks’ teeth or pyritised plant material was found, at the end of the afternoon fossils found were: a large Fan Mussel, a Horse Mussel, Oyster, Dog Cockle and many spirally-coiled worm tubes of Rotularia bognoriensis, a name incorporating “Bognor” as its location. ***** On 25th May just over 30 folks, including 2 youngsters, turned up for the guided tour of Oaken Wood Reserve. Oaken Wood is part of which is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission and is open to the public. The walk was led by Phil Darley, a Society member and butterfly transect recorder for Oaken Wood. A brief history of how the reserve came to be leased to Butterfly Conservation (BC) – the only one in Surrey, was outlined by Phil before the party went off in search of the red listed and endangered Wood White butterfly which has its stronghold in this forest. The visit was timed to coincide with the first emergence of the butterfly after the winter, a second emergence occurring later in July/August. The day was perfect for us being warm and sunny so that many butterflies and insects were around and clearly visible. During the walk, Brimstones, Speckled Woods, Small Heaths and numerous Wood Whites were seen as well as some daytime flying moths - Speckled Yellows, a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and several Brown Silver-lines. Phil explained how prestigious this site is for all kinds of wildlife but one of the highlights of the visit was to see hanging delicately under a Betony leaf, the tiny case of the Betony Case Bearer moth (Coleophora wackeella) which is one of Britain’s rarest moths. In fact it is thought that this Reserve is the only place where it can now be found. Another rarity, but not seen on this walk is the Drab Looper moth whose caterpillars feed on Wood Spurge found only in ancient woodlands. The woodland is managed by BC during the winter months to ensure areas within the Reserve are kept clear and open for the butterflies. Doing this ensures that the essential food plants for the butterflies are not squeezed out by brambles, bracken and tree saplings. Over the last 3 winters, management has started again after a period of neglect which caused a decline in butterfly numbers. Phil has seen a marked rise in the number of Wood Whites within the Reserve with numbers going from only 11 sightings in 2017 to 69 recorded in 2018! Indeed a remarkable improvement of numbers. Two enclosures for ground nesting Nightingales were pointed out and one Nightingale was heard singing as we moved through the woodland. Other insects seen were numerous: Large Red Damselfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Broad Bodied Chaser, Poplar Leaf Beetle, Hornet and Long-horned Bee Eucera longicornis (left photographed by Andy Swan) to mention just a few of the ones we saw. Also spotted by one of the children, was a small juvenile Common Frog probably about 2 years old and a Common Newt. Other reptiles which can be found in the reserve are Adders, Grass Snakes and Slow-worms. Numerous flowers were also seen including, different vetches; Bird’s-foot-trefoil – the food plants for the Wood White, Cinquefoil, Stitchwort and Bugle. Several examples of the Wild Service tree were noted on the walk, another fairly rare and unusual tree. It is difficult to record all that was seen as the Reserve is home to such a broad variety of wildlife which changes as the seasons progress. All thoroughly enjoyed the visit, with many saying that they would like to return later in the season to see more of the richness of this wildlife site. ***** Following their talk on 27th April, 20 members visited the wildlife friendly garden and wildflower meadow of Jane and Michael Joseph in Adversane on Saturday 8 June.

Members wait for a break in the weather. Photograph by Alan Novelle

It was a blustery and showery afternoon, but all were in awe of what Jane and Michael have achieved since moving to their home 36 years ago. The group was split into two with one group being shown the garden and the other the meadow. The garden was a delightful cottage garden planted formally with a mixture of domestic and wild flowers, but always with wildlife in mind, especially pollinators and invertebrates. A pond was created and was almost immediately populated by Smooth, Great Crested and Palmate Newts. The site is home to many types of bee including the very rare Long-horned Bee and despite the windy and wet weather the garden and meadow were buzzing. Hedges are not cut because of nesting birds. Notable this year - 10 pairs of Goldfinch. A Southern Marsh Orchid was seen at the back of the pond but didn’t seem to be quite right – it was discovered that it had hybridised with a Common Spotted Orchid. A grassy bank, part of the lawn, was left to naturalise and a small area of this had been turned into a small woodland area with Bluebells. Plenty of Yellow Rattle was seen although past flowering now. Another grass verge alongside the drive was also left wild with Sainfoin, various herbs, Oxeye Daisy, Hedge Woundwort and Sorrel amongst others. Slug control is carried out using a combination of sheep’s wool pellets, copper bands and mineralised Strulch (a wheat straw mulch). Now to the meadow. Thirty years ago this was just a field of rough grass. Over this period, with lots of hard work and careful management, it is now a meadow to die for. Just standing at the edge on entry it was a swaying mass of Oxeye Daisies. Earlier in the day Michael told the group it had had a lot of yellow showing - that’s how quickly things change in nature. 16 or 17 species of wildflowers were introduced initially and now there are around 250. Walking around the perimeter Red Clover and bright red Common Poppies could be seen. In one acre of wildflower meadow there will be 1 million flowers. Nipplewort, Black Knapweed, Yellow Rattle and Cut-leaved Cranesbill are among the many wildflowers present in the meadow. On the walk around Michael came across Salad Burnet which is the first time he has ever found it in his meadow. He was thrilled. Various grasses were pointed out: those like Yorkshire Fog, Smooth Brome and Fake Brome are the ‘thugs’ and have to be controlled. ‘Good’ grasses like Sweet Vernal Grass, Crested Dog’s-tail and Quaking Grass are encouraged. Much attention is paid to habitat provision such as dead hedges, a pond and log piles. Hedgerows are left to fruit to provide food for birds and other wildlife. Too many plants to mention without this becoming a list, however, some interesting facts about: Silverweed – it is an anti-inflammatory and its roots can be used to make a porridge, Hedge Woundwort leaves will kill nettle stings completely, Dyer’s Greenweed is an indicator plant of ancient meadow, yellow is an indicator of poison and indeed, buttercups are poisonous to livestock. In one corner of the meadow an Elm tree was planted 3 years ago. It was taken from disease resistant stock and has an 80% chance of reaching maturity. Fingers crossed for this beautiful tree. And finally, on leaving the meadow a patch of wild red Common Poppies waving in the wind had just appeared after Michael had scalped an area of ground. These are the only annual flowers in the meadow. Everything else is perennial. A very interesting afternoon visit rounded off by tea and cake with all donations going to Sussex Wildlife Trust. ***** On 22nd June, a perfect summer’s day, when it was not too hot with little wind, 20 members were met at Pewley Down, Guildford, by Vanessa McClure (member). She led the way along a dry path among an abundance of wild flowers, insects and occasional birds. The many species of flora (at least 58) in this richly biodiverse, chalky downland of grasses and scrapes are monitored by Vanessa and the Surrey Botanical Society.

Marbled White butterfly on Greater Knapweed. Photograph by Hugh Searle

Flora seen: Orchids: Pyramidal, Common Spotted, Man Orchids in the chalky scrapes. Wildflowers: White Bladder Campion, Pink Everlasting Pea (possibly garden escapes), Goat’s Beard seed head, Black Medick, Woundwort, Agrimony, Yellow Rattle, Red Clover, Hedge Bedstraw, Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Milkwort, Hawkbit, Nipplewort, Oxeye Daisy, Smooth Sow Thistle, Red Bartsia (semi-parasitic), Cut- leaf Cranesbill, Hedge Mustard, Silverweed, Sainfoin, Greater Knapweed, Field Scabious, Fairy Flax, Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), Kidney Vetch, Slender St John’s Wort, Tufted Vetch, Horseshoe Vetch, Sheep’s Sorrel, Flowering Privet, Sanicle, Common Toadflax, Nettle-leaved Bellflower (growing in the shade), Small Scabious, Self-heal, White Clover, Eyebright, Mignonette, Weld. Trees and shrubs on lower slopes: Sloe, Dogwood, Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana), Dog Rose, Hawthorn, large Elder in flower. Herbs: Marjoram, Salad Burnet, Wild Thyme. Grasses: Quaking grass, Oat grass, Glaucous Sedge. Insects: Robin’s Pin Cushion gall, an unidentified, very bright, turquoise beetle and abundant anthills. Butterflies and day flying moths: Marbled White, Small Blue (on Kidney Vetch and Trefoil), Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Brimstone, Common Blue (male), medium-sized white daytime moth. Birds seen or heard: Buzzard soaring. Kestrel hovering. Final rewards were the sight of a Small Pointed Snail, like a pebble, on the path, several Marbled Whites clustered on a thistle, a Brimstone and a male Common Blue flitting above the tall grasses. The walk had certainly been breath-taking. ***** On sunny 10th July, 13 members visited Knepp Wildlife Safaris for a wonderful afternoon learning how a conventional, intensive farming business has been converted into a rewilding project. An introductory video gave us some history of Knepp and why and how this project started nearly 20 years ago. The land now hosts many animals as close as possible to ancient species which once roamed Britain: Longhorn Cattle, Tamworth Pigs, Exmoor Ponies and three species of deer. These graze and browse, living off the land and receive supplementary feed only if it snows heavily. We were privileged to see a magnificently-antlered Red Deer (of which there are many more) calmly browsing close to the safari vehicle and also Fallow Deer which disappeared fast. Rina Quinlan, our excellent guide, drove the safari vehicle through fields where Fleabane was the dominant plant. The many Bramble bushes are not controlled as they provide protection from browsing animals for young oak trees. Identified were 19 species of wild flowers. Ragwort is not controlled (unless close to neighbouring boundaries) as at least 24 species of invertebrates are dependent on this plant, including the caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth which was seen. We learnt that birds had been scarce before the project began. Now Nightingales and Turtle Doves have returned in significant numbers. We heard or saw 18 bird species. There was even a White Stork sitting high in a tree! This was one of an introduced small flock and, although a nest was constructed this year, the eggs were infertile. It is hoped that in the future they, and possibly truly wild individuals which are seen from time to time, will breed. Knepp is now renowned for its large number of Purple Emperor butterflies and is probably one of the best sites in Britain. It was so special to gaze up into the oak trees to see males chasing away competitors. Eight other species of butterfly were seen, including the Purple Hairstreak. It was also a privilege to see three Grass Snakes and two Slow Worms under corrugated sheets. As we drove back to the Visitors’ Base, a Stoat crossed our path, making this day very special. As one member commented, “Thanks to Rina and Knepp this visit will stay in the memory forever. ***** The weather conditions (cool, often grey with a short shower) on 20th July were disappointing for finding large numbers of summer butterflies on at Singleton, which is managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust. Ten species were seen, including Marbled White, Common Blue males and a probably newly-emerged pristine Red Admiral.

