Greater Gwent Biodiversity Action Group Glamorgan Biodiversity Advisory Group
G w e n t - G l a m o r g a n Recorders’ Newsletter
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015 A Harvestman new to Wales: Leiobunum sp. Welcome to the thirteenth issue of the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ On 23rd September 2015 I Newsletter! found a specimen on the wall of a building in Maesteg town Once again many of you have been busy centre. The species is unmis- recording invertebrates this summer, and takeable. The harvestmen with this issue brings news of lots of interest- the longest legs that have the ing sightings including some brand new habit of sitting on walls, Lei- species for Wales. obunum rotundum and Opilio We also have news of some exciting new canestrinii, have leg-spans of projects. As part of a Natural Talent up to 120mm; my specimen's Traineeship, Liam Olds has set out to legs spanned 150mm. Also, its survey the unique invertebrate assem- colouration is unique. The dor- blages of South Wales’s colliery Spoil sal surface is black and the (p13-14), whilst Mark Steer has been ventral surface pale orange. searching for a rare rust on round-leaved wintergreen in a bid to discover just how All the specimens so far record- rare it really is (find out how you can help ed in Britain have been found on p5-6). on the walls of buildings in
Meanwhile, others have been reflecting towns. This would suggest an on their past wildlife experiences. Myk origin in a warm region as it Pudlo-Umney tells us about the chance seeks the "heat islands" of sightings that have shaped his passion urban centres. This is certainly for nature conservation (p3-4), while a species for recorders in Colin Titcombe looks back at the history Glamorgan and Gwent to of ravens in Gwent – with reference to Leiobunum Sp. © Greg Jones one particularly special individual! (p8) search for during the Autumn of this year. In 2004, a large, dark harvestman in the Enjoy the issue. genus Leiobunum was found in the Nether- Greg Jones, VC 41 Recorder for lands. Experts were unable to identify it to Amy Hicks, SEWBReC (Editor) Orthoptera species. In 2005 it was again found in the Netherlands and in 2006 also in Germany Included in this issue (not all listed): and Austria. It was subsequently found in A Harvestman New to Wales 1 Switzerland in 2007 and France in 2009. Australian Leafhoppers 2 It is believed that this harvestman was acci- Editor: If you go out hunting for Why I Do 3-4 dentally imported into Europe. Efforts by harvestmen this autumn (or any Searching for ‘Wintergreen Rust’ on the European specialists Wijnhoven, of the other interesting species 5-6 Round-Leaved Wintergreen Schӧnhofer and Martens saw them concen- mentioned in this issue) don’t for- Recording Highlights from Taf Fechan 7 trate on Spain and northern Africa and then get to record your sightings online The Raven in Gwent 8 Mexico and the southern states of the USA at www.sewbrecord.org.uk. in order to determine its origin: all their ef- Bugged 9-10 forts have so far drawn a blank. Interesting Plant Finds 2015 10-11 In 2009 the first British specimen was found Colliery Spoil Tips: biodiversity hotspots in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and in 2012 it 13-14 and important Welsh habitats was found in Barnsley, Yorkshire. It has been recorded in increasing numbers in Monmouth Counts Wildlife 15 Worksop up to 2015. It has frequently been SEWBReC Business Update 16 found in very large congregations.
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Australian Landhoppers
I was playing in the garden one day then noticed some dead and rotting leaves under a large evergreen tree. I took a scoop of the waste and noticed something moving and I dropped it in shock. I sieved through it and found a nest of panicking woodlice and fur- thermore some small brown creatures crawling away from me. I reached out and as my fingertips touched its body it sprang up about four centimetres in the air to my surprise. I took some more of the material out and noticed a dozen more with the same jumping abilities. I reached out with a collecting pot in my hand and caught six of the minibeasts, and took them to my dad.
Catherine Rowe, aged 10, St Brides Major, Vale of Glamorgan.
Being used to my daughters regularly national and local distribution. I capturing, prodding and playing with all learned that it is a native of East- manner of creeping, crawling and slither- ern Australia and was first rec- ing creatures, it was no surprise when orded in the UK in the Isles of Catherine presented me with a collecting Scilly in 1925, but is the only ter- pot containing her latest find from the restrial amphipod found in the garden. What was a surprise was the UK. As such it has been odd appearance of the creatures in her ‘adopted’ as an ‘honorary wood- pot. Amongst the leaf litter were some louse’ by the British Myriapod small, dark shrimp-like creatures, either and Isopod Group (BMIG) re- lying flat on their sides, or standing up cording scheme for Woodlice and and walking in a rather precarious man- Waterlice! ner. Catherine told me that they were A check of the UK distribution on leaping around when she first disturbed the NBN Gateway showed 46 them. I had no idea what they were, alt- records, with just one in Wales hough they looked most similar to the (over ten years ago at Brackla, sandhoppers that are common on the Bridgend). My excitement mount- strandline of beaches. I took a quick pho- ed as I checked our own Local tograph (see below) before returning Records Centres Wales data them to the garden. portal (www.lrcwalesdat.org) only to find that, slightly bizarrely, this held 41 Welsh records. Clearly the NBN The 2012 distribution map it contains Gateway isn’t reflecting the true and interprets is repduced above. UK distribution of this species, Within Wales, records of the species because of insufficient data shar- seem to show a southern and possibly ing (something SEWBReC will coastal bias. Wherever you are in the be rectifying soon … but that’s a SEWBReC patch (or beyond), it may be story for another issue!). worth having a dig around in leaf litter, I contacted the BMIG recording as you too may be able to find a new scheme co-ordinator, Steve 10km square record! Please report any Gregory, to find out more. He sightings to us via subsequently confirmed that www.sewbrecord.org.uk. Catherine’s record is (excitingly My contact with Steve Gregory has now for her) a first record for our started a dialogue between us about Arcitalitrus dorienni © Adam Rowe 10km square (SS87), and that in how BMIG records may in the future be total BMIG holds records from Over the next couple of days I showed shared with SEWBReC and other about 120 10km squares across Britain the photograph to Mike Wilson (National LERCs. Watch this space for further and Ireland. Steve supplied a link to an Museum Wales) and SEWBReC’s own myriapod, isopod and amphipod news! article he wrote on the species for the Dave Slade and both gave me the same BMIG Newsletter in 2012 (see: Adam Rowe, SEWBReC Manager answer – the Australian Land-hopper www.bmig.org.uk/sites/ (Arcitalitrus dorienni). I began to re- www.bmig.org.uk/files/news/ search the species online, including its bmignews25.pdf). Page 2
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Why I Do
Myk Pudlo-Umney is founder of Birds aren’t always accidental when pretty damn fulfilling!) Porthkerry Wildlife Group and, after crashing into me. When our dog Poppy relocating from Barry to Aberdare, re- was only a few months old, I was walking “The beauty of these things is cently founded Dare Valley Wildlife her in Finsbury Park, when we came that they happen throughout Group. He also writes a blog ‘Myky upon a fledgling carrion crow sitting on Speaks’ from which this article origi- the grass next to a fence. Poppy’s reac- your life as long as you think nates. tion was to play with it. Not play with it to keep an eye out- you can’t like it was a toy, but play with it like it was me or another dog. She wanted it to be too young or too old.” Most people have never seen a live chase her! Mum and Dad crow however, mole. I’ve been lucky enough to see had very different ideas. They attacked, One year we were just leaving The two. The first was in the late 80s, during trying to peck her eyes. I grabbed her Lodge (RSPB HQ at Sandy) when a my early teens. I was on a concrete taxi- and we ran. When they realised they Ranger came out of the building and way during an air show at RAF Fairford. couldn’t get to her, they switched to excitedly told us a hoopoe had been I felt something on my foot, looked down bombing us with pooh. We ended up spotted on site - obviously we went and there was a mole climbing off my going round half the park before we were and saw it! While on the subject of the boot! I followed it until it disappeared let off, but the interesting thing is that it RSPB, I worked