The Bedford,Hire Naturali,T 41
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The Bedford,hire Naturali,t 41 I. Journal for the year1986 ! .. Bedfordshire Natural History Society 1987 ISSN 0951-8959 BEDFORDSHIRE NATURAL mSTORY SOCIETY 1987 Chairman: Mr D.G. Rands, 51 Wychwood Avenue, Luton LU2 7HT Honorary Secretary: Mr D. Kramer, 7 Little Headlands, Putnoe, Bedford MK418JJ Honorary Treasurer: Mr M.R. Chandler, 19 Hillside Close, Shillington, Hitchin, Herts SG5 3NN Honor'ary Editor (Bedfordshire Naturalist): Mr C.R Boon, 7 Duck End Lane, Maulden, Bedford MK45 2DL Honorary Librarian and Membership Secretary: Mr RB. Stephenson, 'Owlswood', 4 Oakley Road, Bromham, Bedford MK43 8HY Honorary Scientific Committee Secretary: Miss RA. Brind, 46 Mallard Hill, Bedford MK41 7QS Council (in addition to the above): Ms c.A. Aldridge MrS.A. Cham Mr A.R. Outen DrD. Allen MrD. Green Mrs M.J. Sheridan MrV.W. Amold Mr A.J. Martin Mr H.R. Winter Mr B. J. Nightingale Honorary Editor (Muntjac): Mrs B. Chandler, 19 Hillside Close, Shillington, Hitchin, Herts SG5 3NN Committees appointed by Council: Finance: Miss R Brind MrD. Green MrD. Rands Mr M. Chandler (Sec.) MrD. Kramer MrB. Stephenson Membership: MrV.Amold MrP. Clarke MrD.Rands Mr J. Burchmore Miss B. Clutten Mrs M. Sheridan Mrs B. Chandler MrW. Drayton Mr B. Stephenson (Sec. ) Mr M. Chandler MrD. Green MrH. Winter MrS. Halton Scientific: Mr D. Anderson MissA.Day DrB. Nau MrC. Boon MrG. Dennis Mr B. Nightingale Miss R Brind (Sec.) Mr J. Knowles Mr B. Squires MrS. Cham MrD. Kramer MrP. Trodd Mr A. Livett Trustees (appointed under Rule 13): Mr M. Chandler MrD. Green MrsB. Rands T ! Bedfordshire Naturalist for 1986, No. 41 THE BEDFORDSHIRE NATURALIST . No. 41 (1986) Edited by C.R. Boon CONTENTS Officers of the Society ......................................................... cover ii Report of the Council ............................................................... 2 Proceedings ....................................................................... 3 Report of the Treasurer ............................................................. 5 Statement of Accounts .............................................................. 6 Meteorology - Report of the Recorder ............................................... 8 Botanical Assessment of Bedfordshire's Churchyards, 1982-85 - C.R, Boon .............. 11 The Effects of Recreational Activity on Wintering Wildfowl Populations at Priory Park Lake, Bedford-D. Kramer .................................................... 21 Birds - Report of the Recorder .................................................... 27 Bedfordshire Bird List-P. Trodd .................................................. 49 The First Breeding Record of Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis in Bedfordshire -Po Smith ................................................................... 52 Bird Ringing Report - Report ofthe Co-ordinator ..... , .............................. 54 tv:Iammals - Report of the Recorder ................................................. 55 Reptiles and Amphibians - Report of the Recorder ................................... 60 Fish - Report of the Recorder ..................................................... 62 Slugs and Snails - Report of the Recorder ...................................... ; ... , 64 Grasshoppers and Crickets - Report of the Recorder ..•................................ 64 Dragonflies - Report of the Recorder ............................................... 65 Spiders - Report ofthe Recorder ................................................... 66 Lacewing Flies - Report ofthe Recorder ............................................ 66 Bugs - Report ofthe Recorder ..................................................... 67 Butterflies - Report ofthe Recorder ................................................ 68 Micro-moths - Report ofthe Recorder .............................................. 69 Macro-moths - Report of the Recorder .............................................. 71 Checklist of Bedfordshire Coleoptera: (5) Addendum - B.S. Nau ....................... 74 The Musk Beetle Aromia moschata (L.) in Bedfordshire - R. A. Brind ................... 75 Mosses and Liverworts - Report of the Recorder ..................................... 76 Flowering Plants, Ferns and Fern Allies - Report of the Recorder ....................... 77 Further Notes on Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass) in Bedfordshire - C.M. Dony ................................................................. 77 Lichens - Report of the Recorder .................................................. 79 The Fungus Foray, 1986-D.A. Reid ............... , ............................... 