other-wildlife

Potteric Carr Wildlife News
(August to December 2008)

December 2008
Sunday 28th
DB: "On quite a pleasant day after the Christmas festivities, it was interesting to take note of the colonisation in at least two parts of the Reserve, of Hart's Tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium . It is not an uncommon species and usually found in woodland shade with calcareous rocks, but some plants are quite striking as shown by the image. In this particular area, one plant has proliferated in four or five years to a colony of over fifty plants.The second image (right) is of the reverse of a leaf blade and clearly shows the narrow sori (seed-cases) in which the spores are found."

Tuesday 23rd

DB: "I can confirm that one of the fungus I photographed on Sunday, was indeed Stereum gausapatum , and new to the Reserve. I was able to verify this today as I found another specimen (see photo, right) which shows the more typical bracket shape as it is one of the smaller bracket fungi. On the same piece of dead wood I saw another strange excrescence and on closer examination this proved to be Hypoxylon fragiforme (see photo, left), yet another new species to the Reserve... not bad for this time of the year."

Sunday 21st
A Stoat caught a Rabbit in Black Carr Field. The Huxter Well wetland has been stocked with 500 Rudd. Large Chub were seen in Mother Drain downstream of the pumping station. Derek Bateson comments: "Not a lot to be seen around the Reserve today although I did find what I believe to be Stereum gausapatum , a small bracket type fungus on some old oak logs along Loversall Bank, its typical habitat and host tree. If this proves to be correct it is yet another new fungus for the Reserve. Moving into St Catherine's Copse there was a group of Velvet Shank fungi, Flammulina velutipes (see image below) on a rotting, moss covered log."

Tuesday 16th
DB: “A walk in Loversall Delph produced some attractively reddish coloured Blushing Bracket fungi, Daedalopsis confragosa. The image shows two young specimens, probably only two inches (50mm) across, on a dead willow branch, its usual host. There were other fungi to be seen but the wet weather tends to largely spoil their appearance although there were some good specimens of Velvet Shank in St Catherine's Copse. In the same location there was an excellent specimen of what I think is Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas , a quite imposing plant seen in isolation.”

Male Fern and Blushing Bracket, Potteric Carr 16th December 2008 © Derek Bateson

Grey Squirrel, Potteric Carr, 9th December 2008 © Derek Bateson

Tuesday 9th
DB: "Quite an interesting day today when I set off along Loversall Bank in the frost. The first thing to cross my path was a Fox Vulpes vulpes and I had already been alerted to this by its scent which is quite strong and very distinctive. A Weasel Mustela nivalis then whizzed across the path near Loversall Pool and before I reached Loversall Delph I had seen eight Grey Squirrels searching for food. I then decided to try my hand at some 'arty crafty' photography along Willow Bank where I found an almost perfect seedhead of Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium , which I photographed against an almost blue sky (see photo). I then moved into St. Catherine's Copse and found an iced-up Velvet Shank fungus, and on a nearby old Birch, a colony of lichens which I believe may be Cladonia polydactyla . There was very little invertebrate activity but there were one or two mosquitoes or midges in sunny sheltered spots."

Hogweed seedhead, Potteric Carr, 9th December 2008 © Derek Bateson

Sunday 7th
A Fox was seen at Piper Marsh and a Stoat was seen chasing a Rabbit. Derek Bateson reports: "A lovely frosty day (–2ºC), and although I was looking to find any dormant invertebrates, one of the first things I noticed was a good crop of holly berries... and as it was nearly Christmas, well..! Close by, near the hides overlooking Huxter Well Marsh, there was a pile of dead sycamore logs and on close inspection one was covered in a growth of one of the Coral Spot fungi, Nectria sp., probably peziza , but could be cinnabarina which is the commoner of the two species."

Berry-bearing Holly, Potteric Carr, 7th December 2008 © Derek Bateson

November

Sunday 30th
There was still evidence of Wood Mouse activity, with more gnawed piles of rosehips found (DB). Grey Squirrels were also noticeable in the upper branches of hawthorns collecting berries.