in a call centre, calling into the long grass. The second was a wasn’t the same pair the whole time. for various charities, and was briefed couple of years ago at Wenvoe. It was They chased us a little way before anoth- to call for them. The script was about standing in front of me when I got off the er pair took over, and then again with a songbird decline, and the success of bus, and again disappeared into the third pair. It was very interesting - defi- red kite conservation. The first morn- grass. One thing I’ll say about moles is nitely proved to me that crows communi- ing of the campaign, on the very same that their fur doesn’t look black, more cate! It was also quite scary, scarier than muntjac sparring-ground that is Ceme- silvery. when the buzzard mobbed me - she was tery Hill, I saw my first ever red kite! just defending her nest as I’d accidentally My first ever kingfisher was when I With the possible exception of the bat got too close. I still had to go quite a dis- was on a school trip to Stowmarket, that tried to land in my bandana tails tance and even then back up to a tree and I watched as it caught a fish. I’ve and ended up swinging round and land- before she would finally go! only ever seen one osprey, but that ing on my shoulder before dropping caught a fish and manoeuvred it with down and flying off, the mole-on-my- its feet. My first ever otter I thought foot story was probably the mildest of was a dog! my physical encounters with wildlife! Twice in my life I’ve been run over by The beauty of these things is that a muntjac. Twice! Not in the same they happen throughout your life as place, not even in the same county! long as you think to keep an eye out- I was cycling down Cemetery Hill in you can’t be too young or too old. Bedford one night around half eight, Last year I saw my first wheatear on and it was dusk. All of a sudden a Barry beach, just strolling along with muntjac came out of a hole under a friends (me, not the wheatear!). The wall, and knocked me off my bike. It year before, me and two friends had then proceeded to headbutt me for Muntjac © Myk Pudlo-Umney gone to a place near Pontypridd to another minute or two before running see nightjars. We had no expecta- off- I can only assume it was an amo- My encounters aren’t always so physical. tions - we genuinely thought we’d just rous male! The first time I saw a jay was in Hatfield hear some churring, and we’d have Forest. We were just wandering around been more than happy with that. We That was the second time, and at least enjoying the woods, when we saw a jay were wrong. We heard both the call the first was an accident. I was walking on the ground. It looked a little odd, so and the churr. While we were waiting my then girlfriend’s Dalmatian, when a we slowed down, shut up, crouched for the sun to go down we saw a muntjac leapt out of the ditch by the side down and crept forward - only to discover crossbill, and we knew that was going of the road, knocking me into the dog. that it was anting! I’ve never seen one do to be the highlight. Then we heard The three of us rolled over each other, it since, and we only saw it for a few sec- some churring and located it as com- and when me and the dog got to our onds after realising what was happening, ing from a field. We decided not to go feet, we could see the muntjac bouncing but it was long enough! I’ve seen spar- into the field as they’re a ground- off in the distance! It wouldn’t have been rowhawks catch pigeons, kestrels hover- nesting species, and it was that time of so bad, but that day I’d already been ing and catching rodents, a peregrine year. Then we saw one on a log. I knocked over by a brace of pheasants! dive and grab a starling mid-air and vari- can’t describe the excitement! It’s one Walking the dog through a knee-high ous birds of prey being mobbed by other British bird that I’ve always written off field, I must have been walking in a per- birds (including a peregrine mobbed by a as something I’d never see. fect straight line towards them because mixed flock of swifts, swallows, and they came up out of the grass about six house martins, and a buzzard mobbed Continues overleaf... feet in front of me, and as they went to by a raven mobbed by a carrion crow!) go either side of me, they hit each Accidental sightings like this is what the shoulder – not wing-clipped, bounced world is made of. It’s far more fulfilling into me – at nearly the same time, than something you’ve sat in a hide wait- causing me to fall backwards! ing five hours to see (and that can be Page 3
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Why I Do (continued)
And I managed to get a photo! Admitted- bullfinches - hell, why don’t they even world around us. THAT is why I set up ly it’s not a good photo - 500mm lens at notice them? How can people dismiss Porthkerry Wildlife Group. THAT is why I full zoom just after dusk, no flash, no water voles as rats - or any other vole set up Dare Valley Wildlife Group. THAT tripod, BUT I TOOK A PHOTO OF A for that matter? I often wax lyrical about is why I will set up similar groups in eve- NIGHTJAR! And then IT happened. Ten our ordinary wildlife - magpies, foxes ry town I ever live in. It’s not up to the feet away on the ground, while two flew and the like. But there’s more to it than charities to do this - they can’t. As far as around our heads (I cannot tell you just that. most people are concerned, because how falcon-like they are in flight!) was a they’re the experts, the charities are the nightjar feigning a broken wing to lure us In the last ten years I’ve shown a wom- “people I give my money to and they away - there was a nest in the field! The an in her late-twenties her first ever spend it on things that I don’t really un- responsible decision to stay out was the hedgehog, and a couple of years ago derstand, but I don’t need to.” No, it isn’t right one. That experience kept me on a her first slow worm. Both times, the look up to them. It is up to me. It is up to the high for days! on her face was priceless. At the mo- members of the wildlife groups in ment, as a movement, we are (rightly) Porthkerry and Dare Valley. It is up to I hope I don’t come across like I’m show- concentrating on getting children into you. ing off. I love our wildlife. I want every- wildlife, educating them so that when one else to as well. There are loads of they get older they will want to take care We aren’t the experts sitting behind a species I haven’t seen - badgers, red of the environment, but I believe we desk working it all out. We are the peo- squirrels, waxwings, nightingales to should also be re-connecting adults. ple in the street, the ordinary people name just four. But I like that - I like with ordinary jobs. We are the real role the fact that I’m not a box-ticker. I can -models. Experts are inspiration, but still sit and watch an ordinary great tit role-models are next door neighbours, go about its business and come away cousins, colleagues, drinking partners. smiling. I’m heading towards my 41st We are the ones that prove you can birthday, my memory isn’t too good be normal and understand how biodi- either, yet I remember my firsts, I re- versity means we can’t install a by- member the encounters. I could name pass. We don’t lecture or preach, we others - a ghostly barn owl at night lit say “look at that, isn’t it amazing”. We by busy London street lights. Great don’t bore people with speeches, we crested grebes courting in Bedford, show them things by pointing them accidentally walking into a red deer rut “I took a photo of a nightjar!” © Myk Pudlo-Umney out. We don’t make them feel inade- in Richmond Park and standing nerv- quate or bored - and most importantly, ously still up against a tree. we have normal lives. We live our lives seeing species and I will never understand why not everyone having experiences for the first time, but Myk Pudlo-Umney, Dare Valley Wild- does this. Why don’t people marvel at to do that we have to be looking at the life Group
The Big Butterfly Count at Taff Bargoed Park
Members of the public, parents and children participated in a day of fun and activities as part of the Big Butterfly Count 2015 on Taff Bargoed Park. The children visited the park’s grassland areas collecting and recording over 200 butter- flies, sending the results and then receiving certificates from The Big Butterfly Count. The children also created artwork of the butterfly life cycle to take home with them and to also be displayed on the park’s visitor centre walls. As well as the children and parents having such a fun day out in the park, activities based around recording help to- wards the park’s ongoing wildlife logbook data collection. Paul Virgin, Environmental & Heritage Warden
Upcoming events at Taff Bargoed Park October 27th Hibernation Activity October 29th Tree planting Day
All activities are free. Booking essential. © Paul Virgin Children to be accompanied by an adult.
