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Loughborough Naturalists’ Field Trip 4 June 2025 (Download pdf version here)

Jubilee Walk Shepshed and White Horse Wood

This site was chosen as a suitable venue for Loughborough Naturalists’ Club Field Meeting following my attendance at a winter trip by the Charnwood Forest Recording Club. It was thought that a return trip in spring would yield many more and different records. My understanding from NatureSpot was that only about 107 records of 88 species had previously been made. 

Four types of habitat near Shepshed were visited: the footpath along the abandoned Charnwood Forest Railway known as The Bluebell Line, field edges, a small pond and the woodland. 

Jubilee Way was created from the Hugglescote to Loughborough branch line, which was opened in 1883, terminating at Derby Road, near the Station Hotel (which closed in 2014). It was never successful as the company was refused permission to link it with the other Loughborough train networks. Whilst operating there were stations or halts at Shepshed (now Old Station Close) see photo, at Snells Nook Halt for guests of Squire de Lisle to access Garendon Hall and his Longcliffe Golf Course, and at Grace Dieu Halt to access Gace Dieu Manor.

The Railway Track

The route, as far as the turn off to the woods, is on an embankment or in a cutting and has plentiful but common local vegetation along the sides. Woody species included Ash, Cherry, Dogrose, Elder, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Oak, Horse Chestnut, Norway Maple, Sycamore, and Wych Elm.

Ground layer included: Black Bryony Tamus (Dioscorea) communis, Bracken Pteridium aquilinum, Cleavers Galium aparine, the grass Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, Common Ivy Hedera helix, Common Nettle Urtica dioica, Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris, Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum, Dandelion agg. Taraxacum officinale agg., Enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea lutetiana, Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium, Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata, Greater Plantain Plantago major, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum, Lords-and-ladies Arum Maculatum, Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas, Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris, Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, Oxford Ragwort Senecio squalidus, Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola, Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus, Wood Avens Geum urbanum, Wood Millett Milium effusum, and Yarrow Achillea millefolium. A Burdock was examined – squishy lower leaves suggesting Lesser Burdock Arctium minus but the inflorescence was not yet developed enough to confirm racemose or corymbose (flat topped). And in terms of the group making insect records on the day the all-important Hogweed was in flower. In sunny patches it was very rewarding. Bramble agg.  Rubus fruticosus agg. was also present in large patches, the flowers providing food for pollinating insects in shifting sunny patches.

Birds in evidence were: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon and Wren.

Just one mammal was seen all day – the ubiquitous Grey Squirrel.

Just one fungus was seen, in the railway track, a large mass of Glistening Inkcap Coprinellus micaceus at the base of a tree. This seemed unusual but it seems that this fungus can start to fruit in spring, carrying on until the autumn.

A good start for invertebrates was the Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes (or Forest Bug), and the mines of the micromoth Lyonettia clerkella on the Cherry at the start of the visit, and the colourful leaf roll galls on Ash caused by the psyllid or jumping plant louse (a type of bug) Psyllopsis fraxini agg. This brings into question the tragedy of how many species will be lost if we lose all our Ash trees. Hopefully some trees will survive. Also in evidence, and throughout the other sections, were numerous Harlequin Ladybird larvae. Hazel Big Bud Galls caused by the mite Phytoptus avellanae were found on Hazel, as was Hazel Aphid Myzocallis coryli.  Other aphids were also found i.e. Nettle Aphid Microlophium carnosum and Herb Bennet Aphid Macrosiphum gei.  Mines on Holly leaves caused by the larvae of the Agromyzid fly Phytomyza ilicis were plentiful, as were the mines of the micromoth Golden Pigmy Stigmella aurella on Bramble. As well as providing flowers for food for a range of insects, Hogweed also provides through its leaves. The larvae of the micromoth Epermenia chaerophyllella feed on the backs of Hogweed leaves leaving brown damaged leaf tissue and the larvae of the Agromyzid flies Phytomyza spondylii and Phytomyza pastinacae produce identical conspicuous, whitish linear mines on the leaves which means that unless reared the mines cannot be referred to either species but are recorded as an aggregate. Similarly, many leaves of Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius showed evidence of mines, in this case by the larvae of the Anthomyid or Root-maggot flies in the genus Pegomya. More than one species of Pegomya mine dock leaves and the mine can only be assigned to species if the larva is reared. Adult insects mostly found on Hogweed or bramble flowers included several hoverflies such as Syrphus species (the three common species cannot be separated except by fine detail of colour of some hairs or hairy eyes – not easy in the field or by an average photograph. The Pellucid Hoverfly Volucella pellucens was more easily identified, as was Baccha elongata, easily recognised by its long thin body. Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius, and Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis were also seen. The day-flying moth Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana was frequently spotted, and Common Marble Celypha lacunana which although a night-flying moth is often and easily disturbed by day. Other insects included the familiar Honeybee Apis mellifera, Tree Bumblebees Bombus hypnorum, Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris one of the earliest and largest bees. Green-bottles were also present on hogweed flowers – the common name for Lucilia species of Blow Flies in the Calliphorid family. It was good to see both the easily recognisable egg sac of Sputnik Spider Paidiscura pallens and the attending adult nearby. Robin’s Pincushion Galls of the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae were found.  Unlike most of the species we search for this has a range of common names i.e. Rose Bedeguar Gall, Bedeguar Gall Wasp, Mossy Rose Gall or simply Moss Gall. 

