PUBLISHED BY RUGBY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

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1 PUBLISHED BY RUGBY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Newsletter No 238 PRESIDENT Mr F Pearson August 2015 CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN HON SECRETARY HON TREASURER PROGRAMME SECS NEWSLETTER EDITOR Mr T Landless, 27 Spicer Place, Rugby. Mr L Classey, 13 Orson Leys, Rugby. Mrs W Classey, 13 Orson Leys, Rugby. Mr D Knapp, 44 Orson Leys, Rugby. Mr P Hodges & Mrs J Tolley-Hodges 30 Rupert Brooke Road, Rugby. Mr M Slater, 44 Bucknill Crescent, Hillmorton. Our Winter programme starts on 15 th September with a trip to the Natural History Museum, we have a variety of subjects this year, The Microscopic World, Reptiles and Amphibians, A Taste of Spain and the Urban Botanist all coming up before Christmas. Draycote Water - 1.April.2015 At the start of the Summer programme Field Trips it was good to be out walking with the society. The weather was breezy with Sunny intervals, showers later. Ten people set out along the edge of the reservoir underneath spectacular skyscapes. Being as it was April the First we did not accept the record of the Blue-footed Albatross! Birds: Walk from Visitor Centre to Valve Tower Pied Wagtails, Blue Tits, Mallard, many Coot, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Goldeneye, Canada Geese, Female Pintail, Magpie, Heron, Long-Tailed Tits, Greatcrested Grebe (three pairs seen doing courting display), Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Gadwall, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Robin, Wren, Teal. 1

2 Walk from Visitor Centre to Bird Hide at Toft Wigeon, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Jackdaw, Crow, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Dunnock. Flora: Dog Violets, Colt s-foot, Shepherd s Purse, Groundsel, Dandelion, Daisy, Ragwort, Speedwell. Fungi: Split-gill fungus on logs, Jew`s Ear on Elder shrub, Tripe-Fungus on Willow logs, Coprinus micaceus on Willow logs, Yellow-brain on Hazel branch. Others: Rabbit, Bumblebee. MS/DC Badby Woods 16.April.2015 Seventeen people arrived at Badby Woods on a pleasant spring day to see the spring flora. The Bluebells were just coming into bloom in the sunnier clearings of the wood. We saw a good amount of fungi as we walked along the track amongst the trees and recorded a butterfly on the wing. Birds Swallow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Crow, Buzzard, Pheasant, Nuthatch, Robin, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Raven, Coal Tit. Flora Red Dead-nettle, Blackthorn, Dandelion, Spear Thistle, Lesser Celandine, Wood Forget-me-not, Wood Anemone, Bluebells, Dog s Mercury, Herb-Robert, Woodrush, Dog Violets, Redcurrant, Wood Sorrel, Wild Arum, Primrose, White Deadnettle, Chickweed, Germander Speedwell, Fern (Dryopteryx), Bracken, Fern croziers. Insects Small Tortoise-shell Butterfly, Hoverfly, two-spot Ladybird. 2

3 Fungi Egghead Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus) on dung. Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus) on woodchip. Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) on tree stump. Slime mould (Reticularia lycoperdon) no English name. Bracket fungi Birch Polypore on fallen Birch, Rusty Porecrust (Phellinus ferruginosus) on Oak branch. Others Grey Squirrel, Muntjac, Squirrel prints in the mud, Deer slots, Badgers latrine and foot prints on track. Grove Hill 2 nd.may.2015 MS/DC Nine members met on a cool rather cloudy Saturday morning at the site at Grove Hill managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. This site is approximately two and a half miles from Alcester and seven miles East of Stratford. We were joined by Christine on her first outing with the group, also Jackie who is a flora recorder and has shared her list of recordings below. We walked into the site pausing to look at the pond. Sadly, no sign of dragonflies or damselflies but plenty of flora to record. We continued further and climbed Grove Hill. (Some of us found this easier than others!) but we were rewarded by excellent views of the surrounding area plus carpets of cowslips. We did see the leaves of the Common-spotted Orchid in abundance which will be a picture in a few weeks. We also were really pleased to see the Twayblades growing. We continued looking at the flora (list below), listening to bird songs and generally enjoying the lovely surroundings. When the sun appeared briefly, some of us even saw a Speckled Wood butterfly. Afterwards, we adjourned to the Blue Boar Inn for a leisurely lunch. 3

