2012 Report

Ravensroost Wood 2012

The clearing in section P 13th Sept 2012 (RG)

1) The year in Ravensroost

From January 2012 the Wednesday Team grew until now (December 2012) it totals 17 volunteers including co-leaders Geoff Whittle and Robin Griffiths. Some of these are not able to attend very often due to other commitments, but most weeks an average of 9 or 10 take part. Current team are (in approximate order of joining): Maurice Chandler, Michael Zenderowski, Vicky Barnett, Sally Hansford, Hugh Slater, Vince Povey, John & Chrissy Smith, John Durell, Steve & Colin Munden, Leanne Newton, Dave Kay, Jane Deacon and Ron Duller.

Michael, Maurice and Geoff hedge-laying 29th November 2012 (Dave Kay)

During Jan – March 2012 our contribution to the management of the reserve was to secure the south side of the bridleway with a dead/laid hedge, using some 1000 stakes! Other tasks included clearing one quarter of the scrub and small trees around the two northern ponds, and the erection of a dozen open fronted nestboxes intended for Spotted Flycatchers. In the case of the former results were dramatic with Early Purple Orchids appearing near the ponds where they had not been seen before. In the latter case no occupation of the boxes was detected this year, but a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were present in the wood all summer and a family of at least 3 birds was seen in early September suggesting local successful breeding – this hadn’t been suspected in 2011.

A late winter bird survey was carried out at the end of January. Paul Darby led a very informative winter tree identification day in February, and in the same week Michael Sammes’ team found 113 Brown Hairstreak eggs along with 2 Blue-bordered Carpet eggs. A birdsong walk on a genuinely hot March day attracted 21 WWT members and the warden was helped in this by David Wall, former Ravensroost warden and Chair of Wilts Ornithological Society – we divided the group between us. Marc Taylor, Wilts Moth recorder, carried out moth trapping during 2011 into 2012, finding some 150 species of which over 20 were scarce or rare. He intends to continue this on a systematic scale in 2013.

Maurice, Michael, John Durell, Colin, Robin and Geoff clearing the Newt pond surround, 17th Oct., 2012 (Leanne Newton)

During the spring the butterfly transect and songbird survey were repeated as in 2011, the former continued until September while the latter finished in June. See below. Some team members helped with this, also spending time identifying species of other groups including plants, insects and fungi. On the one week when the warden was away Vicky Barnett did the survey here and at Blakehill. A Newt night with Neil on 18^th April found good numbers of both of the “rarer” species, but few (any?) Smooth Newts. Violet Helleborines appeared again as last year, but with the wetter conditions they seemed to find it easier to flower – they put on a great show until eaten by slugs, that had no respect for our deer protectors. This year they were accompanied by some Birdsnest Orchids. Management tasks included helping Ellie Jones, Ben Welbourn and Dave Turner with the erection of 50 Dormouse boxes and the cutting and clearing of the main ride. Some members also assisted Dani Linton with her marathon bat night in September, when we spent six hours trapping and radio-tagging eight bats of 5 species including 2 rare Bechstein’s Bats, and subsequently tracking over the next fortnight, when their roosts were found, including a Bechstein’s roost of 19 bats just a few yards away from the reserve boundary.

In the fourth quarter the whole team started management again, with the addition of the new members mentioned above. The main task was the erection of the dead/laid hedge on the north side of the bridleway, the material being cut from the coppice area in section M. Prior to this, when tree-felling was being done around the bridleway, we cleared further quarters around the two northern ponds. In December a start was made with assisting with the coppicing in the 8-year rotation area, and some of the team secured the habitat at the junction of rides RJ5 and 3 for the Adderstongue ferns. During the last quarter Simon Tucker started his ringing project with two main aims – to assess the impact of woodland management on bird distribution and abundance, and to concentrate particularly on a close study of the Marsh Tit population. Some of the team helped him with some of his sessions. Tim Kaye found a good selection of fungi in Oct - Nov. The first of the two winter bird surveys was done in December, and I attended the warden’s training day at Lower Moor which concentrated on promoting recording and the transmission of records to the WBRC.

Tasks for the New Year include clearing Elodea weed from the ponds.

2) Butterfly transect.

