2016 Report

1) THE YEAR IN RAVENSROOST

The Wednesday Team

Coppicing 10th Feb (RG)

Management: The first winter period: The year began with scalloping in rides R32/33 & R34/37 and ride scything. Chainsaws were used on some weeks by John Smith, Trevor Simmonds and Maurice Watkin. Coppicing in section U2 started in February. At the end of the month Geoff led some of the team in laying the hedge at the car park. This continued into March and, when the coppicing was finished, scalloping in section Q commenced. Good attendance of team members meant we could split into two teams on several occasions. On our final day of the management season chainsaws were in operation to complete the coppicing work while Geoff and Sally created a woven fence beside the path to the meadow gate. Attendance varied between seven and fourteen volunteers and averaged 10.8 in 10 sessions.

Trevor Simmonds

The Brown Hairstreak egg search on 30th Jan produced 79 eggs plus at least 9 Blue-bordered Carpet moth eggs - a very good result. Fourteen people attended including several trust staff and trainees. This compared closely to the previous search in December 2014 when 73 eggs were found, albeit with only 7 searchers.

The late winter bird count on 28th Feb was a red letter day with a sighting of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - the first ever seen in Ravensroost by me! Other results are listed below.

On April 6th the first breeding bird survey was carried out, and ten days later the first butterfly transect walk was done - a week late. Results of both can be seen

below. Once again I thank members of the team who helped with these activities, especially Jane who normally stands in for me when I'm away.

The first ever mothing sessions by the team using a portable Heath trap were carried out on July 5th, 26th, Sept 20th & Oct 4th. Results below.

Oak Lutestring- classic indicator of ancient woodland, 20th Sept (RG)

Management - the second "winter" period: on 11th August the first ride scything was carried out - along the north ride, then on 22nd Sept from the car park to the Badger pond, and on 28th Sept north and south of the bridleway. On October 5th the season proper started, with scrub clearance adjacent to this season's coppicing coupe, and a bit more ride scything. Coppicing proper started on 12th Oct, in section U2, then from 26th we started clearing ponds - first the Newt Pond, then, after more coppicing on 9th Nov, the Island Pond on 16th Nov. On 9th we also checked the Barn Owl boxes in Avis barn - the old one looked to have been used by Stock Doves, while the new one was still pristine. So no Barn Owls about this year. Coppicing continued on 23rd Nov., then on 30th most of the team did hedge repairs along the bridleway, while the chainsaw team felled some larger trees in the scallops. The hedge repairs finished on 14th Dec, and work resumed on the coppicing, while the chainsaw team cut some more trees in last season's scallops. Seventeen members enjoyed the Christmas meal at the Red Lion Cricklade after a morning coppicing on 21st Dec. During the second winter period the average attendance was 10.2 in 11 sessions, varying between seven and sixteen volunteers.

On 26th Nov was held the early winter bird count - results below.

On 1st Dec the Nationwide employees planted more trees in the south meadow, "Raven's Retreat", and some of them also joined three of us in the annual Brown Hairstreak egg search. Although it was a beautiful day and the Nationwide staff thoroughly enjoyed themselves (all of them found at least one egg) the result was extremely disappointing with just 11 eggs to add to the four previously found in the wood. This was easily the poorest result ever at Ravensroost - it's to be hoped that there will be an upturn next winter - as there was previously between 2013/4 and 2014/5. Four Blue-bordered Carpet eggs were also found.

Other activities

Colour-ringed Marsh Tit, 13th October (Simon Tucker)

Simon Tucker's first of 20 bird ringing sessions of the year was done on 25th March. See his results below. On April 16th he did a public trapping event for the Swindon Wildlife Group which was as always popular. Another public session was his last of the season on 13th Nov.

Another Swindon Wildlife Group event was on June 11th - Bill Blumsom showed all comers what a variety of spiders and harvestmen inhabit the wood. Bill repeated the session on 3rd September. Both events formed part of the Wild Connections project.