Tel. Environmental & Heritage Warden, Paul Virgin on 07515189844 Page 4
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
M.T.I.B. Visit to Taff Bargoed Park
bug hotels. The group also helped the warden Paul Virgin collect Fauna to refurbish the parks large stacked Bug Hotel Buginham Palace in the Education area. The group are now looking forward to their next visit, when they will be taking part in the planting of various woodland marginal plants around the park. Ellen Pedley Employment Training Officer for M.T.I.B Com- mented: “Paul made us all so welcome and made our visit fun as well as informative. The group learned about the plants and wildlife in the park and they enjoyed helping to build the bug hotel – even when some spiders came to investigate what we were doing! We are looking forward to our return visit. It is a great way to link learning with helping to keep fit and healthy.”
© Paul Virgin If your community group or organisation would like to join the warden for a visit or get involved in future environmental pro- Members of Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind visited Taff jects on Taff Bargoed Park please contact Paul: Bargoed Park on the 24th of June and took part in a fun day [email protected] Tel. 07515189844 of environmental activities that included the making of mini
Searching for ‘Wintergreen Rust’ (Chrysomyxa pyrolata) on Round-Leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. Maritima)
This summer I have been searching for Chrysomyxa pyrolata is a rust fungus Southport and Barrow-in-Furness (South round-leaved wintergreen (Pyrola ro- which colonises Pyrola plants systemi- Lancashire). Both sites have been resur- tundifolia subsp. Maritima) in Glamor- cally, re-occuring year-after-year at the veyed this year, with successful numer- ganshire (VC41), in the quest for the same sites. It can only be seen when it ous finds, but our knowledge of its true rust fungus Chrysomyxa pyrolata, causes orange pustules on the host distribution throughout the UK is ex- which is considered rare and endan- plant, typically on the underside of tremely poor. If we are to claim that this gered in the UK. These surveys have leaves (see below left). Like many rust is a genuinely rare species worthy of been undertaken as part of the Lost fungi it has an alternate host, in this conservation attention in the UK, we and Found Fungi project, a five year, case infecting cones of some Picea spe- need data on current sites, but also evi- UK-wide, volunteer oriented fungal cies, but the alternate stage has never dence showing that it appears to be conservation initiative, co-ordinated at been reported in the UK. However, we absent in other suitable habitats. the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and still know very little about the ecology funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foun- of this rust. Since no-one has actively dation (details in the appendix over- recorded unsuccessful searches on leaf). Brian Douglas will be giving a Pyrola, it’s possible that it could be presentation at the SEWBReC Forum very overlooked, and much more in November on this project. widespread than currently thought! UK records of Chrysomyxa pyrola- ta extend back to 1844, almost to the beginning of British mycology. Historical sites are known from Leaves of round-leaved wintergreen, Pyrola Scotland (near Dundee and Edin- rotundifolia subsp. Maritima © Mark Steer burgh, last recorded in 1876); in England – in Shropshire (1875), East My initial search efforts in South Wales Gloucester (1920), South Lancashire are concentrated on dune slacks at (1932 – present) and South Wiltshire Whiteford Sands NNR, Gower (where (1975). In Wales, it has only been there are known colonies of Pyrola), with reported once, from Anglesey in Emma Gilmartin of Cardiff University 1971. Since then, there have only and the Glamorgan Fungus Group, been two sites reported for this rust Continues overleaf... Chrysomyxa pyrolata on round-leaved winter- in the UK, both on Pyrola rotundifolia green © Tony Carter subsp. Maritima in dune slacks near Page 5
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Searching for ‘Wintergreen rust’ (Chrysomyxa pyrolata) on Round-Leaved Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. Maritima) [Continued]
Populations of Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. Maritima surveyed during this study.
Map data © 2015 Google. and Brian Douglas, Paul Cannon and likely to be restricted to the few known Appendix: Martyn Ainsworth of the Royal Botanic extant populations, which may require The Lost and Found Fungi Gardens Kew. I then continued the greater conservation attention to avoid Project search at Merthyr Mawr NNR and this species becoming extinct in the UK.
Kenfig Pool NNR, where Pyrola popu- However, we still need similar surveys Website: http://fungi.myspecies.info/ lations are also known to occur. De- throughout the UK to conclusively demon- content/lost-found-fungi-project spite finding Pyrola in abundance at strate its rarity. these locations, the rust did not appear I have a number of other locations that I Contact details: Brian Douglas – to be present. [email protected] have not visited. These include Oxwich
I was then alerted by Richard Wistow, Burrows, Pelena Forest, and Kenfig mar- Datasheet for Chrysomyxa pyrolata: Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) County shalling yards. I hope to visit these sites http://fungi.myspecies.info/sites/ Ecologist, that Pyrola is now estab- during 2016, and revisit the locations al- fungi.myspecies.info/files/ lished on colliery spoil heaps in RCT. I ready surveyed in 2015. I would greatly Chrysomyxa%20pyrolata.pdf therefore visited a few of these sites appreciate information on other locations including Cwm Colliery, Beddau; Cly- in Glamorgan VC41 for Pyrola, preferably Glamorganshire (VC41) county dach Vale Country Park; Parc Slip NR; with 8 or 10 figure grid references if possi- locations searched in 2015: and Llanilid open cast mine (which is ble – it can be quite hard to spot in the conveniently only 1 mile from my field! Whiteford Sands NNR, Gower: home, see appendix for details). The I would like to thank all those who have SN3903.0205, SN3913.0188, site at Llanilid proved interesting, as it provided me with locations for Pyrola, SN4347.9421, SN4348.9420, now has a ‘medieval castle’ built on it particularly Paul Denning, Margaret Sam- SN4348.9422, SN4365.9429, as part of a film set! Fortunately Pyrola uel, David Barden and the Glamorgan SN4365.9432, SN4365.9433, was present in abundance at a second Botany Group, and Richard Wistow, RCT SN4366.9431, SN4366.9432 and nearby location. It was interesting to County Ecologist. In addition I would like SN445.955 note that Pyrola on dune slacks seems to thank Brian Douglas for all his help in to grow close to creeping Willow (Salix preparing this article and his continuing Kenfig Pool NNR: SS78841.82110 repens) whereas on colliery spoil support. and SS78880.82036 heaps it seems to favour mossy damp places with some small willows Merthyr Mawr NNR: SS86447.76803 (species unknown) and small birch. Mark Steer, Glamorgan Fungus Group Parc Slip NR: SS87009.83529 Despite finding Pyrola at all these sites, there was again no sign of C. Clydach Vale Country Park: pyrolata. However, these unsuccessful SS9641.9269 and SS97940.92855 surveys do cover a significant area within Glamorganshire (see above Llanilid open cast mine: map) suggesting that the rust may be SS99708.82101, SS98988.81628, genuinely absent, and supporting the SS99042.81602, SS99023.81617, idea that its distribution could be lim- SS99013.81619 and SS98986.81622 ited by factors other than the presence of its host. If this is true, then it is more Page 6
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Recording Highlights from Taf Fechan
So, highlights of the year? Well reach- time photographing. ing 500 species was quite a milestone As anyone who does any re- for me (it’s now up to 531 by the way). cording knows, ichneumons are The major highlight is always being out a pain so finding the Hymenop- in a wonderful reserve full of all kinds of terists Forum on Facebook was life. Being able to record what is proba- a highlight. In fact, knowing bly just a small fraction of what this there are people who can identi- place holds is a joy (the extra bonus is fy some of these often stunning there is always new stuff to learn but always enigmatic creatures about!). from photographs was a revela- Favourite species? There have been a tion as well as a highlight, so few this year: Lophosia fasciata was with much help from some very Lophosia fasciata © Graham Watkeys one - a rarely recorded tachinid fly knowledgeable people Banchus this) is my final highlight. Of course there whose antennae caught my eye and volutatorius went on the list (at number have been many more (the mouse pee seemed to make a few fly experts on 439). pinkgill, lurid bolete and hieroglyphic lady- the UK Diptera Facebook group as well Moving away from rarities and difficult bird spring to mind) but unfortunately I as the UK Tachinid Recording Scheme species, seeing my first gorse shieldbug can’t write about them all. very happy. Talking of rare or under was definitely a highlight. I think it’s a recorded tachinids I also managed to most elegant and beautiful thing and it Graham Watkeys, Taf Fechan Warden record Subclytia rotundiventris, a para- entered the list at number 485. Finally site of shieldbugs, not that I had any the last species you see is always a You can find the Hymenopterists idea this was a tachinid, it just looked highlight just because it’s new, so the Forum on facebook at: different to anything I had seen before leaf mining micro-moth Tischeria www.facebook.com/groups/ and I thought it worth spending some ekebladella (the latest species as I write HymenopteristsForum88/.
