Male Willow Emerald Damselfly Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 1st October

Female Willow Emerald Damselfly Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 1st October 2016

Lepidoptera

Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoisheshell butterflies still on the wing. (MK)

Holly Blues flying at Woughton-on-the-Green (2^nd) (MK)

Small Coppers and Comma at Rammamere Heath (2^nd) (MK)

Red Admirals, Speckled Woods and Commas around Tattenhoe (HA)

Small White by Howe Park Wood (2nd) (HA)

Orthoptera

Dark and Roesel’s Bush-crickets still at Pineham (29^th Sep) (MK)

BIRDS

Red Kite over Mill Lane, Stony Stratford (1^st) (MK)

Common and Green Sandpipers at Floodplain Forest.  (MK)

Chiffchaffs singing at Linford Lakes & Stony Stratford Nature Reserves (30^th Sep) (MK)

Redwings and Siskins passing over Tattenhoe (2nd and 3rd) (HA)

Small groups of Skylarks over Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Tawny Owls calling and hooting in Water Spinney and Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Red Kite circling over Tattenhoe Park (3rd) (HA)

LEPIDOSAURIA

Grass Snakes at Walton Lake (30^th Sep) (MK)

2 Adders and several Common Lizards at Rammamere Heath (2^nd) (MK)

FUNGI

Good variety of fungi at Rushmere Country Park/Rammamere Heath on 2^nd October including Fly Agaric, Common Earth-ball, Brown Birch Bolete, Amethyst Deceiver, Chicken-of-the-Woods. (MK)

(Recorders – HA=Harry Appleyard, MK=Martin Kincaid)

Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.

The Spreading bellflower (Campanula patula) has returned to an area of restored coppice in Silk Wood at the National Arboretum, Westonbirt
Click on the link to read the article: Rare woodland wildflower returns | Blog | About us

Britain’s native dormouse has declined by more than a third since the year 2000 according to a new report by wildlife charity, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.

Source: Dormice in Britain ‘vulnerable to extinction’ – BBC News

The Royal Society has produced a report “People and the planet”
You can read it here: Energy, environment and climate | Royal Society

A YouTube channel for bird watching has hit the internet.

Source: ‘Birding’ YouTube Channel Goes Live | Nature TTL

Plantlife produce a number of interesting guides to wildflowers. Here is their  October Fungi Spotter Sheet.

Scientists have identified the gene responsible for making the red pigments in many birds’ feathers and skin – a discovery that provides a big clue for why the colour is so important in avian sexual displays.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Why are red birds red? | Discover Wildlife

Mike Palmer, the Keeper of Natural History at Buckinghamshire County Museum has asked us to pass on some information about an up and coming event they are planning which focuses on mushrooms, called “Mushroom Magic” which celebrates UK Fungus Day.

A pdf is attached, but for those who can’t open such things it’s a FREE event, run in collaboration with the Bucks Fungus Group. At the County Museum in Aylesbury (Church Street – HP20 2QP) on Saturday 8th October. Doors open at 11, running until 4pm. The event is open to the general public and is designed to be for all ages and levels of interest; it’s great for families and is a good way of seeing some of our autumnal jewels. There will be a mix of displays and things to do; you can even make your own mushroom badge or a Play-Doh toadstool!

It’s a great way to see the unexpected beauty and kaleidoscope of these fungi which can be found locally. The Group will also be on hand to look at things which people find. So if you see something which intrigues you but don’t know what it is carefully bring it along and they will try to identify it for you.

Habitat destruction has reduced the variety of plants and animals to the point that ecological systems could become unable to function properly, with risks for agriculture and human health, say scientists

Source: Biodiversity is below safe levels across more than half of world’s land – study | Environment | The Guardian

Researchers have discovered that gender is a complicated issue for bearded dragons, with males becoming females at warmer temperatures during the incubation period.

Source: Warmer temperatures determine the gender of bearded dragons | Discover Wildlife

For details of this RSPB Local Group walk see their website.

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

BIRDS

Meadow Pipits, Tattenhoe Park

Red Kites circling over Tattenhoe Park

2 Spotted Flycatchers, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (20th)

Peregrine gliding toward West Bletchley over Tattenhoe (25th)

Peregrine Tattenhoe Linear Park 25th Sept 2016 (Harry Appleyard)

LISSAMPHIBIA

Common Toads in Tattenhoe Park

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Red Admirals and Commas feeding on blackberries around Tattenhoe

Small Copper feeding on ragwort, Tattenhoe Park (20th)

Comma by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 20th Sept ember 2016

Odonata

Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers in large numbers around Tattenhoe

1 Male Emerald Damselfly (21st)

Female Emperor Dragonfly, Tattenhoe Park (21st)

Female Emperor by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 21st September 2016

All sightings by Harry Appleyard

Silver-Washed Fritillary, North Bucks Way (13th July)

State of Nature reveals the destructive impact of intensive farming, urbanisation and climate change on plants, animals and habitats

You can download the report here.
The Guardian newspaper has published an article on the report.

Work Sunday at Linford Lakes NR 2 October 2016 10:00 – 13:00

Work to include bridge building, planting up,

cutting back and trimming overgrowth.