Thanks: I would like to thank all the people mentioned above for their contributions to another good year at Ravensroost - the team members who took part in sessions during the year were: Geoff Whittle (Leader), Amy Millard, Arthur McCauley, Caroline Glaser, Chrissy Smith, Hugh Slater, Jack Watkin, Jane Deacon, John Durell, John Smith, Karen Shaw, Leanne Reddock, Maurice Chandler, Maurice Watkin, Michael New, Michelle Cole, Pauline Gillman, Richard Turner, Sally Hansford, Steve Medcraft, Trevor Simmonds, Val McCauley.

Future plans: It is intended to create a new pond at the east edge of the wood just south of the bridleway in a permanently damp area - to this end we will start clearing the area around the plot in the new year, and lay the hedge here. The pond itself will be dug next autumn at the same time as the Badger Pond is dredged to clear it of deep rooted grasses and Horsetails.

Scallops are to be created in section G north of the bridleway to open up an existing pond there, also during the new year.

Laying of the hedge beside the car park will be extended to the second oak tree,

More mothing sessions are planned for 2017, with sessions in spring as well as later in the season.

Further ahead, perhaps in 2018, a provisional White Admiral study is planned. Preparations for this may start in 2017.

To keep up to date with events and reports from Ravensroost Wood, and to look back on previous reports, see https://sites.google.com/site/ravensroostwood/

2) Birds

Nuthatch at nest, Apr 20th (Trevor Simmonds)

A) Simon Tucker's ringing sessions:

This year at Ravensroost we have carried out 20 ringing sessions, comprising 17 in the wood, 2 around the meadow pond and one (the Nationwide family day) in the newly planted meadow.

We have ringed 506 birds from 29 species (down from 565 from 30 species in 2015); we have retrapped 250 birds from 19 species (238 from 19 species in 2015). The key difference between 2015 and 2016 is in the number of birds ringed. This is down to the reduction in the number of Blue Tits caught this year: from 117 to 54 ringed and from 62 to 32 retrapped. They have had a poor breeding season generally in my sites: I am currently analysing the weather trends prior to and during the breeding season and comparing with previous years to see if I can identify potential causes.

Within the retrapped birds we had just the one control: a Blackcap that was ringed as a juvenile at Swindon Lagoons in September 2014 and retrapped in Ravensroost in April 2016.

Totals (retrapped totals in brackets): Swallow 30; House Martin 16; Great Spotted Woodpecker 2(1); Nuthatch 8(2); Treecreeper 4(5); Jay 1; Blue Tit 54(32); Great Tit 38(31); Coal Tit 12(10); Marsh Tit 5(12); Long-tailed Tit 11(17); Wren 24(16); Dunnock 16(15); Robin 55(42); Redwing 11; Song Thrush 14(9); Blackbird 22(12); Blackcap 42(15); Garden Warbler 5; Whitethroat 7; Lesser Whitethroat 1; Chiffchaff 47(13); Willow Warbler 11; Goldcrest 36(10); Chaffinch 12(3); Goldfinch 7(1); Lesser Redpoll 7; Bullfinch 5(4); Reed Bunting 3.

A colour-ringed Marsh Tit, 11th March (Jon Mercer) - the ring combination can be seen by non-ringers, and the history and movements of the bird can be traced by Simon

B) Late Winter Bird Survey 5: 28th February: 24 Redwings (28,70,50,30), 16 Blue Tits(S) (28,22,22,17), 12 Robins(S)(3,8,20,15), Blackbirds (10,7,12,6), 6 Great Tit (S) (6,11,4,7), 5 Jays (2,8,11,0), 4 Marsh Tits (8,5,0,1), Wrens(S) (4,6,7,9), 3 Song Thrushes(S) (2,2,2,2), Chaffinches(S) (12,7,8,4), Great Spotted Woodpeckers (3,7,4,1), Crows (1,12,4,11), 2 Pheasants (2,2,4,1), Goldcrests (1,3,0,0), Nuthatches (7,4,2,1), Treecreepers(S) (2,2,2,0), Coal Tit(S) (4,6,6,4), Buzzards (3,1,2,0, 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, Long-tailed Tit (18,8,4,0), Wood Pigeon (46,3,40,2). (31st Jan 2012, 4th February 2013, 22nd Feb 2014 & 28th Feb 2015 figures in brackets) Also outside the wood 1 Bullfinch, 2 Mistle thrushes, 2 Fieldfares. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: 10am in NW part of wood - male seen on hazel beside by way and called twice! 4 MarshTits included 2 singing. (RG,JohnD,VM, AM)

