) V h Number 83 I Website: www.nnns.org.uk November 2003 j Toad-in-fhe-hale.... Contents Season's greetings to all members. As we now pass into the winter months we can look back at some of our excursions and see what a varied amount of natural history was observed through- out the county. We also say farewell to our past president Reg Jones who will be remembered Toad-in-the-hole by many for his wonderful photographs. I am, however, also looking forward to next year and Reg Jones (Obituary). to receiving your notes and views on nature in these changing times! Speaking of changes more ’stoats in ermine' observations are included in this issue. If anyone is lucky enough to see one page 2 An unusual host this winter perhaps you could let me know. My thanks to all contributors and if anyone would (Fistulina hepatica). like to send in line drawings of natural history subjects for possible inclusion, please do. FF Another emperor death (Emperor dragonfly "They do say lightning does not strike twice nee jones: tfamw mus/cm/v, mmRMim, pf/oroeMPf/FH (Brachypalpoides lenta). More white stoats As members will know from the slip enclosed “As Reg became less agile he found it (Ermine). with the last issue of Natterjack, vice- necessary to concentrate on flower photo- 40 years ago (Ermine). th president Reg Jones died on July 29 at the graphy, and his fellow photographers will no age of 88. He was, we think, our second doubt remember in particular his slides of pages Corncrake. oldest member after Ernest Daniels. Mediterranean orchids. It is pleasing that he Woodpigeons. wrote several of the Jarrold Area Guides in South Stack Reg was born at Hunslet, Leeds, gained a the 70s and that his photographs were used (Seabirds). science degree at Leeds University, and was to illustrate many more. In the last few years page 4 an outstanding musician. He played the he was always happy when he was compos- Excursion Reports Mozart clarinet concerto in public on several ing captions for the Jarrold wildlife calen- Thompson Common. occasions it dars.” and was most appropriate that a page 5 recording of the concerto was played during Winterton Dunes. th the last ary Dates. the funeral service on August 8 at which the Reg’s son Martin read one of captions he wrote, an evocative description Society was well represented. page© of Cley-next-the-Sea, which was found on Billingford Common, Diss and his Langmere Green, Dickieburgh. Reg came to Norwich in 1945 to teach desk. science at City College Norwich, became page? Dilys said had derived pleasure from all Stanley Carrs. head of science in 1950 and vice-principal in Reg with of the Wheatfen natural history day. 1963. He retired in 1976. His love of natural the contacts he had members Society, of a for over history had been growing overthe years and, which he was member page 8 1955-6. Bryological excursions. when he had to put aside his clarinet 50 years and president in “His family Garth’s Comer knew him as a modest man, but he was not because evening classes clashed with (A Garth Coupland Cartoon). orchestra rehearsal nights, he took up nature always meek. What he had to say at meet- photography, soon realising that Norfolk ings was sometimes controversial but offered unique habitats, especially for birds. always thought-provoking. The same applied to his teaching career. He had a “Thus began his love of Norfolk natural reputation for speaking up for education in history and the enjoyment of achieving a this city.” good quality photograph," said his daughter that, Dilys in her funeral eulogy. “He was using The family very generously asked The quarterly bulletin instead of sending flowers, those who cumbersome equipment, and it seems to me of the wished to acknowledge Reg’s life and work Norwich that his early shots of birds in the 1 950s were Norfolk & I Naturalists’ Society pretty special. Somehow Mum used to keep should make donations to the Society. have Founded 1S69 very calm when he was 100 feet plus up a since received a cheque for £235.00 for tree in a very which we are very grateful. home-made hide taking photo- Rsgbend Oiant)- Na Pauli, graphs of a heron on its nest. David Chairman An llntmial Host They cCo say Cightning does not strike twice! During the afternoon the of Natural Another lucky find turned up this year when National Trust warden, Keith th History day at Wheatfen (10 Aug.), Zealand, presented me with a large bag of insect victims from the ultraviolet I was walking with The Lowestoft fly trap situated in the car park cafe at Sheringham Hall. Field