Notes and Observations 28

NOTES A N D OBSERVATIONS Stoats in the King's Forest Reports of Stoats (Mustela erminea) in ermine or partial ermine appear relatively frequently in these Transactions (e.g. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 23, 70; 24, 99 ; 27, 40) but I am not aware of any survey specifically aimed to determine the distribution of Stoats in the County or the extent of colour change in their fĂźr. However, between 1981 and 1992 a group working on another study in the King's Forest also recorded the sightings of Stoats on many occasions. These sightings have been mapped by John Raincock.

The area of forest in question lies on either side of the B1106 road between Culford and Elveden and covers about 10Vi sq. miles. The number of brown Stoats recorded teils us little as many of the observers took them for granted and did not mention them in their reports - which were primarily concerned with the deer. Few of us bother to record the numbers of common plants or animals. In fact only 17 brown Stoats were recorded, but some were seen throughout the winter months and these recorders and the rangers agree that brown individuals far outnumber those in ermine in winter in this region.

Eleven Stoats in fĂźll ermine were seen (plus another just outside the forest) and there were five in part ermine (with another seen outside the forest). The earliest an animal in part ermine was seen was on 29 October in 1985. Most were seen in complete or partial ermine after Christmas, i.e. 4 in January, 7 in February, 4 in March and one with a white patch on its upper rump as late as 5 April in 1981. One individual in ermine but with a dark skullcap was seen by two observers on different occasions but generally it was not possible to identify individual animals or determine their movement through the forest.

As with so many surveys, this one showed the distribution of observers more than the distribution of the animal studied. Most Stoats were seen in the north and east of the study area and few in the south west. Most Stoats were recorded in Block 23, but that is in the centre of the study area.

To me the most interesting fact to emerge from the survey was that Stoats in fĂźll or partial ermine were seen in all years from 1981 to 1992 except in 1988 and 1991. Clearly some Stoats change colour during the winter months in Suffolk in most years, but these individuals are probably only a small part of the total Stoat population.

John Raincocks map is retained at the Suffolk Biological Records Centre in Ipswich. I thank him and all the other members of the team who made these interesting observations.

(Editor) Grey Squirrei meets a watery grave One morning in the summer of 1991, whilst I was bird-watching from the public hide at Benacre Broad, I saw a Grey Squirrei (Sciurus carolinensis) run at speed from the reed margin, cross 20 yds. or so of exposed mud, and plunge headlong into the Broad. Having failed to locate the presence of any predator, or to identify any cause of this behaviour, I returned my attention

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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 28 58 to the squirrel which was swimming strongly, its head well elevated, and making excellent progress across the choppy open water. Approximately half way across however, the squirrel veered to the right and gradually slowed. Further changes of direction took place, suggesting a growing disorientation. The squirrel then made four attempts to elevate itself above the waves, which I interpreted as efforts to re-establish the shortest line to the opposite shore; but it was not to be. Perhaps these abortive leaps exhausted its remaining reserves of strength and energy, for it soon disappeared below the surface, presumably to drown.

David A. Riley

(I have made a comprehensive search of the literature and can onlyfindon other record of a Grey Squirrel swimming. It was seen on September lOth 1983, by Derek Moore, at Martlesham Creek (Trans. Suffolk Nat. S The fact that the Grey Squirrel can swim is mentioned in The Handboo Edition only!), but there is no further information. The 1990 Norfolk Bird and Mammal Report mentions a Grey Squirrel which was seen eating a de Roach near Hopton! J. M.)

Arboreal Foxes Shot by Night In January 1992, gamekeepers conducting routine culls by torchlight in central Suffolk were surprised tofindtwo Foxes, Vulpes vulpes, on boughs of a mature Oak. The tree was hollow with a small opening low dow and it was thought most likely that Foxes had made their ascent inside the trunk. The keepers have commented on the large numbers of foxes seen during the same winter.

