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Published by

RUGBY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY www.rugbynaturalhistory.org.uk

PRESIDENT – Dr P Reeve

Newsletter No 250 July 2018

Contents this edition ~Minibus trip: Rutland Water (book now!)

~News of members ~Summer field visit reports

~ Winter indoor meetings: dates for your diary ~Data protection information

~Current committee members (with contact information) Appendices included: species lists for Grove Hill, Snitterfield Bushes, Dunchurch Meadows,

Stockton Cutting and Tasker’s Meadow

Photos © Paul Hodges: cowslip carpet; thimble morel; semi-free morel at Grove Hill reserve

Minibus trip? Speak up now! Rutland Water. Would you like to travel by minibus to our Rutland Water field visit on Thursday 6 September? Several members requested that we arrange this and David Knapp is willing to do so as long as there is sufficient interest - at least sixteen people would be

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needed. The cost of a minibus would be £20 per person. The departure/return point would, as usual, be St Mark’s Church car park in Bilton, with additional pick up/drop off points in

Long Itchington and Marton. The proposed return visit to Oxford Natural History Museum was cancelled because there were not enough people to make it viable. This is therefore now the FINAL CALL (!) for Rutland Water. If you would be interested in travelling by minibus, please let David know by Wednesday 1 August 2018 and he will then get back to you with further details. Tel. 01788 817346 or e:mail djknapp53@gmail.com

News of members Most members will already know that Frank Ollerenshaw died in May. Nine of us attended his funeral, where we learned that he had served in young people’s organisations, as well as being a member both of the society and of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and having many other interests. We shall miss him. We were saddened to hear from her daughter that Gwen Bale had recently died. Gwen was a vice-president of RNHS until our AGM in February, when Ted Pearson reminded us of her large contribution to the society over many years. Some of this was recorded in the April newsletter. Our thoughts remain with their families.

Summer field visit reports Thanks to everyone who has sent in a report from the first part of the summer field visit season: Biddy Allen; Lyn Classey; Paul Hodges; and Janice Tolley-Hodges. You, too, could send in a visit report. No special qualifications are needed and you don’t need to provide the sort of extensive species list that Paul compiles if you don’t want to. (As is now usual, these are in appendices and give a more detailed picture than the brief notes here. The lists also contribute to official records via copies of this newsletter.) Please have a go - just imagine that you’re telling some friends about the trip (which, in a way, you are). Don’t forget that the remaining visits for this summer are on the printed programme card which was available at indoor meetings and was in a file attached to the email carrying the July newsletter. (They are Combroke for Oxhouse Farm on 21 July, Brandon Marsh on 4 August, Crick on 25 August, Rutland Water on 6 September [see above!], Swift Valley on 22 September and Coombe Country Park on 6 October.) Remember also to note whether a visit is to a restricted site. These are marked on the list, and open to RNHS members only, on the date organised. Gathering time at each site is ten minutes prior to the given time so that the visit can start promptly. Grove Hill On Saturday 28 April members were treated to forty-three flora species, twenty-three birds, eight fungi, six lichens, four mosses, one alga, signs of four mammalian species, two types of

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newts, with evidence of egg laying, and tadpoles of both frog and toad. Paul’s full list of species is in Appendix 1, three of them shown in photos on the front page above. Snitterfield Bushes A group of the RNHS stalwarts turned out on Saturday 12 May to explore this classic Warwickshire Wildlife Trust site. The species list for the SSSI is in Appendix 2. PH Draycote Meadows Eight members arrived at Draycote Meadows SSSI (Thursday 24 May) to a sea of yellow buttercups. The weather was cold and windy, with a short shower of rain at the beginning and end of the walk. The weather was such a contrast from the previous hot and summer-like few days. Underneath the golden buttercups were the green winged orchids. Due to the chilly wind there were no butterflies; however a blackcap was singing amongst the hawthorn blossom. There were a couple of common spotted orchids in flower and many adder’s tongue ferns. The moonwort remained elusive! Our bird list was sparrowhawk, blackcap, buzzard, rook, woodpeckers, nuthatch, chiff chaff, willow warbler and blackbird. The flora list was buttercups, green winged orchid, common spotted orchid, adder’s tongue fern, pignut, hawthorn, cowslip, twayblade, meadow vetchling, meadowsweet, English elm and blackthorn. JT-H

