The March issue of GNS News is on its way to you now. There are many interesting articles as usual – thank you to the recent contributors.
Look out for two important inserts: an invitation to the GNS Cirencester Brach’s 50th year celebrations (details included within), and information on how to receive the soon-to-be-published provisional Red Data Book of Gloucestershire Bryophytes by Richard Lansdown.
The new “Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland” is due to be published in May 2014. This is a full colour book of approximately 400 pages from the British Dragonfly Society that maps the distribution of all 56 species of damselflies and dragonflies in Britain and Ireland.
Copies may be ordered on-line from FSC Publications at £20.00 plus postage. This special pre-publication offer is very good value but the offer ends on 31st March 2014.
Order your copy now using the following link – http://is.gd/odonata
Posted on behalf of the Gloucestershire Odonata Recorder, Ingrid Twissell.
Gordon Kirk, while organiser of the BTO Bird Atlas fieldwork in Gloucestershire, issued a regular newsletter, which he called the “Gloucestershire Tetradder”. Now that the national Atlas, like the “Birds of Gloucestershire”, of which Gordon was one of the co-authors, is completed and published, he intends to continue producing the newsletter with the same title – even if we are no longer surveying atlas tetrads. Here is the latest version. Please send any comments direct to Gordon.
Now that the floodwaters are on the way down, the boardwalk by the towpath at Coombe Hill Canal is now accessible, but members should know that the new Grundon Hide has floated away, so care must be taken at this site.
Posted on behalf of John Sanders.
“A new group has been established in the Forest of Dean to encourage conservation of nature in the Forest. The Dean Natural Alliance held its inaugural meeting in Soudley Village Hall on Monday 24 February. Their immediate concern is conservation of the Cinderford Northern Quarter, and the meeting heard a number of presentations about the importance of the area, in many cases by naturalists who are long-standing members of GNS. David Priddis emphasized the importance of the site (recognised by establishment of an EU Special Area of Conservation) for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, one of the rarest bats in Britain. Simon glover spoke of the importance of the area for butterflies, and in particular for Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Grayling (sadly now extinct in the area) and especially for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. David Dewsbury spoke of the unusually rich reptile and amphibian fauna: Great Crested Newt, Smooth and Palmate Newts, Common Frog and Common Toad are all present, the only missing amphibian is Natterjack Toad; while among reptiles Adder, Grass Snake, viviparous Lizard and Slow worm are all present.
DNA aims to raise public awareness of the importance of this and other sites in the forest. Anyone can join as an individual at £5 per annum. Their website is www.deannaturalalliance.org and their next meeting is on 10 March.
GNS looks forward to cooperating with DNA in the future.”
(Posted by Andrew Bluett on behalf of Mike Smart)
See also the attached article –
DNA Article The Forester 19 2 2014
The latest edition of The Gloucestershire Naturalist (No.24) has been published and will be posted out shortly. John Sanders is a new contributor to this magazine and, having studied Gloucestershire’s gulls for some years, has now been studying Curlews on the River Severn. He writes about their movements through colour-ring observations. John Harper describes the discovery of a spider species new to Gloucestershire. The county’s flora and fauna also receive attention from the many recorders, contact details for whom are given at the back of the magazine.
Editorial
Notes on Contributors
Gloucestershire Botany Report 2012, Mark & Clare Kitchen
Amphibian and Reptile Report 2012, Colin Twissell
Grasshoppers Crickets & allies in Gloucestershire 2012, John Widgery
Spiders in Gloucestershire 2012, David Haigh
Odonata Report for 2012, Ingrid Twissell
Colour-ringed Curlews on the Lower Severn, John Sanders
Colour Plates
Zygiella stroemi – a spider new to Gloucestershire, John Harper
Hoverfly Report 2012, David Iliff
Ladybird Report 2012, David Iliff
Terrestrial Heteroptera (Land Bugs) Report 2012, John Widgery
Gloucestershire Lichen Report 2012, Juliet Bailey
Wildlife Recording In Gloucestershire
County Recorders
Notes for Contributors
Needless to say the flooding around Gloucester and throughout the Severn Valley is having its effects on people and the infrastructure as it usually does. Similarly, there are effects on wildlife with Swans and Ducks particularly showing up in places where there is normally no water for them to utilise.
