Report to follow.

Report to follow.

Peter Smith writes:

All Saints’ Church , Newtown Linford, is attractively situated next to the main entrance to Bradgate Park, its churchyard being bounded on two sides by the River Lin.  For our visit, the weather told you Spring was on the way: primroses (Primula vulgaris) and Sweet Violets (Viola odorata) were already in flower and the sunshine had brought out at least three species of ladybird.

Sweet Violets (Viola odorata) (Photo - Peter Smith)

However, the main object of the meeting was to look at lichens and, once again, Ivan Pedley gave a masterclass on the subject.  Most of the gravestones here are of slate, which is a challenging substrate for lichens so there are relatively few common species to get to grips with.  The most striking is Melanelixia fuliginosa, which forms dark rings and blotches with shiny, olive-green lobes around the margins.  On some of the upper surfaces, Buellia aethalea and Buellia ocellata were fighting for territory to create a leopard-skin (or ocelot-skin) mosaic, with dark lines defining the zones of conflict.

Buellia lichens (Photo - Peter Smith)

Leaving the church, we paused on the bridge to note the colony of Rustyback fern (Ceterach officinarum).  The boundary wall near the gates of Bradgate Park was one of the first in the country for which a date was estimated from the range of lichen species growing there.  You can distinguish the oldest sections of wall by their extensive white coating of Lecanora rupicola, sometimes mixed with the yellower Lecanora orosthea.

Now familiar with some of the commoner lichens to be found on acid rocks, we ventured further into the park to see some regional rarities.  Rock Tripe (Lasallia pustulata) is distinctive enough to have a common name, though Bradgate Park is one of only a few sites in the Midlands where it can be found.  It changes dramatically from pale brown to bright green when it becomes wet.  The “Middle Wall” through the park is the most important site for lichens in VC55 and hosts several species that would ordinarily be more at home in the Welsh or Scottish Highlands.  Among them, Montanelia disjuncta is reminiscent of greenish-black seaweed, while Stereocaulon vesuvianum plausibly resembles the clouds of volcanic ash that provide its name. 

Montanelia disjuncta (Photo - Peter Smith)

Foraging among the lichens were the tiny larvae of the moth Luffia lapidella, which – like caddisflies – form a protective case around themselves and disguise it with bits of the surroundings.  Finally, in the shelter of an overhang, we found the eggs of a Vapourer moth (Orgyia antiqua), laid by the wingless female on the remains of her own pupal cocoon.

Vapourer moth eggs (Photo - Peter Smith)

(Photo at top and bottom - Peter Smith)

Peter Smith writes:

Beacon Hill is a well known Leicestershire landmark but on this outing, led by Peter Smith, we followed some less-explored paths around the lower car park to see what wildlife could be found in the middle of January and, if nothing else, to enjoy being out in a rocky, mossy, wooded and wild landscape at a time of year when it can be tempting to keep warm at home.

Swale to hold water back (Photo: Peter Smith)

Close to the car park and café, new ponds and a sinuous swale have been created to hold water on the hill and reduce flooding in Loughborough.  They will also provide varied habitats for wildlife and we noted a backswimmer (Notonecta) coming to the surface for air.  Unsurprisingly for mid-winter, we noted few active insects but later dissection of some distorted Hazel catkins revealed the caterpillars of Nut Bud Moth (Epinotia tenerana) feeding inside.

Nut Bud Moth caterpillar (Epinotia tenerana) (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Continuous tree cover on the lower hill dates only from the 1960s.  The Silver Birches that grew then are now coming to the end of their lives so there is lots of dead wood to provide a home for a range of bracket fungi and colourful crust fungi. 

Crust fungi (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Just off the main track leading to summit, Peter pointed out an impressively large, black “conk” on the side of a birch trunk, which – subject to verification – might be first county record of the Chaga Fungus (Inonotus obliquus), a species noted for its medicinal properties.  

Possibly Chaga Fungus (Inonotus obliquus) (Photo: Peter Smith)

Lichens were putting on a fine display and – although they will be the focus of our next outing – they proved too tempting for some members to resist this time! 