Male Brimstone and chrysalis. Common Blue. Photograph by Alan Novelle Photograph by Caroline Lemka

However, the 12 members (led by member Margaret Hibbard) were amazed at the variety of plants and the flowers were stunning. There were the purples of Wild Marjoram, Vervain and thistles; blues of Round-headed Rampion (the flower of Sussex), Small Scabious, Harebell, Clustered and Nettle-leaved Bellflower; pinks of Pyramidal Orchid, Wild Basil and Wild Thyme; and yellows of Agrimony, Perforate St. John’s-wort, Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Lady’s Bedstraw. A member remarked that Levin Down is a botanist’s paradise! ***** Kingley Vale is a surviving remnant of ancient yew forest. Yews are believed to be the oldest living things in Britain and possibly date to the pre-Christian era. These ancient trees are slow growing, spreading by a natural process of layering, in addition to seed spread by animals. The tree is poisonous and can be dangerous to livestock. Fortunately, though the seed is poisonous, the fruit is not, allowing many birds and mammals, such as shrews, to eat them safely. Goldcrests pick the bark for insects. Helen Beal (Volunteer Reserve Warden for Natural England) met 23 members on 3rd August (rearranged from 16th March). She explained that a mainly “hands off” approach is used for management but grazing animals are brought in. Belted Galloways and Herdwick Sheep are moved around the Reserve to keep more vigorous plants from out-competing the low-growing and chalk-loving plants. On our visit the hillside was a mosaic of pink, mauve, blue and yellow flowers sweeping up the hillside from the unfortunately bone-dry dew pond to the crest of Bow Hill. Over 30 species of wild flower were identified by members. After a steep climb, Bow Hill tumuli provided viewing platforms for some wonderful far-reaching vistas, almost 360º. Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Harbour, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth to the south and the South Downs, Uppark House and Butser Hill to the north were clearly visible. Frog Orchids were

identified on the clay cap surrounding the Barrow.

Painted Lady. Photograph by Caroline Lemka

The dull overcast weather of the morning gave way to sunshine and warmth in the afternoon which brought out the butterflies. A number of Chalkhill Blue and Brown Argus were identified. A Fritillary was seen and some discussion ensued as to whether it was a Silver-washed or Dark Green Fritillary. Painted Ladies and Red Admirals were also seen and, in total, 14 species were positively identified. ***** A warm still evening brought out the soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus early, and they put on a good display on the west side of the Pond. One male was seen emitting social calls, trying to attract females into one of the bat boxes on the Scots . Member Martyn Phillis was the leader for this walk around Little Pond on Friday 30th August to listen and look for bats. Distant noctule bat Nyctalus noctula calls were heard, but they failed to visit the Pond this time and none were seen. On the east of the Pond, common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus outnumbered sopranos, and two calls of brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus were detected – unusual as they call very quietly and are easily missed. Despite favourable conditions and many insects over the water, there were very few Daubenton’s bats Myotis daubentonii to be seen at the end of the walk. However, one or two did perform extremely well, skimming the water close to us, dipping periodically to seize their prey from the surface of the Pond. The many visitors who attended the meeting seemed to have enjoyed the walk enormously, and all went home happy. ***** On the clear, chilly (but luckily rain-free) evening of 7th September, 16 members gathered in a Killinghurst Lane garden for Moth Trapping with identification. Leader Matt Bramich set up his moth trap in a wooded part of the garden and member Andy Swan set up his trap by the side of a flower bed near the house. Each trap had a different type of light - one very bright and the other much softer - in the hope that they would attract different types of moth. Cloths and ropes, (soaked in a mixture of red wine and sugar) were draped over shrubs and several trees were painted with a thick syrupy mixture with a touch of rum. Not all moths are attracted to light; some prefer richly, night-scented flowers and the smell of rotting fruit. Unfortunately the home-made potions only managed to attract an Earwig, a Harvestman spider and a beetle! The chilly evening meant moths were not plentiful: 2 Brimstone, Snout, Green Carpet, Oak Lutestring, 3 Yellow Underwing and 2 Hebrew Character. A Caddisfly and a Lacewing were also found. Then the WOW moment came when Matt presented us with a moth of great beauty, a Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini, sometimes called a Blue Underwing. With a wing span of between 75 – 95 mm, this moth was once a resident species, then became an immigrant, and now is a recent colonist, but still rare. The photographers in our group were in their element! Once released from its specimen pot, it settled on bushes, then the ground and finally on the greenhouse glass as the cameras clicked away.

Green Carpet moth. Photograph by Martyn Phillis

Clifden Nonpareil Photograph by Alan Novelle Matt left his trap up overnight and by morning there were just a few moths: singles of Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Swallow Prominent, Centre-barred Sallow and Square-spot Rustic. To find the Clifden Nonpareil made it a truly memorable evening. *****

Under clear blue skies on Saturday 21st September 14 members met Jane Willmott of Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) for a guided walk and talk around the ancient heathland of Graffham Common, which was a new location for the Society and is Sussex Wildlife’s newest reserve. Jane explained that the 38 hectare Common had been purchased by SWT in 2010 as a pine plantation and they have since been restoring it to heath and heath-pasture by removal of pine and rhododendron and scraping back the pine and litter layer. Unrolling a map dated 1629 Jane showed how the trackways were almost the same as the roads today. An acid pond on the site had possibly been created for wildfowling. Today the pond is much larger and supports, amongst other things, a good population of dragonflies, an important food source for the Hobby (left photograph by Martyn Phillis) which nests each year on the Common. Forestry drainage ditches were blocked to allow the wet heath to re-naturalise. Heather is returning from the buried seedbank with Cross-leaved, Bell and Ling species all present. Heathland birds too have returned to their ancestral territories and in August the first Nightjar was heard. Originally an SSSI it was not redesignated in 1981 and the Trust hopes to regain this status. With local support the Common has been fenced off to allow for grazing using British White and British White Cross Cattle. In an exposed sandy area members were delighted to come across several groups of busy mining bees. A member spotted two bees clearly having a fight! It seemed that there was more than one species of bee in the mix. Other notable species sighted were: Hobby, Kestrel, Ruddy Darter, Red-bodied Chaser, 7-spot Ladybird, Dung or Dor Beetle, female Bog Bush Cricket, male Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, Scaly Earthballs and Sulphur Tufts.

