June 2010
Wednesday 30th
Hope for any one who noticed that the dates and days are now right, had a senior moment!.
Here are some more images from yesterday. Meadow Cranesbill is in flower between the Pumping Station and the Mother Drain 'under-bridge' and Marsh Thistle can be found through-out the reserve usually fairly close to water.
Left, Blue-tailed Damselfly female form violacea © Allan Parker ARPS and right Emerald Damselfly immature male © Derek Bateson
Meadow Cranesbill and Marsh Thistle © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 29th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘The morning started hot and muggy, but the sun really didn't appear as forecast.
Outside the Field Centre were a few plants of Common (Black) Knapweed, Centaurea nigra of the uncommon 'rayed' form (see image). The wind was moving everything around, but on the promontory off Loversall Bank, Lesser Burdock was infested with black aphids, and on closer inspection, eight Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis were feeding on them. The Harlequins exhibited five different colour variations (see images).
Along Loversall Bank, a beautifully marked Green-veined White, Artogeia napi was very cooperative for an under wing shot (see image), as was a Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus (see image). We probably counted about twenty, but they were mostly very hyperactive and not easy to photograph. Also seen were two Meadow Browns and a Speckled Wood.
On the dragonfly ponds in Loversall Field a lone male Emperor dragonfly was patrolling, with lots of Azure and Blue-tailed damselflies lying low in the grass. There were several teneral and immature Emerald damselflies, Lestes sponsa and AP spotted a Violet Ground Beetle on the path and several webs of quite advanced caterpillars of Peacock butterfly on Stinging Nettle.’
Common (Blak) Knapweed Centaurea nigra 'rayed, form © Derek Bateson
Harlequin Ladybird, left © Derek Bateson and right © John Hancox
Left, Ringlet and right Green-veined White © Derek Bateson
Ken Woolley carried out a butterfly count from the Field Centre area along Loversall Bank, Loversall Field finishing at the Reserve entrance and the over-spill car park with the following results.
Small Skipper 9, Large Skipper 9, Green-veined White 4, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 6, Comma 1, Meadow Brown 63 and Ringlet 122.
He also noted a Grass Snake next to the Mother Drain bridge behind the Field Centre.
A Stoat was in the over-spill car park area, a Brown Hare was on the grassland on Huxter Well and two Fox were seen hunting through the reed beds on Huxter Well and one of them was noted taking an egg from a nest in the reeds.
One of the most noticeable sights of the day were the thousands of tiny Toads on the move. At times the paths seemed covered by them and many must have been trod on or squashed by the tractor and trailer.
Good numbers of Common Spotted Orchid (see image) were in flower in Hawthorn Field and at least three Comma Butterfly were present here along with a Figwort Sawfly. A single adult male Black-tailed Skimmer kept landing on the path that runs between the steps here.
There is a large stand of Common Toadflax on Loversall Bank near to the steps into Loversall Delph (see image)
Left, Common Spotted Orchid and right Common Toadflax © Allan Parker ARPS
The 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field were very quite but a single male Emperor was on patrol later joined by an egg laying female. Just one Four-spotted Chaser (see image) was noted but good numbers of Blue-tailed and Azure Damselfly were present along several Emerald Damselfly (see image).
There was no sign of the Water Shrew today.
Left, Emerald Damselfly mature male © Allan Parker ARPS and right Four-spotted Chaser © Jenny Kingsland
Ringlet were by far the most numerous of the butterflies on the wing, followed by Meadow Brown and then Comma. Loversall Field had three clusters of fairly large Peacock caterpillars feeding on Stinging Nettle (see image).
Small numbers of 6-spot Burnet moth are on the wing, the caterpillar of this species feeds on Birds-foot Trefoil (see image)
Left, Peacock caterpillars © Allan Parker ARPS and right 6-spot Burnet Moth caterpillar © Dave Round
Sunday 27th
A morning walk along Loversall Bank, into Loversall Delph and on to the 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field proved to be fairly quiet.
Of the butterflies, Ringlet were about in good numbers and according to KW showed a marked increase over the previous day, a single Small Tortoiseshell, a single Small White, three or four Meadow Brown and four, 'in flight', Skipper which could have been either Large or Small Skipper were noted.
Loversall Delph had numerous Blue-tailed and Azure Damselfly many of them mated pairs with egg laying occurring.
Scorpion-fly, Snipe Fly, Soldier Beetle and Cardinal Beetle were also noted here. Many of the thistle plants had numerous black aphids on them.
The ponds in Loversall Field held male and female Emperor Dragonfly the female busy egg laying. At least six Four-spotted Chaser were present one of which was an egg laying female. Blue-tailed and Azure Damselfly were numerous with lots of egg laying by mated pairs of Azure. Also noted were small numbers of Emerald Damselfly which have just started to be seen.
Both Great Crested and Common Newt were were seen and a Water Shrew gave good views, (for this species), as it kept swimming out into the pond. Everything seems to happened at 'twice the speed of light' with these small mammals.
Left, Aphid species on Thistle and right Azure Damselfly a mated pair egg laying © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Scorpion-fly © Allan Parker ARPS and Emerald Damselfly © Dave Round
After lunch a walk along Willow Bank and back along Loversall Bank proved to be excellent for various plant species in flower.
These included Bee, Common Spotted, Southern Marsh and Broad-leaved Helleborine orchids.
Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed), several other yellow Hawkweed species, Hedge Woundwort, Marsh Woundwort, Yellow Loosestrife, Skullcap, Yellow (Common) Toadflax and many other species were noted.
A superb Large Emerald Moth Geometra papilionaria was found by JK and photographed.
(all above AP KW SL CL and JK)
Left, Bee Orchid and right Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed) © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Yellow Loosestrife and right Large Emerald Moth © Allan Parker ARPS
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘ Today was so hot that it was very difficult to photograph any of the insects, particularly the butterflies which were very active.
At least eight Ringlets, four Meadow Brown, one Comma, a single Large White and three Speckled Wood were noted near the Pumping station and Cottage Drain.
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were numerous, on their food plant Ragwort, and they were in various stages of development (see images).
Two plants that caught my eye, were first of all, Meadow Cranesbill, Geranium pratense and then the rather delicate flower of Common Chickweed, Stellaria media (see image).
A two-spotted version of the Harlequin Ladybird was next, then a rather colourful Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea Nemoralis, followed by a Cucumber Spider Araniella cucurbitina (see image).
The Cottage Drain path was alive with hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny frogs. (I think, as I didn't’t have a lens with me).
All three ‘blue’ damselflies were present and several teneral Emerald Damselfly.
Mirid Bugs and Longhorn Beetles were also noted.
Only five different hoverfly species were noted today.’
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars at different stages of growth © Derek Bateson
Left Cucumber Spider and right Common Chickweed © Derek Bateson
Saturday 26th
Ken Woolley reports that numbers of Ringlet have started to increase along with Meadow Brown, albeit still in small numbers. Small Skipper were also noted.
Two, red and black, day flying moths are currently present on the reserve these are Cinnabar Moth and Six-spot Burnet Moth ( see images for comparison)
Left, Cinnabar Moth and right Six-spot Burnet Moth © Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 25th
MOTH TRAPPING REPORT from, Wednesday, 23rd June, 2010
Another moth-trapping session took place on Wednesday night, 23rd June. Higher temperatures led to a much improved total of 85 species trapped. However, it also meant that the moths were distinctly lively on the Thursday morning, making recording and photography rather interesting!
Although there were no new reserve records, there was a second record of Swammerdamia caesiella. The first was on 22nd May this year and, as it is a widespread and fairly common species, it may well have been overlooked in previous years, due to its similarity to several other species.
A number of moths were newly recorded for 2010, including the very attractive Peach Blossom Thyatira batis; the equally pretty Blotched Emerald Comibaena bajularia; Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala; Suspected Parastichtis suspecta; and a single, fresh Drinker Euthrix potatoria.
Ian Heppenstall
Moth Recorder
Left, Blotched Emerald and right Poplar Hawk-moth © Stuart Lowe
Left, White Ermine and right Peppered Moth © Stuart Lowe
Left, Peach Blossom and right Drinker Moth © Stuart Lowe
Thursday 24th
Today's sightings by Michael Bird included three Ringlet, they looked very fresh, and a Meadow Brown on Willow Bank.
Nine spikes of Common Spotted Orchid were in front and to right of Cottage Drain Hide. There were fifteen plus of same orchid on Hawthorn Field.
Black-tailed Skimmer dragonflies were seen in various places across the reserve.
Left, Bee Orchid © Helen Womack and right Emerald Damselfly © David Roberts
Small Tortoiseshell © David Roberts
Wednesday 23rd
As no reports have come in for today here are four images of flora and fauna that could bee seen on the reserve yesterday. Common Toadflax can be seen on Loversall Bank, Bee Orchid and Southern Marsh Orchid are on Willow Bank and Blue-tailed Damselfly are throughout the reserve.
