The Naturalists' Notebook

Report from John Clegg

Six members travelled out by bus from Liverpool and were joined at Haskayne by a further five.  On a sunny and warm day the walk started off with a Buzzard flying high, with a large number of Swallows over the fields. Yellowhammer were singing in the fields and we finally saw one at the lunch stop among the wildflower meadow of Haskayne Cutting LNR.  There was an abundance of butterflies there, too.

After lunch Sid found he had been sitting on a nest of Yellow Meadow Ants!  Just as the group was leaving the cutting Chris Butterworth spotted a female Southern Hawker laying eggs into a small pool.

We continued along the Leeds-Liverpool canal, where there was a large number of young Mallard. A high point was a good close view of a Banded Demoiselle.

Seen on the day:
Birds (25 species). Wood Pigeon, Swallow, House Martin, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Robin, Greenfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Heron, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Buzzard, Collared Dove, Starling, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Magpie, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull and Hobby.
Butterflies (15 species). Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Comma, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Small Skipper, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Small Copper.
Dragonflies and Damselflies (5 species). Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Red Darter, Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker.

Chris Derri has sent me some of his pictures from the coach trip to Long Mynd on 21st July.

Ringlet butterfly

Raven

Juvenile Redstart

Willow Warbler

Female Kestrel

Green Splenwort

Common Lizard

Just a note that I have added some extra pictures by Chris Derri.
To Potteric Carr on 7th July I’ve added two Longhorn Beetles and a Picture-winged Fly.
To Cemlyn Bay on 23rd June I’ve added an Arctic Tern and a Sandwich Tern.

Fifteen members joined the MNA Coach Trip to Long Mynd, Shropshire. We parked in the National Trust car park in Cardingmill Valley, Church Stretton where a yaffling Green Woodpecker greeted our arrival. House Martins and Swallows were buzzing overhead and Coal Tits were in the conifers.In order to escape the crowds we took the path up the adjacent valley called Townbrook Hollow. The climb followed a small stream that attracted patrolling Common Hawker Aeshna juncea  and Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii with Butterflies including Large White Pieris brassicae, Small White Pieris rapae, Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina, Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus and Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus. Although steep in places between huffing and puffing along some members glimpsed Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara and plenty of interest for the botanists with Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Harebell Campanula rotundifolia, Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile, Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, Monkey Flower Mimulus guttatus, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Wall Speedwell Veronica arvensis, Common Catsear Hypochaeris radicata, Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, Sheep’s Bit Scabious Jasione montana and Sand Spurrey Spergularia rubra.

Eventually we all safely reached the moorland above and were joined by a rather friendly Sheep that bleeted in hope of a few scraps whilst we ate lunch – its mates dung attracted the inevitable Yellow Dung Fly Scatophaga stercoraria. A noticeable passage of Meadow Pipits, Whinchat, two male Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, two unusually silent Ravens gliding close overhead were joined by some spectacular raptors – Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Hobby – looking Swift-like and agile, swooping to catch Dragonflies and one particular feisty individual having a go at two Kestrels that dared to be in it’s patch. Some of the group decided to return on the path down Ashes Hollow towards Little Stretton – it turned out to be rather precarious in places and what had been mere streams in the recce had swollen into mini-rivers with recent rains. The remainder of the group tromped across the moor spotting a Ichneumon Wasp, a few Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja and various Moths including Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera, Spinach Eulithis mellinata and Bilberry Tortrix Pasiphila debiliata. Chris Derri caught a number of Micromoths that he later identified as Scoparia pallida, Scoparia pyralella, Donacuala forficella and Ancylis unguicella. We reached a small copse of trees which held Redstarts including some juveniles, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and a Buzzard feather.

Buzzard Feather

An adjacent acidic boggy pool held Floating Club-rush Eleogiton fluitans and was surrounded by some impressive Sphagnum Moss had another Moth – Brown China Mark Elophila nymphaeata and a few Damselflies Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa and Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

A couple of locals with a dog directed us onto another track that also returned to Little Stretton via a fantastic route that provided great views across the moors to various peaks and ridges.

En route we noted the rather bloated corpse of a Common Shrew Sorex araneus and a few Fungi – Brown Puffball Bovista nigrescens and Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare.

Common Shrew

On reaching the picturesque village of Little Stretton we found to our dismay that the Ragleth Arms – country pub complete with obligatory hanging baskets and union jack bunting – was closed! Thankfully our driver kindly drove us back along to Church Stretton to the King’s Arms where we indulged in a pint or two before the journey back to Liverpool. 

Nine members joined the MNA walk around Wigan Flashes with the weather ranging from heavy downpours to glorious sunshine and strong breezes. Although a quiet time for birdlife we did see Great-crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan pair with two cygnets, the cob being particularly protective when a group of Canada Geese swam too close, Mallard, plenty of Tufted Duck, Coot, a couple of Common Tern, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail including a few juveniles beside the canal, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Jay, Magpie and Reed Bunting. Amphibians consisted of a couple of Common Frogs Rana temporaria.

A good selection of Butterflies and Moths with Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris, Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria, Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus, Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina, Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae, Cinnabar Moth caterpillars Tyria jacobaeae, Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata, Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata and Wainscot Mythimna sp. 

Six-spot Burnet

Dragonflies and Damselflies included Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis, Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa, Common Blue Damsel Enallagma cyathigerum, Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans.

