Issue 36 April 2014

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 12-13 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Nigma walckenaeri (Roewer, 1951) (Araneae). An established spider in Worcestershire

John Bingham

Spiders are not my main area of interest unless they are either large and/or at least colourful, so when Denise Bingham found a 4mm long green spider in the garden it was at least colourful. The spider was distinctive, like a cucumber-spider Araniella cucurbitina, but slightly different and we appeared to have male and female present. I took some photographs (01, 02) and identified it as Nigma walchenaeri, but to be certain sent the images to Worcestershire spider expert John Partridge who kindly confirmed the identification.

The spider is an introduced species recorded in Britain at Box Hill and Kew (Surrey) as long ago as about 1880 and 1898 (Verdcourt 1997). It is now found mainly in the Thames valley and London and the Severn valley in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and into Warwickshire. Apparently there are climatic similarities in these two area include average daily maximum and minimum temperatures in January and July. (British Spiders, Spider Recording Scheme). In 1993 it was first found in Worcestershire and it must had colonised all of the county to be here in Kidderminster, so check your gardens there is a good chance it will be there! Harry Green has a record for his garden but perhaps it was a little dubious with a link to an MBE (Partridge 2001). Other records are known from the county at Elmley Castle and elsewhere. In fact it is now as far north as Nottinghamshire with a record coming from the grounds of Worksop Priory in August 2013 (Pendleton 2014).

In our garden the spider was found on a leaf of Pieris ‘forest flame’ and Fremontodendron, Flannel Bush. According to the British Spiders web page adults are found in late summer on the leaves of bushes and trees in gardens and parks but also on scrub in more natural habitats. The spider spins a small web and retreat on the upper surface of leaves of bushes. The leaves of lilac, Forsythia, holly and ivy are especially favoured but any leaves are used with a similar size and curved surface across which the web can be made. Adults are generally found in late summer and autumn with females persisting into the winter. (information British Spider Recording Scheme).

Editor’s note

Nigma walchenaeri has been a regular in my garden in Little Comberton, near Pershore, as mentioned, for several years on ivy leaves and is there again this year (2013). Original identification by John Partridge. Spins flat webs on up-curved ivy leaves (03, 04) and has always been on same ivy clump to date. Harry Green

References and Reading

Partridge, J. 2001. Worcestershire Spiders. Worcestershire Record. 11:24-25, November 2001

Pendleton, T. & D. 2014. http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds3/arachnidsnigmawalckenaeri.htm

Verdcourt, B. 1997. Nigma walckenaeri (Roewer) (Arachnida, Araneae, Dictynidae) at Maidenhead, Berks, and at Kew, Surrey. Entomologists Monthly Magazine, 133:203.

Spider Recording Scheme. http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Nigma+walckenaeri


01 Nigma walckenaeri female. John Bingham.

02 Nigma walckenaeri male. John Bingham

03 Nigma walckenaeri on ivy leaf. Harry Green.

04 Nigma walckenaeri on ivy leaf.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 7-9 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Snow Flea, Boreus hyemalis (L., 1767 Mecoptera: Boreidae) found mating in Wyre Forest

John Bingham

All photographs copyright John Bingham

The Wyre Forest Study Group has been recording the distribution of Boreus hyemalis as part of the ongoing mapping of a number of interesting or key species found in the forest. Our results are now showing that the insect is quite widespread across the Wyre woodlands in suitable mossy habitat (Winnall 2009, Bingham 2012). Denise Bingham and I have found several new sites and starting to get a better understanding of the preferred habitat.

On November 12th 2013 we visited Withybed Woods looking for late season fungi, the weather was fine and sunny if a little cold, heavy rain had fallen during the night. Denise found the first Boreus hyemalis at the mossy base of a mature oak tree in a stream valley. This was our earliest record for the species and agrees with the November dates given by Withycombe in his paper on Boreus. (Withycome 1922).

As we then knew they were out we stopped to look on the steep bank above Dowles Brook on the Shropshire side of the forest at Chamberline Wood. This is an area of mature oak coppice with a bare but mossy ground layer, suitable habitat for Boreus. It was only a matter of minutes before we both started to find more, and then I noticed a pair in copulation. This was the first time we observed mating behaviour. We then found a male with a female locked on his back using the modified wing cases. I spent some time photographing this behaviour. Boreus hyemalis is flightless and the wings are reduced to buds in the female but the male has two spine-like outgrowths or claspers formed by the wing case that are used in courtship to hold the female (01). Withycombe’s paper states that pairing takes place shortly after emergence which agrees with our observation as Boreus is more of a green colour when fresh and darkens to bronzy brown in a day or so. He mentions how the male carries the female on his back ‘as in the case of the flea’.

Shorthouse (1979) also describes the mating behaviour of Boreus brumalis in some detail: “The male upon finding a female, springs and seizes her body with his modified wings. Once she is securely gripped, the male uses his hind legs and claspers to manoeuvre her into a position parallel to and above his body. He then releases his wings allowing the female to flex her rostrum between his coxae, fold her antennae between her legs, and stretch her legs posteroventrally. Once in this position the male then grips her fore-legs and rostrum with his wings. This position with the female above the male is maintained throughout copulation. The male usually runs about during copulation while the female remains motionless”.

The photographs show most of the behaviour as described by Shorthouse: the female with her body arched and antenna folded lying across the back of the male held by the claspers. Later they assume a more normal mating posture with the female on top with the male claspers holding on to her front legs, her antenna tucked under her body, and mid and hind legs tucked together. I searched the internet for images of this particular mating behaviour but found nothing showing the male spines or claspers actually holding the body of the female, although this behaviour is well documented (Buglife web links).

We have yet to discover larvae of Boreus but Shorthouse states that they form small chambers in compacted soil and aestivate throughout part of summer in these chambers. Descriptions of Boreus larvae and pupae are given by Withycombe (1922) as 6-7mm long when full grown, with a yellowish-brown head and white semi-transparent body that is curved like a weevil larvae. Looking deep in moss during spring and summer appears to be the best way to find them. Another challenge I guess. Pupation occurs in the chambers (Fraser, 1943) and the pupal stage lasts from 4 to 8 weeks. What they feed on seems to be debateable, moss or a soup of decomposed soil arthropods? I still think the adults are more detritivores on animal matter and not vegetarians but I may be wrong?

Finally a paper by Burrows (2011) describe in detail the ability to jump. The paper is quite extensive and informative, well worth reading, but in summary it states that both middle and hind legs work simultaneously (rather flea like) at considerable speed. The method involves a complex rotation of the trochantera and coxae powered by the depressor muscles. Acceleration was 6.6 metres per second covering a distance of 100mm, or 30 times the body length. When observing Boreus hyemalis I can certainly confirm they jump quicker than the eye can see and can cover 120mm in distance with ease. So once found you should not take you eye off them, as they can vanish with great ease!

On the day we discovered a total of 11 individuals on the slope but only covered a fraction of the bank, so many hundreds could have been present in the extensive mossy coppice stools. Typically moss that covered base of the trees rather than moss on the soil, or moss covered old oak coppice stools were the best areas to look.

With grateful thanks to Harry Green for providing the links to several of the key works relation to Boreus.

References and reading

Bingham, J. 2012. Snow Flea Boreus hyemalis (L., 1767 Mecoptera: Boreidae) in Wyre Forest. Worcestershire Record 32:13-14.

Whitehead, P F. 2010 Snow Flea in Worcestershire. Worcestershire Record 28:15.

Winnall, R. 2009. Snow Flea, Boreus hyemalis (L.,1767) (Mecoptera: Boreidae). Wyre Forest Study Group Review 2009. 10:42.

Buglife ; http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/snowflea.

Buglife: http://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs-and-habitats/snow-flea

Burrows, M. 2011. Jumping mechanisms and performance of snow fleas (Mecoptera, Boreidae). Journal of Experimental Biology 214:2362-2374. The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Shorthouse, J. D. 1979. Observations on the Snow Scorpionfly Boreus brumalis Fitch (Boreidae;Mecoptera) in Sudbury, Ontario. Quaestiones Entomologicae 15:341-344

Withycombe, C. L. 1922. On the Life-history of Boreus hymalis L. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 69. Issue 3-4, p. 312-319.

Images

01 Boreus hyemalis male showing claspers. John Bingham.

02 Boreus hyemalis pair. Male claspers holding female body. John Bingham.

03 Boreus hyemalis pair. Male claspers holding female body. John Bingham.

04 Boreus hyemalis paired. Female above. Male claspers holding her legs. John Bingham.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 6 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Spider Misumena vatia

Arthur Cundall

Prompted by the article in Worcestershire Record Number 35, page 34, illustrating occurrences of Misumena vatia in 2013 (Farmer 2013),I show yet another occurrence of this spider’s predatory activity.

On 25thJune 2013, a warm sunny day, I was at the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Tunnel Hill Reserve (SP021475) of which I am the Manager. My attention was caught by the erratic movement of the inflorescence of an orchid Dactylorhyza fuchsii. Investigation showed a fly, Empis livida, which had settled on a floret, being killed and secured by this spider. The spider was clearly showing no cryptic coloration, but had presumably been concealed within the flower spike. I was able to photograph over a period of half an hour, at the end of which the spider was still feeding.

Acknowledgement.

Mick Blythe kindly identified the fly.

Reference
Farmer, G. 2013. Flowers that bite. Worcestershire Record 35:34-35

01. Misumena vatia on orchid with victim. Arthur Cundall

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 14-16 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Two-barred crossbills in Wyre Forest winter 2013-2014

Gary Farmer

Photographs by Peter Walkden who retains copyright.

(The following is part of an article written of the Wyre Forest Study Group Review 2013. The full article describes a Christmas walk in the Forest – Ed.)

A few Siskins Carduelis spinus flew overhead during the walk through the conifers, a Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs called from a group of larch trees and then the sound of a large group of Crossbills could be heard ahead. Just round the next bend a small group of birders had gathered, lined up along the path all scanning the trees where a mixed flock of Crossbills, Lesser Redpolls Carduelis cabaret and Siskins were feeding. It was not these that the birders were looking for however as amongst the flock were three (or more) Two-barred Crossbills Loxia leucoptera, a “lifer” for most if not all of the Study Group members and the real stars of the show! And very soon the birds were showing well, two males and a female. The Common Crossbill can have white wing bars so some caution was required but these birds had very bold wing bars and white tertial tips; the colour of the male birds was slightly more pink and their call was also very distinctive (a high-pitched toot almost like that of a toy trumpet).

Interestingly the Two-barred Crossbill has a slightly smaller bill than the Common Crossbill which allows it to feed from larch cones but these birds were feeding from pine cones in the mixed flock. This is a very rare visitor to Britain but in exceptional years (when the pine cone crop fails in Russia) large numbers push across Europe and into this country. 2013 was such a year with sightings from various suitable locations so we were incredibly lucky to have been at the right place at the right time. These birds had been spotted by Brett Westwood a few days earlier and the fact they had remained in the area was a real bonus for all.

Eventually the birds moved on so we continued into the valley and up through a strip of mixed woodland to see what else we could find.

Editor’s note. These birds were first found just over the border in Shropshire but they did wander around and were observed in Worcestershire. They remained in the area for several weeks.


01. Female Two-barred Crossbill. Pete Walkden


02. Male Two-barred Crossbill. Pete Walkden


03. Male Two-barred Crossbill. Pete Walkden

04. Pair of Two-barred Crossbills. Pete Walkden

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 29-30 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Shell bank in the River Avon at Nafford, Worcestershire

Gary & Nicki Farmer

On the 6th of May 2013 we were walking along the banks of the River Avon at Nafford when we noticed what we first thought was a shingle bank with some mollusc shells mixed in (01, 02). We walked on to the bank to look for shells and realised that it was not a shingle bank at all, but the entire thing was made of empty mollusc shells. We spent just a few minutes picking through the shells and found several species including land snails Dark-lipped Banded Cepaea nemoralis and Copse Snails Arianta arbustoum which must have been washed into the river further upstream. Of the water snails present the most abundant was the River Snail Viviparus viviparus (03) along with other gastropods including many small Bithynia tentaculata (04). These two species are typical of relatively slow-flowing, well-oxygenated water courses. Along with these were just a few small shells of the Wandering Pond Snail Lymnaea peregra (Radix balthica) (05), a ubiquitous species.

Bivalves were also present, represented by the Nut Orb Mussel Sphaerium rivicola (06), larger Duck Mussel Anodonta anatina (07)and a much less common species, the Depressed River Mussel Pseudanodonta complanata (08).

However the most striking species of the day was the invasive Zebra Snail Dreissena polymorpha. (08) This attractive species was first recorded in Britain in the 1820’s and it spread rapidly throughout the canals and rivers of lowland England. Killeen et al 2004 note that the species has increased in abundance since 1999 and has become a pest of water facilities.

Later in the year while editing some of my photographs I ‘zoomed-in’ on one of the shell bank pictures and noticed what appeared to be small black shells with white spots. I knew that these must be River Nerites Theodoxus fluviatilis a species of lime-rich water courses, preferring hard surfacing to graze on including the masonry of bridges (Kerney 1999). As I had never seen this species (or its shells) we made a return visit to Nafford on a Nerite hunt on 1st September 2013. When we arrived we found that the shell bank was actually the main route onto the river for canoeists and so the continuous trampling through the summer had turned the pile of shells into grit! Luckily the Nerites have very hard shells and after several minutes of careful searching we were rewarded with a few shells of this most attractive little water snail (07).

Many thanks to Rosemary Hill for helping with the identification of the shells.

References
Cameron, R. 2003 Land Snails of the British Isles. FSC Publications, Shropshire

Kerney, M. 1999 Atlas of the Land & Freshwater Molluscs of Britain & Ireland. Harley Books, Essex.

Killeen, I., Aldridge, D. & Oliver G. 2004. Freshwater Bivalves of Britain & Ireland. FSC Publications, Shropshire.


01.Shell bank in River Avon, Nafford. Gary Farmer

02. Shell bank in River Avon, Nafford. Gary Farmer

03. River Snail Viviparus viviparus. Gary Farmer

04. Bithynia tentaculata. Gary Farmer

05. Wandering Pond Snail Lymnaea peregra from shell bank. Gary Farmer

06. Nut Orb Mussel Sphaerium rivicola. Gary Farmer

07. Duck mussel Anodonta anatina. Gary Farmer

08. Depressed River Mussel Pseudanodonta complanata. Gary Farmer

09. Zebra Snail Dreissena polymorpha. Gary Farmer

10. River Nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis. Gary Farmer

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 4 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Bumblebee and Orthoptera atlases

Harry Green

Records are being gathered for these two atlases so this is a reminder to please collect records this summer for both groups. The explanatory introductory articles on these projects appeared in Worcestershire Record No 34, April 2013 or on the web site at http://www.wbrc.org.uk/WORCRECD/34/index.html. Although records are accumulating there are still a great many gaps.

Orthoptera

A good update on Orthoptera can be found on organiser Gary Farmer’s special web site http://worcestershireorthoptera.weebly.com – please take a look.

Bumblebees

The map of all records for 2012 and 2013 shows a lot of open spaces without records (01). The maps for two common species Bombus terrestris and Bombus lapidarius emphasises the point (02 and 03).


01. All records of bumblebees 2012 and 2013


02. All records of Bombus terristris 2012 and 2013

03. All records of Bombus lapidarius 2012 and 2013

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 22 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

New Tree Creeper Nest Box

Garth Lowe

It is always satisfying to provide a nesting place for a bird, and in the case of Blue and Great Tits this is a fairly simple task. For the Tree Creeper this is at present an almost impossible task. For many years the triangular box has been the one that has been widely available to tempt this much loved bird, but with very limited success.

