Monday 25th April 2023.
Leader : Joyce Simmons.
Members present : John, Anna, Caroline, Nora, Margaret, Jeff, Gerri, Paul, Colin, Jim, Louise,
Hilary, Joyce.

We had a very enjoyable sunny afternoon visit to Ash Hill Farm. John took us on a tour of meadows and woodland pointing out unusual plants and trees, including the young woodland planted 20 years ago.
Bluebells were at their magnificent best in the older woodland, which had cameras snapping. We tried pond dipping in 2 of the ponds, the first being very productive, with lots of Mayfly larvae of many species, baby newts, snails and Whirligig beetles. The second pond was deeper and much less productive though there were Caddis fly and beetle larvae, adult beetles as well as snails.

Joyce Simmons.

Birds in song or calling (I.e. territory holding) included Blue Tit; Great Tit; Blackbird; Blackcap (in John’s wood); Chaffinch; Robin; Wren and in the distance across the fields was the bubbling call of a Curlew. Although not calling, a Buzzard circled over the fields opposite John’s house, and my first Swallow of the summer was one skimming over the buildings at the adjacent hamlet of Trumfleet. The presence of roe Deer was revealed by an old fray mark on the stem of a sapling in John’s new plantation  and footprints (slots) along muddy trackways. 

Louise, (fresh from the Thorpe Marsh amphibian evening) pointed out the submerged folded over leaves of Water Forget-me-not where Smooth Newt eggs had been secreted. The pond dipping quickly revealed freshly emerged newt ‘efts’ (newtlings). We were also quickly chasing the nymphal stages of Notonecta (back-swimmer) water boatmen and Corixia (front-swimmer) lesser water-boatmen and a Water Mite Hydracharina. Water snails included the Great Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis; Wandering Snail Lymnaea peregra  and one of the small Ramshorn Snails Planorbis planorbis. Small adult water beetles, possibly Agabus or Ilybius, were too nimble to catch though a corpulent, transparent fly larvae was intent on extruding then re-imbibing its own innards! The elegant nymphal stages of Damsel flies with three prominent leaf-like  caudal lamellae (gills), contrasted with the Squat, spiny, heavy-weight Dragonfly nymph (possibly Libellula depressa).

Fascinating field observations to which John drew or attention were 1) gatherings of grasses dragged to line/insulate a badger sett in the bank of one of the deep IDB drains. 2) a ‘four-square’ front foot print of a Badger (could have been evidence of a small Bear!) and 3) the accumulated snail shell fragments of a Thrush’s ‘anvil’. In a region without any exposed solid geology, thrushes have to be opportunistic in the substrate against which they smash open snail shells. In this case it was a large chunk of Magnesian Limestone (discretely positioned in a hedge bottom), from demolition debris brought in to mend one of the unmetalled farm tracks. It looked like all the snails were the brown-lipped snail Cepaea nemoralis, a species evidently preferred (or possibly easier to smash open) to the common garden snail Helix aspersa .  

CAH.  

Monday 17th April 2023.
Leader : Nora Boyle.
Members present : Gerri (S), Carol, Hilary and Nora (B). 
Apologies: Colin (H)

The meeting started in the playground between Pegasus Way and Magenta Crescent, off Woodfield Way at 10.30 am. We walked along the track towards the lakes passing the entrance to Carr Lodge which was avoided because when I did the recce on Saturday the path was extremely wet and muddy.

We stopped part way along the track to look over a fence at the Highland cattle in a field managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, noting the presence of White Dead Nettle, Cleavers and Jack by the Hedge near the gate. Walking over the M18 bridge we noted the road was bordered mainly by Ash, Hawthorn, Dog Rose, Gorse and a species of Prunus. Some of the ash trees were just in flower but others were bearing leaf buds in the process of opening.

Continuing past Annabel’s cafe we headed towards the storage units on the skyline, stopping for a short time to look at the birds on one of the islands and admire the sound and flight of Skylark.   On the way there were many examples of Red Dead nettle and a two species of Speedwell. We found one example of Yarrow in flower and several clumps of Coltsfoot, some in flower and many others which had gone to seed.

To the right of the path was an island covered with Black Headed gulls which created a cacophony of sound drowning out some of the noise from the motorway. Following the track round the lake closest to the storage units we found many examples of old teasel heads, the new leaf rosettes of Teasel, Salad Burnet and a grass which I believe was Meadow Foxtail. On one of the willow saplings growing amongst the Common Reeds we saw a bird which was later identified, from Hilary’s description, by a fellow birdwatcher to be Wheatear.

We soon reached the end of the path between two of the lakes which took us back in the direction of Annabel’s. There we found many examples of Marsh Marigold growing on the edges of the water. The path ahead then went round one of the other lakes taking us back to Annabel’s and passing another island where we saw one solitary Oystercatcher amongst the Black Headed gulls. By the sides of the paths there were many examples of species of plants just in leaf but we did see one example of Red Campion in flower.