Adder’s tongue orchid at Draycote Meadows

photo © Lyn Classey

Dunchurch Meadows Eight people were on this trip (Saturday 9 June). The highlights were colonies of common spotted orchids (50+ spikes), displaying lapwing, green woodpecker, song thrush, ragged robin, two species of speedwell, large and small skipper butterflies, common blue butterflies, common knapweed, yellow barred brindle moth, yellow shell moth and pignuts in flower. See also Appendix 3.

PH and JT-H Stockton Cutting and Tasker’s Meadow A few RNHS members assembled on Saturday 23 June and were treated, due to the hot and sunny conditions, to range of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and flora. Some things were going over as we hadn't had any real rain for over three weeks at that time. Highlights were greater butterfly orchids, six-spot burnet moths, marbled white butterflies, grizzled skippers,

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dingy skippers, three species of grasshopper, green field tiger beetles hunting solitary wasps and bees. Appendix 4 gives a full species list. PH Pond morning About twenty members attended Peter and Kay's pond morning (Thursday 5 July). We had an enjoyable morning watching dragonflies and damselflies at the quickly maturing pond, and looked at the night’s catch in the moth trap. Peter's pond was declared open and we helped him demolish a welcome buffet lunch. It may be that a full species list will appear in the next newsletter. LC

© Lyn Classey Moth morning On Friday 6 July, fourteen members had a fabulous blue sky morning looking at and trying to identify, due to the warm night, hundreds of moths from moth traps belonging to Roy and Biddy Allen, David and Sue Knapp, Graham Robson and Paul and Janice Hodges. Some of those identified are listed below. A really good morning - we enjoyed it! BA

Angle Shades Beautiful Hook-tip Bright-line Brown-eye Brimstone Brown-line Bright-eye Buff Arches Buff Ermine Buff Footman Buff Tip Burnished Brass Cabbage Clay Cloaked Minor Clouded Border Common Footman Common Rustic Coronet Dark Arches Dingy Footman Dot Double Square-spot Drinker Dunbar

Dusky Sallow Early Thorn Elephant Hawkmoth Flame Flame Shoulder Garden Carpet Ghost Moth (female) Green Pug Grey Dagger Heart and Dart Heart and Club Iron Prominent Large Emerald Large Yellow Underwing Large Twin-spot Carpet Leopard Moth Lesser Yellow Underwing Light Arches Lunar-spotted Pinion Marbled Minor Peach Blossom Phoenix Plain Golden Y

Polar Grey Poplar Hawkmoth Riband Wave Round-winged Muslin Rustic Scarce Footman Short-cloaked Moth Silver Y Single-dotted Wave Small Angle Shades Small Blood-vein Small Fan-footed Wave Smoky Wainscot Snout Spectacle Swallowtail Swallow Prominent Sycamore Tawny Marbled Minor Uncertain V Pug Vines Rustic Wainscot Willow Beauty

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Autumn-spring programme Many thanks to Paul and Janice, who once again have organised a varied programme of evening talks for our forthcoming Thursday evening indoor meetings. To make sure that you don’t miss any, please put these dates in your diary now. 2018 September 27, Paul Hodges, An explanation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans for priority habitats and species in Warwickshire October 11, Jan Clemons (WART), Amphibians and Reptiles in Warwickshire October 25, John and Val Roberts, Astonishing Fungi November 8, Steve Brookes, Conservation of Lear’s Macaw in Brazil November 22, Matthew Merritt, Birds and Wildlife of the Falkland Islands December 6, Photographic competition (with raffle and buffet) 2019 January 10, Tricia Scott (Warwickshire Bat Group), Ecology and Conservation UK of Bats January 24, Scott Hackett, Temple Balsall and Cuttle Pool Nature Reserve February 7, Dr Chris Leach, Change perspectives of Galls and their communities February 21, AGM, followed by a quiz set by Janice Tolley-Hodges and Paul Hodges March 7, Fern Hodges and Tony Landless, UK Wildlife Cruise March 21, Annual dinner (with raffle, though tickets will be available in advance)

