Surprise discovery in Prislow Woods

Stream dipping in the Bickham Stream, Prislow Woods

I was only slightly late arriving at Prislow Woods and the sound of excited children guided me towards a spot where the stream dipping was already in full swing. A group of parents were gathered on a bank with the children in the stream using nets to explore the water. Suddenly a roar of excitement came from upstream, an eel had been caught. A group of children came splashing down to deliver their prize to County ecologist Bruce Forest who was leading the event. All eyes watched as the eel was transferred to the finds tray and began to swim around. 

This eel could spend 20 years in the stream before return to the sea

This wonderful creature had begun life in the Sargasso sea on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Emerging from an egg the larvae can take three years to drift across the ocean to the UK, a distance of 4,000 miles. As the larvae approach the coast they develop into glass eels, then entering freshwater they darken and become elvers. Eels can spend up to twenty years in rivers and streams growing into mature adults before undertaking a one way journey back to the Sargasso sea to reproduce.

The European eel is listed as Critically Endangered, the number of glass eels arriving in Europe has fallen by 95% over the last forty years. So finding several juveniles in the Bickland stream highlights the importance of the conservation work being carried out by several local community groups to safeguard the stream. The Prislow wood group is hoping to receive training from  the South West Rivers Trust that will allow them to monitor the water quality in the stream.

County ecologist Bruce Forest led the stream dipping

Finding the eel was also significant as they have not been recorded in Falmouth before according to the National Biodiversity Network Map, see below. So not only did the children have plenty of fun that day, they also contributed valuable citizen science data.

NBN map showing records for the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The stream dipping was organised by the community group #prislowwoods who carry out conservation work such as the removal of non-native invasive species in the woods. For more information visit their Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/962446477276694/

Special thanks to Jennifer Carter for permission to use her photographs.

The Queen Bumblebee - Guest Post by Charlotte Rankin

Here in Cornwall, the milder weather has encouraged some brave bumblebee queens to emerge from hibernation and take advantage of the early-flowering plants here. While we do have some winter-active Buff-tail colonies here, most bumblebee queens have been tucked up underground in a long winter’s sleep awaiting Springtime. While in Summer a queen bumblebee proudly secures a nest of up to several hundred individuals, her first few weeks after hibernation are in fact spent solitarily. During this time she ensures a suitable nest site, sets out on foraging expeditions and begins her role as a mother. All whilst battling with Spring’s uncertainties, of course!

A queen Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) on Lesser

Celandine, one of the first bumblebee species to emerge

from hibernation. 

As the Spring sun warms the soil, bumblebee queens in their underground burrows start to stir. Here, a queen bumblebee has spent around seven months tucked up in the earth awaiting the Spring alarm. After warming up and with a morning stretch of all six legs, this determined queen eagerly digs her way out of her little burrow, dusts the soil off her coat and sets off into the fresh Spring air to begin the first of her very busy days.

After this long sleep, she is feeling hungry rather than refreshed. She has spent the last several months relying on her energy reserves and her first thought is to find nectar-rich flowers. At this time of year, flowers may be few and far between, but dandelions or a lucky garden find of Mahonia or heather should do the trick. Once revived, a clean of her proboscis and pollen-dusted eyes, she can now begin her next search for a suitable nest site.

Left to right: Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius), Tree (Bombus hypnorum), Early (Bombus pratorum) and Buff-tailed (Bombus terrestris) queens. Queens here have been found foraging on crocuses, dandelions and lesser celandines. 

She spends considerable time zig-zaging around, searching diligently for a promising site. Depending on her species, she may take a fancy to an old rodent burrow, tussocky grass if she is a Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), or even an empty bird box if she is a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)!

Following a queen Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), we see her finally decide on an old rodent burrow. While it’s a ramshackle affair of cobwebs and darkness, it provides just what she needs with nesting material conveniently left behind by the previous occupants. She rearranges the material with her little jaws and legs to form a very snug hollow ball, with a single entrance just large enough for her to pass through. In this cavity, she will create a mass of ‘pollen-paste’, made up of pollen and nectar that she has collected on her foraging trips.

Having decided on her home she will set off to explore her new neighbourhood, excitedly flying to and fro and exploring every nook and cranny. She is in fact familiarising herself to its location to ensure that she can return swiftly after her foraging trips. After a few practice flights, she now knows the way to her new home.

During these foraging trips, she battles with the uncertainties of Spring. While the air may be clear and sunny when she leaves, she often returns to her nest with a very soggy, matted coat. Nevertheless, her hind legs are stuffed with pollen and she quickly resumes to the task of constructing her nest. Having mated the previous Autumn, she lays her first batch of eggs upon this ‘pollen-paste’ mass and seals off the structure with wax, which is in fact only around the size of a pea!

Just like birds, she too incubates her brood day and night. This energetically-demanding task requires a lot of nectar. To prevent her from leaving her brood for too long, she cleverly crafts a small wax pot in front of her and fills this with regurgitated nectar. She sips from this while she incubates her brood, replenishing her little pot when necessary.

