 |  Great Crested Grebe |
Newt Carving
 Panorpa communis – Scorpionfly  Coccinella septempunctata – Seven-Spot Ladybird |  Yellow Archangel  Phyllobius sp ( possibly virideaeris) – Nettle Weevil |
 Mute Swan  Roe Deer |  Little Ringed Plovers  Coot |
The day dawned slightly overcast but dry, as we headed across the Pennines to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve of Potteric Carr.
On arrival, those wanting to have a leisurely start to the day, headed to the café, to try the homemade cakes (which I am told, didn’t disappoint!). The rest of the group split up, to head in different directions, depending on their specific areas of interest; flowers, insects, birds etc.
At varying points in the day, our paths crossed and we swapped sightings, as we made our way around the different trails and visited the large number of hides. We got caught in a ten minute heavy downpour later on during the day, causing some of us to don our over trousers but those in hides at the time, barely noticed it.
One of the more memorable moments of the day for the birders was when, through a team effort by a group of spotters, we found a skulking Water Rail, which decided to oblige and swim across a water channel right in front of the hide. One member got so excited that she shouted at the top of her voice, “Water Rail!”. This caused the poor bird to dive into the reeds as fast as it possibly could, to escape the attention of the marauders. Unfortunately this meant that the rest of the hide full of people missed the rare sighting!
Later on during the day in the hexagonal hide (they’re posh in Yorkshire!), a Bittern was spotted sitting on a branch, with most of its body visible above the reeds. Now, only the spotter got onto it in that position but the rest of the hide caught it as it flew across the back of the lake.
On the mammal front, sightings of Common Shrew and Wood Mouse caused some excitement, as did Yellow Archangel, which was definitely the plant of the day, found by our intrepid flora duo, who spent a lot of time on their knees, examining the undergrowth at close quarters!
There were clear views of Seven-Spot Ladybird, Nettle Weevil and Scorpionfly.
Brimstones were seen from various hides, as well as some of our more regular butterflies.
And for those who are less eagle eyed, the rather large carving of a newt was rather appealing.
One of the noticeable features of the day was that despite the precautionary warnings to take insect repellent (and some people had definitely bathed in it!) there was a distinct absence of biting insects. Only one bite was recorded, unlike on the recce the previous year, when one poor soul virtually got eaten alive! A tasty mortal, obviously!
We all met up at the end of the day on the decking outside the café, with many of the group savouring one of the variety of flavours of local farmhouse ice cream.
People were reluctant to leave, despite the early start that morning but finally everyone got back on the bus for our journey home. We were back in Bamber Bridge, before you could shout, “Water Rail!”.
A gentle snoring floating down the bus throughout the drive back to Lancashire.
Between us, the group identified 62 species of birds, 5 species of butterfly, 6 types of mammals and 48 species of plants.
Thanks go to Thomas, who reduced the average age of those on the coach significantly and who had the sharpest eyes and longest bird list of the trip (all sightings verified).
A big thank you to Peter Ross & David Norton for providing the plant list and Linda Shearwood for acting as the bird, butterfly and mammal recorder.
Photos courtesy of David Norton and Kayleigh Roebuck.
Janet Wall
Field Trip Organiser
On arrival, those wanting to have a leisurely start to the day, headed to the café, to try the homemade cakes (which I am told, didn’t disappoint!). The rest of the group split up, to head in different directions, depending on their specific areas of interest; flowers, insects, birds etc.
At varying points in the day, our paths crossed and we swapped sightings, as we made our way around the different trails and visited the large number of hides. We got caught in a ten minute heavy downpour later on during the day, causing some of us to don our over trousers but those in hides at the time, barely noticed it.
One of the more memorable moments of the day for the birders was when, through a team effort by a group of spotters, we found a skulking Water Rail, which decided to oblige and swim across a water channel right in front of the hide. One member got so excited that she shouted at the top of her voice, “Water Rail!”. This caused the poor bird to dive into the reeds as fast as it possibly could, to escape the attention of the marauders. Unfortunately this meant that the rest of the hide full of people missed the rare sighting!
Later on during the day in the hexagonal hide (they’re posh in Yorkshire!), a Bittern was spotted sitting on a branch, with most of its body visible above the reeds. Now, only the spotter got onto it in that position but the rest of the hide caught it as it flew across the back of the lake.
On the mammal front, sightings of Common Shrew and Wood Mouse caused some excitement, as did Yellow Archangel, which was definitely the plant of the day, found by our intrepid flora duo, who spent a lot of time on their knees, examining the undergrowth at close quarters!