Club through Surlingham Wood when I came across a single Although at least 80% of the specimens were the common wasp Vespula bracket of Fistulina hepatica. Not in vulgaris, I did manage to produce a list of 41 various insects. itself unusual but it was growing low the down on trunk of a rowan Amongst them, I was oveijoyed to find, was the body (minus wings) of an (<Sorbus aucuparia). nd rd extremely rare Xylotine hoverfly, Brachypalpoides lenta Mg. The 2 and 3 abdominal segments are blood red and all the legs are black. It is extremely look through the British A Myco- local and scarce in southern forests with odd records as far as the Scottish logical Society database for firngi highlands. This is possibly the first Norfolk record. and hosts F. hepatica is not, surpris- ingly recorded on S. aucuparia. In 2001 another such find from the same source produced a near relative Brachypalpus laphriformis Fin., which is also a rarity, what a coincidence. If anyone has recorded it on this tree (See ‘Natterjack’ no. 75, page 2 or Transactions Vol. 35 Part 1, July 2002, I would appreciate some confirma- page 40). tion, just to prove the heat had not Ken Durrant caused me to hallucinate. Links: http://194.203.77.69/fieldmvcologv/ BMSFRD/assoc.asp Colin A Jacobs MORE WMITIE STOATS 40JJejre Ago In keeping with the correspondence Another Emperor Death John Hampshire of Lessingham on ermine in Norfolk the following writes that he too saw a stoat in is an extract from the Bird and Mam- In the Vol. 36 of the 2003 NNNS ermine at Hickling Broad on Feb- mal Report 1963. Transactions, Francis Farrow ruary 14. It was in full ermine with- describes the death of an emperor out a fleck of brown on it. He has All over the county, following the dragonfly (Anax imperator) also seen a stoat in partial ermine at through hard winter of 1963, stoats in ermine Catfield being caught and eaten by a moor- Fen a few winters ago. were very much more frequently hen. I have witnessed this only once observed. One was seen at Attle- during my many birdwatching trips “Someone I know who works for the bridge on January 18th, and others in Norfolk and Suffolk. Broads Authority tells me that he has were reported from Thetford Chase had several sightings of white stoats on 21st and at Aylsham on 22nd. In th over the years perhaps they are February, one was shot at Wram- On 25 September 1994 at the so plingham, another at Swannington, RSPB Minsmere reserve a moorhen not quite as rare in Norfolk as I had and one was hunting rats near Had- thought. was seen to catch a male emperor discoe station (EAE). An almost com- from a water-filled ditch and pletely white one, save for brown “The animal that I saw at Hickling consume it on the spot. markings on the head and along the stuck out like a sore and must thumb mid-dorsal line was brought in from The Birds ofthe Western Palearctic have been vulnerable to predation (if Erpingham on February 25th (ncm) indeed they are predated foxes full Concise edition Snow & Perrins, by or and two others in ermine on the marsh harriers). This the 27th; Similar reports came from states moorhens eat insects, but no must keep number of white stoats down, Watton (gj) and Bungay (ws). The mention of Odonata. I expect it is a number of these reports is quite popular food source particularly especially as we have so little snow exceptional. when feeding young but few in Norfolk these days. It would be interesting to more about the observers are privileged to see it in know status of stoats in ermine in the the field. Contributors: county and if their numbers are Colin A Jacobs. EAE-E.A. Ellis declining as the number of winter NCM - Norwich Castle Museum days with snow cover continues to GJ -G. Jessop decrease.” WS - Miss V/. Simpson David Pauli 2 ” CORNCRAKE Woodpigeons Our garden in Wells has been taken over by woodpigeons. It used to be In June of this year Wendy and I collared doves, these are in the minority. The invasion seems to were on the Isle of Iona, and for the but now date from the pigeons’ decision to nest in, of all places, the upper part of fist time I ever was able to listen to “ the Zephirine Drouhin rose which rises the full height of our tall Victo- corncrakes calling. There were at rian house, but stands only 18” or so proud of the wall. There they have times several birds “singing” their raised two broods, while many others from nearby come visiting. monotonous song from grass fields all round the Abbey, but seeing them They seem quite unworried by us sitting in the garden near the pond.