Sunday 23rd
The autumn leaves on these oak trees photographed a week ago have now all fallen.

Autumn oak leaves, St Catherine's Field 16th November 2008 © Helen Womack

Wednesday 19th

Stoat and Rabbit, Potteric Carr 28th October 2008 © Alan McKee

Tuesday 18th
DB reports: "We are very fortunate at Potteric Carr to have a good population of a mix of vertebrates ranging from the tiny Water Shrew up to the Roe Deer. At this time of the year in various parts of the Reserve, can be found little piles of what appear to be chopped up rose hips. These are in fact the work of the Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus which live as individual families, but in winter they congregate together and form loose colonies and nocturnally feast on the carpels (seed capsules) of Dog Rose Rosa canina , but leaving piles of the fleshy portion uneaten. There were twelve similar piles at he end of Loversall Bank today, indicating quite a sizeable aggregation. Nearby, I also saw a Stoat cross the path and I found a rather torpid Birch Shield Bug and noted galls of Hartigiola annulipes on copper coloured Beech leaves.

Unidentified fungus, Potteric Carr 16th November 2008 © Mike Richardson

Sunday 16th
A Stoat was seen casing a Rabbit in the entrance overflow car park. Several very late but torpid Common Darters were on the wing (DC, GH). There was widespread leaf-fall at the Reserve today.

Derek Bateson comments: "On what turned out to be a lovely autumn day there was not a great deal of interest to see, but looking around Black Carr Field there are many dead logs, on which were numerous clumps of the small bracket fungus, Trametes versicolor , or Turkeytail which is very descriptive as the concentric rings on this fungus can range from white to black in colour (see image). A small group of the edible Wood Blewitt Lepista nuda was found, but the typical violaceous colour had all but disappeared. I mentioned mosses a couple of weeks ago but today found a small tuft of the Bank Haircap Polytrichum formosum (see image), underneath which may be spotted a few fronds of one of the feather-mosses, Brachythecium sp. There are 26 species of Opiliones (Harvestmen to you and me), and yesterday I attended a day-school at Sheffield Museum to learn more about this very interesting group of Arachnids. Paul Richards the curator and member of Sorby NHS has written a new Guide and we were able to evaluate and test the draft key which hopefully will be published by the Field Studies Council in the New Year. Watch this space next season for some interesting, and accurately identified images, hopefully! Finally, the Stinkhorn 'egg' has not yet erupted, but I hope to inspect the site again next week."

Trametes versicolor or Turkeytail, Potteric Carr 16th November 2008 © Derek Bateson

Bank Haircap Polytrichum formosum, Potteric Carr 16th November 2008 © Derek Bateson

Wednesday 12th

This stunning photo of a Stoat was taken in Black Carr Field on 12th November 2008 © Glyn Hudson

Tuesday 11th
DB: "A quick update on the three Stinkhorns Phallus impudicus found and photographed (third below) over a week ago by Roger Bird. These have now 'gone over', but I found what appears to be another 'egg' in the same location today. This is now about 5cm across, and when the membrane ruptures, probably tomorrow or Thursday, the stalked fruit body will emerge through a gelatinous layer. Then rapidly extending to 15 to 20cm high over a period of a few hours, or possibly overnight. More Earth Stars were noted, three in a new location in Loversall Delph. Lots of dead logs are exhibiting the very common Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon (see image), together with Ascocoryne sp. (probably A. sarcoides ), also noted recenty in Childers Wood. I carefully removed some bark, I think it was on an old oak log and underneath was a dormant female spider, Nuctenea umbratica (see image), one of our largest species which grows up to about 15mm in length. Several Grey Squirrels were active, either hunting for, or burying food of some sort."

Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon , Potteric Carr, 11th November 2008 © Derek Bateson

Dormant female spider, Nuctenea umbratica, Potteric Carr, 11th November 2008 © Derek Bateson

Sunday 9th (Remembrance Sunday)
Derek Bateson reports: "The October flush of fungi is continuing into November with lots of species showing, with Black Carr Field particularly good for Waxcaps. As reported last week, Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria is occurring around the Reserve as too are Earth Stars, but only of one species, Geastrum triplex . We often see the Birch Polypore or Razor-strop Fungus Piptoporus betulinus , but in the picture (below) of fruiting bodies on dead logs it can be seen that the specimen at the top of the picture grew whilst the tree was still upright whereas the younger brown specimens have grown since the tree was felled, and are oriented at a different angle. Mosses are having a field day in the damp weather with some five species immediately recognisable in the wooded areas. In the Autumn sunshine I was attracted by a flash of yellow on Rossington Bank, only to find some dead branches bearing lots of colonies of one of the pretty orange lichens Xanthoria sp."

Birch Polypore or Razor-strop Fungus Piptoporus betulinus, Potteric Carr, 9th November 2008 © Derek Bateson

These two railway wagons fell from the tracks around the time of the Second World War

and were never salvaged © Derek Bateson

Stinkhorn fungus was found near Decoy Marsh hide © Roger Bird
An addition to the Potteric Carr list of fungi

Friday 7th
Another fungus was photographed at Potteric Carr today.

Ascocoryne sp . , Potteric Carr, 7th November 2008 © Roger Bird

Sunday 2nd
The distinctive Fly Agaric continues to appear under birches around the Reserve. Following recent frosts most insects and other invertebrates are now absent or have become dormant for the winter.

Fly Agaric, Potteric Carr © Richard Collis

October
Tuesday 28th
Fresh Earth Stars were photographed near Old Eaa.

Earth Star, Potteric Carr 28th October 2008 © Roger Bird

Sunday 26th
A Red Admiral, 2 Migrant Hawkers and many Common Darters were on the wing (AP). A Stoat was near the Reserve entrance and a Common Toad crossed one of the footpaths.

Tuesday 21st
The autumn display of fungi continues and many deciduous tree leaves have turned to red and golden in colour.

White Elfin Saddle Helvella crispa , Potteric Carr, 21st October 2008 © Mike Richardson

October 2008
Tuesday 21st

White Elfin Saddle Helvella crispa , Potteric Carr, 21st October 2008 © Mike Richardson

Friday 17th
A Stoat hunted down a Rabbit and was caught on camera.

Stoat and Rabbit, Potteric Carr, 16th October 2008 © Bill Harbottle

Thursday 16th
JH reports: "Not a lot about today despite the sunshine. Quite a few Common Darters, lots paired up at Piper Marsh, and a number of Migrant Hawkers were seen. A single Speckled Wood in Black Carr Field was the only butterfly we saw. A lot of the fungi had been 'kicked over' which was a shame since there was little left to photograph." It is illegal to collect or destroy fungi from Potteric Carr NR Site of Special Scientific Interest without obtaining permission from the Reserve Manager.

Sunday 12th
Derek Bateson comments: "Another beautiful October day, so I decided to concentrate my attention on the areas including Black Carr Wood and Field, mainly looking for fungi although in BCF, a dozen or so Common Darter dragonflies were very active in the warm sunshine. A few flowers of Devil's-bit Scabious remained here and these were being visited by nectaring bumble-bees. A Small White or possibly Green-veined White was also seen in this area. During the morning I noted at least 27 species of fungi representing 19 of their families. These included three species each of Mycena , Amanita , Russula and Hygrocybe , the latter perhaps being the most interesting as I found a specimen of the Blackening Wax Cap Hygrocybe nigrescens (see image below), which starts off a rich brown colour, turning to black with age, as the name suggests. This has been noted here before, but I have not personally found a specimen anywhere for the past ten years although AP photographed one recently along Loversall Bank. Interestingly, AP had joined me on my walk to Black Carr Field as he was going to photograph another unidentified orange fungus he had found last week. We, together with JH spent about fifteeen minutes photographing, several specimens of what I determined to be the Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia . This was another Potteric Carr 'first' for the three of us, although it had been recorded before, in 1997. I have to say that my list of fungi did not include some of 'the little brown jobs' which are notoriously difficult to identify in the field. All in all a good day, so I am happy now to take ten days off in warmer Mediterranean climes. I am sure someone will find something to report of interest on this page whilst I am away."