Data protection (the General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] refers) To comply with the data protection regulations which came into effect in May, your consent is required for the society to hold your personal information. As a member of the RNHS, your membership details will be kept on personal computers for the purposes of administering membership subscriptions, circulation of newsletters and the management of trips and other activities of the RNHS. The data recorded are taken from the annual membership application form and consist of name, address, telephone number and email address. These data are held securely in password protected files. Your details will not be passed on to any other organisation or third party and will be deleted if you leave the society. You have the right to see what information is held and, if required, to have it changed.

And you can...

Do let one of the committee know if you have an idea for a society coach trip. The destination should be within a reasonable distance and ideally provide options for things to do. Please note, though, that if there isn’t enough support for a minibus to take us to Rutland Water, then we shall probably decide not to attempt further coach trips. Send in a report (formal or informal) on any field trip you go on. You don’t have to produce a list of all the sightings - just let any committee member present know that you’ll jot some notes on the visit then email them to the editor by the deadline for the next edition. Thanks for photographs in this edition to Lyn Classey, Paul Hodges (and vecteezy.com for the minibus!). Consider what committee post you might like to stand for next year – some current holders intend to stand down early in 2019. Talk to one of them to see what might be involved.

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Next newsletter and apology This is due for publication in October 2018, so please email articles to the editor (Fern Hodges, see below) by Sunday 30 September. Please remember that you will only receive appendices either if your newsletter comes by email or (for those who still need a printed hard copy) if you let Lyn Classey know that you’d like to have them added. Ideas for items in future newsletters would be welcome, so please do let me know about any you have (or just send the items in!). Meanwhile, the editor’s apologies to Peter Reeve, who was without his proper title in the April edition’s heading – now restored.

Committee members with specific roles CHAIRMAN Mr T Landless, 27 Spicer Place, Rugby VICE-CHAIRMAN Mr L Classey , 13 Orson Leys, Rugby HON SECRETARY Mrs W Classey, 13 Orson Leys, Rugby HON TREASURER Mr David Knapp, 44 Orson Leys, Rugby PROGRAMME SECRETARIES Mr P Hodges and Mrs J Tolley-Hodges 30 Rupert Brooke Road, Rugby NEWSLETTER EDITOR Miss Fern Hodges, jandflist@gmail.com

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Appendix 1 Species list for Grove Hill Nature Reserve, SP112547 28 April 2018, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm Compiled by Paul E Hodges CEnv, CMIEEM, PgDip, BSc(Hons), NVQ III, NEBSMC, C & G II

Flora

Common Gromwell-Lithospermum officinale (Rosettes) Hounds Tongue Cynoglossum officinale (Rosettes) Snakes-head Fritillaries-Fritillaria melegris (3 flowering) Common Twayblades-Listera ovata Common Spotted Orchids-Dactylorhiza fuchsii(Rosettes) Cowslips-Primula veris Primroses-Primula vulgaris Lesser Celendines-Ranunculus ficaria, Meadow Sweet-Filipendula ulmaria, Creeping Buttercups-Ranunculus repens Common Dog Violets-Viola riviniana, Hairy Violets-Viola hirta Ground Ivy- Glechoma hederacea Dogs Mercury-Mercurialis perennis Wild Strawberries-Fragaria vesca Creeping Cinquefoils-Potentilla reptans Common Birds foot trefoils-Lotus corniculatus Great (Hairy) Willowherbs-Eplobium hirsutum Rosebay Willowherbs-Chamerion angustifolium Marsh Thistles-Crisium palustre Teasles-