Number 500
only goes to prove the Despite being common there are only 251 saying “never let the records of Calliphora vomitoria (which is truth get in the way of a what it turned out to be) across Wales good story” or that the and if I’m honest despite this low number Spartans had a really I was hoping for a more glamorous spe- good communications cies to sit as Number 500 on my list but officer) so let’s forget there you are. I subsequently found out this ever happened and that Calliphora vomitoria is one of several move on, anyway back flies that go under the name “Bluebottle” to the point. Where and as they all have the same vitally im- was I? Ah yes, Number portant though, let’s face it, rather unpal- Calliphora vomitoria © Graham Watkeys 500. atable life habit my mind just refuses to consider what that black fluid it’s blowing The day was beginning to look rather Despite some heroically intensive bim- bubbles with actually is. Spartan but having reached 499 the bling it was actually looking rather Spar- previous day with a Cream-spotted La- tan with not much about until a flash of So ladies and gentlemen Number 500 on dybird I was as determined as Leoni- blue caught my eye, this flash of blue my Taf Fechan species list, the Bluebot- das…. Ok so trying to unobtrusively landed on a nearby Birch leaf. This tle! crowbar references to Thermopylae (I flash of blue was quite happy to stay on really wanted to use the word phalanx) the nearby birch leaf (which is quite a Graham Watkeys, Taf Fechan Warden into an article fundamentally about a rare occurrence with flashes of blue on “Bluebottle” is more difficult than it birch leaves). I admit I had to squash This article was originally a blog post on Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ East seems and should probably go under the thought “Oh it’s only a Bluebottle” Glamorgan News page: http:// and I nearly moved on but as this partic- the heading “It seemed like a good idea www.welshwildlife.org/eastglamnews/ at the time” plus the fact I’ve just real- ular flash of blue was happy to sit as I ised it was “The 300” not “The poked my camera in its face I took its 500” (although most historians put the picture (side view, top view and front actual number at around 1400 which view). Page 7
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
The Raven in Gwent
Today, when we are continually being will never know but the circumstances made aware of declining bird popula- were such that a decision was made to tions, it is good to know that such dimin- take the orphan into care. ishing numbers are not to be found in all Trevor Evans, who was with me at the species. Some are still doing well and time of the discovery, took the Raven among these is the Raven (Corvus corpse away and skinned it in an at- corax). tempt to ascertain the cause of its death, In a booklet published by the Cardiff The birds skin was intact – no shot holes Naturalists’ Society (reprinted from the – so it had died from some other cause. Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists’ During the following months the young Society Vol. LXX., 1937) entitled ‘The Raven fed well on chicken offal and Birds of Monmouthshire’, the authors soon developed into a fine, glossy black (Geoffrey C.S. Ingram and H. Morrey specimen of its kind. The deep guttural Salmon) inform us that during the 1930s croaks produced caught the attention of Ravens were only known as breeding the local Carrion Crows but the Raven birds in the north and north-west of the paid them no heed whatever. It was far county, with less than a handful of nest- more interested in any buzzing insects sites known. Where substantial amounts that may pass by and, if they came too of food are made available to them in close, they would be expertly plucked these areas they can occur in some out of mid-air and swallowed. Jack Wilmington ‘Keeper of Ravens’ shows Jet’s numbers, twenty to thirty birds being name on the Roll of Tower Ravens © Colin Titcombe given as an example of their abun- An old washing-up bowl served as a to Jack Wilmington, the tower’s ‘Keeper dance. bath and bathing seemed to be a particu- of Ravens’ (see photograph above). lar pleasure (see photograph below taken During the late medieval period and by Nigel Evans following a Raven bathing In recent times it has become obvious beyond into the 16th and 17th centuries session) that Raven numbers have increased Ravens were common scavengers in considerably and they can now be seen Britain’s cities (today they still nest on The problem arising now was one of im- regularly in most parts of the county. cathedrals in Liverpool and Truro) but printing – the young bird became very Large numbers still gather at major food beyond that they were persecuted to tame, too tame for release into the wild, sources and, in July 2011, 50 or more such a degree that their numbers fell and so he was offered to the Tower-of- were estimated to be feeding on the and their occurrence limited to the wild- London. ‘Wentwood Jet’ was accepted as Silent Valley rubbish tip near Ebbw est parts of the country. the 7th Raven at the Tower (a sort of Vale. And on the 8th October 2004, ‘reserve’ since the official number of Ra- My own recollections of Ravens in while on a walk at Graig-y-darth vens at the tower is six) by the resident Gwent began in the 1950s when they (Trelleck to Monmouth) we disturbed a governor of the time Major General Rae- were known to nest on the cliffs above flock of 27 Ravens which had been burn. Tom Lock, a friend of mine and the Wye at Chepstow. The first record attracted to a sheep carcass down on former London Bus-driver, volunteered to that appears in my diaries comes from one of the fields. take Trevor and me, along with Went- the Brockwells Farm, Caerwent on the wood Jet, to London in July of the same So, Ravens, having been familiars in 2nd May 1959. At this time Ravens flew year, and here the Raven was introduced British towns and cities during historic over the Caerwent area from time to times, are now behaving similarly in time, mostly from north to south or rural Gwent. While not exactly garden vice versa. birds, they are moving closer to hu- Over the next decade I continued to manity once more. Two of my friends, see the occasional Raven in the south living near Raglan and Abergavenny -east corner of Gwent, with most of respectively, have Ravens nesting my records still coming from my visits annually in trees close to their houses to the counties northern hills. Howev- – literally within 50 metres of their er, on the 2nd May 1971 I found my front-doors! Now that is quite some first Raven’s nest. It was situated in a improvement on the scarcity of the pine tree near Five Paths in Went- 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. wood Forest. Below the nest an adult Raven lay dead, and nearby there Colin Titcombe was a young Raven which had, per- haps in desperation, left the nest. ‘Wentwood Jet’ as the young Raven became known, Exactly what had taken place here we following a bathing session (image by nigel Evans) Page 8
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Bugged!
In June 2015, I ran a moth trap for the Wondering if I had made a mistake, I neath the leaves of rosebay willowherb, bioblitz, at Gwyl Taf nature reserve, went through the gallery again, several but that was more or less it: not much near Edwardsville in the Taff Valley. times, but each time it is to S. dahlbomi I of a colony. I tried searching deeper Having released some micro-moths returned. into the vegetation, away from the path, back at the site the following morning, I but couldn't find any in there at all. It noticed a reasonably large leafhopper, was also clear that hogweed wasn't with distinctive dark venation, con- present on that part of the reserve. trasting with the pale blue green ground Casting my eyes towards the river, I colour of its wings. I photographed it, could see a lower path, alongside which more in hope than expectation of being was quite a lot of raspberry, so I went able to identify it. down there, to search. Those raspberry plants were completely devoid of S. dahlbomi, but then my attention was drawn to the thousands of young plants of Himalayan balsam lining the path. They varied in height from just a few centimetres to around 30 centimetres tall and were obviously subject to regu- lar disturbance and trampling, but on those plants, I discovered dozens of adults and nymphs.
