A big thanks to Neil (the Birdhunter) Glenn for a lovely (if frosty in the shade) bird walk at Skylarks Nature Reserve today. Some 20 hardy souls turned out at 9pm and we were able to explore the bird life of the site. Don`t know about other people but amongst the highlights for me was two Green Woodpeckers on the ground (regularly hear but rarely see), a Song Thrush close up (only know them by song), the Heronry (not heard tell of that on site) and the  Great White Egret (didn`t know they were now appearing locally.

But then there was the supporting cast of raptors – Buzzard, Merlin (well Neil saw it anyway), Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, plus a range of ducks and geese (as you would expect) and also the little birds (Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Robin and the rest of the birds in the band) and Raven (apparently they are also now found locally, who knew). Oh yes and some rabbits.

If I had visited on my own I would not have noticed half the birds that were pointed out or been able to work out what they were (combination of eyesight and binoculars). But Neil also went into QI mode – did you know that Coots migrate – I thought they were resident, or that the Goldeneye mating displays are prior to flying north to their breeding grounds, so when they arrive for the short arctic summer the pairs are good to go.

So thanks Neil for a good morning bird stalking and also for the impromptu lesson of Greater or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker I heard  a week ago ? (Greater – the Lesser is apparently only known in Sherwood Forest nowadays).

Gordon Dyne 8th Feb 2023

Notts Wildlife Trust are running a whole string of courses (mainly one day) at Attenborough Nature Reserve on a range of wildlife related topics through the winter and into summer. It includes such diverse things as Wildlife Photography (Conventional and Smartphone), Winter Tree ID, Family Bushcraft, Willow working, Foraging, Winter Bird ID, Bird Song, Bat Walks, Painting , Bumblebee ID, Butterfly ID and Understanding Rewilding and maybe the odd one I have missed. If you want to know more follow this link   https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/events  to explore.

Work Party on Saturday a bit of frost, but the sun was out and five hardy souls reported for duty. Mostly spent time attacking emergent scrub dotted over the Lower Meadow, but grandson did a tour of the fence posts marking loosish ones with the red spot, but only two so far are in definite need of replacement, but more fence posts to go before final tally. Thanks to Martin who bought along some Bakewell Tarts.

Now in possession of  four replacement nest boxes (thanks to South Notts for funding) plus two to reinstate and hope to get them up next week, weather and cordless drill driver permitting. That should see us back up to a complement of 18 boxes before the nesting season really starts.

Still have some sections of fence post to check and then I can let the Estates Team know so they can replace where necessary, hopefully not to many, but don`t want to be chasing sheep around the site later in the year !

On the sheep front Notts Wildlife Trust have got funding from Rushcliffe Borough Council for two large water tanks. The last two years, with the hotter summers, have been rather fraught in terms of keeping the sheep supplied with water and it is expected that these will make this a lot easier to support the little beasts on site.

I have also purloined, from a passing son in law, a roll of roofing felt so I can now think in terms of more ambitious plans to  check various locations on and around the reserve for Sloworms in the spring/summer. Presence or absence it is all good intel.

The other bit of good news is that RBC have requested NWT, under the Service Level Agreement, to draw up a Managment Plan for the created species rich grasslands either side of the tramway. This area is owned by RBC (despite being in the city !) and represents both a useful extension to Wilwells habitat and also a good link to the Fairham Brook wildlife corridor (linking both to the Silverdale Local Nature Reserve and the Fairham Brook Nature Reserve. It is also one of the areas our Sloworms are venturing into.

Gordon the Warden

Radcliffe Conservation Group have continued (predominantly macro/larger) moth surveys in 2022, having started in 2019. In 2022 there were fifteen overnight sessions between 28th January and 22nd October interspersed with daytime and dayflying moth surveys.

The survey methods comprise night running mains operated Robinson 125W UV light traps at largely fixed locations, supplemented by randomly located Skinner 8W actinic traps and also with targeted and occasional daytime deployment of pheromone lures.

The species list for the period 2019 – 2022 now comprises 218 species of macro moth and 46 micro moth species. Perhaps more importantly and reflecting the exceptional value of Dewberry Hill as a wildlife site, a number of notable species have been recorded. With reference to County Recorder Dr Sheila Wright’s ‘Conservation Status of Nottinghamshire Macro Moths 4th Edition 2020 twenty-two are ranked Grade 3, two species Grade 2 and one species Grade 1, plus fifteen further species deemed ‘notable’ in the County. Here Grade 1 includes the County’s rarest resident moth species.