Blackening Wax Cap Hygrocybe nigrescens, Black Carr Field, 12th October 2008 © Derek Bateson

Thursday 9th
A Comma, Speckled Wood and 2 Small Whites were about. Stoat ran across Loversall Bank. 2 Migrant Hawkers were at Piper Marsh.

DB: "Today was a lovely autumn day, and potentially it seemed good for some fungi and maybe a few insects. Of the latter I saw quite a lot of Common Darters, also one Ruddy Darter and two Migrant Hawkers, all in Black Carr Field. This proved productive for fungi but in the wood behind Hawthorn Field I found a largish clump of Lycoperdon pyriforme on a moss-covered rotten log (see image). Clusters of this fungus are commonly found in wooded areas of Potteric Carr. In Black Carr Field, I noted and photographed six fungal species, but on the day I was unable to name all of these to species level, except for Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria . One of these was a bright yellow Spindle or Club fungus, Clavulinopsis sp. Three of these grassland species have been noted here over the years, C. fusiformis Golden Spindles, C. helvola Orange Clubs (recently found by Patrick Harding) and C. luteo-alba Apricot Clubs, the last of which I determined three or four years ago from examining spores under a microscope. Fungi are not always easy to determine from their external characteristics, so be warned!"

Lycoperdon pyriforme on a moss-covered rotten log, Potteric Carr, 9th October 2008 © Derek Bateson

Sunday 5th
A Comma, Peacock and 2 Migrant Hawkers appeared in the afternoon sunshine.

Thursday 2nd

DB reports: "Today started with a coolish wind but by 11.00am had warmed up sufficiently to bring out quite a lot of Common Darter dragonflies, most of which basked on the warmed rocks along Loversall Bank, but when I returned to the car park I counted 15 males and females basking on the kerb edges. Hoverflies presented three species only, but there were a number of Muscids and other Diptera, including what I first took to be a Mosquito (see image below). I think after examining this it is one of our smaller craneflies, and have been advised by expert John Kramer that it is probably one of the Limoniid species, and difficult to identify purely from a photograph. I commented recently on the first Small Tortoiseshell butterflies I saw and photographed the other day, but I heard on the radio this morning that there has been an influx from the Continent in the past week or so."

September
Tuesday 30th

Rhodocybe gemina , a fungus on the Red Data List was found by the Mid-Yorkshire Fungus Group on 13th September and photographed (above) on 29th September © Mike Richardson

Monday 29th
Derek Bateson summarises the period 8th to 29th September: "Although the website ceased to operate for a well-deserved short summer holiday, our wildlife continued to interest and entertain many regular observers. A first for me on 10th September was to discover a full-grown larva of Figwort Sawfly Tenthredo scropulariae (see image below), of which we have seen many adults in the past two years. The larva, found along Cottage Drain, is white with a series of black spots along its length, superficially similar to the Mullein Moth caterpillar, but without its yellow spots.

Figwort Sawfly, Potteric Carr, September 2008 © Derek Bateson

The weather over the next few days then deteriorated, but this encouraged the growth of many fungi, particularly grassland species such as the Hygrocybe , Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus, Earth Stars (details below), Black Helvella and Stinking Puffball, etc. Also in Black Carr Field, the fenced off patch of Devil's-bit Scabious ran riot with a sea of blue flowers which encouraged many nectaring bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Indeed, on 21st September it was a lovely warm sunny day and the patch held three Comma butterflies, a Small Copper, and best of all two Small Tortoiseshell's (see image below), my first sighting this year as they now seem to be one of Potteric Carr's rarer invertebrate species.