Hairy St John’s wort-Hypericum hirsutum Square Stemmed St Johns wort-Hypericum tetrapterum Honeysuckle-Loncera periclymenum Ash-Fraxinus excelsior (standards & coppice) Grey Willow/Osier-Salix cinerea Hawthorn-Crategeus monogyna Blackthorn-Prunus spinosa Wild Cherry-Prunus avium Bird Cherry-Prunus padus Wayfaring Tree-Sorbus lantana Silver Birch-Betula pendula Alder-Alnus glutinosa Elder-Sambucus nigra Crab Apple-Malus sylvestris in blossom Coltsfoot-Tussilago farfara Hedge Bedstraw-Gallium mullugo Garlic Mustard-Alliaria petiolata Dog Rose-Rosa canina Field Roses-Rosa arvensis Soft Rushes-Juncus effusus Glaucous Sedge-Carx flacca Field Woodrushes (Luzula campestre)

Birds

Sparrowhawk -Accipiter Nisus Buzzard -Buteo Buteo Whitethroats-Sylvia Communis Blackcaps -Sylvia Atricapilla Chiff Chaffs-Phylloscopus Colybita Ravens-Corvus Corax Rooks-Corvus Frugilegus Carrion Crows-Corvus Corone Jackdaws-Corvus Monedula Robins-Erithacus Rubecula Dunnocks-Prunella Modularis Wrens-Trolodytes Troglodytes

Mistle Thrushes-Turdus Viscivorus Song Thrushes-Turdus Philomelos Blackbirds-Turdus Merula Skylarks-Alauda Arvensis Green Woodpecker-Picus Viridis Chaffinches- Fringilla Coelebs Greenfinches- Carduelis Cholris Long Tailed Tits-Aegithalos Caudatus Great Tit- Parus Major Blue Tits-Cyansties Caeruleus Starlings-Sternus Vulgaris

Mammals

Roe Deer-Capreolus capreolus- Signs Rabbits-Oryctolagus cuniculus Eurasian Badger-Meles meles - Sett & Signs

Domestic Sheep- Signs,droppings, hoofprints in mud

Fungi

Semi-free Morel-Mitrophora semilibera Thimble Morel-Verpa conica St George’s Mushrooms-Calocybe-Tricholoma gambosum

Hyphodontia sambuci-Elder Whitewash Coprinus lagopus Coprinus plicatilis Peniophora

Yellow Cow Pat Toadstool-Bolbitius vitellinus quercina

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Amphibians

Great Crested Newt-Triturus cristatus (1st Pond-seen- through Binoculars) Common/Smooth Newts-Lissotriton vulgaris (1st pond seen M+F)

Evidence of Newt Egg Laying- Folded Over Leaves Common Toads tadpoles-Bufo bufo Common Frogs tadpoles-Rana temporaria

Blue Green Algae- Knostock

Lichens Mosses

Xanthoria parietina Physia adscendens Lecanora muralis Hypogymnia physoides Hypogymnia tubulosa Parmelia saxatilis

Leucobryum glaucum Schistidium apocarpum (on rock strata in old Quarries) Funaria hygrometrica (On old fire sites) Bryum argenteum

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Appendix 2 Species list for Snitterfield Bushes Nature Reserve 12 May 2018, 10.00 am – 12.30 pm Compiled by Paul E Hodges CEnv, CMIEEM, PgDip, BSc(Hons), NVQ III, NEBSMC, C & G II

Birds Green Woodpecker – Picus viridis Great Spotted Woodpecker – Dendrocopus major Great Tits- Parus major Blue Tits- Cyansties caerulescens Chiff Chaffs- Phylloscopus colybita Willow Warbler- Phylloscopus trochilus Blackcaps – Sylvia atricapilla

Song Thrushes – Turdus philomelos Robin- Erthraicus rubecula Wrens- Troglodytes troglodytes Stock Doves- Columba oenas Buzzards- Buteo buteo Chaffinches- Fringilla coelebs Coal Tits- Parus ater