Silver-washed Fritillary valezina female, 27th July 2012 (RG)

The butterfly transect was done as in 2011 along the same route. A total of 22(26 in 2011) species were seen in the reserve during the summer, though only 19(21 in 2011) species on the transect walks themselves. Butterflies missing this year included Pearl-bordered Fritillary (not surprisingly) and Small Tortoiseshell (perhaps less expected). Nor was there any sign of White-letter Hairstreak this year, despite some examination of the Wych Elms. However some of the genuine woodland specialists, including the two charismatic midsummer residents, the White Admiral and the Silver-washed Fritillary, seemed to do rather well, the latter including some rare valezina females not seen last year. Of the commoner species, it is interesting to see how the Meadow Brown seemed to relish the wet summer while the Ringlet apparently didn’t! A few sightings of the Brown Hairstreak were made, including no fewer than 8 males in an hour by Matthew Oates - they were outnumbered on the Ash trees later in the season by some tardy Purple Hairstreaks. Notable day-flying moths included numerous spring Orange Underwings and Longhorns Adela reaumurella. (In the results below figures in brackets were counts done off the transect, mainly in the meadows). A total of 23(21 in 2011) complete walks were done.

Results:

Transect in the wood only - (records that don’t count for the transect results, either because they were seen away from the transect route, were seen by other observers or were outside the timescale, are shown inside brackets), cf. 2011 results

Small Skipper : one on 27^th July only ( – 19^th August, several on 9^th Aug) cf. 2011 - 27th June - 15th Aug. , max. 1 (10, 27th July)

Large Skipper : 30^th May – 7^th July, singles on three dates, cf 2011: 25th May - 9th Aug, max. 4, 14th June

Brimstone : (24^th, & 28^th March – Tim Kaye) 1^st April – 30^th May, max. 2 on two May dates, 19^th – 26^th August max. 9 on 19^th Aug, (then 2, 3^rd Oct.) cf. 2011: 18th April - 14th Sept, max 3, 15th August

Large White : Singles on 23^rd & 30^th May, 27^th July – 19^th Aug, 2 on 3^rd Aug., cf. 2011: 2nd May - 14th Sept, max. 5, 2nd May

Small White :( Single off transect 19^th August only.) cf. 2011: 18th April - 1st Aug (or later?) , max. 7, 24th July

Green-veined White : 23^rd May – 19^th August, max. 8 on 3^rd Aug., cf. 2011: 11th April - 14th Sept, max. 11, 18th July.

Orange Tip : (28^th March – Tim Kaye), 1^st April – 13^th June, max. 9 on 6^th May, cf. 2011: 11th April - 1st June, max.20, 2nd May

Purple Hairstreak : 27^th July – 9^th Aug., max. 5 on 3^rd Aug. ( - 13^th Sept, max. c6 on 19^th Aug.) cf. 2011: 4th July - 28th Aug. , max 7, 13th July

(Brown Hairstreak: 1 on 3^rd Aug. (Matthew Oates) 1 on 9^th Aug., 8 males in an hour, 13^th Aug., (Matthew Oates), 2 or 4 on 19^th Aug., cf. 2011: 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

(Small Copper : Five off-transect records of singles between 8^th Aug. (Andrew Denley) and 18^th Sept, with two on 13^th Sept. cf. 2011: 2nd May - 20th Sept , max 4, 14th May)

(Common Blue : (Seen Avis meadows 30^th May and Ravensroost meadows 9^th June (Peter Sketch), two off-transect singles, 19^th Aug. and 13^th Sept., with 2 on 22^nd Aug.) cf. 2011: 14th May - 14th Sept , (max 15, 31st Aug.))

Holly Blue : A single on 9^th Aug. cf, 2011: 2nd May - 1st Aug., all singletons

White Admiral : 7^th July – 19^th August (Steve Covey), max. 9 on 3^rd Aug. cf. 2011: 27th June - 27th July, max 8, 4th July

Red Admiral : Singles on 29^th June and 18^th Sept, (plus one off transect on 13^th Sept.) cf 2011: 4th April - 2nd Nov. , (max. 10, 19th Oct. – on transect but too late to count!)

Peacock : ( 21^st, & 28^th Mar. – Tim Kaye) 1^st April – 23^rd May, max. 7 on 6^th May, then 9^th Aug. to 27^th Sept., max 3 on 19^th Aug. cf 2011: 11th April - 15th Aug. , max. 7, 24th July

Comma : (21^st Mar.) 1^st – 11^th April, max 8 on 1^st, then 29^th June – 11^th July, max 2 on 11^th, (then 1 off transect 8^th Aug. (Andrew Denley), 6^th Sept. and 17^th Oct.) cf 2011: 18th April - 28th Sept , max. 5, 14th Sept.