At a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) conference back in December 2013 there was a gathering of nest recorders, and during this session a talk was given on a new design of box for this bird. The speaker had over the years noted various places where this bird has built a natural nest, mainly in tight crevices, sometimes in man-made artefacts such as a stack of fence panels! This prompted him to produce a design similar to a flat bat box, but which has a small entrance at the bottom of one side. This type of box he found was more attractive and had had birds actually nesting in it.

The box is roughly 25cm square and has a depth of around 50mm, and is more representative of a crevice behind a piece of bark that has flaked away from the tree, that tree creeper frequently use. The box shown to us had a hinged lid at the front, and inside had a narrow piece that was attached across the bottom, to hold the nest when the door was opened. The four boxes that I have installed, two of which are now in the new additional woodland at the Knapp & Papermill Wildlife Reserve, have a sliding door instead, and were quite easy to knock up (01). It will most likely take a few years to have any take up, but others who have a connection with woodland may like to have an attempt with this new design of box.

A similar type of box was constructed by Ladhams (1972) (02).

Reference

Ladhams, D.E. 1927 Artificial nest for Tree Creepers. British Birds 65:223.


01.Artificial nest box for Tree Creepers with side panel removed. Garth Lowe.


02. Ladhams 1972 artificial nest box for tree creepers.

The Gloucester Mecopteran 1 & 2 [Scorpion flies Panorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) in Gloucestershire, including separation of the British species; other observations]

Martin Matthews

pdf: The Gloucester Mecopteran 1
GloucestershireMecopteran1

pdf: The Gloucester Mecopteran 2
GloucestershireMecopteran2

[[ Martin Matthews has produced two issues of this (to date) and has given permission for us to reproduce them in Worcestershire Record. They appear as four images (01, 02, 03, 04). Scorpion Flies are neglected by recorders so hopefully this will encourge readers to send more records to Worcestershire Biological Records centre. If you wish to receive further issues by email contact Martin at martmatt@btinternet.com ]]


01. The Gloucester Mecopteran 1 Page 1

02. The Gloucester Mecopteran 1 Page 2

03. The Gloucester Mecopteran 2 Page 1

04. The Gloucester Mecopteran 2 Page 2

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 19-22 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Blackthorn Management at Feckenham Wylde Moor and the resultant increase in Brown Hairstreak eggs

Paul Meers

In 2008 we found a single Brown Hairstreak egg on Blackthorn (01)

along the Southern boundary of the Feckenham Wylde Moor Reserve (FWM). The last previously recorded finds were in March1997 when five were found. None were recorded between these years. The reserve is owned and managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (Paul Meers is the volunteer reserve manager).

Following this find in 2008 and the fact that Brown Hairstreak eggs were being found in larger numbers at nearby Grafton Wood Reserve we decided to carry out management work on the very old Blackthorn along the Southern boundary of the reserve. The photograph shows how big the hedge had grown with no visible suckers (02).

It had become overgrown and covered in lichen, not good for Brown Hairstreak females laying eggs. Cutting back would encourage new suckers and confirm that the butterfly was about in our area.

On a very cold bleak day in January 2009 we started the first phase, after checking again in case there were more eggs. Volunteers cut back the old blackthorn (03).

Picture (04)

shows blackthorn flowering in the following spring.

During the following summer a reasonable number of small new suckers had developed and were growing out into the meadow along the fence line and that winter we found six eggs on those new suckers.

We decided to fence off the area so that grazing cattle couldn’t eat the eggs and any new suckers. The eggs eventually hatched but there was no sign of any caterpillars in May 2010.

In August 2010 I was about to climb through the fence to see if there was any Brown Hairstreak activity and typically when I was half way through the barbed-wire without my camera turned on, a lone female flew off one of the suckers. Unfortunately she moved away and did not settle again. On further investigation I found six single eggs on the new suckers. That winter, 2010, we found more eggs. Our total now stood at nine for the year.

2011 arrived and with our increasing egg numbers, albeit by only a few, we considered the possibilities of more Blackthorn clearance and in late January we decided to completely coppice the old hedge making an open area down to the ditch thus creating a sheltered microclimate with the hope that more suckers would soon fill the space (05, 06).

They appeared in the spring (07).

We also decided to coppice the Moors Lane Blackthorn hedge that had never been managed since the reserve was established in the early 1980s. Thanks to Mervyn Needham and his team of volunteers who did the work (before 08, after 09).

It looked harsh treatment at the time but now the hedge has grown well with plenty of suckers, many of which have Brown Hairstreak eggs on them.

It was now becoming obvious that the management was ccorrect as the area became covered with new lush Blackthorn suckers and our hopes were high for increasing numbers of eggs going forward.

During the summer we had been looking for possible Brown Hairstreak assembly trees but without success and to this day have not yet found ours. There must be one close to where we did the original work and we have a couple of possible suspects along that side of the reserve. Our egg count for 2011 was 12.

2012 arrived and the new sucker patch was now well established but becoming overgrown. We consulted Mike Williams and John Tilt about what further management we should do. We cleared the tall grasses and Cleavers, which were choking the low suckers.

Following this our egg count increased and purely by chance we found 12 eggs on a Blackthorn variety we had planted some years ago to fill a gap in the hedge along Moors Lane. This was a real bonus, as we had not considered these as food plants as they looked more like Damsons with the fruit along the main stems rather than in clumps on outer branches. The leaf is also different and there are very few thorns.

At this time ever-increasing Brown Hairstreak egg numbers were being found not only at and near Grafton Wood but also in the Feckenham area. We discovered good numbers along the Feckenham to Morton Underhill footpath, so they were obviously on the move. Our final 2012 egg count for the reserve was now up to 28.

On May 2nd 2012 I was lucky enough to find a very small caterpillar that had just hatched from a nearby egg (10).

If only I had been there minutes sooner I would have probably seen it hatch. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time but you can’t be on site every day unless you are prepared to camp out. This option has not yet been ruled out!

2013 came and early on our numbers were similar to 2012, however these had been found in late summer when the females were in full egg laying mode (we have yet to see one laying at FWM and in fact we have only ever seen two on site) and leaves were still on the suckers: not the easiest time to find eggs. As winter arrived we continued to look and found more and more eggs not only on our best patch but also on the coppiced Moors Lane hedge and again on the odd blackthorn variety further up the lane. Our 2013 count rose to a massive 87 recorded including some doubles and a triple (11 and 12)..

All being well a good percentage of these eggs will successfully hatch this Spring (2014) and there will be more adult Brown Hairstreak to swell the ever increasing numbers in the County.

All our efforts over the past few years have proved without doubt that good and extensive Blackthorn management for Brown Hairstreaks certainly pays off and enables a large amount of new sucker growth which, in turn, has resulted in a significant increase in egg numbers.

Hopefully we will locate assembly trees this year (2014) and also, hopefully, I will be lucky enough to see an egg hatching.

I have been given a challenge by Harry to photograph a pupa so if you are visiting Feckenham this summer and see an elderly Warden on his hands and knees rummaging in a Blackthorn patch don’t be alarmed: it will be yours truly.

Written in March 2014.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 28 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Birds in Worcestershire – April to September 2013

Gavin Peplow

Following the coldest spring in years, temperatures gradually warmed into May, the sun came out and we enjoyed an excellent summer completely in contrast to the previous year. This has undoubtedly helped many species enjoy improved breeding success, particularly our migrants, though some of our residents struggled to find enough food to feed their nestlings during April.

A splendid drake Smew remained at Bittell Reservoirs into early April, as did a Scaup at Ripple Pits. Migrants struggled in, with Ring Ouzels well represented at several lowland sites, namely Clifton Gravel Pits, Shenstone and Stone – numbers peaking on Bredon Hill with eight mid-month. Ospreys passed along the River Severn near Bewdley and through Upton Warren and Garganey were found at Holt and the Gwen Finch reserve at Nafford. It was a very good spring for White Wagtails – the continental sub-species partner of our Pied Wagtail – with a peak count of at least 34 around Holt and Grimley.

Although a regular passage migrant, a truly exceptional flock of 69 Black-tailed Godwits paused very briefly at Upton Warren mid-month, whilst up to five Little Gulls lingered slightly longer over the Moors Pool there on the same day. This site then attracted two Pied Flycatchers around the North Moors Pool – a very scarce visitor here, whilst the next day another was equally unexpected at Bittell. The rarest sighting of the month was a Great White Egret that visited the new Pershore Wetlands Reserve alongside the River Avon one evening at the end of the month. Now becoming a lot more regular, there are still only a few records for the County and so those that turn up still attract a lot of interest.

May began with a Sandwich Tern at Clifton Pits and is so often the way, observers watching that bird then found another ‘scarcity’: a Caspian Gull. Rarer ducks included two Red-breasted Merganser at Westwood, followed by a Common Scoter a week or so later, whilst further Garganey were seen at Ripple Pits before three drakes turned up at Grimley.

A strong wader passage through the month included two separate Temminck’s Stints and three Wood Sandpipers at Grimley, a Bar-tailed Godwit there and two or three other birds at Ripple and Upton Warren, and approximately 25 Sanderling, with significant flocks of five birds at both Ripple and Clifton Pits. A similar number of Whimbrel were seen around the main wetland sites and half a dozen or so Turnstone passed through. There was a steady trickle of Arctic Terns, but only two Black Terns were reported.

By far the most outstanding record of the month and indeed the year for the County was a GREAT REED WARBLER at Grimley at the start of the third week. Its loud grating song was enjoyed by many though it proved a lot trickier to see as it lurked within its typically favoured reedbed habitat. Sadly it was only present for just one day.

Another Great White Egret was found at the beginning of June at Upton Warren whilst three Little Egrets dropped in to Ripple. In an otherwise fairly quiet month, late migrants or wandering non-breeding birds included Garganey at Grimley, a Black Tern through Upton Warren, a Marsh Harrier at Hewell Grange and a good number of Red Kites around the County. An unseasonal female Scaup visited Ripple, a Common Scoter dropped into Bittell and immature Little and Mediterranean Gulls were seen amongst the breeding Black-heads at Upton Warren.

Avocets enjoyed another record-breaking year at Upton Warren, with up to 47 counted in July, including 33 juveniles! Other interesting passage waders there included Ruff, Wood Sandpiper and a maximum of six Black-tailed Godwits. This popular reserve also dominated other interesting records during the month including at least four Mediterranean Gulls, up to three Little Egrets and a now rare Willow Tit visited the feeding station from mid-month. Elsewhere Turtle Doves were very scarce with only a couple of reports. Small groups of Crossbill included ten over Redditch towards the end of the month.

A Honey Buzzard was reported at the beginning of August over Walton Hill whilst other raptor records included a Marsh Harrier through Upton Warren and presumably the same wandering Osprey seen at this last site, Tardebigge and then Hewell Grange. Interesting waders included Wood Sandpipers at Grimley, Ruff there, at Clifton Pits and Upton Warren, with six briefly at this last site on one date. Little Egrets peaked at six at Grimley and return passage terns included parties of three Arctic at both Bittell and Westwood, and Blacks at Bittell, Grimley and Hewell Grange. A few Whinchats were seen at several sites with three on Hollybed Common at the end of the month.

The first Black-necked Grebe of the year was found at Bittell, with presumably the same bird re-locating to Westwood the following day. Waders otherwise provided the main interest: two Curlew Sandpipers were brief visitors to Upton Warren but Little Stints at this site, Clifton Pits, and Lower Moor remained longer. A couple of Little Gulls were found along with eclipse plumage Garganeys, whilst Rock Pipits at Clifton, Ripple and even North Hill in the last week were a sure indication that autumn was on it’s way !

For information on recent sightings and to report any unusual birds you may see, please visit http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 28 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 28-29 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Birds in Worcestershire – October 2013 to March 2014

Gavin Peplow

This was a much milder winter than its predecessor, although record-breakingly wet, with extensive flooding down the Severn and Avon valleys dominating from the end of December though into late February.

October began where September left off, with a series of Rock Pipit records including birds at Clifton Pits, Grimley and Ripple, with an exceptional four moving through Upton Warren one morning mid month. The end of the second week was stormy and produced several local rarities including a Red-necked Grebe at Westwood and then a summer-plumage Red-throated Diver at Ripple pits. A juvenile Gannet was seen flying over Grimley and probably the same bird seen over Upton Warren a couple of days later. Two Whooper Swans also stopped briefly at Grimley at this time and a two Red-breasted Mergansers passed through Westwood Pool.

In a busy month for waterfowl, a Common Scoter dropped in to Upton Warren and a party of seven paused for a couple of hours at Clifton Pits, whilst a Black-necked Grebe at Westwood was only the second bird of the year in the County. Garganey were seen at Kemerton and Ripple Pits and a Scaup visited Westwood.

Upton Warren also attracted a late Avocet and a fly-over Grey Plover along with the rarest bird of the month in the form of a very short-staying GLOSSY IBIS – only the second County record of this species which is becoming a more regular visitor to UK shores, largely reflecting an expanding population in the Iberian peninsula.

A Hoopoe stayed several days in Stourport but had disappeared by the time the fortunate ‘non-birding’ observers had alerted someone able to identify their ‘lovely looking bird’ and a Firecrest showed well to a few at Grimley. The month concluded with a very late juvenile Marsh Harrier that found the Gwen Finch Reserve to its liking and lingered in that area for nearly two weeks and into November.

The highlight of early November and rather more obliging than the bird seen at Upton Warren a few weeks previously, were two GLOSSY IBIS at Lower Moor. Though rather mobile, they did spend a reasonable amount of time around the flash pools either side of the river over a three-day period. A Great Grey Shrike was found and just as rapidly disappeared at Defford Airfield whilst up to three Shag lingered at Upper Bittell for nearly two weeks mid month.

Perhaps a monthly record count of nine Little Egrets were seen at Grimley, indicative of the mild conditions which were to persist throughout the winter. A Bittern was seen irregularly at Upton Warren whilst this site also attracted another late Avocet and rather unseasonal Turnstone and Black-tailed Godwits. A few more Common Scoter were seen, with five at Kemerton Lakes the highlight. Passerines included several small parties of Crossbill, with the largest flock being 31 at Eymore Wood. Elsewhere two Snow Buntings passed through the north Malverns and one just strayed into the County near Frankley.

One or more wandering GLOSSY IBIS put in brief appearances at Upton Warren again and then over Captain’s Pool during December. Several Mealy Redpolls were seen at scattered sites and included an impressive eighteen at Lineholt amongst a large flock of Lesser Redpolls . At the end of the month an ARCTIC REDPOLL was also seen briefly at this last location on several occasions but sadly didn’t linger for the majority to enjoy.

Two separate Iceland Gulls were found amongst a good number of larger Gulls around the Wildmoor Tip area and this site also attracted a Caspian Gull. A Great Grey Shrike that lingered and was easy to see – a rare combination – took up residence and delighted many observers, also attracting the interest of passing motorists and pedestrians alike at a new plantation between Hopwood and the canal at Lower Bittell around Christmas.

Two juvenile White-fronted Geese joined the local Canada and Greylag flock at Ripple Pits later in the month, before being displaced as the floodwater rose ever higher with the onset of New Year.

The winter will certainly be remembered for the extensive and record flooding which dominated the first couple of months of 2014. An adult Whooper Swan spent two weeks on the ‘lake’ that was Upton-upon-Severn north Ham, whilst at least three adult Mediterranean Gulls were found in the roost to the south of the Town during January. A Great White Egret was reported flying over Upper Welland but there were no further sightings thereafter, whilst two Little Egrets, formerly very rare in winter, were seen regularly in the Droitwich area, often choosing to roost at Westwood Pool.

Two Scaup spent a few days at Bittell and a White-fronted Goose was found at Clifton Pits. A Short-eared Owl was a good find at Blackstone near Bewdley, whilst a flock of 200 Brambling on the Lickey Hills was a cracking sight. The biggest surprise of the month however was the finding of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Uffmoor Wood. How many other individuals of this attractive little warbler go undetected in similar habitat around the County we’ll probably never know!

