Spring 2011 saw a very successful Red grouse survey on the Long Mynd. The survey was undertaken by 37 local volunteers under the direction of members of the Shropshire Ornithological Society. The data collected contributed towards a long-term monitoring program for Red Grouse on the Long Mynd. The population data can be used by the National Trust to ensure that their current heath land management regime is working.

The survey is taking place again in spring 2012, so if you would like a close encounter with this magnificent bird come along to the introduction evening at Carding Mill Valley on March 22nd 2012. Full details can be found here.

Entomology in Shropshire is buzzing!  It has probably never been so active.  Catch the latest news in the fourth edition of the Shropshire Entomology newsletter whch can be downloaded here.  Please contact Pete Boardman if you would like to be added to the mailing list.

A second population of what is probably Shropshire's rarest and most heavily protected fungus has been found at Worfield near Bridgnorth. The Sandy Stiltball (Battarrea phalloides) is nationally endangered and is listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act which means it is an offence to pick, uproot, cut, destroy, collect or sell any part of the species.

The first population was discovered near Dudmaston in 2004 and this year is the first since then that this population has failed to appear. Fungi don’t produce fruiting bodies every year so this does not mean the population has been lost. 

The good news is that the new population is large. Roy Mantle, Shropshire’s county recorder for fungi, was notified of the new find by Dr David Ashcroft and visited the site. He says the population “is much larger [than the first population], (about 200yds long) in a hedge bank. There were 21 fruit bodies in various stages of development. This may be a major UK site. I am trying to contact Kew to see what they think”.

Roy is one of the experts gathering species records on behalf of the Shropshire Ecological Data Network. All these records are submitted to the National Biodiversity Network.  You can see a map of where Sandy Stiltball is found here: http://bit.ly/Sandy_Stiltball_map. If you have seen wildlife of interest please help us by recording what you have seen using our online form (http://bit.ly/Record_wildlife) or emailing natural.environment@shropshire.gov.uk

A paper has been published by Aspects of Applied Biology (108, 2011: Vegetation Management) on heathland creation at Prees Heath.  The full summary is copied below:

The re-creation of dry heathland and habitat for a nationally threatened butterfly at Prees Heath Common Reserve, Shropshire
By JOHN DAVIS¹, STEPHEN LEWIS¹ and PHIL PUTWAIN^2
1Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham BH20 5QP, UK Email: jdavis@butterfly-conservation.org & slewis@butterfly-conservation.org
²Ecological Restoration Consultants, Neston CH64 9QG, UK & University of Liverpool, Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, Neston CH64 4AY, UK
Email: philp@liverpool.ac.uk

Summary
The Silver-studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) is a priority conservation species under the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) as a result of severe declines over the past 100 years through loss of habitat extent and quality. Prees Heath Common in Shropshire has supported the last population of the butterfly in the English Midlands since the 1970s on small areas of relict heathland. Butterfly Conservation purchased part of the Common to safeguard this population and to undertake a re-creation of lowland heathland in an attempt to ensure its persistence. Heathland vegetation has been established on sandy soil enriched by previous arable cultivations and associated uses. After 4 years the aim of greatly increasing the area of suitable habitat by creating dry dwarf shrub heathland and acid grassland mosaic communities is progressing well. The techniques used involved soil profile inversion through deep-ploughing, chemical acidification, and sowing by spreading recently harvested heather brash. Control of invasive plants such as Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and of Silver Birch (Betula pendula) has been essential. Browsing by the large resident rabbit population was feared likely to have a severe negative impact but in 3 years an extensive cover of Calluna vulgaris has nevertheless become established and small stands of Erica cinerea are persisting. This should continue to develop and provide the principal larval food plants (Erica cinerea and Calluna vulgaris) for the butterfly and the habitat conditions needed by its obligate associate, the black ant (Lasius niger).

There was a Wetlands theme for the 2011 annual meeting. We were treated to some fascinating posters about a range of projects being undertaken by partners including Shropshire Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Natural England, The Shropshire Ornithological Society, and the Shropshire Hills AONB partnership.

There were plenty of opportunities to catch up and meet new people over the buffet. It was a great opportunity to network, discuss ideas and identify opportunities for future collaborations. The evening culminated in a lively debate regarding the delivery of biodiversity action in Shropshire. Although, the partnership may have to be redefined in response to changes in government policy. This evening showed that there is a lot of passion and effort going into Biodiversity Conservation in Shropshire, and that the Biodiversity Partnership is a key part of this process.

Vice-Chair of the Partnership Jan McKelvey, standing just in front of the delicious buffet, is explaining how the Wildlife Trust are showing landowners how to farm in a way that is sympathetic for birds such as the Lapwing.