The Pond

Some of the group descended a slope to a small pond edged with vegetation, probably a useful resource to wildlife in the current dry spell. On my “recce” I had seen a Grey Wagtail, which was seen again, and a Wood Pigeon drinking at the margins. A tiny beetle, Duckweed Weevil Tanysphyrus lemnae was found amongst the Brooklime Veronica beccabunga. It is only 1.2 – 1.9 mm and is closely associated with duckweeds (Lemna sp.). Recent records are from Rutland Water. Also seen near the pond was a male Footballer Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus, the commonest of the three Helophilus species all with vertical “footballer” stripes. The pattern, the face-stripe and the colour of the hind tibia are all needed to be certain of species. And always good to see, a bright all-red Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis.

Field Edges

The route connecting the track and the wood runs between fenced woodland adjacent to the nearby industrial complex and a large arable field. Just inside the fence is a ditch and evidence of wetness was the appearance of Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense, identified by loose green sheaths with erect black teeth lacking obvious white edges.  Narrow-leaved Willow trees were in evidence and Willow Redgall was found on leaves caused by the sawfly Euura proxima. Galls were also found on Field Maple Acer campestre caused by mites Aceria macrochela. Also present were large stands of Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum though not yet in flower. There was evidence of Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea now gone to seed. The vivid purple flowers of Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca were seen scrambling up the fence and over other plants, and Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens was evident. Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius was present, the leaves infected with the fungal plant pathogen Ramularia rubella producing reddish spots on leaves. This pathogen is being investigated as a biological control agent for Broad-leaved Dock. 

On the field side of this boundary the following plants were recorded: Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica, Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, Nipplewort Lapsana communis, Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum, and Scented Mayweed Matricaria chamomilla (carefully checked for the hollow receptacle). Grasses included Barren Brome Anisantha sterilis, False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius, Italian Rye-grass Lolium multiflorum differentiated from the more common Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne by its long awns, and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus.

Here amongst Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium many insects were to be found, and the group spent a considerable time enjoying their finds. A Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella cucurbitina sensu lato was spotted, pale yellowish-green in colour with a red mark under the abdomen, but the two Araniella species found in Leicestershire and Rutland: A. cucurbitina and A. opisthographa, which fall under this definition cannot be told apart in the field. The Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis was a spider more easily identified to species.

Beetles found were: 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata; Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni, once common, declared extinct in Britain in 1960’s, rediscovered in 2004, and now both the larva and the beetle are found on large numbers of Alder trees; Cantharis rustica one of the larger black and red Soldier Beetles; the all-red Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis; Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula; Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis, and the small weevil Rhinocyllus conicus.

Bumblebees were found too: Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum, Common Carder Bumblebee Bombus pascuorum, and Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum.