On our journey round the lakes we also saw Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag geese, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Cormorant, Little Egret, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. We approached Annabel’s at 12.40pm for a welcome bite to eat and drink in the cafe which we had all to ourselves for a short while. I was pleased that we hadn’t been plagued with as many flies as I had encountered on Saturday. I think some of the flies I saw by the M18 lake were St Mark’s flies recognisable by the way they dangle their legs. If you look closely at my last photograph from Saturday you might just be able to pick them out !

Nora Boyle.

.

Tuesday 11th April 2023.
Leader : Mick Townsend.
Members present : Three members present plus three Thorpe Marsh volunteers.

They found 100 folded leaves. Most that were looked at (only a sample) were Smooth Newts but there were a few Great Crested Newt eggs. They saw 9 or 10 Smooth and 3 or 4 Great Crested Newts.

Report provided by Mick Townsend.

Saturday 8th April 2023, 2 pm to 4.15 pm.
Leader & Key-holder : Margaret Prior.
Members present : Nora (B); Gerri (S); Caroline (B); Jim (B); Tom & Diana (H); John (N) & Colin (H).

Introduction:

The history of the discovery, management and monitoring of the population of Snakes-head Fritillary on the Owston Glebe fields (SE5511) is published in the following papers by Pip Seccombe :-

1983  Pip’s pasture. The Doncaster Naturalist 1 (3): 38-40.
2002  Twenty years of recording Fritillaries. YNU Bulletin 37 Supplement for YNU Conference 2000 Recording & Monitoring Yorkshire’s Natural Environment. Pp. 91-92.
2011  Pip’s pasture – an update. The Doncaster Naturalist 2 (2): 55-64.

The Owston population is included in the national review by Kevin Walker. Walker, K.J. (2021) Snake’s-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris (Liliaceae) in Britain: its distribution, habitats and status. British & Irish Botany 3(3): 263-278.

Due to the Owston Fritillary populations occurring in the context of historic species-rich hay meadows, the fields were designated by English Nature (now Natural England) as a statutory Site of Special Scientific Interest. They are currently managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Aims: The aims of the visit were to commemorate the work of our late and much missed colleague Pip Seccombe, to continue monitoring the number of flowering Fritillaries and to search for additional populations.

Results

Red Flowers	White Flowers	Non-flowering	Field Ref.
Non found	Non found	Non found	Field 1
120	26	Not counted	Field 2  SE5538 1127
2		Not counted	Field 2 SE5532 1128
12	4	Not counted	Field 3 SE5506 1123
10	2	Not counted	Field 3 SE5525 1125
144	32		Total Flowering Plants

176 plants were in flower (144 red chequered & 32 white). These were in three to four populations within fields 2 and 3.

Several Bumble bee Queens (Bombus lucorum) were seen visiting the populations and some were actually watched as they gathered pollen. However, the presence of a lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii), a non-native species which attacks all parts of fritillary plants, is evidence of a significant threat to the Owston plants.

 Acknowledgement: After our most enjoyable visit on such a warm (14.5^oC) and sunny afternoon, the group was invited by Margaret and Jeff Prior for coffee and home-made biscuits in their walled garden.

Appendix

Note : Plants in flower or in fruit are shown as BOLD.

 

Table 1

Botanical Name	Vernacular Name
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore
Aiaria petiolatell	Jack-by-the-hedge
Allium ursinum	Wild Garlic (Ramsons)
Anemone nemorosa	Wood Anemone
Angelica sylvestris	Wild Angelica
Anthriscus sylvestris	Cow Parsley
Arum maculatum	Arum
Bellis perennis	Daisy
Betula pendula	Silver Birch
Centaurea nigra	Common Knapweed
Cirsium arvense	Creeping Thistle
Conopodium majus	Pignut
Corylus avellana	Hazel
Crataegus monogyna	Hawthorn
Dactylis glomerata	Cock’s-foot
Deschampsia cespitosa	Tufted Hairgrass
Epilbium hirsutum	Hairy Willowherb
Equisetum arvense	Field Horsetail
Ficaria verna	Lesser Celandine
Filipendula ulmaria	Meadowsweet
Fraxinus excelsior	Ash
Galium aparine	Cleavers
Geranium robertianum	Herb Robert
Glechoma hederacea	Ground Ivy
Hedera helix	Ivy
Heracleum sphondylium	Hogweed
Hyacinthoides non-scripta	Bluebell
Ilex aquifolium	Holly
Iris foetidissima	Stinking Iris
Lamium album	White Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureum	Red Dead Nettle
Ligustrum vulgare	Wild Privet
Lonicera periclymenum	Honeysuckle
Luzula campestris	Field Woodrush
Mercurialis perennis	Dog’s Mercury
Plantago lanceolata	Ribwort Plantain
Plantago major	Broad-leaved Plantain
Potentilla reptans	Creeping Cinquefoil
Primula vulgaris	Primrose
Primula veris	Cowslip
Prunus avium	Wild Cherry
Prunus spinosa	Blackthorn
Quercus robur	Pedunculate Oak
Ranunculus acris	Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus repens	Creeping Buttercup
Rhinanthus minor	Yellow Rattle
Rosa campestris	Field Rose
Rosa canina	Dog Rose
Rubus fruticosus	Bramble
Rumex obtusifolius	Broad Dock
Salix caprea	Goat Willow
Sabucus nigram	Elder
Senecio vulgaris	Groundsel
Stachis sylvatica	Hedge Woundwort
Stellaria media	Common Chickweed
Taraxacum officinale agg	Dandelion sp.
Taxus baccata	Yew
Ulmus glabra	Wych Elm
Urtica dioica	Stinging Nettle
Veronica persica	Field Speedwell

