A History of the Birds of Suffolk. 1932 Ticehurst.SPECIES-BASED DATA
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INTRODUCTION
SBRC holds records from Suffolk for all taxonomic groups. Coverage varies from group to group and is largely a reflection of the number of people interested in the group. In general the 'big and pretty' groups, such as birds, butterflies and mammals are well covered whilst less popular groups such as mosses, micro-moths and parasitic hymenoptera have relatively little data.
This document provides a brief summary of SBRC holdings for each group and to what extent (if any) this data has been computerised. County recorders for each group are listed and, where known, other major data holders. Current projects and future work priorities (as seen by S.B.R.C.) are also outlined together with any major publications which provide Suffolk information.
For all groups the first requirement is to establish a checklist of the species in the County, past and present. The next stage is to list species in national red data books, nationally scarce, and those included in the Biodiversity Action Plan lists. For some groups lists of 'County Notable' and 'Habitat Quality Indicator' species will also be drawn up. These lists will be prepared by working groups with expertise on each taxonomic group in consultation with conservation bodies in the County. As far as possible selection at County level will be comparable from group to group using published evaluation criteria similar to those used for County Wildlife Site selection. These lists will be used internally when deciding on priorities for computerisation and will be circulated within the County to encourage recording.
BIRDS
County Recorders:
Keith Bennet, Dave Thurlow and Colin JakesBTO County Representative: Mick Wright
This is by far the most popular area for naturalists in the County. Most recording is carried out by members of the
Suffolk Ornithologists' Group (SOG). Records of rarities and applications for access to such confidential data is dealt with by the Suffolk Ornithological Records Committee (SORC). Suffolk Birds, giving a review of the previous year's records, is published annually.All correspondence used for compiling the annual Bird Report since 1973 is housed at SBRC - it is roughly sorted (and coded) into date order. There is a species-based card index for all 1973 records. For the years 1979-1990 an effective species index has been created by Bob Warren which cross-references species with letter codes. From 1991 to 1995, SBRC took over this role and records were collated using the RECORDER program. Data was first edited by the County Bird Recorders and over this period some 89,000 records were added. From 1996 the three recorders have been using Jack Levene's 'Club Recorder' on Personal Computers purchased by S.N.S.. At the end of each year records are collated for production of the annual Bird Report and a copy stored at SBRC.
A tetrad level survey of the county's breeding birds was run from 1988 to 1992. The first three years were organised in conjunction with a national survey organised by the BTO. All records have been computerised at SBRC using a simple Dbase II file to enable quick mapping of records and are also available in the RECORDER database. There are over 53,000 records from the years 1988-1994. A provisional atlas was produced in 1993.
In recent years several species (e.g. Cuckoo, Hen Harrier, Barn Owl, Woodlark, Stone Curlew) have been the subject of more detailed surveys.
A completely new Avifauna is planned for publication which will incorporate all new survey data, as well as maps collated from tetrad survey and other records held at SBRC.
Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
A History of the Birds of Suffolk. 1932 Ticehurst.
The Birds of Suffolk. 1962 Payn.
Provisional Atlas of Breeding Birds in Suffolk. 1993 Sanford.
Suffolk Bird Report (in TSNS 1950-1978, separate publication 1979 to present).
The Birds of Estuaries Enquiry have published a Suffolk Estuaries Report since 1986-7.
Easy Birdwatching Again. 2002, SOG
Landguard, Minsmere and the Redgrave Ringing Group also produce annual reports.