Amongst the bugs were the distinctive Mirid Deraeocoris flavilinea, Dock Bug Coreus marginatus, and Dock Aphid Aphis rumicis separated from the similar Black Bean Aphid Aphis fabae by the prominent leaf-curl that is produced.

Lepidoptera included Silver Ground Carpet another night-flying moth easily disturbed by day, the caterpillars feeding on low plants such as bedstraws, Speckled Wood butterflies, Straw Dot, and the tortrix Hedge Marble or Black-edged Marble Endothenia nigrocostana.

Just one sawfly was found and identified Alder Sawfly Eriocampa ovata.

Footballer Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus, Tapered Drone Fly Eristalis pertinax, Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea (look for the Batman logo on the thorax) and a Flesh Fly Sarcophaga sp. only identifiable to species by examining the male genitalia were amongst the flies found.

Four galls were found: one caused by the wasp Andricus curvator on Oak leaves, Oak Apple caused by the waspBiorhiza pallida and Currant Galls the sexual generation ofNeuroterus quercusbaccarumon Oak catkins.  Galls caused by the mite Eriophyes similis were found on the edges of Blackthorn leaves, and galls caused by the midge Macrodiplosis pustularis found causing downward rolls on the edges of Oak leaves.

After passing through part of the woodland another small area of woodland/field boundary with Nettle, Hazel, Bramble, and the grass Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus, was explored, where again a variety of invertebrates were found including a Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata, several Speckled Wood butterflies, more Syrphus hoverflies and some bumblebees. One large hoverfly stood out Bog Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis with only 15 records on NatureSpot.

The Woodland

A wide variety of conventional Midlands woodland trees were found such as Ash, Hazel, Holly, Rowan, Silver Birch, Oak, Sycamore and Yew, but most unusual was the large number of Hornbeam trees. It would be interesting to explore the history of how they came to be planted.

The ground flora consisted of much Bramble, evidence of a large array of Bluebells, Bracken, both Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas and either Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata or Narrow Buckler-fern (D. carthusiana) – I forgot to check the scales for the black centre. Honeysuckle was in evidence including one spectacular array in full flower and perfume.  And there were leaves of faded Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa. Enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea lutetiana was present (an unlikely looking member of the Willowherb family), as was Wood Speedwell Veronica montana, Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella with the shamrock-looking leaves, Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum with the distinctive odour, both White and Red Clovers (remember red hair or white teeth!), Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea,  Bush Vetch Vicia sepium with the leaves broader at the bottom than at the top (big-bottomed bush vetch) and Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare. Occasional spikes of Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa were noted plus some small patches of Great Wood-rush Luzula sylvatica. Of particular interest were the two woodland grasses: Wood Millet Milium effusum and Wood Melick Melica uniflora both of which can be found in old woodlands – the age of White Horse Wood has not been researched, but the banks and ditches imply age, even though no trees seem ancient. Is it an ancient woodland site that perhaps has been clear-felled at some point?

Chifchaffs were singing in the wood along with Robins, Wrens, Chaffinches, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Treecreeper and Woodpigeons. A dead Great Spotted Woodpecker was found. Hopefully not the result of ‘Bird Flu’ now prevalent in some nearby lakes and ponds. On a more positive note, a party of seven or eight Long-tailed Tits was spotted moving through the canopy.

The woodland was noticeable for the fungi that were found.  Hoof Fungus Fomes fomentarius was much in evidence including large numbers on the trunk of one standing dead silver birch. Birch Polypore Fomitopsis betulina was less in evidence on our route. Birch Woodwort Annulohypoxylon multiforme was found on dead fallen birch logs. Dead Moll’s Fingers Xylaria longipes was found by turning over a decaying fallen log. Brittle Cinder Kretzschmaria deusta was found on several decaying trees on the north side of the wood, both the early pale grey stage and the older hard black “cinder” stage. The blue/green staining at the end of a cut log was thought to be evidence of Green Elfcup Chlorociboria, not identifiable to species without microscopy. Also of interest were the fallen brackets of the fungus Shaggy Bracket Inonotus hispidus. This is an unusual bracket fungus in that the brackets are annual, growing in the summer and autumn and slowly decaying and falling to the ground in the winter. However they last a considerable time after falling. Our noses also found evidence of Stinkhorn Phallus impudicus but despite searching we were unable to find any fruiting bodies. One slime mould was found Wolf’s Milk Lycogala epidendrum, not at all a fungus or mould but now considered as belonging to the Kingdom Protozoa, with fascinating lifecycle of differing behaviours.

Another find was the rounded, upper surface leaf mines of the moth Phyllonorycter esperella on Hornbeam. A moth Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata was disturbed from Bracken its larval food plant, another night flying moth easily disturbed by day. Other moths included the beautiful Yellow-banded Longhorn Nemophora degeerella with its long antennae. An array of insects were found such as the Dolichopodid (dol i) or long-legged fly Sciapus platypterus, the white middle tarsi are diagnotic (only nine records on NatureSpot), Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima, Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata easily identified with its head, body and legs all being orange/yellow.

Bugs found were the mirid Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus sometimes referred to as the Four-spotted Oak Bug, and Campyloneura virgula (nymph) a distinctively marked mirid bug. Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis was identified. Aphids covered the undersides of huge numbers of Sycamore leaves. The view looking up through the canopy was of completely spotty leaves. Have there been more aphids this spring than usual?  It certainly seems so to me. Several woodlands were covered in huge amounts of sticky honey dew until some welcome rain showers washed it off. Beetles included the Click Beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis which seems to be very common in places I have visited this year. Malthinus flaveolus a small soldier beetle with only 13 records on NatureSpot was identified. The gall on Yew buds caused by the mite Cecidophyopsis psilaspiswas discovered as was the tiny (1.5 to 2 mm) barklouse Ectopsocus briggsi agg. The Batman Hoverfly Myathropea florea was also found in the woods. There were enough gaps in the canopy to allow sunshine to fall onto some patches of bramble in flower where insects could be found feeding.

Some of us puzzled over an aphid sitting over a round object. It was suggested that this was probably an aphid parasitized by a wasp, probably a Braconid, possibly a Praon sp.  The wasp lays an egg inside the aphid, the larva grows inside the aphid, leaves through the underside and constructs a disc cocoon between the aphid mummy and the leaf where it pupates to emerge later as a wasp.

One of our members, being a beetle specialist, tapped a large number of trees and vegetation into a white container looking for beetles. Graham’s list is astonishing:

The “Best” beetles were:

• Odeles marginata – 15 previous records, most from Charnwood Forest
• Contacyphon padi – just six previous records, quite scarce in VC55
• Ochina ptinoides – not scarce, but just quite a nice beetle to see
• Axinotarsus marginalis – ten previous records, mainly Charnwood Forest
• Diplocoelus fagi – Nationally Notable B – only two previous records, “really pleased with this record” – Graham
• Corticeus unicolor – Nationally Scarce – 12 previous records, all Graham’s (1st record was 2012 Cloud Wood)
• Tanysphyrus lemnae – most recent records are from Rutland Water

Graham also collected some moth records:

• Hawthorn Moth Scythropia crataegella – adult
• Common Marble Celypha lacunana – adult
• Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana – adult
• Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria – adult
• Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata – adult

All in all, I think everyone enjoyed the morning. It was a bit rushed because some of us had to curtail the trip due to afternoon commitments, but we were lucky to have good weather, with rain the day before and the day after. The aim of these meetings is for Members with skills in particular areas to share with other members and I felt that the interaction and learning and confidence building between us all was exactly what happened. It would be good to visit again in the spring for the bluebells and spring migrants, in July for more beetles, hoverflies, butterflies, etc., and in the autumn again for beetles, but also for fungi.

Thanks to the following for their company, for pointing out species on the day, and sending me lists of their finds: Cynthia, Felicity, Graham, Howard, Jan, Jenny, Lindsi, Margaret and Mike. Thanks to Mike Higgot – all the photos are his copyright. Apologies for any records that I have missed out.

All these records have been or will be recorded onto our local database NatureSpot for onward travel to national and county databases, some records will go directly to local and national databases. I think we will have added almost 200  to the county records.

Hazel Graves – 9 June 2025

Graham’s full beetle list is as follows:

Taxon	Vernacular	Comment
Leistus ferrugineus		Taken off tree trunk
Ocys harpaloides sens. str.		Beat from low dead branches
Tachyporus obtusus		Swept from Nettle
Odeles marginata		Swept from low vegetation edge of small pond
Contacyphon padi		Swept from low vegetation edge of small pond
Agriotes acuminatus		Swept from low vegetation
Agriotes pallidulus		Swept from low vegetation
Cantharis lateralis		Swept from low vegetation
Cantharis rustica		Swept from low vegetation
Rhagonycha lignosa		Swept from low vegetation
Anthrenus verbasci		Under bark of dead Birch stump
Ochina ptinoides	Ivy Boring Beetle	Beat from Ivy
Dasytes aeratus		Swept from Hogweed
Axinotarsus marginalis		Swept from low vegetation
Malachius bipustulatus	Malachite Beetle	Swept from low vegetation
Byturus ochraceus		Swept from low vegetation
Byturus tomentosus	Raspberry Beetle	Swept from low vegetation
Diplocoelus fagi		Beat from low dead branches
Meligethes aeneus	Common Pollen Beetle	Swept from Hogweed
Adalia decempunctata	10-spot Ladybird	Swept from Nettle
Adalia decempunctata	10-spot Ladybird	Swept from low vegetation
Calvia quattuordecimguttata	Cream-spot Ladybird	Swept from low vegetation
Coccinella septempunctata	7-spot Ladybird	Swept from Hogweed
Harmonia axyridis	Harlequin Ladybird	Beat from Field Maple
Cis boleti		Under bark of dead Birch stump
Corticeus unicolor		Under bark of dead Birch stump
Pyrochroa serraticornis	Common Cardinal Beetle	Swept from low vegetation
Vincenzellus ruficollis		Beat from low dead branches
Anaspis frontalis		Beat from flowering Elder
Anaspis maculata		Swept from Hogweed
Anaspis maculata		Beat from flowering Elder
Anaspis regimbarti		Beat from flowering Elder
Anaspis regimbarti		Swept from Hogweed
Grammoptera ruficornis		Swept from Hogweed
Rutpela maculata		Swept from low vegetation
Aphthona euphorbiae		Beat from Ivy
Crepidodera aurata		Beat from long-leaved Willow
Tanysphyrus lemnae	Duckweed Weevil	Swept from Brooklime at edge of small pond
Nedyus quadrimaculatus	Small Nettle Weevil	Swept from Nettle
Rhinoncus pericarpius		Swept from Nettle
Phyllobius pomaceus		Swept from low vegetation

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11 April 2025 – Green Tiger Beetle and Dark-edged Bee-fly in Bradgate Park

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10 April 2025 – Goshawks in Charnwood!!!

The Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society has recently announced that Goshawks seem to be establishing as a regular bird in the Charnwood Forest. After extensive discussion, there is now a Goshawk viewing area in Bradgate Park below the War Memorial.

For more details please see the LROS page https://lros.org.uk/the-phantom-of-the-forest-returns/

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5 March 2025 – First Migrant Birds

The first singing Chiffchaffs have been heard in the area with singles near Thornton Reservoir dam on the 5th, Bradgate Park on the 6th and Swithland Res on the 7th.

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22 December 2024 – Starling Murmuration

Spectacular murmuration of approx. 10,000 birds this afternoon at Brascote Pits. Dropped into the reedbed close to the public footpath at SK44560231 – Steve Woodward

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4 December 2024 – Mycena pseudocorticola

A small troop of Mycena pseudocorticola was found in moss on an Oak tree at Bosworth Country Park at SK41150266 during the Loughborough Naturalists’ wildlife walk. Photographs and samples were taken and identify confirmed by renowned Mycologist John N Hedger. This is the first known record for the county since 6 September 2016 in Holly Hayes Wood, Whitwick. Jim Graham

Mycena pseudocorticola All photos (c) Jim Graham

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Please email your sightings; Species, Quantity, Date and Site and any photographs to:

Jim Graham: cropstonbirder@gmail.com