 

 

Table 1

Botanical Name	Vernacular Name
COLEOPTERA
Lilioceris lilii	Lily Beetle (on Fritillary flower!)
DIPTERA
Bombylius major	Dark-edged Bee-fly (seen by CB)
HYMENOPTERA
Bombus lapidarius	Red-tailed Bumblebee (Queen)
Bombus lucorum)	A White-tailed Bumblebee (Queen)
LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies)
	Brimstone Butterfly
	Comma Butterfly
	Peacock Butterfly
BIRDS
	Blackbird (calling)
	Buzzard (calling)
	Carrion Crow
	Chiffchaff (singing)
	Great Tit (calling)
	Nuthatch (calling)
	Pheasant
	Robin (singing)
	Mistle Thrush (singing)
	Wood Pigeon
	Wren (singing)
MAMMELS
	Mole (hills)
	Grey Squirrel
	Rabbit (Droppings)

 

Monday 3rd April 2023. 1:30pm to 4.15pm
Leader : Colin Howes.
Also present : Nora (B); Gerri (S) & John (S).

Prelude:
Due to problems of safe access to the Went Gorge at Wentbridge, to see the springtime carpets of Wood Anemones, it was decided to divert to Wadworth Wood south of the M18 to experience a similar limestone woodland flora.

We arranged to meet at the western end of Short Gate, Wadworth, parking outside the agricultural buildings, keeping clear of any entrances or gateways and walking the final section of Short Gate onto the woodland rides (as we had on 10 April 2022).
While assembling, we were challenged by a local householder who claimed that (1) Short Gate was a private road [in fact there was no signage to that effect], (2) we were obstructing access to the farm buildings [in fact we weren’t parked over any entrances or gateways], and (3) that where we had parked left us vulnerable to damage from the huge pieces of agricultural equipment operating in the area … Spraying rigs were mentioned. [We observed that due to the prevailing brisk winds, spraying would be illegal under these condition]. She further advised that Wadworth Wood was Private, (belonging to the Foljambe Estate and that official access was via a public footpath across the arable fields either from Wadworth Village (Hall Farm SK566972) or from Green Lane (at SK563972).

Altered Route: Since the above mentioned advice was going to create further parking problems and involve long walks across treated crops, we decided to make for the layby on Long Gate (the B6094 at SK555961) and to access the wood via Paddock Lane, the signposted Bridle Way. We decided to limit our route to clearly defined woodland rides, heading north towards the motorway underpass (SK552972), east along the Wadworth public footpath to SK554972 and returning south via Centre Riding to SK556967 and the short length of the perimeter woodland track, re-joining Paddock Lane at SK554966 and back to the busy B6094.

Aims: The aims of the excursion were to enjoy the flush of spring flowers, particularly the Wood Anemones and to record the arrival of any spring migrants (not to forget records for Mick Townsends Phenology monitoring). The wood (recognised as a DMBC Local Wildlife Site) was surveyed by the Doncaster Nats in 1992 & 93, and was the subject of a Nats publication edited by Dorothy Bramley (Bramley, 1993).

Acknowledgement: Many thanks are due to John Scott for making our day with his constant advice on flower identification and in demonstrating his impressive ability to identify plants from the slightest showing of green!

Note : Plants in bold were in flower.