Silver-washed Fritillary : 7^th July – 26^th Aug. (Lyn White), max 22 on 27^th July, 1 valezina female on 27^th July and 2 on 9^th Aug, cf. 2011: 27th June - 15th Aug. , max 18, 4th July & 1st August

Speckled Wood : 6^th May – 27^th Sept., max 6 on 13^th June and 9 on 6^th Sept. cf 2011: 11th April - 28th Sept , max. 17, 31st Aug.

Marbled White (Several off transect on 9^th Aug was the only record!) cf. 2011: 4th & 18th July only in the wood. also in the meadows during this period

Gatekeeper : 27^th July – 13^th Sept., max 9 on 3^rd Aug., cf. 2011: 18th July - 1st Sept (Mark & Ann Greaves) , max.13, 9^th Aug.

Meadow Brown :29^th June – 18^th Sept., max 88 on 27^th July, cf. 2011: 3rd June - 6th Sept., max. 67, 4th July

Ringlet : 29^th June – 9^th August, max 23 on 19^th July. Cf 2011: 27th June - 1st August , max. 79, 4th July

It is intended to continue this transect each year. Results are sent to the Wilts Butterfly Transect Walker Co-ordinator for analysis.

Brown Hairstreak and its Ash buds 9th August 2012 (RG)

3) Bird Surveys

Barn Owl at Avis Meadow barn 28th Nov. 2012 (Michael Zenderowski)

a) Breeding Birds in Ravensroost Wood

In 2012 a second survey of birds was carried out alongside the butterfly transect as in 2011. 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.

These results are from a total of 9 full bird counts carried out between 1st April and 13th June 2012, plus various extra observations on other dates of rarer species not counting towards the territory estimate. Each of the full bird counts involved mapping all contacts with birds in the vicinity of the butterfly transect then estimating the number of territories from each visit and making an overall estimate from the set at the end of the season (Not enough birdsong after mid-June for worthwhile counting).

(2011 results in brackets)

Green = probably up from 2011,, black = about the same or not known, red = probably down

? Sparrowhawk one sighting only - ( fledged young 2011)

1 - 2 Buzzard fledged young - (same)

? Tawny Owl heard in daytime , 26^th Feb.,24^th Mar., 3^rd Sept. 3 calling 8^th Sept. disturbed from roost c2pm, 19^th Sept., 3/7 Nov. (also 2 after dark 5th Aug., 2 ads plus juv calling after dark, 3rd Oct.)

2 - 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker –first drumming 14^th Mar. (same)

Poss 1 Mistle Thrush - (2)

2 - 3 Song Thrush - (Same - fledged young seen)

6 Blackbird - (7)

5 -7 Robin - (7 - 9)

5 -7 Blackcap First, 28^th Mar., last two 13^th Sept. then 27^th Oct.(Simon Tucker) - (fledged young - last recorded 31st Aug. 4 - 6)

2 - 4 Garden Warbler from 4^th May - (3 - 6)

9 - 10 Chiffchaff Many from 25^th March - (anxiety calls, fledged young. Last, 20th Sept. 6 - 9)

3 - 5 Willow Warbler - (5 - 6)

2 Goldcrest singing 15^th Feb., fledged young in June, 6 present 10^th Oct. - (same)

1 Spotted Flycatcher Seen 23^rd May – 6^th September - family on the last date. (only one definite sighting, in May)

2 Marsh Tit – 2 singing against each other 15^th Feb. last singing 4^th May, of 4 seen on 2^nd Aug., one was feeding on a thistle head (fledged young - same)

5 - 8 Blue Tit fledged young - (fledged young - 5)

2 - 4 Great Tit - (fledged young - 3)

2 - 3 Coal Tit - (same)

2 Long-tailed Tit fledged young - (same)

3 - 4 Nuthatch feeding young - (same)

1 Treecreeper visiting nest - (2)

5 - 12? Wren - (fledged young 6 - 8)

2+ Jackdaw - (? - 6)

1 - 2 Carrion Crow juv. - (?)

? Magpie - (?)