A Slavonian Grebe was a good find at Westwood at the start of February, followed soon after by a two-day Great Northern Diver – unexpectedly the second there in two years. Apart from the lingering Whooper Swan and White-fronted Goose, the floods attracted a wholly unprecedented flock of c.1200 Pintail at Longdon Marsh – one Observer even considering there may have been as many as 1500 birds, a total far exceeding the previous record count of 600, also at this site!

At least two Iceland Gulls visited Wildmoor Tip, one of which wandered south to Upton Warren briefly, whilst several Kittiwakes graced sites from Ripple to Westwood. Mediterranean Gulls peaked at four in the Upton-upon-Severn roost and two showed on the central Worcester floods at Pitchcroft along with another Iceland Gull! Avocets returned early to Upton Warren mid month whilst a count of 35 Jack Snipe there was a site record and undoubtedly the highest count anywhere in the County for many years, if not for all time !

The weather finally became drier during March and also warmer, though only intermittently so during the month. Passage began to gather pace with the first Ring Ouzel along with commoner migrants being found. Two Marsh Harriers and an Osprey were seen at Upton Warren, along with a peak count of 31 Avocet. The long staying Great Grey Shrike at Hopwood and Yellow-browed Warbler at Uffmoor Wood continued to entertain throughout the month. The last few days of the month yielded a surprise with two Bean Geese of the ‘Taiga’ subspecies, fabilis, at Kemerton Lakes – only the second time this form has been positively identified not just in Worcestershire, but in the whole of the West Midlands Bird Club area!

For information on recent sightings and to report any unusual birds you may have the good luck to find, please visit http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/

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Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 5-6 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella – a new Moth for Worcestershire

Gavin Peplow

Autumn can often be an exciting time for ‘moth-ers’: there is always a chance of a few migrant species turning up in your light trap when conditions are favourable. 2013 had proved fairly good for such occurrences, though the majority I had seen during September were of commoner species such as Silver Y, with the bonus of one or two Hummingbird Hawkmoths, a Dark Sword Grass and a couple of Dusky Lemon Sallows: the latter presumed to be of migrant origin as they are nowhere near an annual occurrence here.

However, nothing prepared me for the moment I lifted the lid of my very well used polystyrene ‘funnel trap’ on the morning of 3rd October 2013. On the top egg tray there was an immediately identifiable Crimson Speckled – a species typically found in the old world sub-tropics!! I could barely believe my eyes, despite having heard that a few had been seen in the preceding days. This species was certainly not on my ‘radar’ as being a possible migrant so far inland! My elation however almost instantly turned to dread as the moth lifted off with the sudden flood of daylight surrounding it and I really feared that would be it and I’d see it sailing away over the nearest hedgerow never to be seen again (and possibly never to be believed by others!). It was with great relief that it chose to only move a few inches and land again on the side of the box. Within a few seconds it was safely resting inside a pot, with the first County record and one of only a very few inland occurrences of the species secured! Some people have likened opening and looking through your moth trap in the morning to unwrapping a birthday present and after this experience I now understand why!

I’d seen Crimson Speckled overseas previously, though at the time had probably not really appreciated its true beauty due to the distractions of masses of other wildlife. It has been an occasional though by no means annual migrant to the UK since first being recorded in the 19th Century, but normally with only a handful of sightings in a good year. 2013 turned out to be particularly strong for the species with upwards of 30 eventually being recorded by the end of the autumn, though virtually all the other sightings were along the south and east coasts.

It just goes to prove that you never can be sure what will turn up and where in the natural world!


01. Crimson Speckled moth Worcestershire 2013. Gavin Peplow.

02. Crimson Speckled moth Worcestershire 2013. Gavin Peplow.

03. Crimson Speckled moth Worcestershire 2013. Gavin Peplow

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 10-11 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Succinea putris (L) parasitised by Leucochloridium at Pershore, Worcestershire

Mike Poulton & Paul Reade

Zombie Snail

On the afternoon of 3rd June 2014, we were walking through the riverside meadow off Cherry Orchard, in Pershore, Grid Ref.SO951461, when our attention was drawn to a very conspicuous, odd looking semi-aquatic snail (possibly Oxyloma pfeifferi or Succinea putris) sitting on the upper surface of a rather reddish dock Rumex obtusifolia leaf. On closer inspection it became apparent that both eye tentacles were extremely swollen and made up of concentric brownish-coloured bands which appeared to be ‘pulsating’ rhythmically, very much resembling two wriggling maggots. Several photographs and a short video were taken with the intention of later researching the subject on the internet. The search led us to a snail parasite called Leucochloridium variae, common name Brown-banded Broodsac or one of the similar Leucochloridium species. When the parasite has matured within the snail, indicated by its movement into an eye tentacle, it then alters the behaviour of the snail such that the snail now climbs up into the vegetation, into light and into the open, in effect offering itself as dinner to the first passing bird. The foraging bird rips off the eye stalk and eats it, infecting itself with the parasite and completing the life cycle when the parasite’s egg is dropped with the bird’s faeces and is subsequently eaten by another snail. In this way the parasite increases its chance of reaching isolated populations of snails a far greater distance away.

01. Leucochloridium variae, common name Brown-banded Broodsac – Pershore riverside meadow 03-06-14.

There is plenty written on detailed aspects of the parasite itself and there are some fascinating, though somewhat gruesome videos to be seen on the internet but it is difficult to find any information about its distribution, particularly in the British Isles. Has anyone else come across the ‘Zombie Snail’ in Worcestershire or for that matter anywhere else in the British Isles?

The picture was sent to Adrian Norris of the Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland who commented:

“The snail is Succinea putris and the parasite is very well known, but little observed. The parasite is usually found in this species and is noticed by people who frequent the marshy areas in which the snail lives”.

Editor’s note

I was fascinated by this note from Messrs. Poulton & Reade and the picture which stimulated an old interest in parasites and I spent a lot of time trying to find out more about this one. The pulsating tentacles are part of the life cycle of a trematode (flatworm) and there are many flatworm species with life cycles involving snails and birds or mammals (including unpleasant diseases in people). There are many species infecting many birds and the mature flatworm resides in the gut, especially the cloaca from whence its eggs reach the outside world. The following description outlines the life cycle:

“Leucochloridium Adults live in the cloaca of various birds. Eggs already contain a miracidium when they pass in the faeces of the bird. These eggs can resist environmental conditions if deposited on land. They do not hatch until eaten by a suitable snail. Once in the gut of the snail, the egg hatches and releases the miracidium, which immediately penetrates the gut and enters the tissues of the snail. A mother sporocyst develops, which produces many daughter sporocysts. When the daughter sporocysts have produced cercariae, the sporocysts extend branches into the tentacles of the snail, and the cercariae transform into metacercariae. These sporocyst branches have colored bands and also pulsate. They are quite large, and the pulsating colored tentacles of the infected snails attract predation by birds. The metacercariae are ingested by the bird and develop into adults.” http://www2.biology.ualberta.ca/parasites/ParPub/lifecycl/text/strig04t.htm

Although parasitology texts frequently mention that the pulsating tentacles are taken by birds I have so far been unable to trace the original report of this for the parasite in Succinea putris. Which bird species attacks the tentacles? The snail lives in damp marshy habitats and is quite small so perhaps a small bird takes the tentacles or does a larger bird simply eat the whole snail? The answer may be in C. A. Heckert. ‘Monographische Darstellung der Entwicklungs und Lebensgeschichte des Distomum macroslomum’, in Leuckart and Chun’s Bibliotheca Zooiogica. iv (Cassel, 1889) which referenced by Ellis (1926) after he describes the process. Lapage (1958) makes a similar comment without references suggesting that authors sometimes repeat other author’s comments without recourse to the original description. Baer (1951) has a description and a drawing and refers to Wesenberg-Lund but fails to give details of the reference.

The original descripton of the flat worm itself Leucochloridium variae (McIntosh 1932) was of one found in the cloaca of a Black and White Warbler Mniotilta varia in North America. This is a migratory forest bird breeding in NE of North America and wintering in N South America. They can be found in many habitats during migration, especially woodlands and forests in riparian settings so it is at times found near wetlands. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-and-white_warbler). The worm may of course parasitise other species in other parts of the world.

Internet searches find many papers on details of the parasite, its genetics and so on but next to nothing on natural history. The following paper may be useful but so far I haven’t been able to see it: Arthur Erskine Ellis, 1950, Succinea putris (L.) parasitized by Leucochloridium . Journal of Conchology 23:107.

My apologies to Mike Poulton and Paul Reade for adding comments as long as their note but I hope this may stimulate readers to look for this snail and its parasite. If anyone finds one please take pictures. Also if anyone can dig out more information on the natural history please let us know. Meanwhile http://imgur.com/gallery/TOBBI has some remarkable video of pulsating antennae!

References
Baer, J.G. 1951. Ecology of animal parasites. University of Illinois Press. Urbana.

Ellis, A.E. 1926, 1969 impression. British Snails. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Lapage, G. 1958. Parasitic animals. Heffer & Sons, Cambridge.

McIntosh, A. 1932 Some new species of Trematode worms of the genus Leucochloridium, Carus, parasitic in birds from northern Michigan, with a key and notes on other species of the genus. Journal of Parasitology 19:32-48

02. Leucochloridium variae from McIntosh 1932

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 10-11 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 4-5 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Moths in Worcestershire VC37 in 2013

Tony Simpson

The long cold late winter and spring delayed and reduced moth emergences to a marked extent and recovery was delayed right into June. Then a long hot spell in July produced excellent moth numbers and there were some good immigrant records into the autumn. Most leaf miners were in low numbers perhaps as a consequence of the previous poor years as well as by their first generation being affected by the cold spring.

There were three new Macros:

Liz & Neil Harris had a Kent Black Arches M. albula at light at Welland on 25/7/2013 and Danny Arnold a Saltern Ear A. fucosa (01)

(confirmed by Roy Leverton) at Upper Rochford on 14/8/13. The first two were probably migrants as certainly was a Crimson Speckled U. pulchella which came to Gavin Peplow’s trap in Abberton on 2/10/13 (see separate article). There was an influx of this beautiful species into southern England in 2013.

There were five new Micros:

Robert Homan found vacated mines of Ectoedemia heringella on a Quercus ilex at the entrance to Longdon Manor on 11/5/13. This species has been spreading from the south east in recent years.

Patrick Clement’s wife found an Elachista apicipunctella (02)

on a Poplar trunk at Feckenham Wild Moor on 28/7/13 and he found four others similarly at rest and 32 there the next day. This species has been present in Warwickshire for many years and it has always been a surprise that it was never recorded in Worcestershire. Then Alan Prior and Steve Chappell had two at Chaddesley Wood on 3/8/13. It seems likely that it is another new arrival.

A Coleophora clypeiferella (03)

found its way into Patrick Clement’s trap at the Devil’s Spittleful on 7/8/13. This species feeds on Chenopodium album and does seem to wander and come to light traps, but this is, as far as I know, the first record for the West Midlands.

I found many larval feedings of Phtheochroa sodaliana on a Buckthorn bush at Windmill Hill on 26/8/2013. I have looked at this bush over many years and never seen it there before! (04).

It is a species of chalk and limestone habitats in southern England.

The last new species was a Depressaria badiella trapped at Warndon by Steve Whitehouse on 26/9/13. This moth occurs in open habitats, often in quarries and other bare rocky or sandy sites, and occurs in both Herefordshire and Warwickshire, so it was an expected record, but the suburban site was a surprise.

Other Migrants:

Mike Southall had a Four-spotted Footman on 2/10/13 at Crossway Green, and there were a good number of less rare species though the late summer and into the autumn; in fact our best migrant year since 2006. There were in total more than 40 Vestal; two Palpita vitrealis; many Dark Sword Grass; two Delicate; two Gem; a Pearly Underwing; and a lot of Rush Veneer, Rusty Dot Pearl, Silver Y, and some Humming-bird Hawk-moths recorded.

Other interesting and uncommon species:

Ben Coleman continues to record Grey Chi in King’s Heath, a species nowadays almost confined to Birmingham in VC37.

There were more records of Garden Dart mostly in the north of the county; Liz & Neil Harris had a Lunar Thorn at Welland on 5/6/13; a few Spinach are still being recorded; there were a few second brood Devon Carpets; and three Ruddy Carpets. Scarlet Tiger is now fairly common and widespread throughout the county.

The beautiful little micro Chrysoclista linneella was caught on 18/7/13 by Alan Prior at Hall Green and on 20/7/13 by Rik Smithies at King’s Heath. The larva of this species feeds in the bark of Lime trees and seems to be mainly an urban species nowadays. Prays ruficeps has now been separated from Prays fraxinella; an imago with plain brownish- grey wings devoid of markings with a yellow or orange head is ruficeps, as opposed to one with a dark head and often some darker markings visible on the fore-wings, which is the melanic form of fraxinella. The black and white ones are all fraxinella. They cannot be separated by dissection.

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Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 16-17 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Pandivirilia melaleuca (Leow) Forest Silver-stiletto fly (Diptera:Therevidae) in Southwest Worcestershire

Martin B Skirrow

Stiletto flies (Therevidae) owe their name to the tapering shape of their abdomen, which suggests the blade of a stiletto with the thorax as a handle. Thirteen species are recognised in Britain. The most widespread is Thereva nobilitata, but most of the others are uncommon. Pandivirilia melaleuca is a rare endangered RDB1 species. On 14th July 2013 I found a female of this species resting on a wall indoors in my converted cowshed dwelling on a farm in Berrow (VC37; SO777339). I stored it and did not come to examine the fly properly until January 2014. Only then did I realise that it was something unusual (01, 02, 03). Identity was confirmed by Martin Harvey from photographs.

The photographs show:

01. Dorsal View of pinned specimen of female Pandivirilia melaleuca Forest Silver-stiletto. Wing length 8mm.

02. Lateral view of Pandivirilia melaleuca showing extensive silvery markings. Males are even more silvery.

03. Frontal view of Pandivirilia melaleuca showing the silvery face.

04. Pandivirilia melaleuca female caught by Kevin McGee near Drakes Broughton in 2009.

Larvae of this species are believed to prey on saproxylic beetle larvae found in rotting wood in old hollow trees. In Keith Alexander’s checklist of invertebrates in decaying timber in Britain and Ireland the entry for Pandivirilia melaleuca runs as follows: “Larvae in very dry powdery red-rotten heartwood of oak and in decaying heartwood of ash, often devoid of other living macro-organisms; wide scatter of reports across southern Britain (although confirmation through rearing only from Windsor), but always ancient wood pastures.” (Alexander, 2002). In Britain, until 2006, it had been found regularly only in Windsor Forest and Great Park, but in that year, Keith Alexander successfully reared a larva of P. pandivirilia in wood mould from the base of a hollow live pear tree in Churcham, West Gloucestershire (SO757172) (Alexander, 2007). The fungus responsible for the red-rot in the Churcham pear tree was Laetiporus sulphureus. Then in 2009 Kevin McGee caught an adult female fly near the base of an oak stump at the Mill Meadow/Mill Rough complex, Drakes Broughton, in Worcestershire (SO919483) (McGee, 2009; 2010). McGee’s photograph of his specimen shows the close similarity to the Berrow fly (04).

Churcham is only 16 kilometres south of the Berrow farm, which has two old orchards with hollow trees, mostly apple and many blown down (though left undisturbed). There are no hollow oaks on the farm, but there is a large ancient hollow pear tree within 100 metres of the building where the fly was found and a hollow ash within 200 metres. Closer to the building was a huge heap of cut timber, some of which had been lying for at least 10 years and some of it well rotted. During the coming season a search is planned to look for saproxylic invertebrates in these hollow trees and hopefully find where the fly is breeding.