Sonronius dahlbomi, nymph © Mark Evans The original discovery © Mark Evans I sent a query, attaching a photo, to the A day or two later, I went on the excel- authors of the website; Tristram Bantock lent 'British Bugs' website (http:// and Joseph Botting and it was the latter www.britishbugs.org.uk), and after trawl- who promptly replied provisionally con- ing the gallery there seemed to be just firming my identification (he also copied one close match, this being Sonronius in the recorder for this group, Alan Stew- dahlbomi, but on checking its status, I art) and asking if I could revisit the site to could find no records in Wales and a look for nymphs. He was particularly generally central, south and eastern UK interested in establishing what food plant distribution. it was using, having found it using com- mon hogweed at a site, near Llan- drindod. On the British Bugs web- site, rosebay willowherb and rasp- berry are given as possible the food plants and both were certain- ly present where I found that indi- vidual, but as I was to confirm, hogweed wasn't. As well as his own observations of the species on hogweed, he re- ferred to a comment by Herbert Young Himalayan balsam plants © Mark Nickel, a German Hemipterist, Evans regarding "hogweed (or possibly This discovery sparked off some dis- another umbellifer) when he finds cussion between Alan, Joseph and it in Germany and apparently re- Tristram, the conclusion of which gards the records of it allegedly seemed to be that the species is proba- using rosebay willowherb and bly polyphagous and has a preference raspberry as probably spurious." for rank vegetation in damp habitats. It was a week or so before I was Gwyl Taf nature reserve appears to be able to return and immediately on only the second known Welsh site for entering the site, I found an adult on a bracken frond. After a short Continues overleaf... search, I found another couple of adults on raspberry leaves and two nymphs on bramble and rasp- berry. UK Distribution of Sonronius dahlbomi © NBN Gate- I also found a few exuviae under- way Page 9
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Bugged! (Continued) this species and the only one in Gla- I would like to thank Jennifer Pilkington, morgan (VC41). I have looked at other of Gwyl Taf nature reserve, for inviting similar sites, such as Pwll Waun me to trap there; Joseph Botting, Tris- Cynon nature reserve; a floodplain site tram Bantock and Alan Stewart for their in the Cynon valley, which has all of interest and help. the suspected food plants present, but with no success, so far. The distribution map is reproduced cour- This species must be present else- tesy of the NBN Gateway. All the photos where in South East Wales, so if you are my own, so I have no one to blame know a damp site, with rank vegeta- but myself. tion which includes some or all of the above food plants, check it out next summer: you never know! Mark Evans
S. dahlbomi nymphs on Himalayan balsam © Mark Evans
Interesting plant finds 2015
As well as our monthly walks with the year near Llanhilleth, Crumlin and goosefoot in a farm gateway on Lydart Monmouthshire Botany Group, we another small specimen was found Hill, Penallt. This is only the second have been out most weeks throughout this September in a bog south of inland record of the species, the first the year visiting poorly recorded tet- Tredegar. The bog also provided being found by EW at the edge of a rads. There have been so many inter- Marsh St John’s Wort Hypericum muck heap near Trellech last year. esting finds but a few of the highlights elodes and Round-leaved Sundew Muck heaps are excellent places to are given below as well as some excel- Drosera rotundifolia. Then Elsa Wood look for unusual goosefoots and other lent records by Andy Karran, Heather and her husband Adrian found eight scarce species and we always detour Colls, Paul Green and other botanists. fine plants of Royal Fern on 4th Octo- if we see a muck heap in the distance! ber in a dry reservoir bed at Cwm Great Broomrape Orobanche rapum- Coal tips are also rewarding habitats Lickey. genistae whose host plant is Broom for botanists and at many old tips in Cytisius scoparius, was considered an Another bog off the Sirhowy Valley the western valleys we have found extinct plant in Vice County 35 but walk also produced some goodies large populations of Lesser Cudweed Andy Karran found and photographed including large areas of Ivy-leaved Filago minima and occasionally Com- a flowering spike near Cefn Garw in Bellflower Wahlenbergia hederacea, mon Cudweed Filago vulgaris too as SO41G in June. Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, Less- near Mynydd Varteg. The best place er Skullcap Scutellaria minor and a for the last species though is within the Royal Fern Osmunda regalis was also fine Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus MOD property at Caerwent where it thought to be extinct in the county but tree. We were surprised to find abun- occurs along roadsides and on the a single small plant was found last dant Great Yellow-cress Rorippa am- disused railway line there. phibia at the edge of the Sirhowy Riv- Quarries are also good hunting er south of Tredegar; the first record in grounds and Leyton Williams found the west of the vice-county. Heather Common Wintergreen Pyrola minor in Colls also had an exciting find of an- Cwmynyscoy quarry near Pontypool. other yellow-cress Rorippa austriaca On another visit to the quarry the bota- at Troy Station near Monmouth. ny group found several plants of the During a survey within the Goldcliff Leopard orchid, Dactylorhiza praeter- lagoon area of Newport Wetlands Re- missa subsp. junialis. serve, access possible thanks to Tom In allotments near the Severn Tunnel Dalrymple and Kevin Dupe, we found Junction at Rogiet Small Nettle Urtica a number of interesting species includ- urens was flourishing. A visiting ing Brookweed Samolus valerandi and on the drying mud abundant Oak- Continues overleaf... leaved Goosefoot Chenopodium glau- Lesser Skullcap, Scutellaria minor © David cum, a rare plant in Wales. Then Hawkins Steph Tyler found a population of this Page 10
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Interesting plant finds 2015 (continued) botanist alerted us to a patch of grass danica and Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergu- nellia distans in a layby near Raglan by the coastal path in Bulwark, Chep- laria marina but more halophytes are along with Narrow-leaved Pepperwort stow with Yellow Bartsia Parentucellia now establishing inland. Paul Green Lepidium ruderale. viscosa and the alien Annual Beard- found Sea Fern-grass Catapodium mari- With the publication of the Hybrid Flora grass Polypogon montspelliensis. When num, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Pucci- of the British Isles, we are beginning to we visited this site we also found the record more hybrids in the county. The alien Water Bent Polypogon viridis hybrid between Curled Dock Rumex which is turning up everywhere. crispus and Broad-leaved Dock Rumex Grass-leaved Pea Lathyrus nissolia obtusifolius seems to occur commonly continues to be found in new places; –it is called Rumex x pratensis. There Sam Bosanquet saw two patches in late are also 2 recent records for the hybrid September in a pasture at Dingestow between Dog Rose Rosa canina and Court well away from any previous rec- Field Rose Rosa arvensis: Rosa x irreg- ords. ularis
It is well known that salting the roads in Steph Tyler and Elsa Wood, the winter has encouraged the spread Joint VC 35 Plant Recorders of Danish Scurvy Grass Cochlearia Small Nettle Urtica urens © David Hawkins
SEWBReC Events Update
2015 was another season of interesting in 2016, as it was so popular! and enjoyable SEWBReC recording Please get in touch if you have any events. Many thanks to everyone who suggestions for future course topics, attended/contributed. Our four species particularly if you can suggest a identification & recording courses trainer as well as a topic. (funded by Wales Biodiversity Partner- ship) were a popular choice, with 44 Our two Recorders’ Field Days were people applying for the 37 spaces avail- enjoyable, and reasonably sunny, able. The topics this year were An In- considering the variable summer troduction to Spiders; An Introduction to weather this year. Thirteen at- Merzomyia westermann: a first for Wales! Coastal Plants; An Introduction to Li- tendees dropped in to help with spe- © George Tordoff chen; and An Introduction to Solitary cies recording at Grangemoor Wasps. The lichen course was a runa- Park in July, helping to build a way winner in the popularity stakes, list of 275 species for the day. with 23 applicants for the 10 available The highlight was a fly, Mer- spaces. We may run this course again zomyia westermann, found by George Tordoff – this has been confirmed as the first record for the species in Wales! A handful of attendees came to our Recorders’ Field Day at Twmbarlwm in August, includ- ing members of the Twm- barlwm Society, who were Recorders and a ‘recordee’ at Grangemoor Park keen to find out more about the © Elaine Wright wildlife on the site they help Recorders’ Field Days, so please get in maintain. Records of 144 species from touch if you know of somewhere that we the day have been received so far, includ- should visit. ing the impressive looking Staphylinus dimidiaticornis, a beetle not previously Elaine Wright, SEWBReC Acting recorded in Gwent. Senior Data and Enquiries Officer ‘An Introduction to Solitary Wasps’ involved looking at some of National Museum Wales’ We always welcome site suggestions for extensive specimen collection © Elaine Wright Page 11
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
SEWBReC’s Online Data Tools
SEWBReCORD LOCAL RECORDS CENTRES WALES DATA ACCESS TOOL (DAT)
SEWBReC’s online data entry portal, SEWBReCORD This tool, found at www.lrcwalesdat.org, opens up access (www.sewbrecord.org.uk), continues to prove an extremely to the combined resource of wildlife records held at the four popular tool to enable recorders to share their sightings and Welsh Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs), photos with us. The number of records has continued to including SEWBReC. Without the need to register, any user grow rapidly, with the current total number of records now can access two useful functions: standing at just over 54,200. As ever, we would like to pass See species records we hold around a given point: on our great thanks to everybody who has taken the time to This gives a summary of species records we hold for the enter their sightings into SEWBReCORD. Your records are 1km grid square in which a chosen point lies. Records of rapidly incorporated into our main database, where they are sensitive species are excluded from the summary list, but frequently used to inform decisions that may affect biodiver- the number of such records found will be shown. sity. See a distribution map for a species: This option will
produce a 10km-square Wales distribution map for a given If you have not yet tried using SEWBReCORD, please species. Zooming in allows you to see a 1km-square distri- visit www.sewbrecord.org.uk and click on the ‘Create bution, although sensitive records will only ever be shown new account’ link. You will then receive an activation at 10km-square resolution. email. If that doesn’t arrive in your email inbox, it may have been moved to your junk or spam folder. If you Further functions of the DAT can be unlocked for registered have any difficulties registering, or if you have regis- users (mainly public sector customers), enabling them full tered in the past but never activated your account, access to all LERC data holdings across Wales. please contact Dave Slade Work is well underway to develop the next generation of ([email protected]) who will issue you a online data access to LERC Wales data. Look out for news new password and help you get up and running. on progress and links to new tools in forthcoming editions of this newsletter and via the SEWBReC website.
