Doncaster Naturalists’ Society Excursion 09 June 2020.
Torne Valley Broad Oak Farm 2pm to 6pm

Leader: Mrs Caroline Barrass.

Members Present: Nora; June; Gill; Jim; & Colin

With Nats excursions having been postponed due to the UK Coronovirus pandemic ‘Lockdown’ requirements, our usual wildlife monitoring activities have been somewhat curtailed this year. However, the recent relaxation of the rules allowing groups of up to six non-shielding, non covid-19 symptomatic people to meet socially, has enabled Nats members to accept the invitation to visit the Auckley Common and the Torne banks at Broad Oak Farm … our first chance to be ‘released into the wild’ since March.

Caroline’s Kitchen garden and flower borders were worth a longer look, so too was the fascinating antique John Deere Model B tractor.

(Recording site 1) Auckley Common Lane. Verge and hedgerow (SE657019)

Birds: Chaffinch; Blackbird
Mammals: Mole [hills]
Moths: Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley
Arctium minus Lesser Burdock
Armoracia rusticana Horse-radish
Arrhenatherum elatius False oat-grass
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Bellis perennis Daisy
Bromus hordeaceus Soft-brome
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot
Equisetum arvense Field horsetail
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Geranium molle Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill
Geranium robertianum Herb Robert
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Lamium album White dead-nettle
Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass
Malva sylvestris Common mallow
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain
Poa annua Annual meadow-grass
Poa pratensis Smooth meadow-grass
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak
Rosa canina Dog Rose
Rumex crispus Curled dock
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock
Sambucus nigra Elder
Senecio jacobaea Common ragwort
Silene latifolia White campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge mustard
Taraxacum sp Dandelion
Trifolium repens White clover
Tussilago farfara Colt’s-foot
Urtica dioica Common nettle

(Recording site 2) Fallow arable land north of Cricket field off Auckley Common Lane (SE6501)

Birds: Buzzard (flew over)
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Amsinkia micrantha Common Fiddleneck
Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent
Arctium minus Lesser Burdock
Arrhenatherum elatius False oat-grass
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Avena fatua Wild Oat
Avena sativa Common Oat
Bromus hordeaceus Soft-brome
Bromus sterilis Sterile Brome
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot
Elytrigia repens Common Couch
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Galium aparine Cleavers
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Hordeum murinum Wall Barley
Hordeum vulgare Barley
Lamium album White dead-nettle
Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass
Papaver rhoeas Common poppy
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge mustard
Taraxacum sp Dandelion
Triticum aestivum Bread Wheat

(Recording site 3) Oak Farm: Garden, Farm yard & Horse pasture (SE658019 to 657019)
[Herbaceous borders & flower beds well worth looking at]

Birds: Blackbird; Chiffchaff; Wren; Wood Pigeon; Swallow [nesting in porch to house].
Fungus: ‘Chicken in the Woods’ growing on uprooted tree stump.
Plant Galls: Oak Apple of Quercus robur
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Acer campestre Field Maple
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley
Arrhenatherum elatius False oat-grass
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Bellis perennis Daisy
Betula pendula Silver Birch
Bryonia dioica White Bryony
Calystegia sylvatica Large bindweed
Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay willowherb
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Galium aparine Cleavers
Geranium robertianum Herb Robert
Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy
Lamium album White dead-nettle
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy
Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass
Malva sylvestris Common Mallow
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Prunus cerassus Flowering Cherry
Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass
Populus x canadensis Hybrid Poplar {variegated)
Quercus robur Pedunculate oak
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle
Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel
Sambucus nigra Elder
Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort
Silene latifolia White Campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan
Taraxacum sp Dandelion
Tilia x vulgaris Hybrid lime
Trifolium pratense Red clover
Trifolium repens White clover
Urtica dioica Common nettle

(Recording site 4) River Torne Bank (SE655021 to 663025)

Birds: Kestrel; Lapwing (2); Reed Bunting; Skylark; Swallow; Yellow Hammer.
Mammals: Mole Hills across the embankments showed whitish sandy soil on the upper part of the embankment and dark peaty soil along the base of the embankment by the Torne edge.
Brown Hare 1 in arable field on north side of river.
Amphibians: Common Frog 2 young spns. in water edge vegetation.
Invertebrates:
(Coleoptera) Alder beetle (Large population particularly on leaves of lower epicormic growths at base of Alnus glutinosa); Cardinal Beetle.
(Lepidoptera) Small Tortoiseshell (very worn spns.); Meadow Brown; Large Skipper (2 displaying/mating pairs); Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae

(Hemiptera) Water Scorpion Nepa cinarea in muddy shallows.
(Hymenoptera) Bombus pascuorum; Red Tailed Bumble Bee Bombus lapidarius; Bombus terrestris. Nest of dried grass and moss in large open burrow (? Of rabbit) on south facing bank of Torne embankment. Over a dozen workers in attendance at entrance possibly indicated recent disturbance, possibly by dog or badger, though no identifiable footprints in disturbed sandy soil.
(Orthoptera) Meadow Grasshopper Chorhippus paralellus. A large emergence amongst the south-facing dry sward at the top of the embankment.
(Odonata) Banded Demoselle Colopterix splendens Very active. Several counts of 4-6.
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans; Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula.
(Diptera) Sun-fly or Footballer Helophilus pendulus Frequent on emergent and water-side vegetation; Drone fly Eristalis tenax; Pegomya sp. Blotch mine of Great Water Dock.
(Arachnida) Large female Lycosid carrying egg cocoon.
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Acer campestre Field maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Agrostis stolonifera Creeping bent
Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow parsley
Apium nodiflorum Fool’s watercress
Armoracia rusticana Horse-radish
Arrhenatherum elatius False oat-grass
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Bellis perennis Daisy
Betula pendula Silver birch
Betula pubescens Downy birch
Berula errecta Lesser Water-parsnip
Cardamine pratense Cuckooflower or Milkmaids
Carduus nutans Musk thistle
Centaurea nigra Common knapweed
Chenopodium album Fat hen
Cirsium vulgare Spear thistle
Conium maculatum Hemlock
Cornus sanguinea Dogwood
Corylus avellana Hazel
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Crepis capillaris Smooth hawk’s-beard
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot
Dipsacus fullonum Teasel
Eleocharis palustris Common Spike-rush
Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Euonymus europaeus Spindle
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy
Glyceria maxima Reed sweet-grass
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Hieracium spp hawkweeds
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Hypochaeris radicata Common cat’s-ear
Iris pseudacorus Yellow iris
Juncus effusus Soft-rush
Lamium album White dead-nettle
Lemna minor Common duckweed
Leontodon autumnalis Autumn hawkbit
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy
Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass
Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot-trefoil
Malva sylvestris Common mallow
Mentha aquatica Water Mint
Myosotis scorpioides Water forget-me-not
Persicaria amphibia Amphibious bistort
Phragmites australis Common reed
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain
Poa annua Annual meadow-grass
Poa pratensis Smooth meadow-grass
Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass
Populus x canadensis Hybrid black Poplar
Populus x canescens Grey Poplar
Populus nigra italica Lombardy Poplar
Potamogeton natans Broad-leaved pondweed
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Quercus robur Pedunculate oak
Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus Celery-leaved Buttercup
Rorippa nasturtium-aquatica Water-cress
Rosa arvensis Field rose
Rosa canina s.l* Dog rose
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel
Rumex acetocella Sheep’s Sorrel
Rumex hydrolapathum Great Water dock
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved dock
Salix caprea Goat willow
Salix cinerea Grey willow
Sambucus nigra Elder
Senecio jacobaea Common ragwort
Silene latifolia White campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge mustard
Sparganium emersum Unbranched bur-reed
Taraxacum sp Dandelion
Trifolium dubium Lesser trefoil
Trifolium repens White clover
Typha latifolia Reedmace
Urtica dioica Common nettle
Veronica beccabunga Brooklime

 

(Recording site 5) Wildlife Pond Created Pond created ca 15 years ago (pers com Caroline Barrass) (SE659022)

Birds: Blackcap; Heron; Long-tailed Tits (group of ca 7); Reed Bunting; Whitethroat; Willow Warbler.
Mammals: Mole (hills); Roe Deer (footprints).
Coleoptera: 7-spot Ladybird
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Cynosurus cristatus Creasted Dogtail
Eleocharis palustris Common Spike-rush
Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris
Juncus effusus Soft-rush
Lemna minor Common Duckweed
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy
Mentha aquatica Water Mint
Myosotis scorpioides Water forget-me-not
Persicaria amphibia Amphibious bistort
Phragmites australis Common reed
Picea sp. Spruce (Christmas tree) ?.var glauca
Populus x canescens Grey Poplar
Potamogeton natans Broad-leaved pondweed
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus Celery-leaved Buttercup
Rosa canina s.l* Dog rose
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Salix caprea Goat willow
Salix cinerea Grey willow
Salix viminalis Osier
Silene dioica Red Campion
Silene latifolia White Campion
Taraxacum sp Dandelion
Trifolium pratense Red Clover
Trifolium repens White clover
Typha latifolia Reedmace
Urtica dioica Common nettle
Vicia sativa Common vetch

Hedgerow (between Torne embankment & Wildlife Pond)

Latin Name English Name
Acer campestre Field maple
Cornus sanguinea Dogwood
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Euonymus europaeus Spindle
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Quercus robur Pedunculate oak
Rosa canina s.l* Dog rose
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble

 

(Recording site 6) Fallow Arable adjacent to Torne embankment (SE662023)

Birds: Blackbird;
Mammals: Mole (hills); Roe Deer (footprints).
Flowering Plants:

Latin Name English Name
Amsinkia micrantha Common Fiddleneck
Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Brassica rapa Oil-seed Rape
Barbarea vulgaris Winter-cress
Carduus nutans Musk Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Conium maculatum Hemlock
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Fallopia convolvulus Black-bindweed
Galium aparine Cleavers
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Lamium album White Dead-nettle
Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy
Persicaria lapathifolia Pale Persicaria
Persicaria maculosa Redshank
Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass
Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish
Silene latifolia White Campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Taraxacum sp. Dandelion
Triticum aestivum Bread Wheat (volunteer)
Tussilago farfara Colt’s-foot
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Viola tricolor Wild Pansy

Notes from CAH

Below are Caroline’s photos from the meeting

The second visit on Wednesday, 17th June 2020

The grass verges had been cut since the first meeting but there was plenty to keep the group interested which meant that it was 5.30 pm before they finished. Many banded damoiselles were in evidence along the river bank along with common blue damselfly. Footprints of deer gave away their earlier presence. Swallows and Skylarks were flying and Chiff-chaff and Yellowhammer were both seen and heard singing. Red Admiral and Tortoiseshell butterflies were in evidence as was a silver Y moth. Hoverflies, alder beetles and grasshoppers kept the group busy trying to identify them to species level. Plants found are listed below.

White Bryony
Sheep’s Sorrel
White Campion
Mouse-ear Chickweed
Teasel
Birds-foot-trefoil
Giant Dock
Plantain
Sweet-briar
Honeysuckle
Knapweed
Poppies
Wild Pansy
Common Vetch
Hemlock

Below are Anna Thirwell’s photos from the meeting

Below are Carol Benson’s photos from the meeting