Small Tortoiseshell, Potteric Carr, September 2008 © Derek Bateson

On this day too, JH/KW counted in excess of 35 Commas elsewhere on the Reserve. In my recent invertebrate survey in Cell 3, following the Avocet breeding success, I noted Common Leech Glossiphonia complanata as one of the colonisers of Huxter Well Marsh. I don't get the opportunity to photograph many amphibious species, but managed a couple of shots, one of which is shown below. The image shows the three sets of eyes of this species (leeches eye configuration can be from two to ten eyes). Their food ranges from molluscs to other freshwater invertebrates, although some species may prey on amphibians, fish and even mammals).

Leech, Potteric Carr, September 2008 © Derek Bateson

Details of some of the smaller and microscopic inhabitants of Huxter Well Marsh can be seen as an Appendix to the Huxter Well Breeding Bird Survey, published elsewhere on this website. Being very wet, overall it has been an excellent year for fungi, and two recent forays at Potteric Carr produced 36 new species for the Reserve list (subject to checking). The first of these visits was led by Dr. Patrick Harding, author, broadcaster and member of Sorby NHS, producing possibly nine new species. All the other new species were observed on a foray led by Alan and Enid Braddock for the Mid-Yorkshire Fungus Group. Alan is their Recorder, also Assistant Mycological Recorder for YNU. Their two major finds were an Earth Star Geastrum pectinatum (see AB copyright image), also the rarer Rhodocybe gemina , a Red Data Book species, found in some profusion near one of our traditional Earth Star sites!"

Earth Star Geastrum pectinatum , Potteric Carr, September 2008 © Alan Braddock

Sunday 7th
Derek Bateson reports: "After a wet night, today didn't look very promising until I walked along Loversall Bank, but almost immediately I spotted a large, bright yellow and black Ichneumon fly. In 20 minutes I had three chances of a shot but the light was too poor for automatic focussing, and by the time I had switched to manual, it had disappeared… ah well! Several Speckled Wood butterflies, plus a Comma were seen, together with five or six species of hoverfly all trying to dry out on leaves facing the fitful sunlight. Dragon- and damselflies didn't start to appear until about 11.15am, but then there was a flush of Common Darters, a few Ruddy Darters and a Brown Hawker behind the stores compound. Of the invertebrates, spiders seemed to be most numerous, with many of them having captured prey, wrapping these in silk for a later meal (see photos). Just over a week ago I pictured another spider (right) but was unable to name this. Stan Dobson kindly determined this species as Metellina segmentata , another of the Orb-web spiders, similar to the Garden Spider pictured recently.

One other species of interest was the Green Shieldbug, and nearby a late instar of the same species. Possibly with one more skin moult this would emerge as an adult. I am afraid there will be no further reports until 30th September, but if anything interesting turns up, I will report on this retrospectively."

Wednesday 3rd
46 Common Darters were counted settled on the sun-warmed wooden under-bridge which crosses Mother Drain. 3 Small Copper butterflies were near Decoy Lake.

Tuesday 2nd
DB: "Today, after rain had been widely forecast, the weather turned out to be sunny and warm and generated large quantities of Common Darter, plus a few Ruddy Darter dragonflies. Migrant Hawkers were patrolling on Cottage Drain and a few Blue-tailed and Emerald damselflies were noted. Speckled Wood and Large White butterflies were the only Lepidoptera seen except for numerous tiny micro-moths in the wet undergrowth. Hoverflies too were plentiful, mostly Helophilus sp. but some seven or eight other species were noted including one of our largest hoverflies Sericomyia silentis . It was so large that at first I thought it was one of the Stratiomyidae. Another interesting find was the wasp-mimicking Conopid, Conops quadrifasciata, of which I managed to snatch a hand-held shot (see photo). There were the usual bumble bee representatives, plus a few assorted Diptera still to be identified." A Small Copper was in Black Carr Field. A Grass Snake was in Duchess Hide before being taken out (SMB).