2 -3 Jay - (fledged young 2)

3 - 5 Chaffinch - (8)

- Greenfinch ?

? Bullfinch -2-3 families seen (fledged young 1 - 3)

ALSO SEEN 2012, not 2011: Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo (twice, calling), , Dunnock, Wood Pigeon 1 - 2, Pheasant 1 - 2, also Red Kite seen 23^rd May

Outside wood (ie. Surrounding meadows):

1 Kestrel - same

2 Stock Dove 2 pairs entering assumed nest site (barn) on many occasions; when nest box cleaned on 28^th Nov. a lot of sticks and leaves suggests it bred there despite presence of Barn Owl! (1 pr.)

1 Barn Owl seen at Avis Meadow barn late July, (Ellie Jones), 7^th Nov.. then seen in box 28^th Nov. lethargic but apparently well according to wildlife medic from Oak & Furrows. But apparently not nested this year – not enough compacted pellets in the box.

? Skylark - 1

1 Common Whitethroat - (2)

1 Lesser Whitethroat from 20^th May- (1 - 2)

2? Goldfinch - ( fledged young - same)

- Yellowhammer Sang from meadow N. of the reserve 7^th July -(1)

Also seen 2012: LAPWING - PAIR BRED, displaying from 9^th March - 1 CHICK SEEN 4TH MAY (only present in March 2011, 4 birds), and Reed Bunting pair on 28^th Apr. and 19^th Aug, Grey Heron and Peregrine seen once

Also - Andrew Denley had a nest of LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS in the wood this season. In 2011 the ringers recorded Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers on about 4 occasions, ringing a male on 4^th December. This species has never been recorded by me or my team since April 2011 – it is very elusive and a single pair may have no motive for calling or drumming.

Blackcap 21st April 2012 (Ken Cypher)

b) Winter bird surveys 2012

Late winter bird survey, Ravensroost and Avis Meadow January 31^st 2012 (November 23^rd 2011 figures in brackets):

Pheasant 2 (12), Buzzard 3 (3), Sparrowhawk 1 (0), Stock Dove 2 (5), Wood Pigeon c46 (c55), Green Woodpecker 2 (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 including one drumming (2),

Robin 3 singing (10, singing), Song Thrush 2 singing (1), Redwing 28 (32), Fieldfare 22 (3), Blackbird 10 (14, subsong), Goldcrest 1 (3), Wren 4 singing, (5 singing), Great Tit 6 singing (8), Coal Tit 4 singing (4), Blue Tit 28(!) singing (5), Marsh Tit 8 (6), Long-tailed Tit c18 (11+), Nuthatch 7 (5), Treecreeper 2 (0), Magpie 1 (2), Jay 2 (8), Jackdaw 10 (7),Rook 26 (26), Crow 1 (6), Starling 9 (0), House Sparrow 6 (0), Chaffinch 12 one beginning to tune up (10), Goldfinch 2 (0), Greenfinch 1 (1), Bullfinch 1 (3).

(Seen in Nov but not today: Pied Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Linnet, Mistle Thrush.)

(RG & Vicky Barnett)

Early winter bird survey Ravensroost and Avis Meadow (8th December 2012)

Early winter bird survey of the whole site - here are the results - Individuals not pairs. ( 23rd November 2011 results in brackets):

Pheasant 1 (12 - 10 were by the meadow pond!), Stock Dove 2 (5) - all in Avis barn, Wood Pigeon 20 (55), Green Woodpecker 1 (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 (2), Wren 5 (5) - song heard on both dates, Dunnock 2 - by Avis meadow (0), Robin 9 (10), Blackbird 13 (14),Redwing 2 (32), Mistle Thrush 1 (1), Fieldfare 14 (3), Goldcrest 3 (3), Long-tailed tit 9 in two groups (11+ in 4 groups), Blue Tit 5 (5), Great tit 5 (8), Coal Tit 7 (4), Marsh Tit 3 (6), Nuthatch 1 (5), Treecreeper 1 (0), Jay 3 (8), Magpie 4 (2), Jackdaw nc (c7), Rook nc (nc), Crow nc (6), Raven 2 (0), Starling 5 (0), Chaffinch 4 (10), Goldfinch 2 (0), Siskin 1 (1), Bullfinch 5 (3).