Assorted lichens (Photo: Peter Smith)

We ended our walk at the Native Tree Collection, where examples of all Britain’s 28 native tree species have been planted along a half-mile circuit.

Native Tree Collection (Photo: Peter Smith)

We had hoped to practise identifying the buds in winter but they were mostly well above head height.  However, a Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) still carried berries and we were able to confirm emphatically the opinion of the ID guide that, despite their beauty, the berries have a foul smell!

Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) berries (Photo: Peter Smith)

(Photos at top and bottom: Peter Smith)

Twelve of us set off round Knighton Park on a grey day in December. Knighton Spinney is closed at the moment because of Ash Dieback, so we couldn’t go in there and started by walking along the edge of the spinney. Two of our number gloomily suggested that we would be lucky to see any Blackbirds (Turdus merula), as they are being affected by Usutu Virus, a disease carried by mosquitos that is affecting Blackbird populations particularly in the south-east (see the short article on NatureSpot).

Along the edge of the spinney we started finding plant galls, although some were in a poor state due to the time of year.  This included Oak Marble Galls (Andricus kollari) and Ramshorn Galls (Andricus aries f. agamic).

Ramshorn Gall (Andricus aries f. agamic) (Photo: Dave Nicholls)

We also found leaf mines of the moth Stigmella aurella on Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon). 

Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) (Photo: Simon Bennett)

Trees and tree stumps in the grassy area to the south of the spinney provided us with a variety of lichens and fungi, including what we thought was Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) and Physcia adscendens, Physcia aipolia and Physcia tenella. The photo below) shows Physcia adscendens; note the pale hood shapes at the ends of the lobes, which distinguish it from Physcia tenella. This lichen is an indicator of high Nitrogen levels.

Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) (Photo: Alan Bevington)

Physcia adscendens (Photo: Dave Nicholls)

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and  Creeping Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum)were in flower in the border along the hedge that divides the open grassy area from the woodland planted about thrity years ago.

We walked across through the area of trees (mostly non-native) to the Washbrook, where wooden posts and material in the dead hedge provided us with Coral Spot (Nectria cinnabarina) and Yellow Brain (Tremella mesenterica) among other fungi.

Yellow Brain (Tremella mesenterica) (Photo: Dave Nicholls)

The most interesting find of the day only emerged later, after Hazel Graves took a sample what appeared to be aphids and the galls they had caused home to look at in more detail and discovered that they are Adelgids, Adelges cooleyi (or Gilletteella cooleyi), some times known as the Gall Adelgid. This is only the second record of this species on NatureSpot.

Adelges cooleyi cause a gall on the shoots of Spruce (Picea), and the form that were found in Knighton Park are overwintering sistentes of Adelges cooleyi.  Sistentes are wingless, parthenogenetic female adelgids that have a period of diapause in the first instar. You can read more about the lifecycle of Adelges cooleyi on the Influential Points website, the best source of information on aphids and their allies. Adelgids have a complicated lifecycle!

Adelges cooleyi (Photo: Hazel Graves)

And did we see any Blackbirds? Yes, we did, and also heard them making their distinctive calls. Another call that had several of us looking upwards was a short, deep croak, and we saw a Raven (Corvus corax) flying overhead.

A full report will be published in the next newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo at top: Simon Bennett)

Alan Bevington writes:

Watermead Country Park was created in the 1980s from a complex of disused gravel workings along the River Soar north of Leicester [1]. Even though Watermead South is the part of the park that lies within the Leicester City boundary, it offers a variety of habitats:  including flooded gravel pits (now known as Mammoth Lake and Nature Lake) and the adjacent River Soar, deciduous woodland and willow scrub which potentially provide good opportunities to find waterfowl and other wetland birds, but also possibly other forms of wildlife.

In spite of heavy rain the previous day and heavily overcast conditions on the day, seven members of the section met to explore this part of the park by following a route skirting Mammoth Lake then striking south on a path between the east bank of the River Soar and the west shore of Nature Lake.

It was expected that the most visible wildlife would be the birds. This proved to be the case and 34 species (plus 2 domestic breeds) were detected in only two hours. In addition to the resident water bird population of Mammoth Lake (which includes a heron roost dominated by Little Egrets and Great White Egrets) a flock of about 20 female Goosanders was found. A female Red-breasted Merganser had also attached itself to the flock.

Apart from Mallard, Tufted Duck and a single male Goldeneye however there were few other wintering ducks. No Pochard or Wigeon were seen, possibly a consequence of the well-documented “short-stopping” phenomenon whereby fewer ducks, geese, swans and waders have been wintering in the UK in recent years, remaining in northern and central Europe instead [2]. The walk round Mammoth Lake also detected faint but repeated squeals from a Water Rail, and a short song burst from a Cetti’s Warbler was heard during the walk down the River Soar.

Even though this visit was not intended as a fungus event, some effort was made to record fungi. Over most of the route none were seen, but towards the end of the walk at least 10 species of fruiting fungi were found within a 10 minute period, mostly within a “hot spot” of a few yards between the west shore of Nature Lake and the east bank of the River Soar. The most numerous were the small Bonnet Caps (Mycena sp) visible in large numbers on the moss-covered tree trunks, but larger fungi included Sticky Scalycap (Fig 1) and deep-red aged specimens of Blushing Bracket (Fig 2). Jelly fungi including Jelly Ear and Amber Jelly (Fig 3) were also found on adjacent dead wood. The reason for this uneven distribution of fruiting fungi was unclear, but suggests that a future visit to this site at the height of the fungus fruiting season might yield interesting results.

Fig 1 Sticky Scalycap (Pholiota gummosa) (Photo: Sue Hitchings)

Fig 2 Blushing Bracket (Daedaleopsis confragosa) (Photo: Alan Bevington)

Fig 3 Amber Jelly (Exidia recisa) (Photo: Helen Ainsworth)

A full report will be published in the next newsletter, which is available to members.

References

[1] https://www.leicester.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/our-parks/watermead-country-park-south

[2] https://www.bto.org/our-work/news/press/ducks-take-dive-milder-winters-keep-birds-unfrozen-north

(Photo at top: Alan Bevington)

Hazel Graves writes:

The October Field trip took us to Broombriggs Farm Country Park in Charnwood Forest near Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire.  The farm was given to Leicestershire County Council in 1970 by the Frears family, with a view to it being maintained as a typical Charnwood Forest farm. Existing woodlands and parkland trees on the farm have been retained, and more recent tree planting has been carried out to increase biodiversity and add to the tree numbers of the National Forest.

There is a well-marked and easy walking trail around the farm.  We climbed through woodland, then between woodland and field edge, eventually reaching the summit of the walk with good views over the lower farm and the surrounding countryside. We then dropped back along field edges and back to the Beacon Road carpark.

Broombriggs Farm is an interesting place to visit at any season but particularly good in the autumn.  The path from the carpark leading uphill through the woodland parallel to the road contains a wide range of trees, and shrubs, both newly planted, self-set and mature.  Beech, Blackthorn, Bramble, Cherry, Dog Rose, Dogwood, Elder, Elm, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Hazel, Honeysuckle, Holly, Hornbeam, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Oaks, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore, Turkey Oak, Yew, and an assortment of conifers, line the route.  Also patches of Gorse, Bramble, Ivy, Creeping Thistle, Ferns including Bracken, andNettle and of course plants such as Shepherd's Purse, Buttercup, Mallow etc.  All of these species have leaf mines (moths, flies, beetles) or galls, caused by a wide range of fauna or fungi, or both. Between us we recorded 18 gall species and 23 mine species on 20 plant species.  The latter can be of real interest to recorders as they are confirmed breeding records of the moths, compared to the non-breeding records of moth trapping and casual observation. The full list will be in the report that appears in the Newsletter for members.

Pseudoneuroterus saliens f.agamic galls on Turkey Oak (Photo: Peter Smith)

We did not expect to see a wide range of insects.  However, we found numerous Harlequin and 7-spot Ladybirds, but surprisingly still many harlequin larvae. Perhaps our biggest surprise was the sighting of a perched Holly Blue, presumably a result of a third brood this year, as indicated in the Philip’s Guide to Butterflies by J A Thomas. 

Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus (Photo: Simon Bennett)

A good find was an Adonis’ Ladybird, a small ladybird, well-spotted amongst the other two species. A Hawthorn Shieldbug and an Arboridia ribauti leafhopper were also found, the latter an interesting species because it seems that only females have been found in Britain. A green larva was found on a bramble leaf.  A request to the UK Hoverflies Facebook group for help with identification provided an almost immediate answer to its ID: Epistrophe grossulariae.   Some of the Dogwood leaves had a variety of stages of aphids underneath them.  A few samples were taken home and photographed and by using the excellent website “Influential Points” were found to be Common dogwood-grass aphid Anoecia corni, so called as they use grass as an alternative host during the summer.  It is always amusing to find “Tree Snot”, a ball of eggs of the Caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus set in jelly on, or dangling from, a leaf. They should be dangling over water so that on hatching the larvae fall into the water to continue development.  Unfortunately this ball of jelly was on a holly leaf over a dry path.  Amusingly I found the 2.2 mm springtail Entomobrya albocincta in a photograph taken of a lichen! Springtails are now considered arthropods but not insects being in the Class Entognatha.  Albugo candida White Rust is a widely distributed plant pathogen which affects brassicas. Although called a rust it is in fact not a fungus but a pseudofungus with a very different classification.

Hoverfly larva, Epistrophe grossulariae, on Bramble. (Photo: Simon Bennett)

At this time of year, fungi were also one of our targets, however we saw disappointingly few compared to a similarly timed visit made several years ago.  Some we were able to identify. Everyone enjoys seeing the red and white Fly Agaric.  The Honey Fungus at the base of a Birch tree was spectacular. It was good to see both Shaggy Parasol and Parasol Mushroom on the same day. The stipe of Parasol Mushroom has a scaly looking zig-zag pattern whereas Shaggy Parasol has a stipe which is unpatterned. Sycamore Tarspot seems almost ubiquitous on Sycamore leaves.  Illosporiopsis christiansenii and Erythricium aurantiacum are colourful lichenicolous fungi that parasitize lichen. Both were found on trees in the orchard. Several other fungi were recorded.

Red Cracking Bolete, Boletus (=Xerocomellus) chrysenteron (Photo: Peter Smith)

Any countryside trip will always provide the chance to make a bird list, and we saw or heard 13 species with a possible sighting of one of the Goshawks which are known to inhabit a nearby woodland.  The highest point is a good place to stop and scan the skies – ravens, sparrowhawks, kestrels have all been seen from this vantage point. Particularly charming was the flock of mixed tits – it never fails to bring a smile to faces seeing Long-tailed-tits.  On this occasion we saw or heard 14 species: Buzzard, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Jay, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Nuthatch, Robin, Starling, Stonechat, Woodpigeon, Goshawk(unconfirmed).

We were surprised to see a range of species of plants still in flower, 26 in total. The Common Toadflax has been persistently found for many years around one of the seats on the slope overlooking Maplewell Road, but we noticed an increase in plants now stretching down the hill.  Our list included the following: Annual Meadow-grass, Autumn Hawkbit, Black Nightshade, Bramble, Cat's-ear, Chicory, Cocks-foot, Common Field Speedwell, Common Mouse-ear, Creeping Buttercup, Daisy, Dandelion, Field Pansy, Groundsel, Herb Robert, Hogweed, Meadow Buttercup, Nipplewort, Pineappleweed, Prickly Sowthistle, Red Clover, Shepherd’s-purse, Scentless Mayweed, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Common Toadflax, White Clover, and Yarrow. 

Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia (Photo: Peter Smith)

We saw one Grey Squirrel and evidence of Moles at two sites.

A few lichens and mosses were noted and recorded. One moss Grey-cushioned Grimmia Grimmia pulvinate is common and regularly found on Charnwood stone wall so easy to get to know. And one of the beautiful Polytrichum mosses was in evidence, but not able to be identified easily to species as no capsules were seen.

The lichen Fanfare of Trumpets Ramalina fastigiata was found and easily identified as the name perfectly illustrates its structure.  Another lichen I could identify as I see it at the base of the same tree each time I visit and have had it confirmed, Cladonia coniocraea. The ubiquitous orange/yellow lichen Xanthoria parietina was present on bare twigs of bushes near the summit. And the lemon-yellow patches of Rhizocarpon geographicum Yellow Map Lichen were also easily noted on the stone walls.

I hope everyone enjoyed the outing – I certainly did.  Many thanks to the members who joined me – we made a good team, jointly spotting and identifying species. I suggest, if this trip is repeated in the future, that at least three hours is a better target than two!

A full report will be published in the newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo at top: Peter Smith)

This walk was led by Hazel Graves who has written this report.

The Section had previously visited this site in August 2021 when the weather was much wetter.  On this occasion we had fine weather but very little sunshine to lure the flying insects out.  There was a great deal of concern about the lack of rain as many of the flowers supporting nectaring insects were already in seed. 

We spent a fascinating time searching the willows, oaks, alders, hawthorns and blackthorn trees and bushes for a wide variety of galls and some leaf mines.  Eight species of wasp galls were photographed on oak trees plus Marble Gall Andricus kollari. I also noted when looking at photos on NatureSpot posted by another member of the group, that Blister gall, the sexual gall of the wasp that causes asexual Silk Button Galls had been found. Robin’s Pin-Cushion Gall caused by the wasp Diplolepis rosae was also found on Dog-rose. Willows also support a good range of galls.  We found three sawfly galls, Euura proxima Willow Redgall Sawfly on narrow-leaved willows such as Crack Willow, Euura bridgmanii and Euura pedunculi Willow Gall Sawfly on broad -leaved willows (sallows) such as Grey Willow.  Altogether 20 species of galls were found. 

Silk-button Gall (Neuroterus numismalis f. agamic) (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Some leaf mines were found, one caused by an Agromyzid Fly Agromyza alnivora on Alder, distinguished from moth leaf mines by the double row of frass.  New for me and pointed out by one of the group was the sawfly Profenusa pygmaea mine on Oak. 

Leaf mine of the Agromyzid fly (Agromyza alnivora) on Alder (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Others in the group had a particular interest in birds and a list of 14 species was obtained. A buzzard was also seen towards the end of the trip when some of the attendees had already left. Unfortunately the sand martins which had been so in evidence on our previous visit had either not used the artificial bank this year or had failed at breeding or already left. Further research needed there.  

Our botanical interest on this trip was mainly simply enjoying and noting the presence of some colourful and interesting species. We admired the splendid stands of Purple Loosestrife around the pond edges. We found Agrimony which can be separated from Fragrant Agrimony at this time of the year by the grooves on the seed-heads. Some of the grassland had not yet been mown so contained large clumps of Meadow Vetchling and Tufted Vetch. 

We found a young toad, saw and photographed Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly which we could identify and other species of dragonflies zipping around the ponds, not stopping long enough to be identified.  

I was particularly charmed by the Shieldbugs found on this trip.  We found a female Parent Bug brooding a group of recently hatched nymphs with the empty eggshells still around them. We found a Hawthorn Shieldbug nymph and also a mating pair of Red-legged Shieldbugs. 

Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea) (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Our lichen list was quite short as that was not the priority of the naturalists on this trip with so much else to see – lichens are good for winter days when there is so much less to see.  However a group of young ash-trees were discovered virtually covered in lichens with no exposed bark between.  We found one tree with several clumps of Ramalina fastiagata, one of the few lichens whose common name truly reflects its appearance – Fanfare of Trumpets.

Fanfare of Trumpets (Ramalina fastigiata) (Photo: Hazel Graves)

Spiders were represented by a Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis, and it is always fun to see the aptly named egg sacs of the Sputnik spider Paidiscura pallens.

Egg sac of the Sputnik Spider (Paidiscura pallens) (Photo: Hazel Graves)

We had not enough time for the complete circuit planned but before we left a group of us headed towards the stand of the non-native Early Goldenrod, Solidago gigantea, which I had visited on previous occasions and being a late flowerer is a good source of food for August insects.  I was dismayed to find that this clump of plants, normally chest high, was on this occasion only knee high and very sparse and dismal looking – no doubt the effect of the drought.  Previously I have seen it buzzing with insects but the only two found was a hoverfly, probably Tapered Drone Fly - Eristalis pertinax and a very flighty Hornet which wouldn’t keep still for photography.

A full report will be published in the newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo at top: Hazel Graves)

The walk was led by Russell Parry, and this report was written by Russell, Peter Smith and Alan Bevington.

This was a joint event between members of the Natural History Section led by Russell Parry and members of the Hamilton Residents’ Association (HRA) who met to explore the wetlands of the relatively unimproved Melton Brook floodplain that marks the northern boundary of this part of Leicester. 
To set the scene, Russell explained that the area between the Hamilton estate and Melton Brook (designated as flood plain and hence unlikely to be built upon in the foreseeable future) provides an important example of the wet grassland which is now sadly a rarity in Leicestershire.
He also emphasised that in addition to the semi-natural floodplain there is a potentially valuable second (artificial) wetland on this part of the estate. The award-winning Hamilton Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)  is a complex of small pools (balancing ponds), drainage channels and artificial wetlands which protects the Hamilton estate from flooding, by holding back water during downpours and subsequently slowly releasing it down drainage channels.

Flowering plants
The SUDS system held a good display of wetland plants notably Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Great Willow Herb (Epilobium hirsutum).
On the Melton Brook flood plain itself Russell spotted in passing 70 vascular plant species, the most notable of which were:-
•    Fool's Parsley (Aethusa cynapium), and Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) (which is far from common and had not been recorded previously in this monad).
•    Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium), Common Duckweed (Lemna minor), and Purple Loosestrife (which were last recorded here in 2012). 

Invertebrates
The wetland habitat not only has its own flora but is home to a large number of invertebrates that enjoy the same conditions. 

Cicadella viridis (male) (Photo: Peter Smith)

Cicadella viridis (female) (Photo: Peter Smith)

Among them we found dozens of the strikingly coloured leafhoppers Cicadella viridis, as well as nymphs and adults of Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers (Chorthippus albomarginatus) and Long-winged Cone-head Crickets (Conocephalus fuscus).  A short search among the flowers of the abundant Purple Loosestrife also revealed the specialist Loosestrife Weevil (Nanophyes marmoratus) which is rarely recorded.   

Loosestrife Weevil (Nanophyes marmoratus) (Photo: Peter Smith)

Significance of this event
This outing was a new venture aimed at making the expertise and enthusiasm of Natural History Section members available to a wider audience through a local community group. It was enjoyed by both groups of participants: - indeed Russell thought that it was the most successful and useful outdoor Section meeting that he had ever attended, not least because it provided the opportunity to help the local people appreciate that 'next door' they have one of the finest remaining wetlands in the city. 

A full report will be published in the newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo at top: Peter Smith)

On 28th June Alan Cann led a visit to Jubilee Walk, an old railway cutting at Leire. This site, which some members had not visited before, has a rich flora but sadly has suffered from the attentions of the tidy brigade, with much gardening and introduction of cultivated plants. Although it was not the hottest day of the heatwave, the temperature was nudging close to 30C - not normally the best time for insect watching. The sheltered site, formerly a haven for many insects, is slowly being overgrown by trees, although these did provide some welcome shade on such a hot day. A number of good plant finds were made, such as Wild Liquorice, Astragalus glycyphyllos, but the highlight of the visit had to be the many butterflies. Most notable were a large group of Green-veined Whites, Pieris napi, extracting moisture and minerals from a remaining patch of mud under one of the road bridges. This sight gave the outing an Amazonian feel, not something always experienced on Natural History Section walks. 

Russell Parry inspecting Wild Liquorice (Astragalus glycyphyllos) (Photo: Alan Cann)

  

Two views of the reserve (Photos: Pouran Khodabaksh)

  

Alder Sawfly (Eriocampa ovata) larva (Photo: Simon Bennett)

Common Candy-striped Spider (Enoplognatha ovata sensu lato) (Photo: Pouran Khodabaksh)

A full report will be published in the next newsletter, which is available to members.

(Photo: at top: Pouran Khodabaksh)