Wadworth Wood plants

Botanical Name	Vernacular Name	SK5596	SK5597
Acer pseudoplatanus	Sycamore	*	*
Alliaria petiolata	Jack-by-the-hedge	*	*
Allium ursinum	Wild Garlic (Ramsons)	*	*
Alnus glutinosa	Alder		*
Anemone nemorosa	Wood Anemone	*	*
Angelica sylvestris	Wild Angelica		*
Anthriscus sylvestris	Cow Parsley	*
Arum maculatum	Arum	*	*
Bellis perennis	Daisy	*	*
Betula pendula	Silver Birch	*	*
Brachypodium sylvaticum	False Brome	*	*
Centaurea nigra	Common Knapweed	*	*
Cirsium arvense	Creeping Thistle	*	*
Conopodium majus	Pignut	*
Cornus sanguinea	Dogwood	*	*
Corylus avellana	Hazel	*	*
Crataegus monogyna	Hawthorn	*	*
Dactylis glomerata	Cock’s-foot	*	*
Daphne laureola	Spurge Laurel	*
Deschampsia flexuosa	Wavy Hair-grass	*	*
Epilbium hirsutum	Hairy Willowherb	*	*
Euonymus europaeus	Spindle	*	*
Fagus sylaticus	Beech	*	*
Ficaria verna	Lesser Celandine	*	*
Filipendula ulmaria	Meadowsweet	*	*
Fraxinus excelsior	Ash	*	*
Galium aparine	Cleavers	*	*
Geranium robertianum	Herb Robert	*	*
Geum rivale	Water Avens	*	*
Glechoma hederacea	Ground Ivy	*	*
Hedera helix	Ivy	*	*
Heracleum sphondylium	Hogweed	*	*
Hyacinthoides non-scripta	Bluebell	*	*
Hypericum tetrapterum	Square-stemmed St John’s-wort	*
Ilex aquifolium	Holly	*	*
Lamium album	White Dead Nettle	*	*
Lamium purpureum	Red Dead Nettle	*	*
Ligustrum vulgare	Wild Privet	*	*
Lonicera periclymenum	Honeysuckle	*	*
Lysimachia nemorum	Yellow Pimpernel	*
Mercurialis perennis	Dog’s Mercury	*	*
Pinus nigra	Corsican Pine	*	*
Pinus sylvestris	Scots Pine	*	*
Plantago lanceolata	Ribwort Plantain	*	*
Plantago major	Broad-leaved Plantain	*	*
Potentilla reptans	Creeping Cinquefoil	*	*
Primula vulgaris	Primrose	*	*
Prunus avium	Wild Cherry	*	*
Prunus spinosa	Blackthorn	*	*
Pteridium aquilinum	Bracken	*	*
Quercus robur	Pedunculate Oak	*	*
Quercus cerris	Turkey Oak		*
Ranunculus repens	Creeping Buttercup	*	*
Rosa campestris	Field Rose	*	*
Rosa canina	Dog Rose		*
Rosa spinosissima	Burnet Rose	*
Rubus caesius	Dewberry	*
Rubus fruticosus	Bramble	*	*
Rumex obtusifolius	Broad Dock	*	*
Salix caprea	Goat Willow	*	*
Sambucus nigra	Elder	*	*
Senecio vulgaris	Groundsel	*	*
Stachis sylvatica	Hedge Woundwort		*
Stellaria holostea	Great Stitchwort	*	*
Stellaria media	Common Chickweed	*	*
Taraxacum officinale agg	Dandelion sp.	*	*
Taxus baccata	Yew	*	*
Teucreum scorodonia	Wood Sage		*
Tilia cordata	Small-leaved Lime		*
Ulmus glabra	Wych Elm	*	*
Urtica dioica	Stinging Nettle	*	*
Veronica beccabunga	Brooklime	*	*
Veronica persica	Field Speedwell	*	*
Viola richenbachiana	Early Dog Violet	*	*
Viola riviniana	Common Dog Violet	*	*

 

Wadworth Wood

Botanical Name	Vernacular Name	SK5596	SK5597
FUNGI
Trametes versicolor	Turkey Tail		*
DIPTERA
Bombylius major	Dark-edged Bee-fly	*
HYMENOPTERA
Bombus lapidarius	Red-tailed Bumblebee (Queen)	*	*
Andrena fulva	Tawny Mining Bee (Visiting newly excavated hole in marl soil in root-plate of wind-thrown elm)		*
LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies)
	Brimstone Butterfly	*
	Comma Butterfly		*
BIRDS
	Blackbird (calling)	*	*
	Buzzard (calling)	*
	Carrion Crow	*	*
	Chiffchaff (singing)	*
	Great Tit (calling)	*	*
	Nuthatch (calling)	*
	Pheasant	*
	Robin (singing)	*	*
	Mistle Thrush (singing)	*
	Wood Pigeon	*	*
	Wren (singing)	*	*
Mammals
	Mole (hills)	*	*
	Roe Deer (Foot prints)	*	*
	Red Deer (Foot prints)	*
	Grey Squirrel (chewed pine cones)	*	*
	Rabbit (Droppings)	*	*

References :

Bramley, D. (ed.) A Survey of Wadworth Wood, Doncaster. Doncaster Naturalists’ Society (1993)

Recorder CAH.