In 2011 there were also 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Buzzard - amazing we didn't see any today!, 1 Greenfinch, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Linnet. (RG, JD, CM) Late winter survey in early Feb 2013

c) Rare breeders and non-breeding birds - whole year

Peregrine 14th October 2012 - a rare sunny day (Andrew Denley)

Grey Heron 1, 20^th May.

Bittern 1, 9^th March, flushed from meadow ponds by JD! - flew away to the NE - totally unexpected and probably the first ever sighting here.

[Goshawk A possible flew over the wood chasing a Crow - views not decisive however – 5^th Dec.]

Hobby 19^th Aug.

Peregrine 1 on pylon N. of the wood, 13^th June, 1, 14^th Oct. (Andrew Denley), 1 flew over meadows to NE, 28^th Nov.

Jack Snipe 1, 18^th Feb., the first for the site (Matt Prior)

Woodcock 1, 15^th Feb. - put up by unruly hounds invading the N. end of the wood., 1 flushed near shooting hut, 10^th Nov.

Curlew 2 over, 2^nd Dec. (Andrew Denley) – first report in last two years.

Cuckoo Calling or seen in addition to the above: 13^th Apr.(Felicity Cobb), 21^st April (Ken Cypher), 23^rd May

Green Woodpecker in addition to the above 1, 8/28Feb., 9^th Mar., “yaffling” 14^th Mar.

Swallow 30, 1^st Oct (Felicity Cobb)

Meadow Pipit 2, 13^th Sept.

Redwing in addition to above records : c12, 9^th Mar., then 1, 10/24 Oct., 3 ringed 10^th Nov. (Simon Tucker et al.), 20, 12^th Dec.

Fieldfare c12, 9/24 Mar., a few, 5^th Dec.

Wood Warbler 1, 2^nd Aug – a passage bird – the first in the last two years

Raven additional to above: 2 sparring 28^th Feb., 3, 25^th March, 1, 18/27 Sept., 3/7 Nov., 5^th Dec.

Siskin Over, 26^th Feb., 7/24 March, 31^st Oct., 2, 10^th Nov.

Common Redpoll 1,trapped, 8^th Jan. – first for the site (Matt Prior)

Lesser Redpoll 8, 8^th Jan. (Matt Prior), 2, 8^th Feb., 1, 13^th Feb., 24^th Mar., 1, 24^th Oct., 2, 3^rd Nov., 1 ringed, 10^th Nov.

Common Crossbill 2 over, 28^th July (Jon Mercer)

Leanne and Marsh Tit trapped by Simon Tucker 10th November 2012 (RG)

d) Ringing report Oct - Dec 2012 - Simon Tucker

4) Dragonflies

Emerald Damselfly 15th July (Peter Sketch)

Dragonflies and damselflies were recorded as follows, mainly at the meadow ponds, but in the wood also:

Banded Demoiselle A visitor on 19^th August

Emerald Damselfly From 15^th July (Peter Sketch), 5 on 2^nd Aug., including 2 mating pairs, till 13^th Sept.

Large Red Damselfly From 23^rd May – 27^th July

Azure Damselfly From 30^th May – 9th Aug.

Common Blue Damselfly From 30^th May – 19^th Aug.

Blue-tailed Damselfly. From 9^th June (Peter Sketch) – 13^th Sept. (In tandem on latter date)

Red-eyed Damselfly 9^th June (Peter Sketch) and 13^th June only.

Migrant Hawker From 9^th Aug. - 10^th Oct.

Southern Hawker From 20^th June – 17th Oct.

Brown Hawker From 27^th July – 13^th Sept.

Emperor 9^th June: “ 1 male + 1 x exuvium, several dead or moribund larvae around the base of the rushes, presumably dislodged by the strong wind earlier in the morning” (Peter Sketch), last seen 22^nd Aug.

Four-spotted Chaser From 13^th June – 19th Aug.

Broad-bodied Chaser From 30^th May – 20^th June

[Black-tailed Skimmer None this year]

Common Darter From 15^th July (Peter Sketch) – a late female on 7^th Nov.

Ruddy Darter 1, 2/19/22 August – maybe 2 on the 19^th.