Pollinators for People Project
SEWBReC has embarked on a project with Natural Resources Wales, focussed on the Rhondda catchment, and aimed at engaging people in Rhondda Cynon Taf with pollinators and the some of the plants they serve. Things were initiated with a ‘train the trainers’ day at Daerwynno Outdoor Centre where Adam Rowe and Dave Slade presented an introduction to biologi- cal recording for local community leaders and interested groups. This was a precursor to the Biodiversity Blitz Day held at the same location on Saturday 25th July – a well-attended event that turned up some interesting species, among them the first modern record in Glamorgan for the exquisite micromoth Nemophora cupriacella. The next phase will see the production and dissemination of a simple recording card including photographs, identification tips and a few facts about ten important pollinators and pollinatees: Red Admiral, Peacock Butterfly, Hummingbird Hawk-Moth, Honey Bee, 7-spot Ladybird, Bilberry Bumblebee, Ragged Robin, Pyramidal Orchid, Himalayan Balsam and Common Knapweed. The list has been carefully curated with the inten- tion of inspiring the general public to keep an eye out for some of the more easily recognisable wild denizens of RCT, but also in order that we might gather some useful new records. It is hoped that the project can encourage people in the Rhondda to learn about their natural environment, and to continue re- cording the wildlife they see around them. Nemophora cupriacella © David Slade
David Hawkins, LEMUR+ Biodiversity Information Management Trainee
Page 12
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Colliery Spoil Tips: biodiversity hotspots and important Welsh habitats
that century, just one deep microclimates in which thermophilic mine remained in Wales. invertebrates can bask. This bare The coal industry, the most ground also provides invertebrates with important industrial, social burrowing and ground nesting opportu- and political force in modern nities, and provides foraging areas for Wales, had all but vanished. visual predators such as spiders and ground beetles. Although common, the Nearly all the signs of this none-the-less impressive green tiger once thriving industry have beetle (Cicindela campestris) is a regu- been lost with colliery build- lar sight in such areas. ings demolished and shafts capped. One thing has re- The thin, nutrient poor soils are another Flower-rich grasslands at Cwm Colliery, Beddau © Liam Olds mained however; the nu- key feature. The stressed conditions merous colliery spoil tips prevent dominant plant species from The pivotal role of coal mining in shap- littering the landscape. Cen- taking-over, slowing vegetation succes- ing the British way of life cannot be turies of intense mining activity ultimately sion and leading to the formation of underestimated. For centuries, coal generated excessive quantities of waste, flower-rich grasslands. The strong as- mining has been an essential part of which was subsequently tipped upon our semblage of nectar-rich, stress tolerant British industry. Historical findings sug- valleys’ sides. Such spoil tips have be- annuals provide abundant forage for gest coal was used by Britons even come an iconic feature in the landscape bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees, before the arrival of the Romans, with of the South Wales valleys, an industrial hoverflies, beetles, butterflies and evidence suggesting the Romans and cultural legacy from our rich mining moths. With reports highlighting grow- learned about coal mining and its uses history. ing evidence for declines in pollinator from Britons. At its peak, the British species, it is clear how important these coal industry employed more than a Following the Aberfan disaster in 1966, sites are to their future well-being of million people, making it one of the many spoil tips were cleared amid fears country’s most important industries. of similar tragedies lying in wait. Those Many regions were dependent on it, deemed stable remained, left undisturbed particularly South Wales. With its provi- to naturally revegetate over time. Once sion of high quality coal, South Wales black eye-sores in the landscape, these was at the epicentre of the global in- spoil tips are now greener than ever be- dustrial revolution. fore. They have undergone a radical transformation, clearly displaying the The South Wales coalfield covered an resilient nature of our wildlife. Often over- expansive area, from St. Bride's Bay in looked and under-appreciated, many now the west to Pontypool in the east. At its support habitats and wildlife of considera- peak, the coal industry employed some ble local biodiversity value. 232,000 people in 620 coal mines across South Wales. In 1913, 57 mil- So, what makes colliery spoil tips bio- lion tons of coal came up from these logically interesting? mines – a fifth of the entire output of the United Kingdom. The effects of A colliery spoil tip is highly diverse land- World War I and the post-war depres- scape of varied topography, aspect, sub- sion, however, brought about a decline strate composition, hydrology, pH, and in the industry. By 1936, 241 collieries levels of disturbance and neglect. This had closed and the workforce had variation allows for the formation of com- halved. Following a brief revival post- plex habitat mosaics in close proximity. Second World War, the industry contin- As such, colliery spoil tips can support Flower-rich grasslands at Coedely Colliery © Liam ued to decline throughout the second mosaics of wildflower-rich grassland, Olds half of the 20th century. By the end of heathland, bare ground, wetland, scrub and lichen heath – ideal pollinators in the South Wales valleys. environments for inverte- Colliery Spoil Traineeship brates, many of which re- quire two or more habitats to For those of you who don’t know me, I complete their lifecycle. am currently undertaking a 12-month These habitat mosaics ena- project as part of The Conservation ble a single site to support Volunteers Natural Talent Traineeship rich assemblages of habitat scheme – funded by The Esmée Fair- specialists, alongside more bairn Foundation. This scheme re- generalist species. sponds to identified skills shortages in
The presence of bare Continues overleaf... ground is of particular im- portance, creating warm Extensive bare ground at Cwm Colliery, Beddau © Liam Olds Page 13
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Colliery Spoil Tips (Continued)