Left, Blue-tailed Damselfly and right Common Toadflax © Allan Parker ARPS
Left Bee Orchid and right Southern Marsh Orchid © Ken Woolley
Tuesday 22nd
Report from Cottage Drain by DB and AP.
‘ A very sunny day today and Cottage Drain was very productive. AP and myself had four different species of Longhorn Beetle including Agapanthea villosoviridescens and the Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis (image). Both Leptura quadrifacsiata and Rutpela maculata were noted, and there were several ‘threesomes’ (see image).
Five species of Hoverfly were seen.
Many ‘blue damselflies', mostly Azure and Blue-tailed included numerous mated pairs. Three, possibly four, male Black-tailed Skimmers were noted, but were very active and AP found the first Common Darter of the year, a recently emerged specimen on reeds in front of Cottage Drain Hide.
The usual Snipe-flies and a few Crane-fly were about. The green-eyed horsefly, Chrysops relictus, with its nasty bite, was numerous but kept at bay by liberal applications of insect repellent.
There are at least five clusters of Peacock butterfly caterpillars of varying sizes all growing quickly. Adult butterflies included two Speckled Wood, a Ringlet, a Green-veined White and a fleeting glimpse of a male Brimstone'.
Longhorn Beetle Rutpela (Strangalia) maculata with left a 'threesome' (count the number of antennae and divide by two) © Derek Bateson
Left, Wasp Beetle and right longhorn Beetle Agapantha villosoviridescens © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Peacock caterpillars and right Common Darter, first for this year, © Allan Parker ARPS
John Hancox reports:-
There was a lot of dragonfly activity in the ponds at Loversall Field. On the two ponds, there were three ovipositing female Emperor Dragonfly with an attendant male and at least twelve Four-spotted Chaser which as well as mating in flight and ovipositing, were attacking the Emperors. There were also two Emperor and a Black-tailed Skimmer in Loversall Field.
There were plenty of Azure Damselfly in the ponds and at Loversall Delph.
Butterflies seen included three Speckled Wood, two Green-veined White, a Large White, a Meadow Brown and four Large Skipper.
Four-spotted Chaser male © Allan Parker ARPS
Report from Michael Bird:-
Along the bridle path Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown butterflies were seen.
Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly were noted, with several of the latter along the ring main drain
Brian saw several Speckled Wood, two Small Skipper and a Small White along Willow Bank this morning.
Brian and I saw a stoat on Saturday in front of St Catherine's hide.
Meadow Brown male © John Hancox
Report from Ken Woolley and Allan Parker:-
An after lunch walk along Loversall Bank through Loversall Delph and on to the 'dragonfly ponds' on Loversall Field proved productive especially at the ponds.
A male Emperor patrolling the ponds was joined by an egg laying female and several Four-spotted Chaser were present mainly territorial males chasing each other and clashing wings.
Azure and Blue-tailed damselfly were numerous and many mated pair of both species were noted. Others were egg laying with their attendant males.
Both Common and Great Crested Newt were noted coming up to the surface for air,
Large numbers of water insects included Water Boatman and various Diving Beetles,
Great Spearwort in Loversall Delph continues to expand as does Water Soldier both plants now in flower.
Emperor Dragonfly female egg laying with attendant Azure Damselfly © Allan Parker ARPS
Ken Woolley counted one-hundred and thirty Common Spotted Orchid on a site at the western end of the reserve.
(Please note this site is not accessible to visiting members of the public)
Monday 21st
More images of flora and fauna seen on the reserve yesterday.
Left, Common Toadflax © Derek Bateson and right 6-spot Burnet Moth © Allan Parker ARPS
Roe Deer © Dale Bentham
Sunday 20th
John Hancox reports:-
A Hairy Dragonfly flew through Loversall Delph but didn't stay; also present was a female Emperor, plus a couple of Four-spotted Chasers and lots of mated Azure Damselfly. Butterflies included a Meadow Brown, a few Large Skippers, a couple of Small Skippers and a Speckled Wood.
Along Cottage Drain there are now four clusters of Peacock Butterfly caterpillars all, in more or less, in the same locations as last year.
Peacock Butterfly caterpillars © John Hancox
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘Despite the wind, a lot of invertebrates were on show, but surprisingly still no Common Darter dragonflies or Ringlet butterflies ( see report from IH). Speckled Wood were seen in several locations.
Two species of leaf-sucking bug were noted, these were the common Green Capsid and Mirid Bug Calocoris stysi (see images).
A couple of Rose Sawflies Arge pagana (see image) were inspecting the Dog Roses along Loversall Bank where seven species of hoverfly were noted with Syrphus ribesii, (see image) being particularly frequent, also in Loversall Delph.
A juvenile snail was noted on a Greater Spearwort leaf which could possibly be Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis it had climbed out of the water body.
There were something like 30 flowers of Water Soldier (image), more I think than we have seen before.
On the way back to the Field Centre there was an attractive spike of Common Toadflax, Linaria vulgaris.
Left, Green Capsid Bug and right Mirid Bug Calocoris stysi © Derek Bateson
Left, Rose Sawfly Arge pagana and right Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii © Derek Bateson
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
Not much to report today but I did see a single Ringlet Butterfly at the old Wardens Car Park plus a couple of Common Blue butterfly on Willow Bank.
Male and female Emperor Dragonflies were on one of the small pools in Loversall Field at the western end of the reserve, and other single females of the same species were noted at Loversall Delph and the Education Pond.
Also present at the raised 'fragrant' garden area was a Six-spot Burnet Moth.
The forecast is for warmer days and nights next week and I hope to run the moth trap, probably on Wednesday night.
Left, Ringlet female © Allan Parker ARPS and right female Emperor Dragonfly © Glyn Hudson
Saturday 19th
With many plants now coming into full flower numerous insects are busy feeding on them, including various species of pollen beetles.
Pollen Beetle Oedemera lurida on White Campion © Derek Bateson
Thursday 17th
John Hancox reports:-
I was hoping to see a number of newly emerged species such as Ringlet and White-letter Hairstreak which should be out any time now.
Unfortunately the usual Wych Elm on Loversall Bank which supports White-letter Hairstreak is looking distressed with leaves browning at the crown - looks as though the dreaded Dutch Elm Disease has struck!
I did manage to find a single male Small Skipper - first of the year but no Ringlet as yet. Other butterflies seen included Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Large Skipper.
There were an unusual large number of Cinnabar Moth around and lots of Nemophora degeerella Moth.
Dragonflies seen include numbers of Broad-bodied Chaser and Four-spot Chaser and a single male Black-tailed Skimmer - see image which shows clearly the yellow costa (leading edge of forewing). Large numbers of Azure and Blue-tailed and a few Common Blue damselfly were
also noted.
Left, Black-tailed Skimmer © John Hancox and right Small Skipper © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 15th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘Quite a pleasant warm day with intermittent sunshine and a light breeze which coaxed a number of invertebrates out.
Along Cottage Drain JH and I saw at least three Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis succinea. Four Cardinal Beetle were also seen and very many Blue-tailed (see image) and Azure Damselfly plus a Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly (JH).
Seven. maybe eight species of hoverfly were noted with Volucella Bombylans being quite numerous (see image). Malachite and Pollen beetles were on many of the flower-heads and several female Scorpion Fly were around (see image, note the different shape to the abdomen tip from last week’s image of a male). Horse-flies were out in force, this time Chrysops caecutiens,with its bright green eyes and a nasty bite!
Several Tetragnatha species Spider were stretched out on leaves (see image).
Leaving the Field Centre after lunch JH noticed a moth alighting on the fascia board of the doors and IH quickly identified this as the rather attractively marked Scallop Shell Rheummaptera undulata (see image)'.
Ken Woolley reported newly emerged Meadow Brown males and good numbers of Common Blue butterflies.
Left, Tetragnatha species Spider © Derek Bateson and right Scallop Shell Moth © John Hancox
Left, Hoverfly Volucella bombylans (white-tailed form) and right Horse-fly Chrysops caecutiens © Derek Bateson
Left, Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis female and right Blue-tailed Damselfly mated pair in 'wheel' position © Derek Bateson
Monday 14th
The following images are from yesterday.
Left, Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosea © Derek Bateson and right Yellow Dung Fly species © Allan Parker ARPS
Dog Rose Rosa cannina © Allan Parker ARPS
Sunday 13th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘The day started quite overcast with some rain then started to brighten and the first thing seen was a late nymph of the Common Green Capsid Bug.
