Ravensroost Wood 2011
The Bridleway, showing the laid hedge on the S. side - 28/12/11 (RG)
1) Management tasks
a) The Bridleway. During the autumn it became clear that the bridleway needed to be secured – partly due to the increasing incursions into the interior of the reserve by horseriders. This mainly though not exclusively occurred at the extreme eastern end of the bridleway where the path along the eastern edge of the wood meets it. Various unsuccessful attempts were made to secure the gap here from being used by riders until it was agreed with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to put a new fence up, blocking off the gap. In the event rather than the fence a stretch of well-staked laid hedge was put up during the November visit of the Wiltshire Wildlife Conservation Volunteers. This seems to have done the trick.
During the WWCV visits in Oct., Nov. and Dec. a lot of progress was made in hedging the bridleway, and this work continued on two Wednesdays when a team of five beginners, guided expertly by Geoff Whittle, did hedge-laying and staking in the western part of the bridleway. The work will continue when the Wednesday group meet again on 4th January, and the WWCV volunteers on 15th Jan.
b) Other tasks. Through the summer some storm fallen trees were removed from the rides, and Maurice Chandler and I kept some of the narrower paths clear, and cleared litter every week from, particularly, around the car park. One of the paths we cleared was the one leading to the Newt Pond in the N. of the reserve and, in November, it was here that we also cleared some of the scrub from between the pond and the ride, allowing walkers along the ride to see the water for the first time, this year at least. This work needs to be continued so that the area around the pond becomes a clearing attractive to sun-loving plants and insects. I would also like to thank those who keep the bird table and feeder stocked - it is a very popular place for Marsh Tits and allows excellent views of them to the patient watcher. (If anyone knows who is responsible for the feeding please let me know as whoever it is needs to be reimbursed for the food.) The Island Pond, a little way north of here, will need much more serious attention as it almost ran dry this year before the recent rains, and is getting choked with Sallow.
c) The Violet Helleborines. These scarce orchids occur sparsely in the south-eastern part of the wood, and in Ravensroost, a site not ideal for the plant, they suffer from deer grazing – indeed one vigorous plant at least was decapitated by them this summer. I am grateful to Nigel Pleass for taking the initiative of covering two of them with chicken wire protectors, and I covered a third, and they and about 6 more unprotected plants suffered no further damage. However their flowering was not spectacular (apparently this is normal in this species), but they did at least come to seed. It is to be hoped that their numbers will increase next summer.
Violet Helleborine after "flowering" - 31/8/11 (RG)
2) Butterfly transect.
Silver-washed Fritillary - Ravensroost Wood 4/7/11 (RG)
A butterfly transect was carried out in the wood (only – not the meadows) this summer, a fresh route as I didn’t know where the original 1990’s transect was. The route is basically along the main rides, describing a big loop apart from in the N of the wood where there is no convenient “return” ride. A total of 26 species were seen in the reserve during the summer, though only 21 species (in bold below) on the transect walks themselves. In the results below figures in brackets were counts done off the transect, mainly in the meadows. A total of 21 complete transect walks were done. Blue lettering indicates Biodiversity Action Plan species.
Results:
Transect in the wood only - ( off transect = brackets)
Small Skipper : 27th June - 15th Aug. , max. 1 (10, 27th July)
Large Skipper : 25th May - 9th Aug, max. 4, 14th June
Brimstone : 18th April - 14th Sept, max 3, 15th August
[Clouded Yellow - a possible on 1st Sept. (Mark & Ann Greaves)]
Large White : 2nd May - 14th Sept, max. 5, 2nd May
Small White : 18th April - 1st Aug (or later?) , max. 7, 24th July
Green-veined White : 11th April - 14th Sept, max. 11, 18th July.
Orange Tip : 11th April - 1st June, max.20, 2nd May
Purple Hairstreak : 4th July - 28th Aug. , max 7, 13th July
(Brown Hairstreak: 2, a m. and a f., 15th August (Mark & Ann Greaves & RG), 1, 29th Aug. (Matthew Oates), 2 f. 1st Sept (Mark & Ann Greaves), 1 f. on 14th Sept.) – not quite on the transect. )
(White-letter Hairstreak : only 1 seen 9th July by Wayne Clinch - on the transect route.)
(Small Copper : 2nd May - 20th Sept , max 4, 14th May)
Common Blue : 14th May - 14th Sept, singles (max 15, 31st Aug.)