the conservation sector by providing grayling (Hipparchia trainees with the opportunity to devel- Semele) are also familiar op expertise in less well known spe- sights. Marbled white cies, habitats, or a mixture of (Melanargia galathea) both. Based at the National Museum has also made an ap- of Wales, Cardiff, my traineeship fo- pearance, favouring are- cuses upon colliery spoil tips and the as of tall, unimproved diversity of invertebrates these sites grassland. support. Over the course of spring and Despite the bulk of my summer, I have been surveying col- identifications still to be liery spoil tips in the south Wales val- done, some rather inter- leys to gain greater insights into the esting discoveries have invertebrate assemblages supported been made. For me, the by these sites. most exciting discovery Heathland at Gelli Tips © Liam Olds
so far has been the dis- Key discoveries and lessons learnt covery of the heather
shieldbug (Rhacognathus Throughout this project, it has become punctatus) at Albion Tip, apparent that colliery spoil tips are Cilfynydd. Despite being important habitats for pollinators in the widespread, this species south Wales valleys. The abundance is scarce and according of nectar-rich annuals act as a highly to a recent paper pub- valuable foraging resource for a wide lished by Alex. J. Ramsey variety of pollinator species. Spoil tips in 2013, this species has are a particular haven for bumblebees, only been recorded from supporting at least 13 different species nine sites in Wales. Inter- including the scarce brown-banded estingly, all records in carder bee (Bombus humilis) and Wales are from high qual- mountain bumblebee (Bombus monti- ity wetland habitats partly cola). Their importance for solitary bee Lichen-heath at Maerdy Colliery © Liam Olds or entirely designated as species is only now beginning to be National Nature Reserves. It is likely, recognised. Much work is needed to Agramma laeta. I am sure many other therefore, that this is the first record of identify specimens over the winter interesting finds await discovery and I heather shieldbug on a brownfield site in months but it is clear that these sites look forward to finishing my specimen Wales, and possibly even the UK – who support species from a wide variety of identifications over the coming weeks. knows. Another exciting discovery was genera including Andrena, Halictus, Stay tuned for a complete update in the that of Cheilosia lasiopa, a widespread Lasioglossum, Megachile, Nomada, next recorder’s newsletter. and locally frequent hoverfly species and Spechodes. which appears to be only the 4th record Liam Olds, Colliery spoil tips also support interest- for Wales and the first record for south TCV Natural Talent Trainee – Colliery ing butterfly assemblages. In addition Wales. Other key finds include: the Spoil Habitats, to the common butterfly species, small scarce hoverfly Scaeva selentica , the National Museum of Wales pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria sele- locally distributed six-belted clearwing ne), dark green fritillary (Argynnis agla- moth (Bembecia ichneumoniformis), and ja), dingy skipper (Erynnis tages) and an uncommon lacebug species Tel: 02920 573170 / 07947141080 Email: [email protected]
SEWBReC Membership
SEWBReC is run as a not-for-profit Has read SEWBReC’s Memorandum ing. Please consider joining and have company and is governed by a volun- and Articles of Association* and sup- your say in the future direction of SEW- tary Board of Directors which is drawn ports the aims of the company; BReC – we need your expertise and from its membership. By becoming a enthusiasm! member of SEWBReC you will be auto- Understands that as a Member of the * The membership form gives details of matically invited to attend our Annual Company they accept a liability not where to find the Memorandum and Arti- General Meetings and you will be eligi- exceeding £1 if the Company should cles of Association via our website. If ble to stand for election to the Board of be wound up. you don’t have access to the internet but Directors. are interested in joining, please get in We are currently very keen to grow our Subject to Board approval, SEWBReC touch and we will send you a copy. membership and to this end we have membership is open to anybody who: included a copy of our membership ap- plication form with this newsletter mail- Page 14
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Monmouth Counts Wildlife
On 26th and 27th June Monmouth discovered the wildlife on Viewing snail shells through a microscope revealed the true its doorstep with the help of a wide range of wildlife special- beauty and diversity of their shapes, coil patterns and col- ists and enthusiasts. On Friday 26th June 150 children from ours. The event was also fortunate in having the services of a Overmonnow Primary School took part in pond dipping, mining wasp expert from Bristol Museum, who spent much of hedgerow exploring, minibeast hunts, river dipping and find- the day collecting specimens from the extensive colony of ing out about birds. On Friday evening 20 local people took various mining bees and wasps in the sandy cliffs along the part in a bat survey in the cemetery and along the river Mon- banks of the Monnow. now in perfect weather conditions seeing and hearing pipi- strelle and noctule bats feeding on insects in large numbers. The We Count for Wildlife event was enjoyed by many local Light traps were set overnight at Vauxhall to attract moths, people who spent several hours on the riverbank exploring and these were opened on Saturday morning. Highlights in various habitats and discovering the remarkable wildlife diver- the moth trap included Eyed Hawk Moth, Elephant Hawk sity that lives around the edges of the town. A final species Moth, Ghost moth and Buff Arches, proving that not all our count for the event was 307. The event was organised by moths are dull and brown. Monmouthshire Environment Partnership, in partnership with Gwent Wildlife Trust, Wye Valley AONB and Monmouthshire Moth Trapping © Sue Parkinson A wide range Countryside Service, and supported by a wide range of local of activities and regional groups and organisations, as well as volunteers. and walks It was funded by Natural Resources Wales' Sustainable were on offer Development Fund in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding on Saturday Natural Beauty. 27th June, with canoe Sue Parkinson , safaris down Monmouthshire Environment Partnership Group the Monnow proving very popular, ex- pert commen- tary on the wildlife was provided by the Wye and Usk Founda- tion. Natural Resources Wales demonstrated kick sampling in the river, and collected a range of species, for people to see, that highlighted the high quality of the water in the Monnow. There was also a demonstration of coracle paddling; these ancient hide-covered craft were used for fishing and transport on many Welsh rivers in the past.
Botany walks were offered, to explore the plants and wild flowers of Vauxhall and Two River Meadows, both of which have a range of interesting plant life which support an equally interesting insect fauna.