Along Loversall Bank several Common Spotted Orchid were in flower (see image), unfortunately one specimen had been trampled (see request below). Three specimens were seen located on the north side of the path. (not seen on that side of the path previously).
Next to be found was the Hoverfly Volucella bombylans (see image), and this was one if seven species noted, including a mating pair of one of the Neoascia species
In Loversall Delph, a very cooperative Bloodvein Moth was found by JH and it was pictured by five photographers (see image). Sue Richardson then found a very active Harlequin Ladybird larva (see image).
I noted the emergence of seven Water Soldier flowers, these had emerged since yesterday according to JH.
Scorpion Fly were numerous and more confiding than usual which allowed me to get a shot of a male (see image), also seen was Snipe Fly Chrysopilus cristatus, and two Sawfly species, one of which was Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosea.
Only one male Large Skipper butterfly was seen today, but it allowed all and sundry to secure some images. Two pair of Speckled Wood butterflies were seen, plus numerous Longhorn moths,
Nearly every Ox-Eye Daisy flower held one or more Pollen beetles which I pictured last week.
Several Blue-tail and Azure damselflies were noted, but only a single Common Blue.’
Can we make an appeal to visitors to the reserve that if they wander off the paths, no matter how short a distance, that they take great care where they place their feet as quite rare plants can soon get damaged or even destroyed.
Left, Common Spotted Orchid and right Harlequin Ladybird larvae © Derek Bateson
Left, Scorpion Fly male and right Large Skipper male © Derek Bateson
Left, Hoverfly Volucella bombylans © Derek Bateson and right Bloodvein Moth © Allan Parker ARPS
The number of Small Coppers had increased to three, two very fresh and one very faded individual (see image) which shows what a couple of weeks can do to the colour. (JH)
Small Copper faded individual © John Hancox
Ken Woolley counted some one-hundred and forty Southern Marsh Orchid today and on Willow Bank two Bee Orchid were noted along with two other orchids thought to be small Southern Marsh Orchid but may be an hybrid form. Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed) is much in evidence at the eastern end of the bank.(AP)
Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed) © Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 12th
Report by AP & GH.
Cottage Drain proved to be fairly quiet this morning but the following were noted:-
A single Broad-bodied Chaser, two Four-spotted Chaser, a single female Black-tailed Skimmer, three Large Red Damselfly and numerous 'blue' damselfly which proved to either Blue-tailed or Azure, not a single Common Blue was seen.
A single Green-veined White and two Speckled Wood were the only butterfly noted. A freshly hatched colony of Peacock Butterfly caterpillars were noted on Stinging Nettle their food plant.
The Moth Nemophora degeerella was noted in good numbers, the male as the longest antennae of any British moth species.
Several Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa coccinea were seen along with Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis, Horse (Thunder) Fly Chrysops relictus (the females of which give a nasty bite), several species of Hoverfly, numbers of various Bee species and other fly species included Flesh Fly Sarcophaha carnaria.
Left, Cardinal Beetle taking-off and right Peacock Butterfly caterpillars © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Longhorn Moth Nemophora degeerella male © Allan Parker ARPS and right Large Red Damselfly male © Glyn Hudson
An afternoon walk, by AP and GH, along Loversall Bank, through Loversall Delph to Loversall Field and the Dragonfly Ponds proved to be slightly more rewarding.
Dragonfly included at least six territorial male Four-spotted Chaser patrolling over the ponds with a single male Black-tailed Skimmer and a superb male Emperor. Damselfly were again numerous but apart from a few Large Red mainly, around the Delph, the rest were either Azure or Blue-tailed. Several mated pair were noted.
Speckled Wood were present in small numbers but Large Skipper were about in good numbers. A single very pale and worn Small Copper was also noted on Loversall Field.
Newts were noted coming up for air, in the 'dragonfly ponds, along with a good array of water beetles of several species.
A total of fifty Southern Marsh Orchid were in flower at the usual site. (Please note there is no public access to the site as it is a conservation area, please do not enter this area).
Several Common Spotted Orchid and the single Broad-leaved Helleborine were starting to show along Loversall Bank. A good show of Ox-eye Daisy, Dog Rose and Foxglove were among some of the other flowers seen.
JH reports that there were a number of Common Blue Damselflies at Loversall Delph including one that seemed slightly different having dark markings on segment 8 when both segments 8 and 9 should be clear blue. However, it appears to be an aberration - not a new species to the Reserve! (see image)
Several Banded Demoiselle damselfly were along Mother Drain and am immature male Black-tailed Skimmer was in Hawthorn Field (MB)
Common Blue Damselfly showing aberrant dark markings on segment eight © John Hancox
Left, Large Skipper and right Blue-tailed Damselfly a mated pair © Glyn Hudson
Left, Yellow Iris and right Foxglove © Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 11th
Now is the time to be looking for Banded Demoiselle damselflies, the first was seen by JH on 30th May. Maybe an early Common Darter dragonfly will show this weekend assuming the weather is somewhat warmer than of late. See below for Grasshopper image taken to day by David Roberts
Left, male Banded Demoiselle and right male Common Darter © Allan Parker ARPS
Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus © David Roberts
Thursday 10th
Another awful rainy cold day with no reports or images coming in for the day, so here are a couple of 'sunny' images to cheer up all you frustrated photographers!
Left, Corn Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis and right Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea © Allan Parker ARPS
Michael Bird reports:-
'Last Saturday, the 5th, there were lots of Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed) Pilosella aurantiaca growing on Willow Bank near the top of the slope.
A single plant of Ragged Robin Lychnis flox-cuculi was at the edge of the path between the Pumping Station and the Mother Drain under-bridge. There is another Ragged Robin Lychnis flox-cuculi plant in flower on the bank in front of the Decoy Lake hide, at least I think it was when viewed through my scope'.
Fox and Cubs (Orange Hawkweed) © Derek Bateson
Wednesday 9th
Flowers showing on the reserve now, include Dog Rose Rosa cannina and Ox-eye Daisy Lecanthemum vulgare.
Left, Dog Rose and right rain covered Ox-eye Daisy © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 8th
Moth Trapping Report - Night of 7th / 8th June 2010
Despite the wet weather, there were plenty of moths in the trap this morning. A healthy total of 64 species were positively identified and one of these, Coleophora laricella, also called the Larch Case-bearer, was an addition to the reserve list. The larva of Coleophora laricella feeds only on European Larch and is commonly found in Larch plantations throughout the UK, including all of Yorkshire. It is, however, a surprising find at Potteric Carr and shows how far even quite small moths will travel to locate new areas to colonize.
Another interesting capture was that of the Alder Moth Acronicta alni ( see photograph ). It is quite a widespread species but always uncommon and rarely seen. It has been recorded at Potteric Carr on only one previous occasion, as long ago as 1976. It has a particularly distinctive caterpillar, black, with large yellow patches along the back and curious long, black and glossy clubbed hairs widely spaced along each side. It feeds on a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs.
Other noteworthy species trapped included Epermenia falciformis and the Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga.
Ian Heppenstall
Moth Recorder
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘The weather was awful this morning so we were not very hopeful of a good catch in Ian’s moth trap. In fact, despite the overnight rain, temperatures had been quite high, and a lot of moths had been on the wing which Ian will report on later.
Several Ermine’s, both White and Buff were caught and the image shows the latter of these. At least two Scorched Wing moths appeared and their name is very descriptive as can be seen in the image below.
Elephant and Poplar Hawk-moths were present, also the rather attractive Alder Moth (see image) which is uncommon and somewhat of a rarity on the Reserve.
Caddis Flies too were very numerous and specimens are going to Stuart Crofts for ID as usual. Four Ichneumon flies were also taken (see image), and all appeared to be Ophion species. This group are notoriously difficult to ID without dissection and expert help.
I think Ian might come up with one or two more new species when he has a chance to check these’,
Left, Buff Ermine Moth and right the uncommon and rarely seen Alder Moth © Derek Bateson
Left, Scorched Wing Moth and right, Ichneumon Fly Ophion species © Derek Bateson
Monday 7th
Ian Heppenstall will be running his moth trap tonight and is hoping for another good catch. To be going on with here's an image from a previous session.
Pale Tussock © Allan Parker ARPS
Sunday 6th
On Piper Marsh, large fish were rising regularly to the surface and a visiting photographer who was also an experienced fisherman told us they were Tench spawning. He had been watching them for some time. At first, he thought they might be Carp but then noticed that the fins were rounded and this, he said, meant they were definitely Tench and not Carp. I doubt there are many, if any, records of Tench spawning at Potteric. (Ian Heppenstall)
The migrant Red Admiral butterfly is starting to arrive on the reserve along with numbers of Silver-Y Moth.
© John Hancox
Friday 4th
Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday, 2nd June, 2010
Wednesday’s moth trapping yielded 55 species and good individual totals, following a warm night.