Refreshments available.

Brimstone by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 1 September 2016

The butterfly fauna of lowland Northern California has exhibited a marked decline in recent years that previous studies have attributed in part to altered climatic conditions and changes in land use. Here, we ask if a shift in insecticide use towards neonicotinoids is associated with butterfly declines at four sites in the region that have been monitored for four decades. A negative association between butterfly populations and increasing neonicotinoid application is detectable while controlling for land use and other factors, and appears to be more severe for smaller-bodied species. These results suggest that neonicotinoids could influence non-target insect populations occurring in proximity to application locations, and highlights the need for mechanistic work to complement long-term observational data.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Increasing neonicotinoid use and the declining butterfly fauna of lowland California (PDF Download Available)

Since rats were eradicated from Lundy in 2006, puffin numbers have increased to more than 300, and other seabirds are faring well too.

Source: Puffins return to Puffin Island | Discover Wildlife

Adam Henson by Julie Lane at the Floodplain Forest NR opening opening ceremony on 25 August 2016

Country file presenter Adam Henson speaking at the opening ceremony of the Floodplain Forest Nature reserve on 25th August 2016.

The reserve is now open with good accessible paths and several hides. It is already attracting a good selection of wildlife especially birds for example large flocks of goldfinches can be seen feeding on the seed heads, a great white egret, small numbers of snipe and little owl and barn owl are also present.

Article supplied by Julie Lane

ZSL’s seal survey hopes to highlight the impact of the increasing grey seal population on the harbour seal.

Source: Thriving grey seal population could be bad news for harbour seals | Discover Wildlife

MKNHS members walk around Linford Lakes by Peter Hassett 9 July 2016

We have had a good summer of walks with much interesting wildlife spotted. Thank you to Gordon for organising our programme and to all of you who led walks. The photos below shows the mothing event at Linford Lakes nature reserve which was held after our annual BBQ.

MKNHS members mothing at Linford Lakes NR by Julie Lane9 July2016

In the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), annual data on the population status of butterflies is derived from a wide-scale program of site-based monitoring and sampling in randomly selected 1km squares. The sampling framework comprises: (1) Weekly butterfly transects (Pollard walks); (2) Reduced effort surveys of habitat specialist species (including timed counts of adults, single species transects, and egg and larval counts); and (3) the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS). The resulting UKBMS dataset is one of the most important resources for understanding changes in insect populations and answering policy questions relating to status and trends in biodiversity…

Source: Home Page

John Curd recently published this very interesting article (edited) and chart on how to identify Willow Emerald Damselflies:

Willow Emerald Identification Chart

Recently, there have been a few posts concerning Willow Emerald Damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis). From a probable bridgehead near Ipswich in 2009, they have become established and are inexorably spreading across the country, firstly filling Suffolk whilst spreading into Kent and Norfolk. Last year (I believe) they reached Surrey. Within the last week or two, they have been recorded for the first time in my own Bedfordshire and, I think, Lincolnshire.

Some of the recent posts have indicated a bit of uncertainty about identifying them – not unnaturally, since they are less familiar to many of us. Since more and more of us will begin encountering them, though, given their successful colonization, I thought I’d put some identification clues together compared to the more familiar and widespread Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa).

Some talk centred around the colour of the pterostigmas, which is a good clue. The most usual distinguishing feature, though, is the very distinctive so-called “spur”, forward-pointing on the side of the thorax. That works for both sexes. Think of the Willow as being “a thorn in the side”. 😉

Once sexed, there are also useful differences to be seen in the genitalia of both sexes. Again, once sexed, male eye colour is also a good feature.

The so-called Scarce Emerald/Robust Spreadwing (L. dryas), is restricted to the south-east of Great Britain, largely East Anglia, with other populations in Ireland. It is very habitat specific. Its range actually appears to be shrinking, perhaps because of habitat change. Since 1991. its former northernmost, westernmost and southernmost populations on GB have apparently disappeared. [See the BDS Atlas]. L. dryas may be readily confused with L. sponsa.

Much more restricted – again very habitat specific – is another recent colonist, the Southern Emerald/Migrant Spreadwing (L. barbarus). It almost cerrtainly has an established colony at Cliffe in Kent [BDS Atlas again], where it has been recorded yearly since 2010, and perhaps Winterton Dunes in Norfolk. IMHO, L. barbarus is very distinctive – see its antehumerals, rear of the eye (the so-called “jowels”) and pterostigmas

BIRDS

Grey Wagtails, Tattenhoe Linear Park

Small groups of Meadow Pipits in Tattenhoe Park

Tawny Owls calling regularly in Howe Park Wood at dusk

Hobby catching dragonflies over Tattenhoe Park (14^th)

Greenshank, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

Great White Egret, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

Great White Egret and Little Egret by Harry Appleyard, Floodplain Forest NR 23 August 2016

Snipe x 5, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

INSECTS

Lepidoptera
Small Coppers, Tattenhoe Park

Small Copper, Tattenhoe Park (18th Sept 2016) by Harry Appleyard

Clouded Yellow Butterfly, St.Giles Church orchard, Tattenhoe (13th)

Large numbers of Commas and Red Admirals around Tattenhoe Linear Park

Odonata

2 Female Emperor Dragonflies ovipositing in Tattenhoe Park (18th Sept)

Teneral Common Darter, Tattenhoe Park (15th)

Teneral Common Darter, Tattenhoe Park (15th Sept 2016)

Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park

All sightings/photos by Harry Appleyard unless otherwise stated

Red Admiral at Linford Wood by Peter Hassett 16 June 2015

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a migratory butterfly colonising Central and Northern Europe every year from the South. In autumn, the offspring of these spring arrivals migrate southwards.

