Sussex biological recording news
November already! With a 4-week lockdown in place across England this month, we hope you are all safe and well, and this edition of the e-news is a welcome distraction.
As restrictions change you may wish to check the guidance to see what activities are still safe and running, by taking a look at the NBN webpage dedicated to links and updates from various recording schemes with guidance.
As always, if you have any news or information you'd like us to highlight in the newsletter, please get in touch via loismayhew@sussexwt.org.uk
- The SxBRC Team
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As we head into the second national lockdown, the Natural History Museum have published one of the first looks at biological recording data and lockdown activity levels from the March UK lockdown and comparison to previous years, with information from the BTO, The Quiet Project, British Geological Survey and UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Image credit: Beyond Words Studio
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Have you seen this beetle?
If you're running a moth trap, keep an eye out for the Click beetle Lacon querceus. There is one record from 1936 in Windsor Forest, and another from Slough in 2006, but it was recently recorded in Ringmer, East Sussex whilst moth trapping. It may be a migrant or recent introduction but could also have an overlooked local population. This species is nocturnal and rarely recorded within its range across central Europe due to the insular nature of its populations. If you think you spot one, please get in touch with us and ideally keep hold of the beetle for further identification. You can read more about this species on the beetle fauna of Germany website.
Image credit: Peter Hodge
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Species of the month: Pill Woodlice
November's species of the month are an underrecorded group that should be easy wins for your garden list! Take a look at the species account and ID resources, and see if you can help us add a few more records to the database!
Image credit: Bill Welch
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Biological Recording Events and Training
7th November, 14:00 - 16:00 (Zoom) - Join Dr Ian Wallace for the Brad Ashby Memorial Lecture hosted by London Natural History Society, "Inspired by Caddis... Adding value to biological records". Ian has been the national co-ordinator for the National Caddisfly Recording Scheme for over 40 years, and will be in conversation with four other leading invertebrate conservation practitioners. Details and booking via the FSC website
20th/27th/31st March 2021 - Breeding Bird Survey practice sessions for new and nearly-new volunteers so they can ask any questions and meet some other volunteers. Sessions will be run in accordance with whatever guidelines are in place. Information on the Sussex BTO webpage
We'd also like to make you aware of the fantastic webpage set up by Welsh record centre SEWBReC which has up to date links of upcoming online events and training. We don't have the resources to link to everything going on in the digital world of biological recording, so do check the SEWBReC page if you'd like to see more of what's available regularly!
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Community Resources
SxBRC believes that biological recording is an activity that should be accessible to everyone. We recognise that the biological recording community does not reflect the diversity that exists within the communities of Sussex, particularly in relation to representation from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. And – like a lot of organisations – we’ve been reflecting on what we can do to address this. We'll be sharing resources that we’ve found thought-provoking and useful, in terms of understanding why diversity matters and what we can do to make the community we’re a part of more inclusive.
BBC Sounds interview with Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera who set up a bird watching support group 'Flock Together' for people of colour, in the parks of East London (BBC Sounds, 16:41 minutes)
The British Ecological Society celebrated black history month this October with profiles of black ecologists and ecological practitioners, and their perspective of working in the ecological sector.
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