Flora

Early Purple Orchids- Orchis mascula Greater Butterfly Orchids (Rosettes)- Platanthera chlorantha Yellow Arch-Angel – Lamiastrum galebdolon Bluebells- Hyacinthoides non-scripta Ground Ivy – Glechoma hederacea Garlic Mustard – Alliaria petiolata Hedge Bindweed – Calystegia sepium Cleavers – Galium apartine Hazel- Corylus avellana Pedunculate Oak- Quercus robur Germander Speedwell- Veronica chamyardrys Wood Speedwell- Veronica montana Ivy-Leaved Speedwell- Veronica hederifolia Herb Robert- Gernanium roberticum White Dead Nettles- Lamium album Nettles- Urtica diocea Dandelions- Taraxacum ssp. Hawthorne- Cratageus monogyna Ash- Fraxinus excelsior Cow Parsley- Anthriscus sylvestris Wild Angelica- Angelica sylvestris

Herb Paris – Paris quadrifolia Bugle- Ajuga reptans Enchanter’s Nightshade- Circaea lutetiana Wood Millet- Milium effusum Yellow Pimpernel- Lysimachia nemorum Common Dog Violets- Viola riviniana Black Bryony- Tamus communis Sweet Wood Ruff- Galium odorata Cuckoo Flower- Cardamine pratensis Primroses- Primula vulgaris Wild Strawberries- Fragaria vesca Common Valerian –Valeriana officinalis Common Spotted Orchids – Dactylorhiza fuchsii Meadow Sweet- Filipendula ulmaria Eyebright- Euphrasia spp Ladies Bedstraw – Galium verum Creeping Cinquefoils – Potentilla reptans Daisies – Bellis perenis Common Figwort –Scrophularia nodosa Lords and Ladies – Arum maculatum Holly – Ilium aquifolium Autumn Crocus- Crocus nudiflorus

Fungi

Daedaleopus cronfragosa – Blushing Brackets Birch Polypore- Piptoporus betulinus

Turkey Tail - Polyporus acularius

Lichens

Xanthoria paretina – Orange Shields Lichens Parmelia saxatilis Parmelia sulcate

Cladonia diditata Cladonia fimbriata Caloplaca citrina

Ferns

Male Ferns- Dryopteris filix-mas Scaley Male Ferns- Dryopteris affinis

Broad Leaved Buckler Ferns- Dryopteris dilatata

Mosses

Leucobryum glaucum Ceratodon purpureus

Funaria hygrometrica Bryum argenteum

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Appendix 3 Species list for Dunchurch Meadows Nature Reserve 9 June 2018 10.00 am – 11.45 am Compiled by Paul E Hodges CEnv, CMIEEM, PgDip, BSc(Hons), NVQ III, NEBSMC, C & G II

Flora: trees and shrubs in hedges, associated woodland and scrub

Pedunculate Oak – Quercus robur Turkey Oak – Quercus cerris Hawthorne- Cratageus monogyna Blackthorn- Prunus spinose Ash – Fraxinus excelsior Guelder Rose- Vibernum opulus Hornbeam- Carpinus betulus Sycamore- Acer psudoplatinus

Holly – Ilex europeaus Cherries- Prunus avium & Prunus padus Gorse- Ulex europaeus Silver Birch – Betula pendula Norway Maple – Acer platinoides Elder- Sambucus Nigra Crab Apple- Malus slyvestris Grey Poplar- Populus x canesscens

Flora: flowers

Goats Beard- Tragopon pratensis Common Spotted Orchids- Dactylorhiza fuchsii Hogweed- Heracleum sphondylrum Creeping Thistles- Cirsium arvense Common Ragwort- Senecio jacobaea Yellowrattle- Rhinanthus minor Ragged Robin- Lychnis flos-cuculi Black Medick- Medicago lupulina Birdsfoot Trefoil- Lotus corniculatus White Clover- Trifolium repens Red Clover- Trifolium pratense Ribwort Plantain- Plantago lanceolata Field Mouse Eared Chickweed- Cerastuim arvense Hawkweeds- Hieracium spp. Agg. Hawk-beards- Crepis spp. Agg. Timothy Grass- Phleum pratense