There were clear views of Seven-Spot Ladybird, Nettle Weevil and Scorpionfly.
Brimstones were seen from various hides, as well as some of our more regular butterflies.
And for those who are less eagle eyed, the rather large carving of a newt was rather appealing.
One of the noticeable features of the day was that despite the precautionary warnings to take insect repellent (and some people had definitely bathed in it!) there was a distinct absence of biting insects. Only one bite was recorded, unlike on the recce the previous year, when one poor soul virtually got eaten alive! A tasty mortal, obviously!
We all met up at the end of the day on the decking outside the café, with many of the group savouring one of the variety of flavours of local farmhouse ice cream.
People were reluctant to leave, despite the early start that morning but finally everyone got back on the bus for our journey home. We were back in Bamber Bridge, before you could shout, “Water Rail!”.
A gentle snoring floating down the bus throughout the drive back to Lancashire.
Between us, the group identified 62 species of birds, 5 species of butterfly, 6 types of mammals and 48 species of plants.
Thanks go to Thomas, who reduced the average age of those on the coach significantly and who had the sharpest eyes and longest bird list of the trip (all sightings verified).
A big thank you to Peter Ross & David Norton for providing the plant list and Linda Shearwood for acting as the bird, butterfly and mammal recorder.
Photos courtesy of David Norton and Kayleigh Roebuck.
Janet Wall
Field Trip Organiser
| Birds Mute Swan Greylag Goose Canada Goose Shelduck Mallard Gadwall Teal Pochard Shoveler Tufted duck Pheasant Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Bittern Little Egret Marsh Harrier Common Buzzard Water Rail Moorhen Coot Oystercatcher Avocet Little Ringed Plover Lapwing Dunlin Common Sandpiper Redshank Black Headed Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black Backed Gull Wood Pigeon Swift Sand Martin Barn Swallow House Martin | Dunnock Robin Song Thrush Blackbird Blackcap Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat [h] Sedge Warbler Grasshopper Warbler [h] Cetti`s Warbler Reed Warbler Chiffchaff Wren Great Tit Blue Tit Long Tailed Tit Treecreeper Magpie Jay Jackdaw Carrion Crow Starling Chaffinch Goldfinch Greenfinch [h] Bullfinch Reed Bunting Butterflies Large White Green Veined White Brimstone Orange Tip Speckled Wood |
Mammals
Roe Deer
Common Shrew
Wood Mouse
Bank Vole
Grey Squirrel
Rabbit
Roe Deer
Common Shrew
Wood Mouse
Bank Vole
Grey Squirrel
Rabbit
Flora
Herb Robert Hawthorn
Great Plantain Daisy
Common Vetch Bluebell
Yellow Archangel Cow Parsley
Wood Sorrel Ox-eye Daisy
Yellow Flag Meadow Buttercup
Common Chickweed Ribwort Plantain
Red Campion Silverweed
Germander Speedwell Prickly Sowthistle
Common Dog Violet Cowslip
Wood Forget Me Not Common Nettle
Hound’s Tongue Fern White Dead Nettle
Skull Cap Meadow Vetchling
Early Forget Me Not Yarrow
Dogs’ Mercury Cleavers
Garlic Mustard Bramble
Common Field Speedwell Wild Strawberry
Hairy Tare Dandelion
Gorse Creeping Thistle
Hop Trefoil Lady’s Smock
Groundsel Crosswort
Common Mouse-ear Ground Ivy
Elder Flower
Bullrush
Guelder Rose
Phragmites
Great Plantain Daisy
Common Vetch Bluebell
Yellow Archangel Cow Parsley
Wood Sorrel Ox-eye Daisy
Yellow Flag Meadow Buttercup
Common Chickweed Ribwort Plantain
Red Campion Silverweed
Germander Speedwell Prickly Sowthistle
Common Dog Violet Cowslip
Wood Forget Me Not Common Nettle
Hound’s Tongue Fern White Dead Nettle
Skull Cap Meadow Vetchling
Early Forget Me Not Yarrow
Dogs’ Mercury Cleavers
Garlic Mustard Bramble
Common Field Speedwell Wild Strawberry
Hairy Tare Dandelion
Gorse Creeping Thistle
Hop Trefoil Lady’s Smock
Groundsel Crosswort
Common Mouse-ear Ground Ivy
Elder Flower
Bullrush
Guelder Rose
Phragmites