Conops quadrifasciat a , Potteric Carr 2nd September 2008 © Derek Bateson

Monday 1st
A Stoat caught a Rabbit on Central Grassland and was mobbed by a Magpie (PG). A Small Copper was on the Devil's-bit Scabious flowers in Black Carr Field (DC, SMB), where more of the red Hygrocybe fungus was found.

August

Sunday 31st
DB: "I think today could be put down to 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness'... the first signs of Autumn! This did have one benefit as all the vegetation up to head height was covered in a variety of spiders webs, rendered easily visible due to the morning mist. It was easy to spot various types ranging from orb, funnel, triangle, blanket, etc., with many spiders in evidence. I took pictures of Araneus diadematus , one of our commoner 'garden spiders', to show the distinctive white cross on the abdomen (see photo). I noted some eight different larger species along Loversall Bank and Loversall Delph, one of which I photographed but as yet have not identified. Although warm, the mist kept most of the butterflies in the low herbage and I only noted, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. Hoverflies too were few and far between with only four species seen. Ruddy Darter dragonflies, also Common Darter were starting to become active by 11.30am and I believe JH, AA saw a Migrant Hawker in Loversall Field earlier. Fungi, including Amanita muscaria and Russula sp. are now starting to appear."

DB: "On Tuesday 10th August, I reported, and photographed a tiny cranefly nectaring on flowerheads which I was unable to identify. I therefore contacted John Kramer, an acknowledged expert on this family of Diptera (two-winged flies) from the Crane Fly Recording Scheme and at the NHM in London, who also helped with my Loversall Delph survey some eight years ago. John has come up with the determination as Ptychoptera minuta , which although not rare, is quite an interesting and striking species, unlike the other commoner Tipulids (gardeners may know these as leatherjackets, a pest on lawns and grasslands). It is a new species for Potteric Carr."

Tuesday 26th
DB: "When I arrived at Potteric Carr today I was met by Ian Heppenstall who had run his moth trap last evening, so I changed my plans and photographed some of the contents of the trap as it had been a warm and humid night. First out was a large and rather fearsome looking Ichneumon, as yet unidentified but a Netelia sp. (see photo). There was a large haul of moths, with a variety of Underwings, Pugs, Carpets and Prominents, most of which Ian was able to identify on the spot. The trap also produced in excess of 80 adult Caddis flies of four or five species, including Limnephilus marmoratus (see photo) — most of us are familiar with the variety of caddis larval cases in water samples but seldom see the adults which are mostly nocturnal. I then quickly visited Black Carr Field to see a wonderful blue patch of flowering Devil's-bit Scabious in a fenced location. This now covers an area of some 12sq. metres and forms part of a habitat experiment to keep out rabbits which normally graze this plant. It has proved to be our best year for this plant for many years. Black Carr Field is also starting to show its colourful crop of Hygrocybe sp. fungi."

IH: "Some 60 species of moths were identified from last night's moth trapping, with a further 2 species to be confirmed. Most were common and widespread sorts but the following are rather scarce species: Vine's Rustic (5), Pinion-streaked Snout (1), Calamotropha paludella (2), Eudonia truncicolella (1) and Cnephasia genitalana (1), the latter a Nationally Notable species which appears to be on the increase."

Ichneumon Netelia sp., Potteric Carr, 26th August 2008 © Derek Bateson

The caddis fly Limnephilus marmoratus at Potteric Carr on 26th August 2008 © Derek Bateson

Sunday 24th
DB: "First, a clarification of my report and picture of a strange hoverfly on 5th August. I examined the specimen again on two occasions using a higher power microscope, and found the white stripes had almost disappeared, but appeared to be fungal in origin, pointing to a diseased hoverfly. This has subsequently been confirmed by John Coldwell, one of Sorby's eminent dipterists.

Today's visit proved quite productive along Cottage Drain with Blue-tail and Emerald Damselflies, also a Banded Demoiselle, plus numerous Common Darters, several Migrant Hawkers (see photo),and both Brown and Southern Hawkers patrolling the hedgerow. Six species of hoverfly were noted together with two species of sawfly and two species of minute unidentified Ichneumon flies. These were very numerous and in one shot I captured three of each species. Five Peacock butterflies were in evidence together with several Large Whites, a couple of Meadow Browns and a Gatekeeper. Carder Bees and four other species of bumble bee were noted together with Tachina fera and other Diptera, plus two species of mirid bugs."

