27.
MAMMAL TRAPPING AT WEST WOOD, SAMPFORD, THAXTED
25th May 1975
The 15 members of the Mammal Group who met at West Wood
had the opportunity of examining at close quarters two
live shrews, one common and the other probably a pigmy
shrew. These constituted the total catch from 76
Longworth traps which had been set the previous evening.
Such a low catch reflects the small woodland mammal
population to be found at this time of year. It was
pleasing (and a good advert for Go-Cat used in the
traps) to find these small carnivores still alive, since
they have to eat frequently in order to sustain their
very high metabolic rate.
After inspecting the traps, hazel and oak branches were
beaten for insects. Oak bush-cricket nymphs, sawflies
and a variety of small caterpillars and micromoths were
found. Orange tip and green veined white butterflies
were also seen.
A boring of soil was made, revealing leached chalky
boulder clay with a surface water grey soil profile.
At 70 cm deep the soil was calcareous.
Interesting plants seen included herb paris, oxlip and
twayblade. The dominant trees of the wood were oak, ash
and maple. Two types of fungus were found - Trametes
gibbosa and Daldinia concentrica.
Birds recognised included 7 summer visitors: 3 warblers
(chiff chaff, willow warbler and blackcap); house
martin, swift and swallow; and a turtle dove.
The Meeting broke up at lunch time, but five members
enjoyed a ramble through the wood in the afternoon when
a number of herb paris and some 40-50 twayblades were
seen in bloom. The latter plant is reputed to take 15
years from seed before it flowers.
Sheila & Peter Leswell