We are investigating the migration of the Red Admiral in Europe and North Africa, using a combination of citizen science, stable isotope analysis and mark-recapture studies.

We have established a large network of citizen science portals supporting our project, which make Red Admiral sightings reported to them available for our research project. This allows us to follow Red Admiral migration with a high spatio-temporal resolution over most of Europe.

You can help us, too! Please report any records of Red Admiral to your local or national portal,…

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Red Admiral migration | Insect Migration & Ecology Lab

Environmental groups criticise plan that will allow hunters to shoot up to 47 of an estimated 68 wolves living in wilderness

Source: Norway plans to cull more than two-thirds of its wolf population | Environment | The Guardian

The Magic of Moths.

Sunday 18th September 2016.
07:30am, prompt.

Get up with the lark and come and see our moth traps opened.
Come and find what wonders they contain.

Meet Gordon Redford, Milton Keynes Moth Expert.
at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve,
Wolverton Road, Great Linford, MK14 5AH

Gordon will open his moth traps at 07:30am.
The moths won’t wait around.

You may be lucky enough to see a large hawk moth.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth by Paul Lund, Bancroft 28 September 2015

Hot drinks and bacon rolls will be available following event.

This is also Open Sunday at the Nature Reserve
And the reserve is open to the public till 16:00hrs.
Come and explore what the site has to offer.

(All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult)

Please be aware no dogs are allowed on site.

Rearing lepidoptera larvae is fun and simple. Here’s how to do it.

Source: How do I rear a caterpillar? | Discover Wildlife

Discover 6 fascinating facts about the BTO August Bird of the Month: Kingfisher

Source: 6 kingfisher facts you need to know | Discover Wildlife

The Northumberland Hen Harrier Protection Partnership has revealed that six hen harrier chicks have successfully fledged from two nests on the public forest estate in Northumberland. .

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Six hen harrier chicks fledge in Northumberland | Discover Wildlife

South Beds. Wildlife Trust Local Group are hosting a talk entitled ‘Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside’ by Brian Kerr. This is on Wednesday, 21 September 2016 at Dunstable Community Fire Station Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm. Please note: doors open 7.15pm.

Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside talk

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Scientists have identified the gene responsible for making the red pigments in many birds’ feathers and skin – a discovery that provides a big clue for why the colour is so important in avian sexual displays.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Why are red birds red? | Discover Wildlife

You may find this site of interest. The author describes the site as an ongoing project to create a photographic record of Britain’s varied Wildlife.

Source: British Nature Guide  An incomplete guide to the wildlife of Britain – Home

Sunday 18th September 2016.
07:30am, prompt.

Get up with the lark and come and see our moth traps opened.
Come and find what wonders they contain.

Meet Gordon Redford, Milton Keynes Moth Expert.
at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve,

Gordon will open his moth traps at 07:30am.
The moths won’t wait around.

You may be lucky enough to see a large hawk moth.
Friends and family welcome.
Hot drinks will be available following event.

This is also Open Sunday at the Nature Reserve
And the reserve is open to the public till 16:00hrs.
Come and explore what the site has to offer.

(All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult)

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Love them or hate them, ring-necked parakeets have invaded Europe and they’re here to stay. Already a staple of many urban parks and gardens around the UK, some of these charismatic bright green birds are now so comfortable in their new surroundings that they will happily sit and feed from your hand.
Parakeets are Britain’s fastest growing bird population and are on a trajectory to global domination. Outside of their native southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, breeding populations are now established in at least 65 cities around Europe, and more than 30 countries across five continents.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Parakeets are the new pigeons – and they’re on course for global domination

Source:

Although the use of lead ammunition for shooting wildfowl and/or over listed wetlands in the UK has been banned, c. 70% of ducks shot in England (the only UK country with compliance monitoring) are still shot with lead and the proportion of ducks found dead with signs of lead poisoning from ingested gunshot has not declined significantly since the ban. However, there is little quantitative evidence of the impacts of additional mortality from lead poisoning on duck populations. For the eight duck species that winter in freshwater habitats in the UK, we found that inter-specific variation in mean population growth rate during the period 1990/1991 to 2013/2014 was significantly negatively correlated with two independent measures of the prevalence of ingested lead gunshot in the UK and Europe. This relationship was found for a wide range of different periods over which population growth was estimated, and also for annual growth rates in the period 1966/1967 to 2013/2014, derived from smoothed population trajectories. These findings support the hypothesis that ingested lead gunshot might affect population trend. An alternative hypothesis, that migratory short-stopping driven by climate change affected trends in numbers of ducks wintering in the UK, was not supported by simple or partial correlation results. The possible impact of ingested lead gunshot on the Common Pochard Aythya ferina, a species listed as globally threatened, is of special concern.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article