The Birds of Suffolk. 2003 Piotrowski
ACTION
Monitor the progress of computer systems used by the three recorders
Investigate transfer of records between Recorder and Club Recorder programs so that at some stage all bird records can be analysed on one system
Hold complete back-up set of data collected (paper and computer form) as far as possible maintain retrieval systems to enable tracking to original paper source
Produce new tetrad-level distribution maps for all breeding species
improve the quality of incoming data by:-
encouraging more 'scientific' and repeatable bird monitoring methods
encouraging (and perhaps grant-aiding) more recorders and particularly major reserves to use 'Bird Recorder' to input records
Increase number of BBS sites in the County to 50 so that production of Suffolk population indices is possible
MAMMALS
County Recorder: Simone Bullion
The SBRC has organised a County Mammal Survey which started on 1st Jan 1990. The aim is to establish the status and distribution of all mammals in the County and to publish the results as an Atlas and History in the SNS series. Some 15000 records have been computerised and there are many more being added to the files. It is hoped to produce a new book on Suffolk mammals in 2002.
In 1996 the Suffolk Mammal Group was set up to co-ordinate and encourage studies and surveys of mammals in the County.
The Suffolk Bat Group has collected information on bats in the County since 1985. All known bat sites are included in the County Wildlife Site registers.
The Suffolk Badger Group, led by Margaret Grimwade, has collected detailed information on all known Badger setts in the County from the early 1980s to the present.
Other projects going on in the County include surveys of Dormice, Deer, Hares and
Red Squirrels in the Thetford Forest Park.Otters have been surveyed at irregular intervals by the Otter Trust; they have also released animals at selected sites in the County. A major
new survey of otters, water voles and mink has been run by SWT and the Environment Agency. All records are being added to the SBRC system. See sample map of otters.MAFF have collected data on various mammals including Coypu, Hares and Rabbits, Badgers and on road casualties. Local Council Environmental Health Departments have information on pest species such as Rats and Mice though this is not always to species level.
Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Mammals of Suffolk. 1932 Ticehurst TSNS 2: 13.
Provisional Atlases of Suffolk Mammals. 1993 (1st ed.) - 1998 (5th ed.). SBRC
The Suffolk Otter Survey. 1974 West TSNS 16: 378.
A survey of the distribution of deer in Suffolk. 1984 S. Cham TSNS 20:10.
Suffolk Dormouse Survey. 1986 .J. Roughton SWT.
Suffolk Bat Group produce regular newsletters and an annual report.
ACTION
Continue to computerise all post-1990 (and pre-1990 for some scarce/critical species) records
produce tetrad-level maps for all non-confidential species
Obtain copies of other datasets relating to mammals (e.g. MAFF information)
encourage more scientific survey methods through working group for mammal recording so that even coverage of the County is achieved
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
County Recorder: Rosie Norton
A survey was run by Mark Jones, whilst based at SBRC. between 1983 and 1986. SWT commissioned A Conservation Strategy for Reptiles and Amphibians in Suffolk from Herpetofauna International (T. Langton) in 1990. All recent (post-1980) records have been logged on RECORDER and are kept updated.
All Adder (see
sample map) and Great Crested Newt (see sample map) sites are being included in the County Wildlife Sites registers. An Amphibian/Reptile Group (S.A.R.G.) was launched in 1996 with the aim of species recording, site initiatives and landowner contact - contact: Rosie Norton.Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Reptilia of Suffolk. 1934 Rope TSNS 2: 209.
A Survey of Reptilia and Amphibia of Suffolk. 1988 Jones TSNS 24: 9.
ACTION
Encourage S.A.R.G. members to continue with new survey work
produce a new up-to-date Provisional Atlas of Suffolk Reptiles and Amphibians
FISH (Freshwater)
County Recorder: Phil Strachan
Efforts were made to assess the status of the smaller, 'non-stocked' species such as Minnow, Bullhead, Sticklebacks Lampreys and Stone Loach. Although there was a good response from some individuals, contacts with Angling Clubs were disappointing with very few bothering to send in records. In an effort to improve our knowledge of these fish SWT ran the Suffolk Tiddler Survey in 2002.
Anglian Water and the NRA both collect data on fish stocks in all the major river systems.
Major Publications:
The Fishes of Suffolk. 1932 Collings TSNS 2: 104.