Bog Bush Cricket Photograph by Hugh Searle

A walk up onto Gallows Hill revealed splendid views across to House. Altogether, it had been a most interesting morning. ***** Conditions seemed promising on 6th October when 10 HNHS members gathered on Marley Common for the annual fungi foray, led by Sara Shepley. It had been quite wet for a week or so, and there were reports of plentiful fungi elsewhere in the area. However, fungi are unpredictable, and it soon became clear that there wouldn’t be a prolific haul on this occasion. Nevertheless, there were some good finds. The Laccaria species immediately attracted attention; as well as the ubiquitous Deceiver (L. laccata), there were many intensely coloured Amethyst Deceivers (L. amethystina) and the less common Scurfy Deceiver (L. proxima) in its preferred damp heathland habitat. This was a good opportunity to observe and remember the subtle distinguishing features of the latter. It is often the case that unusual substrates support uncommon fungi, so some inkcaps growing on a Wood Ant nest attracted attention. However, they turned out to be the common Hare’s Foot Inkcap (Coprinopsis lagopus), which grows on various types of rotting plant debris. The tiny Mycena species were abundant, but Sara’s skill was needed to identify these difficult fungi. The Yellowleg Bonnet and Milking Bonnet were quite easy (the latter exuding a white fluid from the stem), but Sara also found the uncommon Pinkedge Bonnet (M. capillaripes). Also requiring her expertise was the inconspicuous fungus Rhopographus filicinus on bracken stems. It is commonly noticed in zoology that closely related animals have related parasites, and the same applies in fungi: specimens of Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus) were found to be infected with a yellow mould called Hypomyces, and this mould is characteristically found infecting boletes. Sara explained that this connection accords with genetic evidence that Paxillus, despite having gills rather than tubes, is in fact a bolete. There were, of course, finds of Russula and Lactarius (2 species of each), but just the expected common types. Likewise, the 4 or 5 bracket fungi found weren’t unusual. The genus of webcaps (Cortinarius) presents identification challenges, but three species were named with confidence. One of these was possibly the highlight of the foray: the rare Fool’s Webcap (C. orellanus), a deadly poisonous species that, along with its close relative the Deadly Webcap, has been implicated in deaths when confused (inexplicably!) with the highly edible . Altogether, 39 species were recorded, which was a good return, considering the mediocre first impressions! ***** An unusual topic, but one that proved to be very interesting to 15 members, was Jon Taylor’s Introduction to Bushcraft held in a large Killinghurst Lane garden on 19th October. Jon began by talking about the concept of bushcraft, whereby indigenous peoples around the world used the land’s natural products to survive and even thrive. For example, knowledge of survival techniques known to the Aborigines of Australia was adopted by European settlers. To survive, man needs shelter, food, water and fire (for warmth and cooking). Bushcraft is searching, foraging and using methods to provide these. Throughout the morning’s walk in woodland and meadow, Jon gave details of useful finds and methods: Food: leaves of Comfrey, Nettle and Hazel; Ash keys and even acorns (can be soaked and rinsed many times and then ground into a flour); Elder berries and blackberries; nuts of Hazel, Sweet Chestnut and Walnut; rabbit holes could be snared; rats, squirrels and voles are edible. Water: essential, as after only 3 days when dehydration sets in, the person’s mental capacity is affected; stream water can be filtered using mosses with a birch bark funnel or with a filter of ferns on a charcoal or ash base. What is above the water flow should be noted as grazing animals would pollute the water. Fire: for kindling Honeysuckle bark can be shredded; black King Alfred’s Cakes or Cramp Balls (Daldinia concentrica) growing on dead or decaying Ash, when dry, will take a spark and by blowing on them will provide an ember; dry kindling is rarely found on the ground, so by looking upwards, especially on the edge of a wood in the sunshine, small, dead branches hanging down can be found; large dead branches, when dry, can be split and shavings made.

Talk around the fire. Photograph by Alan Novelle

Jon led the group to where he had set up his “camp” under a large oak. Here he had a hammock, sleeping bag, cooking utensils and his emergency kit. He had prepared a fire with medium-sized branches as a base and thinner, dry Ash branches as a lattice on top. For tinder materials he uses: thistledown, Pampas Grass heads, Kapok and shredded bark from Silver Birch and Wild Clematis. Everyone was invited to try the fire-lighting technique of striking “fire-steels” to produce sparks which then falling onto cotton wool will ignite. Successes were achieved and much enjoyed! Jon’s expertise and knowledge made everyone feel that they would be very safe if they were to accompany him on a venture relying on bushcraft. They certainly agreed with his comment “Bushcraft is a fun way to interact with the countryside.” There was an amazing variety of fungi in both the woodland and in the meadow. These included: Giant Funnel Leucopaxillus giganteus, the unusual Plicatura crispa with multiple small brackets on a rotting birch branch, the conspicuous parasol procera and the white poisonous Entoloma sinuatum known as the Livid Pinkgill. ***** For a November morning’s bird watching from the Solar Powered Catamaran, chartered from Chichester Harbour Conservancy, the weather on the 16th could not have been better. The sea state was calm, the wind was only 5 knots and the sun shone throughout in a blue sky with a line of pale purple clouds over the hills inland. The tide was nearly at its peak as the boat’s silent progress enabled 24 members to have close views of four Little Grebe, frequent sights of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Shelduck, Lapwing and Cormorant. Mike and Mick skippered the boat. They were accompanied by volunteers Philippa and John Arnott who were excellent at identification. As the boat passed Cobnor Point (the tip of Chidham peninsular), Stake and Pilsey Islands and along the Thorney Channel, in addition to groups of Teal and Turnstone there were pairs of Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser and Eider Duck. John explained that Grey Plover searching the water’s edge singly are known as sight feeders, whereas groups of Dunlin probing the mud are touch feeders. He said Little Egrets were first recorded in recent times in 1985 and that the number of Dark-bellied Brent Geese that arrive from Arctic Russia makes Chichester Harbour the third most important site in Great Britain for this species. Memorable sights were: a Red Admiral (possibly flying southwards to cross the English Channel), a Common Seal, a Peregrine Falcon perching motionless on a post (right photograph by Martyn Phillis) and, alerted by the flight of a large flock of small birds, a second Peregrine falcon, fast flying. ***** The tide was receding as 14 members met the leader, Sue Bradford, for a bird- watching morning at Farlington Marshes (managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust) on 23rd November. From the sea wall, adjacent to Langstone Harbour, first a Great Crested Grebe and three Oyster-catchers were seen and later, there were gasps of appreciation when 15 or so Avocets flew in to land on a mud bank. In a large pool in the grassland six Pintails were swimming alongside Brent Geese. Two birds of prey were spotted perching on posts. So there was much looking through the Society’s telescope and two other ’scopes, and a great deal of discussion as to whether they were Marsh Harriers or Buzzards. Eventually the decision was: Buzzards. A member, who has a reputation for finding Snipe, actually located two and by watching the reeds, patience was rewarded when more than 10 fast-flitting Bearded Reedlings were counted. An immaculate Little Egret marched through a small pool, twitching its legs to reveal yellow feet.

Little Egret hunting photograph by Alan Novelle

As more mud was uncovered at the southern end large numbers of Dunlin were busy probing with a Ringed Plover among them. Nearby, the hull of a small boat has been transformed into a tern raft. Far away, across the marsh, a white bird was feeding in a small flock of Canada Geese. From previous visits this was known to be an escapee white goose. Some members continued walking the perimeter and looking towards Hayling Island, through a ’scope, located a Peregrine on a post. The estimation of birds seen was: 10 species associated with land and 34 species associated with water. ***** On 7th December for Birds at RSPB Reserve the morning started overcast but mild, but by early afternoon the sun appeared, highlighting the birds' plumage. Right from the start great numbers of birds were observed from the Visitor Centre at a distance across the meadows and wetlands. Following the wetland trail, passing large stretches of open water and water meadows, 20 members were delighted at the large numbers of Lapwing seen in the air and grazing at three pools. Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler were seen amongst other more common species. Pairs of Snipe were seen at Winpenny Hide and Nettleys Hide, causing great excitement, with an excellent view through the Society’s ’scope. Occasional flurries of nervous Lapwings alerted us to a pair of Peregrines which were seen at some distance. A Short-eared Owl was seen also at distance, being mobbed by crows. Other raptors included a Buzzard and a Kestrel. Overwintering woodland migrants located were Redwing, Fieldfare and Starling and groups of Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great and Long-tailed Tits.

Pintail photograph by Caroline Lemka

Two Snipe and a Pintail Photograph by Caroline Lemka

Authors: Sue Bradford, Phil Darley, Margaret Hibbard, Clare & Graham House, Jolande Murray, Martyn Phillis, Andy Swan, Margaret Tomsett Catkins at Moor Green Lakes 19 January. Photograph by Alan Novelle

Pond dipping during the Bioblitz in July in the grounds of the Museum. Photograph by Alan Novelle.

Cormorant taking off. Photograph by Hugh Searle from the Solar Boat in Chichester Harbour.