 A new seven-mile Wildlife and Waterways cycle ride takes you along quiet roads and cycle tracks to visit a number of Shrewsbury’s best spots for wildlife, including the Old Canal, River Severn, Old River Bed Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Rea Brook Valley.

 It’s the latest in the family-friendly rides series from Shropshire Council’s Cycle Shrewsbury team and has been produced with the help of officers from the natural environment and countryside teams.

 The ride leaflet has detailed directions and useful information such as the location of shops and children’s play areas, as well as photos of some of the rare plants and wildlife that can be seen in the heart of Shrewsbury.

The leaflet is published to coincide with the Darwin Festival this month (February 2011). For more information and to download the leaflet please click here.

Red Kites almost became extinct in Wales in the 1930s, but the population has increased and spread since then. Two pairs nested unsuccessfully in Shropshire in 2005, and one pair fledged two young in 2006, the first successful breeding for 130 years.

The Shropshire Ornithological Socieity have continued to monitor Red Kite breeding in the county, with 14 successful nests found in 2010. All records to date have been in the AONB in the south-west Shropshire hills.

More records are needed to fill gaps in our knowelegde of the Red Kite population in Shropshire. All reports will be treated with the strictest  confidence. To read Leo's full article on the Red Kites of Shropshire click here.

The Shropshire Bird Atlas started in 2007, and will finish in 2013. It will map the distribution and relative abundance of birds across the County. Fieldwork is carried out in 2x2 kilometre squares (tetrads). The Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS) are compiling a list of all species found in each ttetrad in winter, and trying to prove breeding for every species in each tetrad in summer. It is expected that least 40 species will be recorded in each tetrad in winter, and 50 species in summer, with evidence of breeding for at least 30 species.

 The RSPB is supporting the Atlas projects. The the results will contribute to the national Atlas, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), and provide baseline monitoring for the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan.

 Atlas fieldwork is not difficult. Proving breeding may seem daunting at first, but it gets a lot easier with practice. You will soon learn to interpret bird behaviour and find the best places for each species. You do not need to search for nests, although any you do find will provide valuable breeding evidence. The fieldwork takes you into parts of our beautiful County that you would not otherwise visit, it will enhance your knowledge of birds a lot, and it is very enjoyable.

The SOS will present the results for the first three years at the third Atlas meeting, which is open to everyone who has contributed so far, or who wants to find out how to get involved. This will take place on Staurday 19th March 2011 (arrive 12:45pm) at Shropshire Wildlife Trust HQ, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. For more details click here.

 The Atlas is making good progress, but more helpers are still needed!!!

Everyone interested in birds can make an important contribution. 

To find out how you can help, please contact the Atlas Co-ordinator (Allan Dawes - 01691 654245) or Publicity Officer (Leo Smith - 01588 638577).

In 2009 Sarah Whild and Alex Lockton produced a comprehensive guide to the Flora of the Stiperstones. Inspried by this, Pete Boardman, together with a team of recorders and surveyors, has compiled a guide to the  invertebrate fauna of the  the Stiperstones area. An impressive 1295 invertebrate species have been recorded on the Stiperstones and surrounding areas, including 449 different Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths and 251 different Coleopterans (beetles). The guide is a fascinating read  is  excellent indicator of what to keep an eye out for, when you are out and about on the Stiperstones.

To read the full guide click here.

The National Trust, together with the Church Stretton branch of the Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS), is continuing the successful bird watching courses run at Carding Mill Valley. Two courses are on offer this spring, combining informative evening sessions with weekend field trips, where up to 100 different species may be spotted.
 
The first course is aimed at beginners, and people who want to increase their knowledge of birds, and their ability to find and recognise them in the field.
 
The second course is aimed at people who have already done some bird watching, and want to improve their knowledge. It is the perfect progression for those who attended the introduction course run in 2010, but anyone else who can already identify most of the common British Birds can join too.
 

Details of the Introduction to bird watching and conservation course can be found here.
 
Details of the More bird watching and conservation course can be found here.
 
At just £5 per session this represents excellent value, so booking will be essential. For more information and to make your booking please contact the National Trust Shop on 01694 722631.

This autumn Sue Cooper from Caring for God's Acre undertook mycological surveys at a 18 Shropshire churchyards, leading to six new site records for Pink waxcap (Hygrocybe calyptriformis).Hope Bowder and Eaton under Heywood.

Particularly impressive patches were recorded at St John the Baptist Church in Stokesay where a total of eight waxcap species were present, including the Pink waxcap. The latest survey forms part of an on going attempt to find new Pink waxcap populations in Shropshire.

West Midlands Launches Forestry Commission Grant to Help Woodland Birds

West Midlands is the latest region where the Forestry Commission has launched a new type of grant to encourage landowners to help reverse the decline of the region’s woodland birds.

There is also a new FC leaflet available entitled Reversing Woodland Bird Decline.