ACTION
produce an up-to-date county checklist on RECORDER and a list of county-level notable species.
Encourage research on individual species of conservation concern
MOLLUSCA (Land & Freshwater)
County Recorder: Ian Killeen
Over a ten year period Ian Killeen has covered over 70% of the tetrads in Suffolk. The results of his survey (probably the most detailed in Britain) have been computerised and are now included in the RECORDER database and are published in The Land & Freshwater Molluscs of Suffolk.
Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Suffolk - An Atlas and History. (1992) Killeen SNS.
ACTION
Encourage further research on Suffolk species listed on the Biodiversity ACTION Plan short list
MARINE FAUNA
County Recorder: David Lampard
Species-based card indexes covering published records (mainly from TSNS) are held for most groups of Marine Fauna.
The MAFF Laboratories at Lowestoft have records of fish stocks and some other marine fauna from the North Sea.
Major Publications:
The Fishes of Suffolk. 1932 Collings TSNS 2: 104.
Various lists of minor groups in early TSNS and The Total Living Fauna of Suffolk. 1943 Morley TSNS 5: 74.
Marine Fauna off the coast of East Anglia. Ellis & Rogers TSNS 35: 45.
ACTION
When new windows version of RECORDER is available, establish Suffolk checklist of Marine Fauna.
Establish priority groups for further research and encourage recording through publication.
ARACHNIDA
County Recorder: Paul Lee
SBRC holds spider lists for several of the major reserves, much of the recording was done by Eric Duffey in the 1960s. There is a species-based card index of all records published in TSNS. Paul Lee has computerised most spider records on his own copy of RECORDER.
Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Arachnida of Suffolk. Order Araneae: The true spiders. 1940 Bristowe TSNS 4: 156.
The remaining Arachnida. 1940 Morley TSNS 4: 165.
The spider fauna of the heaths and fens in West Suffolk. 1959 Duffey et al TSNS 10: 1.
A preliminary account of the Spiders of the Flatford Mill Region. 1962 Cooke TSNS 12: 155.
A review of Suffolk Pseudoscorpions. 1981 Mendel TSNS 18: 226.
The Spiders of Suffolk. 1981 Russell-Smith TSNS 18: 213.
The study of spiders and some recent records of interesting spiders found in Suffolk. 1981 Thornhill TSNS 18: 149.
ACTION
Update and improve nomenclature on County Checklist
produce lists of national and local rarities present in the County
encourage research and monitoring of under-recorded and BAP species
NON-INSECT INVERTEBRATES
County Recorder: Paul Lee
Species-based card indexes for most groups covering published records (mainly from TSNS).
Various lists (Crustacea, Rotifera, Worms etc.) in early TSNS and The Total Living Fauna of Suffolk. 1943 Morley TSNS 5: 74.
Basic Suffolk Checklist of woodlice on Recorder
Paul Lee has his own copy of RECORDER and has loaded many species records using the same sites file as SBRC.
Major Publications:
Woodlice in Suffolk. 1993 Lee TSNS 29: 12.
ACTION
establish County checklists for groups other than woodlice
DIPTERA
County Recorder: Vacant
Relatively few sites have been surveyed. Hoverflies are better recorded than other sections.
Major Publications:
The Diptera of Suffolk. 1915 TNNS 10: 1.
The Diptera of Suffolk (1st supplement) 1932 Harwood TSNS 2: 36.
Diptera of Suffolk. 1945 Hocken TSNS 5: 184.
The Diptera of Suffolk (6 parts) 1946-1951 Morley TSNS 6&7.
The Diptera of Suffolk. (many parts) 1954-1960 Aston et al TSNS 8-11.
Recent records of some notable and rare Diptera from Suffolk Hubbard TSNS 36: 76.
ACTION
produce an up-to-date county checklist on RECORDER and a list of county level RDB species.