Scientists have uncovered a fascinating new clue in the global mystery surrounding wild birds with grossly deformed beaks. A team of researchers from the California Academy of Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified a novel virus that has been linked to Avian Keratin Disorder (AKD), a disease responsible for debilitating beak overgrowth and whose cause has remained elusive despite more than a decade of research. This new virus—identified from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest—is being investigated as a potential cause of AKD and represents a critical step in understanding the emergence of this disease in wild bird populations around the world. The results are published today in the journal mBio.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-07-newly-virus-prime-often-fatal-beak.html#jCp

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Newly discovered virus a prime suspect in often-fatal beak disorder spreading among birds

Scientists say we’re in the middle of the sixth great extinction, and this one, unlike those that happened millions of years ago, is driven largely by the activities of humans. “So we d…

Source: In this interactive, see how soon in your lifetime iconic animals may be gone – National Geographic Society (blogs)

Country diary: Old Warden, Bedfordshire In this parched landscape it was clear the hedgerow fruit had not ripened a moment too soon for the badgers

Source: Of hungry badgers and hidden worms | Environment | The Guardian

National Geographic photographer Stephen Wilkes documents 24 hours at an African watering hole in one image.

Source: Photographer Shoots ‘Day to Night’ Sequence of African Watering Hole | Nature TTL

How to tell the difference between an otter and a mink.

Source: How to tell the difference between an otter and a mink | Discover Wildlife

BIRDS

Tawny Owls calling and hunting near footpaths at dusk in Howe Park Wood
Marsh Tit in Howe Park Wood (1st Sept)

Marsh Tit, Howe Park Wood (1st September 2016)

 
Hobby over Tattenhoe Park (2nd Sept)
Pair of Yellow Wagtails flying over Tattenhoe Park
1 Swift over Tattenhoe Linear Park (4th September)
3 snipe (Floodplain Forest NR – 31^st, Julie Lane)
Flock of at least thirty goldfinches (Floodplain Forest NR – 31^st, Julie Lane)

LEPIDOSAURIA
Young Grass Snake, Tattenhoe (1st Sept)

Grass Snake, Tattenhoe (1st September 2016)

LISSAMPHIBIA
Common Frogs and Common Newts around Howe Park Wood

INSECTS

Lepidoptera
Brimstone, Tattenhoe Park (1st Sept)

Brimstone, Tattenhoe Park (1st September 2016)

Small Whites, Small Tortoiseshells and Speckled Woods in large numbers around Tattenhoe Park
Painted Lady, Tattenhoe Linear Park (3rd Sept)

Odonata
Emperor dragonflies, Tattenhoe Park
Emerald and Common Blue damselflies in Tattenhoe Park
Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers present around most ponds in Tattenhoe

Mature Male Southern Hawker, Howe Park Wood (1st September 2016)

National Trust will release 100 of the endangered animals, not seen at Malham tarn in Yorkshire dales for 50 years

Source: Water voles to be reintroduced to England’s highest lake | Environment | The Guardian

On 25 August 2016, the United States National Park Service celebrated its centennial. To mark the occasion, Earth Capture photographer Shreeni Manievannan has carefully selected 25 of his favourite National Park photographs. They sum up everything he loves about the parks.

Click on this link to read the rest of the article.

A rare butterfly once declared extinct in the UK is now being seen in record numbers after being re-introduced.

Source: Large blue butterfly thriving after reintroduction – BBC News

Natural England, The National Trust, and Cornwall Wildlife Trust are pleased to announce that the Lizard National Nature Reserve will be extended from today (31

Source: The Lizard in Cornwall to becomes one of the largest National Nature Reserves in the South West

The RSPB North Bucks Local Group are hosting a talk:

Good News for a Change? RSPB’s International Species Conservation – Clare Stringer, RSPB
Location: The Cruck Barn, City Discovery Centre, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, MK13 9AP

RSPB works worldwide to support recovery work aimed at improving the chances of some of the globe’s most threatened birds. From Chinese coast to the steppes of Kazakhstan, to the isolated islands of Gough and the tropical forests of Sierra Leone, Clare will tell us how RSPB & its partners are fighting to prevent extinction.

Time: Doors open 7.15 pm for a prompt 7.45 pm start
Price: Group members £2.50, Non-Group members £3.50, Children £1

See their website for more information

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

The RSPB North Bucks Local Group are leading a field trip:

Rutland Water Map ref SK 877 072
Meet in the car park at the Egleton centre
Postcode: LE15 8BT (Google map)

This is a longer day trip to England’s premier inland water site, with multiple lagoons and lots of hides, led by Brian Lloyd. There will be 2 walks – morning and afternoon. A packed lunch would be advisable. An entrance fee is payable.