After a few days, these eggs will hatch into very hungry larvae. As the larvae greedily eat, the queen replenishes this pollen and distributes a mixture of nectar and pollen amongst them. Once fully grown, the larvae will then each tuck themselves up into a cocoon. The cocoons are arranged such that there is a groove that fits perfectly with the queen’s underside. By stretching out her abdomen and hugging all six legs around her cocoons, she ensures their continual warmth for the next few weeks before her brood are ready to bite through their cocoons as adults.

Their movements hesitant and much like a baby’s first steps, the first of her workers are out. Once they have found their feet (all six of them!), they will fulfil their role as baby bee guardians and take over the collection of nectar and pollen to bring back to the nest. However, the queen’s work isn’t over yet – she has a colony of workers to build!

Charlotte Rankin is an ecologist with a passion for bumblebees that embraces both research and conservation. She is a volunteer for the Cornish branch of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and last year she created two booklets for the conservation group, Penryn Buzz to promote their Bee Ranger project. She has also helped the charity Buglife in establishing their Urban Buzz project in Falmouth. You can follow Charlotte on Twitter at, @bumble_being

Urban Buzz - New Wildflower Areas in Falmouth

Sowing seeds to create wildflower meadows marked a wonderful start to this year. Under a clear blue sky the day began in Boscawen Road next to the tennis courts. Arriving I was immediately impressed by the maze cut out in the grass. A brilliant design by Howard from Cormac and Jacqui from Falmouth Town Council and Cormac.

The brilliantly designed wildflower maze by Boscawen Road

Once volunteers had gathered we were introduced to the Urban Buzz project by Laura from the charity Buglife. She went through the methods to be used to sow the seed as well as explaining how the plants chosen would help the meadow develop as the perennials established themselves. Once Laura had added sand to the mix of seeds the sowing began. The sand helps achieve an even distribution as well as being a good indicator of the area sown to help prevent bare patches.

The maze design will allow people to walk among the flowers

Walking round the maze it was easy to imagine how wonderful it will look in the summer. It really is a wonderful design that will enable people to walk among the wildflowers. I expect to be spending quite a bit of time there recording and photographing the insects visiting the flowers. Especially as it is so close to the beach, toilets and ice-cream, field work is rarely this good.

Laura Larkin from the charity Buglife giving volunteers a talk
before sowing began on the Gyllyng street terraces

The afternoon sowing took place on the terraces above Gyllyng Street in the centre of Falmouth.  This time as well as sowing seeds, plant plugs were also planted in the selected area. Again Howard, Jacqui and the Cormac team had done extensive preparation work on the chosen areas. They had also planted trees and shrubs beneficial to pollinating insects in the terraces.

The sites had been prepared by Howard, Jacquii and the
team from Cormac

The planting attracted volunteers from both locals and students from the nearby campuses of Falmouth and Exeter universities.  With such a good level of support both areas were sown and planted with plenty of time to spare. It was a very enjoyable and successful day and I am looking forward to seeing these areas come into flower this summer.

The level of support and enthusiasm of the volunteers
ensured the planting was accomplished early

The Urban Buzz project was created by Buglife, the charity that works to safeguard and promote knowledge of invertebrates. Initially it ran in selected cities in England and Wales and in four of these it created or enhanced 138 hectares of land, that’s the equivalent of 220 football pitches.

Last year four towns in Cornwall, Falmouth, Truro, St Austell and Wadebridge joined the project. In Falmouth the areas selected for creating wildflower meadows are, parts of the fields alongside Boscawen Road, the terraces above Gyllyng Street and part of the playing fields adjacent to Dracaena Avenue.

Falmouth is one of four towns in Cornwall participating in
the charity Buglife's Urban Buzz project

You could be wondering why this is happening in urbans areas rather than in the countryside? There are a number of reasons why, the first being is that farming practices have changed dramatically over the last few decades. These changes in our countryside are reflected in declines of certain species, for example farmland birds have declined by 56% in the UK since 1970. Looking at solitary bee species a survey in 2015 found more species in Northampton than in the surrounding countryside that included three nature reserves. Mounting evidence suggests that urban areas are now an important refuge for a variety of wildlife.

Nature can flourish in towns and cities - a leaf cutter bee in
Kimberley Park

Another important consideration is that having a connection with Nature can offer both physical and mental health benefits to the local community. The science behind this is a growing area of research covering such areas as the ways our brains responds positively to engaging with nature to how chemicals released by plants can improve our immune system.

While these wildflower meadows will provide the opportunity to connect with Nature to everyone whatever their age they are especially important for children growing up in an urban environment. Hopefully these areas will stimulate their natural curiosity and help them develop an interest in wildlife and the natural world.