Encourage research and monitoring of national rarities found in Suffolk
AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
County Recorder: Adrian Chalkley
Adrian has computerised his own records and those from SBRC card indexes using a Paradox file. He has also obtained a large volume of records from N.R.A. which he has been able to transfer to his own computer files. S.B.R.C. has ASCII copies of these files. A website on the
Freshwater Invertebrate Survey of Suffolk contains checklists, photos and maps of selected species.Basic Suffolk Checklists for published groups are loaded on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Neuroptera of Suffolk. 1929 Morley TSNS 1: 181.
The status of some aquatic invertebrates in Suffolk. 1994 Chalkley TSNS 30: 18.
Aquatic invertebrates in Suffolk. 1996 Chalkley TSNS 32: 35.
The aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Suffolk. 1998 Chalkley TSNS 34: 51.
ACTION
transfer records to Recorder when ASCII transfer routines available
County Recorder: Adrian Knowles
Major Publications:
The Hymenoptera of Suffolk (several parts) 1935-7 Morley TSNS 3.
The Wasps and Bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Breckland and Suffolk Sandlings. 1987 Archer NCC.
Wasps and bees (Hymenoptera) in the Suffolk Sandlings and management for the conservation of these insects. 1998 Edwards TSNS 34: 80.
County Recorder:
N. CumingSpecies-based card indexes covering published records (mainly from TSNS).
Priorities are to produce up-to-date county checklists on RECORDER and lists of county level RDB species.
Major Publications:
Hemiptera of Suffolk. 1905 Morley.
The Hemiptera of Suffolk (1st Supplement) 1933 Anon. TSNS 2: 134.
Notes on Suffolk Shieldbugs Hubbard TSNS 31: 20.
ACTION
produce lists of national RDB and nationally scarce species found in Suffolk
LEPIDOPTERA (Moths)
County Recorder: Tony Prichard
The
Suffolk Moth Group, co-ordinated by Tony has made detailed records for many Suffolk sites, mainly reserves. The group also produces a regular newsletter to facilitate exchange of information across the County. Records published in TSNS up to 1988 are stored in a species-based card index. There are at least 15,000 records on paper at SBRC. The County Recorder also has a copy of RECORDER and has successfully transferred some records to the SBRC database though there are many thousands more yet to be transferred. Mike Hall has many records stored on his own computer using a Dbase III package. Annual reviews of important records and trends have been published in TSNS for many years. The group have produced an up-to-date county checklist on RECORDER including statuses.Major Publications:
Lepidoptera of Suffolk. 1890 Bloomfield
Final Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Suffolk. 1937 C. Morley. Memoir No. 1 SNS.
The Lepidoptera of Suffolk -supplement to the Final Catalogue. 1960 Aston TSNS 11: 479.
ACTION
continue work on production of new County checklist
encourage regular site monitoring so that some idea of frequency and distribution can be established for larger moths.
Collect records with the aim of producing a 10km level atlas of distribution for all macro-moths in the County
investigate transfer of Mike Hall's records using ASCII format
encourage research and monitoring of nationally rare and BAP listed species
LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies)
County Recorder: Rob Parker
A countywide survey was run by SBRC from 1982 to 1986, records (estimated 25,000) are sorted by species at SBRC but are not computerised. DMAP map files based on this survey data have been prepared for each species. New records and additional information since 1986 are added to these files and regular reports appear in the SNS Newsletter 'White Admiral'. From 1995 a new Countywide survey has been undertaken as part of a nation-wide survey co-ordinated by Butterfly Conservation. This has generated 78,000 new records. These are mapped in the new Millennium Atlas of Suffolk Butterflies but the full records still require computerisation for further analysis. During 2001 a Churchyard butterfly survey was run by SWT and the Suffolk branch of Butterfly Conservation in conjunction with SNS and SBRC.
Detailed survey work on Silver-studded Blues in Suffolk has been carried out by Neil Ravenscroft and others.
Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
Many notes in TSNS Plebejus argus (Silver-studded Blue) colony population estimates and changes in status in Suffolk 1985-1986. 1987 Ravenscroft SWT.
The Butterflies of Suffolk - An Atlas and History. 1986 Mendel and Piotrowski SNS.
Provisional Atlases of Suffolk Butterflies - incorporating records from 1995-1998 Stewart S.B.R.C.
The Millennium Atlas of Suffolk Butterflies. 2001 Stewart SNS.
ACTION
Computerisation of new Millennium atlas records (may be possible to transfer from BC 'Flybase' if individual records are computerised rather than summarised 10k information)
ODONATA
County Recorder: Keith Morris
A countywide survey was run by SBRC from 1986 to 1991, over 7,000 records have been computerised using the RECORDER program. See sample map
Banded Demoiselle.Basic Suffolk Checklist on Recorder
Major Publications:
The Dragonflies of Suffolk. 1929 Morley TSNS 1: 18.
Suffolk Dragonflies - An Atlas and History. 1992 Mendel SNS.
ACTION
encourage further research and monitoring of national and county rarities
ORTHOPTERA
County Recorder: Stuart Ling
A species-based card index of published records from TSNS.
Major Publications:
The Orthoptera of Suffolk. 1929 Morley TSNS 1: 92.
Suffolk Orthoptera. 1982 Maybury TSNS 18: 289.
Orthoptera of Suffolk. 2000 Ling TSNS 36:53.
ACTION
encourage more recording of this group
produce an up-to-date county checklist on RECORDER and a list of county notables.
COLEOPTERA
County Recorder: David Nash
David Nash is computerising Suffolk records with the aim of producing a book on the Beetles of Suffolk. There are lists for many of the major reserves at SBRC. Ipswich Museum collections also contain many localised records.
Colin Hawes has been researching Stag Beetles in Suffolk - see
sample map.Major Publications:
Coleoptera of Suffolk. 1899 Morley
The Coleoptera of Suffolk. 1929 Elliott TSNS 1: 121.
Many reviews and amendments in TSNS
ACTION
produce an up-to-date county checklist on RECORDER and a list of national (and county level?) RDB species.
FLOWERING PLANTS & FERNS
County Recorder: Martin Sanford (BSBI & SNS)
SBRC holds many thousands of plant records, substantial progress has been made on computerisation but there remains a large backlog of data in site files to be processed. There are about 500,000 plant records on RECORDER and good progress is being made towards the production of a new Atlas Flora of Suffolk. Records from the Atlas 2000 survey, the 5 squares (TL75, TL78, TM05, TM35 and TM38 plus TM06 completed by Richard Addington) surveyed in the BSBI Monitoring Scheme survey, the Churchyard Survey (1987-present), Protected Roadside Verge surveys, and most Phase II sites surveys have been loaded on RECORDER. All records published in TSNS, Watsonia or received in correspondence are stored on a species-based card index which is gradually being computerised. All 10 km records from Simpson's Flora and all post-1980 records from Enid Hyde's BSBI records have been transferred to RECORDER. A basic checklist simply giving statuses for Suffolk species has been set up on RECORDER. See sample maps for Black Bryony and Cowslip.
The pulication of The Vascular Plant Red Data List of Great Britain (Cheffings & Farrell, 2005) has prompted a revision of the Suffolk Rare Plant Register. For the first time, all native and archaeophyte taxa have been analysed, not just those that had already been identified as rare or scarce. This analysis has been made possible by the publication of the New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora (Preston et al., 2002), which has allowed comparisons to be made with the Atlas of the British Flora (Perring & Walters, 1962) for all taxa. The new register follows guidelines on which species to include issued by the Botanical Society of the British Isles in June 2005.
It includes all species occurring in Suffolk which are:
Data on the Ipswich Museum herbarium is held on a simple Dbase file produced by volunteer Peter Furze, there are over 16,000 records on file, many of which relate to Suffolk specimens.