Grade 1: Red-belted Clearwing (Apple)

Grade 2: Pinion-streaked Snout (Uncertain, food plants may include sallows, Labiates/mints and associated species), Currant Clearwing (Black and Red currants)

The wide range of species reflects the characteristic flora of Dewberry Hill flora and, in particular, the Red-belted Clearwing has been shown to be resident on older apple trees throughout the site rather than simply being lured ‘tourists’. Furthermore the capture of two specimens of the rare migrant Clifton Nonpareil (Poplar species and or hybrids) is considered to strongly support expectations that this impressive and highly valued moth may be or will shortly be categorised as resident in Nottinghamshire.

Other notable migrant moths were the Tree-lichen Beauty (in 2021, a lichen feeder, a former rare migrant now establishing breeding populations in the UK, including Nottinghamshire) and the Dark Swordgrass (near extinct in the UK but a regular but occasional migrant, which it is hoped will re-establish itself).

Through further surveys in 2022, as well as monitoring general populations of moths, it is hoped that year on year records for these highlighted species will indicate resident breeding populations at Dewberry Hill.

Of the 218 macro moth species, in addition to those highlighted above, a further three species at Dewberry Hill  are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ and seven species as ‘Near Threatened’ in the UK (Atlas of Britain and Ireland’s Larger Moths, Randle et al 2019).

Plans are in place for further surveys in 2023. It is envisaged that the list of both common and significant macro moth species resident in Dewberry Hill will grow and serve to emphasise the significance of this highly valuable habitat and Local Wildlife Site in south Nottinghamshire’.

Author: Paul Dulwich 20/11/2022

Good list for somewhere not intensively surveyed, some very notable additions this year Bordered Sallow (Restharrow, Willow, Oak) and Round-winged Muslin (lichens), as well as the absent ones which reflect both the ebbs and flows of species and the very occasional random methods of survey. Both are grade 2 species in terms of conservation importance in Notts, that’s pretty high up the list of rarity.

It’s a recurring feature that lichen feeders are booming (the footman moths, Common, Scarce, Orange, Dingy, Buff are all doing very well and the Tree Lichen Beauty has become resident from migrant).

Wardens note – Wilwell has been spasmodically recorded over the years since 1983 and the total species count is 221. But Paul has now been visiting on a more regular basis for the last five years and has recorded some 166 moth species of which 42 have been recorded in three or more of those years. How much of this variation is an artefact of recording effort/location and how much is down to natural variation is difficult to say.

On behalf of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and with the continuing kind participation of and permissions from six woodland plot owners at Cotgrave Forest, we have continued (predominantly macro/larger) moth surveys in 2022, having started in 2019.

The survey methods comprise night running battery operated Skinner 8W actinic light traps coupled with targeted and occasional daytime deployment of pheromone lures.

The species list for this period now comprises 223 species of macro moth and 37 micro moth species. Perhaps more importantly and reflecting the exceptional value of Cotgrave Forest as a wildlife site, a number of notable species have been recorded. With reference to County Recorder Dr Sheila Wright’s ‘Conservation Status of Nottinghamshire Macro Moths 4th Edition 2020 twenty-five species are ranked Grade 3, four species Grade 2 and two species Grade 1, plus 17 further species deemed ‘notable’ in the County. Here Grade 1 includes the County’s rarest resident moth species.

Grade 1: Webb’s Wainscot (Reedman/Iris), Yellow-legged Clearwing (Oak)

Grade 2: Angle-striped Sallow (Birch), Pinion-streaked Snout (Food plants uncertain), Red-tipped Clearwing (Willows), Lunar-spotted Pinion (Elms, Apple)

Many of the significant species reflect the dominant flora in Cotgrave Forest such as the particularly rare (in south Notts) Satin Beauty (Pine) and this year a Dark Crimson Underwing (Oak) the latter unrecorded in Nottinghamshire before 2022 and possibly an example of a very rare migrant moth now becoming resident.

Webb’s Wainscot and Yellow-legged Clearwings have been recorded year on year indicating resident breeding populations.

Of the 223 macro moths five species are categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ and four ‘Near Threatened’ (Atlas of Britain and Ireland’s Larger Moths, Randle et al 2019).

Permissions are in place for further surveys in 2023. It is envisaged that the list of both common and significant macro moth species resident in Cotgrave Forest will grow and serve to emphasise the significance of this highly valuable habitat in south Nottinghamshire

Steve Mathers (Notts Butterfly Recorder) has recorded his 2022 review for Notts Butterflies (plus a few moths). This will incorporate any records you have sent in via Nature Counts or directly to the recorder. Every little counts. The video has a run time of 25 mins and will be shown later this month at the Butterfly Conservation East Midlands Branch AGM. It is available from his You Tube channel here https://youtu.be/W6YQx1_Uf14