Baltrasna Boreen Biodiversity: 2017

Saturday, 12 August 2017

August expedition

For our August walk, we divided into three groups for a competition. We went in different directions looking to fill in a complete nature alphabet, using either a general English name (e.g. F for Fern), the full English name (e.g. H for Hart's-tongue Fern) or any word in the Latin name (e.g. P or S for Phyllitis scolopendrium). At the end of the event, each team filled in some of their gaps by identifying some of the moths that had come to the trap during the night. What was remarkable was that the teams didn't have to go more than 300 metres to do the competition.

Team 1 walked east from the bridge along the towpath. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Buttercup
Crategus monogyna (Hawthorn)
Dandelion
Elder
Fern
Groundsel
Horsetail

Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)

Knapweed
Lady's Bedstraw
Meadowsweet
Nettle
Ox-eye Daisy
Pignut
Q.....
Robin-run-the-hedge
Silverweed
Tutsan
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
Vetch
Willowherb
Xanthorhoe ferrugata (Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet)
Yarrow
Z.....

The team also observed:
Bombus lucorum, Bramble, Bulrush, Common Valerian, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Herb-Robert, Marjoram, Marsh Woundwort, Water Mint, White Clover, Wren.

Team 2 walked west from the bridge along the towpath. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Bramble
Cowbane
Dog-rose
Elder
Fool's Parsley
G.....
Hawthorn
Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
Knapweed
Lathyris pratensis (Meadow Vetchling)
Meadowsweet
Nettle
O......
Phyllitus scolopendrium (Hart's-tongue Fern)

Q.....
Ranunculus (Buttercup)
Spider

Tutsan
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
Vetch
White Clover
X.......
Yarrow
Z........

The team also observed:
Bracken, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Perforate St John's Wort, Rosebay Willowherb, Yellow Iris.

Team 3 walked west from the bridge along the high bank path. Here is their alphabet:

Ash
Bellis perennis (Daisy)
Clover
Dragonfly
Elder
Fern
G.......
Hoverfly
Ivy
Janthe — Noctua janthe (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
Knapweed
Lesser Cat's-tail
Moss
Nettle
Ox-eye Daisy
Peacock
Q........
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Trifolium pratense
Underwing (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
V......
Wasp
X......
Yorkshire Fog
Z........

The team also observed:
Bracken, Bramble, Dog-rose, Hawthorn, Horsetail.

Scores:
Team 1 — 24
Team 2 — 21
Team 3 — 21

Wednesday, 9 August 2017

July expedition

We walked east along the canal and concentrated on the many different flowers growing beside the path.

Before we set out on the walk, we viewed some moths that had been trapped overnight. Perhaps the most interesting of these was the Barred Yellow. Its larva feeds on Dog-rose.

To finish the expedition, we walked west from the bridge to see the flowering Fragrant Orchid and to compare the related flowers Perforate St John's-wort and Tutsan.

Tutsan

Date: 8 July 2017 Time: 12-1

Attendance: 11 (including 5 children)

What we observed and talked about —

Birds: Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Mute Swan, Robin
Butterfly: Ringlet
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly, Common Hawker

Flowers: Bramble, Bugle, Bush Vetch, Common Knapweed, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Valerian, Creeping Buttercup, Daisy, Dog-rose, Fragrant Orchid, Germander Speedwell, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Herb-Robert, Hogweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Meadowsweet, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate St John's-wort, Pyramidal Orchid, Red Clover, Rosebay Willowherb, Silverweed, Spearwort, Tutsan, White Clover, Yellow Iris

Grasses: Quaking Grass, Yorkshire Fog
Moths: Barred Yellow, Brussels Lace, Clouded Border, Double Dart, Early Thorn, Mottled Beauty, Peppered Moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Swallow-tailed Moth
Other plants: Bracken

Monday, 3 July 2017

June expedition

We walked along the High Bank path, observing the different grasses and flowers.

Near the gate we looked at the beautiful creamy spires of Weld,
a plant which few had seen before.

We remarked on the enormous changes which have happened in the past month. With all the trees in full leaf, the woodland section is now quite dark and due to the lack of light, very little is flowering.

There was some discussion of Rosaceae. We had a good look not only at the flower of the Dogrose (Rosa canina) but also of the Bramble, comparing their shape, colours and stamens.

The first Common Spotted Orchids were blooming and the Common Twayblade was well advanced. Some of the young people took the magnifying glass to examine them closely and see the intricacies of their patterns.

We were able to fill in new sightings in our treespotting guide. The Guelder Rose was in flower.

Date: 10 June 2017 Time: 12-1

Attendance: 12 (including 2 children)

What we observed and talked about —

Bee: Bombus lucorum
Birds: Willow Warbler
Butterflies: Speckled Wood, Wood White
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly

Flowers: Black Medick, Bramble, Broad-leaved Dock, Bush Vetch, Common Bird's-foot -trefoil, Common Knapweed, Common Milkwort, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Twayblade, Creeping Buttercup, Dog-rose, Gorse, Germander Speedwell, Lady's Smock,Meadowsweet, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate Saint John's Wort, Red Clover, Silverweed, Tormentil, Tutsan, Weld, White Clover, Wild Strawberry
Grasses: Cock's Foot, Quaking Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass,Yorkshire Fog
Insects: Treehopper (cuckoo spit)
Moths: Brimstone Moth, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Clouded Silver, Herb-robert, Lunar Thorn, Peppered Moth, Yellow-barred Brindle
Trees: Alder, Beech, Blackthorn, Guelder Rose, Holly, Willow
Other plants: Black Sedge, Hart's-tongue Fern, Horsetail