Major Publications:
Flora of Suffolk. 1860 Henslow & Skepper.
Flora of Suffolk. 1889 Hind.
An Ecological Flora of Breckland. 1979 Trist.
Simpson's Flora of Suffolk. 1982 Simpson SNS.
The Orchids of Suffolk - An Atlas and History. 1991 Sanford SNS.
Interesting botanical records are published annually in TSNS.
ACTION
Production of a new Atlas Flora of Suffolk
Computerisation of all post-1980 plant records
priority will be for the most recent data and for records of species included in the national and local rarity or notable lists
LICHENS
County Recorder: Chris Hitch
Dr Hitch has been recording the Lichen Flora of Suffolk for over 10 years and has already collected over 30,000 records from about 50% of the tetrads in the County. Many of the records are from churchyards, but woodlands and old parks have also been covered. All records have been logged on RECORDER.
Major Publications:
The Hepatics, Mosses and Lichens of Suffolk. 1930 Mayfield. IDNHS 1: 89
Records of Suffolk Cladoniae. 1968 Manning TSNS 14: 11.
Lichenology in Suffolk. 1989 Hitch TSNS 25: 72.
ACTION
encourage recorders to extend survey coverage to even up the spread across the county
continue to computerise all records for production of an Atlas of Suffolk Lichens
County Recorder: Jerry Bowdrey
Little systematic recording for this group has been done although several recorders have noted species whilst recording for other groups.
BRYOPHYTES
County Recorder:
Richard FiskMost moss recording in the County has been co-ordinated by the British Bryological Society, they may have records not copied to SBRC. SBRC holds lists for many of the major reserves but there has not been any attempt at a countywide survey. The last major Suffolk checklist was published in 1930. A new county checklist has been prepared by Paul King and loaded on RECORDER.
David Strauss has been surveying all known sites for Sphagnum mosses over the past few years.
Major Publications:
The Hepatics, Mosses and Lichens of Suffolk. 1930 Mayfield. IDNHS 1: 89
Suffolk Mosses and Liverworts. 1989. Smith TSNS 25: 65.
ACTION
produce a list of national and county level RDB species
FRESHWATER ALGAE
County Recorder: Dr. Hilary Belcher
Very little work has been done on this group apart from the Stoneworts (Characae) which are recorded by some botanists. A start has been made on producing a County checklist. Intricate Tolypella has been included in the County BAP and the sole site for the species in the County has been designated as a County Wildlife Site.
ACTION
encourage naturalists to send samples to the County Recorder
FUNGI
There has been quite a large volume of recording done on this group over the years, but the coverage has been very uneven. Several of the richer sites have been surveyed annually, but the vast majority, including reserves, have not been looked at. A card index compiled by the late Martin Ellis is housed at SBRC. A county checklist compiled by Martin and Pamela Ellis has been published but has not been loaded onto Recorder due to nomenclatural difficulties
Major Publications:
The Fungi of Suffolk. (series of papers) 1935-48 Mayfield TSNS 3- 6.
Fungi and Slime Moulds in Suffolk. 1989 Martin and Pam Ellis.
A 2nd edition, incorporating supplement 1 was produced in 1992.
Fungi and Slime Moulds in Suffolk - Supplement 1. 1991 Martin and Pam Ellis TSNS 27: 87.
Fungi and Slime Moulds in Suffolk - Supplement 2. 1994 Martin and Pam Ellis TSNS 30: 87.
Fungi and Slime Moulds in Suffolk - Supplement 3. 1996 Martin and Pam Ellis TSNS 32: 165.
ACTION
find an active mycologist willing to take on the job of County Recorder
resolve problems of nomenclature and produce an up-to-date county checklist on Recorder
encourage research and monitoring on national rarities (e.g. Battarea phalloides)