C) Early Winter Bird Survey 6: 26th November (2015 figure in brackets): Teal 4 (Newt Pond), Wood Pigeon 1 (33), Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 (4), Robin (song) 10 (5), Redwing c5 (10), Mistle Thrush 1 (0), Blackbird 9 (15), Wren 4 (song) (7), Goldcrest c5 (8), Great Tit 5 (1), Coal Tit 7 (7), Blue Tit 5 (7), Marsh Tit 2 (3), Long-tailed Tit 7+ (10), Nuthatch 5 (9), Treecreeper 1 (1), Magpie 4 (1), Jay 5 (12), Jackdaw 4 (2), Raven 1 (1), Crow 3 (2), Chaffinch 2 (3), Lesser Redpoll 10 (1), Bullfinch 7 (2), In the meadow: Snipe 1(2), Robin 2, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Wren 1, Lesser Redpoll 3, Bullfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1. (RG,SH,JaneD,VM)

D) Breeding Bird Survey

Each of the full bird counts involved mapping all contacts with birds in the vicinity of the butterfly transect from April to June, 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 late June for worthwhile counting). For Simon Tucker's results see his summary.

Figures = number of estimated territories in the vicinity of the butterfly transect - not the whole wood

0 = no records

P = reported but not during breeding bird surveys

Green type = possibly increasing - bold = increasing

Red type = possibly decreasing - bold = decreasing

Black type = no change

Ravensroost Breeding Bird Survey 2011-2016

Details and other records:

(A)= all records for the year are listed

Juvenile Lesser Redpoll, 6th August 2016 (Simon Tucker)

Red Kite: Over meadows, Apr 20th (RG et al.), Jul 10th (Jon Mercer) (A)

Sparrowhawk: Two apparent females in flight with a Heron, Apr 27th

Peregrine: One, July 13th (RG et al.), carrying prey, Dec 1st (RG) (A)

Moorhen: Nested in willow in Newt Pond - young seen from May 17th - first breeding evidence since at least 2011

Common Snipe: At the meadow pond Sept 8th (RG et al.)

Woodcock: Jan 26th (Ellie Jones), a possible, Mar 30th (RG) (A)

Tawny Owl: In flight, April 27th

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: Feb 28th (See above, late winter bird survey) (A)

Skylark: Singing over meadows, Apr 6th & May 25th

Meadow Pipit: c35 in meadows Dec 1st (RG)

Redwing: Trapped during ringing session Oct 14th - a fairly early date (Simon Tucker), c20 Oct 25th

Fieldfare: c100, Oct 25th (RG et al.)

Common Whitethroat: Present from May 4th in meadows, probably nested in bramble patch beside meadow pond

Lesser Whitethroat: Singing in meadows May 4th

Chiffchaff: Singing on 29th Sept. - fairly unusual in the wood this late

Spotted Flycatcher: A pair 18th June (Simon Tucker), a single on July 6th (RG et al.), again on July 9th - all in different areas of the wood. (A)

Marsh Tit: A male sang while a female - possibly its mate - was being ringed by Simon Tucker on Apr 16th. Another male sang on the late date (for this species) of June 15th. Simon Tucker's colour-ringed birds seen as follows: one on 28th Feb colour ringed as a female of unknown age on the 12^th May 2013 (RH Green Yellow, LH Blue Silver)(RG et al.), another on March 11th ringed as a juvenile on the 20^th September 2014 had been retrapped 7 further times, most recently on the 23^rd October 2015 (Jon Mercer) Long-tailed Tit: At nest in hedge in the meadow, May 4th Nuthatch: Pair at nest Apr 20th - later they appear to have been evicted by a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Treecreeper: Family group seen, Jul 13th (RG et al.)