Friday 15th
Derek Bateson: "Today's visit was unplanned, but a lot of species were active in the warm sunshine with hoverflies producing eleven different species. There is topicality here, what with the imminent start of the football season, also the Beijing Olympics so I have included a shot of one of our ten "Footballer" species of hoverfly, so named because of its striped thorax. This is Helophilus pendulus (photo left), alongside which is a very large yellow species Myothropa florea (photo right) , 'the Chinaman' with a distinctive 'face' on the thorax. Both species are common at Potteric, with the latter being quite numerous this year Many damselflies were about, with 'blue-tails' predominant, also Emeralds and a Large Red, and of the dragonflies, Common Darters were plentiful including two mated pairs, a Ruddy Darter, two Southern Hawkers and a Migrant Hawker. Butterflies included at least fifteen Peacocks along Cottage Drain, several Gatekeepers, 1 Meadow Brown, a Comma, 2 Large Whites and a female Brimstone. Five species of Bumble/Cuckoo bee were seen but not positively identified. I also counted at least twelve Figwort Sawflies, together with another Sawfly or Conopid fly which I was unable to picture." A Painted Lady was on Huxter Well (HW).

Tuesday 12th
DB: "Recently, John Hancox, Ian Heppenstall, David Carroll, Susan Bird, Roger Bird and the writer et alia have been looking at and updating the Potteric Carr list of rare and uncommon species of our flora and fauna. Today the forecast was so bad that I decided to remain at home rather than visit PC, and this allowed me to add a long list (nearly 150 species and I have not yet finished) of Coleoptera, Diptera and Fungi. This brings the Reserve list to just short of 300 rare species, so when all have contributed, there will be more than this figure. Some of our records go back quite a long way in the Reserve's 40-year history, but certainly for the Coleoptera and Diptera, most of these species have been 'discovered', basically under-recorded, from about 1998, many emanating from the Loversall Delph study in 2000. If anyone reading this has any knowledge of rare species where records have not been submitted, I shall be pleased to hear of these. Once again this shows what a wonderful Reserve we have, with probably many more species to be discovered and added to the list."

Sunday 10th
DB: "Although the sun made an appearance at intervals, the wind made observance and photography quite difficult but overall, the number of invertebrates seen was relatively high. For example, along Loversall Bank, I gave up counting Common Darter dragonflies when I reached 80, but surprisingly I didn't see any Ruddy Darters. Several Southern Hawker dragonflies were seen here and at Loversall Delph. Moving on to Loversall Field, two Emperor dragonflies were ovipositing on one of the new ponds, together with what appeared to be a Four-spotted Chaser. A few Blue-tailed damselflies were also noted. I only saw two Migrant Hawkers but I believe JH and AA saw five Brown Hawkers along Cottage Drain this morning.

Hoverflies were in good numbers, comprising nine species, together with other Diptera, notable being two species of cranefly, also sawflies, probably Arge ustulata, which doesn't have a common name. Near Loversall Pool Hide, I found a very strikingly marked Harlequin Ladybird, but this managed to drop into the undergrowth before the camera was set up. Butterflies too were very numerous everywhere, particularly Gatekeeper, and more Meadow Browns had emerged plus the odd Speckled Wood. I counted 5 Peacocks, 2 Commas, 3 Green-veined Whites, plus a few Large Whites during the morning."

Saturday 9th
A Migrant Hawker (female) was photographed emerging (GH).

Friday 8th
A Migrant Hawker was on the wing (JH). A Stoat was seen with one young.