Shelduck with Dunlin. Photograph by Martyn Phillis

Pyramidal Orchids on Pewley Down. Photograph by Hugh Searle

Speckled Yellow moth. Photograph by Caroline Lemka

ORNITHOLOGY Ornithology report for 2019 by Dave Burges Introduction This report focuses mostly on Black Down, but also includes some records of interest from nearby sites in 2019. It is not a comprehensive account of the birds seen in the wider area covered by the Haslemere Natural History Society. In addition to my own records, it also includes sightings from Paul Matson, Graham Mitchell and Ed Stubbs. Overview of 2019 There were many ornithological highlights over the course of the year. These included some encouraging breeding bird results (nightjar, wood lark, Dartford warbler), some rather less so (tree pipit, redstart) and a reminder of previously regular breeders (wood warbler). In the wider area goshawks continued to consolidate their recovery with more displaying birds in spring and more juveniles seen in the autumn. The autumn ring ouzel passage was probably the best for at least two years, starting in the first week of October but going on into the second week of November. Similarly 2019 saw the second to third - or fourth - records of pied flycatcher after the first in 2017. There were several other “first” and “second” records for the site, as ever including species that might not be expected to be seen on, over or from an essentially dry, heathland and woodland site. These included little grebe, mute swan, coot, hen harrier, short-eared owl, black-tailed godwit and lesser whitethroat. Late winter Black Down can be rather quiet at the turn of the year, but it got off to a good start with a single golden plover heading north on the 1st January, followed over the next week by small numbers of Bramblings and sixteen Crossbills. A wet field west of Fernhurst held two little egrets on the 8th, when the first two peregrines of the year were seen to the west of Woolbeding. Even at this time of year, pairs of both ravens and red kites were back at regular breeding sites, although in the case of the former one local pair did not appear to use a nest that had been occupied for several years. Early spring As the days lengthened the woodlarks started singing on Black Down, and further afield goshawks performed their dramatic display flights. By their standards a late osprey flew north over Woolbeding on 29th March, and the return brambling passage was marked by 10+ birds on Black Down on 7th April. On the same date a flock of at least 20 crossbills on Black Down included two females collecting nesting material. Spring and summer The regular Wealden Heaths Breeding Bird Survey undertaken for the Sussex Ornithological Society produced the following numbers of territories on Black Down: 11 wood larks, 7 tree pipits, 3 redstarts, 11 stonechats and 10 Dartford warblers. A coordinated nightjar count with National Trust staff produced a total of about 10 churring males, and a pair of barn owls bred elsewhere on the Black Down estate. Perhaps the most remarkable breeding season record was that of a male nightingale singing on Black Down for a few days in mid-May, uncharacteristically singing from birch and gorse scrub at about 180 metres on greensand! On the 15th May a flock of at least 10 crossbills included a minimum of 3 fledged young. A late osprey flew north over Black Down on 20th May. A tour of several local ponds on the 29th May produced 2 great-crested grebes, at least 6+ reed warblers, a single singing male reed bunting and a kingfisher. Wood warblers formerly bred on Black Down but are now irregular and rare late spring migrants, completely absent in some years. So two males present between 2nd and 20th June really bucked the recent trend. Two late spring surprises were a briefly-seen black stork flying west at Elmer’s Marsh on 21st May (almost certainly the same bird seen a day or two previously on the Knepp Estate), and one lucky observer heard a singing Golden oriole on the south west slopes of Black Down on 25th May - a site first. At least one fledged spotted flycatcher was seen with an adult near Upper Lodge on 10th July, and at least three hawfinches flew west near here on 17th, perhaps reflecting very small breeding numbers somewhere to the east. The only other records this year were of single autumn birds on two dates at Fernhurst. Early autumn A remarkable first for Black Down was a flock of about 30 black-tailed godwits flying fast to the south on 17th August. These were followed by a series of single pied flycatchers on the 26th, 27th and 29th - all of which were very elusive. The same few days also saw a single lesser spotted woodpecker on the 26th and 27th, whinchats on the 26th and 27th and - another site first - a lesser whitethroat on the 26th. Migrating raptors were represented by single honey-buzzards on the 19th and 27th August. Small numbers of wheatears and redstarts were seen at the same time, and a count of 25+ spotted flycatchers on the 29th August was notable. The one that most definitely “got away” was Culver, one of six white-tailed eagles released in the first year of a reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight. Satellite tracking data shows that he passed extremely close to Black Down on 31st August on the outward leg of his 680km round trip of . Unfortunately, no-one saw him fly over! Hirundine passage can be striking on Black Down in autumn, although the reasons that give rise to large numbers are not clear. Some 1,060 (ca. 80% house martins, 20% swallows) and ca. 1,000 birds (nearly all house martins) were counted on the 14th and 15th September respectively. A possible yellow wagtail flew over calling but not seen on the former date, which would have been a site first had it been confirmed. On the last day of September, 7 golden plovers flying south and a single fieldfare were both good records. Late autumn Ring ouzel passage through Black Down in 2019 was probably the best in two years, with the first bird recorded on the 2nd October, the last on 13th November (the latest ever record here) and a peak day count of 16 on 8th October. In total some 82 “ring ouzel days” were recorded (the sum of the total number of birds seen each day on which they were recorded), although the actual total number of birds was no doubt rather less than this suggests. Other notable late autumn passerine records included 80+ meadow pipits on 3rd October, small numbers of migrating woodlarks and skylarks throughout this period, 5 bramblings on 22nd October, ca. 50 lesser redpolls on 16th November with ca. 80 west of Fernhurst on 13th December. A single yellowhammer at Trotton Marsh on 21st November was as expected, but one flying north at Black Down on the 28th was much more unusual. The peak redwing count was 400+ birds on 17th October, with up to 300+ fieldfares on 28th October. Small numbers of common crossbills were seen or heard irregularly at Black Down until the end of the year, but 13 near Harting Combe on 17th November was a good count given the low numbers seen during the second half of the year. A likely second site record was that of a superb short-eared owl which delighted a small group of observers on 22nd October as it was initially mobbed by two carrion crows, but then climbed to leave high to the south. A ringtail hen harrier seen on the 31st October was also only the second Black Down record, and up to seven red kites seen from Black Down on 27th October was an unusual total for late autumn. Black Down is an unlikely site for waterbirds, but this year clearance and re- profiling of the small lakes below the west side produced the first site records for little grebe (1 from 24th July - when there was also one at Bunch Lane, Haslemere - and 3 on 26th August), coot and mute swan (with two birds from 11th November into December)! A kingfisher was glimpsed here on the 29th November. The little egret flock re-appeared in the wet, horse-grazed field at Elmer’s Marsh, with 7 birds on 17th November, 13 on 21st, 20 on 13th December and 19 on 15th December. The latter half of the autumn and first half of the winter were typically rather quiet, but were notable for fairly regular goshawk and peregrine records, both at Black Down and further afield. A first winter male peregrine was seen around Black Down for ten days or so from 19th November, and this bird was probably one of three peregrines seen together west of Fernhurst on 14th December, with the two males engaged in a ferocious dog-fight as the westerly gale blew them eastwards. A dramatic end to an excellent birding year locally.

Following Report by Margaret Hibbard The following information is taken from Recent Sightings on the Society’s web site; from Shaun Peters (now in his 34th recording year) seen on weekly visits to Frensham Great Pond (GP), Little Pond (LP) and the surrounding area (including King’s Ridge); and from Mike Lawn who regularly visits . Less common land species Firecrest: Feb: Bramley Park Lake and 2 at Witley; Mar: a singing male at Bunch Lane, 3 near Lynchmere Common, Thorncombe Street, Petworth Road, Woolbeding Common, Weycombe Road; May: in Weycombe Road and 2 in Bunch Lane; July: 1 adult with 2 juveniles at Witley; Aug: Chase Lane Dartford Warbler: Feb: 2 singing males at Witley; Mar: Mare Hill Common; Apr: 2 at Thursley Marsh Tit: Jan: 3 at Winkworth Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: Mar: Thorncombe Street; Aug: Witley Turtle Dove: Apr: heard in wood near Plaistow Hawfinch: Dec: Fernhurst Crossbill: Jan: 6 at Furnace Pond; Apr: 20+ at Witley and 6 at Thursley; Nov: Witley Nightjar: June: adult on nest with 2 eggs on Thursley Common Whinchat: Aug: Witley Brambling: Feb: Weycombe Road; Mar: Hill Road; Apr: a huge pre-roost gathering of 310 at Frensham GP Woodcock: Feb: Bramshott; May: 9 sighted during BTO Survey near Chiddingfold; Nov: Killinghurst Lane Nightingale: Mar: Stedham; April: Witley, Lurgashall, Oaken Wood, near Plaistow and Chiddingfold; May: Swan Barn, Haslemere Pied Flycatcher: Aug: Witley Birds of prey Goshawk: Sept: Headley Peregrine Falcon: Feb: Thorncombe Street Great Grey Shrike: Dec: 1 at Thursley and possibly the same individual a few days later at King’s Ridge Barn Owl: Jan: Fernhurst; Feb: Upper Valewood; mid-Mar: Chiddingfold Birds associated with water Osprey: Mar: Woolbeding; Sept: 2 separate brief visits at Frensham GP White Stork: Jan: 1 at Frensham GP, landing in a tree near the Hotel Brent Goose: Mar: 1 at Frensham GP Egyptian Goose: Apr: pair with goslings on bank of , Mediterranean Gull: Mar: 2 at Frensham LP; April: 12 over Frensham GP and then 6 adults on King’s Ridge; June: 10 on King’s Ridge Little Gull: April: first 2 adults and then 12 following day at Frensham GP Black Tern: May: first 8, then 1 and Sept: 4, all at Frensham GP Arctic Tern: Aug: 1 at Frensham GP Goosander: Jan: 3 at Imbhams Farm pond; Mar: pair at Imbhams; early winter: 17 at Cutt Mill Pond Great Northern Diver: Feb: 2 at Frensham GP Oystercatcher: May: 1 at Frensham GP Redshank: July: 1 at Frensham LP Little Egret: 1 at Frensham GP early in year to late Mar and from mid-Oct to late year Lapwing: Feb: 72 in fields at Frensham in snow Whimbrel: Apr: 2 flew over Frensham GP Curlew: July: 1 at Frensham GP Green Sandpiper: Aug: 1 at Frensham GP Goldeneye: Jan to Mar: female at Frensham GP and also in Oct Snipe: Jan: Black Down; Nov: King’s Ridge Water Rail: Jan: ; 3 territories at Frensham LP where a juvenile in July Bittern: Jan: Frensham LP and also in Nov Mandarin Duck: Jan: 16 at Winkworth Arboretum; Mar: male at Witley; 2 broods on River Wey at Frensham Ring-necked Duck: 23 & 24 Mar: female for 2 days at Frensham GP (being chased by a male Tufted Duck) the highlight of the Frensham year! Territories Shaun reported it was a mixed year with some species having slightly less, e.g. 13 Redstart and 7 Tree Pipit and some slightly more e.g. 19 Stonechat, 12 Woodlark and 15 Nightjar and a 50% increase for Dartford Warbler with 17 territories. 11 Reed Bunting, 10 Linnet, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Skylark and 4 Spotted Flycatcher.