Siskin: 1, Apr 6th / 20th, Oct 5th, at least one with Redpolls on Nov 19th, over on Dec 1st (A)

Lesser Redpoll: None in the first winter period but excellent later: 8 in the meadows, 6th August, including 2 newly fledged juveniles which were trapped and ringed (Simon Tucker), 20-30 probable Lesser Redpolls, 22nd Oct (Simon Tucker), over Avis meadow, Oct 25th, over wood, Nov 9th, 5 trapped Nov 13th during public session (Simon Tucker), c25 in flock apparently preferring Oaks to usual species, Nov 19th (RG), also seen Nov 23rd,13, Nov 26th, Dec 1st, 2 on Dec 7th, and again, Dec 14th. This the first evidence of, at least, local breeding, though a singing male was in the wood in spring 2014. (A)

Greenfinch: 2 over meadows, Apr 6th (A)

Yellowhammer: One female at the meadow pond Sep 8th. Not noted previously on the reserve though a few birds frequent the adjacent meadows and farmland.(A)

Spotted Flycatcher, July 9th (RG)

3) Butterflies

White-letter Hairstreak Aug 4th (RG)

Butterfly transect results: IoA = Index of abundance, figures in brackets are for 2015:

Green type: increased from 2015

Red type: decreased from 2015

Black type: no change

The significant increases were Brimstone, Small White and Speckled Wood, and possibly Orange Tip. Of the many decreases, White Admiral, Peacock and the browns seem marked, the White Admiral most concerning as it was down last year too. However a count of at least 10 White Admirals was made on 12th July by Graham Goodfellow, double the maximum on the transect that were counted on July 8th. The count of three Brown Hairstreaks was very few (even though two of them were seen on a transect visit) and presaged the very poor egg count in December. It was good to see another White-letter Hairstreak however, the second consecutive year it has been seen.

Small Skipper single, Aug 5th, IoA 1 (11)

Large Skipper Jun 10th-Jul 29th, max 3, Jun24th/Jul 1st, IoA 15 (12)

Brimstone Apr 8-Aug 26th, max 24 Aug 5th, IoA 100 (69)

Large White Apr 29th-Aug 12th, max 7, Aug 5th, IoA 29 (29)

Small White Apr 8th-Sep 9th, max 5, Jul 22nd/Aug 12th, IoA 25 (0)

Green-veined White Apr 22nd-Aug 12th, max 10, Jul 15th/29th, IoA 58 (75)

Orange Tip Apr 15th-May 20th, max 13, Apr 29th, IoA 33 (24)

Trevor Simmonds

Brown Hairstreak 2 on Aug 12th, IoA 2 (1), also a single in the Ash along the lane on Jul 30th

Purple Hairstreak Singles on Jul 22nd & Aug 5th, IoA 2 (7), also 3 on Jul 26th, 4 on 30th (not transect visits)

(White-letter Hairstreak Single on Aug 4th, same place as last year's sightings - not a transect visit)

Holly Blue 4 singles, Jul 22nd - Aug 12th IoA 4 (6) (Brown Argus 1, 6th Aug. (Andrew Rumming, Neil George - presumably in the meadow where not previously reported) White Admiral Jul 1st-29th, max 5 on Jul 8th IoA 15 (32)

Red Admiral 8 singles, Jun 3rd-Sep 23rd, IoA 8 (5)

Painted Lady Single on Aug 5th, IoA 1(0) Peacock Apr 8th-Aug 12th, max 8, Apr 15th IoA 28 (76)

Comma Apr 8th-Sep 16th, max 7 on Jul 22nd IoA 29 (32)