There were 2 additions to the reserve list, namely Caloptilia syringella and Callisto denticulella. Both are common and widespread. Callisto syringella is a well known associate of Lilac in suburban gardens but at Potteric Carr is far more likely to be associated with Ash. Callisto denticulella is another species often found in gardens as its larvae feed on Apple.
Hawk-moths and Prominents were attractive features of the nights catch but of greater interest were the following, less common species: the Tinied, Monopis weaverella; Treble Lines Charancya trigrammica; and Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis.
A few Caddis were also collected for identification by Caddis expert, Stuart Crofts.
Ian Heppenstall,
Moth Recorder.
Elephant Hawk Moth © Allan Parker ARPS
Two more images from last Tuesday show a Tortricid Moth Bactra lancealana and a Pollen Beetle Oedemera lurida
Images © Derek Bateson
Thursday 3rd
A Hairy Dragonfly (PG) was over the pools in Loversall Field today. Also, while we were there, there were at least 6 Four-spotted Chaser including mated pairs and females ovipositing. There were also 4 Four-spotted Chaser at Loversall Delph. (all JH)
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
I ran the trap last night and a decent number of moths were caught and included a couple of new records for the reserve. (report to come later).
In the afternoon Dave Carroll and I had a walk around Huxter Well and approaching the viewing screen, we spotted a freshly emerged Brown Argus butterfly. It alighted on a Cut-leaved Cranesbill plant, probably its chief food plant at Potteric Carr. It then crawled over the plant, so perhaps it was a female, anyway it was an interesting observation. I am not sure that Brown Argus has been recorded on Huxter Well before.
There were also good numbers of Four-spotted Chaser recorded during the walk.
Four-spotted Chaser © Glyn Hudson
Wednesday 2nd
KW counted the Southern Marsh Orchids again today and numbers are up to forty-five. (Please note this area as no public access being in a conservation area).
He also reports that on the land adjacent to the over-spill carpark good numbers of Common Blue Butterfly were present.
A Leopard (Great) Slug was photographed in Black Carr Wood recently and another Harlequin Ladybird was on vegetation in Loversall Delph.
Left, Leopard (Great) Slug © Derek Bateson and right Harlequin Ladybird © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 1st
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘ Today, although dull and overcast, turned out in the end to be a good day with lots of invertebrates too cold to move.
First of all on the Access Track I found a Malachite beetle Malachius pustulatus which posed quite readily on Ox Eye Daisy (see image).
Next up, on Hawthorn Bank were several large ants Formica fusca, (see image) a species we see here occasionally.
I next visited the new drain areas in St Catherine’s Field, treading very carefully as there were hundreds, maybe thousands of mostly Azure, Blue-tailed and a few Common Blue damselflies, all resting mainly on Soft Rush.
There was then an interesting micro-moth which I have sent to IH for an ID.
Several beetles were seen and photographed, also another new Crane-fly and I am now awaiting confirmation of my ID’s.
In the planted area in the SW corner I chanced upon a male Four-spotted Chaser which posed and allowed me to move it around (image).
Finally on the way back to the café I spotted the Longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella, (image), my first this year although KW/AP et al saw one two days ago.’
Malachite Beetle Malachius pustulatus (L) and Ant Formica fusca (R) both images © Derek Bateson
Four-spotted Chaser (L) and Longhorn Moth Nemophora degeerella (R) both images © Derek Bateson
Ken Woolley reports finding a total of thirty-one Southern Marsh Orchid at the usual site, (PLEASE NOTE THIS AREA IS NOT ACCESSABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC). He also found four Bee Orchid just appearing at the usual Willow Bank site.
Other images from yesterday are Sloe Bug Dolycoris baccarum, first for the year, and Azure Damsel Coenagrion puella of which there appear to be thousands on the reserve at this time.
Sloe Bug Dolycoris baccarum (L) and Azure Damselfly (R) images © Allan Parker ARPS
May 2010
Monday 31st
During an afternoon visit to the reserve and a walk along Loversall Bank, through Loversall Delph and to the 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field and return we noted several Four-spotted Chaser and when a mated pair arrived at one of the Loversall Field ponds at least four more males tried to get into the act. Both male and female / immature male Broad-bodied Chaser were seen along with numerous 'blue' damselfly mainly male Azure, many of the males had managed to find females and quite a lot of mated pairs were noted. Quite a few Large Red Damselfly were seen and again several mated pairs were noted. The star attraction was at Loversall Delph when a male Hairy Dragonfly Brachychon pratense was found by GH and photographed by him (see image below). This is the fourth record of this species in the last ten days.
Also noted were Scorpion-fly, Snipe-fly, numerous hoverflies of four different species, several red and black Froghopper, a superb Nursery Web Spider (see image below) and another Harlequin Ladybird.
Three Common Newt were seen briefly as they came up for air in one of the ponds.
(All above AP SP GH and JH)
Hairy Dragonfly male © Glyn Hudson Nursery Web Spider © Allan Parker ARPS
Scorpion-fly (left) and Snipe-fly (right) both images © Glyn Hudson
Sunday 30th
John Hancox reports:-
Cottage Drain saw the first Banded Demoiselle of the year, a male. The main feature there, and in other parts of the Reserve apparently, was the enormous number of male Azure damselflies, probably numbering in many thousands, indicating that, perhaps, there had been a mass emergence in the last few days. There were very few female Azure, a few Large Red, Blue-tailed and some Common Blue damselflies. There were five Broad-bodied Chasers, all females, and six Four-spot Chasers of which one showed vestiges of the fairly common form praenubila where the four spots and the pterostigma are larger and less clearly defined with some shading from them across the wing. See image below which shows this on the individual photographed this morning.
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata form praenubila © John Hancox
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘The photographic team all headed off to Black Carr Wood, and we all managed good images of the fungus, Chicken of the Woods which does appear to be a new Reserve record which I am checking. Three specimens were on the original dead fallen tree trunk and nearby another specimen was found on another dead stump. Both appeared to be Oak. As I disturbed the leaf litter I found a large white 'caterpillar' which so far has defied our ID skills. A splendid specimen of Horse’s Hoof Fungus was also photographed in the same area
I then departed for Cottage Drain which appeared to have a recent emergence of mainly male Azure Damselfly but the other two ‘blues’ and Large Red were also noted and JH found the first male Banded Demoiselle of the year.
Several Four-spot Chasers were on the wing, but very wary. Not so were four male Broad-bodied Chasers, three immature, and one mature, my first this year for a mature male (see images below for comparison).
Several Green-veined White and one Small White were seen and seven species of hoverfly were noted, the ‘footballer’ Helophilus being particularly common.
AP and KW also found six Sloe Bugs and another immature male Broad-bodied Chaser near the Pumping station.’
Broad-bodied Chaser immature male © Derek Bateson
Broad-bodied Chaser mature male below © Steve Routledge
Also today there were two reports of Hairy Dragonfly (via SP) and a single Red Admiral butterfly (SP AP KW) near the 'dragonfly ponds' on Loversall Field. A male Common Blue was on Huxter Well Marsh (SP)
A Large White and several Speckled Wood butterflies were noted (KW AP)
Seven Common Spotted Orchid plants were noted emerging on Loversall Bank and close by the Broad-leaved Helleborine was pushing through the brambles.
Loversall Delph had between 3.30 and 4.00 pm two just emerged Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies one still next to its exuviae ( see image).
© Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 29th
Both Fox and Roe Deer were photographed from Loversall Pool Hide today.
Images © Dale Bentham
Two images, from earlier this week, show the Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata which because of its red and black colour is the most noticeable of several Froghopper species. The second image shows one of the moths found in Ian's moth trap, at the last session, a Pale Tussock Calliteara podibunda.
Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata © Allan Parker ARPS
Pale Tussock Calliteara podibunda © Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 28th
This female Blue-tailed Damsel of the form rufescens was photographed along Cottage Drain, while a second damselfly was playing 'hide and seek' with the photographer... the eyes have it.
Female Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans rufescens © Allan Parker ARPS
© Allan Parker ARPS
Thursday 27th
This Longhorn Beetle Agapanthea villosoviridescens was photographed on the 24th by Anne Riley and is a first for this year on the reserve. Also a first for this year on the reserve was a record of Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense by the same person.
Longhorn Beetle Agapanthea villosoviridescens © Anne Riley
This fungi, photographed by Sue Bird, growing on a fallen dead tree trunk in Black Carr Wood is thought to be Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus.
Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus © Sue Bird
Wednesday 26th
Two recent images from the reserve of:-
1. A Roe Deer photographed from the Loversall Pool hide as it fed
and
2. a Snipe-fly photographed on Cottage Drain.