Holly Blue : 2nd May - 1st Aug., all singles
White Admiral : 27th June - 27th July, max 8, 4th July.
Red Admiral : 4th April - 2nd Nov. , (max. 10, 19th Oct. – on transect but too late to count!)
(Small Tortoiseshell : 1, 14th June and 23rd Aug.) Surprisingly not seen on the transect.
Peacock : 11th April - 15th Aug. , max. 7, 24th July
Comma : 18th April - 28th Sept , max. 5, 14th Sept.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary : 1, 9th May only - first for the wood - considered most likely to be a long distance vagrant from the Hailey Wood colony 15 kms to the N. – but a remarkable record.
Silver-washed Fritillary : 27th June - 15th Aug. , max 18, 4th July & 1st August
Speckled Wood : 11th April - 28th Sept , max. 17, 31st Aug.
Marbled White : 4th & 18th July only in the wood. also in the meadows during this period
Gatekeeper : 18th July - (1st Sept - Mark & Ann Greaves) , max.13, 9th Aug.
Meadow Brown : 3rd June - 6th Sept., max. 67, 4th July
Ringlet : 27th June - 1st August , max. 79, 4th July
It is intended to continue this transect each year. Results are sent to the Wilts Butterfly Conservation Transect Walker Co-ordinator for analysis.
White Admiral - Ravensroost Wood 4/7/11 (RG)
3) Bird Surveys
Pied Flycatcher - Ravensroost Wood 11/4/11 (The only one recorded in Wilts this spring) (RG)
a) Breeding Birds in Ravensroost Wood
In 2011 a survey of birds was carried out alongside the butterfly transect. This involved the woodland adjacent to the Jack Smith Ride (the main ride which bisects the wood from the southern car park to the NE edge of the wood) and also the rides parallel to the Jack Smith Ride to the East - R31,34,37,40 and 41.) The following species were recorded, along with the estimated number of pairs, giving a lower and a higher possible figure.
Apr - June Bird Territory estimates in the wood, plus breeding evidence if any (likely to be minima for most species, and only estimated for area covered by the butterfly transect and its surrounds – perhaps at most one third of the wood only. NB. Figure is for pairs not individuals 2012 in red
1 Sparrowhawk - fledged young 1 sighting
1 - 2 Buzzard - fledged young same
1? Tawny Owl - also 2 after dark 5th Aug., 2 ads plus juv calling after dark, 3rd Oct.
2 - 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker same
2 Mistle Thrush poss. 1
2 - 3 Song Thrush - fledged young same numbers
7 Blackbird 6
7 - 9 Robin 5 - 7
4 - 6 Blackcap - fledged young - last recorded 31st Aug. 5 - 7
3 - 6 Garden Warbler 2 - 4
6 - 9 Chiffchaff - anxiety calls, fledged young. Last, 20th Sept. 9 - 10
5 - 6 Willow Warbler 3 - 5
2 Goldcrest - fledged young same
2 Marsh tit - fledged young same
5 Blue Tit - fledged young 5 - 8, juvs.
3 Great Tit - fledged young 2 - 4
2 - 3 Coal Tit same
2 Long-tailed Tit - fledged young same
3 - 4 Nuthatch same, feeding young
2 Treecreeper 1, visiting nest
6 - 8 Wren - fledged young 5 - 12(?)
? - 6 Jackdaw 2+
? Carrion Crow 1 - 2, juv.
? Magpie ?
2 Jay - fledged young 2 - 3
8 Chaffinch 3 - 5
? Greenfinch -
1 - 3 Bullfinch - fledged young ?
ALSO SEEN 2012: Green woodpecker, Cuckoo (twice, calling), SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 1 territory!, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon 1 - 2, Pheasant 1 - 2, also Red Kite seen once
In addition, the ringers recorded Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on about 4 occasions, ringing a male on 4th December. It is reasonable to assume that this species breeds in the wood, even though never recorded except by the ringers – it is very elusive and a single pair may have no motive for calling or drumming.