Time: 10.00 am

Price: Entrance fee payable

See their website for more information

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Common Frogs by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood, March 2016 (Short-listed in Countryfile 2016 Competition)

Harry Appleyard is a regular contributor to the Society’s photo gallery. Harry’s excellent photo of Common Frogs at Howe Park Wood was shortlisted for this years prestigious Countryfile calendar competition, and he is listed among the 14 runners up. Well done Harry.

To see more pictures by Harry and other members of the Society, go to the Members Photos section of the website which is in the Gallery menu.

Daubenton’s bat by Chris Damant

The Parks Trust are running a late summer bat walk at Ouzel Valley Park on Thursday 8th September, 7.15pm.

Meet at Woughton Playing Fields Car Park, off Newport Road, Woughton-on-the-Green. A good variety of common bats and the chance of serotines. This walk is part of MK Heritage Weekend so there is no charge. Leader: Martin Kincaid

Anyone interested in attending should email Martin at m.kincaid@theparkstrust.com

BIRDS

Tawny Owls calling in Howe Park Wood at dusk

Red Kites over Tattenhoe and Kingsmead

Spotted Flycatchers passing through Tattenhoe

Hobby over Howe Park Wood (24th)

Female Wheatear in Tattenhoe Park (26th)

Great White Egret at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve

Great White Egret and Little Egret by Harry Appleyard, Floodplain Forest NR 23 August 2016

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Small Heaths and Small Coppers in Tattenhoe Park

Large numbers of Small Tortoiseshells around Tattenhoe

Painted Lady in Tattenhoe Park (30th)

Odonata

Brown Hawkers ovipositing in Tattenhoe Park (30th)

Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers around many Tattenhoe Park ponds

Male Migrant Hawker by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 29 August 2016

Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed damselflies still in large numbers around Tattenhoe

LISSAMPHIBIA

Common Frogs and Common Toads in Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

Common Toad, Howe Park Wood (30th August 2016)

(All sightings and photos Harry Appleyard)

The latest issue of our society newsletter ‘The Magpie’ can be viewed in the Publications section of the website or by clicking here.

Sunday 4th September.
Work Sunday,
10- 13:00hrs,
Refreshments available.

Help needed cutting back overhangs, cutting in meadows and clearing paths,
helping with bridge building etc.
Tools available, please come dressed for weather and work.

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Little Egret, Tattenhoe Linear Park (23rd May)

The new web-based atlas covering birds in Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties is now available

Use this link for more information: Thames and Chiltern Bird Atlas – Home

Eighteen member turned up, testing our abilities to park creatively in the layby by the gate. We walked up past the old Fullers Earth works and into the sandy heathland of the Greensand Ridge, dominated by gorse and open plantations.

We soon started picking up fauna, with calling Green Woodpeckers, Long Winged Coneheads, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Shaded Broadbar, Mint Moth and several Common Blue. Some of the party spotted a hunting Barn Owl. At the rapidly drying ponds on the top of the site, we found froglets, toadlets and a juvenile newt of unknown species as well as several singing Linnets.

Over the open ground, we saw a couple hobbies hunting as well as a kestrel. Botanically, there was Toadflax, Calumagrostis grasses, Tree lupin, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Clustered Rush, Haresfoot Clover and Soft Rush amongst others.

Martin spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, but couldn’t relocate it. The rapidly descending dusk allowed only an hour and a half, but this is a site that we will want to visit again.

Report kindly provided by Peter Garner

New IUCN Red List assessments reveal that growing human pressures on whale sharks, winghead sharks and Bornean orangutans are putting these species at an increasing risk of extinction. Whale sharks and winghead sharks are now listed as Endangered and Bornean orangutans as Critically Endangered – only one step from going extinct.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Whale sharks, winghead sharks and Bornean orangutans slide towards extinction | IUCN

For over 25 years, Plantlife has had a single ideal; to save and celebrate wild plants, flowers and fungi.

Now, as fresh uncertainties and challenges emerge about the future of our natural environment, Plantlife has launched a new strategy that sets out the charity’s plans for the next five years.

The plan – available as a downloadable document – sets out to achieve a vision of wild plants that are:

Thriving: threatened species face a more secure future whilst common plants stay abundant and are enjoyed
Valued: the benefits that wild plants bring to all our lives are understood
Celebrated: our wild flora and fungi are appreciated for their beauty and cultural significance

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Plantlife launch new five year strategy | News and press | About us

Global warming is causing breeding and migration cycles of related plants and animals to fall out of sync with potential impacts on entire ecosystems, research shows

Source: Climate change is disrupting seasonal behaviour of Britain’s wildlife | Environment | The Guardian

The government announces a shift to vaccination in the battle against bovine tuberculosis.

Source: Irish badger cull to end | Discover Wildlife

A worldwide ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics should be imposed as soon as possible, MPs demand.

Source: MPs call for ban on plastic microbeads – BBC News

The large-scale, long-term decline in wild bees across England has been linked to the use of neonicotinoid insecticides by a new study.

