Specialist Section - Salisbury & District Natural History Society

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Specialist Section

Botany

Members are encouraged to send in records of interesting plants they come across. Any 'mysteries' will be identified if photographs or small samples are sent to the section leader. Important records are passed to the Biological Record Centre in Devizes. Lists of plants found on the regular outings of the society are retained for future reference. A paragraph in the Bulletin covers notable finds that members have noted and comments are made as to what might be worth searching for in the following month.

Anne Appleyard

Entomology

We aim to identify and record as much of the insect fauna in our area as we can, and welcome any chance observations members may send us. To this end, at some outings, eg for flowers, we make notes to add to our lists. We also record and identify, where possible, other small invertebrates, such as wood lice etc. and the slugs and snails that may come to hand. Sometimes we hold small workshop meetings to further specialist knowledge.

John Muggleton

Mycology
Four field meetings per year are devoted solely to the collecting and identification of such fungi as we may find. Careful records are kept of these and any other collections which members may make of their own accord. We hold the South Wilts County records for all fungi and, as a result of over 40 years recording have amassed what may be the largest fungal database in private hands in the whole of UK. Anyone is welcome to send in specimens for identification, and we also hold small workshop meetings to their further study. Dr. James Macpherson

Ornithology
The ornithology section promotes interest in the birds of the region. Members send their local sightings to the section leader and these are incorporated in the monthly Bulletin. In the event of anything unusual being sighted the County Bird Recorder is informed.

Whilst most of the outings organised by the Society give some opportunity to see birds, four outings a year are organised specifically to look at them. A variety of habitats are visited so that a wide range of birds may be seen
John Pitman

Zoology
This section covers mammals and herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). As with other sections there is a monthly report in the Bulletin. Members inform the leader of their sightings, such as of the first frog spawn of the year, the number of toads helped across the road during a toad patrol and first sighting of hedgehogs and bats coming out of hibernation. Sightings of less common animals such as water vole, otter, stoat, weasel, mink and shrew, snakes and lizards are included in the report and, if appropriate, forwarded to the Wiltshire Biological records Centre. Animal behaviour and disease are also covered in the Bulletin. Members help with animal surveys for local and national organisations.

Peter Thompson

Geology
Currently we do not have a leader for this section. Anyone willing to help will be very welcome.