Alexander draws attention to the unusually rich fauna of saproxylic beetles in West Gloucestershire and of the existence of old orchards, effectively wood pastures, of the ancient forest country which ran between the Royal Forest of Dean and Malvern Chase (Alexander 2007). The need for preservation of what is left of these old orchards is obvious and pressing,

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to Martin Harvey for confirming the identity of the fly and to Kevin McGee for permission to reproduce his photograph of the fly.

References:

Alexander, K. N. A. 2002. The invertebrates of living and decaying timber in Britain & Ireland: a provisional annotated checklist. English Nature Research Report 467. English Nature Peterborough.

Alexander, K. N. A. 2007. Pandivirilia melaleuca (Loew) (Diptera, Therividae) confirmed as a Gloucestershire species. Dipterists Digest 14, 87-89.

McGee, K. 2009. An account of uncommon insects that I have recorded at the Mill Meadow/Mill Rough complex since 1996. Worcestershire Record No.27: 7-12.

McGee. K.A. 2010. The discovery of Pandivirilia melaleuca (Diptera: Therevidae) in Worcestershire. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History. 23.1: 56.

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Solitary wasp Gorytes laticinctus (Crabronidae); first record for Worcestershire

Martin B Skirrow and Geoff Trevis

On 12th March 2014 MBS found two female solitary wasps close together on the inside of a window in his converted cowshed dwelling on a farm in Berrow. Having established that all salient features of the two wasps appeared identical, he preserved one and released the other. The retained specimen was provisionally identified, with surprise, as Gorytes laticinctus (Crabronidae) (01, 02, 03).

It was passed to GT who agreed with this, but as the NBN map (BWARS) showed that the nearest record of the species to Berrow was near Bristol, about 80 miles away, he referred the wasp to Mike Edwards who duly confirmed our identification.

G. laticinctus is the rarest of this group of solitary wasps in Britain with a sparse distribution south of a line from the Wash to the Severn estuary (there is a single record from mid-Lincolnshire). Mike Edwards pointed out that there has been a spread of the species since about 1980, before which there were very few records.

A likely explanation for the occurrence of these two wasps indoors is that they emerged from pupation in the soil of a nearby potted plant (Clivia) that had been outside during the summer and brought indoors for the winter. This idea is supported by the fact that they appeared some two months earlier than normal. In his profile of Gorytes laticinctus on the BWARS website, Falk refers to a 1930 paper that cites a foreign account of a nest of the species in a flower pot (BWARS). For a species favouring light sandy soil, the Clivia pot might have been an attraction on this farm which is on clay. All this, of course, is supposition, but what is certain is that nothing had been imported into the house from further afield than the farm.

Some readers will be more familiar with the family name Sphecidae for these solitary wasps, and that family still exists, but most genera formerly in Sphecidae were recently placed in a new family Crabronidae. Many of these wasps have striking yellow markings and bandings, yet they can be similar and need careful examination for identification. In the case of G. laticinctus a particular distinguishing feature is the large extent of yellow on the face extending above the level of antennal insertions (03). Good photographs showing the characteristic features are shown on the BWARS website (BWARS).

Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Mike Edwards for confirming the identity of the wasp and for his comments.

References
BWARS: Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society. Internet: www.bwars.com/

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Notes on birds in the Severn and Avon Vales (the “Severn Hams”) (Gloucestershire and south Worcestershire) October – December 2013

Mike Smart

General introduction

The main sites are (from the north):

Along the Severn in Worcestershire, a series of well-watched gravel workings attract many water birds, notably waders; these are (from the north): Holt and Grimley (on the west bank just north of Worcester), Clifton (on the east bank just south of Kempsey); Ryall (on the east bank opposite Upton Ham); Ripple Lake (east bank) just south of the M50. Upton Warren Nature reserve, north of Droitwich, is outside the area covered by the present report, but is occasionally mentioned as it attracts many significant birds. Powick Ham, just south of Worcester, the flood meadows where the Teme flows into the Severn. Upton Ham (Worcs), the Upper Ham, a hay meadow south of the town, is an SSSI and is the best conserved of the riverside hams in botanical terms; south of the old railway embankment is the Lower Ham. Longdon Marsh (Worcs), a nearly enclosed basin north of the M50 motorway, flowing via the Longdon/Bushley Brook to the Severn; Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has a major reserve at Hill Court Farm, south of Marsh Lane, while north of the lane the land is subject to extensive flooding when the Severn is high; a little further downriver, upstream of Tewkesbury and just in Gloucestershire is The Mythe and Mythe Hook.

The Avon Meadows (on either side of the Avon, going north from Tewkesbury), along the border between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and including: the restored gravel pits at Bredon’s Hardwick (Worcs); Upham Meadow (sometimes called the “Great Hay Meadow”) and Summer Leasow at Twyning (Glos) which form an SSSI on ornithological grounds; Rectory Farm Meadows (Worcs), across the Avon from Upham Meadow and an SSSI on botanical grounds; Strensham Pits (Worcs), sludge pools below the waterworks at Strensham; further upstream of Nafford, along the Worcestershire Avon are the Gwen Finch Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Reserve, and the new John Bennett Reserve, both of them areas of shallow lakes by the Avon; the Avon Meadows Community Wetland and Local Nature Reserve, established in 2008, covers 24 hectares along the Avon near Pershore Town Centre; between Pershore and Fladbury is Lower Moor, and just to the north Throckmorton Landfill Site, which attracts large numbers of feeding gulls, (like Gloucester LS) and where the lagoons sometimes attract water birds. Just to the east of Bredon is Kemerton Lake (Worcs), a restored gravel pit in the valley of the Carrant Brook, which flows through Cowfield Marsh into the Avon just above Tewkesbury.

The “Severn Hams” proper, between Tewkesbury and Gloucester, in which the main wetland areas are: Ashleworth and Hasfield Hams; Coombe Hill Canal and Meadows (Coombe Hill Canal is a long disused and overgrown canal running from Coombe Hill to Wainlodes); and Cobney and Leigh Meadows alongside the River Chelt and Leigh Brook above Wainlodes. Barrow Ponds are created by the artificial damming of a small tributary of the Chelt, east of the A38. Ashleworth Ham and Coombe Hill are Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserves, and are particularly well-watched. This area also includes: the Severn Ham at Tewkesbury; the Severn between Lower Lode and Haw Bridge; and the Severn from Haw Bridge, past Wainlodes, Ashleworth Quay and Sandhurst, to Gloucester. At Sandhurst, Maisemore and at Walham Pools near Gloucester there are a number of abandoned overgrown riverside brick-pits, artificial excavations in the floodplain.

The River Leadon flows into the Severn just above Gloucester, and its valley extends north eastwards past Highleadon and Upleadon. The four most important sites along the Leadon Valley are: the meadows northeast of Highnam; Dark Barn; Tibberton Meadows (former Lammas meadows along a tributary); and the newly created ponds at Blackwells End near Collier’s Brook, a tributary of the Leadon, which have great potential. Maisemore Ham is now largely converted to arable farming.

Sites on the edge of urban Gloucester, once Severn flood meadows: Port Ham, Castlemeads and Over Ponds on Alney Island, Sudmeadow, and the Gloucester Landfill Site (GLS). Port Ham has recently been restored and some shallow scrapes dug; at the southern end of Port Ham is Lower Parting where the two arms of the Severn meet again; Sudmeadow is immediately south of Lower Parting; GLS used to attract large numbers of gulls, but numbers have decreased dramatically since a falconer was employed to disturb then; it has a pond attractive to passage and some resident waterbirds. A little further south, near the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal, are Netheridge Farm and the small Quedgeley Local Nature Reserve. Near the northern bypass, at the foot of Churchdown Hill, is the Horsebere Brook Flood Alleviation Area, opened in about 2010 to prevent flooding in Longlevens, as happened in summer 2007.

Minsterworth Ham, on the west bank of the Severn below Gloucester.

Walmore Common, on the west bank of the Severn below Gloucester; also the little marsh at Rodley (Wilmer Common), west of Walmore, along the stream west of Boxbush Farm.

Elmore Back, on the east bank of the Severn below Gloucester, opposite Walmore.

Most of these sites are marshes which flood when the level of the Severn is high (either because of water coming down from North Wales, or because of high tides downstream; or more often a combination of both), thus preventing local streams from reaching the Severn, so that they back flood. When there is a major Severn flood, with water coming over the flood-banks along the river (a “river flood”), there may be extensive floods over the whole floodplain area. The major Severn tributary, the Avon, has only very low flood-banks in some places and so floods easily above Tewkesbury. The River Chelt holds running water, and when levels are low has muddy edges and mud banks.

Weather: general

October’s weather across the UK was unsettled: the warmest October since 2006, the dullest since 2005 and the wettest since 2000. Rain was frequent and was often accompanied by strong winds, as a series of vigorous low pressure systems travelled eastwards across the British Isles. The first nine days were warm, then a colder period followed until 16 October; in the second half of the month, temperatures rose above normal again. Across England and Wales, rainfall was 142% of the average, and the figure for southwest England and Wales was 139%. Sunshine totals for the month were well below average. On 27/28 October an explosively developing depression (“St Jude’s Storm”) caused very strong winds across southern England and East Anglia with damaging gusts. In the Severn Vale, there were no frosts in October, though there was a good deal of rain in the second half of the month; the monthly total for Gloucester was 111 mm, the highest monthly total since November 2012 when the figure was 118mm (no other month in 2013 has reached 60 mm). St Jude’s Storm passed south of Gloucestershire so, while strong winds were experienced, there was nothing comparable to the effects along the south coast.

November 2013 was quite sunny and dry, but a little colder than average. It opened across the UK with westerly weather, generally unsettled and wet; this meant there were relatively few dry days, but also few frosts; from mid-month high pressure systems dominated, bringing more settled but colder weather, especially in Scotland and northern England. An area of high pressure extended from the Azores over the whole of the UK in the last week, blocking the arrival of Atlantic fronts, which therefore had to go round the north of Scotland and down the North Sea. The month’s rainfall in southwest England and South Wales was only 74% of the 30 year average. In the Severn Vale there were slight frosts from 13-16 November, much colder weather with sharp frosts on 19 and 21 November; it became colder still from 23-26 (26 November being the coldest day with temperatures of -4°C in Gloucester, colder still out in the countryside). Winds in the Severn Vale in the second half of the month were mainly from north or northwest. Total rainfall in Gloucester was only 43mm.

December was, at national level, a mild, wet and stormy month; it opened as November had ended, with the Azores anticyclone covering much of the UK, and bringing dull, hazy fairly mild weather. This anticyclone drifted south on 3 December, allowing Atlantic fronts to move in from the northwest; winds strengthened and were particularly strong in eastern UK, causing the biggest storm surge in the North Sea since 1953 on 5 December, as northwest winds followed high tides. Quieter weather resumed until mid-month but high pressure gave way and the weather became increasingly unsettled and stormy; in the second half of the month, a series of Atlantic low pressure systems brought heavy rain and strong winds for most areas (pressure on 23 December dropped to 936 millibars in western Scotland, the lowest record at a land-based weather station for many years). Nationally, this was the windiest December since 1969, and the windiest calendar month since January 1993. Western England and the Severn Vale escaped the storm surge of 5 December, and anticyclonic conditions persisted, with dry, mild, frost-free weather and high cloud, light winds mainly from the west and northwest; this anticyclone drifted very slowly eastwards, finally allowing southwesterly, rain-bringing winds into the area from 13 December. The first rain in Gloucester for three weeks fell on 15 December, but then it rained almost every day until the end of the month, mainly in small amounts (though 14 mm fell on 18 December and 26 mm on 23 December); a ridge of high pressure brought fine sunny conditions on 17 December, but successive Atlantic fronts brought strong winds on 18, 23 and 27 December. Monthly rainfall in southwest England and south Wales was 128% of the 30 year average, while total December rainfall in Gloucester was 87mm, a monthly total exceeded in 2013 only by October (111mm). There were no frosts in Gloucester in December, though there were occasional light grass frosts in rural areas.

The weather in 2013 can be summarised as follows: cold with heavy snow in mid-January and mid-February, cold intensifying in March and the first half of April; by contrast, the summer was the warmest and sunniest for seven years with a heat wave from 4 July to 2 August. October ended with a severe gale in southern England and the storm surge in early December was the greatest since January 1953; in the second half of December a series of deep Atlantic depressions brought further gales and considerable rainfall, especially in western UK.

Water levels and flooding: general

After a spring and summer with no flooding at all, a welcome change from 2012, there were two autumn flood episodes: the first, smaller and caused by backing up of local streams, lasted from the last few days of October until about 20 November; the second, from 18 December until the end of the year, was a river flood, generating much deeper flooding, with the Severn breaking its banks, as well as local streams back-flooding. The Severn level had remained low through the summer, and water levels in general in the meadows were low at the beginning of October. Levels in the meadows began to rise a little by 26 October, then from 28 October there were sharp rises throughout the area, as local streams backed up and began to flood the fields. The Severn at Haw Bridge was at 10.02 metres on 29 October, its highest level by far since February, dropping from 31 October (8.57m. on 1 November), then rising again in the first week of November, with a new moon and the top of a cycle of high tides (9.40m. on 9 November), but dropping again from 10 November (7.55m. on 19 November, 7.20m. on 30 November). However, the drop in the level of the Severn was not enough to allow water to begin flowing out from the meadows until 12 November; a slight drop was noticeable from 16 November, floodwater was still present but everywhere much lower on 19 November, continuing to drop until the end of the month. Much of the remaining open water was briefly iced over on 26 November. In the first two weeks of December, Severn levels were low despite high tides (7.02m. at Haw Bridge on 6 December, 6.90m. on 14 December), but the Severn rose rapidly from 19 December, reaching 10.93m. at Haw Bridge on 28 December, and breaking its banks both north and south of Haw Bridge, provoking even deeper flooding in riverside meadows, and briefly closing the B4213 road at Haw Bridge on 29 December; by 30 December the Severn level was beginning to decrease (10.29m. at Haw Bridge), though water was not yet able to flow off the riverside meadows.

Conditions at the main sites

Longdon Marsh: Heavy flooding at the northern end in late December, with disturbance from shooting on 26 December. Heavy flooding at the confluence of Longdon /Bushley Brook and the Severn on 31 December.

Upham Meadow, Twyning: Normal mowing and grazing had been carried out in late summer (unlike 2012) thanks to the dry summer and autumn. Light flooding was experienced in November, but by December, the grass was short, unlike the situation in winter 2012/13, when there had been extensive patches of uncut hay, and stands of sedges and Canary Grass. Heavy flooding in late December.

Ashleworth/Hasfield Hams: In early October, the only open water was in the three pools on the GWT Reserve, and many ditches were bone dry. Flooding began in the last week of October and was fairly extensive by 29 October; a good deal higher by 1 November, continuing to rise until 12 November, despite a fall in the Severn level; flood levels were dropping on the meadows on 19 November; some ice on 26 November; waters continuing to drop gradually in late November and the first half of December, but rising sharply again in the week before Christmas; the Ham Road was closed and the whole area inaccessible on 28 December. Saturday Pheasant shoots on land adjoining the Reserve caused disturbance to birds in November and December.

Coombe Hill: The new Grundon Hide was installed in the late summer, and was fully operational from the beginning of the period. The scrapes were practically dry and there was still some water in the Long Pool in early October, with cattle still grazing on the GWT Reserve on 19 October. Water began to back up through the ditch system by 26 October, and flooding was extending beyond the scrapes by 29 October; still rising from 31 October to 12 November; very slight drop on 16 November, notable drop by 19 November; on 26 November most of the remaining water was iced over. Water levels continuing to drop very gradually in late November and early December, but then began to rise again from about 18 December, and there was extensive flooding by 24 December, when the Grundon Hide was only just accessible; whole area under deep flooding from 28 December, with flooding right up to Wharf, hides inaccessible.