Roe Deer feeding © Dale Bentham
Snipe-fly © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 25th
Derek Bateson reports:-
I had a walk, with a colleague, to the Water Violet site and we calculated that there were probably in excess of a thousand flower spikes. I took a handheld general shot to show the extent of the carpet of flower spikes.
Walking back through Childers Wood I took a close-up image of the Liverwort which too has extended its coverage, and I think this is quite an interesting shot of the palm-like female receptacles.
Carpet of Water Violet © Derek Bateson
Liverwort © Derek Bateson
A visit to Loversall Field by John Hancox produced a very early record of an Emperor Dragonfly exuviae, the previous earliest record being June 7th. It was removed and as been sent to Tom Hubball vc63 recorder for confirmation, (a later afternoon search of the 'dragonfly ponds' by AP revealed a further five Emperor Dragonfly exuviae and one was photographed in situ by AP). It would appear there had been a total of at least six that had emerged either Sunday / Monday night or Monday / Tuesday night (they tend to emerge in the early hours of the morning). Also noted and photographed by JH was this Southern Marsh Orchid.
Southern Marsh Orchid © John Hancox Emperor Dragonfly exuviae © Allan Parker ARPS
Cottage Drain on a cloudy cool morning with an easterly breeze, (temperature some 10 degrees colder than the previous Sunday) was fairly quiet but the following were noted;
A single Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa coccinea made a nice comparison with a single Soldier Beetle Cantharis rustica. A very colourful Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis was quite sedate and allowed photos to be taken. Several, again very colourful (red and black) Froghopper Cereopis vulnerata were at rest on various plant leaves.
Not a single dragonfly was seen but the three 'blue' damselflies were all present mainly consisting of Blue-tailed with lesser numbers of Azure and the odd Common Blue.
Also noted were Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis, Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopacea, two different Crane-fly species and clouds of mosquitoes (thankfully the insect repellent was working)
Several Large-jawed Orb Web spiders were in evidence waiting for some unsuspecting prey to fly into their web.
Moths noted included Nettle-tap Moth Anthophila fabriciana, Silver Ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata and Epiblema cynosdatella.
Silver-ground Carpet (left) and Epiblema cynosbatella (right) © Allan Parker ARPS
Cardinal Beetle (left) and Soldier Beetle (right) © Allan Parker ARPS
Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis © Allan Parker ARPS
Monday 24th
REPORT ON MOTH TRAPPING
18 MAY & 22 MAY, 2010
Further moth trapping sessions took place on the nights of Tuesday, 18th and Saturday, 22nd May. A combined total of 60 different species were trapped, Saturday night being especially warm and, hence, productive. One of these species, Swammerdamia caesiella, is a new reserve record. Although this birch feeding microlepidopteron is reasonably common and widespread, it is easily overlooked, being very similar in appearance to others of the same genus. Other records of note included Epermenia falciformis, Epiblema costipunctana, Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica and Treble Lines Charancya trigrammica.
It is pleasing to note that several of the formerly widespread and common species categorised by the IUCN as ‘Endangered’ or ‘Vulnerable’ as a result of rapid decline ( more than 70% reduction in UK over last 35 years ) were trapped on one or both nights. These included Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata, Blood-vein Timandra comae, Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata, Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae, White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda, Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum and Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi. Regular trapping should provide the evidence needed to assess changes to the populations of these and other IUCN listed species at Potteric Carr.
Ian Heppenstall
Moth Recorder.
Below are images of two of the hawk moths caught in the moth trap on Saturday night.
Elephant Hawk Moth images © Allan Parker ARPS
Poplar Hawk Moth images © Allan Parker ARPS
One of the Caddis Fly found in the moth trap on Saturday night / Sunday morning was possibly the largest UK species Phryganea grandis, see image below.
Caddis Fly possibly Phryganea grandis © Allan Parker ARPS
Sunday 23rd
Derek Bateson reports:_
'Ian Heppenstall ran a very successful moth trap on Saturday evening and will no doubt be reporting separately, but we did find a dozen Caddis Flies among the catch, one of which was possibly our largest species. P. grandis, quite an impressive beast. These are being sent to Stuart Croft for ID.
Cottage Drain was again the magnet today and was alive with all three ‘blue’ damselflies, both adult and teneral, with several mating pairs of Azure. There were a few Large Red Damselfly, but no dragonflies were seen.
One Cardinal beetle and several froghoppers were noted. One of these fooled AP and the writer as it turned out to be a leaf bud cover!. Four species of hoverfly were seen together along with Peacock, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Large White and Orange-Tip butterflies.
A number of spiders were noted, one of which appeared to be a Large-jawed Orb Web Spider Tetragnatha montana.’
As reported by DB IH ran his moth trap over Saturday night and a report and images will follow but here is one from DB to be going on with.
Treble Lines Moth © Derek Bateson
An afternoon walk, in the company of GH and SL, along Loversall Bank, through Loversall Delph to Loversall Field and the 'dragonfly ponds' produced the following species:-
Three plus Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae were noted and a tiny but extremely colourful and pretty day flying moth as yet unidentified was in Loversall Delph. (now identified as Pyrausta aurata).
Butterflies noted were several Brimstone, both male & female, at least four male Orange Tip, several Green-veined White, up to six Speckled Wood, one small and quite 'tatty' Peacock, a single Small Copper and a single Holly Blue probably the first for this year.
Numerous damselflies included Large Red and the three Blues many were tenerals but a fair number of mated blues were seen. Up to five Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies were seen including two territorial males 'wing clashing' as they disputed territories.
The ponds held both Great Crested and Common Newts also noted was a Great Diving Beetle Dytiscus marginalis larvae and numerous Whirligig Beetles
Several Scorpion-fly Panorpa communis and two different species of Crane-fly were seen.
Quite a few Brown-lipped Snail were on a variety of plants.
Large -jawed Orb Web Spider (Tetragnatha montana) and Nursery Web Spider were seen in good numbers
Ox-eye Daisy is now in flower along with Common Vetch Vicia sativa and a single large Southern Marsh Orchid is in flower at the usual site.
(all above AP)
A Roe deer was seen by AA near the Pumping Station.
Common Vetch Vicia sativa © Allan Parker ARPS
Speckled Wood © Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 22nd
A walk to Seven Arches Carr produced, c60 Azure Damselfly, both male and female, c 25 Blue-tailed Damselfly and c40 teneral blue damselfly. Dragonflies noted were a single female Broad-bodied Chaser and 23 Four-spotted Chaser, most having just emerged with a number still drying out,
Butterflies noted were 8 Green-veined White, 6 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 10 male Orange Tip, 2 Large White and 2 Peacock.
Two Water Vole were also sighted.
The caterpillar of a Burnished Brass Moth was also seen and photographed
(all above John Hancox)
Burnished Brass Moth caterpillar © John Hancox
A Roe Deer was noted on the M18 embankment next to St. Catherine's Field by GH
The 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field saw many emerging damselflies, of four species, and numerous Four-spotted Chaser and at least one Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies were also noted
This sequence of an emerging Four-spotted Chaser was photographed today by Glyn Hudson
Four-spotted Chaser emerging and ready to fly, all images © Glyn Hudson
Friday 21st
Two recent images from the reserve include Cardinal Beetle and Brimstone Butterfly.
Cardinal Beetle © Dave Round
Brimstone male © Helen Womack
Thursday 20th
John Hancox reports:-
Very little to report today - main item was the first male Brown Argus of the season. Other butterflies were Large, Small, Green-veined Whites, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Peacock.
Lots of teneral damselflies and three Four-spot Chasers.
JLS reported a family of young shrews with a parent plus a Grass Snake at Loversall Delph.
Green-veined White © Allan Parker ARPS
Wednesday 19th
A Water Vole was seen in Loversall Delph by IH.
Tuesday 18th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘Another very warm day, and together with AP we surveyed Cottage Drain and immediately found a Broad-bodied Chaser, and soon after another both of which appeared to be immature males later we found a third, also found was a Four-spotted Chaser, probably the first this year, and at the end of the morning a further Four-spotted Chaser was noted.
All three ‘blue’ damselflies were numerous with many tenerals, plus up to twelve Large Red Damselflies.
Five species of hoverfly were seen, one of which was a Platycheirus species, but my image was not good enough for a positive ID.
AP and I spent some time photographing our first Cardinal Beetle of the year which was very cooperative. Scorpion Flies were in evidence but difficult to approach.
AP then found a mating pair of Crane-fly, later determined by John Kramer as the species I found two weeks ago, Tipula (Pterelachisus) varipennis, common in wet woodland.
I then spotted what I thought was a shield bug instar but on close examination this proved to be a ladybird. It didn't’t match any of the keys so I managed a photograph later and sent it to Peter Brown at the British Ladybird Survey. He determined it as our first Harlequin of the year Harmonia axyridis, f. succinea, a very dark form, not very typical, and quite small.