A number of sources have covered this recently published paper. Click on any of the links below for more information:

BBC News:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Nature Communications
The Guardian newspaper

Twenty four members met at Elfield Park on 23rd August 2016 for the Society’s penultimate outdoor meeting of the summer. Temperatures had reached 30C during the day and it remained extremely warm for the walk. This 3.8 hectare site close to MK Bowl consists of oak woodland, ponds and gullies, wildflower areas and scrub and is closed to the general public, used by The Parks Trust for environmental education and monitoring. For many members it was a first visit.

Spotted Flycatchers at Elfield Park by Peter Garner 16 August 2016

Martin and Lewis led the meeting dividing the party into two groups. With water levels very low following the long dry spell, we decided that pond dipping was off the agenda and instead focused on exploring the varied habitats at Elfield Park and concentrating on bug hunting. However, the first thing to catch our eye was a group of three Spotted Flycatchers who were catching insects from the oak trees over the first boardwalk. These were visible from the car park but we got even better views from the boardwalk with the flycatchers putting on quite a performance.

Spotted Flycatchers in silhouette at Elfield Park by Harry Appleyard 16 August 2016

Also seen in the oak canopy were Purple Hairstreak butterflies and Migrant Hawkers whilst beating the lower boughs of the oaks brought us a multitude of spiders, red spider mites and earwigs and a single lacewing larva, which looked quite fearsome through the hand lens! Although most of the wild flowers are past their best, Common Fleabane and Slender Bird’s-Foot Trefoil were plentiful and provide a good late nectar source for common blues and other butterflies and moths.

A very impressive specimen of Chicken-of-the-Woods Laetiporus suphureus was found on the footpath at the foot of the steps. This was identified and enjoyed by young Cade Webb. Elfield Park is known for its populations of amphibians and reptiles and these were searched for. Lewis and Martin had found a Slow-Worm earlier in the day but none were found this evening. However, one small tree stump was turned over and beneath it were a dozen or more Smooth Newts, including adults and juveniles. An exploration of the oak wood found the larder of a Song Thrush – a stone surrounded by fragments of snail shells, more sightings of purple hairstreaks spinning in the tree tops and a low swooping buzzard. Martin explained that buzzards had nested in the woodland for the first time this spring and at least two young birds were flying around, possible returning to their nest.

Sunset at Elfield Park by Harry Appleyard 23 August 2016

At the end of the evening, the two groups converged back on the boardwalk over the largest pond in the hope of seeing bats emerge to feed. Although conditions were perfect, few bats were seen with just a single Noctule and a single Common Pipistrelle in action. However, the beautiful evening sky gave a nice finale to the night with Mars and Saturn on view.

Badger culls are to be carried out in five new areas of England in a bid to control bovine TB, the BBC learns.

Source: New badger culling trials given go ahead across England – BBC News

Daubenton’s bat by Chris Damant

A Bat Night will be held on Wednesday 31st August. 19:30- till late at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve  Leader Martin Kincaid.

Martin will start the evening with a short presentation.
Bat detectors will be available for our use.
Friends and family are welcome.
Refreshments available.

For this year’s Late Summer Open Day at the wood on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August, we are putting on taster Airsoft sessions (for the unitiated that means war games with bio-degradable pellets). Carlos Williams of www.specialopshq.co.uk will be running 4 sessions through the day. Numbers for each session are limited so to avoid disappointment will need to be booked in advance. Timings and booking details at the end of this post.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Late Summer Open Day, Monday August 29th – Airsoft Taster Sessions | Hollington Wood

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Milton Keynes Library is hosting a superb exhibition of Milton Keynes and Bucks related wildlife throughout the summer school holidays.

‘Nature Detectives’ which runs until the end of August, has been organised by Mike Palmer of Bucks County Museum with help from MK Natural History Society and The Parks Trust. Many exhibits from the museum, including plants, birds of prey, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies and moths, have been loaned to the library and are complimented by outstanding photographs showing wildlife and landscapes around Milton Keynes. Some of the photographs have been taken by Society members such as Harry Appleyard and Chris Ward, and the eagle-eyed among you may spot  our President in one or two images!

On Thursday 25^th August, the exhibition space will host a Family Wildlife Fun Day with additional hands-on material from BBOWT, North Bucks Bat Group and other organisations. The exhibition can be found in the downstairs gallery at the library, on the left hand side as you enter the building. Next time you are up the city centre, please pop in to the exhibition and help to make it a success.

Article kindly provided by Martin Kincaid

The lenses in newts’ eyes were able to regenerate after being removed – 18 times

Source: Newts able to regenerate body parts indefinitely | New Scientist

Daubenton’s bat by Chris Damant

The Parks Trust are running two late summer bat walks in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in attending either walks should email Martin at m.kincaid@theparkstrust.com

Manor Farm, Old Wolverton. Tues 23rd August, 7.45pm. Meet at the Manor Farm Court car park, off Wolverton Road. This walk should be good for a variety of bats and perhaps owls as well. £2 per person. Leader: Carla Boswell.
There is a second walk at Ouzel Valley Park on Thursday 8th September, 7.15pm. Meet at Woughton Playing Fields Car Park, off Newport Road, Woughton-on-the-Green. A good variety of common bats and the chance of serotines. This walk is part of MK Heritage Weekend so there is no charge. Leader: Martin Kincaid

Are Britain’s butterflies and birds coping with the unpredictable weather and its extremes, and what does a warming climate mean for them?