Sweet Vernal Grass- Anthoxanthum odoratum Crested Dogstail Grass- Cynosurus cristatus Cock’s Foot Grass- Dactylis glomerata Red Fescue Grass- Festuca rubra Common Bent Grass- Agrostis capillaris Sorrel- Rumex acetosa Great Hairy Willowherb- Epilobium hirsutum Meadow Sweet- Filipendula ulmaria Green Field-Speedwells- Veronica agrestis Grey Field Speedwells- Veronica polita Fox & Cubs-Pilosella aurantiaca(Orange Hawkbit / Devils Paint Brush) Zig Zag Clover- Trifolium medium Pignuts- Conipodium majus Purple Bush Vetch- Vicia sepium Common Knapweed- Centaurea nigra Upright Hedge-Parsley- Torilis japonica Oxeye Daisies- Leucanthemum vulgare

Fungi: King Alfreds Cakes- Daldinia concentrica

Birds

Green Woodpecker-Picus viridis Lapwing- Vanellus vanellus Displaying(LBAP Priority Species for Warwickshire) Skylark- Alauda arvensis (LBAP Priority Species for Warwickshire) Blackcap- Sylvia atricapilla Robin- Erithacus rubecula Song Thrush- Turdus philomelos (LBAP Priority Species)

Jackdaws- Corvus monedula Buzzards- Buteo buteo Chaffinches- Fringilla coelebs Mallards- Anas platyrhynchos Blue Tits- Cyansties caeruleus Blackbirds- Turdus merula Carrion Crows- Corvus corone Great Spotted Woodpeckers-Dendrocopus major

Insects

Meadow Brown Butterflies- Maniola jurtina Silver Y Moths- Autographa gamma Red Tailed Bumblebees- Bombus lapidarius White Tailed Bumblebees- Bombus lucorum Yellow-Barred Brindle Moth- Acasis viretata

Yellow Shell Moth- Camptogramma bilineata Common Blue Butterflies-Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Damselflies- Enallagma cyathigerum Large Skipper Butterflies- Ochlodes sylvanus Small Skipper Butterflies- Thymelicus sylvestris

Mammals (signs)

Fox kill site- vulpes vulpes Reeves muntjac deer lie- muntiacus reevesi

Rabbit droppings- oryctolagus cuniculus

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Appendix 4 Species list for Stockton Cutting and Tasker’s Meadow 23 June 2018, 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm Compiled by Paul E Hodges CEnv, CMIEEM, PgDip, BSc(Hons), NVQ III, NEBSMC, C & G II

Flora Woolly Thistles- Cirsium eriophorum Stemless Thistles- Cirsium acaule Welted Thistles- Cardus crispus Spear Thistles- Cirsium vulgare Creeping Thistles- Cirsium arvense Common Knapweed- Centaurea nigra Agrimony-Agrimonia eupatoria Common Centaury- Centaurium erythraea Rest Harrow- 0nonis repens Yellow Wort- Blackstonia perfoliata Wild Thyme- Clinopodium vulgare Ribbed Melliot- Melilotus officinalis Greater Butterfly Orchids- Platanthera chlorantha (Spikes: 15 Tasker’s Meadow, 9 Stockton Cutting) Common Spotted Orchids- Dactylorhiza fuchsii Oxeye Daisies- Leucanthemum vulgare Daisies- Bellis perenis Rosebay Willow-herb- Chamerion angustifolium Great Hairy Willowherb- Epilobium hirsutum Yellow Rattle- Rhinanthus minor Cowslips- Primula veris Fairy Flax- Linum catharticum Common Spike Rushes- Eleocharis palustris False Fox Sedge- Carex otrubae Soft Rushes- Juncus effusus Hard Rushes- Juncus inflexus Sharp Rushes- Juncus acutiflorus Wild Parsnips-Pastinaca sativa Ladies Bedstraw- Galium verum Hedge Bedstraw- Galium mullogo Cleavers- Galium aparine Kidney Vetches- Anthyllis vulneraria Common Birds-foot Trefoils- Lotus corniculatus Common Twayblades- Neottia ovata Common Milkwort- Polygala vulgaris