79 Recorders .................................................................. cover iii The Society ................................................................. cover iii Tetrad Map of Bedfordshire ................................................... cover iv Front Cover: Ring Ouzel, Blows Downs, April 1986 (Andy Chick) 1 Bedfordshire Naturalist for 1986, No. 41 REPORT OF THE COUNCIL It is now forty years since the Society was formed and its history has been one of gradually increasing growth and involvement in the natural history of the county. We continue to receive many requests for information concerning the county's flora and fauna and, as building developments and changes in,iand uses continue apace, it is even more important that we continue to submit records so ~at a complete and accurate picture can be built up of all the important sites. Because of the amom'lt and importance of the work being carried out by the Scientific Committee the position of Secretary of that committee has now been elevated to that of a Council Officer. A good selection of meetings covering a wide variety of topics has been provided throughout the year and all have, in general, been well attended. The one day course at Shuttleworth and the trip to Yorkshire were both very successful. A Special General Meeting was called in October to clarify the position regarding publication of the book and the Council is pleased to report that it is now in the hands of the publishers. The Council wishes to thank the Book Committee for the many hours that they have worked on this project. The Publicity Committee has been actively engaged in promoting the Society throughout the county and, as a result of their hard work our membership has further increased to 465. Our fortieth year was celebrated in style with an Anniversary Dinner at which two of our founder members, John Dony and Henry Key delighted a large and receptive audience with their reminiscences about the Society. Everyone agreed that it was a great success. The Council regrets to announce that Dr Dony has decided to relinquish his post as Recorder of Flowering Plants, Ferns and Fern Allies, a position he has held with distinction since the formation of the Society in 1946. Also, after nine years, Mr Barry Nightingale is giving up his post as Recorder of Birds due to work commitments. During the year Mr Thomas resigned as Recorder of Spiders. The Council wishes to thank them all for their efforts and the efficient way in which they have carried out their responsibilities. It is with regret that the Society learned of the death of Mr Roy Wagstaff who, for many years edited The Muntjac. 1986 has been a very busy year characterised by a great deal of hard work and the Council would like to pass on its thanks to all those involved in organising meetings, courses and fieldtrips, to Brenda Chandler for so ably taking over the editorship of The Muntjac and to Chris Boon, the editor of the Bedfordshire Naturalist. DAVEKRAMER 1983 1984 1985 1986 Ordinary Members 345 348 351 375 Associate Members 64 62 63 62 Student Members 24 17 14 14 Corporate Members 10 11 10 7 Life Members 5 5 5 5 Honorary Life Members 4 4 4 2 452 447 447 465 Table: Membership of the Society over the last four years 2 Bedfordshire Naturalist for 1986, No. 41 PROCEEDINGS Indoor Meetings 541st Ordinary Meeting 9th January, Bedford. Members' evening. Chair: Mr RB. Stephenson. 542nd Ordinary Meeting 15th January, Ampthill. Twitchers' evening. Chair: Mr B.J. Nightingale. 543rd Ordinary Meeting 21st January, Dunstable. "The wildlife of two islands - Skomer and Rhum" by Mr C. Banks and Mr B. Barton. Chair: Mr S. Cham. 544th Ordinary Meeting 30th January, Luton. "British ferns and their relatives" Mr A.R Outen. Chair: MrV.W. Arnold. 545th Ordinary Meeting 6th February, Bedford. "A taste of Welsh wildlife" by Mr R Revels. Chair: Mr J. Zorzi. 546th Ordinary Meeting 11th February, Ampthill. Chairman's evening. "A close look at small mammals" by Mr D.G. Rands. 547th Ordinary Meeting 18th February, Dunstable. "Restoration of disused chalk quarries" by Mr G. Atkins. Chair: Mr S. Cham. 548th Ordinary Meeting 27th February, Luton. "A country lane" by Mr W. Drayton. Chair: Mr D. Green. 549th Ordinary Meeting 12th March, Bedford Museum. "An introduction to the work of the Museum" by Miss R Brind. 550th Ordinary Meeting 18th March, Dunstable. Members' evening. Chair: Mr M. Sheridan. Annual General Meeting 25th March, Flitwick. 551st Ordinary Meeting 2nd October, Bedford. "A countryman's camera" by Mr A. J. Martin. Chair: Mr R. Revels. 552nd Ordinary Meeting 15th October, Ampthill. "Mountains and their flowers" Mr M.R. Chandler. Chair: Mrs E.B. Rands. 553rd Ordinary Meeting 21st October, Dunstable. "British Bats" by Mr P. Richardson (Northants Bat Group). Chair: Mr D. Anderson. Special General Meeting 30th October, Flitwick. To discuss the book Bedfordshire Wildlife. 554th Ordinary Meeting 5th November, Bedford.