Source: BBC – Earth – How is the unpredictable weather affecting our wildlife?

A new study shows that male sparrows can judge if a spouse is prone to infidelity, providing less food for their brood if their partner is unfaithful.

Source: Sparrows with unfaithful ‘wives’ care less for their young

Milton Keynes Library is hosting a superb exhibition of Milton Keynes and Bucks related wildlife throughout the summer school holidays.

‘Nature Detectives’ which runs until the end of August, has been organised by Mike Palmer of Bucks County Museum with help from MK Natural History Society and The Parks Trust. Many exhibits from the museum, including plants, birds of prey, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies and moths, have been loaned to the library and are complimented by outstanding photographs showing wildlife and landscapes around Milton Keynes. Some of the photographs have been taken by Society members such as Harry Appleyard and Chris Ward, and the eagle-eyed among you may spot  our President in one or two images!

On Thursday 25^th August, the exhibition space will host a Family Wildlife Fun Day with additional hands-on material from BBOWT, North Bucks Bat Group and other organisations. The exhibition can be found in the downstairs gallery at the library, on the left hand side as you enter the building. Next time you are up the city centre, please pop in to the exhibition and help to make it a success.

Article kindly provided by Martin Kincaid

One of the most surprising things that I discovered during my PhD research on garden bird feeding is just how little we know about this incredibly widespread activity. Various studies have shown that around half of households in the UK, Australia and North America feed wild birds, yet my supervisor (Mark Fellowes, University of Reading) and I could find no year-round quantitative data on what is being given. When I started to think about the immense numbers of gardens/backyards, birds and calories that the participation figures represent worldwide I found it hard to believe how few researchers are working in this field. I came away from the BOU Urban Birds conference earlier this year with the sense that this is beginning to change but also that there is still so much more to learn.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Garden bird feeding « British Ornithologists’ Union

Modern birds owe their survival to ancestors who were able to peck on seeds after the meteor strike that wiped out the dinosaurs, a study suggests.

Source: Seed clue to how birds survived mass extinction – BBC News

The science of eggs

Source: BBC Blogs – Winterwatch – The science of eggs

Measurements on insect wings can tell us how radiation has spread following a leak and the dose they were exposed to

Source: Dragonfly wings can track radiation doses after a nuclear mishap | New Scientist

Research shows ‘rapid decline’ in numbers caused by hunting, pollution and nets

Source: South Africa’s great white sharks face extinction, says study | Environment | The Guardian

Jurassic butterflies disappeared a full 45 million years before the first caterpillar decided to grow up and become a beautiful butterfly. Again.

Source: Butterflies in the Time of Dinosaurs, With Nary a Flower in Sight – Scientific American Blog Network

Scientists have delved deeper into the mystery of dying bees, and discovered that the cause of the problem is more pervasive than thought.

Source: Scientists discover another cause of bee deaths, and it’s really bad news : TreeHugger

The Moon by Harry Appleyard, 19 April 2016

Space presents a fantastic mystery to human life. Unfathomably large, with characteristics that defy our experience and understanding, the stars have perplexed and amazed humanity for our entire recorded history, and likely before. In the present, astrophysicists and astronomers are aggressively studying the universe in an attempt to solve critical scientific and philosophical questions. One of the primary tools for measurement and observation is imaging using cameras connected to powerful telescopes on Earth and in space. And although it’s not the primary motivation for photographing space, beauty is one of the most intriguing byproducts. Images of space communicate the grandeur of the universe, and spark essential curiosities about what may be out there waiting for us once we make our way into the stars.

Click on the picture above to watch the video (6:40 minutes).

Urban environments cover vast areas with a high density of humans and their dogs and cats causing problems for exploitation of new resources by wild animals.

Source: Urbanization affects neophilia and risk-taking at bird-feeders : Scientific Reports

A guillemot is found to have survived for 38 years on Canna in the Small Isles.

Source: Long-lived guillemot found on Isle of Canna – BBC News

BIRDS
Spotted Flycatcher, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (8th)

Spotted Flycatcher, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (8th August)

 
Willow Warbler singing in Tattenhoe Park (8th)
Red Kites around Tattenhoe

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Small Copper, Brown Argus and Brimstones by Howe Park Wood (5th)
Silver-washed Fritillaries feeding on brambles by the North Bucks Way (5th)
Female Silver Washed Fritillary var Valezina seen in Shenley Wood (5th) – Possibly the first time this colour variant has been seen in Shenley Wood
White Letter Hairstreaks still on wing at Blue Lagoon (6th) and Oakhill Wood (7th)
Second generation of Holly Blue butterflies strong throughout Milton Keynes.
Red Admirals in and around Tattenhoe
Painted Ladies around Tattenhoe Park and Kingsmead Wood

Painted Lady, Tattenhoe Park (9th August)

 
Orthoptera
Male and female Speckled Bush Crickets around lights at Campbell Park Pavilion (8th)
Odonata
Large numbers of Migrant and Southern Hawkers around Howe Park Wood
Male Black-tailed Skimmer and Emerald Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park (9th)

Mature Male Emerald Damselfly, Tattenhoe Park (7th August)-1

 
Huge numbers of Common and Ruddy Darters at Blue Lagoon (6th)

FLOWERS
Goat’s-rue still in flower in fields outside Shenley Wood (4th)
Great Burnet in flower along North Bucks Way (4th)
Broad-Leaved Helleborine in flower in Linford Wood and Parsons Spinney, Great Linford (5th)

All photos by Harry Appleyard, all sightings by Harry Appleyard and Martin Kincaid

Using underwater microphones, scientists track whales’ unique cultural identities.