Red Clover- Trifolium pratense White Clover- Trifolium repens Purple-Loosestrife- Lythrum salicaria Bristly Ox-Tongue- Picris echioides Yellow Vetchling- Lathyrus aphaca Meadow Vetchling- Lathyrus pratensis Field Scabious- Knautia arvensis Dog Rose- Rosa cannina Field Rose- Rosa arvensis Dogwood- Cornus sangunea Red Bartsia- Odontites vernus Eyebrights- Euphrasia spp. Weld- Reseda luteola Wild Privet- Lingustrum vulgare Black Medic- Medicago lupulina Wood False Brome- Brachypodium sylvaticum Annual Meadow Grass- Poa annua Rough Meadow Grass- Poa trivalis Smooth Meadow Grass- Poa pratensis Large Quaking Grass- Briza maxima Common Quaking Grass- Briza media Crested Dog’s Tail Grass-Cynosaurus cristatus Yorkshire Fog Grass- Holcus lanatus Sweet Vernal Grass- Anthoxanthum odoratum Meadow Fox-tail Grass-Alopecurus pratensis Black Bryony- Tamus communis Coltsfoot- Tussilago farfara Common Ragwort- Senico jacobaea Opium Poppy- Papaver somniferum Goats-beard- Tragopogon pratensis Wild Strawberries- Fragaria vesca Creeping Cinquefoil- Potentilla reptans Wild Cherries- Prunus avium Blackthorn- Prunus spinosa Hawthorn- Crategeus monogyna Smooth Tare- Vicia tetrasperma

Birds Swallows- Hirundo rustica House Martins- Delichon urbica Swifts- Apus apus Blackcaps- Sylvia atricapilla Chiff Chaffs- Phylloscopus colybita Blackbirds- Turdus merula

Song Thrushes- Turdus philomelos Mistle Thrushes- Turdus viscivorus Great Spotted Woodpecker- Dendrocopus major Wood Pigeons- Columba palumbus Buzzard- Buteo buteo Whitethroats- Sylvia communis

Insects- grasshoppers

Meadow Grasshoppers- Chorthippus parallelus Field Grasshoppers- Chorthippus brunneus

Common Green Grasshoppers- Omocestus viridulus

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Insects – dragonflies and damselflies

Black-Tailed Skimmer Dragonflies- Orthetrum cancellatum(TaskersM) Brown Hawker Dragonflies- Aeshna grandis (Taskers Meadow)

White-Legged Damselflies- platycnemis pennipes Common Blue Damselflies- Enallagma syathigerum

Insects - butterflies

Ringlets- Aphantopus hyperantus Marbled White Butterflies- Melanargia galathea (Stockton Cutting & Taskers Meadow) Common Blue Butterflies- Polyommatus icarus Meadow Brown Butterflies- Maniola jurtina Gatekeeper Butterflies- Pyronia tithonus Speckled Wood Butterflies- Parage aegeria

Large Skippers- Ochlodes venatus Small Skippers- Thymelicus sylvestris Grizzled Skipper Butterfly- Pyrgus malvae (Stockton Cutting) Dingy Skipper Butterfly- Erynnis tages (Stockton Cutting)

Insects -other

6 Spot Burnet Moths- Zygaena filipendulae stephensi Green (Field) Tiger Beetles- Cicindela campestris on Blue Lias clay spoil-heap of Stockton Cutting

Yellow Meadow Ants- Lasius flavus Solitary Mining Bees Hunting Solitary Bees & Solitary Wasps

Fungi

Dryads Saddles- Polyporus squamosus Turkey Tails- Coriolus versicolor