Silver-washed Fritillary Jul 1st-Aug 12th, max 24, Jul 15th IoA 91 (126) No valesina females reported this year

Speckled Wood Apr 29th-Sep 16th, max 64, Sep 2nd, IoA 229 (146)

Trevor Simmonds

Gatekeeper Jul 15th-Aug 12th, max 7, Jul 22nd, IoA 20 (43)

Meadow Brown Jun 17th-Aug 12th, max 55, Jul 1st, IoA 239 (363)

Ringlet Jun 24th-Jul 29th, max 23, Jul 8th, IoA 72 (89)

4) MOTHS

Orange Moth, 5th July (RG)

For the first time the team held 4 trapping sessions with a portable Heath Trap. The session on July 26th was particularly successful with 35 species including 11 new species for the reserve.

Grey type=field records, blue type=moth trapping sessions, underlined=new species for the reserve

Nemaphora degeerella 15th June

Adela reaumurella Seen 4th May, swarm of 20-30 on 19th May Agonopterix arenella 26th Oct. & 16th Nov. and possibly this sp. on 14th Dec. Anacampsis populella 3, 26th July

Scrobipalba costella 26th July

Coleophora sp. 5th July

Common Plume 28th Sept.

Nettle Tap From 11th June

Variegated Golden Tortrix 13, 5th July, also 26th July

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 26th July

Grey Tortrix sp. 4, 5th July

Flax Tortrix 5th/26th July

Green Oak Tortrix 5th July

Acleris laterana in the meadow 31st August

Acleris emargana 20th Sept.

Garden Rose Tortrix 20th Sept.

Pseudagyrotoza conwagana 2nd July

Apotomis betuletana 3, 26th July

Apotomis capreana 26th July - a local species found on Goat Willow

Celypha lacunana 15th/30th June

Eucosma cana 5th July

Gypsonoma dealbana 2, 26th July

Cydia splendana 11,26th July

Forester In the meadow, 15th June

Six-spot Burnet In the meadow 21st June

Phycita roborella 26th July

Anania lancealis 5th July

Anania crocealis 26th July

Mother of Pearl 26th/26th July

Eudonia mercurella 26th July

Garden Grass Veneer 5th July

Water Veneer 26th July

Brown China-mark At the meadow pond, 15th June, pond in the wood, 30th June

Scalloped Hooktip, 26th July (RG)

Scalloped Hooktip 3, 26th July

Common Lutestring 5th July, 2, 26th July

Oak Lutestring 20th Sept.

Lackey Moth 5th July

Drinker 5, 26th July

Small Fan-footed Wave 4, 26th July,

Riband Wave 2, 5th/26th July

Shaded Broad-bar 2,27th July

Yellowshell 15th June, 3, 26th July

Common Carpet 4th/25th August

July Highflyer 26, 26th July

Grey Pine Carpet, 20th Sept. (RG)

Grey Pine Carpet 3, 20th Sept., 1, 4th Oct.

Blue-bordered Carpet 9 eggs found during the Brown Hairstreak egg search, Jan 30th, 2 in the wood 26th Oct,2, 2nd Nov., 4 found during search on 1st Dec

Barred Yellow 5th July

Common Marbled Carpet 6, 20th Sept., 1, 4th Oct.

Green Carpet 20th Sept. November Moth agg. 2/9 Nov. Small White Wave 12th May & 8th June, 2, 26th July

Small Rivulet 2, 26th July

Orange Underwing 1, 13th Apr, first since 2014, and another on 20th April

Magpie Moth 26th July, 17th August

Clouded Border 5th/13th July, 2, 26th July, 27th July

Brimstone 5th July, 4th Oct.

Bordered Beauty, 26th July (RG)

Bordered Beauty 26th July

Orange Moth 5th July - a local moth, found in ancient woodland and hedgerows on clay

Early Thorn 26th July

Swallow-tailed Moth 26th July

Willow Beauty 2, 5th July

Common White Wave 26th July

Common Wave 8th June

Light Emerald 5th July

Herald 28th Sept.