Source: New evidence that sperm whales form clans with diverse cultures, languages | Ars Technica

Little Owls are in decline in the UK, but are hard to monitor, making it difficult to establish this species’ conservation and management needs. Newly-published research by the BTO demonstrates how playback could be an effective tool for helping to detect and monitor this species.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Monitoring Little Owls with playback | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology

The vibrant colours of the male birds’ spectacular display conceal a miracle of engineering.

Source: A peacock’s display is not only about colour | Discover Wildlife

Kielder Forest in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders the best candidate site in which to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx, say conservationists.

Source: Kielder identified as prime site to release lynx | Discover Wildlife

Plans to redevelop the grounds of the natural history museum are criticised by scientists.

Source: Natural History Museum hit by garden row | Discover Wildlife

IT is a debate which has set the world’s giant chemical companies against environmentalists and scientists the world over. But now a major new…

Source: Proof at last…pesticides are killing the world’s bees and putting us all at risk (From Herald Scotland)

One of the UK’s most widespread songbirds, the Wren, varies in its resilience to winter weather, depending on where it lives in Britain, according to new UEA research.

Source: Northern bird found to be more resilient to winter weather

New research demonstrates that some songbirds start learning to imitate their parents’ vocalisations before they even hatch.

Source: Fairywrens learn calls before hatching | News | Birdwatch Magazine

An archeological dig has revealed that the rodent has been native on the islands for over 5,000 years. But no one knows how it got there

Source: The Orkney vole – Europe’s most mysterious migrant | Patrick Barkham | Opinion | The Guardian

Imagine being in a pitch-black room, your pupils maximally dilated, but you can’t see a thing. You feel helpless. Now picture … Read More

Source: Behavior: How owls can hunt even in total darkness – BirdWatching

Conservationists back sheathed hooks that almost eliminate the bycatch of albatrosses.

Source: Pod device saves seabirds | Discover Wildlife

South Beds. Wildlife Trust Local Group Summer Butterfly Walk, Totternhoe Nature Reserve 13 August 2016 icon

The South Beds. Wildlife Trust Local Group have organised a  Summer Butterfly Walk led by butterfly expert Greg Herbert.

The event is at Totternhoe Nature Reserve on Saturday 13 August 2016, 11am-1pm.

Click on the graphic above for more information.

MKNHS is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You should check details of any events listed on external sites with the organisers.

Pioneering study of four herring gulls nesting in St Ives, Cornwall, found they spent most of their time foraging for food outside of town

Source: GPS tags reveal the secret life of urban seagulls | Environment | The Guardian

Mark Carwardine reveals what impact this series of climatic changes has on wildlife.

Source: 9 facts you didn’t know about El Niño | Discover Wildlife

Speckled Wood by Peter Hassett, Chicksand Wood 4 July 2013

Campaign asks wildlife enthusiasts to visit local woodland to record number of speckled woods and other butterflies

Source: Britons urged to help chart spread of thriving butterfly species | Environment | The Guardian

Daniel Cox, one of the authors of this report, set up monitoring systems in gardens in Great Linford with assistance from our very own Martin Kincaid.

Click the link to read this fascinating publication.

Flagship Ponds Starfruit poster Black Park August 2016

The Fresh Water Habitats Trust (Pondlife, as was) have asked BMERC to circulate an opportunity for Bucks recorders to attend a free training day. It’s designed for those who may be interested in learning more about our elusive and much vaunted Starfruit (Damasonium alisma).Unfortunately it’s a bit short notice – the one off event is Tuesday 9th August, but it is a good opportunity for anyone interested in Starfruit. And for those in the south of the country it’s pretty local. It would be really great to get some new local interest in this wonderful plant, and so if you have a spare day and would like to take place it’s a free event.

Please note all bookings are through Pete Case, Freshwater Habitats Trusts regional officer c/o the details on the poster. BMERC is unable to manage any of your bookings.

Click on the image at the top of the screen for more information.

Plantlife produce a number of interesting guides to wildflowers. Here is their  August Seaweed Spotter Sheet.

Hen Harrier Day returns for its third year and this time takes place on Sunday 7th August 2016. Some campaigners are already at an advanced planning stage and have confirmed that Hen Harrier Day ev…

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Hen Harrier Day 2016 (Sunday 7th August) | Raptor Persecution Scotland

Masters of disguise, butterflies can look like animal faces, rolled-up leaves and even snakes. Explore their kaleidoscopic world.

Source: Butterfly wings: the science behind the colour | Natural History Museum