Total species recorded: 15

Red-eyed Damselfly 9th June 2012 (Peter Sketch)

5) Moths

Red Underwing 22nd August 2012 (RG)

Day flying moths seen :

Longhorn Nemophora degeerella 090612

Longhorn Adela reaumurella Numerous, 23^rd May, single, 30^th May

Geoffroy’s Tubic Alabonia geoffrella Avis Meadows 30^th May

White Plume Moth 11^th July

Tortricodes alternella 1st March

Michael Zenderowski

Double striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis 7^th July

Brown China Mark Common, meadow ponds

Pyrausta purpuralis Avis meadows 30^th May

Mother of pearl 7^th July, 26^th Aug.

Small Eggar (A “Nationally Scarce B” species) A communal sack found Avis Meadows 30^th May

Orange Underwing 8, 28^th Mar., and 12, 1^st April

Cream Wave (A local species) 3, 30^th May, 1, 29^th June.

Cream Wave (RG)

Shaded Broad-bar 27^th July

Common Carpet 8^th Aug. (Andrew Denley)

Yellowshell 9/29 June

Blue-bordered Carpet Single eggs found in meadows 26/28 Feb during Brown Hairstreak egg searches

Green Carpet 1, 18^th Sept.

Magpie 24^th Aug. (Andrew Denley)

Brimstone 20^th June & 27^th July, caterpillar 10^th Oct (ID by Wayne Clinch)

Common White Wave 1, 23^rd May

Privet Hawkmoth Caterpillar on 30^th Aug. (Margo Giles)

Vapourer 26^th Aug.

Scarlet Tiger 7^thJuly (GW)

Small Quaker 21^st March

Silver Y Avis Meadows 30^th May, 7^th July, 2, 6^th Sept.

Red Underwing On the shooting hut 22^nd Aug.

Herald 19^th Aug. – caterpillar on Sallow

Mother Shipton Avis meadows 30^th May

Burnet Companion Avis Meadows 30^th May

Straw Dot 19^th Aug.(Andrew Denley)

Snout 19^th Aug. (Andrew Denley)

(In 2011 Forester, Silver-ground Carpet, Winter Moth, Chimneysweeper, Common Wave, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and Dunbar were seen.)

Common Carpet (Andrew Denley) & communal sack of Small Eggar caterpillars 30th May 2012 (Michael Zenderowski)

6) Mammals

Bechstein's Bat trapped by Dani Linton 3rd Sept 2012 (RG)

Roe Deer – occasionally seen in ones and twos.

[Muntjac Deer No reports this year.]

Soprano Pipistrelle 2 trapped 3^rd Sept (Dani Linton et al.)

Bechstein’s Bat 2 trapped and radio-tagged, 3^rd Sept. - on 8^th Sept. 19 watched leaving roost just yards off the reserve - a small poplar - from 8.15pm - 8.45pm (Dani Linton et al.)

Whiskered Bat 2 trapped and radio-tagged, 3^rd Sept. - on 10^th Sept. 2 watched leaving roost (in barn about 0.75 mls from the wood) 8.15-8.25pm plus 2 other bats flying around (species unknown) (Dani Linton et al.)

Natterer's Bat 1 trapped 3^rd Sept (Dani Linton et al.)

Brown Long-eared Bat 1 trapped 3^rd Sept (Dani Linton et al.)

Dormouse No sightings yet but 50 boxes erected in the wood in Sept.

Mouse sp. 26^th Aug

Badger – no sightings this year

Fox – one chased by out of control hounds, 15^th Feb.

Grey Squirrel Common

7) Fungi – mainly by Tim Kaye

Scarlet Waxcap 6th December 2012 (Leanne Newton)

Destroying Angel 17^th Oct (Tim Kaye)

Amethyst Deceiver 17^th Oct. (TK)

Clouded Agaric 24^th Oct (TK)

Trooping Funnel 5^th Dec. (Leanne Newton - ID by Dave Shorten)

Buttery Collybia 17^th Oct. (TK)

Horsehair Fungus 24^th Oct (TK)

Lilac Bell Cap 17^th Oct. (TK)

Yellow-brown Tricholoma 24^th Oct (TK)

Sulphur Tricholoma 24^th Oct. (TK)

Scarlet Waxcap 5^th Dec (Leanne Newton - ID by Dave Shorten)

Meadow or Golden Waxcap 5^th Dec. (“”)

Blackish Purple Russula 24^th Oct (TK)

Common Yellow Russula 24^th Oct (TK)

Tubaria furfuracea 24^th Oct. (TK)

Woolly Milk Cap 24^th Oct, (TK)

Sulphur Tuft seen on tree stumps

Agaricus sylvestris 24^th Oct. (TK)

Variable Oysterling 24^th Oct (TK)

Crested Coral Fungus 10^th Oct

Wrinkled Coral Fungus 28^th Nov. (TK)

Hedgehog Fungus 24^th Oct (TK)

Jelly Rot 12^th Dec (TK)

Birch Polypore Very common

Common Puffball Quite common, especially near the bridleway

Stump Puffball 24^th Oct (TK ) and 12^th Dec.