MYCOLOGY The weather in September was hot and dry and then in October it rained and the combination of warm ground and plenty of moisture produced a spectacular display of fungi with the majority appearing in October and early November. Many people reported seeing large rings of various species including Macrolepiota procera (Field Parasol) and Marasmius oreades (Fairy Ring Champignon) and great numbers of Clitocybe geotropa (Common Funnel) were found on just about every foray. The were well represented with some less common species being found as well as the usual Blushers, False Death Caps and Fly Agarics. The strikingly handsome but very poisonous pantherina (Panthercap) appeared on more than one occasion. This species is usually found with Beech or Oak whereas the superficially similar A. excelsa var. spissa is a species more comfortable on acidic soils. Other species that are not often seen included Amanita gemmata (Jewelled Amanita) and Amanita porphyria (Grey Veiled Amanita). Still on the subject of unusual species, a foray at Winkworth Arboretum produced a fine specimen of Xerocomus (Phylloporus) peletieri otherwise known as the Golden Gilled Bolete. This species is a typical bolete apart from having gills and according to Geoffrey Kibby “Molecular studies place it very close to Xerocomus subtomentosus”. It was a great year for bracket fungi, among them: Meripilus giganteus (Giant ) which appeared in several places, (a flamboyant outcrop was seen at the foot of a carved post on Milford football pitch); the now ubiquitous Plicatura crispa (Crimped Gill), which was first recorded in this country only a few years ago and hitherto has only been found on fallen birch branches, this year was also found on Beech logs; the exquisite Crepidotus cinnabarinus (Cinnabar Oysterling), which turned up on a foray near Chiddingfold and which is thought to be another recent arrival. Griffola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) and Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken of the Woods) were also in evidence as was Inonotus cuticularis (Clustered Bracket), another species which, although still considered to be unusual, is becoming more common. Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail) is so well-known that it is usually not included in reports; it comes in a wide variety of colours and combinations of colours and is surely one of our most beautiful brackets. In addition this unassuming little fungus has medicinal properties and is said to help with the treatment of cancer and Hepatitis B as well as being used for its benefits to the immune system. It is always a pleasure to find the tiny species whose whole world is a single pine cone. The velvety vulgare (Earpick Fungus) doesn’t appear every year but is a delight to see when it does as is Baospora myosura (Conifer Conecap) which, this year, must have graced just about every Pine wood in the area. Although the numbers of fungi dwindled towards the end of November, the year was rounded off by the appearance of two winter fungi – Flammulina velutipes (Velvet Shank) and Hygrophorus hypothejus (the aptly named Herald of Winter). Overall then, a very productive season and one that gave us good numbers of our more common fungi as well as a few exciting surprises. by Sara Shepley ENTOMOLOGY Butterflies This year the Haslemere area did not produce any surprises, but butterfly numbers in mid-summer were higher than in 2018. On one transect near Plaistow in the Chiddingfold Forest area, the highest number of individuals counted on 12 July was 506 compared to 386 on 6 July, 2018, and on a nearby smaller transect on 13 July the total was 243 compared to 180 on 11 July, 2018. Chiddingfold Forest is the only location in south-east England where the Wood White can be found. Society member Phil Darley is the Transect Recorder for Oaken Wood, Butterfly Conservation’s Reserve between Plaistow and . Her data shows that although numbers were down on 2018 they were higher than in 2017. For the spring and summer broods combined the counts were: 141 in 2017, 230 in 2018 and 171 in 2019. She commented: “The evidence shows that as a result of conservation work and clearance the Wood White is migrating into the areas cleared for them.” An exciting, new, three-year project “Saving the Wood White” organised by Butterfly Conservation began in September, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Starting with existing Wood White colonies the aim is to increase the population and improve habitat patches by enlisting help from the local communities around Chiddingfold, Dunsfold, Ifold and Plaistow. Several work parties have already taken place. Most summer species were higher in number, except for the White Admiral. Marbled White continued to establish new colonies, with 66 counted on one day on a Plaistow transect and in a Kirdford meadow there were too many to count! An influx of Painted Ladies was greatly anticipated. Sussex Butterfly Conservation reported many in August (and many were seen in Scotland and North England), but apart from a member’s sighting of “a large influx at Black Down, perhaps using that as a navigational aid” on 24 June, there were very few other reports from members. Moths reported by members on the Society’s web page: March: Satellite April: Common Plume May: Puss, Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth June: Orange-underwing, Mint, Magpie, Swallow-tailed July: Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Least Carpet, White Plume, Swallow-tailed, Six- spot Burnet August: Old Lady, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Black Arches, Brown-tailed Tussock, Footman, Hummingbird Hawkmoth September: Clifden Nonpareil, Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars, Old Lady Insects and spiders reported by members on the Society’s web page: February: Pompilid Wasp Anoplius viaticus April: Barkfly Chilenocaecilius ornatipennis, Feather-footed Flower Bee Anthopora plumipes, Beefly Bombylius major, Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha goettingensis May: Blackthorn Mining Bee Andrena varians, Green Shield Bug Palomena prasina, Hairy Shield Bug Dolycoris baccarum, Aspen Beetle, Jumping Spider Marpissa muscosa June: Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum, Hoverfly Volucella inflata, Mottled Beefly Thyridanthrax fenestratus, Black-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa coccinea, Glow worm July: female pink Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus, Sand Wasp Ammophila sabulosa, Roesel’s Bush Cricket f diluta, Glow worms August: Spider Tegenaria sp, Longhorn Beetle Strangalia maculata, Spider Pholcus phalangoides devouring Tegenaria sp House Spider October: Field Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis, Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis By Margaret Hibbard Witley Common in 2019 by Mike Lawn Insects in general appeared to be in rather low numbers during 2019, and there were few notable observations. In addition to continued long-term declines, the severe drought of 2018 probably had an adverse effect on many insect species. This was most obvious for dragon/damselflies which were in exceptionally low numbers, with some of the usual species (notably Keeled Skimmer and Black Darter) not being seen at all. The drying out of breeding ponds last year may have been the most important factor, although a reduction in the abundance of prey may also have been involved. A Golden-ringed Dragonfly on 23rd July was, however, only the second site record of this species, whilst a Brilliant Emerald on 30th May and 1st June was another scarce visitor here. Despite the dying off of much of the ground flora last year, butterflies didn’t appear to have been affected too badly. Following a cold, wet spell in June the main summer emergence was about two weeks later than the previous two years, but overall numbers were only slightly down on the survey transect. It appeared, however, that some individuals may have been rather smaller than usual: this was particularly evident amongst Meadow Browns, some of which were only about Gatekeeper size. Some species suffering long-term declines are cause for concern: no Grizzled Skippers were seen at all, and it is feared they may have been lost from the site, whilst Common Blues and Small and Essex Skippers could be counted on the fingers of one hand. The latter species may, in fact, be surviving only on the roadside verge. About one third of the species recorded regularly during the 1970s & 80s have subsequently been either lost completely or appear to be on the verge of local extinction. Marbled White is the only new species recorded in recent years (present again in 2019) but only in tiny numbers. Migrants were also scarce here this year: although there was a large influx of Painted Ladies into the country, only a handful appeared at Witley. A portable actinic moth trap was run on five nights during the spring and summer, with a maximum catch of 74 moths of 30 species on 3rd July. Although 10 new species were recorded for the site, these were all relatively common. The micro moth Coleophora flavipennella may be a common and widespread species, but is probably under-recorded due to the difficulty of identification: one specimen was collected on 3rd July for dissection (the only reliable means to identify most species in this genus). On 25th May the moth trap also caught 19 Cockchafers and 21of the black click beetle Melanotus castanipes: the latter are only found occasionally during normal daylight searching for beetles. The so called ‘Bee-wolf’ (the wasp Philanthus triangulum), although doing very well at some sites, is still relatively scarce at Witley: approximately 50 visiting burrows on 3rd July was the maximum ever seen here. Less conspicuous insects are difficult to monitor, but there was again a distinct shortage of caterpillars on Oak trees and aphids on Birch trees, as has been the case for several years. The causes for the decline of these insects at Witley are unknown, but it is a worrying trend considering their value as a food source for other invertebrates and birds. Long- term declines of other insects, such as Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae), Chafers (Scarabaeidae), Crickets and Grasshoppers (Orthoptera), as well as butterflies, most likely reflect the considerable decline in open grassy spaces with flowers on the Common. BOTANY The year started with anticyclonic weather, but it was largely cloudy and dull rather than bright and frosty. It was mild enough for Hazel catkins to be fully extended by mid-January. A cold snap at the end of the month led to a beautiful covering of snow on February 2nd, but the thaw was rapid and the rest of the month was uncannily warm, leading to Lesser Celandine and Lesser Periwinkle flowering everywhere before March. Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage was seen flowering at Henley (near Fernhurst) on the last day of February. After a cooler spell in early April, my notebook describes later April, starting on 17th, as a “heatwave”, and summer vegetation began to develop early. In mid-May I was surprised to find about 20 plants of Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), with flower spikes just starting to show - this was adjacent to a path that I walk regularly, and I had never seen them there before! A possible reason for this became evident a week later, when it seemed they had all disappeared – on closer inspection, the flower spikes had all been nibbled off, and the leaves were hidden under rapidly growing bracken. It is always a treat to find something new on one’s own local “patch”, and this happened again when I took a short cut across a grassy area on Bramshott Common later in the season and was astonished to find a number of plants of Bloody Crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum). This is a spectacular plant to see in its natural habitat at Kynance Cove in Cornwall, or on limestone pavements in the north-west of England. Here, however, it is relict from army camp gardens (as is the nearby St. Dabeoc’s Heath) – but it must have survived without assistance for at least 60 years! One of the highlights of the year was being shown the peculiar Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) by Mike Lawn on Witley Common, a species that is virtually restricted to high pH soil. This year’s archaeological excavations of the army site on the Common revealed the extent to which imported chalk had been distributed, and this indeed affects the flora, but the Bird’s-nest Orchid was apparently on natural, quite acidic soil in old woods. (Note that this orchid and the Common Twayblade are correctly named here as belonging to the same genus; the latter was until recently in Listera but new DNA evidence has forced the move to Neottia.) The Haslemere BioBlitz in late June yielded 204 species of vascular plants, but there were few fresh records – a surprisingly long list can readily be accumulated of largely common species in mixed habitat, especially if care is taken with non- flowering specimens. Thanks to the exceptionally warm and dry spring, early summer flowering species had largely finished, and many late summer flowerers hadn’t started. In early July, Margaret Tomsett reported that a Pyramidal Orchid appeared in her Killinghurst garden for the first time. There is no published record for the species for some distance around. Work on the Haslemere Flora project continued. Of the 1241 species previously documented in our area, 528 have been confirmed, and most of the others are rare species and minor aliens. Both this project and the BioBlitz required attention as to what the criteria should be for species to be included. Modern UK and county floras include non-native species that are “established” in the wild, whether by long-term survival of individuals or by self-seeding (or other propagation), regardless of how the plant originally came to be there. This validates some significant new records from the Hampshire part of our area, all missing from the published county flora: Gagnepain’s Barberry (Berberis gagnepainii) and Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). Another candidate (but needing further investigation) is a splendid plant of Tree Peony (Paeonia lutea) found “in the wild” and surrounded by native plants, but presumably a garden throw-out. Not only would this plant be new for the county, it is not even in Colin Stace’s definitive 2019 edition of “New Flora of the British Isles”! In a climate of increasing extremes, the autumn gave us exceptional rainfall, so it is fitting that my final species in this report is from a waterside! Up to a few years ago, the floras and flower guides chastised us for referring to species of Typha as “bulrushes” – we were told they had to be called reed-maces, as the proper bulrushes were species of Schoenoplectus (formerly Scirpus). However, the authorities have apparently given up on re-educating us, and the latter are now officially club-rushes, and we can re-claim the name bulrush for what we always thought it was! The familiar tall species with a conspicuous sausage-shaped brown mass of female flowers, often seen in ditches and pondsides, is Typha latifolia (Bulrush), but my final interesting botanical observation of the year – in late December - was the much less common T. angustifolia (Lesser Bulrush). Once again, this was on familiar ground at Frensham Little Pond, but it had somehow previously eluded me. Who knows what we might find in 2020! Andy Swan BATS 2019 The very wet weather may well have impacted our bats adversely. Just one orphaned baby bat was brought in this summer, and a number of seriously undernourished bats came in during late autumn. Perhaps an indication that shrinking local insect biomass is causing problems for our bat population. The mild weather at year end meant many bats were regularly still on the wing, attempting to top up their fat reserves for hibernation. Several daylight sightings were reported, suggesting some desperation to find food. However, there were some exciting finds in our area this year with thirteen different species being encountered. Hibernacula The two National Trust bat barns in Haslemere and a Midhurst hibernacula were again monitored in each of the three winter months, and further checks made at sites in Thursley National Nature Reserve and . Chase Lane hibernaculum sheltered a single long-eared bat Plecotus sp. in each of the three months. Two Natterer’s bats, Myotis nattereri, were in the Nutcombe barn in January, five in February and two again in December. The Midhurst hibernaculum continued to attract bats of various species. February saw six Natterer’s, five long-eared and a single Daubenton’s, Myotis daubentonii, with a couple of small woodland bats, Myotis sp., at other times. 126 noctule bats Nyctalus noctula and six soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus were found hibernating in January at Thursley Common, both record counts for the site. The Busbridge site had 5 Natterer’s, a Daubenton’s and a small woodland bat in January. An extraordinary find in February was a greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, hibernating in a derelict barn not far from Haslemere - a first in the area for many years. These bats are extremely rare in Sussex and absent from Surrey, their remaining stronghold being the South West and Wales. A single (but different) individual was hibernating there in December.