E. Parsons

Various Small Mammals Trapped in Outhouses From the specimens taken from spring traps this winter (1991/92), and forwarded to me by two neighbours living in Ashbocking, I was able to record the following species for the Suffolk Mammal Survey: - Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus (circa 15), Yellow-necked Mouse, Apodemus (2), House Mouse, Mus musculus (2), Field Vole, Microtus agrest Vole, Clethrionomys glareolus (2) and Pygmy Shrew, Sorex m Most of the specimens that I received have been forwarded to the Ipswich museum for determination and preservation. I am assured that the conventional break-back traps were baited with bread or cheese and were sited on in the areas of outhouses where rodent damage was taking place. E. Parson

Escape behaviour of Brown Rat On the 13th September 1991,1 was Walking along a path between The Gro and Gulpher Road, Felixstowe. On my right was a recently-cut cornfield, an on my left was a sunken stream, which was so choked with reed stems water could not be seen. The path was about 2m. above the bed of th stream.

A Brown Rat was foraging in the straw lying on the path. When it saw m Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 28 (1992)

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it started to run down the bank towards the stream, but after a few paces it made a perfect 'header' into the tangle of reeds, and I saw it no more. It behaved just like a swimmer running along the edge of a swimming bath, and then taking a 'header' into the water.

R. B. Warren Long-tailed Tits in snow DĂźring the cold spell last December (1991) I was surprised to see a party of 7 or 8 Long-tailed Tits on my snow-covered lawn. They were all busy pecking at something on the snow and at first I thought they were eating it, but after some time several of them flew down to drink at our small pond where the ice had been broken.

They made a delightful picture as they trotted about, carrying their tails at 'high port'. Since, unlike the other members of their family, Long-tailed Tits are, in my experience, seldom seen on the ground except when nest building, I feel this record is of interest.

W. H. Payn Disappearing ducklings Many Mallard Ducks made their nests on the bank of the River Blackbourne, which flows past my garden in Ixworth. In due course we get much pleasure in watching flotillas of ducklings as, convoyed by their anxious mothers, they dart and scuttle about over the water.

The broods generally Start at about a dozen, but the numbers dwindle to eight, four, or even one lone duckling. Last spring my neighbour, Mr. Albert Sprigings, was watching a Mallard brood when he saw two ducklings vanish.

Suspecting the cause, he hastened for his rod and, with suitable bait, cast out to a point where the ducklings had disappeared. Almost at once he landed a pike of 11 Vi lbs. When gutted, five small ducklings were found in the stomach of this fish.

Nowadays most fishermen return the fish they catch unharmed to the water. However, if they wish to conserve water birds they might do better to knock any large pike they catch on the head and take them home to the cook, for they are very fierce carnivores.

W. H. Payn Viola pensylvanica - a mystery solved?

On p. 25, Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 27 (1991). Hyde and Simpson record the finding of Viola pensylvanica on a roadside bank in Great Bealings, a first British record for the species. I grew this plant for many years, and once gave some of it to a friend in Lower Street, Great Bealings. Maybe a seedling of this delightful little yellow violet got out from my friend's garden. When I lived at 'Parkers', Nayland, V. pensylvanica flourished in partial shade and sowed itself freely, but it had no chance of escaping as the pathway was paved right up to the garden wall. Incidentally, the unripe seeds of this violet were very attractive to Bullfinches, a family of which used to visit the garden annually to devour them.

E. Milne-Redhead

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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 28

An orchid mystery We moved to our newly-built house in December 1980. The following summer one of the builders presented me with some plants he did not know but which were about to be destroyed by the development. I had acquired some Bee Orchids ( O p h r y s apifera) and that year purchased a packet of hardy orchid seeds, but was not surprised when none germinated.

Since then others have given me orchids from areas due to be destroyed by building or farming Operations and I have the odd plant of Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptus pyramidalis), Common Spotted Orchid (D. fuchsii) and Green-winged Orchid (Orchis morio).

Last year I noticed a stranger, or more correctly two, side-by-side. They flowered and proved to be Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis).

Their provenance is unknown. Perhaps they were introduced with one of the other plants, but I do not think so. Perhaps some seed had germinated after all?

G . W . Maybury (It is quite possible that the packet of hardy orchid seeds sown in 1981 or 1982 included seeds of S. spiralis and that they did not flower until 1991.

According to the late Dr Summer-Layes the seeds of this species can take as long as 13 or 14 years after they are sown before finally flowering. The long period between germination of the seeds, which would have begun in the year of sowing, and the appearance of a flowering spike is occupied by the gradual building-up of the mycorrhizome (stem structure containing fungal hyphae) and formation of the tubers. Botanical Editor.)

Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 28 (1992)