The event was fortunate to be supported by Ben Rowson, specialist in molluscs at National Museum Wales who led a short walk to find snail shells. It was too dry for slugs, and Canoe Safari © Sue Parkinson none at all were found, but the group did discover 17 differ- ent species of snail which were identified with his help. Ben also found a rare snail in the river, possibly the first record for Monmouthshire of this species. This snail was identified by Dr Ben Rowson as a River Nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis. Ben later said "it is not quite a new vice-county record but it is remarkably rare in Wales, only just sneaking into a few rivers in the SE. For me it was the first time to find this species alive." Page 15
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
SEWBReC Business Update
Despite earlier concerns about how trawls prior to their site-based surveys. submit their records directly to us, or SEWBReC would fare in the face of pub- LERC data trawls are increasingly re- how they can enter the data them- lic sector funding cuts, we currently find quested by planners via their policies selves via the new Consultants’ Por- ourselves in a solid position financially. A and their supplementary planning guid- tal (http://www.consultantsportal.uk/) Partnership Agreement has recently ance, as well as being included in indus- been established with Natural Resources try best practice guides. Three challeng- One aspect of the new Partnership Wales (our first new agreement since es currently exist with regard to desktop Agreement with NRW is their require- NRW was formed), which emphasises data trawls. ment for the Welsh LERCs to upload the value this vital user of our products records to the National Biodiversity Net- and services places on the work we do. To ensure that adequate LERC work (NBN) Gateway by the end of We are currently enjoying a high level of searches are required by planners 2015. LERC Managers and Boards engagement at a policy level and are and by best practice guidance, thus across Wales are in agreement that we hopeful of some direct funding from preventing the temptation to find al- urgently need to ensure that our data is Welsh Government to help meet its own ternative, free, online alternatives to visible at the UK scale, so that UK distri- biodiversity data needs, but also to re- commissioning work from us. We still bution maps no longer show huge data flect the important role of the Welsh find examples of consultants’ reports gaps for Wales. Records will be upload- LERCs in contributing to the evidence which are prepared without access- ed to the Gateway at full resolution, but base that will be used for reporting on ing our data, but this problem has ‘Access Controls’ will be applied to en- the emerging Wales Nature Recovery been greatly reduced following the sure that only those that obtain our per- Plan and the first State of Natural Re- 2013 launch of our reduced-price mission will be able to view or download sources Report (SoNaRR), which is due ‘Bat and Roof-nesting Bird’ (BARB) full resolution data. The vast majority of to be published in 2016. search. This is widely praised as an users will only be able to view data at a exemplar product and similar prod- coarse resolution. This coarse resolu- Local Authority use of SEWBReC’s prod- ucts are now being developed and tion data will act as a shop window for ucts and services is becoming rather adopted by other LERCs across the the wealth of data that is held in the patchy, with one Council not renewing its UK. Welsh LERC and will signpost users to funding agreement for 2015/16. We are the LERCs so that they can access our currently working on a study to examine To ensure that the information we full range of (chargeable) services. After the possible impacts on biodiversity of supply is treated sensitively by our taking a watching brief over the NBN our data not being fully utilised in the users. Over the years we have unfor- Gateway for many years, myself and the planning process. This study aims to tunately been alerted to a number of other Welsh LERC Managers are now gauge the adequacy of the biodiversity examples of our reports being pub- 100% convinced that uploading data to information available to planners and lished or appended to reports which the NBN Gateway will have no detri- ecologists to determine planning applica- then go into the public domain. We mental impact on our businesses, and tions, in situations where they don’t have will shortly be issuing clear guidance may in fact have a positive impact due access to our data services. Examples to all of our customers, setting out to increasing the exposure of our data have already been unearthed where we exactly what they can and cannot do holdings. We would not be recommend- can demonstrate that important records with the data we provide to them. ing data was uploaded unless we felt it were not considered in the decision- was the right thing to do. making process. We hope the study will To encourage commercial consult- generate some facts and figures to help ants to share the data they gather Over the coming weeks we will be in us to cement the case for why planners with us. Some of the most important touch with all of our major data provid- and ecologists need access to our data. records of protected and priority spe- ers to confirm that they are happy for us We are also addressing this issue at a cies are gathered by commercial to upload their data to the NBN Gate- policy level, having raised our concerns consultants acting on behalf of their way and to discuss any concerns or directly with Welsh Government that clients. It is important that we at issues they may have. The wishes of some local authorities seem unable to SEWBReC receive as many of these our data providers are of paramount afford to use our services, and that biodi- records as possible to keep our data- importance to us, so if for whatever rea- versity may be suffering as a result. bases as up-to-date and accurate as son you do not wish us to upload your possible. A lot of smaller consultan- data, it will not be uploaded! As has often been reported in previous cies are already very good at ensur- editions of this newsletter, SEWBReC’s ing their records are shared with us, Happy recording! commercial sales are continuing to grow. with many including clauses in their 2014/15 proved to be another record contracts to state that records will be year for sales. Clearly this is good news supplied to LERCs. SEWBReC will Adam Rowe, SEWBReC Manager that developers and their appointed envi- be contacting its customers to ex- ronmental consultants are increasingly plain how we can help them to coming to us for their desktop data Page 16
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
Gwent Glamorgan Recorders Forum Autumn 2015
Join the SEWBReC team and wildlife recorders from across south east Wales for the annual Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders' Forum! A great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and learn about the wildlife recording efforts taking place in Gwent and Glamorgan. The event is taking place at Park Inn Cardiff North, and the pro- gramme is shown below. This event is free (including lunch!), but booking is essential. The booking deadline is Friday 13th November. Please contact SEWBReC to secure your place: email: [email protected] / tel: 029 2064 1110 We still have some 5 min speaker slots available, so do get in contact if you would like to speak briefly about a conservation project, your own species recording efforts or promote a local wildlife group. We will also have space for leaflets and posters, so let us know if you would like to bring some materials with you.
PROGRAMME
09:30 - Arrival, registration and tea/coffee
10.00 - Chairman’s welcome and introduction
10:05 - It's never too late to start a long-term monitoring project: confessions of a birdwatcher (Dr Rob Thomas)
10:50 - Square-bashing Surprises (Linda Nottage)
11:05 - Comfort Break (20mins)
11:25 - Bryophytes of Glamorgan (George Tordoff)
11:50 - SEWBReC update, EGM & AGM (Adam Rowe and Colin Cheesman)
12:45 - Lunch (Complimentary)
13:45 - Welcome back
13:50 - Soapbox Sessions
14:20 - Lost and Found Fungi Project at Kew Gardens (Brian Douglas)
14:40 - Margam Bat Project (Megan Price and Neil Price)
14:55 - Plants on the Gower (Colin Cheesman)
15:20 - AOB & closing remarks
15:25 - Tea & Chat: an opportunity to informally chat with SEWBReC staff & other attendees whilst enjoying a cup of tea/coffee, or head home early if you prefer!
16:00 - Departure
Issue 13—Autumn October 2015
The Last Page
Three Million Records Reached
Last month SEWBReC reached an important milestone when the number of records in our database ticked over the three million mark. Record num- ber 3,000,000 was a Sap Beetle Omosita colon, and was recorded in Aber- bargoed by Christian Owen.
Almost everyone reading this will have submitted at least a few of the three million themselves – so a big thank you to you all. Number 3,000,000 © Christian Owen
Recorders’ Forum Events 2015 SEWBReC Staff Announcements
You may recall from the previous newsletters that during 2015 we After nine months at SEWBReC as part of are trialling new formats for our Recorders’ Forum events. The trial a LEMUR+ Traineeship, Dave Hawkins is being conducted in a bid to identify the most effective ways of will soon be saying goodbye as he is due providing information and support to our local recording community to graduate this November. Dave has en- within the confines of the limited staff and financial resources avail- thusiastically thrown himself into the world able to us. of biological recording whilst here at SEW- The first part of this trial was the joint Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ BReC and has really become part of the Forum which took place in Caerleon in January. The second stage team. We wish him the best of luck for the of the trial is the second joint Forum and AGM event which is taking future. place on Saturday 21st November at the Park Inn by Radisson, North Cardiff. Earlier this summer our temporary Biodi- versity Assistant Charlene Davies also In late 2015, after both events have taken place, we will seek de- departed to pastures new. After working tailed feedback from participants and choose the most popular for- part time for both SEWBReC and Gwent mat for future events. Wildlife Trust, Charlene has now taken on Adam Rowe, SEWBReC the role of GWT’s Water Vole Project Of- ficer (another maternity cover post). We The Easily Overlooked wish her all the best in her new role.
The breadth and depth of our biological data holdings is improving all the time. But recent discoveries by two members of the SEW- BReC staff in Cardiff illustrate how much still escapes our collective notice or attention. Larval mines of the flies Phytomyza fulgens and Phytomyza vitalbae were found on the leaves of Old man’s Beard Clematis vitalba in Cardiff. For P. fulgens this represents only the fourth and fifth records in Wales, while P. vitalbae had only been recorded six times before in the country. There can be little doubt G w e n t - G l a m o r g a n that these are both common species - just very overlooked! Recorders’ Newsletter
David Hawkins, LEMUR+ Biodiversity Information Management SEWBReC, 13 St Andrew’s Crescent Trainee Cardiff, CF10 3DB
Telephone: 029 20 64 1110 A big thank you to all those who have contributed to this newsletter! Fax: 0843 265 2714 But, thinking ahead to the next issue, we want more articles from Re- E-mail: [email protected] corders. It could be just a list of species you have recently recorded, or Web: www.sewbrec.org.uk an update of where you have been surveying in the last year. This is an Follow us on Facebook & Twitter: opportunity to plug your favourite recording location, to raise awareness of the species that you record, and to communicate to a wide range of www.facebook.com/sewbrec individuals about your hard work! Please forward any comments, articles, events, species sightings etc. to SEWBReC. www.twitter.com/sewbrec