Blue-tailed Damselfly female – pink form

Hoverflies included the Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Heliophilus pendulus, Volucella pellucens and Syrphus ribesii. Plenty of Bumblebee Species with Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris, White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum, Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius and Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum.

Field Grasshopper

Other Insects and Invertebrates included Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus, Common Green Grasshopper Omocestus viridulus, Brown Mayfly Ephemera vulgata, Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva, a male Thick-Legged Flower Beetle Oedemera virescens, Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni, Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides and numerous Bladder Snails Physa sp.

Brown Mayfly

Sexton Beetle

Plenty of Botanical interest with Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium angustifolium, Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, Himalayan Balsalm Impatiens glandulifera, Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum, Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis, Self-heal Prunella vulgaris, Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Herb Bennet Geum urbanum.

Herb Bennet seed pod

Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis, Black Medick Medicago lupulina, a good show of Orange Hawkweed Pilosella aurantiacum along the canal bank, Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Great Bindweed Calystegia sepium, Black Bryony Tamus communis, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus, Hemlock Water-Dropwort Oenanthe crocata, Common Catsear Hypochaeris radicata, Perforate St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum, Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris, Wild Carrot Daucus carota, Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa, Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum, Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa, Heather Calluna vulgaris, Common Hemp Nettle Galeopsis tetrahit, Dotted Loosestrife Lysimachia punctata, Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica, Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris, Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, Evening Primrose Oenothera sp. Red Campion Silene dioica, White Campion Silene alba, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa.

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine four spikes on the canal path, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris numerous spikes in a sheltered woodland glade and Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsia.

Marsh Helleborine

Common Spotted Orchid 

Fungi included Common Earthball Scleroderma citrinum and Exidia plana.

Chris Butterworth, David Bryant and I made an early morning decision to head out to Llangollen. After alighting from the infamous X94 bus we took a taxi the short distance to World’s End. We walked up the lane towards the weir before continuing along the Offa’s Dyke Path which follows the limestone Eglwyseg Escarpment before dropping back down into Llangollen.

Although the weather clouded up there was plenty of interest to see and we came away with an impressive list and interesting finds. Birds included: Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Feral Rock Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Common Swift, Green Woodpecker was heard, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dipper two birds on the stream close to World’s End, Common Redstart – a rather worn looking male, Northern Wheatear – a few young birds and again a haggard looking male, Song Thrush – a juvenile with a noticeably short tail, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch was heard, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven – including one feeding on a dead sheep carcass on the escarpment, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll was heard.

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus was the only mammal excluding the numerous Shaun the Sheep. Butterflies and Moths included: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene that were flighty and frustrated me as I tried and failed to get a shot, Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria, Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus including one individual whose wings were all crumpled usually caused when it is hot and they dry too quickly after emerging, Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae. A few Snails were noted with a number of Wrinkled Snails Candidula intersecta on the leaves of Dog’s Mercury Mecurialis perennis, a Cellar Glass Snail Oxychilus cellarius underneath a rotting log and a few Brown-lipped Banded Snail Cepaea nemoralis.Insects included Early Nesting Bumblebee Bombus pratorum, Mountain Bumblebee Bombus monticola, Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris, Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus sp. and a Spider Hunter Wasp Pompilidae sp.

A couple of Galls were noted on Common Alder Alnus glutinosa leaves:  Blister Galls caused by the Mite Eriophyes laevis and a Gall caused by the fungus Taphrina tosquinetii which can swell the leaf up to twice its normal size.

Alder Blister Galls

Fungi included: Eyelash Fungi Scutellinia sp. Chicken Of The Woods Laetiporus sulphureus, Meadow a.k.a Buff Waxcap Hygrocybe pratensis, Scarlet Waxcap Hygrocybe coccinea, Giant Puffball Calvatia gigantea, Horse Mushroom Agaricus arvensis, a young Red Cracking Bolete Boletus chrysenteron which was being eaten by a Slug – Chris split the cap in two to show the pore network and the blue bruising and the Slime Mould Lycogala epidendrum.

Meadow Waxcap

Red Cracking Bolete

We noted that a number of the plant species that have already gone over closer to home were still in full flower here and there seemed to be ‘smaller’ versions of species such as Eyebright and Herb Robert on  the scree slopes of the escarpment. Plants included: Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys, Wall Speedwell Veronica arvensis, Brooklime Veronica beccabunga, Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum, Jack-By-The-Hedge Alliaria petiolata, Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica, Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Wood Avens aka Herb Bennet Geum urbanum,  Dog’s Mercury Mecurialis perennis, Red Campion Silene dioica, Crosswort Cruciata laevipes, Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Lady’s-mantle Alchemilla sp. Foxglove Digitalis purpurea, Wall Pennywort Umbilicus rupestris.

Foxglove

Wall Pennywort

Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale, Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia,  Crow Garlic Allium vineale, Common Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata, Spotted Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris maculata, Mouse-ear Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, Nipplewort Lapsana communis, Slender St John’s Wort Hypericum pulchrum, Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, Musk Mallow Malva moschata.

Musk Mallow

Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare, Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria, Honeysuckle Lonicera sp. Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare, Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre, Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, masses of Musk Thistle Carduus nutans,  Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsia, Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium, New Zealand Willowherb Epilobium brunnescens and a notable tree Rock Whitebeam Sorbus rupicola.