Leigh/Cobney Meadows: Still very dry until 19 October, when ditches were empty, there was very little water in the flight pond on Cobney Meadows and cattle were still out. Flooding spreading on Cobney Meadows on 29 October, quite extensive on Leigh and Cobney Meadows from 31 October, flowing off on 16 November, practically gone by 19 November. Deep flooding again in late December.

Minsterworth Ham: Extensive flooding in late December.

Walmore Common: Light flooding after overnight rain on 28 October, but flooding gone from the first flood episode by 12 November. No flooding in early December; light flooding on 22 December, extensive flooding by 28 December, still rising on 30 December.

Bird records

General comments

Coverage was good in Gloucestershire, except for the Leadon Valley. The present revision gives a better account of birds in the South Worcestershire sector of the Severn Hams, thanks to records from the Avon Wetlands LNR at Pershore and the Worcester Birding website.

There were two peaks in surface-feeding duck numbers in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth area, coinciding with the two flood episodes from late October to mid November, and in the last ten days of December. Simply listing monthly maxima would give a false impression; in fact water birds moved in and out of the area in line with flood conditions.

Most natural wetland sites remained very dry until the end of October, but flooding of the riverside meadows by local streams from the end of October until about 20 November as usual attracted surface feeding ducks to the Coombe Hill/Ashleworth complex (up to 5,000 in all, mainly Wigeon and Teal, though not the large concentrations of Pintail sometimes found at this time of year). Many of these ducks appear to have moved to the estuary as floods dropped in the last ten days of November, when the remaining water was briefly iced over.

The earlier flood attracted other species to Gloucestershire: the odd diving duck (including a Goldeneye), a few grebes and even a Great Black-backed Gull; diving ducks (notably Goldeneye and Goosander) were as always more often recorded in Worcestershire. Some waders also occurred, with up to 750 Lapwings around Coombe Hill, the occasional Golden Plover and some Dunlin, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, in addition to the usual Snipe and Jack Snipe, with the odd Green Sandpiper where there was flowing water.

Some small parties of Bewick’s Swans, arriving from the northeast, dropped in on floodwater in late October and early November before continuing towards Slimbridge. No Whooper Swans were recorded in Gloucestershire in October or November – as has often happened in recent dry autumns; but two were noted briefly at Grimley on 11/12 October. The customary large flocks of up to a thousand Greylag and Canada Geese with their various hybrids, remained in the Coombe Hill area while the floods lasted, providing a dramatic spectacle, but most moved to the Tewkesbury area when floodwater receded. An unusual hybrid, probably Pochard x Scaup, appeared on floodwater at Ashleworth on 3 November.

Flooding occurred again around throughout the Severn Hams from about 20 December, and the surface-feeding ducks reappeared in numbers almost immediately. A family party of three Whooper Swans was at Walmore for a few days in mid-December. Golden Plover were much more numerous along the Worcestershire Avon. But this flood was deeper, and in the week after Christmas the extensive flooding made it difficult to survey the main areas; as in previous years, ducks and geese appeared to shun the deep flooding, and move to places like Longdon Marsh or Ripple Lake, where floodwater was shallower; they were joined by two juvenile White-fronted Geese at Ripple Lake in the last week of December.

Rarities included two Ruddy Shelducks at Coombe Hill on 15 November. Two Glossy Ibises roosted at Slimbridge on 5 November (though their regular feeding area was not identified); one or two, seen at a variety of sites along the Severn and Avon, were no doubt the same individuals. An adult Red-throated Diver at Ripple in mid-October was a surprise, as was a Gannet at Grimley. Records of a Firecrest near Grimley in mid-October, a Marsh Harrier along the Worcestershire Avon and two Worcestershire records of Common Scoter all no doubt related to passing migrants. A Grey Plover appeared over floods at Lower Moor in the last week of the year. Some rarer gulls (Iceland, Caspian and Yellow-legged) were noted in November and December in loafing flocks around the Throckmorton Landfill site. Ringing operations at Grimley revealed regular winter presence of Siberian Chiffchaff and Mealy Redpoll. Rock Pipits were noted on several occasions at Grimley and Ripple (once a bird of the Scandinavian subspecies), though none were found in Gloucestershire.

Swans

Mute Swan: As usual, pairs with this year’s young remained in the general area of their breeding sites; at times of high water, larger numbers collected on floodwater. Many colour-ringed birds were noted, presumably ringed in Worcester, but there is sadly still no effective coordination of rings read.

In Worcestershire: at Longdon Marsh two on floodwater on 28 December; at Ripple Lake four on 31 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, up to five recorded most weeks in weekly surveys throughout the period.

At Mythe Hook seven on 3 December. At Chaceley Stock a pair with a first winter immature on 17 December. At Ashleworth numbers increased from two on 19 October to 16 on 1 November, eleven on 12 November; seven on 26 November included colour-ringed birds previously seen at Coombe Hill; ten roosting on 10 December flew out early to the south; only two on 17 December in low flood. At Coombe Hill only single figures recorded in October, 24 on 5 November, 29 on 16 November, 24+ including family parties on 19 November; decrease as floods dropped: seven (no first winter birds) on 23 November, only one pair on 26 November, only one or two in the first half of December, two pairs as waters rose on 20 December. At Barrow Ponds a family party of two adults and four fully grown first winter birds, presumably local breeders, on 8 October, not present on 5 November (probably gone to floodwater at Coombe Hill, where a similar party was observed). At Horsbere three (one immature) on 15 October; two immatures on 8 December. At Walmore three on 12 November and three (a family party of two adults and an immature) on 10 December, six on 28 December, three on 30 December.

Whooper Swan: In Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits, two adults appeared on the morning of 11 October and after flying off northwards at midday, were back at dusk; both present in early morning of 12 October, flying off northwards at 07h35, not seen again.

None seen in the Gloucestershire sector of the Severn Hams in October or November, but an adult was seen flying upriver on the estuary at Severn Beach at 09.50 on 3 November, presumably the bird seen later in the day at Lydney New Grounds. At Walmore a family party of two adults and a first winter bird, all unringed, were seen from 8 to at least 15 December, apparently grazing all day on the Common side, where grassland is “unimproved”; but this group was not found at Walmore or anywhere else in the second half of December.

Bewick’s Swan: There were international Bewick’s Swan censuses on 12 November and 9 December, aimed at observing numbers of cygnets and hence productivity in the 2013 breeding season, but none were found in the Severn Hams. At Ashleworth, a group of seven Bewick’s flew in from the east at 07h30 on 22 October, calling, and flew on downriver without landing. These were undoubtedly the same seven which arrived at Slimbridge, the first of the season, in mid-morning. At Coombe Hill three were reported on floodwater on 14 November; a family party of four (two adults and two cygnets) landed on the floodwater on 16 November and stayed for only an hour before flying on downriver; however, this particular group was never definitely identified at Slimbridge. At Walmore none were noted during the first flood episode; but from about 11 December some 20 Bewick’s were regularly seen flying upriver from Slimbridge in the early morning, and 19 unringed adults at Walmore seen in light flooding on 22 December (but on no other dates), were presumably these birds; none found at this time at other previously favoured sites such as Wilmer Common or Upper Dumball near Rodley.

At Slimbridge, the first seven arrived on 22 October. Up to eight Bewick’s were noted at Blagdon Reservoir in Somerset in late October/early November and there was some interchange between the two sites. Numbers at Slimbridge increased to 12 on 1 November, 23 on 18 November; with colder easterly weather, 17 more arrived overnight on 20/21 November, and at least 50 more on the night of 21/22 November, bringing the total to at least 109. But mild conditions in December, with winds from the Atlantic, meant that only limited numbers moved from the Continent to UK, and by the end of December only 176 different individuals had been recorded (by observation of bill patterns), against a five yearly average of 238 – the lowest December total since way back in 1965.

Black Swan: One on the river bank at Ashleworth Quay on 16 November was the first in the area for a long time.

Geese

Of the many species of geese recorded below, only the Whitefronts were genuinely wild, but even feral geese make a fine spectacle when present in such numbers. In the dry conditions of September and early October, smallish numbers of Greylag and Canada Geese had been roosting on the Long Pool at Coombe Hill, and moving off early towards Barrow Ponds. Large numbers, up to a thousand geese (Greylag, Canada and hybrids combined) were present in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth area during the height of the October/November flood; observations of hybrids and feral birds associating with the flock made it easier to trace movements. The flock melted away in late November: some Canada Geese occurred at Ashleworth, from where they moved out early in the morning to the north, apparently going to graze on maize stubble around Deerhurst; some may have moved to the Tewkesbury area, perhaps moving between grazing areas at Upham Meadow on the Avon, and roosting and loafing areas at Ripple Lake by the Severn. Most of the Greylags clearly went to Ripple Lake. At least one family of hybrids seen at Coombe Hill in November were at Ripple in early January.

Greylag Goose: Numbers reached unusually high peaks at Coombe Hill and Ashleworth in the November flood episode; when the November flood receded, the majority moved off to Ripple. Unfortunately it proved impossible to read any colour rings, as had been done in previous autumns.

In Worcestershire: at Ripple Lake only a few on 9 November, but 227 on 30 November, 215 on 3 December and stable numbers of two to three hundred from mid to late December. Also on 30 November 185 at Kemerton.

At Upham Meadows only one in the Canada flock on 3 December. At Ashleworth few in the first flood episode: 23 on 14 November, 32 on 19 November; rather more as flood levels dropped: 64 on 26 November, 88 on 7 December, 80 which had roosted on 10 December flew on to Coombe Hill, 51 came in from north at mid-morning on 14 December, only one on 24 December. At Coombe Hill 45 had roosted on 8 October and flew out early towards Barrow Ponds; not roosting on 12 October, when there was just one, nor on 19 October when there were only four, but roosting again on 26 October when there were 39; sharp increase with more extensive flooding, to totals rarely reached in previous years (only five years ago numbers were very much smaller here): 162 by 29 October, 368 at dusk on 3 November, good count of 315 on 5 November moving out to southwest from roost early on; 320 on 12 November, 408 on 13 November, 340 on 16 November; decrease as floods dropped: 59 on 23 November, none on the ice on 26 November, nor when it melted on 29/30 November, nor with lower water levels on 7 December, but 82 came in from Ashleworth on 10 December, only two on 14 December, 53 on 24 December. At Cobney Meadows 40 on 9 November. At Barrow Ponds at least 32, no doubt birds from Coombe Hill, in mid-morning on 8 October; none on 5 November at a time of flood at Coombe Hill, 36 on 12 November.

Snow Goose: Along the Avon, one of the blue form at Upham Meadow in Gloucestershire on 3 December, no doubt the same bird at Throckmorton on 15 December.

Ross’s Goose: Several records of a single along the Avon in both Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, no doubt the same individual each time: one at Bredon’s Hardwick on 9 November, one grazing with Canada Geese at Upham Meadow on 3 December, one at Throckmorton in the second half of December.

White-fronted Goose: No indication of birds moving upriver from Slimbridge, as they used to do – no doubt because of the decrease in Whitefronts wintering at Slimbridge (only 140 by late December). But two individuals of the Eurasian race (both, perhaps significantly, juveniles, hence perhaps lost birds) were seen among the Greylags at Ripple from 22 to 29 December.

Canada Goose: As has been usual in recent years, numbers began to build up in early autumn, especially in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth complex, to nearly 800 birds at the height of the first flood episode; little information on where they all come from! When these floods dropped, some (perhaps 50% of the total) stayed in the Ashleworth area, while the other moved upriver to the Tewkesbury area, occurring between Ripple Lake and Upham Meadow.

In Worcestershire 77 at Ripple Lake on 3 December, 200 on 31 December.

At Upham Meadows 343 grazing on 3 December. At Deerhurst 80 grazing mid-morning on maize on 17 December, no doubt birds from Ashleworth. At Ashleworth (where there had throughout the summer been two or three non-flying birds) increase to 24 with flooding on 29 October; about 100 on 1 November; 78 on 5 November (simultaneous count with Coombe Hill where there were 530); 690 on 19 November (undoubtedly birds from Coombe Hill), but only two on 26 November, 77 on 30 November; 312 on 7 December; 275 had roosted on 10 December and flew out early, returning in mid-morning; same behaviour by 290 on 14 December. At Coombe Hill 20 had roosted and flew out early on 8 October, just six in flight on 12 October when they had not been roosting, 14 on 15 October; roosting again on 26 October when there were 35. Sharp increase with onset of flooding: 294 on 29 October, 405 on 31 October; 420 on 2 November, 640 at dusk on 3 November, about 500 on 8 November (moving out to southwest early on), 640 on 12 November, 770 on 16 November; decrease as floods dropped: 300 on 23 November, 80 on 26 November, practically none on 29/30 November, only one on 7 December. 49 flew in from north on 17 December, only ten on 21 December, 54 on 24 December. At Barrow Ponds only five on 8 October, none on 5 November when floods at Coombe Hill were extensive. At Walmore seven on 28 December, 30 on 30 December.

Barnacle Goose: Along the Avon five at Throckmorton in Worcestershire during December and at Upham Meadow in Gloucestershire one with Canada Geese on 3 December.

Egyptian Goose: In Worcestershire: At Clifton Pits one on 30 November, still present on 1 December.

Hybrid Geese: A pair made up of a Greylag and a Canada with four hybrid goslings had been seen in the Coombe Hill area in September; they were seen at Witcombe Reservoir east of Gloucester on 15 October, but were back at Coombe Hill during the first flood episode from 29 October until at least 10 November; they were back at Witcombe on 8 and 16 December, but were again at Coombe Hill as waters began to rise on 24 December (this family was at Ripple on 11 January 2014, illustrating the movement from Coombe Hill to Ripple). Another mixed pair made up of a white Greylag of normal size and a Canada with two pale hybrid goslings were noted on the Coombe Hill floodwater from 5 until at least 19 November; however, this family stayed in the Coombe Hill/Ashleworth area: one of the goslings was noted at Ashleworth on 14 November; the white adult was at Ashleworth on 7 December and the whole family on 10 December. The outsize white farmyard goose that formed a trio with a pair of Canada Geese and produced young at Coombe Hill earlier in the year was present without goslings at Coombe Hill from 29 October until 19 November; it then disappeared until 17 December when it was resighted at Ashleworth with the Canada flock.

Ducks

Shelduck: As usual, small numbers began to appear in the last months of the year. At Ashleworth two on 21 December, perhaps the individuals from Coombe Hill. At Coombe Hill three on 31 October, soon after the floodwater began to rise, were the first of the autumn; no more till 26 November, when there were two on the ice, two again from 30 November until 10 December; four from 14 to 22 December. At Minsterworth Ham four on 29 December. At Walmore one on 22 December.

Ruddy Shelduck: At Coombe Hill two (provenance unknown) were photographed during a stay of a couple of hours on 15 November.

Surface-feeding ducks

In the dry conditions at Coombe Hill in the first half of October, there appeared to be much movement of the few ducks present between Coombe Hill and Barrow Ponds, where there was more water. There was a sharp increase, at least in numbers of Wigeon and Teal, as soon as flooding appeared in late October. When floodwaters dropped after 19 November, there was a dramatic decrease in Wigeon and Teal, and a corresponding increase, at least in Wigeon, on the estuary at Slimbridge. Numbers of Wigeon increased again at Coombe Hill immediately water levels began to rise in mid-December. There was no large influx of Pintail, as has happened some previous years in flood conditions: not above 50 around Coombe Hill, though more appeared in south Worcestershire in the last week of the year; Minsterworth Ham, much closer to the estuary, no doubt attracted birds from the estuary at time of flood.

