50 rnhs RUTLAND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2015 50 years exploring, recording and conserving Rutland’s wildlife 50 years Exploring, Recording and Conserving Rutland’s Wildlife 1 Founded in February 1965 the RUTLAND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (RNHS) has over 300 members. The objectives of the Society are to further the cause of Natural History by encouraging people to take an interest in wildlife and its conservation. It does this by studying and recording Rutland’s wildlife in particular, and exchanging information with other bodies. Our website www.rnhs.org.uk provides curent information about Society events, it also provides access to our newsletter, Fieldfare (published six times a year) and the Society’s Annual Report. The RNHS organises field outings within Rutland and further afield throughout the year. Over the winter indoor meetings are held at Voluntary Action Rutland (VAR), Lands End Way, Oakham. The Society depends upon its Recorders, Members and many friends to maintain and up date information about Rutland’s natural history. We are particularly grateful to the following who have provided RNHS with information over the past year, and apologise if the compiler has overlooked anyone when putting this report together. Recorders and contributors to 2015 Fieldfares Ansley, J Favell, C Lister, S Perril, D Appleton, T Follows, R Proud, S Mackrill, T Arnold, V Fraser, R & V Markham, M Rasmussen, K Gallimore, C H Barrowden residents Martin, D Rodgers, J & J Galpin, B Bennett, P Mallett, J Rudkin, P Gardiner, C Biddle, A Mann, E Rudkin, S Griffin, M Biddle, L Mann, P Rumbelow, M Griffin, G Branston, M Martin, D [RW] Russell, A Grimes, M Brown, L Masters, D RWNR Brown, R Halford, W Merriman, S Scott, P Bryan, J [RW] Hall, G McKenzie, D Simmonds, P BSBI § Harris, J Mills, R Stanier, H Burger, I Harrop, A H J Misselbrook, I Stringer, R N [BPGS] Burger, L Harvey, J Mitcham, T Butterfield, C Harvey, R Moffat, T Tailby, K Higginbottom, T [BPGS] Moore, B Taylor, B Caldicott, T Hill, A Murie, B Taylor, J Carrier, D Hope, S Myers, J Thorp, A R Castle, R Thorp, M A Chiverton, G Iken, H Needham, D Tomlinson, A Cole, D Ingall, F Nelson, C Trevor, D Collins, M Nicholls, B de Jardin, J Comber, A Nicholls, E Webb, N Jones, C R Comber, J Northen, E Webster, B JSR Cotter, D Nourish, J Whele, S Coughlan, P & M Killips, P Nourish, M Whitefield, D Whiteford, J Davis, T Land, T Ostler, J Wicikowshi, A [RW] Langston, P Edwards, C Park, C Williams, T Lawrence, A L Edwards, R Park, L Woodward, S Lear, A Ellis, H Parker, B Wright, J Lemmon, R Ellis, P Parker, D Worrall, L § Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland 2 50 years Exploring, Recording and Conserving Rutland’s Wildlife CONTENTS Officers, Committee and Recorders, 4 Chairman’s Report, 5 RNHS Treasurer’s Report 2015, 6 Weather, 7 Amphibians and reptiles, 9 Birds, 11 Wildfowl counts, 23 Wader counts, 27 CBC Beaumont breeding data, 28 Botany, 29 Butterflies, 36 Macro moths, 39 Micro moths, 46 Orthoptera, 51 Plant Galls, 54 Other insects and invertebrates, 57 Glow-worms, 62 Mammals, 63 Bats, 67 2015 Activities, 74 Items available for loan, 75 2015 Location codes and map references, 76 50 years Exploring, Recording and Conserving Rutland’s Wildlife 3 OFFICERS President EH Hanbury Cow Close Farm, Exton Lane, Burley, Rutland LE15 7TA Vice Presidents Dr CR Jones P Rudkin Chairman Linda Biddle 21 Waverley Gardens, Stamford PE9 1BH 01780 762108 [email protected] Hon. Secretary Roy Edwards 4 Windsor Drive, Oakham LE15 6SN 01572 757205 [email protected] Hon. Treasurer & Membership Margaret Conner 24 Burrough Road, Somerby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2PP 01664 454532 [email protected] COMMITTEE Gill Chiverton Jenny Harris Jenny Rivett Programme Secretary Dawn Whitefield Dairy Cottage, 33 Somerby Road, Knossington LE15 8LY 01664 454578 Website and Publicity Peter Scott 15 Tees Close, Oakham LE15 6SP 01572 720349 [email protected] Fieldfare Editor Hendrina Ellis Old Hunt’s Maltings, Water Street, Stamford PE9 2NJ 01780 482048 [email protected] RECORDERS Amphibians and reptiles Dr Charles Gallimore The Stone House, Reeves Lane, Wing LE15 8SD 01572 737343 [email protected] Bats Jenny Harris 41 Woodland View, Oakham LE15 6EJ 01572 755274 [email protected] Birds Terry Mitcham 30 Sutherland Way, Stamford, PE9 2TB 01780 751268 [email protected] Botany John Rodgers 8 Summerfield, Oakham LE15 6PZ 01572 757278 [email protected] Butterflies Alistair Lawrence 11 Edmonton Way, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6JE 01572 770492 Moths Jean & Ron Harvey 4 Clarkesdale, Great Easton LE16 8SP 01536 770259 [email protected] Glow-worms Linda Worrall 6 Redland Close, Barrowden LE15 8ES 01572 747302 [email protected] Insects and others Gill Chiverton 20 Victoria Rd, Stamford PE9 1HB 01780 753820 [email protected] Mammals Linda Biddle 21 Waverley Gardens, Stamford PE9 1BH 01780 762108 [email protected] Orthoptera Phil Rudkin 10 Brooke Avenue, Stamford PE9 2RU 01780 762998 [email protected] Plant galls Roy Lemmon 87 Empingham Road, Stamford PE9 2SU 01780 762051 [email protected] 4 50 years Exploring, Recording and Conserving Rutland’s Wildlife Chairman’s Report 2015 From the outset the Committee wanted to mark the Moth Trapping evening was held at Clipsham Quarry, occasion of the Society’s 50th anniversary in some however the poor weather on the planned evening special way, and by raising general awareness of the necessitated a day’s delay, so unfortunately numbers existence of RNHS attract new, and if possible younger, attending were disappointing. Despite this and the cold a members. good evening’s collection of Moth species was recorded. To broaden the Society’s appeal the Committee The Orthopteran and Insect meeting was held in July decided that its publications needed to have a more at Ketton Quarry, and – another innovation – we hired modern and uniform format. As a first step Fieldfare was the scout hall at Ketton, so that we had facilities for an redesigned, went digital, and part was printed in colour. all-day affair, and with an attendance of 40 members this This produced an attractive publication that all members was greatly appreciated. The Water Bird Workshop at have enjoyed, and we thank Hendrina Ellis for her efforts. Fort Henry lakes in October and the Bat Workshop were However this very success was a problem, in that some also very well received. members who had previously opted for receiving just a The Society thanks all Recorders for the work that digital copy found the printed Fieldfare so attractive that they routinely do, and especially for the time and effort they changed their minds – thereby defeating the cost- involved in delivering these additional events for us this cutting and eco objectives behind the digital offer! year. For eight years Hendrina has also edited the Annual To raise public awareness of the Society we took Report. She now wishes to reduce her workload and a stand at Rutland County show. We have not done has handed over the editing of this years report to her this in recent years and quite strong winds made it husband. We thank her most sincerely for her patient a challenging/team-building weekend. Thanks are dedication and hard work and wish Paul well. particularly due to Margaret Conner, David Cotter, and In May we held a special celebration event at the Peter Scott who manned the stand. Wilson Auditorium at Oakham School. A total of 120 In Committee we have been concerned over safety of members and friends enjoyed drinks and nibbles before members at our meetings and our liabilities as Trustees. popular TV wildlife personality Mike Dilger gave a highly Consequently formal risk assessments and other entertaining account of The Trials And Tribulations of procedures to address possible dangers, and comply a Wildlife Presenter. The evening turned out to be a with best practice, have been introduced. thoroughly happy occasion, thanks to the efforts of many A small group worked very hard with IT business Web Committee and Society members. Design Rutland to build a new user friendly and attractive Our usual programme of winter indoor meetings website for the Society. This went live late May 2015. was well attended, a highlight in April being Phil Rudkin The ability to notify last-minute programme changes, has talking about the first 50 years of the RNHS. Many already proved useful. Any suggestions for improvements early and long term members attended, including or development would be welcome. former secretary John Stapleton. This ‘wander down In November, together with the LRWT, we memory lane’ was greatly enjoyed by all. Our AGM was co-promoted the launch of a new venture called Wild a Recorders’ Evening and an opportunity to hear what Futures and specifically aimed at 18-30 year-olds. The they had been finding out during the year. The autumn thinking behind this initiative is that a few Wild Futures season began with an excellent talk by Vin Fleming on members may go on to develop careers in conservation Earthstars and brittlegills – fungi by a more romantic and the environment. This initiative is professionally name – and was followed in October by a Fungal Foray supported and based at the new training facility on in Clipsham Park Wood. Other outdoor meetings Rutland Water. Twelve members are already signed up included a February visit to the hides at Egleton, and in and enjoy discounted membership of both RNHS and May we had a really lovely visit to Burley Wood to see LRWT. It is hoped that knowledgeable members, with bluebells, with the added excitement of hearing Lesser skills in wildlife identification and recording, may be able Spotted Woodpeckers.