Butterflies included a Green-veined White, plus three Speckled Woods and two Peacocks, one of which was very worn’
Cardinal Beetle © Allan Parker ARPS
Crane-fly Tipula varipennis pair mating © Allan Parker ARPS
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f.succinea © Derek Bateson
A morning walk along Loversall Bank to Loversall Field and back by John Hancox produced the following:-
There were good numbers of Large-red and Blue damselflies about but less than one would expect at this time of year.
Six Four-spotted Chaser and a teneral Black-tailed Skimmer, first this year I believe, were also noted.
Butterflies noted were two Small Copper and plenty of male Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites plus the odd Small White and a Large White.
A early afternoon walk along the same route by AP produced the following species:-
A Bloodvein Moth Timandra griseata was noted next to the compound (see image) and several Speckled Wood, Green-veined White and Orange Tip butterflies were noted along Loversall Bank.
Loversall Delph produced a single male Brimstone along with a couple of Speckled Wood butterflies.
A Small White Butterfly was next to the pond dipping platforms as were numerous teneral Blue damselflies.
The two 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field produced several male and female Great Crested Newts along with two Common Newts.
A Broad-bodied Chaser was briefly, noted in flight, before disappearing up into the trees
Several Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis were noticed 'sunning' on Stinging Nettle leaves and a web next to the ponds held both a male and a female Lariniodes cornutus spider (see image).
Two Small Copper butterflies seen were almost certainly the two noted by JH in the morning.
Blood-veined Moth Timandra cornae © Allan Parker ARPS
Spider Larinoides cornutus female © Allan Parker ARPS
Monday 17th
A Common Toad was photographed near Loversall Pool yesterday by David Roberts.
A Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus was photographed, by Dave Round, on the 15th.
Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus, which despite its name is omnivorous can be found feeding on many flowers not just Raspberry, it is considered a pest. There are two similar beetles, and this is the paler of the two. (information via Derek Bateson and Dave Carroll)
Common Toad © David Roberts
Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus © Dave Round
Sunday 16th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘ Despite the slightly breezy day, more and more invertebrates are appearing, with some four hoverflies, one of which I think might be Anisimyia lineata (image) a species we don’t see very often.
A Green-veined White butterfly was laying eggs on Garlic Mustard leaf (image JH) which can be compared with the Orange-Tip egg photographed earlier in the week by JH.
All three ‘blue’ damselflies provided many tenerals, and five Large Reds were noted.
Several more specimens of the Sawfly Tenthredo livida were in evidence (image).
Finally, along Loversall Bank was a large assemblage of the aptly named Crosswort, Cruciata laevipes,(image), with its hairy bracts and tiny flowers in a cross shape.
Yesterday, I counted over 200 flower spikes of Water Violet which has proliferated in its Seven Arches Carr pool. Also noted yesterday were two male Brimstone butterflies patrolling the path near Piper Marsh hide.’
Green-veined White butterfly egg © John Hancox
Sawfly Tenthredo livida © Derek Bateson
Hoverfly possibly Anisimyia lineata © Derek Bateson
Crosswort Cruciata laevipes © Derek Bateson
Saturday 15th
These two images were taken by Terry Hedley, today, and show a Brimstone butterfly either landing or taking-off from a flower and a Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly
Brimstone Butterfly © Terry Hedley
Broad-bodied Chaser © Terry Hedley
Friday 14th
The St. Catherine's Field area produced, while we were watching the Iberian Chiffchaff, a female / immature male Broad-bodied Chaser (only the second for this year) and the following butterfly species, up to four Peacock, a single male Orange-tip, several Green-veined White and a single Small White, the latter species being the first for the year. There also seemed to have been a hatch of Alder-fly Sialis lutaria and good numbers were noted.
The Water Violet colony seems to be spreading, within the site, and are now more numerous than in the previous two years.(AP SP IH)
A Fox was again noted from the Loversall Pool hide this time carrying a unidentified prey item in it's mouth and limping slightly on one back leg. (RB SB). It would appear there may be den somewhere in the area with the adults feeding cubs.
Orange-tip Butterfly male © David Roberts
Crane-fly Plychoptera species © John Hancox
Thursday 13th
A fox was photographed from the Loversall Pool hide on the 12th. (see image)
The tiny egg, a mere 1.2 mm long, of the Orange Tip Butterfly was photographed on the stem of the caterpillar's food plant Cuckoo Flower (Milkmaid) today by JH.
Orange Tip Butterfly egg © John Hancox
Fox © Dale Bentham
Wednesday 12th
This Flesh Fly Sacrophaga carnaria was photographed along Cottage Drain yesterday and was one of several species of fly noted.
Flesh Fly Sacrophaga carnaria © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 11th
Water Violet Hottonia palustris was found in flower at the site where it was re-discovered two years ago. (SP)
Water Violet Hottonia palustris © Allan Parker ARPS
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘ Another pleasantly warm day so I took the opportunity to look for the Morels which I didn’t have time to find on Sunday. I managed my photograph for the record, and then found another seven specimens, larger but gone over, behind some chain link fencing. Two species of ‘blue’ damselflies , Common and Blue-tail were noted, together with five Large Reds. A very pale specimen of Speckled Wood was seen., plus several Orange-tips and Green-veined White. Hoverflies of seven species were numerous, particularly Leucozona lucorum as photographed on Sunday. At least three species of spider were basking on leaves and one specimen of the Nursery Web spider, Pisaura mirabilis was found alongside another tiny spider (image). I looked under one of the reptile refugia and found a one year old grass snake, curled up beside an ant’s nest. Unfortunately, on putting the cover aside, the snake slithered away out of camera reach.’
Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis (C) Derek Bateson
Cottage Drain proved to be fairly quiet, but Large Red, Blue-tailed, Azure and Common Damselflies were all noted.
Scorpion-fly, Flesh Fly, and several different Hoverfly species were found.
Two male Orange Tip, a single Small Tortoiseshell and up to ten Green-veined White Butterflies were counted.
A Large-jawed Orb Web Spider in this case probably Tetragnatha extensa was photographed as was a superb Drinker Moth caterpillar the first noted on the reserve this year.
7-spot Ladybirds were much in evidence
Elsewhere a count of the Morel Verpa conica fungi found a total of fifteen fruiting bodies most past their 'sell by date'.
A Speckled Wood and a female Brimstone butterflies were also noted in this area and a Roe Deer was disturbed from the grassland next to the dragonfly ponds in Loversall Field
(All above Allan Parker)
Large-jawed Orb Web Spider (probable Tetragnatha extensa) (C) Allan Parker ARPS.
Drinker Moth caterpillar (C) Allan Parker ARPS.
Monday 10th
Two images taken along Cottage Drain yesterday show a Large-jawed Orb Web Spider Tetragnatha montana and a Greenbottle Orthella cornicina, the latter species turns from a vivid green to an equally vivid copper colour with age. (AP)
Large-jawed Orb Web Spider Tetragnatha montana (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Greenbottle Orthella cornicina (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Sunday 9th
Apart from two firsts for the year, a female Broad-bodied Chaser (see image) and a female Azure Damselfly, it was fairly normal fare along Cottage Drain:-
5 male Orange Tip, 10 Green-veined White and 2 Peacock Butterflies.
Damselflies included 3 Blue-tailed, 2 Common Blue, both female tenerals, and several Large Red.
Up to 3 Common Green Shield Bug were noted. Another first for the year was a Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis (AP).
A Bumble Bee Bombus sylvestris was photographed by JH.
(all above JH AP)
Bumble Bee Bombus sylvestris (C) John Hancox
Broad-bodied Chaser female (C) John Hancox
Elsewhere five Morel Verpa conica fungi were noted and photographed (this uncommon Spring fungi is a possible first for the reserve and was found by Ian & Janet Heppenstall).
Morel Verpa conica (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Derek Bateson reports:_
‘Quite a sunny day which was enough to tempt out more invertebrates, despite a chilly breeze. Cottage Drain again proved fruitful to four photographers, with several sightings of Large Red Damselfly, also Blue-tailed Damselfly.
JH found a newly emerged female Broad-bodied chaser which was very cooperative.
There were at least five species of hoverfly and perhaps the most interesting was the striking Leucozona lucorum (image). I counted five bees of the species Nomada flava, (image), first recorded last year. Also noted was the sawfly, Tenthredo livida (image), with white-tipped antennae which seem to be continually moving, making sharp images difficult.