Wigeon: In Worcestershire: at Longdon Marsh 1300 grazing on floodwater’s edge on 28 December. At Ripple Lake at least 1255 grazing on 3 December, about 700 on 31 December; these are presumed to be birds which had shunned deep flooding in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth area.

At Mythe Hook 75 grazing along Mythe Brook on 3 December. A big influx occurred in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth area when water levels rose in late October, lasting until about 20 November, when most appeared to depart for the estuary. At Ashleworth one (the injured bird that had summered) from 5 to 19 October; then 32 on 26 October, 110 with flooding on 29 October, 120 on 9 November, 250 on 12 November, 700 on 19 November, 600 on 26 November, down to 210 on 30 November, 480 on 10 December, 300 on 17 December, 280 on 24 December. At Coombe Hill two on 5 October, one on Long Pool on 19 October; increase to 50 on 26 October, noisy birds, calling a lot as though they were new arrivals; by 29 October numbers were up to 640 and included a leucistic female, perhaps the one seen at Slimbridge in winter 2012/13; on 31 October 1010 (including the leucistic female); on 2 November 1660 including the leucistic female; 600 at dusk on 3 November (including the leucistic female, last date); 1700 on 5 November, 2205 on 8 November, 2595 on 9 November (meanwhile at Slimbridge there were only about 500 on 11 November); back at Coombe Hill 2400 on 13 November, biggest count of the month on 19 November when there were 4200 present. Sharp decrease as floods dropped; only 150 on 23 November, 80 on 26 November, 60 on 29 November; (at Slimbridge Wigeon numbers increased sharply, with 2620 on 25 November, the highest count of the winter so far, suggesting that birds from the Severn Hams moved back to the estuary as floods receded). Only 18 on 7 December, 19 on 14 December; numbers increased again as floodwater rose: 340 on 17 December, 550 on 21 December, 1600 on 24 December. On floodwater on Cobney Meadows 200 on 12 November, 120 on flight pond on 14 December. At Barrow Ponds 70 on open water on 26 November when many other sites were iced over, only 12 on 7 December. At Horsbere four on 8 and 9 December appear to be the first recorded at this site. At Minsterworth 600 on 29 December. At Walmore four on 13 November, 250 on 28 December, 390 on 30 December.

Gadwall: Occurs mostly in single figures, though rather higher numbers were recorded at Coombe Hill during the first flood period. In Worcestershire two at Ripple Lake on 3 December, one on 31 December.

At Ashleworth eight on 26 October, 17 on 26 November, four from 30 November to 10 December, five on 14 December, two on 24 December. At Coombe Hill two on 8 October, eight on 26 October, ten on 2 November, 12 on 5 November, 22 on 9 and 13 November, 17 on 16 November, 12 on 19 November; then smaller numbers as floods receded: five on 23 November, six on 7 December, nine on 10 December, seven on 24 December. At Barrow Ponds three on open water on 26 November when many other sites were iced over. At Minsterworth Ham two on 29 December. At Walmore Common two on 28 December. At Wilmer Common nine on 28 December.

Teal: After Wigeon, the most numerous surface-feeding duck, numbers often under-estimated because of its habit of loafing invisible under overhanging vegetation. Much courtship activity at this time of year, and seemingly a considerable preponderance of males.

In Worcestershire: At Longdon Marsh, regularly recorded at Hill Farm (30 on 28 October, 90 on 9 November, 120 on 25 November, 150 on 9 December, 400 on 30 December) and no doubt moving back and forth between the WWT reserve and the floodwater, when it rose – 300 on floods on 28 December; at Ripple Lake five on 3 December, 40 on 31 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, up to six recorded from 10 October in weekly surveys throughout the period.

At Mythe Hook eight on 3 December. At Ashleworth 18 on 5 October, 46 on 12 October, 38 on 26 October, 60 with onset of flooding on 29 October; 200+ on 1 November, 280 on 26 November; as floods dropped 60 on 30 November, 48 on 7 December, then 205 on 10 December, 300 on 17 December, 60 on 21 December, 45 on 24 December. At Coombe Hill 44 on 5 October, 110 on 8 October, 90 on 15 October, 136 + on 19 October, numbers up to 200 with the increasing floods on 29 October; 410+ on 5 November, at least 685 on 8 November, 538 on 9 November (but nothing to compare with the large numbers on the estuary: 4,500 at Slimbridge on 11 November); 465 on 13 November, 500 on 16 November, biggest local count of 800 on 19 November; only 240 on 23 November, 125 on 26 November, 25 on 29 November, 120 on 7 December, 75 on 14 December, 70 on 17 December, 230 on 21 December, 485 again by 24 December. At Cobney Meadows two on 29 October, 31 on flight pond on 14 December. At Barrow Ponds 15 on open water on 26 November when many other sites were iced over. At Minsterworth 18 on 29 December. At Walmore 200 on 13 November during first flood episode, 345 on 28 December, 200 on 30 December during second.

Mallard: In Worcestershire: at Longdon Marsh, 60 at Hill Court on 30 December, 40 on floodwater on 28 December; at Ripple Lake 20 on 3 December, 50 on 31 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, up to 50 recorded in weekly surveys throughout the period.

At Upham Meadow 20 on Avon on 3 December. At Mythe Hook 20 on 3 December. At Ashleworth 16 on 5 October, nine on 19 October, but in floodwater 95 on 26 October, 105 on 29 October, 270 on 5 November, 145 on 9 November, then only 25 on 12 November, 65 on 26 November, 46 on 7 December, 55 on 14 December, 75 on 21 December. At Coombe Hill 120 on 5 October, 30 on 19 October, 75 on 26 October and 200 on 29 October; as many as 250 on 2 November, 150+ on 5 November, 240 on 16 November, 120 on 19 November; only 25 on 23 November, 52 on 7 December, 48 on 17 December, surprisingly high number of 230 on 21 December, 30 on 24 December. At Cobney Meadows 50 on 29 October, 16 on 14 December. At Barrow Ponds 30 on 8 October, 20 on 5 November, 50 on open water on 26 November when many other sites were iced over; 12 on 7 December. At Horsbere two on 15 October, six on 6 November, 17 on 8 December. At Walmore 158 on 13 November during first flood episode, 225 on 28 December, 50 on 30 December during second.

Pintail: No sign of any considerable influx (as has happened in some previous years) when water levels rose in late October/early November and in late December.

In Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits six on 1 October, one on 14 October. At Longdon Marsh 100+ on 26 December, 20 on 28 December. At Ripple Lake a female on 15 October, two on 16 October, six on 3 November, two on 22 December. At Lower Moor four on 27 December, two on 29 December. At Kemerton Lake one on 16 October. At Bredon’s Hardwick six on 27 December, ten on 28 December.

At Ashleworth a drake on 26 October, seven on 29 October; one on 1 November, five on 2 November, ten on 10 November, nine on 14 November, five on 19 November; nine on 10 December, eleven (all males) on 14 December, nine on 21 December, 13 on 24 December. At Coombe Hill seven on 29 October, 16 on 5 November, 19 on 9 November, 34 on 13 November, 37 on 16 November (highest count in first flooding cycle), 30 on 18 November, 23 on 19 November; numbers down to two on 23 November, four on 26 November, singles in early December, 13 on 20 December, then 52 on 24 December, the best highest of the period. At Minsterworth 64 on 29 December, best figure anywhere. At Walmore eight on 28 December, 20 on 30 December.

Shoveler: Numbers about average, totals of up to 80 in the Coombe Hill / Ashleworth area. In Worcestershire: at Hill Court Longdon two on reservoir on 11 November, ten on 30 December; on Longdon flood ten on 28 December; at Ripple Lake three on 3 December, one on 31 December.

At Ashleworth eight on 26 October, eleven on 29 October; 25+ on 1 November, 24 on 9 November, 32 in 30 November, 80 on 10 December, 60 on 14 December, 40 on 17 December, two on 24 December. Numbers generally rather lower at Coombe Hill: six on 12 October, ten on 19 October, seven on 29 October, eight on 5 November, five on 10 November, 13 on 19 November, eight on 26 November, but 32 on 26 November, 25 on 29 November, 35 on 7 December, 39 on 10 December, 26 on 14 December, then 58 on 17 December, 35 on 24 December. At Barrow Ponds three on 8 October. At Minsterworth 12 on 29 December. At Walmore three on 13 November in first flood episode, four on 15 December; three on 28 December, 12 on 30 December in second flood.

Garganey: In Worcestershire, several late records: At Kemerton Lake one on 1 October. At Ripple Lake a juvenile on 2 October, one (age not known) on many dates between 12 and 23 October.

Diving ducks

Generally much less numerous than surface feeding ducks in the Gloucestershire sector of the Severn Hams, for the obvious reason that water there is rarely deep enough for diving; some arrive in conditions of high flood, possibly from deeper water up the Severn in Worcestershire, where species like Goldeneye and Goosander are always more numerous.

Red-crested Pochard: In Worcestershire. At Grimley Camp Lane Pits a drake on 30 October. At Ripple Lake two on 30 October.

Pochard: In Worcestershire: At Hill Court, Longdon, two on 25 November. Four at Ripple Lake on 3 December but 60 on 31 December. At Ashleworth one on 9 November. At Coombe Hill two appeared on floodwater on 12 November, four on 13 November.

Tufted Duck: In Worcestershire: At Hill Court, Longdon, two on 25 November; at least 20 in deeper water at Ripple Lake on 3 December, 70 on 31 December. At Ashleworth a female on 12 November, two on 19 November, one on 14 December. At Coombe Hill seen only during flooding: a female on 29 and 31 October, three drakes on 4 November, a drake on 5 November, three on 16 November, two on 19 November, one on 23 November; as waters rose in late December, five on 24 December. At deeper Barrow Ponds singles on 8 October and 26 November.

Hybrid: What was probably a hybrid between a Pochard and a Scaup was seen and photographed on the floodwater at Ashleworth on 3 November; the same bird, or one very similar, appeared at Slimbridge in early January, – another indication of exchanges between the Severn Hams and the estuary.

Common Scoter: In Worcestershire: At Clifton Pits seven, including one adult male, on 13 October. At Kemerton Lake five (two drakes) on 18 November.

Goldeneye: In Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits a female on 27 October, two females on several dates from 29 November to 6 December, then one on many dates from 9 to 21 December. At Clifton Pits two on 19 October, four (including an adult male) on 22 December, three adult drakes on 27 December. The only Gloucestershire record was at Ashleworth of a female or immature on floodwater on 12 and 14 November.

Goosander: All records from Worcestershire: At Grimley nine along the Severn on 14 October, while at the Old Workings one flew over on 8 December. At Diglis, Worcester, two drakes on the Severn on 10 December. At Clifton Pits a drake on 22 December and a female on 27 December. Along the Avon: at Lower Moor eight flew downstream on 14 November; at John Bennett and Gwen Finch Reserves one on 4 November; at Bredon’s Hardwick a female or immature on 3 December.

Divers and Grebes

Like diving ducks, grebes occur in the Severn Hams mainly at times of deep flood.

Red-throated Diver: At Ripple Lake an adult in summer plumage on 13 and 14 October.

Little Grebe: In Worcestershire three in deeper water at Ripple Lake on 3 December, two on 31 December. One or two recorded on three occasions from 14 November during weekly surveys at Avon Wetlands, Pershore.

In Gloucestershire: at Ashleworth one on 26 October, the first for a long time; another (or the same one again?), on 14 November and 24 December. At Coombe Hill one on 14 December. At Port Ham pool one on 9 December.

Great Crested Grebe: In Worcestershire as many as 22 on deeper water at Ripple Lake on 3 December, six on 31 December. At Coombe Hill a single observation of three, all birds of the year, which appeared on floodwater on 12 November.

Gannets and Cormorants

Gannet: In Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits, a juvenile flew over on 11 October; a juvenile at Upton Warren over 13 October may well have been the same bird.

Cormorant: In recent years, the previously favoured loafing and fishing site for this species at Bredon’s Hardwick appears to have been less and less used. It seems to have been replaced in Worcestershire by Ripple Lake and in Gloucestershire by trees round Lower Lode Brickpits and Barrow Ponds.

In Worcestershire as many as 112 on 30 November, and 64 fishing and loafing at Ripple Lake on 3 December, but only six on 31 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, up to three recorded most weeks in weekly surveys throughout the period.

In Gloucestershire: Over the Severn above Haw Bridge 25 in flight on 14 December. At Ashleworth one on 26 October, two perching in trees over the main ditch on 10 December, one perching on 14 December. At Coombe Hill a single loafing on mud-banks beside the Long Pool on 8 October, one on 12 October, two on 15 October, 15 flew in from the north and landed on the water on 26 October, before flying off in the direction of Barrow Ponds; two on 29 October; one on floodwater on 9 November, two on 16 November, 15 flew over to north on 30 November (perhaps heading for Lower Lode?). At Barrow Ponds 25 perching in trees on 8 October, nine on 5 November, just two on 7 December.

Herons, Egrets and Ibises

Little Egret: Numbers much lower than in summer, when the species nested for the first time near Coombe Hill. Many perhaps retire to the estuary in winter.

In Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits up to nine practically every day in October, and in early November, up to three most days from 10 to 30 November, two on 2 December, singles on 5 and 12 December. At Ripple Lake one on 4 November. At Kemerton Lake one on 2 and 16 October; at Bredon’s Hardwick two on 8 December.

At Coombe Hill, ones and twos on many dates from 31 October, but three on 10 December, last date one on 14 December; at Leigh Meadows one on 12 November; at Barrow Ponds two in trees on 8 October; at Horsbere singles on 18 October, 17 November and 9 December; at Netheridge Farm one on 28 November; at Rea Bridge, Quedgeley, one on 22 November.

Grey Heron: In Worcestershire: at Avon Wetlands, Pershore, one or two recorded most weeks in weekly surveys throughout the period.

In Gloucestershire only small numbers, rarely more than three or four together. At Upham Meadow one on 3 December. At Ashleworth singles on 5 and 15 October, three on 19 October, then ones and twos from 26 October to 5 November. At Coombe Hill ones and twos on many dates, three on 12 October, four on 15 October, three on 26 October, four on 12 November, three on several dates in December. At Leigh Meadows two on 12 November, three on 19 November, one on 14 December. At Barrow Ponds one on 5 and 26 November, three on 7 December. At Horsbere one on 15 October.

Glossy Ibis: In Worcestershire: along the Avon at Lower Moor two from 2 to 4 November; along the Severn, a single bird circled over Upton Warren and (presumably the same bird) Captains Pool, Bewdley, on 14 December. In Gloucestershire, two were seen and photographed at Coombe Hill on 23 November stayed only ten minutes. These must have been the birds which had roosted at Slimbridge on many nights since 5 November, but whose local feeding grounds were not found; they were seen in and around Slimbridge until the end of the year.

Raptors

Red Kite: All records from Worcestershire: At Grimley one in flight on 16 November. Over Hill Court, Longdon, one on 27 November. At Ripple Lake one on 12 October. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, one on 13 October was the only one recorded in weekly surveys throughout the period.

Marsh Harrier: A juvenile was seen hunting and roosting either at John Bennett Reserve or the nearby Gwen Finch Reserve on many dates from 28 October until on 9 November.

Sparrowhawk: In Worcestershire: At Hill Court, Longdon, one on 9 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, one on 31 October, two on 12 December, in weekly surveys throughout the period.

At Tirley a male on 4 and 5 October, a female on 13 October, one on 20 October, a male on 23 October; a female on 14 November and 18 December. At Coombe Hill singles regularly noted from 12 October to 15 December. At Port Ham one on 9 December. At Minsterworth Ham one on 29 December.

Buzzard: Frequently observed, usually singles; several observations of birds apparently searching for slugs and worms on autumn sown cereal fields.

In Worcestershire: At Hill Court, Longdon, one on 9 December. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, one or two recorded most weeks in weekly surveys throughout the period.