Surveys Lots of survey work this year. The bat and bird boxes installed at Frensham Little Pond with HNHS funding have proved even more successful. Birds have still not occupied any of the bat boxes (but used 25 of the new bird boxes). And a record 51 soprano pipistrelles were found using the bat boxes in groups and singly this autumn, with signs that several more boxes (and a few bird boxes too!) have also been used by bats. 45 Natterer’s bats were found in residence during bat box checks at Thundry Meadows, with 25 more at Fir Tree Copse. The latter site also accommodated 11 soprano pipistrelles. It was encouraging to see 12 Alcathoe bats Myotis alcathoe still roosting at Furnace Place, and also that three more of this species were found during an Alice Holt survey. Nightly summer surveys over a Petworth Road garden and NT Swan Barn Farm showed continued attendance by the extremely rare western barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus. Durfold Wood proved to be a very important habitat for bats. Eight species were recorded there in summer surveys including all three small Myotis species and the rare Bechstein’s Myotis bechsteinii and western barbastelle bats. Radio tracking of the female barbastelles revealed their maternity roost – the first ever found for this species in Surrey. After the excitement of finding the greater horseshoe bat referred to above, a close watch was maintained on the site. Amazingly, this revealed the barn being used throughout the year, with the birth of at least one youngster in the summer. Rescues About two dozen bats were brought in this year, substantially less than in 2018. Unusually, nearly half were brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus, many of them seriously undernourished. Most of the rest were common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus, almost all cat victims, with a few Daubenton’s and whiskered bats Myotis mystacinus. One rescue, a little outside the HNHS area, was that of a Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii, found in the grille of a lorry. It is worth mentioning, as this is the rarest of our three small woodland bats, and only occasionally encountered. Only one orphaned baby pipistrelle was rescued this year. Just a day or two old on arrival, it was successfully reared by hand and passed on to a Sussex bat hospital for rehabilitation and release. Bat walks Bat walks again proved very popular, with pipistrelles and Daubenton’s putting on a good show almost every time. A rare western barbastelle flew over our heads during the Bioblitz bat walk at NT Swan Barn Farm and we also detected both pipistrelle species, long-eared and noctule bat calls. A walk at NT Woolbeding revealed both pipistrelle species, western barbastelle, Daubenton’s, noctule and serotine Eptesicis serotinus, while those at NT properties Winkworth Arboretum and Frensham Little Pond produced their usual wide range of species.