Several spiders, including Tetragnatha extensa were basking on leaves, as was a large bumblebee which caused some discussion on identification, but might be B. Vestalis or B sylvestris. The only butterfly seen was a Green-veined White’
Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum (C) Derek Bateson
Bee Nomada flava (C) Derek Bateson
Sawfly Tenthredo livida (C) Derek Bateson
Thursday 6th
MOTH TRAPPING REPORT
Moth trapping on Wednesday, 5th May yielded a very modest total of 15 generally common moths, all of them previously recorded from Potteric Carr.
They included Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria, Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta, Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis, Elachista apicipunctella, Scrobipalpa acuminatella and the pretty Tortricid, Ancylis badiana.
A few Caddis were removed for later identification.
Ian Heppenstall, Moth Recorder
Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilic (C) Rob Mokryj
Wednesday 5th
This as yet unidentified Hoverfly was photographed yesterday along Cottage Drain by Derek Bateson.
Hoverfly species (C) Derek Bateson
Tuesday 4th
John Hancox reports:-
"On a bright spring day, the most notable features were at least a dozen Large Red Damselflies on the wing in the Loversall Delph area - all female of the form, fulvipes.
Two Small Copper butterflies at Loversall Field were the first of the year, and other butterflies seen were limited to Orange Tip (many), Green-veined White and two Speckled Woods - both females with very large pale spots."
Small Copper (C) John Hancox
With the weather much better and sunny, but still with a cold northerly wind, a walk down Cottage Drain, along Willow Bank, then through Loversall Delph and along Loversall Bank back to the Field Centre produced the following;
Butterflies noted were a single Small Tortoiseshell, six Peacock, one Comma, one male Orange Tip, one Speckled Wood and up to fifteen Green-veined White.
A total of six Large Red Damselfly were counted, a single Blue-tailed Damselfly and a male and a female Common Blue Damselfly were the first 'blues' of the year, all three were noted along Cottage Drain.
A single Alder-fly, several Crane-fly, various Hoverfly species and several Bumble Bees were also noted along with a single Green Shield Bug. The latter being a 'first for the year'.
Again a good number of tadpoles were in the water in front of Cottage Drain hide.
(all above AP)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Common Blue Damselfly male (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Common Blue Damselfly female (C) Allan Parker ARPS
This female Great Crested Newt was photographed recently on the path between the dragonfly ponds on Loversall Field
Great Crested Newt female (C) Ray Schofield
Derek Bateson reports:_
‘ A much better day today with less wind and Cottage Drain was quite a good spot to be, mostly out of the breeze. AP and I spent some time here and five Peacocks were counted together with a Comma, female Brimstone, several Green-veined Whites also male and female Orange Tips.
Three Large Red Damselflies were spotted and several , three I think, teneral ‘blues’ which I think were later identified as one Blue-tailed and two Common Blue, a male and a female.
There were numerous hoverflies of probably five species, three of which I couldn’t identify including this all black specimen. There was another Mirid Bug and again I am not sure of the identification. At least three species of Crane-fly were noted, and the image shows one of these, Tipula (Pterelachisus) varipennis, kindly determined for me this afternoon by John Kramer, one of Britain’s leading experts. I had spent an hour trying to key it out from the Crane-fly recording scheme keys, but without success.
AP found a Shield Bug which looked to be a very young Green Shield Bug in its summer form.’
Crane-fly Tipula (Pterelachisus) varipennis (C) Derek Bateson
Monday 3rd
On April 24th a dragonfly exuviae was found on one of the ponds in Loversall Field by Dave Round. Images were taken of it to try and identify the species. It was later removed by Mark who was complete with waders as it was on a stem about six feet out into the water. It was sent to Tom Hubball (VC63 recorder) and Steve Cham for identification. It was confirmed as an Anax species but it could not be determined if it was an exuviae of Lesser Emperor or Emperor because the key part for ID, the abdomen, was missing. (see image below)
It was most likely to be an Emperor as there as only been one ID of Lesser Emperor in the past.
Tom Hubball stated that it was very unusual to find an exuviae from a previous season, in this case 2009. (information via JH)
Dragonfly exuviae (probable Emperor) (C) John Hancox
A fox was photographed from the Loversall Pool hide by Glyn Hudson today. (see image below)
Fox (C) Glyn Hudson
Sunday 2nd
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘ Hardly a Spring day which was very cool, and most inverts were sheltering, or resting on leaves, particularly the hoverflies where only two species were noted, with S. Ribesii predominating.
Several small flies were doing the same but are not as yet identified.
What was interesting was a small ant-like insect some 3-4mm in length with yellow abdominal stripes, found resting on a Hawthorn leaf. This may be one of the leaf-sucking Heteroptera Bug species, and I have asked for help with the ID as this, being so small, might be at the nymphal stage (see image).
Not a lot else was seen except for some emergent bracken fronds which produced some interesting shapes (see image)’.
Jim Flanagan, the Sorby bug recorder, as now identified the Heteroptera bug mentioned above as the nymph of a Mirid Bug Miris striatus (see image of adult bug for comparison)
Mirid Bug Miris striatus nymph (C) Derek Bateson
Mirid Bug Miris stiatus adult (C) Derek Bateson
Emergent Bracken Frond (C) Derek Bateson
The change in the weather and quite a drop in temperature combined with a very cold North-easterly wind meant that not a single butterfly was seem today!! (AP)
Two Roe Deer were reported, by a visitor, along the hedge at Beeston Fields.
Saturday 1st
Despite the sunny periods, it was fairly quiet with only Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites and Peacocks in evidence this a.m. There were one or two Large Red Damselflies about at Loversall Delph. See image below of a female, still not with its full colour.
Large Red Damselfly (C) John Hancox
April 2010
Friday 30th
MOTH TRAPPING REPORT
Moth trapping on Wednesday night, 28th April, yielded a total of 25 species, including a few newcomers for the year, such as Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma and Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac and, more significantly, two that are additions to the Potteric Carr list, namely Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata and Agonopteryx ciliella. The Water Carpet is a not unattractive Geometer, whose larva feeds on various species of bedstraw. The moth occurs throughout Yorkshire in small numbers. Agonopteryx ciliella is a member of the Oecophoridae, a fairly large family of microlepidoptera. It is associated with Umbellifers and is a generally common and widespread moth. The two additions to the reserve list mean that, already this year, 12 new species of moths have been identified at Potteric Carr.
Ian Heppenstall
Moth Recorder
Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma (C) Rob Mokryj
Thursday 29th
The water in front of Cottage Drain hide was alive with tadpoles (SB RB)
This female Orange Tip Butterfly was photographed on Tuesday 27th on Cuckooflower (Milkmaid) one of the food plants for the caterpillar of this species. (AP)
Orange Tip Butterfly female on Cuckooflower (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Wednesday 28th
Brimstone butterfly female (C) Derek Bateson
Tuesday 27th
Derek Bateson reports fro Cottage Drain
‘ Quite a warm day and this produced masses of hoverflies of possibly six species with the preponderance being Syrphus ribesii where I counted well over 100 specimens. As well as hoverflies, crane-flies had started to appear, and the image shows a mated pair. The bee, Nomada flavicornis was seen in several locations and this now seems to be established.
Bumble bees continue to be active, and one Alder-fly was spotted although AP/KW were luckier with a female laying eggs on Typha in Loversall Field.
Some nine Orange Tip butterflies, probably five males to four females, nine Peacocks and a single Brimstone female were also seen along Cottage Drain, together with several ladybirds. A further male and female Brimstone, more Orange tips and two Green-veined whites were seen later at the Field Centre’
Crane-fly pair mating (C) Derek Bateson
Loversall Bank, Loversall Field and Cottage Drain proved to be quite productive today.
Butterflies included two male and three female Brimstone, fifteen Peacock with fourteen of them along Cottage Drain, two Comma, one Speckled Wood, seven male Orange Tip but no females and a total of seven Green-veined White.
A single Large Red Damselfly was at the western end of Loversall Bank.
The dragonfly ponds in Loversall Field gave us a total of ten Common Newt plus two Great Crested Newt. A very large Great Diving Beetle plus Water Boatman and Whirligig Beetle were also noted. The webs of nine Larinodes cornutus spiders were counted with some of the spiders sitting out on their webs.
An Alder-fly Sialis lutaria female was observed and photographed egg laying on a Soft Rush stem (see image below).
(all above KW & AP)
Alder-fly Sialis lutaria female egg laying (C) Allan Parker ARPS
A Water Vole was photographed, in Division Drain, from the Loversall Pool Hide (see image below)
Water Vole (C) Dale Bentham
Sunday 25th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘Last night’s warmth, with a rain shower certainly induced a large hatch of midges and mosquitoes, and I have never seen as many when IH opened his moth trap this morning. There were maybe three species which were prominent and one of the most striking was a non-biting midge, poss' Chironomus plumosus, named as such because of the plume-like antennae of the male (see image). As an aquatic larva, this is the bright red bloodworm which can often be found in muddy debris at the bottom of ponds.