Access to the natural world to stimulate a child's natural
curiosity is an essential part of their childhood.
Photo: Bug Hunt held in Falmouth Cemetery 2018

I am certainly curious to see what insects will be attracted to these areas and will not be surprised to discover species so far unrecorded in the town. I am also hopeful that over time, species that are rarely seen will become more common. One species I will be looking forward is the four banded flower bee. A related species, the hairy footed flower bee is a common sight in Kimberley Park during the spring. The four banded bee flies between June and mid-August and is a rarer sight. With their flight period corresponding to the peak flowering time for the new wildflower meadows I am hoping to see an increase in their abundance over time. They are quite fast moving bees so not the easiest to film. Hats off to Charlotte Rankin who filmed this one on Cliff Road last summer.

With the seeds sown and the plants planted the clocking is ticking down towards enjoying a wonderful summer watching these areas blossom. 

Reflections on 2018

A selection of photos from 2018 - click to enlarge

There are, I am sure, good lessons to be learned from the six months of silence since the last post. While I reflect on what they might be and announce that I will try harder to post more regularly in 2019, let’s take a look at the highlights of 2018.

I will start with the wonderful news that Falmouth Town Council is partnering with the charity, Buglife in the Urban Buzz project. This will see areas of the town planted with wildflowers to help pollinator insects in the town. I am so looking forward to seeing these areas flowering for the first time this year.

Three participants in the 2018 Bug Hunt

As part of the Urban Buzz project last August there was a bug hunt organised by Buglife and the town council in the old parts of Falmouth cemetery. The event attracted families who were given sweep nets and were soon capturing a variety of interesting insects and invertebrates. There were also pooters available to try, these are a bottle with two tubes – one to suck on and the other to collect an insect and place it in the bottle. The hunt was so successful that plans are being made for another one this year.

 The two display boards placed in both parts of Falmouth's old cemetery to raise awareness  of its importance to wildlife and the local community.

A major factor in the success of conservation efforts depends upon raising awareness in the local community. In August the Town Council placed two display boards in both parts of Falmouth’s old cemetery. They inform visitors of its importance to wildlife and the fact that it contains several rare species of solitary bees. They also display information on conservation efforts both in the cemetery and the town.

Apart from being excited over the Urban Buzz project there were two personal recording highlights this year. The first was discovering a new species of bee in Falmouth, Anthophora furcata. Not only was this a new record for this part of Cornwall but it is an interesting bee in that it is one of the few species to make its nest by burrowing into dead wood.

    A male Anthophora furcata, captured and released in a
    garden near Kimberley Park.

My second find was seeing my first European Hornet in Falmouth, only saw one and only once. This is our native species and is impressively large and unlike the Asian Hornet not a threat to beekeepers and their hives. Despite its size it is usually a docile creature that often hunts at night.

 Our native hornet, a new record for Falmouth, will we see
 more of them in 2019?

Another fantastic find was shown to me by Simon Penna, Head of Maintenance for Falmouth Town Council. A number of solitary wasps were making their nests in a dead Ash tree in Kimberley Park. Now although solitary, that is the female usually makes an individual nest some species will share the entrance that then leads to their own nest. This was the case with this species, Ectemnius cephalotes and there were steady streams of female wasps bring back captured flies to the entrance. It was fascinating watching them carry the fly beneath them and manoeuvring it into the hole. Each egg that the wasp lays is provision with several paralysed flies for the larvae to feed on when it hatches. Paralysing the fly keeps it fresh for the larvae, an interesting alternative to refrigeration but please don’t try this at home.

A female Ectemnius cephalotes solitary wasp returns to her

nest with a paralysed fly for her larvae to feed on. As an

adult wasp they will feed on nectar.

Most people only encounter and would recognise social wasps, who like honey bees live in a nest with female workers and a queen. In Falmouth the two species usually seen are the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the European wasp (Vespula germanica). In October Storm Callum damaged one of the conifers in the lower part of Falmouth cemetery. One of its lower branches was almost completely torn from the tree. This caused a common wasp nest to fall from its original position to be caught lower down. Thanks to the skilful work of the cemetery manager, Matthew Brotherton and the maintenance crew not only was the branch safely removed but the still active nest also survived. This gave a rare chance to see the intricate design of the nest and watch the activity of the common wasps for several weeks until the colony came to the end of its lifecycle.

The Common Wasp nest revealed after the damage caused
to a tree by Storm Callum.

The biggest impact made by the weather this year was made by the beast from the east, an influx of cold air that saw snow falling and settling in Falmouth. The effects of this unusually cold spell in March were immediately seen on tender plants such as Alexander that were hit hard. Many queen bumblebees delayed establishing a nest and new colonies by up to four weeks and many butterfly species appeared later than normal.

  Solitary bee (Andrena fulva) on Alexander flowers. Being

  introduced by the Romans from the Mediterranean, 
  Alexander was hit hard by the unusually harsh weather.

Generally I saw a fall in the abundance of insects this spring and to a lesser extent in the summer. My hope is that it was a result of this cold spell and it is not repeated in 2019 to allow populations to recover. Certainly with local conservation efforts the prospects look very promising for this year. It is though a reminder that climate change is something we all should be concerned about.