Jelly Babies 17^th Oct (TK)

Phleogena faginea 17^th Oct. (TK)

Candle Snuff Very common

Pipe Club 24^th Oct. (TK)

Hazel Woodwart 24^th Oct. (TK)

Split Porecrust 24^th Oct. (TK)

Smoky Bracket 24^th Oct. (TK)

Peniophora lycii 28^th Nov. (TK)

Ergot 28^th Nov. (TK)

Clouded Agaric 24th October 2012 (Tim Kaye)

8) Plants

Birdsnest Orchid 12th June 2012 (Steve Covey)

Mollusc Ctenidium Moss 17^th Sept. (Tim Kaye)

Adderstongue 20^th June (Geoff Whittle)

Greater Spearwort 9^th June (ID by Geoff Whittle)

Slender St John’s Wort 19^th July (GW)

Trailing St John’s Wort 19^th July (GW)

Imperforate St John’s Wort 19^th July (GW)

Square-stalked St John’s Wort 19^th July (GW)

Common Dog Violet 1 in flower 6^th Sept.

Upright Hedge Parsley 19^th July (GW)

Skullcap 20^th June

Gipsywort 13^th June (ID by Geoff Whittle)

Wild Basil 6^th Sept. (GW)

Foxglove A white variety in flower 19 July.

Eyebright 19^th July (GW)

Devil’s Bit Very good show in late summer especially along the northern ride

Early Purple Orchid Some splendid specimens including where the pond surrounds had been cleared.

Common Spotted Orchid Abundant especially along the northern section of the main ride

Violet Helleborine About 9 spikes found in the same area as last year, 6 covered by protectors against deer - and this year they mainly flowered properly. Unfortunately all but one seem to have been eaten by slugs soon after flowering.

Birdsnest Orchid Five spikes found in the same area as the Helleborines - not noticed last year.

Adderstongue 20th June 2012 (RG)

9) Other Wildlife

Great Crested Newt 18th April 2012 (Michael Zenderowski)

Hawthorn Shieldbug 8^th Jan.

Bee Fly Seen on 11 Apr. at least

Knopper Gall Wasp 17^th Sept (Tim Kaye)

Bee sp. Apparently entering nest in the shooting hut, Oct.

Soldier beetle Cantharis ?lateralis Avis meadow 30 May

Harlequin ladybird 17^th Oct.

Spotted Longhorn Beetle 7^th July

Common Frog Calling 21 Mar.

Palmate Newt Seen Mar – Jun – seems the commonest of the newts here. Two netted by Tim Kaye on 14^th May,

Great Crested Newt Several seen in various ponds in spring/summer. Two females netted by Tim Kaye, 14^th May.

Smooth Newt Status doubtful – one or two only seen, but two were netted by Tim Kaye on 14^th May, and well developed efts seen.

Grass Snake 1 beside meadow pond 9^th June (Peter Sketch)

Violet Helleborine, 14th August 2012 (RG)

THANKS to: The Wednesday Team: Geoff Whittle, Maurice Chandler, Hugh Slater, Michael Zenderowski, Vicky Barnett, Sally Hansford, Vince Povey, John & Chrissy Smith, John Durell, Steve & Colin Munden, Leanne Newton, Dave Kay, Jane Deacon and Ron Duller

Also to Tim Kaye and the Wellbeing Team and to Rosie di Julio and the WWCV Team

Also to Ellie Jones, Neil Pullen, Dave Turner, Michael Sammes, Marc Taylor, Dani Linton, Ben Welbourn, Simon Tucker, Andrew Denley, Peter Sketch, Steve Covey, Ken Cypher, Margo Giles

and any others I've forgotten

Robin Griffiths

Voluntary Warden

The wood on 12th December (Michael Zenderowski)