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker - 4/12/11 (Matt Prior)
Outside wood (ie. Surrounding meadows):
1 Kestrel 1
1 Stock Dove - entering assumed nest site (barn) 1
1 Skylark ?
2 Common Whitethroat 1
1 - 2 Lesser Whitethroat 1
? Goldfinch - fledged young 2
1 Yellowhammer -
LAPWING - PAIR BRED, I CHICK SEEN 4TH MAY, and Reed Bunting pair , Grey Heron and Peregrine seen once
It is intended to repeat this survey annually to give an idea of relative abundance - and the effect of management.
b) Winter bird surveys 2011-12
1) 23rd November 2011: Winter bird survey of the whole site 11.30 - 2pm: Individuals in order of appearance: Jackdaw 7, Wood Pigeon 55, Pied Wagtail 3, Blackbird 14 (including subsong heard), Pheasant 12 (10 by the meadow pond!),Robin 10 including song, Long-tailed Tit at least 11 in four groups, Blue Tit 5, Green Woodpecker 1 (W. of wood proper), Great Tit 8, Chaffinch 10, Goldcrest 3, Crow 6, Wren 5 including song, Rook 26 (25 in Avis Meadow), Jay 8, Buzzard 3, Bullfinch 3, Magpie 2, Greenfinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 8, Marsh Tit 6, Coal Tit 4, Great-spotted Woodpecker 2, Song Thrush 1, Nuthatch 5, Siskin 1, Redwing 32 (5 in the wood, 27 along the lane), Mistle Thrush 1 in Avis Meadow, Linnet 1 in Avis Meadow, Stock Dove 5 flushed from the barn in Avis Meadow, Fieldfare 3 in Avis Meadow.
2) will be carried out in Jan-Feb 2012
Ringing results – 4th Dec. Matt Prior: first year male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Nuthatch, 5 Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, 12 Goldcrest, 15 Coal Tit, 41 Lesser Redpoll, 43 Chaffinch, 29 Goldfinch, and heard: Brambling (first report this year), a few Siskins, and 4+ Tawny Owls – some of these figures demonstrate how many more birds are present than is apparent to the non-ringer eg. esp. Lesser Redpoll.
c) Non-breeding - other records from Apr - Dec 2011
Mallard - occasional at the meadow ponds - may breed nearby
Cormorant - One over the meadow on 28th Dec.
Heron - 15th Aug. at the Meadow ponds
Hobby - feeding on insects on 14th June, over wood on 15th Aug. (Mark & Ann Greaves) - local breeder?
Peregrine – S. over the meadows, 9th Nov.
Lapwing - displaying in March only
Golden Plover – heard calling in flight over the wood, 9th Nov.
Snipe – 2, 19th Oct, flushed from the meadow ponds, and heard calling in flight over the wood, 9th Nov.
Whimbrel - migrant(s) heard calling over wood 23rd Aug.
Cuckoo - calling on May 25th only - local visitor?
Swift - occasionally seen overhead feeding , May - July
Green Woodpecker - 5th & 9th Aug & 14th Sept - probably breeds in vicinity
Swallow - often feeding over meadow and ponds - last 5th Oct
Meadow Pipit - 2 on 4th April then first in autumn on 14th Sept. Few subsequently.
Tree Pipit - migrant on 31st Aug.
Yellow Wagtail - migrants on 31st Aug. and 3 on 20th Sept.
Redstart - migrant on 31st Aug.
Fieldfare - 20 on 4th April then first in autumn were on 24th Oct. Max. c60 on 28th Dec.
Redwing - 9 on 24th Oct, max. c40 on 28th Dec.
Sedge Warbler - a juv at the pond on 1st August only - presumably dispersed from breeding site
Reed Warbler - singing at the pond on 23rd May only - on passage
Pied Flycatcher - a male in full summer plumage on 11th April - passage
Spotted Flycatcher - a male calling on 21st May only ?passage?, also possibles seen 15th Aug. and with tits, 28th Aug. They may not have bred this year, but I know they have in previous years.
Raven – 5/9 Aug. and 7 /18 Dec- apparently roosting at dusk in both months
Starling - no breeding evidence, but occasionally seen overhead
House Sparrow - occasional visitors to the meadows
Crossbill – heard over 30th November
Lesser Redpoll - 4th April then again from 28th Sept., max. c20 on 9th Nov. (but see ringing results above)
Siskin - from 20th Sept, c6 on 19th Oct.
Linnet - occasional visitor to the meadow - breeding not suspected so far
Reed Bunting - singing at the pond on 18th April , also on 14th Sept, 12th Oct.