4 Flora Daisy, Garlic Mustard, Dandelion, Ground Ivy, White Clover, Creeping Buttercup, Broad-leaved Dock, Meadow Foxtail, Creeping Thistle, Ribwort Plantain, Hard Rush, Soft Rush, Teasel, Wood Sedge, Snake s-head Fritillary, Field Maple, Spear Thistle, Rose-bay Willowherb, Hairy Bittercress, Meadow Vetchling, Field Bindweed, Field Forget-me-not, Bramble, Ash, Gorse, Blackthorn, Wavy Bittercress, Wood Avens, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Common Dog Violet, Old Man s Beard, Glaucous Sedge, Common-spotted Orchid, Common Twayblade, Primrose, Cowslip, Wild Strawberry, Bluebell, Lesser Celandine, Lady s Smock, Meadowsweet, Greater Plantain, Selfheal, Marsh Thistle, Male Fern, Broad Buckler Fern, Common Figwort, Enchanter s Nightshade, Soft Shield Fern, Lords and Ladies (Wild Arum), Lesser Burdock, Cock s-foot, Wood Forget-me-not, Hairy Violet, Black Bryony, White Bryony, Cleavers, Herb Robert, Perennial Nettle, Wild Parsnip, Hogweed, Bittersweet, Wayfaring Tree, Dogwood, Common Knapweed, Ivy, Ox-eye Daisy, Red Campion, Hazel, Cow Parsley, Privet, Dog s Mercury, Wood Speedwell, Bugle, Creeping Cinquefoil, Coltsfoot, Ragwort, Yarrow, Common Gromwell, Wintercress, Alder, English Oak, Annual Meadow Grass, Bulbous Buttercup, Mouseear Chickweed, Pussy Willow, St John s wort (leaves). Birds Robin, Blackcap, Buzzard, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, Whitethroat, Skylark (heard), Crow, Magpie, Swallow, Cormorant (flying over). Others Rabbit, Speckled Wood Butterfly. Wendy Classey 4

5 Slimbridge 5.May.2015 For our coach trip to Slimbridge it was very windy and showery, the wind being particularly felt as went up into the Holden Tower to observe the birdlife on the Severn estuary. Much more desirable was the South Lake Discovery Hide, well it s the first time I ve been in a heated bird hide with the armchairs and coffee tables! From there it was a trip around the world to see the wildfowl all in a corner of Gloucestershire, with many species of Flamingo being noted and an excellent opportunity for close up photographs of the resident ducks, geese and swans. There are many hides around the centre all with excellent views across the surrounding wetlands. My particular favourite was the Zeiss hide from where we observed the re-introduced Cranes feeding on the marshland. Also otters were seen in their pool at feeding time and a rather warm Tropical House provided shelter from the showers. The main visitor centre had many informative books for sale and a much appreciated food area. All in all a good day to see the conversation side of natural history. Birds on the estuary Shelduck, Garganey, White Wagtail, Shoveller, Crane, Greylag, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Rook, Avocet, Little-ringed Plover, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Peregrine on fencepost, Swift, Black-tailed Godwit, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Lapwing. Set out for home at five o clock having enjoyed a good days ornithology, a big thank you must go to David Knapp for organising our trip. MS 5

6 Ufton Fields 11.May.2015 A good turnout of sixteen people on a pleasant spring morning, as we gathered at the car park we saw a Buzzard being mobbed by two Crows overhead. There were a good number of bat boxes around the reserve and the volunteers had been very busy cutting down trees. We gained a superb view of a Reed Bunting around the Willow trees at the bird hide. Flora Bluebells, Cow Parsley, Lesser Celandine, Dandelion, Wood Avens, Wild Arum, Field Forget-me-not, Dog Violet, Ground Ivy, Mares-tail, Horsetail, Meadow Vetchling, Common Vetch, Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle, Creeping Thistle, Daisy, Germander Speedwell, Yellow-wort (leaves), Yarrow, Thread-leaved Water Crowfoot, Black Medick, Bird s-foot Trefoil, Stitchwort, Green Alkanet, Reedmace, Mouse-eared Chickweed, Spear Thistle, Twayblade, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Crab Apple, Silverweed, Lady s Smock, Enchanter s Nightshade, Herb Robert, Black Bryony, Common-spotted Orchid (leaves), Hart s-tongue Fern, Pendulous Sedge, Creeping Buttercup, Hairy Tare, Cowslips, Horse Chestnut in flower, spikes of Man Orchid, Ladies Mantle, Bugle. Birds Buzzard, Crow, Coot, Woodpigeon, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Thrush, Blackcap, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Canada Geese, Magpie, Jackdaw, Mallard, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting. Insects Orange-tip Butterfly, Large Red Damselfly, Pillbug, Peacock Butterfly, Brimstone Butterfly, Cardinal Beetle, Broad-bodied Chaser, Lacewing, Small Skipper Butterfly, Green-veined White Butterfly, Small White Butterfly, Buff-tailed Bumblebee. Fungi Razor Strop, Willow Bracket, St. George s Mushroom, Turkey Tail, Hypoxylon ovina, Jelly Ear on Elder, Slime Mould (bright yellow), King Alfred s Cakes. Other Ramalina fraxinea (lichen), Bearded Lichen, Spaghnum Moss, Scot s Pine tree, Larch tree, deer slots (Muntjac and Roe deer). 6

