Issue 5
AUGUST 2009
The newsletter for biological recorders in
Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral
Agelastica alni
Recorders Conference 2008
This issue has been produced with the support of
Xylocopa : Out of the Blue
Your logo Pulford SBI’s
Could be here!
Tel/Fax: rECOrd on 01244 383749 Raising the CCI of Gowy Meadows
Xylocopa: Jeff Clarke Count Me In!
WELCOME to the
fifth edition of the The Sentinel.
First of all I must take this PHOTO LIBRARY
opportunity to thank Jeff Clarke
for his unstinting efforts as
Editor on the last four issues
of The Sentinel. As you will
Moira Rae Carter
see he is still contributing
with regular articles.
The next four issues will be
a joint production by Steve
McWilliam and myself and
we keenly await your articles,
both large and small, and
observations for inclusion Andy Harmer
in the next edition.
Whilst working on publications for
Moira Rae Carter Cheshire Bluebell Action Project,
rECOrd and now The SENTINEL,
it has become clear to me that we
have need of a Photo Library. Luck
More specifically photos of wildlife in Please submit your images as high
all its many varied forms, available for quality jpegs, either by email to:
reference and for use in publications. mrc@hartington84.freeserve.co.uk
The only criteria for inclusion in this or by post on a CD to:
library would be that the images Moira Rae Carter, 84 Hartington St.,
are your own and that we have your Handbridge, Chester CH4 7BR.
permission to use them in publications
and on the rECOrd website. We will Although there is no deadline...
always put a credit with your photos. I look forward to seeing them soon!!
Agelastica alni - decimating Alders in Cheshire!
On a recent work visit to Manchester were to be affected by this beetle this
Airport Runway 2, I noticed that many could equate to hundreds of thousands
recently unfurled Alder leaves on saplings of A.alni specimens within the airport
along the River Bollin looked particularly confines! However, at present, the beetle
unhealthy. On close inspection, the appears to be keeping the spread of Alder
leaves were shot-blasted and the trees saplings within certain habitats in check.
were literally crawling with Agelastica
Agelastica alni is difficult to confuse
alni (Alder Leaf Beetle). Male and female
with other beetles. It is approximately
were on the same plant, many breeding
6-9 millimetres long and has a beautiful
and egg-laying. The air swarmed with
dark metallic blue colour to the elytra
the insects as they flew from tree to tree.
and pronotum. The females at this
On one particular sapling Andy Harmer
time of year are heavily swollen with
and myself counted approximately 173
eggs. The eggs are shiny orange
specimens, although it was difficult
blobs on the underside of the leaf.
to reach an accurate figure as during
the counting, the tree suffered from If you have any records of this
constant arrivals and departures of beetle please do send them in to
A.alni! It was also noticed that one beetle rECOrd. It will be interesting to watch
was being predated on by a spider. this species spread throughout
the county and beyond.
Many Alders were noted as being affected
by this species along the banks of the Rachel Hacking
Bollin. The airport supports thousands Thanks to Dr. Tim Walmsley (Manchester
Andy Harmer: Agelastica alni of Alder trees therefore if all these trees Airport) for permission to release this article.
Recorders Conference 2008
The 2008 Recorders’ Conference recent developments at rECOrd
took place on Saturday 27th (see the website!), and future plans.
September at Chester Zoo. Tony Parker followed, discussing a
variety of mammal species found
The theme was “Working In in Cheshire, and illustrated with
Partnership”, and included many excerpts from the recently released
talks and events by people “The Mammals of Cheshire”. Paul
connected with rECOrd and Hill gave an interesting talk on the
biodiversity recording. The event history of recording at Northwich
was very well attended, with Community Woodlands with a few
approximately 50 people present, identification questions to keep
representing many different everyone on their toes and Dr.