Total species recorded in 2011: 73
4) Dragonflies
Ruddy Darter - Ravensroost meadow ponds 14/9/11 (RG)
Dragonflies and damselflies were recorded as follows, mainly at the meadow ponds, but in the wood also:
Banded Demoiselle 24th July only
Emerald Damselfly 27th June, 1st Aug (2) and 31st Aug. only
Large Red Damselfly 2nd May - 25th May
Azure Damselfly 9th May - 1st Aug. - the commonest damselfly here
Common Blue Damselfly 18th July- 9th Aug.(Not many seen)
Blue-tailed Damselfly 14th May - 1st Aug.
Red-eyed Damselfly 25th May - 14th June
Migrant Hawker 27th July - 28th Sept
Southern Hawker 16th July - 28th Sept
Brown Hawker 27th June - 14th Sept.
Emperor 14th May - 9th Aug. (possible also on 14th Sept???)
Four-spotted Chaser 25th May - 27th June
Broad-bodied Chaser 2nd May - 25th May
Black-tailed Skimmer 14th June - 27th June (few seen)
Common Darter 18th July - 24th Oct (c12 still about on 19th Oct.)
Ruddy Darter 14th Sept only (though probably glimpsed also on 1st Aug.
Total species recorded: 16
Emerald Damselfly (or Common Spreadwing) - Ravensroost meadow ponds 31/8/11 (RG)
5) Moths
Longhorn sp. Adela reaumurella - Ravensroost Wood 27/5/11 (RG)
Day flying moths seen Apr - Dec., and trapped night flyers recorded by Marc Taylor in October:
Day flyers:
Longhorn sp. Adela reaumurella (2nd May)
Brown China Mark 8th June – 13th July (at the meadow ponds - one of the few aquatic moths)
Mother-of-pearl 9th May – 14th May
Forester 4 on 25th May only
Silver-ground Carpet 25th May – 18th July
Shaded Broadbar 18th July
Common Carpet 9th May - 15th Aug
Yellowshell 3rd June – 18th July
Winter Moth 7th Dec
Chimneysweeper 3rd June only
Common Wave 14th May at least
Hummingbird Hawkmoth 27th June – 18th July
Vapourer 14th Sept. only
Scarlet Tiger 14th June - 4th July singles
Dun Bar 31st Aug.
Mother Shipton 14th May only
Burnet Companion 8th June only
Silver-ground Carpet - Ravensroost Wood 25/5/11 (RG)
Moth-trapping on October 3rd & 17th: Marc Taylor:
Ypsolopha parenthesella 8, 3rd Oct.
Tortrix sp. 1, 3rd Oct.
Common Marbled Carpet 1, 17th Oct.
November Moth 15, 17th Oct.
Feathered Thorn 2, 17th Oct.
Figure of 8 5, 3rd Oct., 3, 17th Oct.
Green Brindled Crescent 2, 3rd Oct, 14, 17th Oct.
Merveille du Jour 3, 3rd & 17th Oct.
Satellite 2, 3rd Oct, 1, 17th Oct.
Chestnut 6, 3rd Oct., 7, 17th Oct.
Yellow-line Quaker 1, 17th Oct.
Lunar Underwing 3, 3rd Oct., 2, 17th Oct.
Barred Sallow 5, 3rd Oct., 9, 17th Oct.
Sallow 2, 3rd & 17th Oct.
Large Wainscot 1, 17th Oct.
Small Marbled - 1, 17th Oct. - migrant - first Wilts record
Small Marbled (magnified) - Ravensroost Wood 17/10/11 - first for Wilts - (Marc Taylor)
6) Mammals
Roe Deer – sometimes seen, and heard calling in spring (their rutting season), and prints often found in soft earth
Muntjac Deer – a pair seen occasionally
Bats: 5 Soprano Pipistrelles found in bat boxes on the evening of 5th Aug. On 11th Sept., of 19 boxes opened, 3 had live bats roosting - 4, 2 and 1 Pipistrelles, 4 had droppings, one of which was identified as possible Natterer's Bat, and 12 were empty (via Paul Darby/Gareth Harris)
Dormouse – a discarded nut found on 5th Aug. was considered to have been eaten by this species – the first evidence of their presence in the wood.
Badger – prints sometimes found beside the meadow ponds
Fox – sometimes seen lurking beside the ponds
Robin Griffiths
Voluntary Warden