Thursday 7th
The moth trap ran overnight and by this morning a good number of species had been attracted, including 3 Poplar Hawk Moths and a Pine Hawk Moth (IH). 3 Brown Hares were on Huxter Well. Roe Deer was reported. The teasels in Hawthorn Field attracted many Peacocks, 2 Red Admirals and 2 Commas.

Wednesday 6th

Tuesday 5th
DB reports: "The day started with a walk along Cottage Drain where five Peacock butterflies were seen together with a Speckled Wood, Gatekeepers and one Ringlet. Most other species were lying low except for a lone Figwort Sawfly. A few Blue-tailed Damselflies were about, outnumbered by Emeralds and one male Banded Demoiselle. Some seven species of hoverfly were noted, mainly Episyrphus balteatus and Eristalis tenax, but as the rain started I noticed a rather strange hoverfly with white, rather than yellow bands on the abdomen (see photo). I have spent some time looking through the keys in Stubbs , also other reference books but am unable to determine same, and it looks as if it might have some strange features. It may even be a new species for Potteric! I will have to send the details away but this might take some time. When the rain eased, I walked along Loversall Bank, inspecting Hogweed umbels, and found another large hoverfly, Megasyrphus annulipes , which I have not seen here before and may be yet another new species for the Reserve. Many hoverflies, also Soldier Beetles were finding a good source of nectar. Harvestmen were about, two species, one of which was Dicranopalpus ramosus , which I first found at Potteric some four years ago. The day was rounded off with a spider, Tetragnatha extensa , which is commonly seen on the Reserve."

Sunday 3rd
DB: "This was an excellent day for all sorts of invertebrates and, starting along Loversall Bank, there were at least six very bright newly emerged Peacock butterflies. There were also Gatekeepers, Ringlets, Small Skippers, a Comma and two Speckled Woods, but the wind was keeping White-letter Hairstreaks out of sight. Small, white micro-moths were everywhere underfoot, but the commonest large moth was Dingy Footman, which seemed to appear together with large Cinnabar caterpillars, on every Ragwort plant.

Hoverflies were very numerous on this western end of the Reserve, with 12 species being noted, one of which I can only determine as Volucella sp., either inanis or zonaria , as I didn't take a specimen, neither of which have been recorded here before as far as I am aware. One other possible new species is the Digger Wasp, Ectemnius continuus, but as yet this has not been fully checked. There were other two-winged flies (Diptera), which have not yet been determined, but I was fortunate to get a shot of the Deer-fly Chrysops caecutiens , showing the beautiful faceted green eyes and the dark ‘wing cloud’ (see photo above). Soldier Beetles, together with all the Diptera were favouring the flowers of Hogweed. A number of Mirid Bugs made an appearance in Loversall Field which also held several teneral Ruddy Darters, plus a single adult and several Common Darters. None of the larger dragonflies were showing, and only very few 'blue' damselflies."

Saturday 2nd

JH reports: “There were two Common Hawkers on Loversall Bank and one on Loversall Field this morning. Southern Hawkers were on Loversall Bank (3) and Loversall Field (1). There were quite a few male Ruddy Darters about at Loversall Delph and Loversall Bank and lots of Common Darters everywhere. There were two White-letter Hairstreaks in the usual tree, despite the wind, and a Holly Blue on Loversall Bank (see photo). Also there were a number of newly emerged Peacocks ( circa 25) and Commas (5) on Loversall Bank.”

DB reports: "Ian Heppenstall ran his moth trap again last night as part of a series. This time, although the weather had seemed very promising, being muggy and warm, only 46 species of moth were identified, from an overall catch of about 80 specimens. These included several Lesser Swallow Prominents, Pebble Prominents, Pebble Hooktips, and a pretty Canary-shouldered Thorn amongst others (see photo). There were several other species still to be identified, but a new species of moth for Potteric Carr, Pinion-streaked Snout, was identified (IH). I took away five species of Caddis for ID by Stuart Crofts as these are somewhat difficult to ID without a microscope. There was also one Lacewing in the catch. Word had obviously got around and the event also attracted some seven photographers."

Friday 1st
A Fox was at Piper Marsh.