organisations and backgrounds. Janel Fone, the new chief executive
From experts to enthusiasts, of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust Luck
workers in the environmental field completed the morning speakers’
and volunteers. With a variety of session by introducing herself and A break for lunch gave everyone a chance
talks and workshops there was the work of the Wildlife Trust. to peruse the displays from rECOrd,
something to interest everyone. Cheshire Mammal Group, Cheshire
A short question and answer Wildlife Trust and Bioquip as well as
The morning talks were opened by session concluded the morning providing a good opportunity to network
Eric Fletcher, rECOrd manager, giving and gave all food for thought with other delegates, not forgetting the
a summary of the work of rECOrd, with some valid points raised. great sandwiches, tea and biscuits!
The afternoon reconvened with
workshops; a choice of six meant
there was something for everyone,
and all agreed that these were a
welcome addition to the conference
format. The glorious sunshine
provided a perfect background
to those who had taken the risk
with the weather and elected for
the outdoor sessions. The fields
surrounding the Zoo car-park offered
a variety of habitats to spot birds, dip
ponds, trap mammals and identify
invertebrates, plus much more.
Luck
The sessions came to an end all too to all the conference speakers
quickly as everybody re-assembled and workshop leaders for giving
Luck back at the lecture theatre for a their time and knowledge and
summing up and de-brief. Overall, making a very enjoyable and
the conference was a great success; informative day. Congratulations
everyone was able to learn something also to Eric, Tom, Hannah and
new to take away from the conference, Luck at rECOrd, and everyone else
be it a new method or technique, how involved, for organising an excellent
to identify a new species, or the latest conference and hopefully we’ll see
legislation or recent developments everyone again at the next one!
in relevant areas. Thanks must go Emily Goodman
Luck
Xylocopa: Out of the blue
The weather in late May and through June 2009 brought
a wave of invertebrate immigrants to the UK. The stand out
species for sheer numbers being the Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
butterfly invasion. With them came lesser numbers of Large White
Pieris brassicae and Clouded Yellow Colias croceus. Perhaps less
obvious to most observers has been a significant visible migration
of bees around the same period. On the 29th May a visible
Migration watchpoint at Oxenhope in Yorkshire nr. Hebden Bridge
produced these comments from Dave Barker and Howard Creber.
Jeff Clarke: Xylocopa
seeing it skittle off in to the distance.
Bar one brief sighting during the meeting
there was no reprieve and, frustrated, I
left for home. Hours later Philip emailed
with two images of the bee straddling
the Sweet Pea, so at least we now had
photographic evidence. The following
day Philip kindly allowed me to ‘lurk’
in his garden. After an hour or so the
bee appeared once again at the Sweet
Pea. Even several metres away the
distinctive drone of the thrumming
wing beats could be clearly heard. It
reappeared twice during the three
Jeff Clarke: Xylocopa hours I was there and I managed a few
semi-decent images, though it was
easily spooked which made it very
“A TOP morning continuing into the Knutsford for a meeting with Philip difficult to get a super sharp close-up.
afternoon with a TERRIFIC amount of James of the University of Salford and
insect activity in the skies migrating Prof. David Norman. Philip’s back garden Each time the bee visited the flowers
over the moors, with the vast majority is not untypical of many in the area, it would straddle the lower petals, feed
going due WEST... with a very small save for the fact that he is allowing part for a few seconds before moving to the
percentage WNW and NW... of his lawn to become established as a next flower. The Bee was a female, dusted
Wild Flower Meadow. Whilst awaiting with pollen, and there was a tantalising
Howard and myself (on site
David’s arrival Philip and I went out to prospect that she was provisioning a nest
from 0730hr to 1430hr) were
admire the meadow. Shortly after, we nearby. Xylocopa carpenter bees excavate
astounded!.... very exciting stuff!!
tunnels in rotting wood and create an exit
Bombus bees c2000+ > W absolutely both noticed a huge ‘black’ bee descend
hole that they then block with chewed
phenomenal! They were going in swarms on to the Perennial Sweet Pea growing
wood. After laying 10 to 15 eggs and
from c1000hr right through until after along the south facing fence. This was no
stocking each cell with approximately 2
1400hr. It made our big bee migration Bombus sp. and I immediately recognised
grams of pollen the female may move
day last autumn seem like nothing!!!” it as Violet Carpenter Bee Xylocopa
on to make two or three more such
violacea, which is some 23mm long.