One of the more tragic effects is that of terrestrial animals being forced out of their normal haunts in search of dry ground and food; on the morning of Saturday 15th February on the Gloucester Northern by-pass, Mike Smart and Andrew Bluett discovered the body of an Otter (Lutra lutra) that had fallen victim to a collision with a vehicle whilst crossing from one flooded area to another.
Andrew Bluett and Mike Smart visited the Cinderford Northern Quarter site today, Saturday 15th February together with Mark & Clare Kitchen, Rob Husbands and Simon Glover. (Apologies were received from other invited specialists).
The intention is to carry out a series of visits to the site through the coming months, to add to the wildlife records for the site, to monitor changes both changes through the seasons and as development progresses (assuming that it does so) and to raise awareness of the site and the wildlife that inhabits and uses the area. This was the first of these planned visits.
We met in front of Steam Mills School at SO 646 159, walked across to the CNQ site and took a route through the heart of the proposed development area (Nofold Green), around the lake and back to the school.
Much of the development area is Forestry Commission land but due to be transferred to the ownership of Forest of Dean District Council/Homes and Communities Agency by way of a proposed land swap to facilitate the development. In return for the approx. 20 acres, the Forestry Commission will receive some 80 acres of other land comprising the majority of the Linear Park and additional land to the west of the road between Forest Vale Industrial Estate and Cinderford Bridge.
The landscape to the north-west of the lake is semi-natural grassland that has regenerated on the old waste and spoil heaps resulting from past clay and coal extraction, punctuated with large numbers of Alder trees of varying sizes and is known to be inhabited and used by a variety of species including Adders.
As a result of the recent rainfall there was a significant area of standing water amongst the trees on the north west side of the site, the lake was significantly higher than its usual level and there was a swift and full flow of water in the Engine Brook.
Mark & Clare Kitchen collected botanical records during the walk, Simon Glover was able to point out various pieces of habitat known to support Grizzled and other Skippers and Wood Whites and Rob Husbands was able to point out a Tree Pipit territory from the spring of 2013. The whole party recorded bird life as the walk progressed.
Birds recorded – on the lake – Cormorant, Heron, Coot, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Mallard; in the general area – a mixed flock of approx. 50 each Siskin and Lesser Redpoll feeding on the Alder cones, Raven, Carrion Crow (pair), Jay, Green Woodpecker (2), Sparrowhawk (fem), Buzzard, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Wren and Nuthatch; a Goshawk was seen and watched displaying across the valley.
Mark Kitchen noted a Vole, probably Short Tailed, on the return walk to the school.
The following relating to the proposed development are appended for information –
The next field meeting is due to take place on Sunday 16th February – a visit to Whelford Pools for birds, especially winter wildfowl in the Cotswold Water Park (East) at this GWT Reserve.
Meet at the reserve car park – OS map ref SU 173 995 – leader is Ken Cservenka contactable on 01285 656480. Start 11.00am, planned to finish 1.00pm.
Be aware of the weather and the recent rainfall & flooding – wrap up warm and wear your wellington boots. If the weather forecast for Sunday is bad, check by phoning Ken to see if the meeting is going ahead, preferably on Saturday evening.
Cirencester Branch will be holding their February indoor meeting at Watermoor Church Hall on Friday 14th February. The speaker will be Mornee Button presenting “Wild Flowers of Mallorca”; 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.
If you are not treating your loved one to dinner on St Valentine’s Day, take him/her along and see some of the most beautiful floral sights to be seen on one of the Mediterranean’s gorgeous islands – get away from the beaches and see the flowers the island has to offer (also very good for some of the best birds of the region – Eleonora’s Falcon, Bee Eaters and Rollers, etc etc etc).