IWNHAS Bulletin February 2022 – summary of contents

IWNHAS Bulletin February 2022 – summary of contents

• President’s Address
  – Reflections on the pandemic, increased appreciation of local wildlife, thanks to volunteers, and a welcome to new members.
• Society News
  • Please help with distribution
    – Appeal for volunteers to deliver the Bulletin by hand twice a year to reduce postage costs.
  • Thank you, Jackie (Treasurer)
    – Tribute to Jackie Hart’s 27 years of service as Treasurer and welcome to her successor, Nigel Locke.
• Natural History Notes
  • Pink Meadow Grasshoppers (erythrism)
    – Rare pink grasshoppers observed on the Island, caused by a genetic pigment condition making them vulnerable to predation.
  • What’s in a name? Iris foetidissima (Stinking Iris)
    – Exploration of the plant’s history, mythology, and unusual smell likened to roast beef or oxo cubes.
  • Birds at Sea — John Willmott
    – Personal recollections of seabird encounters during naval service, from rescues to long-distance travellers across oceans.
  • Mystery on mouldy plums (lacewing eggs)
    – Strange growths on plums identified as lacewing egg clusters, vital predators of aphids in gardens.
  • Contributions please
    – Invitation for members to send articles, sightings, and stories for future Bulletin issues.
  • A survivor at Osborne: Oak Polypore discovery
    – Rare Oak Polypore fungus recorded at Osborne, linking today’s woodland to pre-Victorian landscapes.
  • Australasian moss on tree ferns at Ventnor BG
    – Moss species from Tasmania and New Zealand unexpectedly found surviving on imported tree fern trunks.
  • Ramblings of an old fossil (crocodile find)
    – Colourful story of uncovering a fossil crocodile skeleton at Fishbourne during a muddy dig.
• Recording & Conservation
  • BTO Breeding Bird Survey (2021)
    – Results from Isle of Wight survey squares, noting 80 species and shifting abundances compared to previous years.
  • Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)
    – Covid disruptions impacted counts, but nine Island sites are now classed as nationally important key wetlands.
  • iWatch Wildlife — 2021 recap & events
    – Report on community events, species recording campaigns, and projects including Hedgehog Island and Species of the Month.
  • Swift conservation — call for nest boxes
    – Appeal for nest box installations to combat severe population decline of Swifts across the UK.
  • Island Recorders — who to send records to
    – Contact details for specialists recording plants, insects, mammals, fungi, birds, and marine life.
• Wildlife Reports — Andy’s Nature Notes (Jul–Nov)
  – Month-by-month diary of wildlife sightings including butterflies, dragonflies, seabirds, marine mammals, and seasonal changes.
• Archaeology & History
  • Walk report: Whippingham and the Medina
    – Guided exploration of landscape history from Anglo-Saxon settlements to medieval manors and Norman churches.
  • Archaeology on Wednesdays — finds & surveys
    – Reports on excavation activities, finds processing, and studies of local archaeology during 2021 sessions.
  • Steephill & Flowers Brook walk
    – Field visit describing earthworks, historic sites, and natural features in the Steephill area.
  • Tennyson Down earthworks walk
    – Archaeological walk highlighting prehistoric and later features across the Tennyson Down landscape.
• Fungi
  • Fungi Group meetings — autumn forays
    – Summaries of forays recording fungi species across Island habitats, with notes on interesting discoveries.
• Back Matter
  • Next Bulletin — submissions
    – Call for articles, photographs, and reports for future Bulletin issues, with submission deadlines.
  • Back page
    – Closing notes, useful contacts, and final Society information.