At Upham Meadow one feeding on the ground (on slugs?) on 3 December. At Ashleworth singles on many dates from 12 October to 7 December. At Coombe Hill singles on 30 November and 21 December. One on a cereal field at Hoo Lane (probably looking for slugs) on many dates from 28 November to 7 December. At Cobney Meadows one on 19 October. At Port Ham one on 9 December. At Minsterworth Ham four together on 28 December on a cereal field.

Kestrel: In Worcestershire: At Hill Court, Longdon, one on 30 December; at Avon Wetlands, Pershore, singles recorded only on 7 November and 12 December in weekly surveys throughout the period.

In Gloucestershire: at Mythe Hook one on 3 December. At Tirley a female hunting on 3 October. At Ashleworth one on 30 November, 24 December. At Wainlodes one hunting on 14 December. At GLS two on 26 November despite the presence of the falconer. At Minsterworth Ham one on 12 November

Merlin: All records from Worcestershire: At Grimley Camp Lane Pits an immature male on 11 October, a male on 24 October, a juvenile on 30 October. At Hill Court, Longdon, one on 2 December, at Longdon Marsh one on 29 December.

Hobby: At Ashleworth one late bird in flight on 1 October.

Peregrine: Singles frequently seen in Gloucestershire – more often than Kestrel! – resting (often on electric pylons) or hunting at many sites in the Vale. At Upham Meadow an adult male was perched on a post on 3 December. At Tirley a male was chasing Linnets on 3 October, and a male was seen on 27 October and 16 November. At Ashleworth singles on 5, 12, and 29 October, an adult male on the pylons on 1 November, one on 2 November, a female on 5 and 9 November, and adult male on 12 November and 10 December when it flew low over ducks on the water, but failed to catch one. At Coombe Hill an immature female chasing ducks unsuccessfully over fresh floodwater on 29 October, one on 16 November, one in flight on 19 November; an adult female caught and consumed a Lapwing on 10 December. At Horsbere Brook an adult male on 8 December. At Sudmeadow one on 28 November. At Port Ham two on 9 December. At Walmore a juvenile on 28 October, one on 22 December.

Rails and Crakes

Water Rail: In Worcestershire singles at Avon Wetlands, Pershore, on 7 November and 24 December.

In Gloucestershire, rather more records than in recent times, usually of unseen squealing birds; do they call more in autumn? At Ashleworth one squealing on 1 and 9 November. At Coombe Hill at least one, perhaps two, was squealing on 5 November, at least one on 8 November, three on 9 November, one on 10 November, two on 12 November, one on 30 November.

Moorhen: Undoubtedly under-recorded. In Worcestershire: at Avon Wetlands, Pershore, up to eleven recorded every week in weekly surveys throughout the period.

In Gloucestershire: at Ashleworth three on 9 and 26 November and 14 December. At Coombe Hill three on 19 October, at least two on 9 November.

Coot: As for diving ducks and grebes, seen mainly on deeper waters. In Worcestershire as many as 77 at Ripple Lake on 3 December, then at least 100 on 31 December, mainly grazing round the edges. At Avon Wetlands, Pershore, recorded every week in surveys throughout the period, up to five in October, seven or eight in November and December.

In Gloucestershire: at Mythe Brickpits two on 3 December. At Ashleworth a few when floods developed: two on 1 November, four on 2 November, eight on 12 November, four on 26 November, eight on 10 December, six on 14 December, two on 21 December. At Coombe Hill two on newly flooded meadows, the first for a very long time, on 29 October; six on 31 October, numbers up to 21 on 5 November, 26 on 8 November, 24 on 9 November, 15+ on 12 November, 14 on 16 November, 13 on 19 November, then decreasing as floods receded: eight on 23 November, eleven on 26 November, five on 21 December. At Barrow Ponds one on 26 November. At Walmore one on 28 and 30 December.

Waders

Smallish numbers of wader occurred, since the biggest concentrations occur on the estuary. A single Oystercatcher in Worcestershire and a Curlew in Gloucestershire appeared at an unaccustomed time of year. Odd Black-tailed Godwits and Ruff were recorded in Worcestershire, while there was a concentration of wintering Golden Plover along the Avon. A few hundred Lapwings seemed to be present in the Coombe Hill area during the first flood episode; they were joined round the edge of the flood by the occasional Golden Plover and some Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit. Snipe and Jack Snipe were noted at their usual haunts, with the odd Green Sandpiper where there was flowing water.

Oystercatcher: In Worcestershire: At Throckmorton, one on 8 December. Winter dates are most unusual.

Golden Plover: In Worcestershire there were many more records from the Avon than the Severn. The only Severn record was at Grimley Camp Lane Pits, where one (no doubt a passing migrant) flew over, calling, on 7 October. In the Avon area birds presumably on passage occurred in early October, with larger groups of wintering birds later in the period: at Bredon Hill (overlooking the Avon) 20 on 6 October, 35 on 7 October, eight near the summit at dusk on 11 October, 48 on 12 October; at Lower Moor 105 on 18 October. Wintering records came from the area between Stoulton (just southeast of Worcester) and Lower Moor: at Stoulton ten on 1 December, 150 on 9 December, eight on 23 December; near Stoulton at Wyre Piddle 71 with 160 Lapwings on 27 November, 70 on 28 November, 92 on 1 December; 70 at Pinvin on 24 December; at Lower Moor 62 on 27 December, 66 on 29 December. At Wick, just across the Avon from Lower Moor, 13 just before Christmas.

None at Upham Meadow, where they once wintered in numbers, on 3 December. At Tirley one in flight on 13 October, another on 24 October, one calling in flight on 26 October (all presumably passing migrants). At Coombe Hill one on the ground with Lapwings on 5 November; 96 on a cereal field at Hoo Lane near Coombe Hill on 28 November, six there on 30 November, four on 3 December, two on 7 December but none afterwards; at Coombe Hill 30 on 18 November and a flock of 25 which flew over but did not land on 19 November were probably from the Hoo Lane group.

Grey Plover: In Worcestershire, where this species is unusual, one circled low over Lower Moor on 27 December.

Lapwing: In Worcestershire: at Longdon Marsh 70 on 28 December; at Ripple Lake 50 on 3 December, six on 31 December. At Wick near Lower Moor 150 just before Christmas.

None at Upham Meadow on 3 December. At Mythe Hook just one on 3 December. At Tirley 45+ on 26 October. At Ashleworth generally small numbers, but the occasional larger flock, perhaps birds moving back and forth between Ashleworth and Coombe Hill: 19 on 15 October, 29 on 30 November, 220 in flight on 7 December, 16 on 10 December, four on 14 December, 21 on 21 December. At Coombe Hill eleven on 5 October, one on 15 October, eight on 26 October, just one on 29 October, but 22 on 31 October; 38 on 2 November, 60 at dusk on 3 November, 23 on 9 November, increase to 83 on 12 November, 103 on 16 November, 226 on 19 November, 360 on 23 November, 210 on 26 November, 350 on 30 November; 220 in flight on 7 December, then much smaller numbers: 16 on 10 December, 38 on 17 December, 18 on 21 December. In late November and early December, Lapwings and Golden Plover seemed to be moving between Coombe Hill and an autumn sown cereal field at Hoo Lane near the A38, only a mile or so away, which was perhaps infested with slugs, to judge from the number of waders, gulls and ground-feeding Buzzards also present; but the phenomenon was short-lived: 500 there on 28 November, 400 on 30 November (when there were 350 at Coombe Hill, suggesting the actual total in the area at that time may have been around 750); only 19 at Hoo Lane on 7 December, none from mid-December. At Leigh Meadows two by floodwater on 31 October. At Minsterworth 140 on 29 December.

Dunlin: At Coombe Hill singles from 2 to 12 November, two on 16 November, about 25 from 18 to 23 November as floods dropped; just eight on 26 and 30 November; eight on the nearby autumn cereal field at Hoo Lane on 30 November were no doubt the same birds.

Ruff: The only record was from Worcestershire: at Kemerton Lake one on 16 October

Jack Snipe: Like Common Snipe, this species appears with great regularity at specific preferred sites.

In Worcestershire: At Grimley one on 26 October, two on 27 October, one on 20 December. At Castlemorton Common one on 10 November, two on 8 and 28 December. At John Bennett Reserve five on 14 October. At Gwen Finch one on 9 November. At Kemerton Lake on one 2 October, five on 1 November.

At Mythe Brook three on 10 October. At Ashleworth two as flooding began on 29 October, one as it dropped on 26 November, one on 30 November, two on 7 December, singles on 17 and 24 December. At Netheridge Farm one on 28 November, three on 30 November.

Snipe: In Worcestershire: Regularly recorded in single figures at Hill Court, Longdon but 20 on 11 November and 25 on 30 December; at Ripple Lake one on 31 December, at Avon Wetlands, Pershore, one to three recorded most weeks from 14 November to the end of December in surveys, but eight on 25 November.

At Mythe Brook, six on 30 December. At Ashleworth Ham, Snipe have two or three favoured fields (usually sedgy, with stands of rushes or Glyceria) in the general area; if one of these fields is under water, they tend to move to one of the others: 40 with onset of flooding on 29 October, only one found in deeper flood on 1 and 2 November; while the reserve was under water, 12 noted on a field off the reserve on 9 November; 20 on 19 November; six on 26 November, 15 on 30 November, 13 on 7 December, seven on 14 December, four on 24 December. At Coombe Hill one on 5 October, four on 8 October, just one on 12 October, two on 15 October, six on 26 October; only one found on 31 October and 5 November when many of the species’ preferred fields were inaccessible; but recorded regularly (mainly on their preferred sedgy field, the westernmost on the GWT Reserve) as floods dropped: 15 on 18 November, 14 on 23 November, seven on 26 November, 15 on 29 November, 31 on 30 November; 11 on 7 December. At Port Ham two on 25 November, three on 9 December. At Netheridge Farm one on 27 November, three on 28 November, six on 30 November. At Clearwater Drive Quedgeley one on 3 November. At Walmore six on 13 November and 15 December.

Woodcock: In Worcestershire two at Castlemorton Common on 8 December.

Black-tailed Godwit: In Worcestershire: at Clifton Pits singles on 1 and 15 October. At Coombe Hill one with Lapwings on 7 and 10 November, two on 19 November, one on 23 November.

Curlew: At Coombe Hill one dropped in briefly on 31 October; most unusual at this time of year.

Greenshank: At Clifton Pits one on 2 October

Green Sandpiper: In Worcestershire: At Kemerton Lake one on 2 October.

At Coombe Hill two on 5 October were probably late passage migrants, since none were noted there subsequently. Otherwise small numbers of wintering birds were found at usual sites: at Leigh Meadows one by the Chelt on 31 October (where more frequent observation would no doubt have produced more records). At Netheridge Farm two on 27 November. At Minsterworth Ham one on 29 December.

Gulls and Terns

Rising floods often attract gulls (Black-headed in particular, but also Lesser Blackbacks) to feed round the edges on invertebrates forced to the surface, or to wash and drink on fresh water. Several rarer species were recorded in loafing flocks around the Throckmorton Landfill Site in Worcestershire.

Black-headed Gull: In Worcestershire 40 at Longdon Marsh on 28 December.

At Ashleworth 80 on 2 November, 220 round edges of flood on 9 November, 250 on 12 November; 350 on water on 14 December. At Coombe Hill at least 100 (with crows) round edges of fresh flooding on 29 October, no doubt looking for invertebrates rising to the surface; 260 round floodwater on 2 November, 200+ on 5 November, 70 on 9 November, 150 on 10 November, 250+ on 12 November. At Hoo Lane 50 on autumn cereal, looking for invertebrates with Lapwings and Golden Plover, on 30 November, 30 on 7 December. At Leigh Meadows 50+ round the edge of the floodwater on 31 October, 15 on 9 November, 50 on 19 November, only five on 14 December. At Walmore Common 200 on Common Pool on 12 November, 100 on floodwater on 28 December. At Wilmer Common 200 on 28 December.

Common Gull: At Wilmer Common 40 on floodwater on 28 December.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: In Worcestershire: at Longdon Marsh 75 on 28 December.

At Ashleworth nine on 2 November. At Walmore 75 on Common Pool on 12 November, 20 on 28 December.

Caspian Gull: In Worcestershire: at Throckmorton Lagoons an adult on 24 November; in fields north of Wyre Piddle near Throckmorton, an adult and a fourth winter bird on 1 December, an adult on 9 December.

Herring Gull: At Ashleworth two on water on 14 December. At Walmore 75 on Common Pool on 12 November.

Yellow-legged Gull: In Worcestershire: At Wyre Piddle near Throckmorton three on 9 December.

Iceland Gull: In Worcestershire: At Wyre Piddle near Throckmorton a second year bird on several dates from 8 to 18 December, with a large flock of loafing gulls on the latter date.

Great Black-backed Gull: At Coombe Hill one (the same bird each time?) on edge of floodwater from 7 to 19 November.

These are unconfirmed records, compiled by M. Smart from his own observations and those of Les Brown, with additional records from Rob Allen, Gordon Avery, Mervyn Greening, Andy Jayne, Julia Newth, Gavin Peplow, Graham Smith and Andy Warr, John Wiltshire, and the Ashleworth and Coombe Hill logbooks, with some cherries picked from the Gloster Birder, Worcester Birding and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust websites.

Editor’s note: Passerines and other non-wetland birds have been omitted from this report.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 31-39 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 23 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

More raptor revelations, Broadway, March and April 2014

Mark Turner

Once again raptor euphoria has come to Broadway heightening our hopes for a successful breeding season in the locality. As I write single Red Kite sightings are cropping up around the village from the Gravel Pit Nature Reserve and the railway on the west side to the village centre and the Cotswold escarpment on the east side.

Christine and I thought ourselves lucky to find two Kites together hanging aloft with several Buzzards near Bourton-on-the-Hill and Batsford Park on Mothering Sunday. However, Christine got the ball rolling again when she discovered two Kites over Broadway village heading for the escarpment on Wednesday 2nd April. Happily she followed them home from where I was able to enjoy the sight for myself as they paused on their wanderings over hillside woodland not 10 minutes walking distance from our place. One of the Kites launched an attack on a nuisance crow before re-joining its partner to wheel around the woodland canopy. It was all quite surreal. Our last view of a Kite that afternoon was from the kitchen window at 17.25 hrs as it followed the village bypass up the hill looking for a take-away.

All this comes at a time when local Buzzards are cranking up activity with thermaling groups of up to eight birds engaging in talon-grappling, barrel-rolling and undulating display flights. Single Buzzards are even touring around residential estates searching gardens from rooftop height.

We even have Ravens appearing in pairs on a daily basis; it’s becoming like a mixture of the Chilterns and mid-Wales round here. It all helps to get the local grapevine fired up again and just when I thought our raptors had peaked-out in their fortunes here.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 23 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 17-18 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

River Skaters Aquarius najas along the River Teme

Brett Westwood

Skating on the Teme; the age of Aquarius?

On June 8 2013, I joined a group of naturalists including Rosemary Winnall, Mike Averill, John and Denise Bingham, Jane and Dave Scott and Will Watson on a visit to Burford House near Tenbury Wells on the river Teme. Our objective was to look for sea lamprey which have been reported spawning in the river gravels nearby. As we scanned the Ledwyche Brook which flows into the Teme at Burford House grid reference SO582679, I noticed a couple of large skaters on flowing water around a mass of twigs. They were clearly larger than pond skaters, Gerris and appeared very much at home on the flowing water. We tentatively identified them as River Skaters Aquarius najas, a species I had not seen in Worcestershire before. I still haven’t because frustratingly they were just inside Shropshire, about 50m from the county boundary. Had they been a few metres downstream on the main River Teme, we could have claimed them for Worcestershire, but although we searched there we didn’t find any.