7 Tasker s Meadow and Stockton Cutting - 26.May.2015 A pleasant spring day as we gathered on the canal bridge by the Boat Inn near Stockton and a good showing of twenty two people at this field meeting. We located four of the five species of orchid at these sites and also a number of butterflies appeared as it warmed up later in the morning. Flora Black Medick, Red Clover, Bird s-foot Trefoil, Common Plantain, Yellow Rattle, Yellow-Wort, Goatsbeard, Bulbous Buttercup Field Mouse-Ear, Common-Spotted Orchid Leaves, Black Bryony, Dandelion, Daisy, Green-Winged Orchid, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Meadow Buttercup, Field Speedwell, Dog Rose, Soft Brome, Wild Strawberry, Field Forget-Me-Not. Cowslip, Herb Bennet, Stitchwort, Common Chickweed, White Dead-Nettle, White Clover, White Campion, Elderflower, Horsetail, Teasel, Common Milkwort, Twayblade, Quaking Grass, Ox-Eye Daisy, Scarlet Pimpernel, Bristly Ox-Tongue, Cut-Leaved Crane s-bill, Woolly Thistle, Creeping Thistle. MS Chiffchaff, Blackcap. Birds Swift, Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Crow, Butterflies Small Blue (Paired), Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small White, Green- Veined White. Hairy Dragonfly. Fungi Mycene. MS 7

8 Glapthorn Cow Pasture 10.June.2015 It was my first visit to this site and to be greeted by a display from two Red Kites was the perfect welcome, although the local crows didn t appreciate their presence. Five members gathered on a somewhat disappointing day for the weather and despite returning for a second look after a welcome lunch at the nearby White Swan, we didn t see the Black Hairstreak butterfly. Flora Silverweed, Cow Parsley, Bramble, Dog Rose, White Clover, Common Plantain, White Dead-nettle, Common Vetch, Yorkshire Fog, Creeping Buttercup, Black Knapweed, Herb Robert, Dog s Mercury, Field Maple, Cleavers, Field Speedwell, Lesser Stitchwort, Honeysuckle, Elderflower, Wood Small Reed, Bindweed, Blackthorn, Lady s Smock, Ground Ivy, Bugle, False Fox Sedge, Hedge Bedstraw, Southern Marsh Orchid, Compact Rush, Crested Dog s-tail, Perforate St John swort, Wild Privet, Annual Nettle, False Brome, Black Bryony, Hoary Ragwort, Wood Forget-me-not, Spearwort, Wild Arum, Hedge Woundwort, Male Fern, Enchanter s Nightshade, Field Rose, Marsh Thistle, Meadowsweet, Creeping Thistle, Figwort, Herb Bennet, Bluebells, Early Purple Orchid, Common-spotted Orchid, Dewberry, Yellow Archangel, Wild Angelica, Ragged Robin. Birds Red Kite, Crow, Whitethroat, Skylark (heard), Tree Sparrow, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Raven, Red-legged Partridge, Stock Dove, Greater-spotted Woodpecker. Insects Scorpion Fly, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Hoverfly, Cardinal Beetle, Wood Carpet Moth, Blue-tailed Damselfly. Fungi Crust Fungi, Blushing Bracket, King Alfred s Cakes. Others Cuckoo Spit, Deer lay in grass, Brown Hare, Molehill, Muntjac, Badger trail, Deer slots both Muntjac and Roe Deer. MS 8

9 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) Bio Blitz at Brandon Rugby Natural History Society had a stand at the WWT Bio blitz event on Saturday 20 th June. Several other organisations also had information stands, they were: Warwickshire Badger Group, West Midlands Bird Group, Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation and Warwickshire Museum Services in the classroom and we were under cover in the courtyard together with; OPen Air Laboratories (OPAL), Warwickshire Amphibians and Reptiles (WART), Warwickshire Bat Group, Warwickshire Biological Records Group and Warwickshire Mammal Group. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust had a large tent in the centre of the courtyard with information and equipment for those taking part in the BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. Groups of scientists, naturalists and volunteers conduct an intensive field study. As people came back with their results these were recorded on a spreadsheet and by 4:00 pm 300 different species had been 9

10 Unfortunately it was rather a wet day which put a bit of a damper on some of the activities. Several guided walks took place including a Mammals Walk, a Wildflowers and Trees Walk, a Birds Walk and an Amphibians and Reptiles walk. The Butterfly walk was cancelled. A representative from the Rutland Osprey Project gave a talk in the afternoon and OPAL held a Soil Workshop. Various RNHS members participated in the walks and attended the Osprey talk and the Soil Workshop which included a talk and some soil testing on the reserve. The afternoon was also enlivened watching a Swallow fledging from under the eaves and landing on top of the WWT tent in the courtyard. LC 10