Having seen this comment I thought nests. New adults emerge in August and
Until recently this bee has only been a
I might be among the first to find a September, the young bees overwinter
rare vagrant to the UK and is familiar to
bumblebee called Bombus hypnorum before mating, the females create their
most Britons from holidays in southern own nests the following spring.
in Cheshire as it is a species which is Europe. Realising the significance of the
gradually colonising the UK and is sighting, Philip immediately went for Guy Knight, Invertebrate Curator of
expected in our neck of the woods any his camera and returned moments later. World Museum Liverpool, wrote to
day now. Given what happened next
What followed was a moment of classic inform me that there had been “a record
perhaps it wasn’t just Bombus bees
farce as between us we managed to mess of X.violacea from a garden in Spital on
that were on the move in late May.
up the opportunity for a photograph, the Wirral (SJ 333 829) further north in
On 22nd June I was in High Legh, near in the process disturbing the bee and Cheshire in July 2006 but have not had
anything else for the last few years”. Whilst males are separable in the field. Whilst and docile bee may indeed become a
Stuart Nixon wrote to BWARS (Bees, I’m not averse to taking specimens I felt regular member of our local invertebrate
Wasps & Ants Recording Society) “to morally obliged to leave her to continue fauna. Suffice to say the image of that
report a sighting of what we believe was her pollen gathering as I did not want veritable leviathan of a bee will live long
Xylocopa violacea in Tattenhall ,Cheshire to be held responsible for snuffing out in the memory. Who knows maybe you
on the 14th of July 2007”, which followed the only nesting female Xylocopa in could be the next to find one; keep your
the proven breeding of this species in Cheshire. As it turned out this was the eyes peeled this August and September!
Shepshed, Leicestershire in 2007. last sighting of the bee, hopefully she Many thanks to Guy Knight and the
moved on to make a new nest elsewhere. members of BWARS in providing some of
The only fly in the ointment relates to the
the information contained in this article.
remote possibility that this was a closely Given the recent increase in UK sightings,
Special thanks to Philip James.
related species called Xylocopa valga from and the small cluster of records now
Eastern Europe, which is occasionally beginning to accumulate in Cheshire Sources: Bees and Wasps - Jiri Zahradnik -
imported with timber stocks. From my and Wirral, it is perhaps not beyond the Blitz Editions - 1991.
limited research it appears that only bounds of probability that this charismatic Jeff Clarke
Pulford SBIs
Many Sites of Biological Importance
(SBIs) were designated in the 1980`s,
and most were designated on the
strength of their flora. An exception
is the Wallets Farm Pond SBI to
the east of Pulford, a village lying
between Chester and Wrexham.
This was put forward by Jonathan
Guest as a result of the Critical Pond
Biodiversity Survey he did in the
early ‘90s. I went to have a look at
it last June, but alas, what it lacked
in water it made up for in horseflies,
so I was soon forced to retire, but
not before I had made half a dozen
sweeps in the only small pool of
water remaining. Happily, these
yielded some beetle species missing
from Jonathan`s extensive earlier list.
I tried again earlier this year (2009),
but the owner was away, so access
permission could not be obtained.
West of Pulford is the Pulford
Ponds SBI. This consists of two
field ponds in a pasture. It seems Mike Tynen
to have been designated on the
basis of aquatic macrophytes, but Water Beetle Hydrochara caraboides, promising than Pond B, having the
the two ponds are quite different an RDB1 species only relatively classic wet grassy hollows produced
in some respects, Pond B (further recently rediscovered in Cheshire by cattle poaching. Within what
from the road) having a large area of and otherwise known only from the seemed like 30 seconds, Andy had
unvegetated open water, while Pond ditches of the Somerset Levels. This found an egg cocoon of Hydrochara,
A boasts a magnificent covering of year, I made a return visit in May, when bringing to 56 the number of known
Water Soldier Stratiotes alloides. I the aquatic and marginal vegetation breeding sites in the northwest
went to look at them last June, as was less well developed. Andy cluster (Cheshire and northeast
part of a program to examine for Broadbent, Blue Planet`s freshwater Wales). Alas, it was the only cocoon
aquatic invertebrates those SBIs specialist came along with me. I we found in either pond that day.
which have water features. Overall, primed him with Andy Harmer`s The owner was present and was
they were not remarkable for their excellent leaflet on Hydrochara, and suitably impressed, so future visits
invertebrate fauna, but Pond B we started to work our way round should present no problem.
yielded an adult of the Lesser Silver Pond A, which actually looked more Mike Tynen
Raising the CCI at Gowy Meadows
The Gowy Meadow Reserve is located near Ellesmere Port, her. When she eventually resurfaced,
owned by Shell UK it forms part of the flood defences for their it was with an analysis of one year`s
Stanlow refinery. Managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust the data, using a procedure developed by
Richard Chadd and Chris Extence, of
Reserve has a total area of 166 hectares. Around 712 animal the Environment Agency, to produce a
species and 136 plant species have been recorded there. Community Conservation Index (CCI)
This looked so interesting that I decided
Gowy Meadow Reserve is traversed by three “major” watercourses, or drains; there
to apply it to the results in their entirety,
are also myriad ditches and several ponds. The amount of water in these habitats
including records other than my own.
varies throughout the year. Some have never been known to dry up completely;
others, conversely, never fail to dry out in the summer. Yet others never seem to I sent my initial efforts to various
contain water, even in the wettest part of the year. In the three main channels, a colleagues for comment, and as a
slow flow of water can be discerned, but the ditches and ponds essentially constitute result removed a number of species
still-water habitats. Physical characteristics such as pH and conductivity also vary. from the calculation, their identities
So the habitat for aquatic invertebrates is extensive and reasonably varied. being suspect. So it was with this
pruned list that I proceeded.
In this scheme, each species is given
a `Conservation Score`, reflecting
its conservation value. Essentially,
the rarer a species is, the greater its
Conservation Score (CS). I have used
the Conservation Scores given in the
appendix of Chadd and Extence`s paper,
which reflect national scarcity. Strictly
speaking, one should adjust these
scores to reflect the possibility that a
given species may be scarcer locally
than nationally, or vice versa. Not being
entirely confident that I could make
valid judgements of this kind, I have
assumed that errors in each direction
would cancel each other. (Where a
species does not occur in this list of
Conservation Scores, it scores zero).
The next step is to work out the
average Conservation Score, dividing
In 2002, Jonathan Guest did some sampling at
the sum of Conservation Scores by
Gowy Meadow Reserve, and found, among other
the total number of species (including
things, populations of the mud snail, Omphiscola
those with a zero score). The average
(Lymnaea) glabra. This was exciting, as the Mud
Conservation Score is then multiplied
Snail is listed in the British Red Data Book of
by a number known as CoS (Community
threatened species. In fact, it falls into the second
Score). There are two ways of deriving
most threatened category, RDB2. The same year,
CoS, the simplest of which, and the
Andy Harmer found egg cocoons of the Lesser
method adopted here, is to consider
Silver Water Beetle, Hydrochara caraboides - an RDB1
species! It was clear that a systematic survey of the the rarest species present. In the
Reserve for aquatic invertebrates was desirable, case of Gowy Meadow Reserve, this
and I started work in the autumn of 2002. meant the Red Data Book species,
which attract a CoS of either 15 (the
Over the next three years or so, I sampled in some maximum) for the Lesser Silver Water
seventy sites (ditches, ponds and stretches of drain), Beetle, or 12 for the Mud Snail. Since
at some 400 separate locations. One of the several the Lesser Silver Water Beetle had
volunteers who assisted me was an undergraduate not been reported for two years, I
at the University of Salford. At the beginning of did not use it to derive CoS, or in the
her final year, she was in need of a subject for her calculation of the average Conservation
dissertation (her preferred subjects, small mammals, Score. Using the Mud Snail, therefore,
having inconsiderately decided to hibernate). It we arrive at a CCI of about 26.
was suggested that she could perhaps make
use of the by now extensive data on the aquatic CCI = 359 X 12 = 26.43
invertebrates of Gowy Meadow. She agreed to 163
this, and for several months we heard nothing from
It is true that, because of the way the This came as no surprise – it had long been felt that Gowy was an important site
calculation is done, one can envisage – but it was useful to have a more or less objective underpinning for this view.
it producing some very silly results in
extreme situations. A site containing But more was to come. The
only the Mud Snail would score a CCI Environment Agency last year
of 108, whereas another containing the commissioned Andy Harmer to carry
mudsnail plus 49 other species each out a survey of aquatic invertebrates,
with a CS of 1 would score only13.92, which took in areas of the Meadows
though it is clearly the more valuable both inside and outside the Reserve.
site. But hard cases make bad law, and Andy found new breeding sites
Gowy clearly does not fall into either for the Lesser Silver Water Beetle
of these categories. The Index also Hydrochara caraboides, a discovery
devalues the contribution of common which by itself would raise the
species to biodiversity, assigning them Community Conservation Index by
a zero CS. This means that the more of 25%. Additionally, he found species I
these there are, the lower the average had not identified during my previous
CS. It might make more sense to survey of the Reserve. In particular,
assign them a score of 1 and to raise his finds raised the number of aquatic
that of all other species by 1 also. beetles identified in the Meadows
to well above the 50 which would,
In their paper, Chad and Extence of itself, qualify the area as a SSSI. Andy Harmer : Hydrochara caraboides
state that a CCI of more than 20
indicates a site/community of very Reference: Chad, R. and C. Extence1996.
high conservation value, potentially The conservation of freshwater macroinvertebrate populations: a community-
of national significance and possibly based classification scheme. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 14: 597-624
meriting statutory protection. Mike Tynen
Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society
Promoting the Study of Invertebrates in the North West since 1876
Towards the end of 1876 a preliminary of enthusiastic amateurs and skilled
meeting took place, at the home of professional entomologists, co-operating
in a helpful and friendly atmosphere.
Mr Nicholas Cooke in Wallasey, to
discuss setting up an entomological Although moths and butterflies are the
society. The inaugural meeting of most popular areas of interest, other
this society being held at the home insect groups, such as dragonflies,
beetles, Het bugs and bees, are
of Mr Samuel J. Capper on the 24th given considerable attention.
February 1877, when the rules of
the Society were formulated and The Society holds regular meetings from
agreed upon. Capper took the Chair October through to April, on the third
Tuesday of each month. Where there are New members are always welcome.
at the meeting and was to remain as talks on different aspects of entomology For details and other enquiries
The Co mma – has thi s en ergetic and colour ful
President of the Society for 35 years. and members share exhibits, records butter the Membership Secretary:
contact fly visit ed YOUR garden lately?
and observations with other members. Paul Hill,
Today the Lancashire and Cheshire
Entomological Society (LCES) serves 1 Clive Cottage, Allostock,
An annual exhibition is held in April each
not only Lancashire and Cheshire, Cheshire,
year at Frodsham Community Centre.
but also North Wales and adjacent The exhibition includes talks and displays WA16 9LT,
parts of neighbouring counties. The by members and related societies, as Tel: 01565 722938
Society has a stimulating combination well as equipment and bookstalls. Email: pmh@biota.co.uk
LCES & Manchester Ent.Soc. Meeting at Delamere on 19th May 1951
Count me in!
With generous funding from form of workshops or larger
the National Lottery and Esmée family orientated occasions.
Fairburn Foundation, rECOrd
has pooled skills and resources The ‘Count Me In!’ launch took place
with Chester Zoo to deliver an on the 24th January at Chester Zoo,
during the RSPB’s National Big Garden
exciting new recorder training
Birdwatch. The event was a great
project called ‘Count Me In!’.
success, with 42 different species of
bird recorded around the zoo and a
The aim of the project is to address
great time was had by all!
the shortage of skilled recorders
throughout Cheshire and the UK,
All of our events are completely free of
by inspiring and equipping people
charge! For More Information Contact:
with the skills to identify, monitor
and record native species within the Karen Lawson
Cheshire region, ultimately creating ‘Count Me In!’ Project Coordinator
the ‘wildlife recorders of the future’. Tel: 01244 383749
email: CountMeIn@record-Irc.co.uk
Over the course of the next two
PLEASE NOTE: Booking is essential
years ‘Count Me In!’ will link in as places are limited. Events will
Andrew Forgrave
with national and international take place at Chester Zoo or at other
conservation programmes to suitable wildlife locations within the
deliver a total of 26 all ability, Cheshire Region. Individual events
interactive, informative and may carry an age restriction. All under
fun training events, in the 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.
Recording by site
Many recorders and naturalists record This has lead to, initially, Steve McWilliam of development; many of the species
their own interest group wherever joining me on moth-trapping nights, recorded are common, but the variety
they visit, but tend to ignore other Bryan Formstone looking at invertebrates and assemblage of some species has
groups which are readily identifiable. and also Don Stenhouse examining the supported the area’s designation as an
This can be particularly interesting if beetle fauna. Along with visits by Graeme SBI (Site of Biological Importance). The
recording the same area over a long Kay (county BSBI recorder) and other disused limebeds around Northwich
time, changes in one order / group may recorders / naturalists, the species list for (which form part of the Northwich
not be easily understood unless looking the Northwich Community Woodlands Woodlands) have been the subject of
at the wider picture. In addition, and is now over 2,500 species including many planning applications. Most have
perhaps of just as much if not more birds, mammals, moths, diptera (true failed because of the wealth of wildlife
conservation importance, it can help flies), butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, on the site, the only one that succeeded
provide a better understanding of how plants and fungi. Plans are underway was for the regeneration of the site for
a site can be best managed to suit a for a survey of the bees, ants and wasps recreation and nature conservation. The
whole suite of species or habitats. in the next couple of years and other information the county recorders held
orders will also be covered. This year collectively has been used to develop
My start in site based recording almost several new species have been added the management plans for the various
began by accident. When I moved to to the list (some the result of acquiring areas. There must be other sites in
Cheshire in the latter half of the 1980’s, more data, and some through the the County with as large a number of
I worked for the Cheshire Wildlife Trust constant moth and bird recording that species, and if a site based recording
who, at that time, were based near goes on). More information on the effort is undertaken, then valuable
Northwich in Marbury Country Park. Northwich Woodlands can be found data could be collected to help protect
This area is well known to many as an at www.northwichwoodlands.org.uk and to manage these in the future.
excellent site for birdwatching (and
was partially influential in my move to Many of these records were collected Perhaps the recording network in
CWT!!), but over the years I have been by various recorders in a voluntary Cheshire should be looking to hold
recording more than just the birds there. capacity, but occasionally they were specific recording days at sites across the
In addition I have encouraged others to collected as part of ecological surveys. county, where one order is particularly
join me in my quest for knowledge of the Their importance only becoming well represented, but others are lacking?
inhabitants of the Northwich Woodlands. apparent when a site is under threat Paul Hill