Further west near Little Hereford church, we struck lucky and Rosemary Winnall and I were able to photograph and identify River Skaters on the main Teme where a few were in backwaters below the footbridge behind the church at grid reference SO554678. But here we were much farther from the Worcestershire boundary, though they must surely frequent parts of the Teme in that county. The species has an odd distribution in the UK, where it is often common on Welsh streams and rivers and also occurs in the New Forest, but is scattered and very local over most of midland and eastern England. It is rare in Shropshire with a few recent records from the north of the county and in Worcestershire: the only record I can find on NBN Gateway is a lonely red dot on the Drayton Brook near Belbroughton. Have we overlooked them elsewhere?

With a good view river skaters are easy to identify from their habitat, nearly always occurring on flowing water though they will frequent canals. Their size is usually obvious: body length is 13-17 mm compared with 8-10mm for common pond-skaters Gerris lacustris. River Skaters usually have no wings even when mature in the UK and so have limited powers of dispersal. They seem to prefer stony banks and streambeds and hibernate as adults among waterside stones. Overwintered adults pair in late spring and according to Southwood and Leston (1959), males will ride piggy-back fashion on their mates for several weeks throughout summer, sometimes sharing food with their partners.

Anyone walking along the River Teme has a chance of seeing these large insects and we would welcome any records. Please send them to Worcestershire Biological Records Centre. Size is important as other smaller skaters will use slow-flowing rivers, a photograph would help in determining records.

Reference
Southwood, T.R.E & Leston, D. 1959. Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles. Warne, London.

Further note: On 30th June 2014 Will Watson found River Skaters in Worcestershire (just!) on the River Teme at Westbrook near Berrington, SO55556773 (02). The picture also shows water beetle Platambus maculatus.


01. River skater Aquarius najas on River Teme. Brett Westwood

02. River skater Aquarius najas and water beetle Platambus maculatus. Will Watson.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 17-18 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 18 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

An instance of necrophagy in adult Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Col., Coccinellidae)

P.F. Whitehead

Moor Leys, Little Comberton, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3EH. Email: paul@thewhiteheads.eu

The ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) is now well-established in Britain as a predator of small mostly soft-bodied invertebrates on a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants. In some urban situations very large populations may develop although there may have been some declines following recent cold winters and the long cold spring of 2013. Conversely, during the mild 2013-14 winter H. axyridis successfully overwintered in the open in Worcestershire. The global literature base relating to H. axyridis is comprehensive.

On 7th August 2013 I observed an adult H. axyridis attending a freshly dead Large White butterfly Pieris brassicae (L., 1758) on an open suburban lawn in Evesham, Worcestershire (SP04 50 m O.D.). The beetle was intent on eating the thoracic contents of the butterfly and was observed doing so with some minor interruptions for 132 minutes. On 9th August 2013 the butterfly’s thoracic contents were found to have been entirely consumed.

Presumably the ladybird located the butterfly through olfactory cues and it was able to tolerate any glycosides remaining from the larval diet. This observation provides further evidence for the competitive success of H. axyridis and bears some comparison to the predation by H. axyridis of Danaus plexippus (L., 1758) larvae in the New World (Koch et al., 2003). It also aligns with Majerus (1994, p.70) in relation to food availability and coccinellids in general.

References
Koch, R., Hutchinson, W., Venette R. & Heimpel, G. 2003. Susceptibility of immature monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae) to predation by Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Biological Control 28:265-270.

Majerus, M.E.N. 1994. Ladybirds. Harper Collins, New Naturalist. pp. 1-367.

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Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 18-19 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera, Tachinidae) and other significant invertebrates from the Malvern Hills (VC37 SO74)

P.F. Whitehead

Moor Leys, Little Comberton, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3EH. Email: paul@thewhiteheads.eu

Introduction

The historical development of the entomofauna of the Malvern Hills is imperfectly understood but there seems little doubt that, when further data has been assembled, its terrestrial fauna will rank amongst the more significant in Britain. The hills are known not only for their distinguished relict species (Whitehead 1989, 1996, 2007, 2010), but also for their ability to collect and assemble convected and windblown insects. This is a well-known phenomenon in mountainous regions but is especially noted at particular times on the Malvern Hills (Whitehead, 1994) which on the east side rise abruptly to mountain altitude above the Jurassic plain. This note documents selected observations made on 3rd May 2014 in full sun in rather cool windy conditions, when the ladybirds Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) and Coccinella septempunctata (L.) and the coprophilous scarab beetle Onthophagus similis (Scriba, 1790) were observed on the summit of North Hill. Six species of elaterid beetle were encountered without particular searching and a few Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies were moving north (03) along the high crests. The former were notable sun-bleached indicating an origin well to the south.

Selected observations 3 May 2014

Liogluta microptera Thomson, 1867 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

This genus of staphylinid beetles is what may be termed ‘difficult’ due to intraspecific variation which extends also to the genitalia. Old records should be interpreted with care and I am grateful to Marc Tronquet for discussing various aspects of this genus. A female L. microptera from around the Happy Valley spring (264 m O.D.) would seem to be the only acceptable Worcestershire record to date.

Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera, Tachinidae)

A single worn example of this scarce tachinid fly was observed at the summit of North Hill (398 m O.D.) for about an hour, typically flying short distances before resettling in grass (01).

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Various muscid flies were observed in full exposure at the same location. Pollen on the fly suggests that it had been visiting nearby flowers of Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. Gonia picea is predominantly a parasitoid of noctuid moths and a previous Worcestershire record was provided by Bingham (2012). In this case however the montane habitat would seem to be unique in Britain although Belshaw (1993) makes reference to the attraction of hilltops for some male tachinids.

Geophilus easoni Arthur, Foddai, Kettle, Lewis, Luczynski & Minelli, 2001 (Myriapoda:Geophilidae).

An example of this species, probably a male (Fig. 2), was observed on North Hill (397 m O.D.). Until recently this terrestrial species was confused with Geophilus carpophagus Leach, 1814, a quite different arboreal species which also occurs on the Malvern Hills. Geophilus easoni is likely to be under-recorded in Worcestershire from where there appear to be no published records.

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01. Worn Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), North Hill, Malvern, 3 May 2014. © P.F. Whitehead.

02. Geophilus easoni Arthur, Foddai, Kettle, Lewis, Luczynski, & Minelli, 2001. North Hill, Malvern Hills, 3 May 2014. © P.F. Whitehead.

03. A rather faded probably far-travelled Vanessa atalanta (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) resting at Worcestershire Beacon, Malvern Hills (398 m O.D.), 3 May 2014. © P.F. Whitehead.

Discussion

The time-honoured entomofauna of the Malvern Hills includes many species which are negatively anthrophilic; a fauna of ‘wild places’. With the increasing development of human settlements negatively and positively anthrophilic faunas will become, and are becoming, increasingly polarised in many parts of Britain and Europe. The Malvern Hills entomofauna include many such ‘wild’ species that shun human activity. Notable amongst these is Onthophagus similis for which the Malvern Hills form a regional population focus. This group of dung beetles declined rapidly following broad climatic deteriorations of the past few thousand years and again more recently in the light of changing animal husbandry practices.

All of this will pose something of an increasing challenge in terms of land management and human access; recent developments regarding pastoralism will undoubtedly have brought benefits to the more ancient elements of the upland entomofauna.

References
Arthur, W., Foddai, D., Kettle, C., Lewis, J. G. E., Luczynski, M. & Minelli, A. 2001. Analysis of segment number and enzyme variation in a centipede reveals a cryptic species Geophilus easoni sp. nov. and raises questions about speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 74:489-499.

Belshaw, R., 1993. Tachinid flies. Handbooks for the identification of British insects 10:4a(i). Royal Entomological Society of London.

Bingham, J., 2012. Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) Tachinidae, Diptera and Melanimon tibialis (Fabricius, 1781) Tenebrioninae, Coleoptera, Recorded on the Devil’s Spittleful Nature Reserve 2012. Worcestershire Record 32:14.

Whitehead, P.F., 1989. An inland record of Calathus mollis (Msh.) from Worcestershire. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 125:198. [Note: in reality this refers to Calathus cinctus Motschulsky which was not formally recognised as British until after this paper was published].

Whitehead, P.F., 1994. The role of meteorology in an unusually mixed assemblage of Coleoptera. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 130:200.

Whitehead, P.F., 1996. A modern British record of Aleochara maculata Brisout 1863 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) with reference to its ecology. Entomologist’s Gazette 47:253-254.

Whitehead, P.F., 2007. New autecological data for Enoicyla pusilla (Burmesiter, 1839) (Trichoptera:Limnephilidae) from the Worcestershire Malvern Hills. Entomologist’s Gazette 58:26-28.

Whitehead, P.F., 2010. An overlooked Worcestershire insect, the Snow Flea. Worcestershire Record 28:15.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 11-12 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Helix pomatia L., 1758 and Helix lucorum L., 1758 (Pulmonata, Helicidae): two closely related terrestrial snails new to Worcestershire.

P.F. Whitehead, Moor Leys, Little Comberton, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3EH Email: paul@thewhiteheads.eu

Introduction

Until 2007 Helix pomatia L., 1758, for long termed the ‘Roman Snail’, was the largest terrestrial gastropod known to occur in Britain; in mainland Europe it is a widespread calciphilous species attaining altitudes of 2000 metres in the Alps. In Britain its distribution is centred on the Jurassic escarpment and Chiltern Hills but a clear understanding of its present and historical status is rather limited and obscure (JNCC, 2007). Ellis (1926) provides useful background data for H. pomatia. It prefers friable sediments often on the exposed margins of limestone scrub or rank scrubby calcareous grassland on steep slopes such as those of the north Cotswold escarpment. In the high Julian Alps the author has observed H. pomatia in diffusely broken woodland edges and ecotones between woodland and herb-dominated biozones. Helix pomatia is intolerant of modern land cultivation methods due in part to an extended winter resting period below ground. The name ‘Roman Snail’ derives from its management in Roman times in specially constructed Cochlearia and its established occurrence in archaeological contexts of that age.

Helix lucorum L., 1758 the so-called ‘Turkish Snail’ has recently been imported into western Europe in such large numbers that its populations in Turkey have been significantly reduced. It is now naturalised on the outskirts of Paris (Mienis & Rittner, 2010) and since 2012 has been found naturalised in England in the Home Counties and more recently as far north as Lancashire (http://www.conchsoc.org/sites/default/files/MolluscWorld/AGM%20Apr%202013/NonMarineRecorder2012.pdf). Helix lucorum is more thermophilous than H. pomatia extending around the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts and also further to the east. In Dobruja the author has observed H. lucorum in numbers around the fringes and draw-down zones of brackish coastal lakes, a habitat distinct from those occupied by H. pomatia.

Discussion

During March 2014 I overviewed archaeological items that originated from Bredon Hill in the parish of Beckford (SO93 just within VC33 East Gloucestershire). The material contained evidence of only one invertebrate namely the shell of a ‘Roman Snail’ Helix pomatia (01 and 02).

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As H. pomatia is presently unknown on Bredon Hill and in administrative Worcestershire this is a significant record but one which I ascribe to the Romanised occupation of Bredon Hill. This does not mean that the species then, about AD250, was not naturalised but enough is known of the immediate settlement to confirm that its inhabitants were highly sophisticated and perfectly capable of managing Cochlearia. I am unaware of records of H. pomatia from any of the Cotswold Hill outliers but populations from the north Cotswold escarpment may have similar historical pedigrees. The date of discovery of this specimen cannot be confirmed but from what is known a ‘mean’ working date of ‘15 June 1964’ is a broadly realistic indication only.

An example of Helix lucorum passed to me for identification by Mr J. W. Meiklejohn (03)

predates the earliest published British record of this species by five years and is therefore also a Worcestershire novelty. It was found on 6th October 2007 by Mr Mervyn Needham at St Peter’s Garden Centre on the Worcester conurbation fringe (52o16’N 2o19’W SO867513); I have no knowledge of other specimens from this site. For invertebrates actively extending their ranges through human activity in conjunction with climatic change, garden centres provide ideal staging posts, particularly through the distribution of their eggs in horticultural compost.

Pictures

01. Helix pomatia L. Roman archaeological context, Bredon Hill, Beckford, Worcestershire (VC 33 SO 93) ‘15 June 1964’ this date being indicative only. © P. F. Whitehead: 21 March 2014.

02. Helix pomatia L. Roman archaeological context, Bredon Hill, Beckford, Worcestershire (VC 33 SO 93) ‘15 June 1964’. The faint brown spiral bands are still discernible on the shell. © P. F. Whitehead: 21 March 2014.

03. Helix lucorum L. St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, 6 October 2007. Note the broad brown spiral bands on the shell with strongly contrasting paler bands and some evidence of diffuse darker radial bands. © P.F. Whitehead

Conclusion

Two large terrestrial gastropods, H. lucorum and H. pomatia, are here recorded new to Worcestershire. The origin of both can be ascribed to human intervention during two discrete time periods circa 1800 years apart. It is unnecessary to presume that this shell of H. pomatia survived on a land surface for that long; more probably it remained below ground for the greater part of the time. It seems to me, given their known and changing biogeography, that the vernacular names of these molluscs as used here, are, rather like ‘London Plane’, somewhat unhelpful.

Acknowledgements

I wish to extend thanks to Mrs Tonia Byrd, the Vale of Evesham Historical Society, Evesham Town Council, Mr Mervyn Needham and Mr John Meiklejohn for their contribution to this output.

References
Ellis, A.E., 1926. British snails. Clarendon Press, Oxford. pp. 1-275, plates i-xiv.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2007. Second Report by the UK under Article 17 on the implementation of the Habitats Directive from January 2001 to December 2006. Peterborough: JNCC.

Mienis, H. K. & Rittner, O., 2010. On the presence of Helix lucorum Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Helicidae) in Le Vesinet, a western suburb of Paris. Journal électronique de la malacologie continentale française 6: 266-267. (ISSN 1778-3941).

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Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 13 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders

Tipula vittata Meigen, 1804 and the subgenus Acutipula (Diptera, Tipulidae) with reference to Bredon Hill, Worcestershire

P.F. Whitehead

Moor Leys, Little Comberton, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3EH. Email: paul@thewhiteheads.eu

There are few if any Worcestershire records of the paludal cranefly Tipula vittata Meigen, 1804 so it is pleasing to record a female (01) in a Little Comberton garden SO94 30 m O.D.) on 1 April 2014, a rather early date in what is an ‘early’ year. The garden is traversed by a canalised Bredon Hill scarp stream with muddy edges which is the larval habitat of T. vittata and in this instance also the striking Tipula maxima Poda, 1761. Tipula vittata is one of four relatively widespread British species of the subgenus Acutipula; the distinctively vittate wing markings can be seen in 02.

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01. shows freshly emerged female Tipula vittata Meigen, 1804, Little Comberton, Worcestershire, 1 April 2014. © P.F. Whitehead

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02. shows wing of female Tipula vittata Meigen, 1804, Little Comberton, Worcestershire, 1 April 2014, showing the distinctive vittate wing pattern. © P.F. Whitehead.

Three species of Acutipula are associated with the surface drainage of Bredon Hill namely Tipula luna Westhoff, 1879, T. maxima and T. vittata. Earlier Bredon Hill records of T. luna and T. vittata include those from a Malaise Trap set by the then English Nature in woodlands above Elmley Castle (SO93 100m O.D.) during the spring of 1997. The single specimens of each were identified by the late Dr Peter Skidmore together with a single Tipula (Beringotipula) unca Wiedemann, 1817. Both T. luna and T. unca are now known to occur at a number of other sites on Bredon Hill, especially where surface drainage passes through ancient woodlands.

The radial drainage of Bredon Hill is highly significant for its invertebrate fauna both in both regional and national contexts.

Worcestershire Record | 36 (April 2014) page: 13 | Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders