Wildlife Review 2022 - Grasshoppers, allies & other invertebrates

Grasshoppers & allies

A disappointing year for this group with some expected species not recorded. Only 14 species were recorded compared with a record 19 in 2021. The normally numerous Common Groundhopper, a species of damp areas, wasn't recorded: the dry winter and spring may have affected its life-cycle. Seemingly less affected by the conditions, Common Earwig were first recorded on 19 Mar with the locally distributed Lesne's Earwig the next day, both found in leaf litter.

Lesne's Earwig - Kevin Rylands

The first true grasshopper of the year was Meadow Grasshopper on 12 May, quickly followed by Lesser Cockroach on 13th, Grey Bush-cricket on 14th, Great Green Bush-cricket and Long-winged Conehead on 21st. All of these were first recorded in various instar or nymph stages, as was the first Speckled Bush-cricket found on 11 Jun.

Speckled Bush-cricket - Kevin Rylands

By July adult grasshoppers and bush-crickets were at their most numerous with the first Mottled Grasshopper and Oak Bush-cricket on 1st. Encouragingly at least three Roesel's Bush-cricket were recorded from 5 July; heard rather than seen, they were located in Greenland Lake and the Back Meadow. The first site record was only in 2018, with the second only last year. Field Grasshopper appeared from 9th, Tawny Cockroach was found on 10th and Common Green Grasshopper, a recent arrival, were active from 21st.

Field Grasshopper - Alan Keatley

Field Grasshopper could still be seen and heard on warm days into mid October and a late Dark Bush-cricket was seen on 23rd.

Molluscs

Fifteen species of slugs and snails were recorded, although dry conditions during the early part of year seem to have restricted numbers, especially slugs. Three new species were found all under wood, Draparnaud's Glass Snail Oxychilus draparnaudi on 2 Apr, Winter Semi-slug Vitrina pellucida on 13 Nov and Tawny Soil Slug Arion owenii on 20 Dec.

Winter Semi-slug Vitrina pellucida - Alan Keatley

Annelid Worms

Three widespread earthworms were recorded during the year, Roundhead Worm Lumbricus rubellus, Brandling Worm Eisenia fetida and Compost Worm Eisenia veneta. The highlight was a freshwater leech Erpobdella testacea, discovered new for the Recording Area on 10 Dec.

Erpobdella testacea - Alan Keatley

Isopoda

The ubiquitous Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber and Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus were often found alongside the striped woodlice Philoscia muscorum and less frequently Porcellio spinicornis. The second record of the small, blind, white Ant Woodlouse Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii was found in ant nest nest on 5 Jun and several Rosy Woodlouse Androniscus dentiger, new to the Recording Area, were found on 22 Oct.

Rosy Woodlouse - Alan Keatley

Myriapods

Millipedes (and centipedes) are a very under-recorded group on the Warren and were also difficult to find this year, with just four species; Common Flat-backed Millipede Polydesmus angustus on 27 Feb, the millipedes Cylindroiulatus latestriatus and C. punctatus on 2 Apr and Striped Millipede Ommatoilus sabulosus from 5 May, the latter species is usually abundant across the site, but very few were seen this year.

Common Flat-backed Millipede Polydesmus angustus - Alan Keatley

Psocotera

Barkflies have a simple wing structure with most species under 6mm. Eight species were identified this year including Mesopsocus immunis, new for site on 24 Apr and both Ectopocus petersi and Trichopsocus clarus on 3 Jan. 

Pteroxanium kelloggi (nymph) - Alan Keatley

Other insects

These included a gorse thrip Odontothrips ulicis on 27 Feb, Scorpion-fly Panorpa communis from 3 May, Pond Olive Mayfly Cloeon dipterum on 15 May, a brown lacewing Micromus variegatus on 22 May, and two new caddisflies for the Recording Area; Limnephilus marmoratus on 19 May and Limnephilus lunatus on 1 Jul, both to light. Two new ant species were also found, both on the railway wall near Langstone Rock, the closely related, Formica fusca on 16 Jul and Formica cunicularia on 29 Jul.

Formica fusca - Alan Keatley

Archaeognatha

Two bristletails were found near Langstone Rock with Sea Bristletail Petrobius maritmus on 7 Apr and Heathland Bristletail Dilta littoralis on 18 Jun.

Dilta littoralis - Alan Keatley

Collembola

Springtails are very numerous and found in leaf litter and soil, but their small size can make them difficult to identify to species level. 12 species were recorded, including two new globular springtails; Dicyrtomina minuta on 13 Nov and Sminthurides aquaticus on 19 Nov.

Dicyrtomina minuta (above) & D. fuscus - Kevin Rylands

Arachnids (Spiders, Harvestmen and mites)

In the absence of any specialist visits just 36 spider species were recorded (cf. 75 in 2021). Despite this three new widespread species were noted for the first time, Invisible Spider Drapetisca socialis, Theridion varians, a comb-footed spider and Buzzing Spider Anyphaena accentua.

Buzzing Spider Anyphaena accentua - Kevin Rylands

Unfortunately there were no reports of Wasp Spider this year but better news from Warren Point, where the Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi was refound on the shore of the Bight, having been seemingly lost from the outer beach due to erosion. 

Dune Jumper Marpissa nivoyi - Kevin Rylands

Six species of Harvestman were recorded with the second site record of the non-native Opilio canestrinii in the same location as the previous 2020 record.

Opilio canestrinii - Kevin Rylands

Acari are small microscopic mites, many of which cause visible galls on their host plants, 21 species were noted including three new for the Recording Area. There were Acalitus rudis which causes a felt gall on birch, Aculops fuchsiae which forms a distorted leaf gall on Fuchsia and Aculus rubiae, which does the same on Wild Madder.

Aculops fuchsiae galls - Kevin Rylands

Monday 2nd January

After going missing yesterday the wintering Sandwich Tern was again present in the estuary, along with the Spoonbill, two Avocet, 37 Ringed Plover and two Red-breasted Merganser.

Offshore a welcome increase in Great Crested Grebe with 38 present, the three Eider and five Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere Sparrowhawk and Reed Bunting showed themselves for the first time in 2023, with Cetti's Warbler, six Redwing, three Bullfinch, two Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail around the ponds and a presumed migrant Chiffchaff on Warren Point.

Wildlife News: The sun accompanied the warm temperatures today with the first Buff-tailed Bumblebee out foraging on Gorse, along with a few other winter active invertebrates including Zebra Spider, Sand Sedge Planthopper and Spurge Bug.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Alan Keatley

Spurge Bug - Alan Keatley

Wildlife Review 2022 - Butterflies & Moths

The first butterfly of the year was a passing Red Admiral on 30 Jan. A Small Tortoiseshell, presumably just out of hibernation, was a nice surprise on 25 Feb, a species that has shown welcome signs of a slight recovery in recent years.

Comma - Kevin Rylands

It wasn't until mid/late March that other butterflies emerged in numbers; a particularly warm spell of dry sunny weather saw several Comma, Peacock and Speckled Wood on the wing from 17th with the first Orange-tip on 27th. A return to average temperatures at the beginning of April reduced numbers although a Green-veined White was new for the year on the 9th. 

Orange-tip - Kevin Rylands

The temperature picked up again with the first Small Copper seen on 17 Apr, Small White on 19th, Large White on 25th and both Brown Argus and Common Blue on 26th. A Holly Blue on 24th was the first of just five seen during the year.

Small Copper - Alan Keatley

Meadow Brown, perhaps the commonest species from late spring into the summer, were on the wing from 19 May. Two migrant species also made a first appearance during the month, with a Painted Lady on the 21st and a Clouded Yellow on the 27th. Both were seen occasionally until late autumn although, unusually this year, sightings of Clouded Yellow outnumbered Painted Lady. 

Large Skipper - Dave Jewell

June is the peak month for butterfly species on site with new emergences on a frequent basis; Large Skipper from 2nd, Small Skipper from 8th, Marbled White on the 11th, the earliest ever Ringlet on the 18th, the same day as the first of many Gatekeeper. By end of the month at least 14 species were on the wing.

 

Ringlet - Dave Jewell

Another poor year for Wall Brown, with the only confirmed record on 13 Jul, each year increasingly feels like the last this species will hang on. Also, disappointingly there were no confirmed sightings of Brimstone, Green Hairstreak or any dispersing fritillaries. 

Wall - Lee Collins

On a more positive note, at least four Purple Hairstreak were active around oak trees from 11 Jul, reconfirming their presence on site, as the first record since 2019. At least 16 species were on the wing on 9 Jul, including the year's fourth Marbled White and the freshly emerged second generations of Common Blue and Small Copper, The second generation of Brown Argus emerged on Warren Point on 10th, but numbers were much lower than usual.

Brown Argus - Alan Keatley

Good numbers continued into August with ten different species recorded on 10th, including the final Small Skipper of the year. Several Clouded Yellow and a few Painted Lady added a splash of colour to the dried out meadows by the end of the month.

Clouded Yellow - Alan Keatley

By September numbers started to drop off with Gatekeeper in particular substantially down, the last one recorded on 6th. Also, on the 6th a worn second generation Holly Blue was on the wing. Red Admiral were noted passing throughout the month, but not in any noticeable numbers. By contrast, Small White had a good passage with 30 noted on 17th with a few more Clouded Yellow arriving towards the end of the month.

Holly Blue - Alan Keatley

As to be expected numbers dropped off considerably during October. Small Copper were noted on four dates, a late Meadow Brown was seen on 6th, Speckled Wood on 16th and a Painted Lady on 26th. Some tardy individuals were seen even on the warmer days in November with single Small Copper, Painted Lady and Peacock on 4th and three Red Admiral on 9th.

Painted Lady - Alan Keatley

Dawlish Warren Butterflies

Moths

A total of 323 species (cf. 326 in 2021) were recorded during the year mostly from observing leafmines and light trapping undertaken on the Golf Course on just four occasions (cf. 10 in 2021). A further 30 species were added to the Warren audit, including eight ‘macro’ moths.

These included a number of presumably overlooked species such as Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata, March Tubic Diurnea flagella and Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella. 

Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella - Kevin Rylands

Others perhaps linked to maturing woodland such as Oak Beauty Biston strataria, Alder Kitten Furcula bicuspis, Alder Signal Stathmopoda pedella, Poplar Bent-wing Phyllocnistis unipunctella and Brown Oak Slender Acrocercops brongniardella, with the day flying Mother Shipton Callistege mi, seen in the Back Meadow, Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata and Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea indicating the quality of the grasslands.

Barred Rivulet - Luke Harman

The changing climate was reflected in the arrival of recently established UK species including Southern Bell Crocidosema plebejana, Dark-bordered Pearl Evergestis limbata and the adventive Box Moth Cydalima perspectalis. Light trapping did not coincide with a spell of high migrant activity in October but the African migrant Maize Moth Spoladea recurvalis found during the day on 31st.

Maize Moth Spoladea recurvalis - Sam Grey

The Alexanders conch Aethes deaurana and Portland Ribbon Wave Idaea degeneraria are now well established on site with multiple sightings and New Marsh Cosmet Cosmopterix scribaiella was again present after being recorded new to Devon last year.

Aethes deaurana - Kevin Rylands

Other residents included the first Shore Marble Lobesia littoralis and Great Prominent Peridea anceps for at least 30 years, Rest-harrow Piercer Cydia microgrammana and Bloxworth Snout Hypena obsitalis for the first time in a decade, and the second record of Fen Wainscot Arenostola phragmitidis after one in 1993.

Great Prominent - Kevin Rylands

Several species struggled in the dry conditions with relatively few grass moths (Crambidae), the Tigers had a poor year and species such as Large Yellow Underwing also emerged in low numbers. The rapid die back of leaves led to a reduction in the number of leafmines to be found, but over 40 species were still recorded, eight of which were first records.

Poplar Bent-wing Phyllocnistis unipunctella - Jack Oughton

Migrant conditions were good throughout the year, the first Silver Y Autographa gamma appeared at the end of March, with the first Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella and Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera trapped overnight on 19 May, a second Bordered Straw was seen by day on 26 May.

Bordered Straw - Dave Jewell

The autumn saw a Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon on 14 Aug, and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum on 28 Aug which was one of only three records, a poor year compared to elsewhere. Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella larvae were discovered on Sea Beet in September with a Vestal Rhodometra sacraria on 18th, the first of a record year.

Vestal - Alan Keatley

Numbers peaked in late October with over 80 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella flushed on the 20th, the same day the Warren's second Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella was found nectaring on Ivy. Two more Crimson Speckled were found by day on 23rd and 29th with the Maize Moth on the 31st.

Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella - Guy Freeman

Dawlish Warren Moths

Devon Moth Group article

Sunday 1st January

2023 started with a warm but overcast day with  occasional showers and dropping winds. The conditions combined with a mid-afternoon tide helped the year list off to a good start with 85 species recorded on site. 

Seawatching from first light saw some early movement following strong winds overnight; heading south 153 Kittiwake, 60 Gannet, 20 Razorbill, seven Guillemot and a Fulmar, with three Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver in the bay and three Eider off Warren Point.

The Spoonbill remained in the estuary, although it roosted at Bowling Green Marsh over high tide, before returning, also from upriver two Avocet and a pair of Egyptian Goose. Counts included 1390 Dunlin, 769 Oystercatcher, 319 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 174 Grey and 39 Ringed Plover, 144 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 91 Shelduck, 82 Teal, 51 Wigeon, 42 Turnstone, 11 Sanderling, six Greenshank, just four Red-breasted Merganser, three adult Mediterranean Gull and two Kingfisher.

Egyptian Geese - Kevin Rylands

Elsewhere a Cetti's Warbler was in the flooded Entrance Bushes, as was a Redshank, with 17 Long-tailed Tit, four Redwing, three Chiffchaff and two Goldcrest on site, five Shoveler on the Main Pond, a Grey Wagtail was in Dead Dolphin Wood, 14 Skylark and the only wintering Linnet were in the Bight and a preroost gathering of 500+ corvids on Bull Hill, included at least 100 Rook and 50 Jackdaw. 

Wildlife News: A BSBI New Year Plant Hunt found a total of 25 species in flower (cf. 46 in 2022). This is higher than expected as many 'regulars' such as Bramble, sow-thistles and evening-primroses had succumbed to a combination of the December frosts and recent heavy rain. Highlights were single Thrift and Sea Spurge, with Gorse, Groundsel, Red Dead-nettle and Annual Meadow-grass the only species out in any numbers.

Wildlife Review 2022 - Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens and Fungi

Plants

The BSBI New Year Plant hunt was aided by the mild weather and lack of frosts with a record 46 species in flower including Thrift Armeria maritima, Butcher's Broom Ruscus aculeatus, Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare, Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis, Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum, Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, Common Stork's-bill Erodium cicutarium and Early Meadow Grass Poa infirma.

Butcher's Broom - Kevin Rylands

A total of 440 species were recorded during the year, (cf. 438 in 2021), including ten species new to the Recording Area flora, although seven of these were non-natives including the widespread Vervain Verbena officinalis and the garden escapes Love-in-a-Mist Nigella damascena and Leyland Cypress Cuprocyparis leylandii. The three native species were all dandelions, the widespread Taraxacum pseudohamatum, the recently described Taraxacum chlorofrugale, and the dune specialist Taraxacum glauciniforme, the only south Devon record for this rare endemic coastal species.

Vervain - Kevin Rylands

Several species were recorded for the first time in over a decade, including Tutsan Hypericum androsaemum, Cyperus Sedge Carex pseudocyperus and Thorn-apple Datura stramonium. 

Thorn-apple - Kevin Rylands

A check of the long established daffodils remaining on site, mostly on the Golf Course, revealed the continuing presence of Pheasant's-eye Daffodil Narcissus poeticus, first naturalised on the Warren 180 years ago. Other notable records included extensive populations of Mossy Stonecrop Crassula tillea on the Golf Course, but it was a below average year for flowering Sand Crocus Romulea columnae, they first emerged on 22 Mar but in low numbers, however several were found in seed.

Sand Crocus - Kevin Rylands

Shepherd’s Cress Teesdalia nudicaulis, Dodder Cuscuta epithymum and Small Pondweed Potamogeton berchtoldii all increased on the Golf Course, and Ivy Broomrape Orobanche hederae re-appeared around the Car Park.

Ivy Broomrape - Kevin Rylands

The dry conditions during the year meant many flowers burnt off early although there was a late autumn repeat flowering of several species such Dogwood Cornus sanguinea and Bramble Rubus sp.. Despite the conditions the only Green-winged Orchid Orchis morio of the year was a new plant in the surprising location of a dry ridge on Warren Point.

Green-winged Orchid - Alan Keatley

Numbers of flowering Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris, Autumn Ladies-tresses Spiranthes spiralis, Bee Ophrys apifera and Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa were down in Greenland Lake, with Marsh Helleborine only just flowering into August after consecutive November appearances. The earlier appearing and nationally declining Snake's-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris flowered again in Greenland Lake. Nice to see, whatever the origins.

Snake's-head Fritillary - Alan Keatley

After much needed rain the flowering numbers of Autumn Ladies-tresses did however have a resurgence, the same conditions also producing a late appearance of Sea Daffodil Pancratium maritimum.

Sea Daffodil Pancratium maritimum - Alan Keatley

Dawlish Warren Flora

Mosses & Liverworts

The nationally rare liverworts Micheli's Balloonwort Sphaerocarpos michelii and Blue Crystalwort Riccia crystallina again were found in new locations. The Recording Area is one of two Devon locations, with the other just the mainland side of the Railway Tunnel, there the populations remain in decline. The even rarer Spiny-spored Pygmy-moss Acaulon mediterraneum was discovered amongst them by a visiting bryologist.

Micheli's Balloonwort Sphaerocarpos michelii and Blue Crystalwort Riccia crystallina - Kevin Rylands

Two other new but widespread species were also discovered during the year, Anomalous Bristle-moss Orthotrichum anomalum and Common Pocket-moss Fissidens taxifolius.

Anomalous Bristle-moss Orthotrichum anomalum - Kevin Rylands

Lichens

At total of 71 species were again noted, with five new to the Recording Area. These included Buellia ocellata, Pertusaria pertusa, Lecanora expallens, Rhizocarpon reductum and Xanthoria calcicola, all widespread species.

Pertusaria pertusa - Kevin Rylands

The nationally scarce Moelleropsis nebulosi was again recorded on Langstone Rock, but the ongoing erosion of the fixed dunes on Warren Point continues to further reduce the nationally scarce Peltigera neckeri.

Fungi

A total of 170 species were recorded, 28 of which were new for the Recording Area, although the findings of a Devon Fungus Group mtg in November are not yet available, so further additions are anticipated.

New species included Charcoal Goldeneye Anthracobia macrocystis, Orange Ping-pong Bat Favolaschia calocera, Dripping Bonnet Roridomyces austrorida, Mauve Bonnet Mycena meliigena, Creeping Thistle Rust Puccinia punctiformis, Alder Leaf Spike Ophiognomonia alni-viridis and the powdery mildews Erysiphe adunca and Phyllactinia guttata.

Orange Ping-pong Bat Favolaschia calocera - Kevin Rylands

Other records included Nectriopsis lecanodes still on Langstone Rock, one of only four English sites, Tuberculina sbrozzii on Periwinkle Rust Puccinia vincae, and the first Spectacular Rustgill Gymnopilus junonius since the 1950s on driftwood on Warren Point.

Spectacular Rustgill Gymnopilus junonius - Alan Keatley