www.haslemerenaturalhistorysociety.org.uk

Interest in our web site has again increased significantly. The Recent Sightings page remains the most popular with our visitors, but the field meetings calendar and reports attract a further significant proportion. It is encouraging to see that our News page is now being accessed more often. This is where any late programme changes or cancellations are posted, and also various other items of interest such as invitations from other organisations. A fully up-to-date programme of our events is always available on-line, and detailed reports of the meetings are posted as soon as possible afterwards. We are often able to link members’ photographs to the field meeting and sightings reports to add interest, so please do e-mail us your pictures at: [email protected]. We always welcome reports from members and non-members, and all sightings for the past year or so can be browsed on the web site. Bats and Website Reports by Martyn Phillis

HASLEMERE BIOBLITZ 2019 Introduction The first Haslemere BioBlitz took place in the period 28-30th June 2019, targeting the area within 1km of Haslemere Town Hall, and was organised by HNHS. There was particular focus on the grounds of Haslemere Educational Museum and the National Trust’s Swan Barn Farm, with support from those two organisations. The objective was to involve invited experts, HNHS members and the general public in the search for as many species of macroscopic organisms as possible. The purposes of the event were both a) scientific – to establish a base-line of data and potentially to discover species of conservation significance; and b) educational – to involve and enthuse people in the study of our local biodiversity. Schedule The event compiled records of species sighted in the period 10.00am Friday 28th June to 10.00am Sunday 30th June. Records from HNHS members, invited experts and the general public were welcomed for the whole of that period, and there were thematic events on these days for HNHS members and/or the public that also generated data. On 28th June, the weather was sunny but breezy. 29th June was very warm, and was followed by a warm, humid night. Field Techniques In addition to general observation and searches, the following focussed techniques were used: Camera trap: an infra-red “trail camera” was used in the Museum grounds and in woodland close to Swan Barn Farm. Bat detectors: heterodyne detectors were used during a bat walk at Swan Barn Farm; an ultra-sound recording and automatic diagnosis system was used overnight at a Haslemere house as well as during the bat walk. Moth traps: a Skinner trap with actinic light source was sited at the Museum on the first night, and then adjacent to Swan Barn Farm on the second night; a Robinson trap with Mercury vapour bulb was sited just inside woodland close to Swan Barn Farm on the second night only. Pitfall traps: a number of plastic cups were sunk under trees in the Museum’s grounds. Sweep nets: these were deployed largely along hedgerows and in meadows during insect-themed public and HNHS events in the Museum grounds and on Swan Barn Farm land. Pond “dipping”: nets were used in the large pond in the Museum grounds. Small mammal footprint tunnel: a cardboard tube with ink pads to record small mammals was baited with sunflower seeds (for rodents) and cat food (for hedgehogs) and deployed in the Museum grounds, but was destroyed by a domestic cat. Some groups or organisms were not fully surveyed: Small mammal traps such as the Longworth were not used due to the chance of mortality. As the footprint tunnel failed, there was no survey of small mammals (except bats). A survey of lichens was intended at key sites (such as St Bartholomew’s churchyard), but did not occur due to time constraints. Some mosses and fungi were noted, but the time of year is not the best for these groups, so detailed surveys were not planned. Other groups were not well surveyed due to limitations of expertise and time; these included the smaller diptera and parasitic wasps. An authority on earthworms was invited but was unable to attend. Personnel The following were the main contributors to the species list, with their principal areas of expertise. (The indicated initials are used in the following text). Matt Bramich (MB): moths June Chatfield (JC): gastropods Scotty Dodd (SD): insects Mike Lawn (ML): insects and birds Keith Lugg (KL): isopods and myriapods Simon Moore (SM): arachnids Judith Moss (JM): vascular plants Martyn Phillis (MP): bats Andy Swan (AS): vascular plants Results: Biological Data 512 species were recorded; these are listed in a version of this report on the HNHS web site. This number includes a few specimens that were not identified to species level (whilst ensuring no double-counting). The species list has been sent to the Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre, who have agreed to add the data to the national database. A summary of the observations in major categories of organisms follows. Mammals: The 14 species of mammal found included seven species of bat detected by MP, including the rare Western Barbastelle. The overnight camera trap yielded a fox in the grounds of the Museum and a badger in woods near Swan Barn Farm. Birds: The 27 species seen did not include any surprises. Hirundines were notably absent, and just one party of seven Swifts were observed. Other notable absences were House Sparrow and Chaffinch, both species still recovering after regional population crashes. Lepidoptera: Among the 86 species recorded were ten common species of butterfly, of which only the Meadow Brown was seen in numbers. Hopes of finding Purple Emperors or White Admirals were not realised. The moth records were nearly all from light traps, and the vast majority of these were from Swan Barn Farm on the second night (the light trap at the Museum yielded just four species). The moths included the spectacular Privet Hawkmoth and a number of less common species, such as Poplar Lutestring, Treble Brown Spot, Scorched Wing, Great Oak Beauty (nationally scarce), Coronet, Triple-spotted Clay and the micromoth Pandemis dumetana. The predominant general habitat affinities were damp oak woodland plus a damp grassland component. Other insects: The variety of other insect species recorded was largely the product of sweeping in the Museum grounds by SD and in Swan Barn Farm hedgerows by ML. Highlights were the uncommon “Picture-winged” fly Rivellia syngenesiae and the Umbellifer Longhorn Beetle Phytoecia cylindrica, both in the Museum grounds. However, the general impression of surveyors was that flying insects were not as abundant as expected. Other invertebrates: The expertise of SM was largely responsible for a list of 25 spiders, including the infrequent Pirata hygrophilus. The marshy slope below Haslemere Town Well was the source of many of these records. KL is a national authority on isopods and myriapods, and he was the major contributor to a healthy list of six woodlice, three centipede and three millipede species, but none of these were unusual. The search for terrestrial and freshwater gastropods by JC was the basis of a total of 25 species. The damp slope just referred to was a significant habitat for these, and a specimen of Oxyloma found here may prove to be the rare O. sarsi, a first for Surrey, but this is still subject to confirmation. Plants: The vascular plant list has 204 species. Of these, 33 are non-native (mostly garden escapes), which is unsurprising considering the inclusion of Haslemere town in the survey area. The list is dominated by common species, but Trailing Tormentil Potentilla anglica is a significant record – a new record for the tetrad. The botanically richest habitats were the damp meadows, ditches and streamsides. Although non-native, Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa and Himalayan Knotweed Persicaria wallichii are interesting and unusual records. Results: Education and Outreach The involvement of the public was disappointing, with very few tickets sold for the organised events, and few casual “drop-ins” to the Museum. The reasons for this are unclear: the advance publicity was of good quality and used diverse media. However, those who did join in (all in SD’s event in the Museum grounds) had a high-quality and productive event. Hopefully, wildlife awareness in Haslemere was enhanced by the follow-up double-page article in the Herald newspaper. Summary and Recommendations, with Comments on Principal Sites In the Museum grounds, surveyors reported a good range of diverse organisms associated with the damper areas on the lower slopes. The pond appears to support a rich ecosystem, including newts and the spectacular Great Diving Beetle. The Small China-mark and Bulrush Wainscot moths that were recorded as flying adults have larval stages that feed on pond vegetation. The damper lower parts of the “meadow” area (beyond the ha-ha) yielded the uncommon Picture-winged fly and longhorn beetle referred to above, but the drier parts were thought to be quite disappointing. The light trap yield in the Museum garden of just four species represents a very poor total for the time of year. Very few birds were seen using the grounds. It was thought that the “meadow” area could be better managed as a wildflower meadow. The most productive habitats in Swan Barn Farm’s land were the damper areas. The dominant habitat with which the less common moths were associated was found to be damp oak woodland, plus to a lesser extent damp grassland. The light traps demonstrated a healthy abundance of insects, and this is no doubt the basis for the occurrence of the seven bat species, including the rare Western Barbastelle. The drier parts of the fields were generally not very biodiverse, although it is likely that their current state represents a recovery from a history of drainage and application of agro-chemicals. There are some fine hedgerows, and the trackside ditch between the pond and the farm has a good selection of plants. However, the most interesting area, according to several specialists, is the marshy slope east of the spring/seep line (at the boundary of the Lower Greensand and Atherfield Clay) that runs between Town Well and the Museum grounds. This was the best site for arachnids and terrestrial gastropods, and it is thought that the flora, which is already interesting, has potential to develop further with sympathetic management. Interpreting the total species count of 512 is difficult without a comparison. Other bioblitz events cannot be used for direct comparison as they will be different in terms of duration and/or size of target area and/or time of year. This total will, however, be comparable to the results of any similar events in Haslemere in the future, at which point significant changes may be discerned. Andy Swan

SOCIETY PROJECTS AIDED BY THE CLARE BRITTON AND JEAN BLAIR BEQUESTS THE TWO TERN RAFTS AT FRENSHAM LITTLE POND

Although a pair of Common Terns was seen on both rafts in mid-May, Shaun Peters (who records birds at both Frensham Ponds every weekend) reported that, sadly, no young chicks were successfully reared this year. The reason is unclear. However, Tufted Ducks made use of the rafts. Tim Mockridge (National Trust Ranger) plans to remove vegetation during the winter and to move the rafts further out into the Pond. DORMOUSE BOXES PROJECT

Members continued checking the 49 boxes that had been installed in 2015 in woodland at Imbhams Farm, Haslemere, although a break had to be made through the summer while forestry work took place. In early October four Dormice (and possibly a fifth that fled up a tree!) were weighed. These were two adult males, a juvenile male and a juvenile female. Help from Matt Bramich (of National Trust) as a Licensed Dormouse Handler was much appreciated. The findings were reported to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.

BIRD AND BAT BOXES AT FRENSHAM LITTLE POND

In late 2017, to discourage small birds from using bat boxes, a woodcrete bat box and a woodcrete bird box were positioned on the same tree. A total of 72 boxes were installed and proved to be very successful.

Martyn Cooke of Surrey Bat Group reported a similar success story for 2019 when again no bird had nested in the bat boxes. A record number of 51 Soprano Pipistrelle Bats were found in 14 boxes; 94% of the boxes contained droppings; and 25 out of the 36 bird boxes had nests. He wrote: “Whilst the cost of the boxes was high, after two years’ monitoring the results have exceeded my expectations.”

TWO SWIFT BOXES

The Society purchased two “Schwegler No. 17 Swift Boxes” which were installed on Fernhurst Village Hall in early May. These are near two existing boxes of the same design that have been there for about 20 years. Although Swifts were observed flying in the area in early summer, the boxes have yet to be used and it may take some time before the Swifts start to nest there.

LAURA PONSONBY PLANT TABLE The Society helped towards the cost of re-positioning of Haslemere Museum’s Plant Table and provided a plaque which reads: The Laura Ponsonby Plant Table was funded through a donation from Haslemere Natural History Society in memory of Laura, Haslemere Education Museum’s Honorary Botanist 1969-2016. HASLEMERE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year 2019

2019 2018 £ £ INCOME Annual Subscriptions 1,522 1,660 Guests, donations and catering 328 317 Solar Boat outing 326 - Calendars and books 5 1 Interest received 1,228 1,212 3,409 3,190 EXPENDITURE Printing and administrative costs 1,522 1,505 Public Liability Insurance 113 113 Publicity, web site and Charter Fair 96 Subscriptions and periodicals 45 45 Educational Museum 150 150 Solar Boat outing 275 - Field Trips 683 681 Speakers fees, expenses and catering 280 403 3,068 2,993

SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) for Year 341 197

LEGACIES CLARE BRITTON, brought forward 24,244 24,395 JEAN BLAIR, brought forward 7,839 7,839 Expenditure in year - Knepp Safari (CB) 153 BioBlitz (CB) 290 Swift Boxes (JB) 154 597 (597) Refund – Plant table plaque (CB) 23 (151) ______Funds carried forward 31,509 32,083 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019

2019 2018 ACCUMULATED FUNDS £ £ Accumulated funds b/fwd 12,510 13,682 Surplus (Deficit) for year 341 197 Variance in value of COIF Fixed Interest Fund 1,592 (1,370) 14,443 12,509

LEGACIES Balance of funds 31,509 32,083 45,952 44,592

Represented by :- LIQUID ASSETS AND SECURITIES COIF Fixed Interest Fund (Valuation 31/12/19) 36,439 34,847 Number of units 26,185.28 Deposit Fund 8,751 8,750 Cash at bank 1,020 1,531 ______46,210 45,128 Subscriptions received in advance (258) (536) 45,952 44,592

The accounts for 2019 were examined by the Independent Examiner and found to give a true picture of the Society’s finances for the year. The Committee decided to continue investing with COIF (Charities Official Investment Fund) as an investment policy.

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO SOCIETIES AND PERIODICALS 2019 2018 £ £ National Trust - Black Down and 25 25 National Trust - Ludshott Commons 20 20 45 45

MEMBERS IN 2019

*New Member

Mrs H Adair Mrs B Gingell Mr N J Owen Mr & Mrs P J & T E Allen Mr D J Glaser Mr A Perry Mr A Anderson Ms J Godden * Mr D R Petche Mr B Archbold (Hon) Ms A Griffiths Mrs H A Phillis Mrs C Archbold Mr & Mrs ND & MA Ham Mr M Phillis (Hon) Ms V Avery Mr & Mrs K B Harker Ms A Podmore Mrs K Ayers Mr & Mrs M Haynes Mr & Mrs R & S Polden Ms D Barkhorn Mrs S Hendry & family * Mr & Mrs D & R Pope Mrs M Barlow (Hon) Mrs M Hibbard Miss D Porteous (Life) Mr & Mrs D & S Bastiani Mr & Mrs C Hinton * Mr & Mrs J & B Potter Mr J E Belton Mr & Mrs RD & S Hoar Mr & Mrs D & A Preston Mr A J Bennett & Ms I Price Mrs S E Hodge Miss M Rae (Life) Mr & Mrs A & K J Blair Ms J Hodgson * Mr R D Ranft Mrs P S Bolam Mr & Mrs G & C House Mr C N Rhodes Ms S Bowman Mr C D Howkins (Hon) Mr J E Richardson Mrs S Bradford Ms E Hunt Hon Lady J Rous Mrs G Bradley Mr & Mrs D Huntingford Mr & Mrs I & C Russell Mrs T Brooks Mr & Mrs D E Jeffers Ms D Samuel * Mr I A Brown Mr & Mrs J N & L Kelly Mr J F Sanderson Mrs S V Carter Mrs Y Kimber (Life) Mr J H M Scalway Ms V Carter Miss S King-Hele Mrs M A Scanlan (Life) Mr R A Clark Miss J Kusel (Hon) Mrs J Scudder Miss D M E Clarke Mr B Labram (Life) Mrs L Searight Mr & Mrs A & J Clayton Mr M Lawn Mr & Mrs J H & P J Searle Mr B A Coe (Life) Mrs P B Lee (Hon) Ms V Searle Mr M Colvin Mrs C Lemka Ms S Shepley (Hon) Mrs L Coyte Mrs F E Line Mrs N C Sinclair Ms M Cunningham-Christie Ms J Magill Mr & Mrs J & P Smart Mr & Mrs H & P Curwen Mr D W Mann (Life) Dr A R H Swan Miss P Darley Mrs J M Marchant Ms J M Tanner (Hon) Mrs M Davison Miss G E Marston (Life) Mr & Mrs J Taylor & family Mrs N L Draper (Life) Mr & Miss W & M Martin Mrs D Thair Mr M Ebanks Mr & Mrs D & G Maughan The National Trust Mr P Eden Ms B McAleer Mrs D E Timney Mrs C Eraut Mrs V McClure Mrs M Tomsett Mr & Mrs J & C Ewing Dr E McDonnell & Mr S Flynn Ms R Warren Miss M A Fitchett Prof D J Midmore Mr S Wattridge Mrs A Flavell Mr S Miles Mr & Mrs J Weatherburn Mrs R Foster Mr P H Morley Mrs J Wharton Mrs J Fry (Hon) Mr R F Muir (Life) Mrs J Wilkinson Mr R Fry (Hon) Mr & Mrs K & J Murray Miss E P Wilson Mrs J C Gale Mrs S M Noble (Life) Mrs L Wilson * Mr & Mrs B & T Garland Mr A Novelle Mr S Wingent Mr & Mrs M J Gates Ms E O'Brien & J Hulin Mrs S V Ziegler (Life) Ms M Gibson Mrs A O'Keeffe

In to facilitate mailings, the membership list is held on computer, for the sole use of the Society. If you are a new member, please inform the Membership Secretary prior to the AGM if you have any objections to your name being placed on the database. Members may see their own personal entry on application to the Membership Secretary (in compliance with The Data Protection Act)