Only one Caddis Fly was found in the trap, and this has been sent to Stuart Crofts for ID.
Around the Reserve, several pairs of Orange tip butterflies were seen and a female Brimstone in Loversall Delph.
Interest was aroused in a dragonfly exuviae found by DR on a Typha stem on one of the ponds in Loversall Field. It looked fresh and could probably be that of a Four-spot Chaser, although several days earlier than the previous early date’.
Midge species (poss' Chironomus plumosus) (C) Derek Bateson
Hawthorn Field proved to be worthwhile with two male and a single female Orange-tip Butterfly, the latter on Milkmaid (Cuckoo Flower) the caterpillar's food plant. Peacock and Green-veined White butterflies were also present. A young Frog found by KW was photographed. Several spring flowers were also in this area and included Ground Ivy, Wild Strawberry, Milkmaid (Cuckoo Flower), Horsetail and numerous Dandelions.
Elsewhere a female Brimstone, several Peacock and at least three Green-veined butterflies where noted.
Primrose, Cowslip and Marsh Marigold were in flower with two large clumps of the latter in Loversall Delph.
Four examples of a yet unidentified spider were present at the Dragonfly ponds on Loversall Field (see image below). (all KW AP)
PS. Spider now identified as Lariniodes cornutus
Spider Lariniodes cornutus (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Frog (C) Allan Parker ARPS
MOTH TRAPPING REPORT FOR 24 APRIL, 2010
Amongst the 23 species of moths trapped on Saturday night, 24 April, were two that represent new species for the reserve. Eriocrania salopiella is a tiny but pretty moth, a mixture of red-purple and gold, with a wingspan of only around 10mm. It flies around birches in the Spring, as do a number of very similar Eriocrania species, some of which have also been recorded from Potteric Carr. Although not a new County or Vice-County record, very few Yorkshire records exist, so this is a significant find.
The other newcomer on Saturday night was the Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata, a Geometrid moth that is reasonably widespread and is associated with sallow, birch, alder and honeysuckle.
Other species trapped included the handsome Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria, the Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria and Grey Birch Aethalura punctulata.
Ian Heppenstall, Moth Recorder
Early Thorn Selenia dentaria (1st generation) (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 23rd
Two images from today are Grass Snake on Hawthorn Bank and Roe Deer taken from Beeston Hide.
Grass Snake (C) Dale Bentham
Roe Deer (C) Rob Mokryj
Wednesday 21st
Field Maple Acer campestre (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 20th
Derek Bateson reports:-
‘Despite the fresh breeze, a lot more insects were moving around and on Cottage Drain, there were two Peacock butterflies, one male Orange Tip and a male and female Brimstone which both eluded my lens. Five different hoverflies were noted, one of which I was unable to identify before it flew off. There was a preponderance of Syrphus ribesii (see image), but both Eristalis were present in good numbers. Last night’s rain triggered a mass emergence of midges. Queen Bumble Bees were too active for me to image, but I did manage a hand-held shot of another bee, which appears to be Nomada flavicornis, a cuckoo bee which parasitise another species (see image).
Lesser Whitethroat was singing again from the same tree as Sunday, and last year.
Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii (C) Derek Bateson
Cuckoo Bee Nomada flavicornis (C) Derek Bateson
Monday 19th
Goat Willow Salix caprea female catkin (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Peacock Inachis io (C) Dave Round
Sunday 18th
Derek Bateson reports:-
Spring seems to have arrived at last, at least for the inverts------------see report:
‘With the sun out, Cottage Drain beckoned and proved well worth-while.
During the morning, two male and two female Orange Tip butterflies were seen, with one male flying up and down the length of the drain at least three times. One Green-veined white was seen, plus a female Brimstone and a Peacock.
A probable five species of bumble bee were noted, also five hoverflies including Syrphus sp., Eristalis tenax and pertinax, and two other smaller unidentified species. Also unidentified was this Muscid Fly (image). Two 7-spot Ladybirds were seen (see image) and several spiders were moving over the warm ground. Midges and mosquitoes were also on the wing.
Elsewhere, JH found two (?mating), Brown-lipped snails Cepaea nemoralis and AA saw a Stoat along the Access Track.’
Muscid Fly species (C) Derek Bateson
7-spot Ladybird (C) Derek Bateson
Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis mating (C) John Hancox
Hawthorn Field had the following butterflies, 1 Comma, 2 male Orange Tip, 1 Green-veined White and 2 Peacock. One of the male Orange-tip butterflies was visiting one of the food plants of this species caterpillar, Milkmaid or Cuckoo Flower. Hairy Violet was in flower next to the Pumping Station fence. Fish noted in the Mother Drain included a medium sized Pike.
Hairy Violet Viola hirta (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 17th
3 Grass Snakes (1 female and 2 males) were mating on the Mother Drain embankment near the wooden underbridge and a Toad was seen nearby.
Orange Tip, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma butterflies were out in the warm sunshine.
Grass Snakes mating (C) Dale Bentham
Grass Snakes mating (C) Andy Atkinson
Tuesday 13th
Derek Bateson reports;
Things have started to move, so here are a few notes:-
‘ Today was a pleasant, sunny Spring morning, albeit with a cool breeze which kept some of the invertebrates under cover. Exceptions were numerous queen bumblebees, mostly Bombus terrestris, but some B. Lapidarius, the red-tailed bumble bee, also seen by JH on Sunday. Turning over two or three of the reptile refugia, unearthed several ant colonies which were quite active.
Loversall Delph provided two Peacock butterflies and one Comma near the dipping platforms where Roe Deer had been overnight.
As reported by others previously, Celandines, Ground Ivy, Primroses and Cowslips (see image) are appearing, and a large clump of the fungus Coprinus atramentarius was on the Loversall Bank promonotory--------------quite unusual for this time of year.'
A Roe Deer buck was in Rossington Fields (SMB, DC) and a Weasel was seen from the West Scrape hide (DF)
Cowslips (C) Derek Bateson
Sunday 11th
Derek Bateson reports
‘Today, although partly sunny, was cold and kept most of the invertebrates under cover although there were lots of queen bumblebees prospecting for nests. There appeared to be two species on the wing, one of which was Bombus terrestris, one of the earliest species to appear. There were also three species of hoverfly, and a juvenile black slug. Quite a few flower species are appearing, including the very pretty but often overlooked Common Field Speedwell, Veronica persica.(see image).
Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica (C) Derek Bateson
Up to 12 Peacock and 4 Comma butterflies were sighted on the reserve.
Flowers noted included Ground Ivy, Hairy Violet (KW), Dog Violet, Primrose, Cowslip, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot, Wild Strawberry and Blackthorn. (all AP & KW)
Other butterflies noted were 3 Green-veined White & 2 more Comma on the wing along Decoy Bank (SMB & DC).
A Water Vole was sighted at Loversall Delph.
en
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfora (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa (C) Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 9th
POTTERIC CARR MOTH TRAPPING
WEDNESDAY, 7 APRIL 2010
"Further moth trapping on the night of Wednesday, 7 April resulted in a modest catch of nine, mostly common, species. Two, however, were new to the reserve. Pale Pinion Lithophane hepatica is one of those species which has been spreading northwards in recent years, presumably as a result of global warming. Twenty years ago there were no Yorkshire records; now the moth is widespread in small numbers across the entire county. The other newly recorded species, Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata is a reasonably common moth across most of Yorkshire. The two additions to the reserve list mean that, already in 2010, eight new species have been discovered at Potteric Carr."
Ian Heppenstall
(Moth Recorder)
Thursday 8th
Grass Snake 4 were noted (HW) at the traditional early season site
Roe Deer 1 was noted, Beeston Triangle and 2 were on Huxter Well near the M18 motorway tunnel (RWB, SMB, DC)
The warm sunshine brought out a good number of butterflies and these were scattered throughout the reserve especially in the sheltered, warm areas
Brimstone at least 9 males & a single female, Comma 2, Small Tortoiseshell a minimum of 4 were counted. Orange Tip 1 male was seen and the minimum count for Peacock was 12
Good numbers of Bumble Bee of different species were noted throughout the reserve
Flowers noted included Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot, Common Field Speedwell, Dandelion, Dogs Mercury and Ground Ivy.
Wednesday 7th
Stoat, both images (C) Dale Bentham, 7th April 2010
Tuesday 6th
Three Roe Deer were seen on a Willow Marsh embankment, one of which was photographed (below).
Roe Deer, Potteric Carr, 6th April 2010 © Rob Mokryj
Thursday 1st
Lichen on dead ash branch, Potteric Carr © Allan Parker ARPS
Alder catkins, Potteric Carr © Allan Parker ARPS
Moss species, Potteric Carr © Allan Parker ARPS