Straw Dot c6, 31st August, 1, Avis Meadow, 19th Oct.

Snout 13th July, 3, 22nd Sept.

Black Arches 4, 26th July

Scarlet Tiger Larva, 12th/19th May, 2 ads. 30th June/6th July, 3, 13th July, 2, 14th July, 1, 20th July

Common Footman 26th July

Silver Y 25th August, 2, 8th Sept., 1, 15th Sept.

Sycamore 11th June, perched on tree trunk (also use Maple as a food plant)

Coronet 4, 26th July

Copper Underwing 4, 20th Sept.

Uncertain 2, 26th July

Angle Shades Caterpillar, 3rd February

Lunar Underwing 20th Sept

Deep Brown Dart 20th Sept.

Large Yellow Underwing 30th June, 26th July, 20th Sept.

Lesser Yellow Underwing 26th July

The reserve moth list now stands at 277 - 17 species new to the reserve were found in 2016. The real total will be much more than this, especially for the "micros" of which the total list is only 65!

Black Arches, 26th July (RG)

5) Dragonflies

Four Spotted Chaser, 29th May (Jon Beresford)

Mainly at the ponds in wood and meadows though some eg. Hawkers, Darters are commonly seen away from water. Generally a mediocre year, though Emerald Damselflies showed well, and it was good to see a Ruddy Darter at the meadow pond in August. Red-eyed Damselflies definitely seem to have died out here though - there have been no reports at all since June 2012.

Banded Demoiselle 6th August (Peter Sketch)

Emerald Damselfly Good numbers at the meadow ponds - 6th Aug - 1 pair in cop, 8 other individuals (Peter Sketch), 16/17/31 Aug, 15th Sept

Large Red Damselfly May 4th, June 8/18, 27th July

Blue-tailed Damselfly June 8th, 6th Aug., 17th Aug

Azure Damselfly 15th June, 3rd July - 2 pairs ovipositing, 2 other pairs in cop, approx 10 other individuals (Peter Sketch)

Common Blue Damselfly June 8/15, 3rd July - 1 pair in cop, 7 other individuals (Peter Sketch), 7, 6th Aug. (Peter Sketch)

Emperor 15th June, 3rd July - 2 ovipositing females, 1 patrolling male (Peter Sketch), 12 July (Graham Goodfellow), ovipositing female, 6/17 Aug

Southern Hawker Unconfirmed on 8th June, then 30th June, 13/14th July, 4 on 21/26 July, 3, 27th, also 16th Aug., 15th Sept., 2nd & 16th November, ovipositing!

Brown Hawker 13/14/26 July, 6 on 27th July, 6th Aug. - 1 ovipositing female, 2 patrolling males (Peter Sketch), 16/17th Aug

Migrant Hawker Fairly early on 12th July (Graham Goodfellow), 6, 6th Aug. (Peter Sketch), 16th Aug, 15th Sept

Black-tailed Skimmer 3rd July (Peter Sketch)

Broad-bodied Chaser 15th June, 12 July (Graham Goodfellow) - seemed scarce

Four-spotted Chaser Unconfirmed on the early date of 17th May, then 8/15th June, 3rd July - 2 ovipositing, 3 mating pairs, at least 6 other individuals (Peter Sketch), 6th July, 6th Aug.

Common Darter Juvs, 18/21 June, ads from 27th July, 6th Aug. - 1 ovipositing pair, 4 other males

Ruddy Darter 1, 16/17th Aug. at the meadow pond

Ruddy Darter, 16th Aug. (RG)

6)Plants

Very disappointing that no Violet Helleborines appeared to survive the onslaught of the slugs and snails this year. No Birds' Nest Orchids were seen either, possibly for the same reason? On the other hand Common Twayblades were found, by no means a common species here.

Goldilocks 12th May

Ragged Robin From 8th June